Thursday, June 12, 2014
Update
The Weekend Sermon will appear on Saturday this week. I am sorry that I was unable to post a book review this week.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Weekend Sermon--Mark 9:14-29
Hello, and welcome to another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be with you once again this week.
This week, I would like to ask everyone to pray for Hong Kong. Hong Kong does have a substantial Christian population. In fact, I had a piece of devotional writing published in Hong Kong. However, Christianity is a minority religion in Hong Kong. Let us all pray for an outpouring of the Gospel in this area.
Today, we continue with our series of messages concerning the miracles of Jesus. At the beginning of Mark 9, Jesus went up on a mountain accompanied by Peter, James and John. While Jesus was on the mountain, He was transfigured before them. Jesus clothes became exceedingly white, and both Moses and Elijah came and talked with Jesus on the mountain. Later, a cloud descended and a voice came from the cloud saying, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!"
After the events that transpired during the transfiguration, Jesus came down from the mountain with His three disciples. Jesus found a great multitude of people gathered around the other nine disciples. There was a man who had brought his son to be healed. The boy was seized by a spirit and thrown to the ground. The boy's father asked Jesus' disciples to heal his son. However, the nine disciples that Jesus left behind were not able to bring deliverance for the boy.
This exasperated Jesus. He said, "Faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?"
Jesus asked that the boy be brought to Him and said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." The father replied, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."
Jesus commanded the spirit to depart, and the boy was made whole.
Later, the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to bring about deliverance for the boy. Jesus said that this was possible only through prayer and fasting.
I find a lot of meaning in this miracle of Jesus. First of all, this miracle teaches me not to think too highly of myself. Look at the disciples. These nine men were among Jesus' closest followers, yet they were not able to cast out the spirit. Their position did not mean that they were as close to the Lord as they needed to be. They were relying on their own strength and reputation to perform good deeds, and they were not placing their total reliance on the Lord.
Sometimes, I get full of spiritual pride. I think that since I have been a Christian for a long time and that I have been to seminary that I am a really good Christian. I need to realize that I am nothing apart from Jesus. He is the source of my salvation and strength. Without Him, I can do nothing and I am nothing. All things are possible only through the grace of the Lord Jesus.
This miracle also teaches me something about Jesus. It shows not only Jesus' divinity, it demonstrates His true humanity. Jesus often became frustrated at His followers and the people that He dealt with. It is easy to see why. Jesus experienced what it was truly like to be a human. However, Jesus was without sin. Because Jesus experienced what we experience, He is able to show us great compassion in our weaknesses and our infirmities. He understands what we are going through and how hard it is to make it through life. Jesus is able to help us and guide us because He had been in the same situations that we are in. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
I also learn about faith from this miracle account. Jesus told the boy's father to believe. The father asked Jesus to help his unbelief. We need to have faith and believe that Jesus will do what He said He will do. At the same time, we must realize that we need Jesus. We do not have the strength within ourselves to even believe. Faith is a gift from the Lord. In fact, we can not even work up enough faith to believe in Jesus for salvation. Faith comes to us by the unmerited favor of the Lord.
If we are struggling to trust the Lord for deliverance from a problem, or if we are asking for something in prayer, we need to ask the Lord for the gift of faith to believe in the wonder working power of the Lord.
Finally, this miracle teaches the importance of the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Prayer is vital. Is the means by which we communicate with the Lord. It involves the aspects of both listening and speaking. So often we forget about the listening part. We need to spend time just listening to let the Lord speak to our hearts.
Fasting is also important. It is a time of self-denial when we are to turn our attention away from the temporal things of life and focus on the eternal things which do not pass away. It is an important time of communication with the Lord.
Let each of us believe in the Lord. Let us pray and fast and stay in fellowship with our risen Savior.
On Wednesday, I will try to post a book review. I am working long hours, so it may not be until Thursday that I post a review. I will post the sermon on either Friday or Saturday. May God bless you. Amen.
This week, I would like to ask everyone to pray for Hong Kong. Hong Kong does have a substantial Christian population. In fact, I had a piece of devotional writing published in Hong Kong. However, Christianity is a minority religion in Hong Kong. Let us all pray for an outpouring of the Gospel in this area.
Today, we continue with our series of messages concerning the miracles of Jesus. At the beginning of Mark 9, Jesus went up on a mountain accompanied by Peter, James and John. While Jesus was on the mountain, He was transfigured before them. Jesus clothes became exceedingly white, and both Moses and Elijah came and talked with Jesus on the mountain. Later, a cloud descended and a voice came from the cloud saying, "This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!"
After the events that transpired during the transfiguration, Jesus came down from the mountain with His three disciples. Jesus found a great multitude of people gathered around the other nine disciples. There was a man who had brought his son to be healed. The boy was seized by a spirit and thrown to the ground. The boy's father asked Jesus' disciples to heal his son. However, the nine disciples that Jesus left behind were not able to bring deliverance for the boy.
