Month: December 2019

Love Each Other As God Loves You

Sermon, Part Two: Love is Key to the Final Destination

John 15: 12

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Think of someone in particular who needs love. Give all the love you can, and then try to give more. How do we get to the final destination? Love each other, help each other, accept Jesus, and repent.

God doesn’t make it hard or even complicated.

All you need is faith, trust and the willingness to believe. In John 14:6, Jesus saith to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Knowing Peter, Paul or Mary will not get you into heaven. Knowing, accepting Jesus, and repenting will get you into the Kingdom of God.

Well, you may say I have done good by my fellow man; I have put money in church; I have given to those in need. This is all good, but it will not give you the keys to eternal life in God’s Kingdom.

By uniting our lives with Jesus, we are unified with God, the Father. Some people may say that this way is too narrow. The way to God through Jesus is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept Jesus.

God loves us so much.

God loves us so much he sent his Only Begotten Son to give us salvation and deliverance from sin. Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

Do not be like the Pharisees who loved money. They took exception to Jesus’s teaching. Christ teaches that you cannot serve two masters: money and God. The love of anything that you place before God will only last a short time. People think that material things will give them praise, but it will not. They consider their wealth to be a sign of God’s approval. God detests selfish wealth because it causes us to abandon the true spiritual gifts that God has given to us.

Wealth won’t get you into heaven – Jesus is the only way.

Remember the rich man in Luke 16:19, who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury while at the gate laid a beggar named Lazarus. The beggar was covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. The dogs came and licked the poor man’s sores. Remember that he died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.

The rich man died and was sent to hell. We do not know the rich man’s name but the poor man’s name is Lazarus. The rich man begged for mercy, but got none. While he was living, he did not repent. Now, he is dead and he cannot undo what he did while he was alive. He had no faith in God.

What is faith?

Faith is total dependence on God and a willingness to do his will. Faith is not something we put on to show others.

In this parable in Luke Chapter 16, Jesus tells us how people ended up in different places. If your life’s map is taking you to hell and you know it, and if you are here and have heard, then you still have time to make a U-turn and start on the road to God’s Kingdom.

God gives you a choice.

He doesn’t force anything on you. He is a merciful God, full of love and forgiveness. And He gives us grace, mercy, clemency, and his protection freely.

Now you have heard about the road to God’s Kingdom. You have been given the directions: repentance, love, and forgiveness. Live a Christ-like life. That does not mean to live a perfect life because none of us can be perfect.

By studying the Word, we will walk better than we have been doing. With God’s help, we will learn how to be better and do better. Faith in God will direct you to be the person that God made you to be.

Return later this week for Part Three of the sermon, The Final Destination. In Part Three we will focus on the other destination.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John Chapters 15

John Chapter 14

Luke Chapter 16

Read Part One of the Sermon, Your Final Destination

Do You Know the Way to Heaven?

Sermon, Part One: Your Final Destination

John 14:1-4

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” 

You are about to take a trip.

Do you know the way? You have no map quest or map, but someone has given you directions. You do not know the day or time you are leaving, but you know you are going away. This trip has been planned for a while. You know that you will be leaving but to where is the question?

When you plan your vacation, you pick the date, where you are going, and how you will get there. You pack your clothes and have your transportation ready.

You need no worldly possessions to get started.

But for this trip I am talking about you need no clothes, money, or ticket. There are two places to choose from. Let’s start with the first place you can go.

You started this trip when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The date of this trip started when you were conceived in your mother’s womb. That’s your date of arrival, and it was placed in the Book. Your date of departure was also placed in the Book.

Now your trip is when life begins.

At first, it may be fun and games or it may be hardships. In the early years you really do not have much of a choice. But then you reach adulthood. Now you can choose what kind of life you want to live.

Maybe you are still searching for what is missing. You are going through life with no purpose. If you are going through life without Jesus, then you have no purpose. You are an empty vessel that cannot be filled.

With Jesus you will have a purpose, a reason to get up in the morning. Your faith in Christ will deliver you from the emptiness you feel. Now you know where you are going and who you will be with.

A trip to Jesus Christ’s Father’s Kingdom is the trip to a place of eternal light with no darkness, no sickness, no pain, no rain, no tension, no fighting or disputes, no need to lie or be jealous of anyone. There’s pure peace, joy, and love everywhere.

