Weekend Sermon -- New Year Priorities

      This will be the final sermon of the year. I already have some new sermon series planned for next year, and Lord willing we will be getting into those. Also, I have completed the second half of my book on the Minor Prophets, and I will be posting that beginning sometime in January. I want to thank everyone for reading the blog, and I want to thank the Lord for the opportunity to post the messages and the verses each week. 

     As we leave one year and go into another, many people make new year's resolutions. Most people don't keep their resolutions for very long. Going into a new year, I hope that each of us will focus on a couple of areas in our lives, and work to make sure that we keep up all the year long.

     For the new year, I would like to urge everyone to put Jesus first in every area of your lives. In Colossians 3:15, the Apostle Paul tells people to "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." The way that we do this is by following Jesus as Lord. We do the things that He has commanded us to do, and we follow the will of the Lord in our lives. We need to put the way of the Lord first and do things His way as we make our way throughout the new year. Jesus told us that the Great Commandment was to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This means loving the Lord with everything that we have. It means putting the Lord first in our lives. 

     If we put Jesus first and let Him rule and reign in our hearts, we will have a good year regardless of what other circumstances might beset us. When we let Jesus be first, we know that we will be with Him one day. That knowledge gives us a peace that passes all understanding. It allows us to persevere even in the hard times of life. 

     The second thing that I would like us to focus on in the new year is that we need to put the needs of others over and above our own needs. I like the way Paul puts it in Philippians 2:3-5 where he says, "Don't be selfish, don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had."

     We do have our own needs. There is nothing wrong with meeting those needs. However, we don't want to just think about ourselves. We want to be thinking about helping others and doing good for other people as we go throughout the new year. There are many hurting people in the world today. As believers in Jesus, we can help others by telling them about the love of Jesus. We can also find ways to meet people's needs in a compassionate and practical manner. 

     I know that many of us who live in more prosperous countries and are able to give of our resources to help others. We can donate to food banks or help others who don't have the means to get through tough times. We all can encourage others and help them in the hard times of life as the Lord enables us. 

     As we go into 2024, let us resolve to put Jesus first and to work to help others. That will make for a great year. In all things, let us ask the Lord that His will will be done in His way throughout every day of the new year. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am doing well in some areas of my health and not so well in others. Please keep praying that I will get to feeling better all around. Thank you. 

     Please pray for those who are recovering from natural disasters around the world. Pray that they will get the aid that they need. 

     Keep praying for peace. I know that it gets discouraging, but the Lord has told us to keep praying and not lose heart. Let us keep praying for peace in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Oman and Kyrgyzstan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday due to the New Year's day holiday. I will post the message next Friday. May God bless you all.  

Verses For The Week

 John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life."

John 1:1 -- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Weekend Sermon -- A New Birth

      This is the last message before Christmas. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and I want to thank everyone for reading the messages over the last year. 

      I am going to keep things a little shorter for our Christmas message today. I want to focus on the idea of new birth. On Christmas, we celebrate the fact that the baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The angels announced the birth of the Savior to the shepherds who were abiding the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. The shepherds came and worshipped the new born king. We also know that the wise men followed the star and brought their gifts to the infant Jesus. 

     The birth of Jesus brought a great change into the world. The light came into the world. The Messiah was born into the world. The Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world was born among us. 

     The birth of Jesus brought joy, hope and love to the world. The incarnation of Jesus, His sinless life, His sacrificial death on the cross and His bodily resurrection have made it possible that we might have a new birth. 

     In John chapter 3, we are given the record of Jesus' encounter with a man named Nicodemus. Jesus told Nicodemus that unless one is born again, one cannot see the kingdom of God. As Jesus told Nicodemus, that doesn't mean that a person is reborn physically. It means that we all need a spiritual new birth.

     This new birth takes place when a person places his or her faith and trust in Jesus. The Bible says that we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 

     In II Corinthians 5:17, we are told that, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."   When we come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, the past is behind us. We are forgiven and made new. We have a spiritual new birth in Jesus Christ. 

     I hope that during this Christmas season that you will accept the gift of love and forgiveness from Jesus. He will change your life completely. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please pray about the storms headed toward where I live. We are supposed to have a lot of rain. Pray that there won't be flooding or problems caused by the rain. Thank you.

     Pray for those recovering from natural disasters. Those in Tennessee, the US Northeast, China, Acapulco and many other places need our prayers. 

     Continue to pray for peace. Pray for peace in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan this week. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Myanmar and Uzbekistan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, the verses will be posted on Tuesday. I will have a message for the New Year. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week and Update

      Sorry about posting the verses late again. The sermon will probably be on Saturday again this week. I am still feeling bad. Please keep praying. Thank you.

Isaiah 26:3 -- "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Psalm 37:5 -- "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."

Weekend Sermon -- Why Did He Come?

      It is once again time for the weekend sermon, and I want to thank the Lord for the opportunity to post this message. Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. 

     This week, we are continuing with our messages for the Advent season. Today, I want to focus on the question of why did Jesus come to this earth as the infant in the manger? What was it that led the Lord of glory to humble Himself and to be found in the same form as humans?

     The answer to our questions begins back in the first book of the Bible. When God originally created the universe, there was no sin that disrupted His creation. God placed humans in the pristine Garden of Eden. They were allowed to have communion with the Lord and with the other creatures that God had made. The Lord asked only one thing of Adam and Eve. He told them that they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

     Eve was tempted by the serpent, and she ate of the forbidden fruit. She gave the fruit to Adam, and he ate of the tree as well. Sin entered into the world. The Bible says in Romans 5:12 that sin entered into the world by one man, and death passed upon all. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. 

     Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden. The earth was cursed for man's sake, and all of the universe was tainted by sin. 

     In spite of humanity's rebellion against God, God provided the promise of a redeemer beginning in Genesis 3:15. Many other prophecies were given throughout the Old Testament letting the people know that the Messiah was going to come. 

     Jesus was born on Christmas Day in order that He might be the one to take away the sins of the world. Because of Adam's sin, everyone was born under sin and deserved the penalty of sin. God became man in order that He might succeed in every way that Adam failed. Jesus is the man who did what God required. He lived a sinless life. Therefore, Jesus could be the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He was tempted in all ways like us, yet He was without sin. 

     Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross. His death paid the penalty for sins. Through His bodily resurrection from the dead, Jesus conquered the consequences of sin which are death and hell. 

     Those who place their faith and trust in Jesus are then identified with Him, and they are no longer identified with the sin of Adam. Paul puts it this way in I Corinthians 5:22, "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

     As we see, Jesus came to save of us from our sins. However, He also came to show us how we are supposed to live in this world. Hebrews 1:2 tells us that in these last days, God has spoken to us in His Son. We are to listen to Jesus. We are to follow His teachings and obey His commandments. Jesus serves as our example of behavior in all things according I Peter 2:21. In Jesus, we have the perfect example of what to do in life. If we follow His teachings and the example of His life, we will not go wrong.

     This Christmas season, I hope that you will turn from sin and turn to Jesus if you have not already done soon. I hope that all of us will make a great effort to follow Jesus in all that we do. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I am still not feeling the best, so I ask that you would continue to pray for me. I thank you for your prayers. 

     Please continue to pray for peace in the world. The situation between Israel and Gaza is horrible right now. We must pray for peace. Please keep praying for peace in Ukraine. Sudan is in great need of prayer. 

     Pray for those who are recovering from the various natural disasters that have occurred around the world. Pray for those in Tennessee, Acapulco and other areas. 

     Pray for immigrants and migrants that they will get the help that they need. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kuwait and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our Advent theme. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week and an Update

      Here are the verses. I am sorry they are delayed. I want to tell everyone that the sermon will be posted on Saturday this week. 

Isaiah 40:4 -- "Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low, the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth."

Malachi 3:1 -- "I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire will come, says the Lord Almighty."