This exasperated Jesus. He said, "Faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?"
Jesus asked that the boy be brought to Him and said, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." The father replied, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."
Jesus commanded the spirit to depart, and the boy was made whole.
Later, the disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to bring about deliverance for the boy. Jesus said that this was possible only through prayer and fasting.
I find a lot of meaning in this miracle of Jesus. First of all, this miracle teaches me not to think too highly of myself. Look at the disciples. These nine men were among Jesus' closest followers, yet they were not able to cast out the spirit. Their position did not mean that they were as close to the Lord as they needed to be. They were relying on their own strength and reputation to perform good deeds, and they were not placing their total reliance on the Lord.
Sometimes, I get full of spiritual pride. I think that since I have been a Christian for a long time and that I have been to seminary that I am a really good Christian. I need to realize that I am nothing apart from Jesus. He is the source of my salvation and strength. Without Him, I can do nothing and I am nothing. All things are possible only through the grace of the Lord Jesus.
This miracle also teaches me something about Jesus. It shows not only Jesus' divinity, it demonstrates His true humanity. Jesus often became frustrated at His followers and the people that He dealt with. It is easy to see why. Jesus experienced what it was truly like to be a human. However, Jesus was without sin. Because Jesus experienced what we experience, He is able to show us great compassion in our weaknesses and our infirmities. He understands what we are going through and how hard it is to make it through life. Jesus is able to help us and guide us because He had been in the same situations that we are in. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
I also learn about faith from this miracle account. Jesus told the boy's father to believe. The father asked Jesus to help his unbelief. We need to have faith and believe that Jesus will do what He said He will do. At the same time, we must realize that we need Jesus. We do not have the strength within ourselves to even believe. Faith is a gift from the Lord. In fact, we can not even work up enough faith to believe in Jesus for salvation. Faith comes to us by the unmerited favor of the Lord.
If we are struggling to trust the Lord for deliverance from a problem, or if we are asking for something in prayer, we need to ask the Lord for the gift of faith to believe in the wonder working power of the Lord.
Finally, this miracle teaches the importance of the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. Prayer is vital. Is the means by which we communicate with the Lord. It involves the aspects of both listening and speaking. So often we forget about the listening part. We need to spend time just listening to let the Lord speak to our hearts.
Fasting is also important. It is a time of self-denial when we are to turn our attention away from the temporal things of life and focus on the eternal things which do not pass away. It is an important time of communication with the Lord.
Let each of us believe in the Lord. Let us pray and fast and stay in fellowship with our risen Savior.
On Wednesday, I will try to post a book review. I am working long hours, so it may not be until Thursday that I post a review. I will post the sermon on either Friday or Saturday. May God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Book Review
Today I am back to reviewing animal books. I've just read a very interesting book entitled "Sergeant Stubby" written by Ann Bausum. The publisher is National Geographic. This book tells the story of a stray dog that was adopted as a companion by a soldier heading to the battlefields in France during World War I.
Stubby was a mascot for the entire unit. However, Stubby contributed to the war effort in other ways as well. Stubby could alert the troops in advance when a gas attack was coming. He also captured a spy trying to infiltrate his unit.
When Stubby returned to the United States, he was a hero. He was given many awards and was part of numerous parades.
I really enjoyed this book. It gives much information about Stubby, but it also tells the story of the Great War that cost so many lives. I highly recommend this book.
Stubby was a mascot for the entire unit. However, Stubby contributed to the war effort in other ways as well. Stubby could alert the troops in advance when a gas attack was coming. He also captured a spy trying to infiltrate his unit.
When Stubby returned to the United States, he was a hero. He was given many awards and was part of numerous parades.
I really enjoyed this book. It gives much information about Stubby, but it also tells the story of the Great War that cost so many lives. I highly recommend this book.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Weekend Sermon-- Mark 3:1-6
Thank you for joining me for another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be able to post today. We had a very busy week at work. I am tired, but I am very grateful to have a job.
Many of you have been praying about my financial problems and the situation with my house. I am happy to report an answer to prayer. I have worked out a solution to my house situation. I want to thank the Lord Jesus for His help, and I want to thank all of you who have prayed for me about this situation.
For the past few weeks, I have asked you to pray for one country each week where there aren't a large number of Christians. This week, let us pray for the the nation of Yemen. Let us pray that the Gospel will reach many people in this part of the world.
Today, we continue with our series of messages on the miracles of Jesus. While He was here during His earthly ministry, Jesus often taught in the local synagogues. One day, Jesus entered the synagogue to teach, and He encountered a man who had a withered hand. The religious leaders wanted to see if Jesus would heal the man even though it was the Sabbath day. These religious leaders believed that healing was work, and all work was prohibited on the Sabbath.
