Weekend Sermon -- The Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds -- Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43

     Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon.  Thank you for taking the time to read the blog and the sermon this week.  I hope and pray that everyone is doing well.

     I have had a fairly good week.  There have been some difficulties with my new job that was supposed to start this Monday.  Now, they are telling me that the start date won't be until 10/9.  I am not really sure what is going on.  At this point, I will believe it when I see it.  Please keep praying that everything will work out as it is supposed to, and the will of the Lord will be done.  Pray that I will get enough writing work so that I don't have to worry about a part-time job if this one doesn't work out.

     In another matter, it isn't of the utmost importance, I asked you to pray that the mole that was decimating my lawn would go away.  Well, that mole did go away.  Now, a greater and more destructive mole has taken his place.  My front lawn looks like a disaster area.  Please pray that this mole will leave.  Thank you.

     Now, for a very important matter of prayer.  The residents of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are suffering greatly as a result of two hurricanes hitting the islands.  These folks are American citizens just as much as those who live on the mainland.  They need much more aid and help than they are currently receiving.  Please pray that these people will get the aid and the help that they need quickly.  I know that an aid group from my area is heading down there today.  This is from an organization called Heart to Heart.  Please pray for these good people that they will be able to help many people in Puerto Rico.

     Please continue to pray for peace in the world.  Pray for peace in Syria, Libya, South Sudan and Afghanistan.  I can't even mention all of the nations that need prayers for peace, help and healing.  If you know of someplace that has a need, pray for them.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for the nations of Sudan and China.  Pray that many will hear and respond to the message of the love of Jesus.

     We have been studying the parables of Jesus here on the blog for most of 2017.  Today, is the final sermon in the parables of Jesus series.  Now, there are a couple of parables that I left out.  I will go back and finish these later, and I will finish the miracles of Jesus sermons we haven't done as well.  I plan to do that sometime late next year.

     Today, we are going to study the parable of the wheat and the weeds found in Matthew's Gospel.  In this parable, Jesus tells the following story.  A farmer went out and sowed good seed in his field.  When the farmer was asleep, his enemy went out and sowed weeds in the field among the good seed.  Eventually, the two started to grow up, and it became evident that there were weeds amongst the wheat.  

     The farmer's servants asked the farmer if he wanted them to pull up the weeds.  The farmer said no.  He was afraid that if they pulled out the weeds they might pull some of the wheat up as well.  The farmer said that when the harvest came, they would separate the wheat from the weeds.

     Later on, Jesus' disciples asked Him to give them the interpretation of the parable.  Jesus said that He was the one who sowed the good seed.  The weeds are the children of the evil one.  At the end of the age when Jesus returns, the angels will gather all people and separate the righteous from the wicked.  

      Now, this parable has several different applications and possible interpretations.  Let's looks at some of these.  First of all, some people think that this is an allegory for the creation.  Everything was initially created good, but then Satan tempted humans to sin introducing evil into the world.  Since that time, some have been followers of the good and some have been followers of the path of evil.  When Jesus returns, He will restore the world to its original state, and all evil will be purged from the earth.

     Another interpretation holds that this is a reference to people in the church.  In the church, there will be authentic followers of Jesus and those who are just going through the motions.  Some may actually be trying to undermine the church.  These will continue until Jesus returns.  

     According to this view, we aren't to go about judging and trying to separate the wheat and the weeds now.  That will be taken care of when Jesus comes to judge the earth at His glorious Second Coming.

     Now, I think that this parable's meaning is more in line with the first interpretation.  Jesus said that the field is the world.  He didn't say that it was the church.  Jesus says that in this world there will be good and evil people.  Sometimes, it will be hard to distinguish the two because we can only look at the outward appearance.  Jesus is the one who can see into the heart of a person and make a correct judgment.  

     The battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil will continue until the Lord Jesus returns.  At that time, the angels will come and separate the good from the evil, the sheep from the goats.  

     Jesus will sit in judgment over all of the people who have ever lived.  Those who have made Jesus the Lord of their lives which is demonstrated by what they have done will be part of Jesus' kingdom that will have no end.  Those who have done evil and those who professed faith but did not possess faith as demonstrated by their actions will not be part of Jesus' kingdom.  They will be cast out.

     When Jesus returns, all of the wickedness and evil in this world will be eliminated.  The curse that is on the earth will be no more.  All will be restored to the Edenic state.  All will be well forever and forever.