Weekend Sermon -- Waiting

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message today. I hope that all of you are doing well. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post this message. 

     We are in the Advent season, and one of the aspects of this time of year as we approach Christmas is waiting. I know that when I was young, I had a hard time waiting for the time to come to open up the presents that were wrapped up under the tree.  As I've gotten older, I have to wait for a lot of things like doctor's appointments and such. Waiting is never easy. Sometimes it can cause anxiety and doubt that anything good will even happen. 

     Before the birth of Jesus, there was a long period of waiting. When Adam and Eve sinned in Eden, God gave the first mention of a redeemer which we find in Genesis 3:15. This verse states, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between her offspring and your offspring, he shall bruise your head, and you will strike his heel." This is the first prophecy that one would come who would crush the work of Satan.

     From that time until the birth of Jesus, thousands of years went by. During that time, the Lord continued to give messages that the Messiah was coming. Isaiah and Micah are just a couple of the prophets who told that people that the Messiah was on the way. People needed to be ready and keep their hearts and minds set upon the things of the Lord. 

     Looking back, we know that the Messiah did come. Jesus was born on Christmas Day. Galatians 4:4 tells us that when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son. Everything worked out just right in God's timetable of events. 

     Those of us who are believers in Jesus are looking forward to the Second Advent. This is the time when Jesus will come again just as He promised. One place we read about this is in John 5:28-29.  Jesus will return and judge the world. He will restore all things to the way that they were before sin entered into the world. 

     It has been 2,000 years since Jesus left this earth, and we continue to wait for His coming. We know that some people mock and discount the fact that Jesus will come again. The Bible tells us in the writings of Peter that this will be the case. We also know that just like in the first Advent, Jesus will come again at just the right time in God's timetable. 

     Because God kept all of His promises about the first coming of the Messiah, we can have confidence that what He told us about the Second Coming is true also. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. 

     While we are waiting in anticipation of the coming of our Lord, we have to remain ready. Jesus told us in Matthew 24:42 to stay awake, for we do not know when He is going to come again. In anticipation of the fact that Jesus could return at any moment, we need to remain faithful. We need to be living lives of holiness so that we are not ashamed at His coming. We need to continue to obey the Great Commission and tell others that Jesus loves them and wants to forgive them. We need to help others and do good to the least among us. 

     We are waiting. We are waiting for Christmas, and we are waiting for the coming of the Lord again. Let us live for Him always. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I would ask that you pray with me about my health once again. My arthritis and lung problems are doing well, but I am having a lot of stomach problems. I thank you for your prayers. 

     Continue to pray about the situation in Israel and Gaza. Pray for peace. Pray for the release of hostages. 

     Pray for peace in the other troubles areas of the world. This week, let us focus our prayers on Ukraine and Sudan. 

     Continue to pray that those recovering from natural disasters around the world will receive the aid that they need. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Somalia and Iran. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with an Advent themed message. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Galatians 4:4-5 -- "But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Psalm 2:7-8 -- "He said to me, you are My Son, today I have become Your Father. Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession."

A Christmas Memory With My Friend Toby

      I posted this story a few years ago here on the blog. I wanted to post it again so those who might have missed it can see it this Christmas season.

 I have had a great love for astronomy for many years. When I was in college, one of my very favorite classes was the astronomy class that I had the good fortune to take. The course had a great professor, and he made the class both fun and informative. One of the activities that we did during the course of the class was observing sessions. The professor set up three or four large telescopes on the roof of the science building, and we were able to see the moons of Jupiter, sunspots, nearby galaxies, and close up views of the moon. 

     I wanted to have a reflecting telescope for many years, and one year, my Mom bought me a Newtonian reflector for Christmas. I still have that telescope all these years later. The telescope had to be assembled, and my friend Toby was always a willing assembly partner. Whether it came to setting up the Christmas tree or setting up my new computer in my office when I started writing, Toby was always there. 

     After Toby finished pushing around the pieces with his nose and sitting on the directions, I was able to finish setting up the telescope. It was time to take the telescope outside and view the stars in the heavens. My folks were going to a Christmas Eve party, so it was just me and Toby out underneath the clear night sky. 

     Even though it was a smaller telescope, I was able to see a lot with it. As I was out there with Toby looking at the stars, the thought came to me of how small the two of us were among the vastness of the universe. Even though the universe is so vast, and God is so powerful that He created all things by the world of His power, He stills cared about a man living in the middle of nowhere in Kansas along with the small dog that was the man's best and truest friend. 

     That night, with my friend by my side, I thanked the Lord that He loved me and cared about me. I thanked Him that in the vastness of the world, He allowed Toby and myself to find each other and become friends. I still thank God and praise Him for His power. I thank Him for all the wonderful things that He has done. 

     This Christmas season, remember to thank God for caring about us enough to send His Son to be with us so that we might be with Him in His eternal Kingdom that is to come. 

Weekend Sermon -- Stay In The Spirit Of The Season

      Thank you for reading the message this week. I hope that you are all doing well. For the next few weeks, we will be having messages with a Christmas theme.

      The Advent season is a time when we anticipate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. It is to be a time of hope, love, joy and peace. We are to let our hearts be filled with the spirit of the season of Christmas. It is the time to put aside negativity, selfishness, greed and the other emotions and actions that lead to discord and meanness in our world. 

     That is what it is supposed to be. However, that isn't always what seems to happen at this time of year. Often, the time around Christmas is filled with a great deal of negative actions and emotions as well as depression and loneliness. 

      Those of you who have read the blog for awhile known that in addition to writing and ministry work, I also work in retail. I have to deal with customers all of the time, and let me tell you, it seems that every year the people that I deal with are becoming more rude and nasty. This seems to be especially true during the holiday season. It is already in full swing this year. And it's not just me who is noticing this. My colleagues at work have noticed it, and a national radio show has had reports on the rude and obnoxious behavior of many that is increasing. 

     As believers in Jesus Christ, let us make sure that we do not engage in rude and offensive behavior during this holiday season. It is not a good testimony for the Lord when those who claim to be His followers act in a mean and unkind manner. Those of us who follow Jesus should be the kindest and most respectful of people in our interactions with others. We want the people that we interact with to see the love of Jesus living in us and coming out of us to others. 

     There are a couple of things that I would like us all to keep in mind as we enter the holiday season. First of all, remember the words of Jesus when He said to do unto others as you would have done to you. Always treat others in the same way that you would like to be treated. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Also, remember the admonition of the Apostle Paul that we should always be kind do one another and tenderhearted. 

     When you are with family and friends, or out shopping, remember to always think about what Jesus would do in any given situation. If we pattern our lives and actions after the Lord Jesus, we can't help but to have a great holiday season. 

     Finally, remember the message of the angels to the shepherds during this holiday season. They came bringing a message of peace to all. Let the peace of Christmas be in your heart. Let Jesus guide you and let His peace be in you. And may you give the peace of Jesus to all with whom you come in contact this holiday season. Amen.

 Prayer Requests

      There is supposed to be some bad weather in my area over the next couple of days. Pray that we don't have any ice problems. 

     Pray for peace in this world. I am glad that some of the hostages have been freed. We need to keep praying for peace in Israel. Pray that peace will prevail during this season of the Prince of Peace. Also, continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and other places where there is turmoil.

     Keep praying for those recovering for the storm in Acapulco.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Taiwan and Guinea. Pray that many will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. 

     Next week, we will continue with a message for the holiday season. On Monday, I will post the verses. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

      I am sorry the verses are delayed. I was dealing with some issues yesterday. 

Proverbs 19:17 -- "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his deed."

I John 3:17-18 -- "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth."

Weekend Sermon -- Thanksgiving

      This is the week of the the Thanksgiving Day holiday here in the US where I live. I want to wish everyone a good holiday, and I would like to thank everyone for reading this blog. I hope that you are all doing very well. 

