Author: thegospelmailman@yahoo.com

Jesus, Remember Me

Sermon: What Side of the Cross Are You On? … Jesus, Remember Me

Part One: Luke 23: 37-43

… and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[c] “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 3Two criminals are to be crucified along with Christ. One is on His left; the other on His right. Each criminal is tied to his cross with ropes. They endure no physical punishment. In contrast, Jesus is nailed to the cross with large nails. But before He is nailed to the cross, He is whipped, beaten, spit upon and a crown of thorns is forced on His head.

Isaiah 53: 3

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

One of the criminals says to Jesus to save Himself and them, too. Similarly, Satan tempts Jesus after He is baptized by John the Baptist.

Matthew Chapter 4 recounts Jesus being led of the spirit into the wilderness. He was there 40 days and nights. When Jesus was weak and hungry Satan came to him.

Matthew 4: 2-3

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 

Jesus’ response is very clear. In Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Satan tried to tempt Jesus, fully knowing that He is God’s Only Begotten Son. So, if He would approach Jesus to tempt Him, what chance do you have?

I am here to tell you, you have no chance unless you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You must be under the covering of God’s grace.

Read the entire chapters of the Scriptures referenced:

Luke 23

Isaiah 53

Matthew 4

Read Part Two of the Sermon, What Side of the Cross Are You On?

Do You Recognize God’s Voice?

The Last Days Will Be Terrible

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3: 1-5

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Scripture Commentary: Paul’s reference to the “last days” reveals his sense of urgency.

The last days began after Jesus’ resurrection when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost. And the last days will end when Jesus returns.

Paul gives us a descriptive list of behavior of the last days. Check the list! It describes our society and unfortunately, the behavior of many Christians.

Don’t give in to society’s pressures.

Don’t settle for comfort without commitment. Sin has consequences, and no one will get away with it. Don’t be surprised when people misunderstand, criticize and even try to hurt you because of what you believe and how you live.

We have to remove ourselves from temptation. This can be the most courageous action we can take when the devil tries us. When we do this, those who oppose us will be more willing to hear what we have to say. Perhaps they will turn from their error.

Stand up against evil by living as God would have His people live.

Seek to find God’s truth and will for your life. God is the only one we need to please.

Read the Entire Chapter:

2 Timothy Chapter 3

You Are God’s Temple

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3: 16-17

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Scripture Commentary:

You are God’s temple. He made you in His image but some have forgotten this. You may think that you’re all that, and that you don’t need anyone, not even God.

The Spirit of God is in all of us – both in the good and in the bad.

But if you don’t open your heart and soul so God can come in and save you, you’re lost. The foundation is in you because Christ died so you can be saved.

The foundation was laid when you were born. How you build it is up to each of you. Build your foundation on Christ, not on another person or principle.

You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Care for, love, and cherish what God has given you. If you defile yourself, you defile God.

Non-believers are victim’s of life, swept along by its current. They wonder if there is meaning to live. The believer understands life’s true purpose. Love others as God loves you. After all, God gave His only Son for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:

1 Corinthians Chapter 3

Live in the Spirit of Christ

Scripture: Romans 8:6-9

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 

Scripture Commentary: Ask yourself these questions …

Do you truly have the Spirit of Christ in you? Do you study the Word, live a Christ-like life, help others? These are questions that only you can answer.

It can be hard to live in this world and not be affected by what you see, hear and do everyday. You are in one of two categories – those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful natures, or those who follow after Christ.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

All of us would be in the first category if Jesus Christ hadn’t offered us hope. Being a Christian means that you have the Spirit of Christ living in you. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and have acknowledged Him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life. You are a Christian.

If this has happened to you, then you are working for Our Lord already. If this is not the case, pray and ask Him to forgive you your sins and see the Holy Spirit work in you. When the Holy Spirit is working in you, you will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Romans Chapter 8

God Has Freely Given Us His Love

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 10-12

… these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.  For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Scripture Commentary:

God has freely given us His love and a chance to choose. We can choose the things of this world (money, cars, lust of the flesh) or we can choose to serve God.

We need the things of the world to live but we do not need to let anything of this world rule us. God gives us what we need. We are to labor for our needs, but more importantly, we are to labor for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Where would we be if not for His grace and mercy?