     Any person alive right now can be part of the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.  He invites you to believe in Him and make Him the Lord of your life.  Turn your life over to Him and repent of your sins.  Jesus will accept all those who come to Him.  Whoever comes to Him, He will not cast them out.

     That ends our series in the parables of Jesus.  I have had a really great time sharing this series of messages with you.  I have several ideas for messages and series for the next several weeks.  I am not sure what I am going to do when yet.  I hope that you will keep reading the sermons over the next weeks.  I do know that I will be going through an Old Testament book and a New Testament book.  I may do a series on Judges, and I have several individual sermons planned as well.

     Next week I will post the sermon on Friday.  There will be a book review on Wednesday, and I will post the verses on Monday.  May God bless you all. Amen.

DVD Review -- A Streetcat Named Bob

     I have written before about how much I liked the books about James Bowen and his cat Bob.  "A Streetcat Named Bob," "The World According to Bob," and "A Gift From Bob" are all books that I definitely recommend.
     Last year, a movie was released about James and Bob.  It wasn't released in my area, so I had to wait for the library to get the DVD in.  It was worth the wait.
    I really enjoyed the movie version of "A Streetcat Named Bob."  The movie stars Luke Treadaway as James.  Also starring are Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt and Anthony Head.  Bob the cat actually stars in much of the movie.
    For those that don't know the story, James was working as a street musician and he was trying to get off of drugs.  He'd been homeless, but he was finally in housing.  One day, James came home to find an injured cat outside his door.  James spent his last money and took the cat, who he would name Bob, to the vet.  James thought that he would wait until Bob healed up, and then he would let the cat go back to the streets.  Bob had other ideas.
     Bob followed James onto the bus one day, and the two started busking together on the streets of London.  Later, James would start selling the Big Issue paper with Bob at his side.
     The film shows all of this, and it goes into detail about how James final got off drugs once and for all.  The film does differ from the book in some areas.  However, the film is still excellent with good performances.  I would highly recommend this film.  As there are scenes of drug use and recovery, parents might want to consider that when letting younger children view the film.

Verses For the Week

I John 2:6 -- "The one that says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."

John 12:26 -- "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; anywhere that I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him."

Weekend Sermon -- Binding the Strong Man -- Mark 3:20-30

     Thank you for reading the Weekend Sermon.  I am sorry that the sermon is so late today.  I had to go to a job interview this morning, and this is the first chance I've had to get in here to the library and get the sermon posted.  I hope that everyone is having a good day.
     I have good news to report, and I want to give thanks to the Lord.  I was offered the job at the interview today.  This is a part-time job just as I was hoping to get.  I will now have time to work on writing and ministry work, and I will have the part-time job to make sure I have enough to get the basic bills paid.  I want to thank you all for your prayers on my behalf in this matter.
     In prayer this week, please remember those in Mexico who suffered through the terrible earthquake.  They are still working to pull survivors out of the rubble there.  Let us pray that survivors might be rescued and that all those who were injured might recover quickly.
    There was terrible devastation in the Virgin Islands and on Puerto Rico.  Dominica also suffered terrible damage from the hurricane.  Pray that these people will receive the help that they need to recover.  Please continue to pray for those affected by the hurricanes in Texas and Florida.
     Remember to pray for peace in this troubled world.  Pray that tensions will relax between the United States and North Korea.  Pray for peace in Syria and around the world.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us all pray for the nations of Senegal and Bhutan.  Pray that many people in these nations will hear about the love of Jesus.
     Today, we are continuing with our series on the parables of Jesus.  After our message today, we will have just one more message in our parables of Jesus series.
     When Jesus began His public ministry, the religious leaders of His day did not want to listen to what He had to say.  They went so far as to blasphemously accuse Jesus of using the power of Satan to cast out demons and perform miracles.
     Jesus responded by saying, "How can Satan cast out Satan?  A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand."  Jesus went on to say, "No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man: then indeed the house can be plundered."  He went on to say that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was the unpardonable sin.
     So, what did Jesus mean by binding or tying up the strong man?  Jesus was trying to demonstrate to His critics that He was not in league with the devil.  Jesus was actually the one who was going in to the house, binding the power of Satan and setting free those whom Satan had held captive.
     When Jesus arrived on the scene, the powers of hell could not stand against Him.  He cast out demons, healed the sick and brought people out of the darkness into the kingdom of His marvelous love and light.
     Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus dealt one blow after another to Satan.  Satan tried to tempt Jesus, but Jesus did not succumb to Satan's futile attempts at temptation.  Jesus quoted the Word of God to the devil, and the devil departed.
     When Jesus went to the cross and died so that the sins of the world might be forgiven, the devil thought that he had won a victory.  But, Jesus rose in triumph from the grave defeating the devil once and for all.
     When Jesus returns at His Second Coming, He will bind Satan, and he will no longer be able to tempt the people and the nations of the world into sin.  His reign of terror will be over once and for all.
     The only way that we can be set free from the power of sin is by the power and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we call on Him in repentance and faith, He forgives our sins and takes it away.  In its place, we receive the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.  We are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit living in us is greater than any power that the forces of hell can unleash.
     Now, there is another way I believe that we can look at these words of Jesus about binding the strong man.  Many of us have issues in our lives that are holding us back from living for the Lord to the fullest.  It may be habit or some hurt from the past that is exercising power over us.  The only way that we will be effective in our service for the Lord is if we deal with the issue and move on for the Lord.
    What we need to do if this is the case, is to pray and ask the Lord Jesus to come, and by His power remove those areas in our lives that are keeping us from going full out for Him.  The only way that we can overcome in life is through the power of Jesus.  We can do nothing in our own strength.  With Jesus, nothing is impossible.
     Now, this could be a message on its own, but Jesus ends the parable by stating that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unpardonable sin.  Much has been written as to what constitutes blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.  I think that it plain from the context.  When someone attributes the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil, as did the religious leaders in Jesus' day, that is the unpardonable sin.  Someday, I might post a whole sermon on this.
     Next week, I will post the verses on Monday.  On Wednesday, I will have a review.  I will post the final sermon in our parables of Jesus series on Friday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Book Review -- In God's Hands

