Ephesians 1:7 -- "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace."
I John 4:10 -- "In this is love, not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
I Peter 3:18 -- "For Christ also died once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit."
Monday, April 15, 2019
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Weekend Sermon -- Palm Sunday And The Day After
It is once again time for the Weekend Sermon, and I am thankful for the Lord allowing me to post these sermons. I hope that all of you are having a good week.
This past week has been very busy. I've had a lot of hours at my job, and I've been busy writing. I have an interview for another job on Monday, so please pray that all goes well with this.
In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those in the Midwestern part of the United States who have experienced the terrible flooding. There are still many people suffering as a result of the terrible weather that we've had in the area this season.
Please continue to pray that aid will reach those who have been affected by bad storms. The people of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique need our prayers.
Ebola is still affecting the Congo. Pray for those who are sick that they will recover, and pray for those helping to bring assistance that they will be safe from harm.
We need to keep praying for peace in the world. Please pray for peace in Libya, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in China and Kuwait. Pray that many will hear the good news of the love of Jesus.
This week is Palm Sunday. For today's message, I want to focus on Palm Sunday, but I also want to focus on something that happened on the day after that.
Mark 11:1-11 is one of the passages that tells us of the events on what we now call Palm Sunday. Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. As He was riding into the city, people were spreading their garments and palm branches in front of Jesus. The people were calling out, "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
In one of the Gospel accounts, the religious leaders demanded that Jesus stop the people from praising Him. Jesus responded that if the people did not praise Him, the very rocks would cry out in praise.
There are three things that I think of when I read the Palm Sunday account. First of all, I always remember that this is the beginning of Holy Week. Before the week is over, the people would be shouting "crucify him". On Good Friday, Jesus would go to the cross and die for the sins of the world.
The events of Palm Sunday also remind me of my obligation to bring praise to the Lord Jesus. He is worthy of praise and adoration because of who He is and because of what He has done. Jesus is God come in human form. He is the creator and sustainer of all things in the entire universe. Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world. He has come to restore all things. He has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
Palm Sunday also reminds me that Jesus will come again in a different way. One day, Jesus will return in power and great glory. He will come to this earth to rule and reign in righteousness, and His kingdom will have no end. When Jesus returns to this earth, He will restore all to the way that it existed prior to sin entering into the universe.
In addition to the events of Palm Sunday, I want us to focus in on one of the events that occurred the day after. The Gospel of Mark states that Jesus rode into Jerusalem and entered the Temple. He looked around, and then He left Jerusalem and went and stayed in Bethany with the disciples.
The next day, Jesus returned to Jerusalem. He entered the Temple again, but this time, He didn't just look around. Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling in the Temple. He overturned the money changers tables, and He overturned the tables of those who were selling doves. Jesus would not allow anyone to bring merchandise through the Temple courts. Jesus said in Mark 11:17, "Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers."
This action of Jesus when He cleansed the Temple infuriated the religious authorities. Now they wanted Jesus dead, and they set about to accomplish their task.
This cleansing of the Temple by Jesus has applications for us today. It makes me think about what Jesus would think about the church which claims to worship Him.
For one thing, I believe that Jesus would be very upset if He were to return and see how focused the church has become on money. On many radio and television programs of a religious nature, the focus is almost entirely on money. There is also much focus on buildings and entertainment. So much money is spent on these things instead of the funds being used for the primary ministries of the church.
Our churches should be centers and houses of prayer. We should be asking the Lord Jesus to move in the lives of people and that His will be accomplished in the nations of the world.
Our churches should be places where there is ministry to the poor and the hurting in this world. So many people are in poverty and face hunger. The church should be at the forefront of helping those who need assistance.
The church also must place a renewed emphasis on evangelization. People need to hear that Jesus loves them. They need to know that Jesus welcomes anyone who wants to come to Him.
I hope that you will reflect on Palm Sunday and the day after. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and show you how you can praise the name of Jesus and do His work in the world.
This week, we will have a different schedule here on the blog. I will post the verses on Monday as usual. There will be no review on Wednesday. Since it is Holy Week, I will have a post on Maundy Thursday and on Good Friday. The Weekend Sermon about Easter will be posted on Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
This past week has been very busy. I've had a lot of hours at my job, and I've been busy writing. I have an interview for another job on Monday, so please pray that all goes well with this.
In prayer this week, please continue to pray for those in the Midwestern part of the United States who have experienced the terrible flooding. There are still many people suffering as a result of the terrible weather that we've had in the area this season.