Jesus says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.”

His house is not built by hands. “If it were not so, I would have told you.”

Jesus is not lying; He cannot lie. Jesus’ death and resurrection gave us the only path to his Father’s Kingdom. The path is love.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John Chapter 14

Read Other Commentary on John Chapter 14:

There’s A Mansion for You in Heaven

Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Please return next week for Part Two of the Sermon, Your Final Destination.

Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace

Part Two: The Prophecy of Jesus Christ

Isaiah 9: 6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 53: 5

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

In this prophecy of Isaiah, God pulled aside the curtain of time to let the people of Isaiah’s day look ahead to see The Prince of Peace. They saw ahead to the suffering of the future Messiah and the resulting forgiveness made available to all mankind.

Today we can see all that Christ did and if we still reject Him, our sin is greater than that of the Israelites who could not see what we have seen and know.

Have you given your life to Jesus, The Prince of Peace?

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Are you in the fold or are you like a wandering sheep?

Jesus is the sinless lamb who offered Himself for our sins to make us acceptable to God, His Father. What Christ did on the cross opened the way so we can enter heaven. It is not by our works or deeds. We are justified because we claim Jesus Christ the righteous servant.

When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, your sin is stripped away and you are clothed in His goodness. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ, you are lost and belong to Satan. All you have to do is accept Christ. He will forgive and forget your sins.

God loves each of us so much.

He will hold no memory of our wrong when we accept His Son. And if God is willing to forgive us, we must forgive anyone who has harmed us. We cannot seek God’s forgiveness if we can’t forgive.

In closing, in time of great darkness, God promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in darkness and the shadow of death. Jesus is that light. He is Wonderful, Counselor, the Prince of Peace and Mighty God.

This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. He came to deliver all people from their slavery to sin. Take comfort in this certainty: although the Lord may not always take us out of our troubles, He will lead us safely through them.

Think of the prayers He has answered and praise Him! Keep your thoughts and trust in God. Ask His forgiveness. He will forgive and forget.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Isaiah Chapter 9

Isaiah Chapter 53

Read Part One of the Sermon, The Prophecy of Jesus Christ.

His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful!

Sermon: The Prophecy of Jesus Christ

Isaiah 9: 6

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 53: 5

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah made the prophecy about Jesus Christ about 681 years before He was born. As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on this day we have set aside as His birthday.

Are you really celebrating His birth or are you celebrating yourself?

What has Christmas become to you?

For some it’s a day off. For many, it’s a day to receive or give gifts. But this is the day God sent us His Only Begotten Son to pay for our sins.

His son was not the all impressive, commanding figure of a man making a strong impression. No! He was a humble, suffering servant – a sinless lamb to be led to slaughter.

Such a prophecy is astounding. Why would God send His Son to be beaten, spit upon and nailed to the cross for us? He allowed it out of Love, LOve, LOVe, LOVE!

Who would believe God would save us this way?

We think the only way to get anything done is to fight and go to war. That is Satan’s way, not God’s. God’s ways are not our ways. The Messiah’s strength is shown by humility, suffering, mercy and love.

Despite Isaiah’s prophecy of Jesus’s coming, the people still rejected Him. Why do people despise someone who is kind, forgiving, and shows love?

Please return next week for the conclusion of the sermon, The Prophecy of Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Isaiah Chapter 9

Isaiah Chapter 53

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Isaiah:

Do Not Be Separated From God

God Knows You In Your Entirety

The Angels Worship Jesus Christ

Scripture: Hebrews 1: 5-8

5-6 For God never said to any angel, “You are my Son, and today I have given you the honor that goes with that name.”[b] But God said it about Jesus. Another time he said, “I am his Father and he is my Son.” And still another time—when his firstborn Son came to earth—God said, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

7 God speaks of his angels as messengers swift as the wind and as servants made of flaming fire; 8 but of his Son he says, “Your Kingdom, O God, will last forever and ever; its commands are always just and right.

Scripture Commentary:

God has many angels but He has only one Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was with His Father in the beginning of time, and He is with Him now. Christ, like His Father, is changeless.

When you put your faith in Christ, you are absolutely secure because He stands on the firmest foundation in the universe. He is always fair, just, and merciful to us who are so undeserving.