God gave His son for us. What have we given to Him? God’s Holy Spirit lives in us but we have to accept, repent and ask God for forgiveness so that it can be awakened.

Non-Christians cannot understand God, and they cannot grasp the concept that God’s Spirit lives in those who believe. To have an intimate relationship with Jesus is to spend time with Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:

1 Corinthians Chapter 2

Take the Word of the Lord to All

Scripture: Jonah 1: 1-3

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Scripture Commentary: Jonah flees from the Lord.

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach the Word of the Lord to them. Although Jonah knows God is omnipresent, he runs and hides from God.

How many times have you ignored God when He is talking to you?

Maybe you aren’t literally running away, but when you decide not to listen, you are hiding from God.

Jonah hated the people of Nineveh so much that he didn’t want them to be saved. God will put you in places that won’t be to your liking and may make you uncomfortable. You are to take God’s Word wherever you are sent, not where you can go and feel comfortable.

Think about all that God has done for you.

Jonah’s story began with disobedience and with the possibility of a great tragedy of 120,000 people being lost forever.

This story illustrates that at your worst, God will give you a chance to repent and accept Him. You cannot seek God’s love and run from Him at the same time.

Believe in God and do His will.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Jonah Chapter 1

God’s Grace is Sufficient for Me

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 9


but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 

Scripture Commentary: A prayer for grace…

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your son, Jesus Christ. You sent Him to save us, to show us the way to you. Your grace is sufficient in whatever burden we have.

We humble ourselves before you. And we ask that you touch our sick, our lost. Take the yoke off for your strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Please bless our shepherd (Pastor) and his wife. Protect them. Walk with him, talk to and guide him. Keep him on your path and strengthen him for the journey of guiding your flock.

Thank you for sending this Pastor, your servant to us. In our weakness we see your love, grace, and mercy.

In the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Thank you.

Amen

Read the Entire Chapter:

2 Corinthians Chapter 12

Jesus Was Raised from the Dead for You

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2: 8-13

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Scripture Commentary: Beloved, remain faithful! Jesus was raised from the dead for you!

In Timothy’s day, many asserted that Christ was divine but not human; God, but not man. After all, He was raised from the dead.

The truth that Jesus is one person with two united natures has never been easy to understand. But people believe.

God promises that someday we will live eternally with Him.

What does this mean? It means believers will live in Christ’s kingdom, and will share in the administration of that kingdom.

Are you facing hardships? Don’t turn away from God. He promises you a wonderful future with Him. Jesus is faithful. He will stay by your side even when you have endured so much that you seem to have no faith left.

Jesus Christ loves us all!

Read the Entire Chapter:

2 Timothy Chapter 2

God’s People Are the Salt of the Earth

Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-14

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Scripture Commentary: Salt brings out the flavor.

When you cook a roast, you season it with salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Either that or you put it in the oven with no seasoning at all.

Now you pick which roast you’d rather eat. I’m sure you’ll choose the one that has a flavorful taste.

In reading The Word we learn how to live, how to help others, and how much God loves us. If we, as Jesus’ followers, don’t know the way, how can we lead? When Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, we are of little value to God.

We are worthless if we are too much like the world.

Don’t blend in with everyone else. We are to be Christ-like in our living. Be a light that shows the way to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We hide our light when we are quiet when we should speak, when we go along with the crowd, letting sin dim our light, and by ignoring the needs of others.

Study God’s Word so you can be seasoned and bring light into the world for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Matthew Chapter 5

Live By and Keep Step with the Spirit

Scripture: Galatians 5: 16-18, 25


So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.(16-18) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.(25)

Scripture Commentary:

How dare we think we can live as judge over another human being! How can we be Christians and love one another, then talk about people?

When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults.

Remove the beam from your own eye …

When you begin to feel critical of someone, look at yourself and make a list of the things you need to work on … then make a list of that other person’s positive qualities. Then let the Holy Spirit that is in you lead you. Jesus’ words will then be in your mind and the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and His power will help you control your selfish desires.

Do not rely on your own wisdom. You will make wrong choices. Being led by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Galatians Chapter 5