Jonathan Williams with Word of God, Speak: Recent Episodes
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Join Jonathan Williams, the teacher for Word of God, Speak, and storyteller for the epic program, Stories of the Master, as he unpacks the meaning of Scripture and applies it to life today.
There is a reason why the first Christians excelled. They understood that their position in the Kingdom carried with it a historic responsibility. They realized that they were the key players in this present phase of God’s Kingdom plan for the world.
The first believers understood their identity well as recipients of the promises and citizens of God’s Kingdom. As we understand our identity as citizens of a triumphant kingdom, we will be taking an important first step in preparing ourselves to do our part in fulfilling the Kingdom mission.
There are many promises in the Word that Jesus has fulfilled and is fulfilling since He was enthroned in heaven. But the ones we will look at in this message are enough to show us that when Jesus left the earth, He did not leave the battle. Instead, He ascended to the most strategic place in the universe from which to lead His people to carry out the present phase of the Kingdom plan.
The second strategic event took place in heaven: Christ was enthroned in the place of highest authority. He is in the best place from which to lead the forces of His people to carry out this present phase of God’s Kingdom plan which is to take the gospel to every nation, every people group, every tribe, every language, everyone! No wonder that Jesus said to His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away to the Father” (John 16:7)."
Immediately after Jesus finished clarifying to His disciples their ministry priority, He returned to heaven. That priority is to reach the very nations which have for centuries resisted and rebelled. Yet, Jesus returned to heaven. Why did he leave, especially with such a challenging task he gave to his people then and now. How we wish we could have Him with us physically on the earth leading us! But He did not stay. Why did He leave?
The manifestations of God’s Kingdom had only begun when Jesus returned to heaven. Those first disciples understood that the King was now going to exercise His power and authority through them as they obeyed His final command. The final command that Jesus gave to His first followers is also His command to us. The priority of the Kingdom for this age has not changed.
In 40 days, the little band of men who had fled in terror on the night of Jesus’ arrest had been gathered, forgiven, restored, and strengthened. They had their minds opened and renewed as they listened to “the things concerning the Kingdom.” The Resurrected Teacher was putting the finishing touches on His work to prepare them for the challenge that lay before them.
In a matter of a few days, the Kingdom of God had exercised its power in the world in two new ways: victory over sin and death at the cross and the introduction of eternal life and immortality in the resurrection. The Kingdom of God was not set back by the evil plans of men, nor had it been abandoned by God for other plans. Rather, the Kingdom triumphed over every enemy and circumstance that opposed it. God continued to fulfill Kingdom prophecy and rule with might in the midst of His people.
Jesus' followers were stunned, shocked. In a matter of a few days Jesus had gone from the pinnacle of praise to the depths of a weak and shameful death. Had not all that Jesus stood for come to a painful and cruel end? Hopes were shattered. Disappointment and fear abounded. But what they could not see was that Jesus' death was the unexpected victory of the kingdom.
Jesus used parables about the kingdom to test their perception of his mission and the way he was inaugurating the kingdom. In this lesson, we will look at the parables of the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed, the leaven, the treasure, the pearl, and the fish net.
A parable is a simple story drawn from everyday life. Throughout His ministry Jesus used them to illustrate key points in His message. Yet as the confrontation with some intensified, and as the multitudes increased, Jesus began to use parables for something more than illustrations. He used them to test their perception of His message on the Kingdom.
The Jews believed that a complete realization of God’s Kingdom would come only when God broke the rule of Rome. Thus, when Jesus stated that the Kingdom of God had arrived, many Jews found this difficult to accept. How could the Kingdom of God be present on earth if the Romans still ruled in the land promised to Israel? God’s Kingdom could not be present, they thought, for His kingly power had obviously not been displayed in judgment. How did Jesus address this difficulty in the minds of His people?
How glorious it must have been to behold Jesus’ mighty works of power! Those works of power showed that the Kingdom was present. But another way he demonstrated the presence of the kingdom was through His teaching.
How did Jesus demonstrate that the Kingdom of God had entered the world? The first way was by His mighty works of power. Never before had such an awesome and complete display of power been exhibited in Israel. Jesus demonstrated mastery over men. He gave sight to the blind and healed the lame and lepers. He gave speech to the mute and hearing to the deaf. Even the dead were raised back to life.
In this study we come to the sixth concept and the final period that set the stage for the arrival of the King on the earth. It was a time that was marked with darkness and difficulty for Israel.
God is king, and the King sovereignly created mankind to rule under his authority, but the earth was now a battlefield as the nations struggled with one another for supremacy. It is also a battlefield between the rebellious kingdoms of men and the Kingdom of God. Those are the first three major concepts to know if we want to understand the kingdom of God. We covered those in the previous lesson. Today, we will cover the next two concepts about the Kingdom of God.
When John the Baptist came to Israel and announced that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, it was the climax of a long series of events that had preceded him. The coming of God’s Kingdom was a vibrant hope that had been cultivated in the hearts of God’s people for centuries. What events and what concepts from the OT prepared God’s people and set the stage for the arrival of the King on the earth?
When we say or hear “Kingdom of God,” what exactly are we referring to? What might be surprising to some is that Scripture nowhere provides a precise definition for the term. That is because the biblical writers assume that everyone is familiar with its meaning. Concepts such as “kings” and “kingdoms” and all they represented were standard, everyday terms and experiences among people of ancient times. In today’s lesson, we are going to dig more deeply into the background of the word “kingdom.”
We have seen how the kingdom of God was the hope of patriarchs and prophets. It was also the hope of every Jewish man, woman, and child in the first century. It was also Jesus' primary teaching. He spoke of it more than any other person and any other topic.
In this study, we will explore how everyone from patriarchs to prophets looked forward to the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.
In this first message of God's Kingdom Plan for Planet Earth, we will investigate Habakkuk's words in Habakkuk 3:2 and see how it is a perfect outline for this teaching series, for human history, and for our priorities in life.
The Bible uses strong words to describe God’s attitude toward evil – The Lord hates, the Lord abhors, the Lord detests, the Lord destroys. They are not words we are accustomed to hearing today, but some people give themselves over so fully to evil that they become the objects of God’s wrath. Let’s learn more about this today as we explore Psalm 5.
Today we find ourselves in Psalm 4, another psalm of David and another psalm where he experienced difficulties because of his enemies. If you remember, in our previous messages, we talked about Psalm 3 and the foes David faced and the lies they were telling to David or about David. In Psalm 4 we are going to find something similar but we will see new responses that David has toward his enemies and new truths about God. These are truths all of us must know and can apply.
We are studying Psalm 3, a psalm written by David when the nation erupted into civil war because of the rebellion of his son Absalom. We learned that David’s enemies were many, they organized and they came against him with a pack of lies. What were these lies? They were ones we face today!
The year was about 1000 BC. King David was in firm control of the Jewish nation. He was making all the right decisions, he was blessed by God, the promise of the kingdom was given to him and to his descendants forever, a temple would be built by one of his sons for the glory and praise of God, and then it happened. At the height of his success David fell into sin with Bathsheba. They committed adultery which led to an unsuccessful cover-up which led to a murder which led to another cover-up which was then exposed. It was a sad day for David and for the kingdom and for the Lord. Psalm 3 is about God's discipline.
It was wrong for Esau to sell his birthright for a meal, and we can question why Jacob would manipulate his brother in that situation, but when it comes to the blessing, the sin is obvious for all - Jacob lied to his father's face and stole the blessing. But when Esau learned that the blessing was gone, he asked for a blessing also. Did Isaac bless his son Esau, after all?
To understand the meaning of Paul's words in Romans 9:10-13, it is helpful to go back to the original stories of Jacob and Esau. In this episode, we start with Rebekah's cry for help during her pregnancy, God's oracle to her, and the fateful day when Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a meal.
God gave Edom a land and fought for Edom, just as he did for Israel. God also provided a way for Edomites to enter the assembly of Israel. What implications does this have for our interpretation of Romans 9:10-13?
When Israel encountered Edom in the wilderness, it learned that they were not allowed to take as much as a footstep from Edom's territory. Why? It is because God gave Edom their land and even fought for them. How would this influence our interpretation of Romans 9:10-13?