     Last week, we finished our series on the names and titles of Jesus. This week, I want to focus on the theme of thanksgiving in keeping with the holiday here in my country. 

     The Bible has a lot to say about being thankful. I Chronicles 16:34 tells us to "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His steadfast love lasts forever." In I Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul tells us to give thanks in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. There are a number of other verses in the Bible that tell us to be thankful and to give thanks to God for all that He has done. 

     As believers in Jesus, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We know that Jesus has forgiven us of our sins, and He is with us always. He will never leave us, and He will never forsake us. Those who are in Christ can be thankful for the fact that when we die, we will go to be with Jesus in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. 

     There are many general things of life that we should always thank the Lord for. We should always give thanks to the Lord for our food, clothes, jobs, homes and the other important things in life. There are many people who don't have enough, and we need to thank God for those things that we have. In addition, if we have what we need and are truly thankful, then we need to give and help others so that they have what they need to get by in life. 

     God has truly blessed. We have a beautiful world that God has made. Many of us have loving relationships with others that God has provided for us. It is important to always give thanks to the Lord for His abundant blessings. 

      One of the things that I am especially thankful for this year is the fact that I live in a place that is not beset with war. I can't even imagine what some of the people in this world are going through at this time. 

     God has blessed me over the years, and I am thankful to Him. He gave me great parents. The Lord gave me my best friend Toby. I have a good brother. Recently, the Lord provided a solution to some of the financial problems I'd been dealing with. 

     Whether you live in the US and are thinking about the holiday or not, think about all of the blessings that God has provided to you, and give Him thanks. In addition, make sure to always say thank you to the Lord for His answers to prayer. Give thanks to the Lord. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I have been feeling some better, and I am thankful to the Lord. Please keep praying for my health please.

     Pray for an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Pray for the hostages to be free.

     Continue to pray for peace in the other troubled areas of the world. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Syria, Myanmar and everywhere else where there is war and strife.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Guinea-Bissau and the United Arab Emirates. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will begin a series of messages for the Advent Season. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

Happy Thanksgiving

      I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day. If you don't live in here in the US where we are celebrating, I wish you a great day filled with God's blessings. 

     I want to say thank you to the Lord for salvation and forgiveness of sins. I want to thank Him for being with me throughout the year. I thank the Lord for my family and friends and for helping me with my finances. I thank the Lord for my best friend Toby. Thanks be to God for every blessing. 

Verses For The Week

 I Chronicles 16:34 -- "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Colossians 4:2 -- "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

Weekend Sermon -- Who Is Jesus To You?

      Over the course of the last few months, we've been studying some of the names and titles of Jesus that we find in both the Old and the New Testaments. With our message today, we are wrapping up this series. I want to thank everyone for reading the sermons each week. I also want to thank the Lord for the privilege of sharing the sermon each week. 

     All of the names and titles of Jesus that we've studied have important implications for us. These names and titles give us insight into the humanity and deity of Jesus Christ. The names and titles of Jesus allow us to understand more of what He has done for us in the past and present, and what He will provide for those who love Him into eternity. 

     Something we need to consider as we close this series of messages is who is Jesus to you? Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16 who people said that He was. Some thought Jesus was a great prophet or one of the great prophets of old come back to life. Jesus moved the conversation along. He asked them who they said that He was. Peter responded by saying that Jesus was the the Christ and the Son of the Living God. 

     Everyone of us has to answer who Jesus is for ourselves. We have to make it personal. You can know all of the information about who Jesus is according to the Bible, but it only counts for time and eternity when you make Jesus your personal Savior and Lord. 

     I hope that everyone reading this blog has come to know Jesus as Savior personally. I hope that you have made Him the Lord of your life and that you are allowing Jesus to lead and guide you in every aspect of your life. I hope that Jesus is your peace and that you are allowing the Good Shepherd to lead you down the paths that He wants you to go. I hope that you have a deep relationship with Jesus and that the names and titles that we've discussed in this series are a reality in your relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

     Maybe you've read some of the messages in this series about Jesus and you have not made Jesus the Savior and Lord of your life. You can do so today. You can always come to Jesus in repentance and faith. Jesus has told us that He would not cast out anyone who comes to Him.

     I've really enjoyed sharing this series of messages with you. Jesus is my Lord, and I love telling others about who He is and what He has done. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I want to thank the Lord for providing me with some much needed help. I've mentioned on here before that I needed some assistance financially. The Lord has provided, and I am doing much better in that regard. My health has not been that bad lately either. 

     Please pray about what is going on over in Israel. Pray that peace can come. Pray for the release of the hostages. It is a terrible situation all around. Violence needs to end. 

     Continue to pray for peace in the other troubled areas of the world. Ukraine and Sudan both really need our prayers for peace right now. 

     All around the world, there has been an increase in antisemitism and anti Islamic feelings. There is no place for this. Pray and work for an end to all forms of hatred.

     Pray for the people of Acapulco recovering from the hurricane. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Chad and Morocco. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will have a sermon about thankfulness as it is the time of the Thanksgiving holiday here in my country. After that, we will take time to have sermons for the Advent season. On Monday, I will post the verses. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Romans 8:18 -- "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Matthew 5:4 -- "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Alpha And Omega

      Counting today's message, there are only two more messages in our names and titles of Jesus series. I thank you for taking the time to read the messages, and I thank the Lord for the opportunity He has given me to post the messages. 

      Today, we will focus on the fact that Jesus refers to Himself in the book of Revelation as the Alpha and the Omega. We read this three different times in Revelation with one of the occurrences being in Revelation 22:13 that reads, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." What does this mean? 

      In the Greek language, alpha is the first letter of the alphabet. Omega is the last letter of the alphabet. Jesus is saying that He is the beginning and the end of all things. What does it mean that He is the beginning of all things? First of all, it means that Jesus as the diving Second Person of the Holy Trinity has existed throughout all of eternity. The Gospel of John refers to Jesus as the Word. It tells us that In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 

     Jesus is also the beginning of all things in the sense that He is the creator as we saw in the message a couple of weeks ago. Everything that is was created by Him, for Him and through Him. All that exists came into being and is sustained because of Him. 

     We also view Jesus as the beginning of all things spiritually. He is the one that provides redemption for us. He is the one that has the ability to bring us from death to life. 

     Now, what does it mean that Jesus is the Omega, or the Last, or End? First of all, it also means that Jesus is eternal and divine. He will not have an ending point. Jesus will exist on into the future into eternity forever and forever. He is beyond time. 

     Jesus is also the one that will bring this current age to its consummation. He will return and rule and reign on this earth. After that period, the Bible says that this earth will end, and the Lord will create a new heaven and a new earth. Jesus will bring this earth to its consummation, and institute a new one. 

     We as believers in Jesus can take great comfort in the fact that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega. He is not going anywhere. He will always be with us. He will always take care of us. He will always be there to make sure throughout all of eternity that all is well for those who have placed there faith and trust in Him. Everything that is good, and right and holy, is forever contained in the person of Jesus Christ. 

     Jesus came into this world in order to take away our sins. He has provided all with the opportunity to have eternal life with Him forever. Trust in the saving love of Jesus today. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying in regard to my health. I have had some of the worst pain in my life this last week. 

     Pray for an end to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. Pray for peace, and pray for the release of the hostages. 

     Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan. 

     Pray for those trying to recover from the terrible storms in Acapulco and parts of Europe. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Azerbaijan and India. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.

     Next week, we will have the final sermon in our current series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Philippians 4:6-7 -- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Psalm 23:4 -- "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Author And Finisher Of Our Faith

     Over the past several weeks, we've been engaged in a study of the names and titles of Jesus found throughout the Bible. This week, and for the next couple of weeks, we will be studying this same theme. Then, it will be time for messages based on the theme of Advent. After a sermon for the new year, I plan to begin another series of messages. I have quite a bit already planned for next year. Lord willing, we will have a couple of different series, and I will post the last part of the book about the Minor Prophets. 