     One thing that I really enjoy about going to my local library is that I can look through all the books and find books that I didn't know about.  I've discovered many interesting books and videos just by browsing through the library when I'm not working on writing.
     I found the book I'm review today just by looking through the religion section.  "In God's Hands" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu was written to be a book for the Lenten season.  I think that it will be a great book to read at anytime throughout the year.
    In this book, Archbishop Tutu speaks about how that we are loved by God not because of anything that we have done, God loved us because He made us just the way we are.  Each person is loved by God and is of value and importance to God.  All that we have from God is by His grace.
    Archbishop Tutu uses some excellent imagery in the book to describe the way that God loves and cares for us.  His interpretation of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep is excellent.
    I don't always agree with everything the Archbishop Tutu says in regard to theology.  He is not as conservative in theology as I am.  However, I like to read all sorts of books whether I agree with them in there entirety or not.  As I said previously, I enjoyed reading all of Marcus Borg's books about Jesus, and Borg wouldn't have agreed too much with my theology.
    With that said, I believe that "In God's Hands" is a very good book that helped me to feel the love of God in my heart.  You can't expect much more than that from a book.


P.S.  -- Please continue to pray for those in Mexico who are suffering as a result of the earthquake.  Also, pray for those in the path of the hurricane down in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico.
     They are calling for bad storms in my part of the country as well.  Please pray that these will not materialize.  Thank you.

Verses For the Week

Isaiah 65:17 -- "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth.  The former things will not be remembered nor will they come to mind."

Luke 13:29-30 -- "People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

Some Various Thoughts and a Prayer Request

     Hello.  I hope that everyone is having a good day.  We have had some of the nicest weather of the year that last two weeks.  As I've posted before, this year we have had some very bad storms and flooding.  Well, it looks like the nice weather is about to come to an end.  They are calling for bad storms tonight and possible flooding during the week.  I would like to ask everyone who reads the blog if you would pray that the storms won't be too bad.  Thank you.
     This week it will be eight years since my Mom passed away.  The anniversary of her passing is bothering me more this year than for the past few years.  I can't believe that she's been gone that long.  My Dad has been gone for almost that long.  He will have been gone for eight years in February.  I know that my parents are both with the Lord Jesus in Heaven.  I know that I will see them again.  However, I still get down because they're not here with me.  Please pray that I will make it through the next few days without being too depressed.  Thank you.
     I am trying to find a part-time job to supplement my writing.  I am not having too much success right now finding what I am looking for.  Writing has been pretty good though, so I am grateful for that.  I would be very happy if writing picked up and I didn't have to find any other work.
     I've been working on a book about the Sermon on the Mount.  I am almost finished with the rough draft.  I hope to publish this as an ebook sometime around the beginning of 2018.  I will have more information on this when this project nears completion.
     I am also starting a novel about a minister and his dog.  I won't say too much more about that yet as I'm working out a few of the plot details still in my mind.  I am very excited about this project.
     Please be in prayer for the people in London who went through another terrorist attack yesterday.  Pray that these attacks will cease all over the world.
   