When we look at the prophecies about Edom, we discover this: they had nothing to do with predestination to salvation or damnation. They were about Edom's sins against Israel and Judah and God's judgments in history against them.
It is important to know all that the prophets said about Edom to understand Paul's words in Romans 9. In this message, we begin looking at the prophetic oracles of judgment agains the descendants of Esau.
Learning the context of Malachi helps us understand the meaning of Paul's words in Romans 9:13. In Malachi's day, God was assuring Israel that his covenant was with them, not Edom. God was doing the same in Paul's day by showing that he was faithful to his covenant promises.
If the apostles used a prophecy about Edom at the Jerusalem Council to substantiate, biblically, their mission to the gentiles, what implications does that have for interpreting Romans 9:10-13?
When Paul met the resurrected Messiah, his life turned upside down in a moment. Then, Jesus, commissioned him to go to the gentiles with his good news. Paul obeyed, and after years of ministry, the apostles and elders gathered in Jerusalem to settle a dispute about including gentiles in Israel's new community of faith. What many do not know is that they used a prophecy about Edom to substantiate the mission to the gentile nations. This has profound implications for interpreting Romans 9:10-13 correctly.
To understand Romans 9:10-13, we must first learn about Paul's background as a Pharisee trained at the feet of Gamaliel.
All of us wear "glasses" when we approach Scripture. This is especially true when we read Romans 9, the chapter that is so hotly contested in the Calvinist-Arminian debate. But what many do not recognize is that they approach that chapter with Augustinian glasses or Calvinist glasses. Is this the correct eyewear to read Paul's words or should we look for another way to view Romans 9:10-13?
When my professor strongly urged me to turn my Ph.D. dissertation into a book that is more accessible to the general public, I agreed to do that. This teaching series begins a new approach to interpreting Paul's words in Romans 9:10-13 - Should the Jacob/Esau Story and the history of their descendants be the lens through which one interprets Paul's words in those verses? My answer is "Yes!" When we know the backstory and all that Scripture says about Edom, then we'll understand why Paul said what he said in Romans 9:10-13.
The case for faith is indeed strong. The evidence is overwhelming in favor of the existence of God, of the reliability of the Bible, and of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s learn some final lessons on this today.
If you need to investigate the claims of Christ, investigate. That is a good thing. But you must realize that at some point you will need to make a choice for or against him.
Without God, there is no basis for morality and justice among people. Without God, we are left only with preferences and there is no right or wrong.
There are many causes of doubt about the truthfulness of Christianity. Let’s learn more about them today and how to overcome them.
Were the heroes of the faith born that way? Did they ever have doubts? Do you ever have doubts
The Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, missionary exploitation, anti-Semitism. These have been stains on the reputation of the Church. Today let’s find out what really happened and learn how to answer these charges.
If Christ is real and he founded the church why has his church been so full of violence in its history? Great question! We are going to examine it today.
A loving God would never send people to Hell, would he? Today, we are going to tackle this tough question for today’s Christian.
Have you ever heard anyone say, “you Christians say Christ is the only way to God but isn’t the way a person lives more important that what he believes? Besides, I know many upright, moral people who are not Christians.” How would we answer them? Let’s learn today.
Is Jesus really the only way to God? What do we say to people when they tell us we are narrow minded bigots? Let’s listen today and learn together.
Can we really trust the Bible, that it is from God? Today we are going to learn five reasons why we can put our faith in this book and the God it describes.
Some have said the God of the New Testament is a God of love and peace. I’ll follow that God and I won’t follow the God of the Old Testament who is mean and wicked. Many have tried that. But it won’t work. Let’s find out why today.
“If the God of the Bible commands that innocent women and children be killed, how can I trust him? How can I trust the Bible?”
It is not a question so much about miracles as it is a question about God because if God exists then miracles are no problem. What are the evidences for God? Let’s learn some today.
We are told that miracles contradict science. Therefore, miracles cannot exist and the stories we read in the Gospel are false. Is this true. Let’s learn about this today as we continue Tough Questions for Today’s Christians.
God allows suffering and evil, not because he is weak or indifferent but because his way, the only way of dealing with it is through the cross of Christ that forgives, justifies, cleanses, and makes people new. God destroys the evil but saves the person.
To create a world with love, God had to give humans the ability to love him which also meant they had the ability not to love him. Today, let’s learn more about the question of why evil and suffering exist in God’s good world.
How much is enough for you? What do you want most out of life? Success? A big bank account? Fame? How much will it take to satisfy you? How much is enough? I think you know the answer. Everything in the world is not enough.
Anger – can we ever get control of this area? Being a man of justice – can God make us this way? Can we really have a good reputation with those who do not know Christ? Can we be men who are above reproach in our relationships?
Do you think following Christ means that we become wimpy men who are a pushover? That’s not the way Christ was! Yet Scripture says that Christ was gentle, and it tells us if we are to be above reproach we are to be gentle men. Looks like we better find out what it means.
Is it possible that every man in a church can learn to teach and should learn to teach? I thought that was a spiritual gift? Listen today and learn how this can become a reality in your life and a vital area of character growth.
Paul says that a man of character will be a man of self-control. Think of it – God himself comes to live in us and works on our “out-of-control” character to shape it to an in-control character. But how does God do that?
How can we be men who are above reproach in the private areas of life? Today we will learn about addictions, loving money, and ordering our private world in such a way that God is glorified in our behavior when no one else is watching.
What kind of person are you in your private moments? What kind of person are you when no one is looking? Is it possible that we can be the same kind of person on the inside as well as the outside, in our private life as well as our public life?
Surprises await us as we open our homes for ministry. Hebrews 13:2 tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Listen closely as I share today how men are to take the lead in being hospitable.
Men, today I want to talk with you about managing your home well. When you get a handle on this, you will take a big step in becoming a man who is above reproach.
Being a one-woman man means more than overcoming sexual temptation. It means that we are devoted to that one woman. It means that we cherish her, honor her, and build her up.
There is a price to pay for following Christ. It’s much easier to set our sights lower and slide through life without being noticed or held accountable. But I ask, “Is that what we really want?” I think, down deep, we all want more.
When someone speaks about becoming like Jesus Christ, does that seem out of reach even though God himself expects this for you? If it does, perhaps it is because the word “Christ like” is too vague a term. Today, let’s learn what it means to be like Jesus.
Conquering self! This is one of the greatest challenges that any man can face. While men marvel at the builders of great empires, wise men have realized that a far more significant achievement is the conquest of self
When I began this teaching series, I mentioned that there is a segment within the Body of Christ that is teaching this chapter incorrectly. I am referring, of course, to our Calvinist brethren. They need to learn to tell the story the right way.
We come now to Paul’s great conclusion and the final part of Romans 9. What is the conclusion? It is that God’s saving plan for the nations has gone forward. God has been faithful to his word. But what makes the difference between those who are in the covenant and those who are not? Faith makes the difference.
In 9:22-24 where Paul did something unusual … he did not complete his sentence. For all the poetic structure and symmetry that is in Romans 9, we now come to the place in the text that is the most difficult, and the English translation is not so smooth. But the lesson is wonderful to hear!
One would think that Paul’s excellent answers in 9:15-18 would be enough to satisfy his opponents and conclude his discussion on God’s faithfulness to his word. Well, not quite. Paul thought it necessary to include another objection as he retold Israel’s story. We see it in Romans 9:19, but what prompted his decision to present another one?
We started looking at the two Exodus stories that Paul told to substantiate his main point that God was faithful to his word. The first story was the golden calf incident and God’s mercy. The second story is about God showing his power in the plagues against a hard-hearted Pharaoh. We find Paul’s reference to it in Romans 9:17-18. This time, Paul used a different kind of character. So far, he had talked about Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Esau, Sarah, Rebekah, Moses, and Israel. Now, Paul interjected a new main character, someone different, the most powerful man on earth, a pagan, someone who did not know the Lord, and someone who was proud and stubborn – the Pharaoh of Egypt.
Paul brings us two stories from the next stage in God’s plan for the world; the golden calf incident and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. Story 1 is the account of Israel’s unfaithfulness in the wilderness and that is what we will cover today.
