The Father’s House Is for Worship

Scripture: Mark 11: 15-17

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Scripture Commentary: How would Jesus react if he entered His Father’s House today?

Would he say this is a house of prayer or that it’s more like a bazaar?

The church does the work of the Father. Would Jesus see the church operated more like a business? Or is it acting as a house of God that is bringing many to salvation for the Savior?

Are we in a store selling things or are we in God’s House worshipping him?

Mark 11: 15-17 tells what reaction Jesus had when he entered his Father’s House of Worship and saw the people more interested in selling things. So the question now is would Jesus react the same way today?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 11

The Seed Is the Word of God

Scripture: Luke 8: 11-14

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Scripture Commentary: Have you let the seed of God germinate in your heart and life?

The seed is God’s Word and you are the soil. In what type of soil is God’s seed being planted? Are you one who points to others and does nothing? Do you read or hear the Word but have not changed your lifestyle?

God has given His Word through the Bible. The Word is for us to live by but we do not always listen to what we are told.

Is God’s seed planted in good soil, bearing solid fruit?

Is the seed on a “path” where it is being trampled down by you living for yourself, refusing to believe God’s message? Or are you a “rock” who believes but does nothing? Or are you a “thorn patch” overcome by the materialism of the world and therefore has no room for God?

If you believe that Our Lord Christ and Savior Jesus gave his life for your sins, giving you the way to eternal life, then bring forth good fruit.

God has planted the seed but what type of soil are you?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 8

God Can Hear Your Cry and Save You

Sermon: The One That Is Lost

Part Three (Final): Isaiah 59: 1

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Hear me, O Lord, I have sinned. Forgive me.

When you ask God for forgiveness, you are knocking on his door.

Matthew 7: 7-8

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jesus is at the gate. He is in the wilderness, he is at the door, and he is in search of his lost sheep. If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do so now.

Knock on his door. His heart is open and he is waiting to accept you. He is saying to come as you are right now.

Matthew 11: 28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

If you are one of the lost sheep, accept Christ now. The kingdom of God will rejoice, as each of his sheep return.

Knock, knock on his door, and he will open it!

Read the Full Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
Isaiah Chapter 59
Matthew Chapter 7
Matthew Chapter 11

Read the First and Second Parts of the Sermon, The One That is Lost
Part One: Jesus Came to Save the Lost
Part Two: Be Willing to Accept Jesus Into Your Heart

Be Willing to Accept Jesus Into Your Heart

Sermon: The One That Is Lost

Part Two: 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

In this verse Peter is telling us that we do not know the time or day when God is coming, so we must do his work as if he is coming in the next second, minute, hour or day. God is not willing for any of us to perish, but the final decision concerning your fate is up to you.

God has his timetable …

And his timetable is not on our time. Jesus is waiting so that more sinners will repent and turn to him. We must not sit and wait for Christ to return, but we should live with the realization that our time is short and we have God’s work to do.

Who among you is over 25 years old? When you think back, do you ask the question, “Where did the time go?”

Time waits for no one …

But God is giving you the time to come to him, to ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Be ready to meet Christ any time, even today. Start serving now. We do not know when he is coming, but we know he is coming!

Matthew 18:14

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

God loves you and is waiting for you.

All you have to do is accept his son Jesus as your Savior. Since you are here now, God has given you another opportunity to come to him.

Read all of 2 Peter Chapter 3
Read all of Matthew Chapter 18

Please return next week for the final part of the sermon, The One That Is Lost. God Bless!

Jesus Came to Save the Lost

Sermon: The One That Is Lost

Part One: Matthew 18: 11-13

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

We are God’s children.

He loves each of us, and is truly saddened for the one that leaves and is lost. Think of it this way – if a family member or friend leaves and you don’t know where they are, you would be worried.

In this story the shepherd has 100 sheep. He knows where 99 are, but one is lost. He leaves the 99 because he not only knows where they are, he has made provisions for them. Before he leaves, he feeds them and puts protection in place so no harm will come to them.

God sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to save us.

This is what God does for us. God sent his son, Jesus Christ, who came into this world to die for our sins and then on the third day rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven to the Father.

But before this, Jesus went about preaching and teaching the Gospel. This is how he was preparing his flock. For the ones who accepted him as their Lord and Saviour, they went into the flock of God’s Hand.

Now for those who knew not of Christ, they were lost and had to be found. Jesus and his disciples had to go out into the wilderness and find the lost ones.

Read all of Matthew Chapter 18

Please return next week for Part Two of the Sermon, The One That Is Lost

What Is the Price of Being Tempted?

Scripture: Luke 4: 1-3

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, if thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus was tempted by the devil for 40 days.