Jesus told the man with the withered hand to come forward. Then, Jesus asked the religious leaders if it was right to do good on the Sabbath day. They all remained silent. None of the religious leaders would answer Jesus' question.
This made Jesus angry. The Bible also says that Jesus was grieved at the religious leader's hardness of heart.
Jesus turned to the man with the withered hand, and Jesus told him to stretch out his hand. The man did as he was instructed, and his hand was made completely whole.
Jesus' action of healing infuriated the religious leaders. They immediately began plotting out a means to destroy Jesus.
This is an interesting account, but what does it have to teach us today. One of the questions we need to address is the idea of the Sabbath day. Jesus taught that it was right to do what was good on the Sabbath day. Working to make the world a better place or working to help someone in need is not a violation of the Sabbath day principle. This is part of what we are called to do as Jesus' followers. The world is filled with many hurting people who need our help. We need to be available to help others every day of the week at every hour of the day.
Another thing that strikes me in this story is that Jesus was angry and grieved at the religious leaders lack of compassion for others. They didn't seem to care about another person's suffering. Too often, Christian people look down on those who are suffering, and they fail to reach out a helping hand to others. We often worry about our rules and regulations, and we fail to show love and compassion to those who need to see a demonstration of the love of Jesus in action.
I believe that if Christian people would be less condemning and more loving, we could see more people come to a knowledge of Jesus. I think that many people in the world today don't follow Jesus because they have been turned off by the meanness and hardheartedness of those who claim to be Christ's followers.
I hope that all of us can find some way to put the love of Jesus into action to help others. What a better place the world would be.
I hope to be able to publish a book review on Wednesday. We will continue with our series of messages on the miracles of Jesus next weekend. May God bless you. Amen.
Many of you have been praying about my financial problems and the situation with my house. I am happy to report an answer to prayer. I have worked out a solution to my house situation. I want to thank the Lord Jesus for His help, and I want to thank all of you who have prayed for me about this situation.
For the past few weeks, I have asked you to pray for one country each week where there aren't a large number of Christians. This week, let us pray for the the nation of Yemen. Let us pray that the Gospel will reach many people in this part of the world.
Today, we continue with our series of messages on the miracles of Jesus. While He was here during His earthly ministry, Jesus often taught in the local synagogues. One day, Jesus entered the synagogue to teach, and He encountered a man who had a withered hand. The religious leaders wanted to see if Jesus would heal the man even though it was the Sabbath day. These religious leaders believed that healing was work, and all work was prohibited on the Sabbath.
Jesus told the man with the withered hand to come forward. Then, Jesus asked the religious leaders if it was right to do good on the Sabbath day. They all remained silent. None of the religious leaders would answer Jesus' question.
This made Jesus angry. The Bible also says that Jesus was grieved at the religious leader's hardness of heart.
Jesus turned to the man with the withered hand, and Jesus told him to stretch out his hand. The man did as he was instructed, and his hand was made completely whole.
Jesus' action of healing infuriated the religious leaders. They immediately began plotting out a means to destroy Jesus.
This is an interesting account, but what does it have to teach us today. One of the questions we need to address is the idea of the Sabbath day. Jesus taught that it was right to do what was good on the Sabbath day. Working to make the world a better place or working to help someone in need is not a violation of the Sabbath day principle. This is part of what we are called to do as Jesus' followers. The world is filled with many hurting people who need our help. We need to be available to help others every day of the week at every hour of the day.
Another thing that strikes me in this story is that Jesus was angry and grieved at the religious leaders lack of compassion for others. They didn't seem to care about another person's suffering. Too often, Christian people look down on those who are suffering, and they fail to reach out a helping hand to others. We often worry about our rules and regulations, and we fail to show love and compassion to those who need to see a demonstration of the love of Jesus in action.
I believe that if Christian people would be less condemning and more loving, we could see more people come to a knowledge of Jesus. I think that many people in the world today don't follow Jesus because they have been turned off by the meanness and hardheartedness of those who claim to be Christ's followers.
I hope that all of us can find some way to put the love of Jesus into action to help others. What a better place the world would be.
I hope to be able to publish a book review on Wednesday. We will continue with our series of messages on the miracles of Jesus next weekend. May God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Update
I will not be able to post a book review this week. I will still post the Weekend Sermon on Friday or Saturday.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Weekend Sermon--Mark 8:22-26
Thank you for joining me for another edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am sorry that I was not able to post the sermon yesterday, but I had to attend a very long meeting at work. The library closes early on Friday, so I didn't have time to get the sermon posted.
As I did last week, I would ask that you please pray for me about my financial situation. I am working hard, but the last couple of years has left me in a bad situation. If a miracle doesn't happen within the next few days, I am afraid that I am going to lose my house. I am trying to work with the people that I owe, but I am not really getting anywhere. Please pray that the Lord will provide and show me the way forward in this matter.