We are now in Romans 9:14-18. Paul begins this section with a question. “What shall we say then?” In other words, in light of what he has just said about God advancing his covenant plans through Isaac and Jacob rather than Ishmael and Esau, Paul asks “What shall we say? There is no injustice with God is there?” Paul then answers the question with, “May it never be!”
But why would Paul ask this question about God’s justice and then answer it with a firm no?
Today we are going to finish the story of Esau and Jacob. We have been going through Romans 9 and showing how Paul was confirming that God has been faithful to his covenant promises despite Israel’s unbelief. He was faithful to his promises because he was fulfilling them through some of Abraham’s physical descendants, not all of them. He fulfilled them for those who believed in Jesus the Messiah. Those
Isaac, the miracle son of promise because of Abraham and Sarah’s faith, and his wife Rebekah conceived twins, Jacob and Esau. Rebekah was Isaac’s legitimate wife and not a foreign handmaid like Hagar. Both sons were legitimate, and not only legitimate but were the result of the same act of sexual intercourse. Paul wanted to be very clear about this. Two legitimate sons came from this one act of procreation between Isaac and Rebekah, but the covenant God made with Abraham and affirmed with the son of promise, Isaac, he established with only one son, Jacob. Why?
We see this in the story of the births of Ishmael and Isaac. Both were physical descendants of Abraham, but who in Paul’s day would say that Ishmael and his descendants were Jews? No one. What made the difference between the two? That difference is summed up in the word, “promise.”
Paul wants everyone to know that though most of God’s covenant people have not believed, that though most of God’s people have been unfaithful, God has not been unfaithful. God has been true to his word. God’s word has not failed.
Israel was a unique nation. They had been entrusted with the most noble task in the world – to be a light to the nations and to restore all that mankind had lost because of sin. And Paul encapsulated these privileges with six words and phrases.
In Romans 9:1-5, Paul refuted the charges of apathy, defended his apostolic authority, and exemplified the attitude gentile Christians should exhibit toward unbelieving Jews. He was gaining a foothold in the minds and hearts of readers who might have doubted his love for Israel. After all, remember, Paul was slandered. Evil reports circulated about him, and he must set the record straight about how he felt about his people.
Paul was slandered by many. In 2 Corinthians 6:8 he talked about evil reports that circulated in the world about him. He talked about being dishonored and being accused as a deceiver. Many viewed him as a traitor to the ancestral traditions of his people and more gentile-like than kosher in his behavior. Paul had to set the record straight – theologically and personally. Romans 9 is not just expressing his theological views. It is expressing his passion for his people. He must let others know how he felt about his people. “I am telling the truth! I am not lying!"
As we continue to learn why Paul wrote Romans, we will also discover the importance of God's people updating their story to show how God was at work in their day.
For centuries, many thought Romans to be primarily, a theological treatise. But that wasn’t the case. Paul had three reasons for writing Romans, and in this broadcast we will begin examining them. His purposes were:
· Missionary – his forthcoming trip to Spain
· Apologetic – setting forth the true gospel
· Pastoral – uniting Jew and gentile in one body
Romans 9 has become a deeply dug mine full of precious gems. Scholars have delved into this mine, excavating words, phrases, and sentences to find precious material to build and adorn their theological houses. It has especially been a favorite for the Calvinist position of unconditional election.
But as I continued learning God’s word, I discovered that Paul had something different in mind. What many talk about when they read Romans 9 is different from what Paul was talking about. The centuries brought a major disconnect in understanding the subject matter. We have forgotten or never learned the story Paul was telling.
This teaching series is my understanding of what Paul wrote in Romans 9 based upon the larger context of his letter, his ministry, and the biblical storyline – thus, its title Romans 9 and the Story Paul Was Telling.
Jesus makes a final appearance on the Mount of Olives near Bethany. He gives instructions to take the good news of his life, sacrificial death, and resurrection to others. He then ascends to the right hand of God and is enthroned as the true Lord of heaven and earth.
Jesus is making his final appearances to his disciples. He appears to his brother, James. Then to seven of his disciples who are fishing in the Sea of Galilee.
Jesus is now revealing himself to others; ten of the original 12 are in a room, but Thomas is absent and does not believe the report. Then Jesus appears to Thomas and tells him to examine his hands and side. But what does the resurrection of Christ mean?
The empty tomb reports begin to circulate among Jesus' disciples as Mary Magdalene and the other women tell them they have seen the risen Christ. Then, Jesus appears to Peter and to two others walking to Emmaus.
Women arrive at the tomb to anoint the dead body of Jesus. But the stone is rolled away from the tomb and Jesus body is not there. Angels appear and tell them the glad news. Jesus has risen from the dead! The women run to tell the disciples. But one woman remains, Mary Magdalene and she is the first to see the resurrected Jesus.
Jesus is buried. A Roman guard seals the tomb and stands watch, but on Sunday strange sounds come from within the tomb. Resurrection life enters the body of Jesus. He breathes and lives! Angels approach the tomb. Roman soldiers quake with fear and run for their lives.
Jesus continues to suffer on the cross, but he sees his mother and entrusts him to John. He cries out in anguish, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Darkness covers the earth. Jesus thirsts. He comes to the end. He says, "It is finished." He commits his spirit to God, and dies.
Jesus is led to Golgotha where he is crucified. He prays that his Father will forgive the ones who nail him to the cross. He promises a thief that he will be with him in paradise.
Jesus is sent to Pilate, then Herod, then back to Pilate. The verdict is in. He is guilty and the sentence is crucifixion on a Roman cross.
Jesus is led to the temple authorities and stands trial for blasphemy. The Jewish assembly votes to condemn him and take him to the Roman authorities.
In Gethsemane, the climax quickly comes. Jesus finishes praying. He resolves to follow his Father's will. The authorities come, Jesus is arrested and led to trial.
As they enter Gethsemane, Jesus struggles with what is before him. His disciples sleep but he prays on in agony.
As they depart the room where they ate the Passover, Jesus and his disciples head to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus continues to instruct his disciples not to fear but to maintain their trust in him. He then prays his high priestly prayer that we find in John 17.
Jesus instructs his disciples on the coming of the Spirit and on the coming of persecution. But they are not to fear. He has overcome. This is part 1 of a 2-part message.
On the final night before his death, Jesus gathers with his disciples and says that he is establishing the new covenant in his blood. This is the second part of a 2-part message.
It is Jesus' final night before his death. He gathers with his disciples to have one, last Passover meal with them. This is Part 1 of a 2-part message.
Jesus tells a parable about five wise and five foolish virgins to alert his disciples to the judgment that is coming upon their people.
To prepare his disciples for what was coming upon Israel, Jesus told a story about five wise and five foolish virgins.
Jesus thrashes the hypocritical leadership of Israel and pronounces woes upon them, but he commends a widow for her gift to the temple. He also tells about the end.
Jesus thrashes the hypocritical leadership in Israel and pronounces woes upon them. He commends a widow for her gift to the temple and speaks about the great trials coming upon the nation.
Jesus tells a story about a great banquet and intruders at the banquet. The leaders give him a trick question about taxes. He evades their trickery and asks a question about the Messiah that no one can answer.
Jesus tells a story about a great banquet and asks a question about the Messiah that no one can answer. They counter with a trick question about paying taxes.
When the temple authorities perceive that Jesus' story about the vineyard is about their rejection of the truth, they become infuriated and want to arrest and kill him.
To counter the opposition against him, Jesus continues with a new story, a story of a vineyard in which the workers kill the heir.
The temple authorities demand to know on what basis or by what authority Jesus is doing what he is doing in the temple. He replies with a story about two disobedient sons.
The temple authorities ask Jesus about his actions in the temple. By what authority does he do these things? Jesus answers with a story about two disobedient sons.
Jesus enters the city and the leaders are infuriated when he says the cry out and when the children sing his praises they are more enraged.
The city of Jerusalem is filled with pilgrims for Passover. Jesus uses this occasion to enter the city to acclamations of his Messiahship and fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah.
It is easy to be swept up in the excitement of the day, even ministry excitement and lose our focus on what matters most.