Don’t let yourself be temped, for temptation can come at a high price. Are you ready to pay the price? I lost my job and my friend has offered me a quick, but illegal, way to make some money. A loved one left me, but I know I can buy them back even though it’s not moral. These are some of the ways Satan’s temptation can manifest in our lives.

If Satan thought he could tempt Jesus, and he knew who Jesus was, then what does that say about us?

Satan is a real being, a created but rebellious fallen angel. He is not a symbol or a figment of our imagination. He constantly fights against God and those who follow and obey God.

Satan succeeded with Adam and Eve, and he is hoping to succeed with each of us.

Knowing, studying, and obeying God’s word is an effective weapon against Satan. When he tempted Jesus, Jesus used Scripture to counter Satan’s attacks. So can you if you study the Word.

Obeying the scriptures is more important than simply having a verse to quote. Read to understand. Then you will know what Jesus is telling you, and you will know how it fits into your life.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 4

Nicodemus Came to Jesus by Night

Scripture: John 3: 1-2

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Scripture Commentary: Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus seeking knowledge.

Nicodemus was a learned man humbling himself before the master. Why? Have you gone to Jesus seeking his wisdom, his direction? Do you go to Jesus directly with your questions? Nicodemus could have sent one of his assistants, but he did not.

Prayer is the way to talk to God and it is a way for him to answer you.

Even though we can pray for each other, direct prayer is crucial to our individual relationship with God. Think about it. Do you form friendships by sending your friend to interact with the other person, or do you interact with that person directly before you can confidently call him or her your friend?

Nicodemus went after dark because he feared what other Pharisees would say about him. Do you talk about your prayers with your peers?

Have you told anyone about what Jesus does for your life, or do you stay quiet?

When Nicodemus entered into that conversation with Jesus he thought that the kingdom of God was only for the Jews. Jesus corrected him, teaching that the kingdom is for those who repent and turn to the Lord. Jesus came for everyone, not just for the Jews alone. The kingdom of God is for anyone who is spiritually reformed and accepts God’s only begotten son as Lord and Savior.

Have you asked for forgiveness? Have you been reborn in your acceptance of Jesus?

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 3

Flee From Evil Desires and Pursue Righteousness

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2: 22-23

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

Scripture Commentary: Flee evil desires and pursue faith, love, and peace.

Timothy, a young man, was warned to flee anything that produced evil thoughts. Running away is considered cowardly by many. Wise people realize that removing themselves physically from a situation/temptation can be the most courageous and effective action to take.

Do you have recurring temptations that are difficult to avoid? Are there certain situations that stimulate your desire to sin. By physically removing yourself from those situations you decrease your likelihood to sin.

The flesh is weak.

Ask the Lord Jesus Christ for his power to release you from your temptations. Through him, you can make it out, but you will never make it out alone. By living the life God intends for you, you will inevitably surround yourself with fellow Christians and find yourself in an environment that does not tempt you to sin.

Knowing when to run is as important in spiritual battle as knowing when and how to fight. Don’t give in to society’s pressures. Stand up against evil. Live as God wants you to live. Follow God’s truth, and he will never forsake you.

Don’t settle for less than God’s highest and best.

Allow God to use you as his instrument to carry his word to all.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Timothy Chapter 2

God’s House Is a House of Prayer

Scripture: Mark 11: 15-17

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Scripture Commentary: God says that his house is a house of prayer for all nations.

How would Jesus react if he walked into his father’s house today? Would he find a house of prayer or a den of thieves? Is the work of our God the focus in our places of worship? Or, are we more concerned with how much money we raise?

Using the church setting as a business draws in more money than it does people.

The purpose of the church, of having a space to come together with fellow Christians and worship our Lord, is to cultivate community and bring in nonbelievers to teach them God’s Word. As instruments in God’s kingdom, we are to bring people to the Lord, to his salvation and mercy.

In these verses, Mark tells the reaction Jesus had when he entered his Father’s house of worship. The question now is would Jesus react the same way today? Are we in a store selling earthy objects or are we engaged in worship in God’s house?

Read the Entire Chapter:

Mark Chapter 11

Wilt Thou Be Made 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 desire 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: “Wilt thou be made whole?”

When Jesus asks, “Wilt thou be made whole,” he is asking you. We live with sickness in our spirits because everyday life makes us forget about Jesus. We get so caught up that we don’t see the cure in front of us.

No matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. Don’t let a problem or hardship diminish your hope. Have faith.

God has a special job for you in spite of your condition; maybe even because of it. Jesus healed this man both physically and spiritually.

God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Don’t neglect his gracious offer.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 5