     Today, I want us to focus our attention on the fact that the Bible refers to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We read this in Hebrews 12:2 that states, "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

     What does it mean that Jesus is the Author of our faith in this context? Jesus is the one who made it possible that we can be redeemed. As our text for the day lets us know, Jesus died on the cross in order to save us from our sins. Without the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross, we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins as Paul tells us. It is only through Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life that we can have forgiveness of sins. 

     In addition to this, we need to understand that Jesus is the Author of our faith in that we could not even have the faith to believe in the Lord but by His grace. Some people have the idea that we hear about the message of salvation and then we have enough faith to come to Jesus. However, this is not the teaching of the Bible. We are given the gift of faith in order to believe. When we hear the message of the cross, by God's grace, we are given the faith in order to be allowed to believe in what Jesus has done for us. In this way, Jesus is all and all. We can do nothing apart from Him in order to save ourselves. We are not redeemed by anything that we do. We are what we are only because of what Jesus has done for us. By grace we are saved. 

     Now, what does it mean when we say that Jesus is the Finisher of our faith? It means that Jesus is the one who will bring us to ultimate redemption with Him in eternity. He will complete the work bringing us to be with Him for all eternity in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. Philippians 1:6 tells us, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

     When we are in Christ, we don't have to worry that He will abandon us. He will see us through. Right now, the Lord is in the process of molding and making us what we need to be. We are becoming more and more like Jesus each and every day. Jesus will be with us through the high and through the lows of life until the day that we behold Him face to face in all of His glory. 

     Jesus has completed the work of salvation. We can have complete confidence and faith in Him. It is my hope and prayer that if you do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord, that you will respond to Him this day. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I really need your prayers this week. I have a lot of important decisions to make. Also, I have had another health set back. 

     Let us pray for peace in Israel. Pray that the hostages will be free. Pray that the entire area will have peace, and pray that there will be a comprehensive peace solution for this area. 

     Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Syria and other places in the world experience conflict.

     Pray that those suffering as a result of the storm in Acapulco will get the aid that they need. Pray for all of those suffering as a result of natural disasters. I know that Europe is having a bad storm as I am writing this. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's be in prayer for those in the nations Iraq and Mauritania. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I have two more to go in this series. I will post the verses on Monday. I may have a review midweek. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 James 4:10 -- "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."

Jeremiah 17:7 -- "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is Our High Priest

     Thanks for reading the sermon this week. It has rained all week where I live, but we have not had any flooding, and I am thankful for that. I hope that you are all having a good week that is without problems. 

     Today, we continue our series looking into the names and titles of Jesus found throughout the Bible. In our message today, we will examine the fact that one of the very important titles of Jesus is that He is our high priest. 

     One of the places that we read about this is found in Hebrews 4:14-16 that tells us, "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

     Let us look at the idea that Jesus serves as our high priest. As we begin, let's look at what the role of the high priest was in the Old Testament. Aaron was the first high priest. He and the subsequent high priests were tasked with the important job of once a year on the day of atonement to go into the Holy of Holies in the Temple and offer the sacrifice from the lamb without spot or blemish for the people's sin. This is something that had to be done over and over again year after year. The sacrifice made by these priests could only cover the people's sin. It was not a once for all sacrifice. It did not have the power to take away sins. 

     Jesus is our high priest because He has made the once and for all atoning sacrifice for sins. As our Scripture today states, Jesus was tempted in every way like we are. However, while we commit sins in various and divers ways, Jesus never committed any sins. He was the spotless Lamb of God who sacrificed Himself on the cross in order to take away sins once and for all. Jesus as high priest is able to take the sacrifice of His own blood into the Holy of Holies and make the complete and everlasting atonement for sins. 

     When Jesus died on the cross, the Bible says that the veil that separated the people from the Holy of Holies was torn in two. This signifies for us that the sacrifice of Jesus has provided reconciliation with the Father. We can be reconciled with the Father and we are declared righteous based on the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. 

     Now, our text for the day also points out something that is important. Because Jesus was God and man, and because He was tempted like we are, He understands what we are going through in every aspect of our lives. That means that He knows our weaknesses, and He will aid us and assist us to overcome by His great power. When we do fall into sin, Jesus has provided forgiveness through His sacrifice for us. 

      Jesus has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has provided the once for all sacrifice for sin. Jesus invites everyone to come to Him that they might have life and have it more abundantly. Amen.

Prayer Requests

      I want to start today by asking everyone to pray about the situation in Acapulco, Mexico. That area was hit by a tremendously powerful hurricane. Many are suffering and need help. Please pray that aid will quickly reach those who need it. 

     Continue to pray for peace in Israel. Pray that the hostages will be released and that there will be an end to terrorism.

     Pray for peace in the other troubles regions of the world. Let us continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, Syria, Sudan and in the Sahel region. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue looking into the names and titles of Jesus. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

     

Prayer Request

     We are supposed to have a lot of rain in my area over the next couple of days. Please pray that we don't have any flooding or weather problems. Thank you. 

Verses For The Week

 John 16:33 -- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Isaiah 40:29 -- "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Creator

      It is once again time for the sermon, and I am glad that you have chosen to take the time to read the message for this week. I hope that you are all doing very well. 

     Since April of this year, we've been in a series of messages on the names and titles of Jesus found in both the Old and New Testaments.  In today's message, I want us to focus on the fact that Jesus is called the creator of all that exists. As we begin, let's look at a few of the verses in the Bible that point to this fact.

     The Gospel of John states in chapter 1 verse 3, "Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made."

     Hebrews 1:2 tells us, "but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world."

     We read in Colossians 1:16 that, "For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things were created through Him and for Him."

     This may be hard for some to understand, but the Scriptures make it clear that the pre-incarnate Christ as the Second Person of the Holy Trinity was the one who created and who sustains all that is. That is a sobering thought to realize that Jesus is the creator of everything in the entire universe. 

     The very first thing that comes to my mind when I consider this is that this demonstrates clearly that Jesus is God. Scripture is clear that Jesus is the incarnate Second Person of the Trinity. The Word became flesh and dwelled among us the Bible says. Jesus was not just a man. He was God come in the flesh. 

     When I consider the fact that Jesus is creator, it also makes it clear that Jesus was not a created being. Some hold to the mistaken belief that Jesus was a being created by God. This is not supported by the Bible and the verses that we have looked at so far in today's message. Also, some have held down through the centuries that Jesus was a man who God adopted as His son. The Bible clearly states that this is not the case. Jesus is called the creator and the sustainer of all things. 

     While He was on this earth, Jesus demonstrated that He was the creator. For instance, He made bread and fish for the five thousand and the four thousand. He commanded the winds and waves demonstrating His power over creation. Also, Jesus healed people and restored them. We see this when Jesus healed the lepers and restored the sight of the blind and hearing to the deaf. 

     When I think of Jesus as being the creator and sustainer of all, it creates within me a tremendous sense of awe. The creator of all humbled Himself and took upon Himself the form of servant. He bore my sins in His body on the cross. The creator of the world did all of this because of His love for me, you and all of His creation. The creator loved His creation and He wanted to redeemer that which He had made. 

     Now, there is something else that captures my attention in these verses about Jesus as Creator. The verse in Colossians lets us know that the world was created by Him and for Him. This world belongs to Jesus. This world does not belong to us to do with as we please. God has placed humans as stewards of His world to take care of this world. We are not to vandalize and destroy what Jesus the Creator has made. We have an obligation to take care of the Lord's world until the time comes when the Bible says that Jesus will come again and restore all things to the way that they existed throughout the universe before sin and evil came into the picture. 

     I want to close with this. Jesus is the Creator. He can create in any person a new heart free from sin and self. Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus can be freed from sin and become a new creation in Christ. All of the old will pass away, and all will become new. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     The first thing on my mind as we think about prayer requests is praying for peace in Israel. That whole region needs peace. Pray that the hostages will be freed. 