Just before Jesus entered Jerusalem, Jesus had a meal with his disciples and friends. During that meal something happened that has deep lessons for us.
The people expected the Messiah to come as a conquering hero, to save them and to bring judgment to the Romans. But when he came, he came as a humble servant to all.
Jesus was surrounded by people who thought God would manifest his kingdom power and set Jesus on the throne of Israel in Jerusalem. To correct this wrong idea, Jesus told a story that has many lessons for us.
Are you like Zacchaeus, a man hungry for God, a man so desperate for God that he would humble himself in public to meet Jesus?
The blind men of Jericho. One was physically blind, the other spiritually blind. One had his physical eyes opened, the other had his spiritual eyes opened. Let’s learn about them today.
In Matthew 20, Jesus tells the story of a generous landowner. It is a story of compassion and a story of grace.
Jesus used an illustration to show us something we all must learn – salvation is impossible. But If salvation is impossible, what can we do? Let’s find out today.
The weeds and thorns of greed and status seeking had wrapped themselves tightly around this man and were dragging him to death. Jesus was seeking to free this man and bring him life.
What tragedies hardness of heart brought to God’s people in ancient times! What tragedies hardness of heart brings today!
Pride is the killer of people. It was pride that started our downward spiral into sin and darkness, the darkness in which the world finds itself now. One of the greatest forms of pride is religion.
Jesus told a story to remind us of this great truth, "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Many of us have fears that surround us. But Jesus does not want us to give in to fear. Instead, he taught us to pray, and to teach us this lesson he told the story of a widow who would not be silenced.
Wherever you are in the world, among your people, there are some who are following the way of Jesus, some who are not, and they will one day be taken away and their carcasses thrown to the vultures! Are you ready for that day?
The proof of our faith in Jesus is not merely by our words, not merely by reciting, say, the Apostles Creed. The proof of our faith is shown by what we do.
We are not to be warehouses that store food. We are to be distribution centers that pass it on to others. God enriches us so that we can be generous and meet the needs of others.
If the Old Testament law urged people not to be tight-fisted but to share freely, what shall we do now that the Messiah has come and given his life generously for us in eternal debt to him?
Keep this in mind as you think about the grace of God. God loves to give his grace to you. It pleases him to give his grace to you because he is the God of all grace.
A smartly dressed woman with a big smile walked up to a homeless man and said, “Good Morning,” and that began a conversation and a meal that illustrates one of the greatest truths of God’s word – We reap what we sow.
I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “He is a man among men.” Today, we are going to see several examples of men who were men among men. Let’s find out who they were and see what we can learn from them.
It’s not how we start, but how we finish that matters. Today, let’s hear how Paul exhorted the church in Corinth to finish well and see what it can mean for our lives.
It’s a great work to do things for poor people. It’s an even greater work to become poor and live among them as Christ did. Though he was rich, he became poor that he might make us poor people rich!
Do you think God needs your money? I have news for you – he doesn’t. But there is something else that you have that he wants very much.
In a presidential campaign years ago, signs were sprouting up in people’s yards. Some screamed “No Socialism!” Other signs yelled back, “No Selfishness!” Both had a point to make, but both missed the mark.
Is it really possible that a gift of 57 cents could start a chain reaction that would change a church, a city, and the world? Listen today to a story of giving that will inspire you!
We think that good times + abundant wealth = rich generosity. But that’s not the case. Today, we’re going to learn the formula for abundant giving, and it may surprise you.
Peter gave Paul and Barnabas one parting word when they finished their meeting, one exhortation they must not forget as they preached the gospel in the world – remember the poor!
Even though Christ has come, even though He has inaugurated His kingdom, even though He has died for our sins, risen from the dead, been enthroned as Lord, and poured out His Spirit much work remains to be done.
This is the paradox of God. To go up you must go down. To be exalted you must be humble. To be great you must be the servant. The prophecy of the Suffering Servant teaches this lesson the best.
How do we know God will prevail? We know it because God’s word has declared it so and God’s word, God’s purposes, never fail.
What happens in our world when we pray? We may not know all the results until we get to eternity. But we can know this, when God’s people pray, God acts.
Which will it be for us? Will we continue to make alliances with ungodly practices and incur the discipline of the Lord? Or will we humble ourselves before our God, knowing that He waits on high to have compassion on us? Isaiah presents five judgments, but ends with a great prophecy of the salvation of the kingdom of God.
Even though God’s people fail, become weak, cannot live up to their great purpose that God has given, and diem yet God will still bring deliverance. In this prophecy, the nations will fall, but God's people will prevail.
The problem of humanity has been that we want to be in charge. We don’t want to submit to God. And God’s magnificent work of grace is to humble us to show us that he, not us, is the ultimate authority.
Do you know anyone who is so deep into sin that even when trouble comes, he doesn’t want the help of God? This was the case with King Ahaz of Judah. Yet, despite his hardness of heart, God helped and gave amazing prophecies of the Messiah.
Do we understand the holiness of God? Do we understand that God does judge? This is not a popular subject today. We prefer to speak of the love of God, but it is also true that God judges.
God did not choose Israel and exalt them for their sake. He chose them because He loved the world and wanted to use them to point the nations to the Creator. In this message we will see one of the great prophecies of the nations coming to the Messiah.
The people were faithful in their temple attendance. They were faithful with their sacrifices. They said all the right prayers. They went to all the required festivals. Yet there was still something wrong. No one put God’s Word into practice!
Do you want to see God? I hope so. For when you see God in His glory every idol will perish from your life. Everything you thought was important but really isn’t important will no longer matter. In this message, I share Isaiah's experience in seeing God.
I want to talk with you today about the glory of God, about unity in the body of Christ, about how God can take terrible circumstances and turn them around for the progress of the Gospel, and about his grace. Are you ready?
What kind of God is this who encourages us to give and says the more you give the more you will get back! It is a generous God and we can never outgive Him!
One day, someone asked an extremely rich man how much money was enough to be content and he answered, “Just a little bit more.”
Paul didn’t quit. He learned the secret of contentment in Jesus. Paul would not want you or me to quit and he wants us to learn the secret of being content in Jesus.
Paul says the God of peace will be with you. In 4:7 he said the peace of God would guard your heart and mind, but Paul says here that the God of peace Himself will be with you. And that’s what we want – the presence of God in our lives.
It is so important that we hold to these truths about God because there is a law God has built into the universe – we will become like what we worship. We will become like whatever is most important in our lives.
When you have worries you must make a choice – are you just going to brood upon them and let them send you into a downward spiral or are you going to take those worries to God and let God know how you feel?
We want to be ready when the attacks come, and the way to prepare ourselves against those attacks is to hurl our anxieties upon the Lord knowing that He deeply cares for us and will work all things out for our good.
We must let our voices be heard in the marketplace of ideas, but we must ask God to give us grace to do so, not as militants, but as mercy-bearers, not as violent aggressors but as peace-makers, not as radical revolutionaries but as servants who only want to help others find the truth about our God who loves them.
Let me ask you, when you hear reports of others who come to Christ, does that bring you joy? When you hear reports of God’s people making progress in their lives, does that bring you joy?
I looked up every place in the New Testament where the word joy or rejoice is used and I refreshed myself through what I read. Let me pass on these thoughts to you.
If we have our weapons turned inward toward one another, they will not be turned outward toward the enemy. We are not the enemy. The enemy is the forces of spiritual darkness that enslave the world, and God has called us to unite to push back the darkness.
Paul told Euodia and Syntyche, live in harmony in the Lord. Be of the same mind in the Lord. You and I have the same opportunity to show Christ-like love and humility. Let’s bring joy to our Father’s heart and be men and women of harmony and peace.
Our faith in Christ is unique. Every other religion is about escaping the earth and going off to heavenly realms forever and ever. The Bible has a very different picture. When God sent Christ into the world it was with this goal in mind – to renew all things.
What is the result of this kind of life, the kind of life where one lives by the physical appetites, the kind of life where one boasts in shameful things, the kind of life where people live only for the moment? Paul says, “their end is destruction.”
The Christian life is not just passing on what we believe but passing on how we live. It is not just orthodoxy, what we believe, but orthopraxy – how we live.