Weekend Sermon -- Matthew 24:32-35 -- Parable of the Budding Fig Tree

     Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon this week.  I am glad that you are reading the blog, and I hope that everyone is having a good day.
     I  have been having a good week in writing.  I am thankful to the Lord Jesus for all of the writing jobs that He's allowed me to work on.  I am praying that I will get enough work to keep writing full-time, and do ministry work as well.
     In prayer this week, please pray for all of those who were affected by Hurricane Irma.  Many people in the Caribbean are suffering greatly as a result of this storm, and much of Florida is still without power.  Please pray that these areas will receive the aid that they need.  Also, please continue to pray for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.  Many were also affected by flooding in India and Bangladesh, and they certainly need our prayers as well.
     Please continue to pray for peace in this troubled world.  Pray for peace in Myanmar, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and South Sudan.  Wherever you know of war and violence, pray for peace in that place.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in Morocco and Taiwan.  Pray that many in these nations will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
     We are drawing near to the end of our series on the parables of Jesus.  We have today's message and two more after this.  I am not doing messages on the parables that were in the Sermon on the Mount as we covered those in our series on Jesus' message.  I am also not bringing messages on the parable of the growing seed and the dragnet because messages I've already posted on those have been read by many, and they are still available on the blog.
     Today, I want to focus on the parable of the budding fig tree as it is recorded in Matthew 24.  Matthew 24 is a complex discourse by Jesus that deals with the destruction of the Temple that would occur in 70 AD.  At the same time, Jesus is telling us what the signs of His ultimate coming will be.
     There are various interpretations of this chapter and the section that contains the parable that we will study.  I will give an overview of the two main interpretations, and then I will present my ideas as to what Jesus is saying here.
     Jesus has just told His disciples what the signs of the end were going to be.  He said that there would be famines and earthquakes.  He said that there would be a time of great tribulation.  He said that people would look up and see the Son of Man coming in power and great glory.
     Jesus then told this parable.  He said just as the branch of the fig tree becomes tender and sprouts buds as summer is near, when all of the things He predicted begin to take place, we would know the end is near.  Jesus said that this generation would not pass away until all things that He had predicted came to pass.
     So, what are we to make of this passage.  There are two prominent interpretations of Matthew 24 and this parable.  One view holds that Jesus is speaking entirely of events that would take place prior to the destruction of the Temple.  They believe that Jesus words about this generation not passing away were fulfilled because most of Jesus' listeners were still alive when the Romans destroyed the Temple.
     The other main view holds that Jesus is mainly speaking about the time before the rapture.  This view interprets the fig tree as a symbol for Israel.  This view states that when the nation of Israel once again becomes an independent state, the generation that sees that happen will not pass away before Jesus comes and raptures the church before the time of the Tribulation.
     I don't fully agree with either of those views.  I believe that Jesus is speaking in much the same way that the prophets in the Old Testament spoke.  They often spoke about two things at once.  Their prophecies often had both a near term and long term fulfillment.  I'll give you an example.  In Jeremiah 31:15, Jeremiah speaks about Rachel weeping for her children.  This refers to the people of Judah being taken captive by the Babylonians.  However, we learn in Matthew's Gospels that this was also a prophecy of Herod's massacre of the infants in Bethlehem.
     I believe that in Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking about what will transpire before the destruction of the Temple and what will transpire before He returns in His glorious Second Coming.
    The reference that Jesus makes to the fig tree is a symbol.  Just as trees bust forth in blossoms in the spring, we know that summer is coming fast.  So too, when we see those things that Jesus predicted coming to fruition, we know that He is about to come again.
     Let me be clear, Jesus will say that no one knows the day or the hour when He will return.  He may come today, or it may be a long time yet.  Only the Father knows.
     I do not believe in the theology that states that Jesus will come and rapture the church and then their will be a seven year tribulation and then Jesus will come to earth in His Second Coming.  I believe that Jesus was clear in teaching that He will come in power and great glory at the close of the age.  When He returns, He will judge those on earth.  Those who have put their faith and trust in Him will spend eternity with Him in His kingdom that will have no end.  Those who have rejected the message of the love of Jesus will be excluded from the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.
     Jesus calls on all of us to be watchful and to be ready should He return at any moment.  We do not want to be engaged in something that is displeasing to the Lord should He return.  We need to be out sharing Jesus' love with others should He return.
     I am longing for the return of the Lord Jesus.  When He comes, He will restore everything to the way it was in Eden before sin entered into the world, and before the earth was cursed because of humanity's wrong doing.  The curse will be lifted, and sin will be no more.  The lion will lie down with lamb.  Swords will be beaten into plowshares.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and He shall forever more be praised.
     You can be part of that great and glorious day.  Jesus invites you to come to Him and repent of your sins.  He asks that you believe that He died and rose again.  He wants you to accept Him as the Lord of your life.  You can turn to Him in repentance and faith today.  Jesus said that whoever would come to Him, He would not cast them out.
     Next week, we will continue with our series on the parables of Jesus.  I will post the verses on Monday, and there will be a review on Wednesday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.