     There are many other places in the world that need our prayers for peace. Remember to pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan. 

     Pray for the leaders of the world that they will make good decisions and this critical time. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of China and Mali. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     My health is not that great again. I am having a lot of pain. Please pray that I will get better. Thank you. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. On Monday, I will post the verses. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 27:13 -- "I remain confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

Romans 15:13 -- "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Teacher

      Welcome to this week's sermon. I am glad to be posting the message, and I thank you for taking the time to read the sermon. I just wanted to thank the Lord and report that I am feeling somewhat better this week. 

     As I am sure you are aware if you've been reading the blog this year, we have been in an extended teaching on the names and titles of Jesus found throughout the Bible. We have a few more messages on this subject. Today, I want us to focus on the fact that Jesus was referred to as teacher, and He called Himself teacher. 

     Jesus called Himself teacher in Matthew 23:10 that states, "And do not be called teachers, for one is your teacher, the Christ." Jesus is The Teacher. We are to listen to what He says not what others say. 

     Jesus was called a teacher by others in the Bible. One of these notable times was when He was approached by Nicodemus during the night. In John 3, Nicodemus says to Jesus that the people knew the Jesus was a teacher sent from God. 

     Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is recorded as teaching the people and His disciples. In the passage containing the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7, it says that Jesus sat down and taught the people. We also see that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, and Jesus gave them the Lord's Prayer as a prayer in and of itself and as a model to use for prayer. Jesus also taught the people using parables and stories that are recorded in all the Gospels. Furthermore, Jesus taught His disciples extensively. One of Jesus' extended teaching sessions with His disciples is recorded in John 13-16.

     So, what does it mean for us that Jesus is the teacher? The primary meaning that this title has for me is that Jesus has the words of life that all of us need to follow. If a person wants to know how to be forgiven of sins and receive salvation, that person needs to listen to the teachings of Jesus. Those of us who have come to faith in Jesus especially need to follow Jesus as our teacher. 

     Being a Christian means following Jesus's teachings and commandments. During His time on this earth, Jesus provided teaching and instruction to us in two different ways. He demonstrated through His actions how we are supposed to live in this world. We are to do the things that Jesus did while He was here ministering to the people. 

     As Christians, we demonstrate the reality of our faith when we follow the teachings of Jesus and put them into practice in our daily lives. Sadly, many people don't want to follow Jesus because they see so many people who say they are Christians yet they do not follow the plain teachings of Jesus Christ. 

     Jesus told us clearly what He expects His followers to do. He clearly outlined His values and way of living in the Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon on the Plain and in the Upper Room Discourse. I urge to read these core teachings of Jesus and let them sink deep down into your spirit. Make them a part of your life. If all of those who name the name of Jesus would follow His teachings, this world would be a very different place. 

     One of Jesus' teachings that this world could definitely use right now is the Golden Rule telling us to do unto others as we would have done to us. If we would all listen and learn to treat others in the same way that we would want to be treated, what a different place the world would be. 

     Jesus is the teacher, and He has called us to share His teachings with others. Part of the Great Commission tells us to preach the Gospel and to teach others all of the things that Jesus commanded.

     Jesus is the teacher. He is Lord. He is God. He is Savior. He is the Light of the World. I invite you to give your life to Jesus if you have never come to Him in repentance and faith. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please be in prayer regarding the situation in Israel. This is a horrible situation. Pray for peace. Pray that those taken hostage will be set free. Pray that God will comfort those who mourn. 

     Continue to pray for peace in other places where war rages. Peace needs to come to Ukraine, Syria and Yemen among other places. 

     Pray for Morocco, Afghanistan and Libya as those nations are overcoming natural disasters.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     I would ask that you continue to pray that my health will improve. I am doing better. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 I Timothy 2:3-4 -- "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."

I Peter 2:15 -- "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is Prophet

      We are going to be wrapping up our series on the names and titles of of Jesus found in the Bible in about three or four weeks. I thank you for taking the time to read the sermon, and I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post the messages. 

     Today, I want us to focus on a title for Jesus given in the Scriptures that we don't focus on too much. Luke 24:19 tells us that Jesus was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and the people. When Peter gave a sermon recorded in Acts 3, he told his listeners that Jesus was the fulfillment of the words of Moses when Moses said that God would raise up a prophet from among the people that all of the people were to listen to.

     I think that the main reason that we don't think of Jesus as a prophet is that we want to emphasize the fact that Jesus is divine. Many claim Jesus is just a prophet or good teacher, and they fail to recognize the divinity of Jesus. However, we must not forget the prophetic ministry of Jesus and that He was referred to as a prophet in the Bible. 

     Now, how was Jesus a prophet? There are two things that we need to focus on when we think about this. First of all, a prophet was one who spoke for God and spoke authoritatively. Jesus certainly did that. We see this very specifically in the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. Jesus spoke the words given to Him by the Father throughout His ministry. In fact, according to the book of Mark, Jesus began His preaching ministry by calling the people to repentance because the Kingdom of God was at hand. 

     Prophets in the Bible gave a message from God to the people. They called on people to repent and change their ways. They called the people to a new way of living focused on following God and doing what He had called them to do. Jesus certainly fulfilled this aspect of being a prophet. 

     Another aspect of being a prophet in the Bible was to tell what would happen in the future. Jesus did this several times with His great prophecy on the destruction of the Temple being fulfilled before all of those who had heard Him make the declaration died. Jesus said that the Temple would be destroyed. That happened in 70 AD when Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. 

     Jesus also told of what would happen at the end of the age. He said that when the time was right, He would come with His angels to rule on this earth and bring judgment on evildoers. We can trust in what Jesus said because we know that what He said has happened. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. We can trust in what He said because His prophetic word has been proven. 

     We can believe in and trust in all that Jesus has said and done. He rose from the dead just as He said to bring new life to everyone who would come to Him and believe in Him. I hope that you will trust in Jesus today. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying that my health will improve. I am doing better. Keep praying about my job decision. Thank you.

     Continue to pray that those in Morocco and Libya will get the aid that they need to recover from the natural disasters that hit those two countries. 

     Pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan. Pray for all the places that you can think of that need an end to violence and conflict.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Turkmenistan and Jordan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Monday. I hope to have a book review midweek. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 I Peter 1:3 -- "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

I Corinthians 6:14 -- "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Resurrection And The Life

      It is time again for the sermon. I know that I am posting a day late. Once again, health problems are besetting me. Please keep praying. Thank you.

     In today's message, I want us to focus on what for me is the great title of Jesus given to us in the New Testament. Jesus said of Himself that He is the Resurrection and the Life. 

     While He was here on this earth, Jesus had people that meant a lot to Him. They were His friends in a special way. Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus. One day, word came to Jesus that His friend Lazarus was very sick. He needed Jesus to come and heal him, but Jesus delayed His coming. After a couple of days, word came to Jesus that Lazarus His friend was dead. 

     Jesus went down to Bethany the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He saw the weeping at the tomb. Jesus told them that Lazarus would rise. They told Jesus that they knew Lazarus would rise at the time of the resurrection of the dead, but Jesus told them something else. He told them, "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me though He were dead yet shall He live. And however liveth and believeth in Me shall never die."

     Jesus told them to roll away the stone from the grave of Lazarus who had been dead for four days. Jesus told Lazarus to come forth from the grave. Lazarus came out of the grave wrapped in burial cloths. Jesus told them to loose Lazarus and let him go. Lazarus had been raised to new life. 

     Just as He had the power to bring life to those who had died physically while He was here on this earth, Jesus has the power to raise all to new life. Why? Jesus Christ has conquered death, hell and the grave. How did He do this? He did this by dying on the cross and then rising bodily from the grave on the third day just as He said He would. 