If you have a river constantly overflowing its banks you’ll get a swamp. But if you channel that river, focus it, and dam it up at certain places, you’ll get power. What kind of person do you want to be, a swampy person or a powerful person?
The irony of following Christ is that we ascend by descending. We go up by going down. We become exalted as we humble ourselves. We prepare for kingship by learning to be a servant.
In Paul, we see a man with a mission, a man who lived by priority, a man who did a million things, yet who could say, “I do one thing.”
The second part of a 2-part interview with Pastor Doug Brown who talks about living examples of Philippians 3, Christians who suffer for their faith in a closed country.
The first part of a 2-part interview with Pastor Doug Brown who talks about believers in a closed country who are living examples of Philippians 3:7-11.
Paul lived as he did because he knew how to evaluate things. He was like an expert jeweler with a special eyeglass who would look closely at diamonds placed in front of him and say, “this one is a piece of rubbish” but “this one is priceless”.
How could Paul live the way he lived? Did he take pleasure in it? I think not. Paul considered all things loss and did indeed suffer the loss of all things because of two things. Today, we will find out what they are!
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose. Are you a fool or wise?
Do you boast in Christ Jesus? Or do you have a tendency to boast in yourself? It’s so easy to slip into self-boasting and to forget that our glory is in the Lord.
From time to time I have people from a certain cult who come knocking on my door offering me literature and a way to find peace through Jehovah. Do you know how much enticement that is to me? Zero! None! They have no pull on me because I know who Christ is! You can know who Christ is also!
Paul had a warning for the church in Philippi. Paul had a warning for the church today. Beware of those who corrupt the Gospel. Stand firm for the truth of the gospel of the grace of God for all people equally.
A great man once said, “Paul had enough morality to keep himself out of trouble, but not enough righteousness to get himself into heaven!” What about you?
It’s so easy to follow Christ when the crowds are watching and the deeds are noble and heroic. But what about when no one is watching and the works we do are small – like mowing the lawn, setting up the coffee, sweeping the floor, or collecting the offering? Nothing is small or insignificant if it is done for Jesus.
Are you a Philippians 1:21 Christian or a Philippians 2:21 Christian? What’s the difference? Listen today and find out. It may change your life!
God wants to show you off to the world. He wants to say, “look at my children. These are my children that I have purchased.”
The one who flung galaxies into existence, the one whose holiness causes angels to cover their faces and prophets to fall on their faces, is the one who is at work within us.
“The Christian life is not a series of ups and downs. Rather it is ins and outs. God works in and we work out.”
God loves it when knees bow to Jesus. It brings glory to the Father because it shows his wisdom in leading his son through the darkness of suffering and death. Who would have thought that that would be the path to salvation?
People speak of Chris’s death, resurrection, and ascension but they are missing the mark on that last point. It was not the physical act of “ascending “that was so important. Rather, it was the fact that he was exalted to the place of highest honor.
Paul sets forth the greatest example of humility – Jesus Christ. Before he was born he lived, not as angel, but as God himself, as the creator of all and that makes the passage and its ethical point that much sharper. Paul is providing the first of four examples of humility and he begins with the greatest – the creator of the universe showed what he is really like by not taking advantage of and holding on to his privileges.
Paul says, your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. He doesn’t say your theology should be the same as Christ Jesus – although it should! But in this passage he says your attitude should be like Christ’s. Is it?
Humility of mind is a uniquely Christian concept in the ancient world because the ancients associated humility with servitude and groveling. But Paul and Christ showed humility to be the way of God – not groveling but obedience and being a servant for the sake of others.
Do you have a relationship with Christ where you know he is encouraging you when you are down, exhorting you when you need a challenge, imploring you when you need extra motivation, and
urging you to press forward in your life? Christ wants to be all of those for us. Learn about it today.
The word of God is able to pierce the deepest parts of our human nature and change us, but when the Spirit of God takes the word of God and points to the people of God who are living it – that has the greatest impact of all.
Today, as we continue in our study of the book of Philippians and the last part of chapter 1 which speaks of the suffering God has called us to, I’m delighted to have as our guest Carl Moeller who is the president of Open Doors ministry.
More Christians were martyred for their faith in the 20th century than in any other century. Surprising isn’t it.
We are engaged in a great spiritual contest for the glory of the Lord in the world, and we must not let individual achievements or fame overshadow what can only be done when we are united for the faith of the gospel.
Have you ever been in situations where you felt out of place, you felt like you didn’t belong, and were uncomfortable? You will never feel that when you are with Christ. You will be in the place where you belong, the place you were made for – the presence of God.
We have seen the contrast between the way people in the world live and the way a genuine Christian lives. Some in the world will say, “for me to live is power,” while a genuine Christian would say, “For me to live is serving others.” Some in the world will say, “for me, to live is possessions,” but a genuine Christian will say, “for me, to live is giving.”
How do you fill in the blank? What do you say, “For me, to live is … what?
Paul said, “for to me, to live is Christ,” but what do we say?
For us, to live is ________, what?
Listen today and find out how many people answer this question
“This is what I live for,” says Paul, “this is my core value, my conviction.” What was Paul referring to? Listen today and you’ll find out!
It’s tragic, but it is true that sometimes, some preachers don’t have the best intentions or motives. Paul says they do not have pure motives. They were men with selfish ambition. They thought preaching the gospel was a way for some kind of career advancement or a way for some to gain a following to stroke their ego.
Paul’s Roman guards were hearing the Gospel. The palace guard was sometimes called The Praetorian Guard. They were elite Roman soldiers who served as bodyguards for generals as early as 275 BC and eventually Roman emperors when the republic became an empire. They were important on the battlefield and in power politics as well and were even involved in the assassination of emperors! These were not men you messed with. Somehow the message that Paul was bringing had made its way into this body of elite soldiers! How did that happen?
What’s limiting you? What terrible circumstances are you in? I do not want to minimize your difficulty, but listen today and see how Paul worked through his terrible circumstances for the glory of God.
Brothers and sisters – this is why you and I were created. We do not exist for ourselves. We do not exist for our pleasure. We exist for the pleasure of God. God created all things to express the magnificence of his glory. From the furthest galaxy to the tiniest particle in a cell everything was made to shout glory and to point to the glorious one. Psalm 19:1 says the heavens are telling of the glory of God. But there is something even more glorious than the heavens – it is you and I. The highest, most God-glorifying part of creation is humanity.
Discerning what is most valuable in life. I remember my father saying, “too soon old, too late smart.” I also remember someone saying that “80% of wisdom, is being right in time.” All of us have great wisdom, after the fact, after the event. But to be wise in time, to be wise ahead of the choice, that is the trick. This message will help you be "wise in time."
What would you ask for, if God came to you in a vision and said, ‘Ask whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’” What would you ask for?
God wants you to have confidence - full belief in His trustworthiness and reliability to finish what He has started in these three areas. He will make you a man or woman of Christ-like character. He will use you to build up the Church. He will use you to reach other people.
Because I am in Christ, God always comes to me with peace. He may come with a correcting word, he may come with a disciplining rod, he may come with the conviction of the Spirit, but he always comes with grace and with the peace treaty in hand, and whatever action he takes is based upon that peace treaty.
Are you experiencing conflict in your life? Perhaps with your spouse or children. Maybe it is with other church members or someone at work. How do you want them to be toward you? How do you want them to act? What kind of attitude do you want them to have? Whatever it is, you must model it.
Today, you will hear some of the richest words in the New Testament, words of the humility of Jesus Christ, and words of his exaltation as the true Lord of heaven and earth.
Something started to shake. It was a low rumbling at first, then a great loud noise. The walls of the building began to move and the doors of the prison cells were broken off their hinges.
Today you will hear a Tale of Two Women – one a gracious, Jewish woman, the other was a Gentile slave-girl possessed with the spirit of the demon-god Python. You could not have a greater difference between the two and yet God used both to open the doors of Europe for the Gospel of Christ. Listen today and find out how he did it.
Going into new areas with the Gospel - this was uppermost in Paul’s mind. But on this day God did the unexpected. On this day, God told Paul, “No, don’t go there to preach.” Listen, today, and you’ll find out why God said “no."
