Can You Hear God’s Voice? He Talks to You.

Scripture: Acts 28: 26-27

Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Scripture Commentary: Do you hear God when He is talking to you?

… Or are you hearing your inner voice? God is talking to us every day through His Word. If you are so preoccupied with yourself that you can’t hear him, you are lost.

Paul was trying to tell the people about Jesus.

Some of the people heard and some did not, just as today some will listen and learn about Our Lord Jesus Christ and some will not. The choice is yours.

In Paul’s time the people had to wait for someone to bring the news. We have the new! We can look back and see what happened. Also, we have The Holy Bible to tell us the Good News.

God is telling us how to follow Him. He also gives us a blueprint for how to treat our fellow man. God loves us so much. He gave His only begotten Son to show us the way.

Can you hear God talking to you?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 28

God is Alpha and Omega; Beginning and End

Scripture: Revelation 21: 6-7

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Scripture Commentary: God is Alpha and Omega; that which is, was, and is to come!

God tells us, who believe in Him, that He is the creator and finisher of all things. He is both Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

The Bible begins with the creation of the universe and it concludes with His creation of a new heaven and a new earth. Will you be there?

When God asks the question, “What did you do in my name, what will you say?

We are here for only a short time but we will be in heaven with Our Father forever. We are made perfect and our sins are forgiven when we are with God.

Just as God finished the work of creation, Jesus finished the work of redemption, and the Trinity will finish the entire work of salvation by inviting the redeemed into a new creation.

Stand firm for Christ and receive the blessings that He promised:

Eat from the tree of life
Escape from the lake of fire
Receive your special name
Have authority over nations
Be in the Book of Life
Be a pillar in God’s temple
Sit with Christ on His throne

Overcome and inherit all the things that God has for you and be called His child.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Revelation Chapter 21

Additional Reading:
Revelation Chapter 1

You Can Depend on Jesus to Make You Whole

Scripture: John 5: 4-6

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Scripture Commentary: Will you let Jesus make you whole?

Jesus is asking you the question. We all go through life with sickness in our spirit, and are so caught up in our everyday life that we forget about Jesus. Like this man, we had no hope of being made whole. And then we see Jesus!

Don’t let a problem or hardship cause you to lose hope.

Remember that no matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. God has a special job for you in spite of your condition, or maybe even because of it.

The man in the story is made whole both physically and spiritually. God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift you will ever receive.

Don’t neglect His gracious offer. “Wilt thou be made whole … take up thy bed, and walk.”

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 5

God Has Prepared a Place for You

Sermon: The Lord Is the Great Shepherd (God Has Prepared a Place for You)

Part Three: John 14: 2

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

God tells us that He is our shepherd. Jesus tells us that He is going to prepare a place for us and that He will return for us. We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus has promised it to all who believe in Him.

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Jesus has a place for you in His Father’s house, the banquet table is prepared, and your seat is waiting for you. He paid the ultimate price for your seat at the table when He went to the cross, died, and rose again.

Jesus’ words show that the way to eternal life, although unseen, is as secure as your trust in Jesus. All of the benefits of being God’s child will be yours.

Read the Full Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
John Chapter 14
Psalm Chapter 23

Read the first and second parts of the Sermon, The Lord Is the Great Shepherd
The Lord Is the Great Shepherd (Part One)
The Lord Is My Shepherd; He Restores My Soul (Part Two)

The Lord Is the Great Shepherd

Sermon: The Lord Is The Great Shepherd

Part One: Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

We are God’s child. He is our Father, Protector, the Great Shepherd. When David describes the Lord as a shepherd, he is writing about of his own experience as a shepherd when he was a young boy.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep.

The New Testament calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd. The Lord is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. We are not to be frightened or passive. We are to be obedient followers who place ourselves in His hands. He will lead us in the path of rightness.

If we go our own way then we are going to walk the path satan has for us. Do not think that satan isn’t waiting to lead you.

Job 2: 2

“And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Matthew 4:1

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a]by the devil.”

Now the devil thought he could tempt Jesus. What do you think he can do with us?

When we put ourselves in God’s hands, we have contentment.

Psalm 23 does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow Our Lord and Savior. However, when we choose to sin, we go our own way and we can’t blame God for the consequences of that choice.

Read the Full Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm Chapter 23
Job Chapter 2
Matthew Chapter 4

Join us later this week for Part Two of the sermon, The Lord is My Shepherd.