Please continue to pray that aid will reach those who have been affected by bad storms. The people of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique need our prayers.
Ebola is still affecting the Congo. Pray for those who are sick that they will recover, and pray for those helping to bring assistance that they will be safe from harm.
We need to keep praying for peace in the world. Please pray for peace in Libya, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Syria.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in China and Kuwait. Pray that many will hear the good news of the love of Jesus.
This week is Palm Sunday. For today's message, I want to focus on Palm Sunday, but I also want to focus on something that happened on the day after that.
Mark 11:1-11 is one of the passages that tells us of the events on what we now call Palm Sunday. Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem riding on a donkey. As He was riding into the city, people were spreading their garments and palm branches in front of Jesus. The people were calling out, "Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David. Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
In one of the Gospel accounts, the religious leaders demanded that Jesus stop the people from praising Him. Jesus responded that if the people did not praise Him, the very rocks would cry out in praise.
There are three things that I think of when I read the Palm Sunday account. First of all, I always remember that this is the beginning of Holy Week. Before the week is over, the people would be shouting "crucify him". On Good Friday, Jesus would go to the cross and die for the sins of the world.
The events of Palm Sunday also remind me of my obligation to bring praise to the Lord Jesus. He is worthy of praise and adoration because of who He is and because of what He has done. Jesus is God come in human form. He is the creator and sustainer of all things in the entire universe. Jesus has come to take away the sins of the world. He has come to restore all things. He has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
Palm Sunday also reminds me that Jesus will come again in a different way. One day, Jesus will return in power and great glory. He will come to this earth to rule and reign in righteousness, and His kingdom will have no end. When Jesus returns to this earth, He will restore all to the way that it existed prior to sin entering into the universe.
In addition to the events of Palm Sunday, I want us to focus in on one of the events that occurred the day after. The Gospel of Mark states that Jesus rode into Jerusalem and entered the Temple. He looked around, and then He left Jerusalem and went and stayed in Bethany with the disciples.
The next day, Jesus returned to Jerusalem. He entered the Temple again, but this time, He didn't just look around. Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling in the Temple. He overturned the money changers tables, and He overturned the tables of those who were selling doves. Jesus would not allow anyone to bring merchandise through the Temple courts. Jesus said in Mark 11:17, "Is it not written: My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers."
This action of Jesus when He cleansed the Temple infuriated the religious authorities. Now they wanted Jesus dead, and they set about to accomplish their task.
This cleansing of the Temple by Jesus has applications for us today. It makes me think about what Jesus would think about the church which claims to worship Him.
For one thing, I believe that Jesus would be very upset if He were to return and see how focused the church has become on money. On many radio and television programs of a religious nature, the focus is almost entirely on money. There is also much focus on buildings and entertainment. So much money is spent on these things instead of the funds being used for the primary ministries of the church.
Our churches should be centers and houses of prayer. We should be asking the Lord Jesus to move in the lives of people and that His will be accomplished in the nations of the world.
Our churches should be places where there is ministry to the poor and the hurting in this world. So many people are in poverty and face hunger. The church should be at the forefront of helping those who need assistance.
The church also must place a renewed emphasis on evangelization. People need to hear that Jesus loves them. They need to know that Jesus welcomes anyone who wants to come to Him.
I hope that you will reflect on Palm Sunday and the day after. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you and show you how you can praise the name of Jesus and do His work in the world.
This week, we will have a different schedule here on the blog. I will post the verses on Monday as usual. There will be no review on Wednesday. Since it is Holy Week, I will have a post on Maundy Thursday and on Good Friday. The Weekend Sermon about Easter will be posted on Saturday. May God bless you all. Amen.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Review
For today's review, I want to write about something a little different from the reviews I normally post. I've been a fan of the Poirot series broadcast on PBS for many years. All of the episodes in the series were very well done. The actor who played Poirot so brilliantly in the series was David Suchet.
Recently, I was pleased to discover that the complete New International Version of the Bible is available as read by David Suchet. He has a great voice, and his reading of the Bible passages is well done.
In addition to this, Mr. Suchet has appeared in two series that are very interesting. He has done programs called "In the Footsteps of St. Paul" and "In the Footsteps of St. Peter". I think that many will find these two programs to be interesting.
You can find these items available on Amazon. There is a video on YouTube of David Suchet reading the entire Gospel of Mark at St. Paul's Cathedral that you should check out.
Recently, I was pleased to discover that the complete New International Version of the Bible is available as read by David Suchet. He has a great voice, and his reading of the Bible passages is well done.