Jesus said, "This is why I am sending my Spirit, this is why I am empowering you, and this is why I rose from the dead. I am going to bring my Father’s glory to the ends of this earth as the prophets said: “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”
We have been born again to a living hope. The resurrection of Jesus points away from the corruption in this world and away from the dead-end roads on which so many walk, to a new life, a new way of living, and a new inheritance that will never perish.
Jesus is not some mystical teacher with timeless truths about a faraway place some call Heaven and others Nirvana. Jesus is the one who came within history to fulfill a story that had been taking place on this earth for thousands of years.
The resurrection of Jesus proves he is who he claimed to be. That is why we can have such confidence, and why Easter should be something that lasts year-round for Jesus did not rise and then die again, but He rose to immortal life, and He lives today to bring grace and blessing to the world.
Let us shout this truth in the halls of every church and from our rooftops for the world to hear, what Jesus did on the cross was sufficient to destroy the barrier that kept mankind separated from God’s love and eternal purpose, and His resurrection proves it.
God raised Jesus from the dead and vindicated Him. Resurrection vision sees that the path He took and the way He lived was the correct path. Thus, while the word of the cross is weakness to many, it is, in reality, power.
In Jesus Christ, God came in the flesh. In other words, we see what a human really is. We see someone who perfectly reflects the image of God. We see love in all its purity. We see compassion in all its mercy. We see justice and righteousness for the hurting and poor, and we see commitment to God’s glory.
It is not just that a great prophet died. Jesus was the one many believed to be the promised Messiah. Yet they murdered him! Was there no end to the injustices and the suffering of the world? But He died, and God remained silent. Until the third day!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
As much as we love the Christmas season with all the carols and lights and family time and exchanging of gifts, celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and His victory over sin and death is our greatest season and our greatest reason to rejoice.
Jesus did not just face His death, but He faced the death of every person. Jesus did not just face the death of His body, but He faced the ultimate, eternal death that awaited all.
Many people have faced suffering and death with great courage, but when we see Jesus, we see him recoiling in great anguish and sorrow. Why this difference?
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why?
Why is there so much sorrow, so much sadness in the world?
Abuse, human trafficking, war and slavery, man-made famine in lawless lands where everyone is in danger from the violent who care only for their power. All these trouble our world.
The Bible, God’s holy word to mankind, tells us it was not always this way. It will not always be this way. Your fears can be relieved. Your shame can be wiped away. Your sins can be forgiven. Your hopelessness can disappear.
All things will be renewed!
Why do some say Mary Magdalene was the wife of Jesus? Why do some say she was the apostle to the apostles? Why have some believed that a power play in the church by despotic men robbed her of her special role in the first centuries of the Christian Church?
Mary Magdalene – along with many other women who had also been healed or freed from evil spirits – accompanied Jesus in his journeys throughout Galilee. They also accompanied him to Jerusalem and observed the horror of his crucifixion.
She saw the burial, and she knew that she must visit the tomb to give a proper burial with more spices than could be arranged in the final moments before the sun set on that fateful Friday afternoon.
And then it happened.
Mystery and intrigue have surrounded the maiden from Magdala. Many have believed her to be . . .
Jesus’s wife . . . and . . . or . . .
The chief of the apostles . . . and . . . or . . .
An unfortunate victim of a male power play in early Church politics . . . and . . . or
A converted prostitute.
Take your pick. Mix and match. The probability is that you, like most, will fail to decipher the mystery if you rely upon sensational articles that have grabbed headlines and sold millions of books in our lifetime. Yet, since the Gospels were written, never have so many believed so much about one person with so little evidence!
What a contrast between false shepherds and Jesus. The true shepherd runs toward the danger to protect the sheep. The true shepherd strengthens the weak, heals the sick, binds up the injured and brings back the strays.
Let ask you some important questions, “Are you part of God’s flock? Do you recognize the voice of God calling you through Jesus Christ?” If not, I hope you will respond to him right now. He says he knows his sheep by name. This is a picture of intimacy. He wants a relationship with you. He wants to give you that security. He wants to lead you to green pastures and refreshing water. He has the best in mind for you.
The miracle of healing the blind man validated Jesus’ claim that he was the light of the world, but it also illustrated the two types of people in the world and the two responses to Jesus. Today we will look at those two responses.
What a contrast between the disciples’ approach and Jesus’ approach! The disciples focus on sin, Jesus focuses on the glory of God.
The picture of Jesus walking away should be a picture emblazoned in our mind. We don’t want Jesus to walk away from us because we are stubborn and proud. We often talk about people walking away from God but here we have a picture of God walking away from his people. Both are equally bad. God desires to have a relationship with us. He doesn’t want us to walk away. He doesn’t want to walk away. He wants fellowship with us, intimacy with us, a relationship with us.
Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. If we want to experience the freedom that Christ brings, we must acknowledge our sin and its consequences, and hold fast the teaching of Christ that will set us free.
People and cultures and civilizations become dimmer and dimmer, darker and darker as they stray further and further from God. But in his grace and mercy God sent his Son to bring light in this darkness.
There is only one opinion that counts, and one opinion to worry about. It’s not our accusers. It’s not our fellow humans. It is the opinion and the verdict of Jesus.
Have you sinned and you think you are beyond redemption? Do you seem to be in a situation that is beyond remedy? I have good news for you. Nothing is beyond the wisdom and the grace of Jesus. Listen today and learn why.
During the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the highlights was the Water Ceremony. Was it at this time that Jesus invited people to come to him and drink?
There are three responses to Jesus, a response of faith, a response of skepticism, and a response of total rejection. Which way will you respond today?
It is so easy to come to hasty conclusions. It is more difficult to be patient, to seek understanding, and to ask God for wisdom to see the full picture. Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles 3 explains why.
Cultures and civilizations are often built upon loving things that often are abhorrent to God, like finding fascination with the rich and famous and forgetting those who are downtrodden and suffer. This second message on Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles explains why.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a time of joy and a declaration of faith! But as the festival drew near, it would also be a time of temptation, and it would be a time of danger for Jesus.
Forgiveness may be the hardest gift to give, but it is a gift we must extend to others, lest we find ourselves in a prison of bitterness. This episode presents the story of a king who forgave a servant but that servant would not forgive his fellow servant. What happened to him and what lesson does it give us?
The rabbis of their day taught that people should forgive up to three times. Peter was doubling that and adding another for good measure! He said, “Lord, should we forgive up to seven times?” Well, that was a good start, but even here, Peter was wrong. Yes, he had gone far beyond what the rabbis taught, but it was not far enough for Jesus said in verse 22, “I tell you, not seven times but seventy times seven!”
The kingdoms of the world value power, but Jesus put forward a child as the greatest. The kingdoms of the world value philosophical wisdom, but Jesus spoke of simple, childlike trust as the quality he was looking for.
What we do for God one day does not guarantee that we will do it the next day if we do not walk closely with the Lord. We can celebrate great victories, but we must not let our celebrations keep us from seeking God freshly.
It was a night like no other for the disciples. Peter, James, and John had ascended a mountain just beyond the border of northern Israel, most likely Mt. Hermon, and there Jesus revealed himself in his divine glory. As if that were not enough, the great law-giver Moses and the great prophet Elijah appeared with Jesus and were talking with him about his impending death in Jerusalem and what it would accomplish.
Jesus’ body began to change. It began to glow with light. The glory of God that lay hidden in his humanity was coming to the surface. His face shone like the sun. His robe turned a brilliant white, as white as lightning in a dark sky. And two men appeared with Jesus. It was Moses and Elijah.
What would it profit you to gain everything, to gain the whole world only to lose it all in the end? The tragedy is that so many of us forfeit life, not for the whole world, but for small things.
Our weapons are mighty before God. God expects us to use them. We cannot just do church for the sake of doing church because it is the respectable thing to do. We must engage the enemy.
Let us always remember that God makes His advances through people like us who are messed up, just like Peter was, but who are open to the work of God in their hearts.
Jesus took his disciples to a pagan place, a place of idol worship, a place of abominable practices, yet it was here that Jesus would ask his disciples a crucial question and stake his claim to be the One who would combat the powers of darkness.