Book Review -- A Thousand Mornings

     I thought that I'd read just about all of the poetry books that Mary Oliver has written.  I realized that I'd missed one when I was looking through the poetry section in the library and came across her poetry collection entitled, "A Thousand Mornings".  As some of you probably know, Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets.  I've reviewed and recommended her poetry books here on the blog in the past.  Early this year, I reviewed and recommended her new book of essays entitled "Upstream".
     "A Thousand Mornings" is a beautiful collection of poems.  If you've never had the opportunity to read Mary Oliver's work, this book would serve as a good introduction.  Much of Mary Oliver's work is about nature and the feeling of awe that it inspires.  I find her poetry to be simple and yet profound.
     Ms. Oliver had a dog named Percy, and she's written many poems about that little dog.  In this volume there is a Percy poem as well.  I think it is the best of all of them.  I would post it here on the blog, but that would get me into copyright problems.
     I hope that you will take the time to read this poetry collection and other collections of Ms. Oliver's work.  I've enjoyed writing poetry for many years now, and I love to read poetry collections from a variety of poets.  I wish people would take the time to read more poetry.  There are many good poetry collections available at your library or local bookstore.

Verses For the Week

     Please continue to pray for those impacted by hurricanes Irma and Harvey.  Thank you.


Philippians 4:6-7 -- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God that passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 -- "So we do not lose heart.  Though the outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Weekend Sermon -- A Friend Comes At Midnight -- Luke 11:5-13