In addition to this, Mr. Suchet has appeared in two series that are very interesting. He has done programs called "In the Footsteps of St. Paul" and "In the Footsteps of St. Peter". I think that many will find these two programs to be interesting.
You can find these items available on Amazon. There is a video on YouTube of David Suchet reading the entire Gospel of Mark at St. Paul's Cathedral that you should check out.
Monday, April 8, 2019
Verses For The Week -- Verses About Generosity
Psalm 112:5 -- "God will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice."
I John 3:17 -- "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?"
Hebrews 13:16 -- "And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
I John 3:17 -- "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?"
Hebrews 13:16 -- "And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Friday, April 5, 2019
Weekend Sermon -- Mark 1:15
Welcome to this new edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am so glad that you decided to read the sermon this week. I hope that everyone has been having a good week.
This week, I've been able to accomplish a lot in writing, and I've had a good week working around the house. I haven't been getting many hours at my other job. I've decided to look elsewhere for more work. Please pray that I will be able to find a good job that will provide enough income and enough hours. Thank you for your prayers.
In other matters, I would like to ask you to pray for those in New Zealand who are still recovering from the terrorist attack. Pray that those who are injured will soon recover.
Continue to pray for those in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi who are suffering as a result of the storm damage. Pray that much needed aid and assistance will reach these nations quickly.
Please remember the nation of Congo in your prayers. The Ebola outbreak is still causing problems there. Pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that the virus will stop spreading.
Let us all continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. This week, let us focus our prayers on Yemen, Syria and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kyrgyzstan and Gambia. Pray that many will hear the good news of the love and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been studying some of the teachings of the Lord Jesus. Today, I would like us to focus our attention on the first message that Jesus preached in the Gospel of Mark. Mark 1:15 states, "The time has come," he said. "The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news."
First of all, I would like us to examine what Jesus was referring to in the specific context of this message, and then I would like us examine what repentance means for us in our day.
Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom of God had come, so it was time for the people to repent. First of all, what does it mean to repent of something. The Greek word translate as repent in the Bible means to change one's mind about something. It means to turn around and think and act in a different way.
Jesus came into the world to redeem the world and transform the world. Jesus was the Messiah who had been prophesied of for generations. He had come to show the people the way in which they should go. If the people would recognize Him as the Messiah, the Kingdom of God would come in their midst.
Jesus had come to institute a new way of thinking. He had come to institute the values and ways of the Kingdom into the disorder of the world. Jesus fully outlines the way of the Kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5 through 7.
If the people would not come to the way of Jesus, a catastrophe would happen. The nation was going in the wrong direction, and Jesus said later in his ministry that following this wrong path would lead to destruction. He was calling on the people to change direction and follow Him and His teachings.
What does the idea of repentance mean for us? Jesus calls each of us to repent and turn to Him and His ways today. We need a change of mind and a change of direction.
First of all, all people need to change their mind and recognize who Jesus is and what He come to accomplish. We need to recognize that Jesus is God come in human flesh. He came to show us how we are to live in this world following the path of His Kingdom values. Jesus died on the cross to bear our sins in His body. He then rose bodily from the grave defeating the consequences of sin. When we recognize who He is and what He has done, we can turn to Jesus as Savior and Lord.
To repent also means that we must change our minds about our own sinfulness. The Bible is quite clear that all have sinned. There is no one who is righteous. We must change our minds about our thinking that we are good enough or can do enough good works to earn eternal life or the favor of God. We must recognize our sinfulness and shortcomings and know that without the forgiveness of Jesus, we are as lost as can be.
Repentance has evidence. When a person truly repents and turns from sin to the Savior, there is evidence in that person's life. In Luke 3:8, Jesus talks about bearing fruit of repentance. The Apostle Paul gives a clear message about the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Those who have truly repented and turned to Jesus will not produce the works of the flesh, but they will produce the fruit of the Spirit.
In Galatians 5:19-21 it states, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:22-23 states,"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law."
Have you repented of your sins and turned to Jesus as Savior and Lord. I hope that you have. If you have not, you can turn to Jesus this day.
Even those of us who have accepted Jesus as the Lord of our lives need to ask forgiveness for sins. If you have sinned and need forgiveness, turn to Jesus. The Bible says that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us. All we must do is ask.
When I began this blog in 2011, it was my hope and prayer that someone would read one of these messages and turn to Jesus Christ. If you don't know Jesus, please give Him a chance. Learn more about Him. You will see that He is the way, the truth and the life. He loves you. He wants you to come unto Him.