     Because Jesus rose from dead, death no longer has any power over those who are in Christ Jesus. Death is the consequence of sin. Those who have their sins forgiven by the Lord Jesus are freed from sin and death. Nothing, not even death, can separate us from Jesus Christ for all eternity. 

     This title of Jesus is really important to me because I have lost so many people during my life. My parents who I was really close with have both passed away. One of my best friends died not very long ago. Most of my aunts and uncles have passed away. My best friend Toby has gone. Losing all of these has been really hard. But as the Bible says, believers do not grieve as those who have no hope. That is because Jesus is the Resurrection and Life. All of my family and friends believed in Jesus. He was their Savior and Lord. Because of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection, they are with Jesus right now in Heaven. 

     One day, when I pass from this world, I will be reunited with my friends and family. That is not because of any good that I have done, that is because of what Jesus has done for me. 

     If you are in Christ, you do not need to fear death. Those who die are immediately in the presence of Jesus. The Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. 

     At the end of this age, Jesus will come again in power and great glory. The Bible tells us that all who are in Christ will at that time receive a glorified body like Jesus' glorified body. The Lord will create a new heaven and a new earth, and that is where those who are in Christ will dwell with Him for all eternity. 

     You can be freed from the fear of death, and you can have a new life for now and for eternity in Christ. Turn to Jesus in repentance and faith. Accept Him into your life as Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I need to ask your prayers for an important decision I have to make this week. I have the opportunity to get a new job. There are advantages and disadvantages about doing this. Pray that I will have wisdom from on high to make the decision that is in keeping with the will of the Lord for my life. 

     Remember to pray for those who still need aid in Morocco and Libya. Also, pray that New York will recover from the bad flooding. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, and many other places, need our prayers for peace at this time. 

     Pray for an end to the fires in Canada.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kazakhstan and Brunei. Pray that many will come to know Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.  

Verses For The Week

 II Corinthians 4:17-18 -- "For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for 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."

Romans 8:18 -- "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Door of The Sheep

      Welcome to the Weekend Sermon. I am glad that you've taken the time to read the message, and I would like to thank the Lord for the opportunity to post the message today. 

     We are in a series of messages where we are examining the names and titles given to Jesus throughout the Scriptures. We are back in John chapter 10 today looking at the fact that Jesus Himself said, "I am the door of the sheep." This statement was made in the broader context of Jesus referring to Himself as the Good Shepherd. 

     One thing that I would like to point out is that the Gospel of John has as one of its main goals to point out that Jesus is divine. He is God come in the flesh. One of the ways that John demonstrates this is through what are called the "I Am" statements of Jesus given throughout the Gospel. These statements link Jesus with the I Am, God, who spoke to Moses out of the burning bush.

     When Jesus says that He is the door of the sheep, what does He mean? In the time in which Jesus was on this earth, shepherds played a great role in making sure that the sheep were secure from danger. At night, the sheep would be placed in a secure area. This could be made of stone, wood or some other material. Often, these enclosures would have an entrance, but there would not be an actual door or gate. The shepherd would often bring the sheep into the fold, and then he would bed down at night in the gateway and in essence act as the door of the sheepfold. 

     Jesus is the door of the sheepfold in the spiritual sense. First of all, He is the one who allows access into the sheepfold. Only those whom He allows admittance can get in. In the spiritual sense, those who put their faith and trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord are allowed to go into the sheepfold of the Lord. 

     Once a person is inside the sheepfold, the Lord as the door protects the sheep inside from any type of danger. The Lord does not allow any spiritual harm to come to His sheep. In order to get to His sheep, they have to come through Him. The forces of evil do not have the power to overcome the divine power of Jesus Christ. Nothing can harm us while we are in the protection of the Lord Jesus. 

     I know that I am secure in Jesus because of statements such as this one. I don't have to worry that my salvation will be lost or that the power of the evil one will snatch me away from the Lord. Jesus won't allow it. He is the one who has the power to keep me safe in Him until the day that I meet Him face to face. When I am with Jesus in Heaven, I will be safe there too. Ultimately, the believer has nothing to fear since Jesus who is all powerful has all in control and we are the sheep in His sheepfold. 

    As the Good Shepherd, He leads us into good pasture. If we follow Him faithfully in this life, He will lead us along the path that we should go. Put your trust in Jesus today. Let Him be your security. Reside in His sheepfold where all is well and all will be well forever. Amen. 

 Prayer Requests

     I went to the doctor this week and didn't get the best report. I am on some new medications, and I am going to have to see a specialist. Please pray that I will improve. Also, we are having a lot of rain where I live, and the forecast is for bad storms tomorrow. Please pray that the rains will not be bad and the storms will not be bad.

     Please pray for those in Morocco and Libya who are recovering from natural disasters. Pray that the people will get the aid that they need.

     Continue to pray for an end to the wildfires in Canada.

     Pray for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and the other places in the world that are experiencing turmoil.

    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Nepal and Chad. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our sermon series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Ephesians 5:20 -- "Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Psalm 107:1 -- "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Wonderful Counselor

      It is once again time for the Weekend Sermon, and I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post this message. I hope that you are all doing well and have been having a good week. I have been feeling better. 

     Today, we are continuing in our series of messages on the names and titles of Jesus found in the Bible. For today's message, I want us to focus on a familiar title given to the Messiah, who is Jesus, found in Isaiah 9:6. Among the many titles given, one of them is Wonderful Counselor. Jesus truly is a the Wonderful Counselor. But, what does it mean that Jesus is the Counselor?  I believe that there are at least three ways that we can find meaning in this title. 

     The first way that I believe that we can see Jesus as the Counselor is that He is the one who through His life and ministry shows us and provides us with the way to eternal life. Peter said in John 6 that Jesus was the one who had the words of eternal life. If you want to know how to be forgiven of your sins and be freed from death, hell and the grave, you need to look to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Jesus said that whoever would come to Him, He would not cast them out. Jesus invites everyone to know Him and the life that He can give. 

     Now, I believe that there is another way that Jesus is Counselor that applies to believers and non-believers alike. While He was here on this earth, Jesus provided us with many beneficial instructions on how to live properly in this world. If everyone were to follow the counsel of Jesus, the world would be a much better place to live in. For instance, Jesus gave us the Golden Rule telling us in essence to treat others in the way that we would like to be treated. If we would remember to do this in our interactions with others, the world would be nicer. I work in retail right now, and I know that there are many people who treat retail workers like dirt. I'm sure that they would not want to be treated in that manner, so why do they treat others that way?

     We can also learn from the Wonderful Counselor through His teachings on non-violence. Jesus said that an eye for an eye was not the way to go anymore. He told us to love our enemies and to turn the other check. If the world would listen to Jesus' teachings on peace and non-violence, we would have so much less conflict in this world. 

     I will also add the Jesus the Wonderful Counselor gave us instructions on treating the poor and the least among us in the proper manner. If we would all follow His words and His will there would be much less poverty and suffering in this world. 

     Now, one last way that I would like to talk about Jesus being the Wonderful Counselor relates to how we as His followers can go to Him with all of our problems and receive comfort and help in our time of need. The Bible tells us to cast all of our cares on the Lord because He cares for us. He wants us to go to Him when we need help. He is the one that can provide us with the reality of His presence, and the Lord Jesus will give us the answers that we need when facing the challenges of life. I urge you to always go to Jesus with your cares, concerns, joys, sorrows and rejoicings. He also wants to hear from us and help us because He loves us so very much. 

     Jesus is truly a Wonderful Counselor. He has the words of life. His teachings can transform this world if people would listen to Him. He will always help those who seek Him out. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I have been feeling quite a bit better, but I am still having a few issues. I am going to the doctor on Monday, so please pray that all will go well. 

     Please pray for those experiencing tragedy in Libya and Morocco. Pray that these people will get the help that they need. 

     Continue to pray for those recovering from the storms in various parts of the world. 