     It's time for a new edition of the Weekend Sermon.  I want to thank all of you who read this blog every week.  I hope that everyone who reads the blog is having a fantastic week.
     I am very grateful to the Lord for all of the writing work that He has allowed me to do this week.  I've been writing a lot of health related articles for a company, and I've been working on a new book project.
     I would like to ask everyone to be in prayer for those who are in the path of Hurricane Irma.  This hurricane has already decimated several islands in the Caribbean, and it is making its way toward Florida.  Pray for those affected by the hurricane that they will receive the aid that they need.  Pray that this hurricane will weaken and go out to sea without hurting anyone else.
     I heard on the radio this morning that southern Mexico and northern Guatemala had an earthquake.  Let us all pray for those affected by this natural disaster that they will receive the aid that they need to recover.
     Please keep the people of Texas in your prayers.  They have a long way to go in the recovery down there.  Also, continue to pray for those affected by the floods in India and Bangladesh.
     Continue to pray for peace in this troubled world.  Syria and Iraq really need our prayers right now.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Cambodia and Guinea-Bissau.  Pray that many in these two countries will hear about the love of Jesus.
     This week, we are once again studying one of Jesus' parables.  We only have about four more parables to go in this series.  Today, we are going to focus on a parable that teaches us about prayer.
     Jesus was asked by His disciples if He would teach them how to pray.  In response to this request, Jesus taught His followers what we now call the Lord's Prayer.  Immediately after providing the prayer, Jesus told a parable about prayer.
     Jesus said that there was someone who had a friend come to him at midnight.  This friend had a friend of his come to visit, but there was not enough bread in the house to feed the guests.
     The man who was awakened at midnight told his friend that he was already in bed with his family.  However, the friend kept persisting.  Jesus said that the man who was awakened wouldn't get up and get the bread just because the man was his friend.  He would get up and get the bread because his friend at the door kept persisting in asking.
     Following this story, Jesus tells us that we should keep asking, seeking and knocking.  We must persist in prayer.
     Jesus said that an earthly father would not give something bad to his children if they asked him for something good.  The Father in Heaven will give us good things and He will especially give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
     So, what does this parable have to teach us?  What are we to take from it?
     I think that Jesus is quite clear in this parable.  We are to pray,, and we are not to lose heart even when things don't look like they are improving.  Sometimes we will pray and pray for something to happen, but the thing we pray for just doesn't come to pass.  At these times, we might feel like giving up.  But Jesus is telling us to not give up.  We should not give up in prayer unless we receive the answer, the Lord tells us no, or like He did with Paul, He says that His grace is sufficient and we aren't to pray about a certain matter any longer.
     There have been times in my life when I have really had to persist in prayer in order to receive what I had asked the Lord to do.  I will give you a couple of examples.  My friend Toby had a terrible autoimmune disorder that affected his skin.  I prayed and asked the Lord to heal him.  Toby didn't get well right away.  I prayed for Him everyday for almost one year, yet Toby kept having intermittent flare ups of the skin disorder.  However, one day, Toby was completely healed, and he never had another flare up again.
     About 20 years ago, I developed a skin problem called vitiligo.  It was a fairly bad case.  I prayed for about six months before God completely healed me of vitiligo, and I've never had any problem with it again.
     These are just some examples of my own life about continuing in prayer and not giving up.  I urge you not to give up because you never know when the answer is going to come.
     I can't even begin to answer the question as to why the Lord answers some prayers right away and why He sometimes makes us wait.  Sometimes, even when we persist, the answer doesn't come.  I've had this happen too.
     When my Mom had the bad stroke that left her so debilitated, I prayed every night until she died five years later that the Lord would make her better.  She never got any better.  She got worse every single day.  I don't know why this happened, but I do know that she is now with Jesus, and all is well for her.
     I can think of one time when I had an instant answer to pray for a what I'd call a major situation.  Toby had just had an operation for liver cancer.  The oncologist at the veterinary specialty clinic told me that Toby would live a maximum of six weeks.  I prayed and asked the Lord to let Toby live longer than that and to totally blow away the veterinary prognosis.
     Toby didn't live six weeks.  He lived for 13 months cancer free.  I will always be grateful to the Lord for this blessing, because that was an awesome 13 months that I will never forget. The veterinarians were amazed.
     I know that it is hard to keep believing when answers to prayer don't come.  I know people who've been praying for family members to come to Jesus for decades, but still there is no response.  Please don't give up.  Jesus tells us to keep asking, seeking and knocking.
     We all need to be confident in the fact that the Lord wants to give us good things.  He does want what is best for us.  We need to trust in His goodness and His love while we obey what He has taught us.
     Never give up in prayer.  Never give up in trying each day to be more and more like Jesus.  Never give up in trying to help others and to make this world a better place.
     Next week, we will continue with our series on the parables of Jesus. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will have a book review on Wednesday.  May God bless you all. Amen.
     

DVD Recommendation

     Today I am not going to review a book.  Instead, I would like to share a DVD series recommendation with you.  Last week, I was just glancing through the DVDs that had been returned at the library, and I came across a series called "Earthflight".  I decided to check it out, and it is fantastic.  This series follows birds as they migrate across different continents.  What's wonderful about the series is that it gives the viewer a bird's eye perspective.  The visuals in this series are truly stunning.  There are several episodes, so the series will provide at least a couple of enjoyable evenings of viewing.  The series is narrated by David Tennant, who adds to the quality of the entire production.

Verses For the Week

     I forgot about the library being closed on Labor Day, so I was not able to post the verses yesterday.  Here are the verses one day late.


Psalm 94:19 -- "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."

Psalm 119:111 -- "Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart."