The Pharisees and Sadducees are testing Jesus demanding a sign from heaven. His signs on earth were not enough. They had seen him perform amazing miracles, but now they wanted more proof! They are not seeking for assurance to strengthen weak faith. They are approaching him from a foundation of unbelief.
Jesus was outside the land of Israel. It was one of the few times that he journeyed outside the boundaries of his nation. This part of the gentile world had Jewish communities, but the paganism of the gentiles was evident to all with their Greek ways and worship of idols. There was also bad blood between the people of this area and the Jews in Galilee.
The edge of his robe, a crumb from his table. Healing is no problem for Jesus. It takes very little effort for him to heal, and whenever anyone at any time showed faith, Jesus was ready to show his power on their behalf.
The woman was traveling southeast looking for Jesus. Jesus was traveling northwest looking for rest and quiet. Their paths would soon meet in one of the greatest stories of faith in the gospels.
It is amazing that something as simple as a meal could become the focus of a controversy between Jesus and the religious authorities. But that is what happens when people lose sight of the simple and pure devotion of love for God and create man-made traditions that do more harm than good.
Jesus showed there was a deeper problem. The religious leaders became so involved with making new laws about following God, that they forgot about God Himself!
Do we follow Jesus only for what he can do for us or do we follow him because we want to serve him, see his name glorified in the world, and bring to other people the life-giving eternal bread of Christ?
The disciples had been with Jesus for months. They had seen him do the impossible, yet they still could not figure out the solution for their problem even though it was standing right in front of them!
What should we do when trouble comes upon us? Should we become silent? Should we cease our gospel work? No, as Jesus said, “What I have told you in private speak loudly and publicly to all. Shout it from the rooftops!”
Everyone knows that a wolf is a predator, and a sheep is its prey. Sheep need to be protected. But notice that Jesus is sending the sheep to be among the wolves! Why would he do that? Because the wolves need to be saved also!
We must think deeply about all the ways God has freely given to us. He has poured abundant grace upon us all. In the same way, we should pour abundant grace upon others.
The people were hurt, they were bleeding, they were ripped apart by ruthless people – government officials, religious officials, oppressive policies, debt, a lack of work, no land to farm. Jesus saw them as sheep without a shepherd and his heart was deeply stirred.
All of us want the blessing of God. There is nothing wrong with that. God created us to receive his blessing. But he also created us to trust him to bring that blessing in the best way.
The crowds that pressed around Jesus must have wondered why they had not been healed. They had touched Jesus’ body, and nothing happened. But a woman touched the fringe of his garment and was healed.
Jesus was on his way to heal a young, dying girl when he was interrupted by a woman who needed healing. Would he be too late to help the little girl
This story in the life of Jesus that you are about to hear is a story of great power, a confrontation between the power of darkness and the power of the kingdom of God.
It is safer to be in a boat in the middle of a lake in a raging storm in the will of God than on dry land and be in disobedience to him.
Nothing can stop the plan of God. His word will prevail, his purposes will be carried out in the world, and we can rest our lives, our hopes, and our dreams fully upon him.
We must notice the difference in the hearts of the magi, and in the hearts of the political and religious leaders. The magi travel a great distance to give homage to the king. But the religious leaders won’t even take the 5-mile journey to find the child for themselves.
Those events happened to Joseph and Mary that we might have our hearts moved to lift praise to God for who Jesus is and for what he has done for us.
From the emperor to the baby, from Caesar to the child, Luke sets up the story this way because he wants us to know that the great reversal has started.
Doing God’s will has its glorious moments, and it has its heart-wrenching, sometimes heartbreaking moments. Sometimes there is clarity of vision and joy and praise, and sometimes, confusion, grief, and doubt.
Anything we have, anything that we do for God’s glory to advance his purposes in the world is by the grace of God.
Such is the grace of God. The word of God tells us that God will do more than we ask or even imagine! God is not only the God of grace; he is the God of abundant grace.
It began with a vision to a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem. God was starting his work in Israel by doing the impossible.
He did not come just for the wise or the strong or the elite. He came for everyone – even those who thought their lives had been wrecked beyond repair.
Jesus is the one about whom prophets spoke. He is the son of David who will rule the world. He is the son of Abraham who will bless the nations. He is the son of Adam who will restore humanity to its original glory. No other person could ever make such a claim.
Jesus has come to claim the nations for God. Jesus has come to quiet the rebellion of the earth, to subdue the nations of the world, and to reinstate the reign of God. Today we are going to discover how he does this and how you and I get to be part of it.
What makes God laugh? Did you know that God laughs? Three times in Psalms it says this. Today, we are going to learn one surprising reason why he laughs and how this can bring great comfort to our souls.
You would not heed the counsel of a wicked person, would you? Of course not, but wait until you hear the story of what happened in a Christian school in our country!
The first word of the first chapter in the book of Psalms is “happy.” The last word in Psalm 1 is perish. It is as if the writer is saying, “I am holding out two paths for you. One brings happiness, one will cause you to perish. Which path will you choose?”
John wrote his book to warn churches that were in spiritual danger. What exhortations do we find in his closing words to warn and equip us in our spiritual battles?
Is it possible that some of God’s people go so far into sin that we should stop praying for them? It’s a great question, with a surprising answer.
What if we discover a friend or family member in sin? Do we ignore it? Do we become critical? What does God want us to do?
For some reason we have come to think that an answer to prayer must always be “Yes.” But isn’t “No” or “Wait,” also an answer?
Why are some prayers answered and others not? How can we build confidence that God hears and acts on our prayers?
We accept human testimony all the time. If we accept human testimony to confirm things, should we not accept God’s testimony?
Why is it that an overzealous monk added a verse to the original manuscript of Scripture? Today, let’s find out what he did, and why.
The world is a frame of mind and a way of life that is ignorant of, apathetic to, or defiant to God and His will and which is reinforced by the prevailing culture. It’s not a list of “do’s” and “don’ts” as much as it is a way of thinking that separates people from God.
We regularly talk in Christian circles about overcoming the world, but what does that mean and how do we do it?
Twelve times in only six short verses John uses the word “love.” It must be important. Let’s find out what John said.
What about the future of the world? What about the future of my kids and grandkids? What about my future? What will happen when I stand before God?
How do we know that our belief in Christ is correct? How do we know that what we teach and what you hear is really God at work?
Can we be sure that God loves us?
Can we be sure that our Christian experience is the true God at work in our lives?
How can we face the future without fear?
I am sure all of us agree that the greatest need in everyone’s life is to experience love. No one argues that. And yet, the sad reality is that many do not experience love, or they experience a distorted form of love.
Our young people and adults have bought into the spirit of the age – relativism – and are sitting ducks for a sharp shooting religious salesman
We live in a time in which it is trendy to be tolerant of everyone’s beliefs. People say, “it’s OK to believe whatever you want to believe. You have your truth and I have mine.” Is this the right approach?
Sometimes, we have an over-active conscience and sometimes our hearts can falsely condemn us. We worry about things we shouldn’t worry about and beat ourselves over things that don’t matter to God.
Become a giver. Give as opportunities rise. But also give as a discipline. Become a consistent giver to the work of God. Don’t give God your crumbs. Don’t give Him the leftovers. Give to Him first. When you get paid, let that be the first check you write, not the last.
If you were to ask the average person, “Do you think you can know absolutely for sure if you will go to heaven when you die?” most would answer, “I would like to. I wish I did, but I don’t know.”
Sin is not a friend. Sin is a ravenous beast, always devouring—never satisfied—and its desire is to master us.
Some Christians get headlines for their moral failures. Some get headlines for their political views. But not often do we get headlines for our love.
If you are truly born of God, you will not continue as you were before you became part of his family. You will come to many points in your journey where you just won’t be able to do the wrong thing because it’s not who you are.
Jesus came to tear down the web of deceit that leads us astray. He came to expose the lies we believe. He came to change us from the inside out.
When we get tired of our aimlessness, our emptiness and frustration, then we want change. Jesus offers that change.
The more we walk with Jesus, the more we will understand His 100% tenacious devotion to take away sin. And that will change our lives.
Following Jesus will change our lives because He will change the way we view life in four ways. Today, I will share the first of those four ways.