Next week, the sermon will be posted on Saturday as I have to work on Friday. I will post the verses on Monday. I will post a review on Thursday this week. May God bless you all. Amen.
This week, I've been able to accomplish a lot in writing, and I've had a good week working around the house. I haven't been getting many hours at my other job. I've decided to look elsewhere for more work. Please pray that I will be able to find a good job that will provide enough income and enough hours. Thank you for your prayers.
In other matters, I would like to ask you to pray for those in New Zealand who are still recovering from the terrorist attack. Pray that those who are injured will soon recover.
Continue to pray for those in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi who are suffering as a result of the storm damage. Pray that much needed aid and assistance will reach these nations quickly.
Please remember the nation of Congo in your prayers. The Ebola outbreak is still causing problems there. Pray that those who are sick will recover, and pray that the virus will stop spreading.
Let us all continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. This week, let us focus our prayers on Yemen, Syria and Libya.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kyrgyzstan and Gambia. Pray that many will hear the good news of the love and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.
Over the course of the last few weeks, we have been studying some of the teachings of the Lord Jesus. Today, I would like us to focus our attention on the first message that Jesus preached in the Gospel of Mark. Mark 1:15 states, "The time has come," he said. "The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news."
First of all, I would like us to examine what Jesus was referring to in the specific context of this message, and then I would like us examine what repentance means for us in our day.
Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom of God had come, so it was time for the people to repent. First of all, what does it mean to repent of something. The Greek word translate as repent in the Bible means to change one's mind about something. It means to turn around and think and act in a different way.
Jesus came into the world to redeem the world and transform the world. Jesus was the Messiah who had been prophesied of for generations. He had come to show the people the way in which they should go. If the people would recognize Him as the Messiah, the Kingdom of God would come in their midst.
Jesus had come to institute a new way of thinking. He had come to institute the values and ways of the Kingdom into the disorder of the world. Jesus fully outlines the way of the Kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5 through 7.
If the people would not come to the way of Jesus, a catastrophe would happen. The nation was going in the wrong direction, and Jesus said later in his ministry that following this wrong path would lead to destruction. He was calling on the people to change direction and follow Him and His teachings.
What does the idea of repentance mean for us? Jesus calls each of us to repent and turn to Him and His ways today. We need a change of mind and a change of direction.
First of all, all people need to change their mind and recognize who Jesus is and what He come to accomplish. We need to recognize that Jesus is God come in human flesh. He came to show us how we are to live in this world following the path of His Kingdom values. Jesus died on the cross to bear our sins in His body. He then rose bodily from the grave defeating the consequences of sin. When we recognize who He is and what He has done, we can turn to Jesus as Savior and Lord.
To repent also means that we must change our minds about our own sinfulness. The Bible is quite clear that all have sinned. There is no one who is righteous. We must change our minds about our thinking that we are good enough or can do enough good works to earn eternal life or the favor of God. We must recognize our sinfulness and shortcomings and know that without the forgiveness of Jesus, we are as lost as can be.
Repentance has evidence. When a person truly repents and turns from sin to the Savior, there is evidence in that person's life. In Luke 3:8, Jesus talks about bearing fruit of repentance. The Apostle Paul gives a clear message about the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Those who have truly repented and turned to Jesus will not produce the works of the flesh, but they will produce the fruit of the Spirit.
In Galatians 5:19-21 it states, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:22-23 states,"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such there is no law."
Have you repented of your sins and turned to Jesus as Savior and Lord. I hope that you have. If you have not, you can turn to Jesus this day.
Even those of us who have accepted Jesus as the Lord of our lives need to ask forgiveness for sins. If you have sinned and need forgiveness, turn to Jesus. The Bible says that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us. All we must do is ask.
When I began this blog in 2011, it was my hope and prayer that someone would read one of these messages and turn to Jesus Christ. If you don't know Jesus, please give Him a chance. Learn more about Him. You will see that He is the way, the truth and the life. He loves you. He wants you to come unto Him.
Next week, the sermon will be posted on Saturday as I have to work on Friday. I will post the verses on Monday. I will post a review on Thursday this week. May God bless you all. Amen.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Poem
This is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago. This is copyrighted material.
Dreamscape
Ghost dogs---
dancing on the full moon
tangoing with the stars.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Verses For The Week - Verses About Loving One Another
John 15:12 -- "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
Romans 13:10 -- "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
I John 4:11 -- "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
Romans 13:10 -- "Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
I John 4:11 -- "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
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