Weekend Sermon -- Luke 17:7-10

      Welcome to this edition of the Weekend Sermon.  I am glad to be with you today, and I hope that everyone has had a good week so far.  For those who read the blog in the United States, I would like to wish you all a happy Labor Day weekend.
     I want to thank the Lord that my uncle and his family made it through the hurricane in Texas with no problems.  Thank you for your prayers in this matter.  We all need to continue to pray for those in Texas and elsewhere who have been and are being affected by this terrible storm.
     While much of the world has been focused on the storms in Texas, there has been terrible flooding in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.  Over 1,000 people have lost their lives.  Let us all pray for these folks that the flooding will stop and that they will receive the aid that they need to recover.
     I would like to thank the Lord that I've had quite a lot of writing business.  I am still wanting to find some additional work, and I ask that you would pray for me regarding this matter.
     Please continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world.  The war goes on and on in Afghanistan.  Pray especially for this nation this week.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for the nations of Myanmar and Tunisia.  Pray that many will come to know Jesus in these two countries and around the world.
     We are rapidly approaching the end of our series on the parables of Jesus.  We have only a handful of messages in that series left.
     Today our focus will be on a parable Jesus told about the proper attitude of those who would serve Him.  This parable is found only in Luke in chapter 17 verses 7 through 10.
     As I begin today, I want to say that I find this to be a very difficult parable to understand.  I have a way that I believe that it should be interpreted.  You may disagree with my interpretation, and that is certainly your right.  I do think that the overall point that Jesus is making in the parable is clear.
     Jesus begins this parable by asking a question.  He asked who among the people would say to their servant, "Come here immediately and take your place at table?"  Instead, Jesus said that a master would have the servant prepare the master's meal and then the servant could get something for himself.
     Jesus said that when we have done what is commanded we should say, "We are unprofitable servants, we have done what we were obliged to do."
     So, here is what is difficult in this parable as far as I am concerned.  First of all, this is not the way that Jesus would act Himself.  Jesus said that He came to serve and not to be served.  He also gave us the Golden Rule saying we should do unto others as we would have done unto us.  Also, Jesus said that He no longer calls us servants, He calls us friends.
     What I think Jesus is doing here is two things.  First of all, Jesus is using an example of how things worked in the world that He lived in.  This is the way masters and servants interacted.  I am sure that He is not condoning it.  I also do not think that He is downplaying the fact that the Lord is pleased when we follow His commandments.
     Here is what I think is the important thing that Jesus is trying to teach in this parable.  We are to follow those things that the Lord has commanded in His Word.  There is no doubt about that.  When we do this, we aren't to pat ourselves on the back and think about how good we are.  We are just doing what we are supposed to do.
     I think that Jesus is saying more than this.  Just doing what you are supposed to do is what a servant does in interaction with a master.  The servant does not go above and beyond because there is no reason to do that.
     Jesus has called us friends, and we are His friends when out of hearts filled with love for Him we go above and beyond what we have to do in service for the Lord.
     Let me try to illustrate this.  Some people are known for their outstanding service to the Lord.  They have given there entire lives to the service a Jesus because of their great love for Him.  In this same way, Jesus calls us to go above and beyond to serve Him because we love Him.
     Even then, we are to have humble hearts and realize that no one ever does all they can for the Lord.  We can never do anything to earn His favor.  Everything that we have comes by His grace.
    This is what I understand this parable to be saying.  Like I said, you may have a different understanding.
     As I close the message I just had something that I wanted to discuss.  Over the last couple of weeks, I've had a few comments in the sermons of what people might say were of a political nature.  I think they were based on the moral teachings of Jesus.  Some people were upset by what I said, and they don't want to read the blog now.  I do not back away in any way from what I said.  There is no place for racism in the church.  It is against everything Jesus preached.  Also, Jesus stood for the poor and the oppressed against the powerful and those who oppressed others.  Jesus loved everyone, and He included everyone.  I believe in these things with all of my heart.
     Right now in my country, many evangelical leaders are standing up for the powerful against the powerless.  They are not standing as Jesus stood on the side of the poor and the oppressed.  I won't do this even if no one ever reads the Weekend Sermon again.
     I do thank all of you who have read the blog over the years.  I will keep posting messages about the Lord Jesus and what I believe He preached and stood for.  I hope that you will join me.
     Next week, we will continue with our series of messages on the parables of Jesus.  I will post the verses on Monday, and there will be a review on Wednesday.  May God bless you all.  Amen.