     Remember to pray that the fires in Canada will be extinguished. 

     Pray for peace in Ukraine and Sudan this week. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Qatar and Albania. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current sermon series. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will have a book review for the first time in a long time this week. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 100:2 -- "Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing."

I Peter 4:13 -- "but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Bread of Life

      Thank you for reading the sermon today. I am glad that you have taken the time to read the blog, and I hope that you are all having a very good week. 

     For several weeks now, we've been studying the names and titles of Jesus found throughout the Scriptures. In today's study, I want us to focus on a title that Jesus gave to Himself. In John 6:35 Jesus says, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty." 

     First off, let's look at the overall context surrounding this statement. There is one miracle of Jesus found in all four Gospels. That miracle is the feeding of the 5,000. In John 6, Jesus has performed this miracle. The multitude has been feed, and there is more left over for the disciples to gather up. Jesus has decided to go over to the other side of the lake, and the multitudes are following.  They wanted Jesus to declare Himself to be the king and do more great miracles. When Jesus told them what He had to say, it would result in many leaving and not following Him anymore. 

     Jesus said that He was and is the bread of life. He is the bread that has come down from Heaven. Jesus came into this world in order to be the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. He came to bring light and to bring salvation. He came to bring abundant life now, and eternal life with Him for all who believe. 

     No one can survive physically if they don't eat something. Some people go on hunger strikes or suffer from famines, and they live for awhile without anything or much to eat. However, after a time, if a person or animal doesn't eat they will perish. 

     Spiritually, the same principle applies. Without the life that comes from knowing Jesus residing within our spirit, we are dead in our trespasses and sins as the Bible declares. No one can be spiritually alive apart from a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

     When a person places their faith and trust in Jesus, that person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. All the old has passed away, and everything becomes new. We have passed from death to life. We have moved out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His marvelous light. 

     When we come to Jesus and trust in Him as Savior and Lord an exchange takes place. Jesus removes our sins from us and He then imputes His righteousness to us. The Bible says that He who did not know sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 

     In order to be alive spiritually, one must come to trust in the Lord Jesus. After we have placed our faith in Jesus and accepted Him as Lord, we are sustained by the presence of the Lord in our lives. We will be spiritually weak if we do not abide in Jesus and allow Him to provide us with His spiritual sustenance. 

     We allow the Lord Jesus to sustain us by doing His will and following Him. He sustains us by His presence through prayer and meditation. We also receive spiritual sustenance through the sacraments such as Holy Communion. 

     At the time of the Last Supper, Jesus took the bread and said this bread represents my body broken for you. This cup represents My blood shed for you. When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are remembering what Jesus did for us when He sacrificed Himself upon the cross of Calvary. 

     Jesus would go on to say in John 6:53, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you have no life in you." Jesus was saying that believing in Him and accepting Him was the only way of salvation. 

     The people did not like hearing what Jesus had to say. Many people stopped following Jesus. In fact, Jesus asked His inner circle of disciples if they wanted to leave Him too. In verse 68 Peter said, "To whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life." There is no eternal life apart from Jesus who is the Holy One of God.

     If you have not invited Jesus Christ into your life as Savior and Lord, I hope you will turn to the Bread of Life Jesus today. If you are a believer in Him, keep in communion with Him, and let Him sustain you and fill you with His love so that His love might flow through you into the lives of others. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray in regard to my health situation. I am recovering and doing better for which I thank the Lord. 

     Please pray for those in Morocco affected by the earthquake. Many have died and many need aid and help. Pray that the needs in that nation will be met. 

     Let us pray that the fires in Canada might be extinguished.

     Continue to remember to pray for peace. Let us focus our prayers for peace this week on peace in Sudan.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for those in the nations of Eritrea and Vietnam. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.

     Next week, I will post the verses on Monday. We are done with the first part of the book on the Minor Prophets. I will be posting the second half of the book in a couple of months. We will continue with our current sermon series next week. May God bless you all. 

Exploring The Minor Prophets -- Part 9

 I am posting this final part of Volume 1 of Exploring the Minor Prophets Today. Volume II will appear in a couple of months. I will post the sermon tomorrow.

Micah

Part 2

     Now, there is something else that I want to bring up from the book of Micah. During Micah's time, some of the people were fasting, praying and going through religious rituals. However, their actions betrayed the fact that they did not really worship God with all of their hearts.

     In Micah 6, God through Micah told the people that all of their religious rituals were nothing if they were practicing injustice to the poor, the oppressed, the immigrant and the underprivileged. If their religion wasn't changing the way that they acted out in the world, then their religion was in vain. 

     In Micah 6:6, God told the people what He expected of them. He told them to, "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God." Just as then, God expects us who would follow Jesus to do the same things.

     What does it mean to do justice? In the context of Micah, it means making sure that the less fortunate in society are not oppressed and taken advantage of by the privileged and the powerful. The Lord Jesus put it another way in Matthew 25. He told us to look after the least of those among us. Jesus said that if we have done it unto the least of these, we have done it unto Him. 

     As a follower of Jesus, we are obligated to speak up and work to end injustice. We are to speak out against unjust economic systems that oppress workers in their wages. We can read about this in James 5. We are to speak up and stand against racism and sexism. We are to work to end every form of economic injustice.

     I also believe that as followers of Jesus we need to stand for environmental justice. We must stand against the degradation of the planet that is occurring for greed and profit. 

     Micah also tells us that we need to love kindness. Paul in Ephesians says, "Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."

     The world would benefit greatly from people just being kind and nice to one another. Jesus told us to do unto others as we would have done to us. Kindness and goodness from Christians to one another and to the world at large would go a long way to making this world a better place. 

     We are also told to walk humbly with our God. This is the direct opposite of a prideful and self-seeking life. 

     If you want to know how to live a humble life that is pleasing to God, look to the example of the Lord Jesus. Jesus told us that He did not come to be served but to serve. One way that Jesus demonstrated His humility is by washing His disciples feet in the Upper Room. 

     Jesus demonstrated His humility when He gave up the glories of Heaven to come to this earth taking upon Himself the form of a servant. He humbled Himself and bore our sins in His body on the cross so that all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

     As humble followers of the Lord, let us demonstrate our humility by putting Jesus first in our lives. Let us think about the needs of others before our own needs. Let us not think too highly of ourselves, but let us realize that all that we are or have is by the grace of God. 

Labor Day Memories With My Friend Toby

      Today is Labor Day here in the United States. I just wanted to share with you a few of the memories I had of this day when my friend Toby lived with me. 

     Everybody had the day off on Labor Day. Sometimes, we would go to the lake on Labor Day and go fishing. We did that less and less as the years went by. Mostly on Labor Day, we had a cook out in the backyard. It was always up to me and Toby to do the cooking. We usually grilled out steaks either T-bones or KC strips. We had a lot of fun, and Toby always got a some steak just like everybody else. 

     Usually around Labor Day, the weather starts to cool down a little, so it was time for the me and Toby to go out and play in the yard. We always liked hide and seek. When Toby was younger, we liked to have races that he always one in spite of his short legs. 

     Labor Day always marked the close of when me and Toby got to do whatever we wanted to do with out days. The day after Labor Day was the start of school or college classes where I lived. For the last three years of high school, I went to school at home due to some health problems. It was nice because we could be together. Even when I went to Bible college and college to get my history degree, I usually was back home in the afternoon. I always made sure that the two of us went outside and had some fun together. When I was working full-time as a writer, we were together. Toby never left my office while I was working on creative writing or writing for businesses. He didn't like for anyone to come into the room when I was working. 

      I miss Toby, my Mom, and my Dad. We all had a lot of fun together. Holidays aren't the same now that they are gone. I have to work today, and it's just as well. Labor Day is just another day now. One day we will all be together again. I hope that you all cherish the time you have with those you care about. 

Verses For The Week

 Matthew 7:18 -- "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."