God measures time differently than we do. We have an earthly, human, limited perspective. God has an eternal, divine perspective. Let’s learn more about this today.
A meteor streaked across the Russian sky creating a massive sonic boom. Buildings shook, glass was broken, and hundreds of people were injured. Many people thought the end of the world had come. Had it?
A few years ago, a Christian personality predicted Christ would return on May 21. When that didn’t happen, he said he had miscalculated and that it would be in October. We are still here. A pagan version said that the end of the world would come last December 21, based upon the Mayan calendar. We are still here.
What does the Bible teach about the end times? What does it say about Christ’s return?
God-given desires fulfilled in forbidden or excessive ways are the lust of the flesh. God-given desires fulfilled in God-given ways are acts of loving God. Let’s explore this today.
The path that takes us from infancy to adulthood is not always smooth. Many dangers are on it. We must learn about them.
It’s sad to see someone who is 38, but who is still emotionally in his teen years. It’s the same way spiritually. I will show you today how to avoid that.
When people come into the church they come at different stages of growth. Some are children, some are young adults, and some are quite mature. It presents a challenge to minister to the various needs that present themselves all the time. God's Spiritual Timeline helps you to discover where you are in God's program of growth.
John gives two reasons why Christians in the church need to remain in the Church and stay faithful. Today we will learn what they are.
We are facing many of the heresies today that John talked about in his first-century letter. In this message, we will discover what they are.
In 1 John 2:7, John said, “I am not writing a new commandment to you but an old commandment. But then in verse 8 he says, “I am writing a new commandment to you.” What’s going on? Let’s find out today.
How do we know who true Christians are? If we were to conduct a religious poll in our country, 94% of the people would say they believe in God. Large percentages of these would say that they are Christians. But we look at such reports with bewilderment. If so many people are Christians, why is our society the way it is?
We will never probe the depths of God’s love until we understand the depths of His anger and wrath toward our sin. I will unpack this statement for you today!
The apostle John tells us something in his letter that will make the difference between a defeated life and one that is vibrant, radiant, and victorious – the kind of life we all want to live. Let’s find out what he said.
There are so many wrong ideas about sin. What is the right approach to get rid of the sins in our life? Today, we will find out!
“Am I a sinner? If I am, how do I compare with other sinners? Am I as bad as others, or better than others?” Today, we will begin to answer these questions.
If you have given your life to Christ, why you did that? Many people have many answers, but today, I will share with you the greatest reason of all!
Do we really believe that God will not let anything harm us? Really? That’s a hard one to swallow, especially for some of us who have experienced pain, injury, and harm. Let’s talk about that today.
I have heard many complaints to God through the years, but they all come down to four questions. Let me list them for you. First, God, where are you? Second, God why did you do this to me? Third, God, why did you let this happen? Fourth, God, why have things turned out this way? Today we will talk about them.
It is popular to acknowledge Jesus as a great teacher or even a prophet, but people want to keep him away from their lives. Today I will show you that Jesus did not leave us that option.
What is faith? There’s a lot of ideas about it. Some people have called it “a leap in the dark.” Some people say, “it doesn’t matter what you believe – just believe.” Today, I will tell you a story that will explain what faith really is.
In the first century many people were telling many stories about Jesus. The same has been true throughout church history. Some were saying, “Yes. I’ve heard stories about Jesus, but I have concluded that Jesus wasn’t really a man. He was more of a semi-god who only took the appearance of humanity. He wasn’t truly human.” Others were saying, “Oh, he was a man but that’s all he was. He was the son of Joseph and Mary and he was very wise but there was nothing divine about him.” But these people never met Jesus. Should we trust them to tell the truth about someone they never met?
Who was telling the truth?
John was dealing with the dangerous heresies that came from Greek ways of thinking. He was dealing with the false religion of Docetism that said Christ Jesus was not really human and with the beginnings of the false religion of Gnosticism. What is the truth about Jesus Christ? What was His relationship with God? What was his nature? Was He the eternal Son of God, God in the flesh? Was he fully human?
The words written by John in his first letter are a warning and a sober reminder that we are in a spiritual battle. It raged during the life of Christ. It raged in the first century as his apostles took his message to the world. It has raged throughout church history, and it rages in the times in which we live.
Everything that any man could ever want is found in the presence of our holy God. Every longing is met, every aspiration fulfilled, every thirst quenched, and every hunger satisfied.
Sin knocks on the door of our hearts and wants to come in masquerading as our friend and servant, but once we let it in, it becomes our master and never wants to leave.
I have some good news for you today. Even though we all have times where we stumble, these are the times to remember that our relationship with God is based upon him and his perfect record, not us and our imperfect record. Let’s learn how this can set us free.
One of the most important lessons to make progress in a holy life is the difference between condemnation for sin and conviction of sin. One is from the devil. The other is from God. Have you learned the difference?
Imagine if you were sick or could not walk for 38 years. Imagine if Jesus healed you from that. Imagine if Jesus then said, “Don’t fall into sin so that nothing worse will happen to you.” What could be worse than being sick for 38 years? We’ll find out today.
The song Blessed Assurance describes the kind of life we want, not a life of seeing how much we can get away with, not a life of half-heartedness, and not a life of reluctant, begrudging obedience, but a life of happy holiness. Let’s learn more about it.
What did holiness look like on Jesus? He was perfect, yet he always was getting into trouble with religious people and was loved by sinful people. I think it’s time we take a good, hard look at Jesus and ask him to show us what holiness is and isn’t.
It seems impossible to understand true holiness, but if we do not, will we ever be full of joy as the Lord promised, because holiness and happiness belong together? Who can help us? It’s time to take a good, long look at Jesus Christ.
Did you know that before God laid the earth’s foundations, he had you in mind, and he settled on you as the focus of his love, to make you whole and holy?
Is it possible to be happy and holy at the same time? I fear that many of us may have bought into the lie that if we want to have joy, we should not follow Christ. But nothing could be further from the truth.
There are so many things that clamor for our loyalty today. But there is one loyalty to which we must give allegiance above all others.
Many want to follow Jesus. Many admire him. Many respect him. Many know that he is special, and many want the excitement that comes from following Jesus. But the path of following Jesus is often hard.
God’s Kingdom is the most prized possession in the world, but its value is not apparent to all. It is like a treasure hidden in a field.
In the initial stages of His Kingdom, Jesus was not interested in gathering as many people as possible to follow Him. Gathering a multitude was an easy task because of His miraculous power. But forming a band of faithful men who understood what His Kingdom mission was about—that was a different matter! The parables would reveal those who had responsive hearts to the things of God. Jesus said, “Whoever has, to him shall more be given.” In other words, those who responded to His parables with a good heart would be given more information, insight, and blessings of the Kingdom. Whoever has, to him shall more be given.
What is a parable? It is a simple story drawn from everyday life. Throughout His ministry, Jesus used them to illustrate key points. For example, He would talk about shepherds and sheep, kings and citizens, planting and harvesting, baking and cleaning. Yet as the confrontation with some intensified, and as the multitudes thronged to hear Him speak, Jesus began to use parables for something more than illustrations. He used them to test the multitudes perception of His message on the Kingdom. Such was the case with the parable of the Sower and the Soils.
We are looking at the story of Jesus casting a demon out of a man. The demon had blinded this man and made him unable to speak. When Jesus cast out the evil spirit, the man’s sight and speech were restored! What a glory to God, and the common people who saw it rejoiced greatly. But not the religious leaders. They drew a line in the sand. They explicitly rejected Jesus. They said he was using the power of Satan, sorcery, to drive out demons.
What better way to demonstrate the power of God over the power of Satan! It was Satan who led humanity away from God in the first place. Since the Garden of Eden, the power of Satan had spread its deception in the world and was leading humanity further astray. It was the power of Satan that was behind the pagan empires of the world and their idols. What better way to inaugurate the kingdom than by binding and casting out Satan’s minions!
Mary Magdalene was one of many women who dearly loved Jesus. How could she not? How could they not? Jesus healed them. Jesus treated them with respect. Jesus dignified them. Jesus gave them an important role in his mission. Jesus appeared to them first when he rose from the dead. These were women who loved Jesus. Do you?