Do What Is Right – Tell Others About God!

Scripture: Acts 10: 34-35

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Scripture Commentary: Always strive to do what is right in God’s eyes.

This chapter in the Book of Acts tells us about Peter doing what is right by carrying the Word of God not only to the Gentiles but also to the world. God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ because Cornelius was seeking God but he did not know Christ.

We are God’s Messengers.

God saw the good in Cornelius. In his position, he would carry the Word to Rome. What would happen to people who don’t know Jesus Christ if we don’t tell them? We aren’t to judge if people should know about Jesus. We are to spread His message whenever and wherever we can.

God told Peter to take the gospel to a Roman and Peter obeyed. Are you obeying God’s mission for you? In every corner of the world there are hearts restless for God’s Word. They are ready to receive the gospel but someone must take it to them.

Seeking God is not enough. Someone must help place people on the correct path.

We are to take down all barriers of language, culture, prejudice, geography, socioeconomic level, and education to bring people the good news of Jesus Christ.

How will seekers find Jesus without someone to point the way? God is asking you to show someone the way to him.

Read the Entire Chapter
Acts Chapter 10

Every Life Involves Struggle … Endure!

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 1, 4, 7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (1) … In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(4) It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? (7)

Scripture Commentary: We do not struggle alone.

We are not the first to struggle with the problems we face. Being a Christian involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run patiently, and to resist sin with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Many have already made it through life, enduring far more difficult circumstances than we have experienced. We are alive so God still has a job for us.

God’s discipline is a sign of His love for us.

God keeps us, corrects us, and even chastises us at times because He loves us. It is never pleasant to be disciplined by God, but His discipline is a sign of His deep love for us.

When God corrects us, we should view it as proof of His love and ask Him what He is trying to teach us. When we talk to God and ask Him questions, He will answer.

Our God is a living God who takes care of us. Talk to Him.

Let the Holy Spirit grow in you. God will never lead you in the wrong way. Christ is both sufficient and superior.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hebrews Chapter 12

You Do Not Carry Your Burdens Alone

Scripture: Galatians 6: 1-6

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus bears our burdens daily.

No Christian should ever think that he or she is totally independent, not needing help from others. No one should feel excused from the task of helping others. We are to help alleviate each other’s burdens.

The body of Christ – the church – functions only when the members work together for the common good.

Do you know someone who needs help?

If you do, hold out your hand and do whatever you can.

When you do your very best, you feel good about the results. And when you do things, don’t compare yourself to others. Your gift is what God gave you. People make comparisons to point out flaws in order to feel better about themselves. Others compare because they simply want reassurance that they are doing well.

When you are tempted to compare, look at Jesus Christ. His example will inspire you to do your very best, and his loving acceptance will comfort you when you fall short of your expectations.

We are in God’s hands. Let Him show you the way to live and to be Christ-like.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Galatians Chapter 6

Jesus Set Us Free with His Sacrifice on the Cross

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you^[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus’ sacrifice has made us free!

Free at last, O mightly God, I’m free at last! This is what Jesus Christ did for us when he went to the cross. We were on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s Holy law. (If you haven’t accepted Jesus in your life, you are still there!)

Without Jesus we would have no hope at all!

Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. But if you don’t turn from sin, what he did is lost on you. You can’t say, “The devil made me do it,” if Christ is in your life.

Jesus’s sacrifice has declared us ‘not guilty’. He has offered us freedom from sin and the power to do his will through the Holy Spirit which is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian.

We have a choice to make.

We have a choice to be controlled by our sinful nature or to follow the Holy Spirit. Once you have said ‘yes’ to Jesus, you want to continue to follow Christ.

Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with God’s will. Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best for we are truly free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

We Are From God and God Is Love

Scripture: 1 John 4: 4-8

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Scripture Commentary: We, who are from God, should love everyone.

How can you say that you hate someone and still consider yourself to be from God? If we are God’s children, and Jesus Christ is our Savior, we are to love everyone.

If you truly follow Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. And if the Holy Spirit is in you, you will love everyone, even your enemy. When you choose to love even those who do you wrong, God reveals himself to others through you.

God is love.

John tells us that “God is love,” not that “Love is God.” Our world, with its shallow and selfish view of love, has turned these words around and has contaminated our understanding of love.

Real love is God, for He gave His only begotten son in order to show us His love for each and every one of us.

How can you say you love God and dislike someone? If you truly know God, you will love as He loves!

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 John Chapter 4