I Corinthians 10:31 -- "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The True Vine

      Thanks for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I am making a pretty good recovery so far from being ill, but I still need your prayers. I've been making it to work, but it has been hard. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post the message this week. 

     Over the course of the last several weeks, we've been looking at the various names and titles given to Jesus in the Old and New Testaments.  Today, we will be looking at the fact that Jesus is the true vine. We find this reference in John 15:1 that states, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." Verse 5 goes on to say, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."

     John 15 is one of the great chapters of the Bible. It is part of a long discourse Jesus made called the Upper Room Discourse. This teaching was given after Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples. 

    The Gospel of John was written with the express purpose of showing the reader that Jesus was God come in the flesh. In order to demonstrate this, John does two things. First of all, he provides us with signs or miracles that demonstrate who Jesus is. John also gives us a series of "I am" statements that Jesus made equating Jesus with the "I Am" of the Old Testament. We see for instance that in John Jesus says, "I am the good shepherd," " I am the door," "I am the way, the truth and the life." etc. The statement that we are looking at today is one of these "I Am" statements. 

     Jesus says that He is the true vine. To me, this means a couple of different things. First of all, Jesus says He is the true vine. I believe that this is statement that Jesus is making to show that He is the only way for a person to have eternal life and an abundant life here on this earth. There is no other way to find life except through Him. We draw life through Him, or we do not have the life that is from above. 

     Jesus is the vine also means that for those who are in Christ, He is the source of strength. His life and strength flow through us in order that we might produce good fruit. We will not be productive in the Christian life unless we abide in the vine. We have to abide in Christ in order to fulfill the teachings and commandments of the Lord and to make a difference for time and eternity. 

     What does it mean to abide in the vine? I believe that it means that we spend time with Jesus. We need to read and study what He said and what He did. We need to keep our eyes and attention fixed on Jesus. We need to spend time with Jesus each day in prayer and meditation so that we will grow closer to Him and learn to be more like Him in all that we do. 

     When we are abiding in the vine, we are able to let the love of Jesus flow from us to others. In this way, we are able to tell others about the love and forgiveness offered to this world through the Lord Jesus. By letting Jesus' life flow through us, we are able to help the people of this world. We are able to do unto the least of those among us as if we are ministering to Jesus Himself. We can do nothing apart from Jesus. We have to abide in Him and let His life flow through us in order to make a difference in this world and to live a life of holiness that is pleasing to the Lord. 

     Jesus as the vine also has another meaning for me. It means that my life is in Christ. No matter what I might face in this world, I am His and He is mine. I am in Him. Jesus will always be with me and hold me secure by His love and by His power. I have nothing to fear as long as I abide in the vine and let Jesus' love flow into me. His life is my strength. 

     If you are a follower of Jesus, let His life and power flow through you in order to help others. If you do not know Jesus, turn to Him and receive His life and light today. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying that my health will improve. Thank you.

     Pray for those recovering from the fires in Maui.

     Let us pray that those recovering from storms and natural disasters around the world will get the aid that they need. 

     Let us pray that the many wildfires around the world might be extinguished. 

     Continue to pray for peace. Let us focus our prayers this week for peace in Ukraine. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Sierra Leone and Libya. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will have the verses posted on Monday. I will post the next part of the book midweek, and I will post the sermon on Saturday. May God bless you all. 

Exploring The Minor Prophets -- Part 8

 Micah -- Part 1

     Micah was a much different type of prophet than the one that we just learned about. The book of Micah is similar to the other Minor Prophets we've studied so far in that the Lord gives a message to the prophet who is then tasked with delivering God's message to a certain group of people. 

     Micah ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah. He was a prophet at the same time as the great prophet Isaiah. While Isaiah had a wide ranging message during his ministry, Micah is mostly concerned with people living in and near to the city of Jerusalem. He preaches a message of repentance to them. During the reign of King Ahaz, the people had drifted far away from the Lord. God wanted them to turn back to the true way and follow Him and Him alone. 

     There are two things in particular that I want to point out from the book of Micah that are applicable to us today. Micah contains one of the most well-known Messianic prophecies. Micah is the one who told that Jesus would be born in the city of Bethlehem. He would come from the same city as King David.

     The people in Micah's day would easily understand the significance of the place of the Messiah's birth. The Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David. 

     God made a covenant with David while David was on the throne. God told David that a member of his family would rule on his throne forever. The ultimate fulfillment of this would be the reign of the Messiah ruling from the throne of his ancestor David. 

     We know looking back how the prophecy was fulfilled. Just as Micah told us, Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. He was the Messiah, and He was of the house and lineage of David. He was and is the fulfillment of the covenant that God made with David all those years before. 

     When Jesus returns at the time of His glorious Second Advent, He will rule and reign with righteousness and justice throughout the entire universe. There will be no more sin, suffering or sickness. Nation will no longer rise against nation. They will study war no more. Even so, Lord Jesus come. 

Verses For The Week

 Jeremiah 17:14  - "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise."

Isaiah 40:29 -- "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Weekend Sermon -- Jesus The Man of Sorrows

      I hope that you didn't think that I abandoned the blog. I haven't. I have been very sick for the last couple of weeks with pneumonia. I have been off work, and I am just starting to get back in the swing of things. Hopefully, I will be able to get everything going on the proper schedule on here starting today. Thank you for taking the time to read the message today. 

     We are currently studying a series of messages where we are looking at some of the names and titles of Jesus found in both the Old and the New Testaments. For today's message, I want us to look at the fact that Jesus is referred to as a Man of Sorrows. This reference to Jesus is found in the Messianic prophecy given by Isaiah in Isaiah 53:3 that reads, "He is despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Why is Jesus referred to as a man of sorrows?

     I believe that there are at least three reasons why Jesus is called The Man of Sorrows. First of all, the Bible tells us in Philippians 2 that Jesus emptied Himself and took upon Himself the form of a servant. In actuality, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity took up humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. The Lord gave up so much in order to come to this world in order to redeem us and the universe from sin and its consequences. Coming to this earth was not something easy for the Lord to do. It cost Him a lot. Things would never be the same again in a way.

     Primarily, I believe that Jesus is called The Man of Sorrows because of what He endured as He suffered for the sins of the world. Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. All through His life, He knew that it was His mission to be the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world. On the cross, Jesus suffered for us bearing our sins in His body on the cross. He endured mocking and abuse. He cried out, "My God, My God. Why have You forsaken Me." None of us can even begin to understand what Jesus endured as He was on the cross suffering for our sins.

     I also believe that Jesus is called The Man of Sorrows because He understands as no other person does the terrible state of the this world and those who live in it. Jesus knows that sin has caused pain and oppression, sickness, disease, injustice and an entire of raft of social and moral ills. Jesus knows the darkness that is in the heart of many people, and He knows how many people truly suffer and hurt in this world. He knows that people would be so much better off if they would come to Him. However, the majority of people do not. 

      Jesus is called a man of sorrows, but He is the one who will bring ultimate and eternal joy and harmony to this world. He will come again, and there will be a new Heaven and a new earth. There will be no more sin. All will be well and returned to the state that was in existence before sin entered into the world. Jesus through His life, death, resurrection and Second Coming is the one who will bring joy to the world. 

     You can know the joy of the Lord in your heart if you trust in what Jesus has done on your behalf. Jesus died and rose again that you might have life. Abundant life now, and eternal life in the ages to come. Trust in the Lord today. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray that I will fully recover from my illness. I thank you for your prayers.

     Pray for those in Maui recovering from the fires.

     Let us pray that the fires in Canada will be extinguished.

     Continue to pray for peace in the trouble areas of this world. Pray for Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Sudan among others. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Gambia and Indonesia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.

     Next week, I hope to get things back on track. I will post the verses on Monday. I will post the next part of the book midweek. I will post the message at the end of the week. May God bless you all.