Today, we continue with our series of messages on the miracles of Jesus. Our message this week comes from the Gospel of Mark. I find this to be one of the most unusual of the miracle stories told about Jesus.
As Jesus came to the city of Bethsaida, some of the people who lived in the town brought a blind man for Jesus to heal. Jesus took the man by the hand and led him out of the town. Jesus then spit on the man's eyes and put His hands on the man.
Jesus asked the blind man if he could see anything. The blind man responded that he saw men who looked like trees walking about. At this point, Jesus put His hands on the blind man's eyes again. This time, the blind man's sight was restored to complete perfection. Jesus sent the man away and told him not to go into the town.
This story is unusual because it seems at first glance that Jesus didn't get the healing right the first time. As the Lord of all of the universe, I know that Jesus has the power to do whatever it is that He wants to do. It is my opinion that this story teaches us a great spiritual lesson.
First of all, Jesus led the man out of town. This demonstrates to me that when we come to follow the Lord, we have to leave our past of sinfulness behind us. We have to come out of that which kept us in spiritual darkness for so long. Jesus is the one who takes us from the place of darkness and leads us into the light.
Just as this man didn't see everything clearly right away, those of us who come to know the Lord will not understand all that there is to know about following Jesus right away. The Christian life is a growth process. We mature in the faith. The goal is to become more and more like Jesus our Lord each and every day.
As we study the words of Jesus and spend time communicating with Him in prayer, we understand more about what He expects of us. We grow closer to Him, and we become more like Him.
Eventually, we will be with Jesus. At that time, we will be made complete. We will know as we are known. The past with the sins that so easily beset us will be done. We will live in the glorious light of the risen Lord and sin will be no more.
As we walk the narrow path that leads to life looking to Jesus who is the author and the perfecter of our faith, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. We cannot look back on the things of the world. We must not go back to the spiritual darkness from which Jesus has so graciously delivered us.
If you have not had your sins forgiven by the Lord Jesus, I invite you to ask Jesus to forgive you. Trust in Him for salvation, and make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today.
Next Wednesday, I will have an animal book review. On Friday, I will post another sermon in our miracles of Jesus series. May God bless you.
As I did last week, I would ask that you please pray for me about my financial situation. I am working hard, but the last couple of years has left me in a bad situation. If a miracle doesn't happen within the next few days, I am afraid that I am going to lose my house. I am trying to work with the people that I owe, but I am not really getting anywhere. Please pray that the Lord will provide and show me the way forward in this matter.
Today, we continue with our series of messages on the miracles of Jesus. Our message this week comes from the Gospel of Mark. I find this to be one of the most unusual of the miracle stories told about Jesus.
As Jesus came to the city of Bethsaida, some of the people who lived in the town brought a blind man for Jesus to heal. Jesus took the man by the hand and led him out of the town. Jesus then spit on the man's eyes and put His hands on the man.
Jesus asked the blind man if he could see anything. The blind man responded that he saw men who looked like trees walking about. At this point, Jesus put His hands on the blind man's eyes again. This time, the blind man's sight was restored to complete perfection. Jesus sent the man away and told him not to go into the town.
This story is unusual because it seems at first glance that Jesus didn't get the healing right the first time. As the Lord of all of the universe, I know that Jesus has the power to do whatever it is that He wants to do. It is my opinion that this story teaches us a great spiritual lesson.
First of all, Jesus led the man out of town. This demonstrates to me that when we come to follow the Lord, we have to leave our past of sinfulness behind us. We have to come out of that which kept us in spiritual darkness for so long. Jesus is the one who takes us from the place of darkness and leads us into the light.
Just as this man didn't see everything clearly right away, those of us who come to know the Lord will not understand all that there is to know about following Jesus right away. The Christian life is a growth process. We mature in the faith. The goal is to become more and more like Jesus our Lord each and every day.
As we study the words of Jesus and spend time communicating with Him in prayer, we understand more about what He expects of us. We grow closer to Him, and we become more like Him.
Eventually, we will be with Jesus. At that time, we will be made complete. We will know as we are known. The past with the sins that so easily beset us will be done. We will live in the glorious light of the risen Lord and sin will be no more.
As we walk the narrow path that leads to life looking to Jesus who is the author and the perfecter of our faith, we must keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. We cannot look back on the things of the world. We must not go back to the spiritual darkness from which Jesus has so graciously delivered us.
If you have not had your sins forgiven by the Lord Jesus, I invite you to ask Jesus to forgive you. Trust in Him for salvation, and make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today.
Next Wednesday, I will have an animal book review. On Friday, I will post another sermon in our miracles of Jesus series. May God bless you.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Update
I just got off work, and the library will close in 15 minutes. I won't be able to post the sermon today, but I will post it tomorrow. Thank you.
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