Jesus is God’s Son and is worthy of all praise!

In verse 6, God says to His angels, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Then God “gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3: 16)

Don’t ever think God could never forgive your sins. All you have to do is accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior. Stop sinning and have faith in Him.

God can and will forgive us when we come to Him through His Son.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 1

Also referenced:

John Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

Jesus and the Throne of God

Don’t Harden Your Hearts to God

Christ Died For Our Sins

Scripture: Romans 6: 7-10

7 For the person who has died [with Christ] has been freed from [the power of] sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live [together] with Him, 9 because we know [the self-evident truth] that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin [ending its power and paying the sinner’s debt] once and for all; and the life that He lives, He lives to [glorify] God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. 

Scripture Commentary:

We will all die but who will we die for? Are we living for worldly things or are we living for Christ? If we are living for Christ, then our old sinful self died once and for all, and we are free from its power. Paul has told us that through faith in Christ we are acquitted before God. We need no longer live under sin’s power.

So we are free!

What are we doing for Christ? When we were chained to sin, we lived as sinners. Now Christ has freed us from our sinful nature. Christ’s death and resurrection freed us to enjoy fellowship with him and to do His will.

So let us consider ourselves to be what God has in fact made us. We have a new start, and the Holy Spirit will help us become in our daily experience what Christ has declared us to be.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from Romans Chapter 6:

Do Not Continue in Sin; You Have Been Set Free

Will You Go On Sinning?

Stop Being Enslaved to Sinful Desires

Scripture: Titus 3: 3-7

3 For we too once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures, spending and wasting our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ], 5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy, by the cleansing of the new birth (spiritual transformation, regeneration) and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee). 

Scripture Commentary:

Think back to the life you were living before Jesus Christ entered in. The Bible says, you were ” foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various sinful desires and pleasures.” Although, at the time, many of us thought we were doing well in that lifestyle.

Because of God’s mercy and love for us, we moved from a life of sin to one where we are lead by God’s Holy Spirit. All our sins, not merely some, but ALL, are washed away by His mercy.

Open your heart and soul to Jesus.

When we open our heart and soul to Jesus, He cleanses us. He does this not because we earned or deserved it. It is His gift to us. We know now that freedom doesn’t consist of doing anything we want. Freedom is living a life for Christ.

Our old lifestyle led to a path of slavery to addictions and sensual gratification. We were not free but slaves to what our body dictated. Christ frees us from the desires and control of sin. None of this occurs because we earned or deserved it. It is a gift from God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Titus Chapter 3

Read More Commentary from the New Testament:

You Have No Excuse

Live By and Keep Step with the Spirit

Live a Godly Life in Christ Jesus

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3: 10-15

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Scripture Commentary:

Sin has consequences, and no one will get away with it forever. Live a godly life – live as if your actions will one day be known to everyone. Now is the time to change anything you wouldn’t want revealed later.

Don’t be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize, and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you have changed your life. Don’t give up!

Jesus’s light changes people.

Don’t expect false teachers and evil people to reform and change on their own. Left alone, they will go from bad to worse. If you have the opportunity to bring them back to faith in Christ, do so.

Christ has placed people in your life to bring them out of the darkness (as we all were at a time in our life). You are to point them to His glory, light and love.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Timothy Chapter 3

Read Other Commentary from the Books of Timothy:

Be Strong in the Grace that is Jesus

Flee from Evil Desires and Pursue Righteousness

Walk in the Spirit, Live in the Light

Scripture: Galatians 5: 16-18, 25

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary:

Why do we feel we are true Christians when we judge someone? Because we go to church and pray, we are not to judge anyone. Walk in the spirit. Christ died to set us free from sin and a long list of weakness we have in our flesh.

Those who appeal to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires are falling back into sin. It is sinful to talk behind someone’s back and to focus on another’s shortcomings.

Paul tells us we have two forces conflicting within us: The Holy Spirit and the sinful nature. We have within us the evil desires or inclinations that stem from our bodies. We are not to rely on our own wisdom. We have to let the Holy Spirit that is in us, guide us.

If we try to walk in the Spirit under our own human effort, we will fail. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will control your desires.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Galatians Chapter 5

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Galatians:

Are You Believing In the Jesus Who Saves?

Thanks Be to God for All He Has Done