Great Faith

 

Scripture Texts

Mark 6:6

Luke 7:1-10

Intro: There are only two times in the bible that Jesus marveled at people’s faith. Marvel means to be impressed, amazed, be surprised and stand in wonder of. There are two kinds of faith that makes Jesus marvel. We will look at those two kinds of faith. Take note of which kind of faith you have.

I. Jesus marvels at the lack of faith. Mark 6:5–7 (NKJV) ⁵Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. a. Unbelief ties Jesus’ hands so that He can do no mighty work among us. (v:5) Unbelief or lack of faith prevents Jesus’ mighty working power in our lives. God works by faith!

b. "Jesus marveled because of their unbelief!" (v:6) He stood in amazement and shock of their total disbelief. They had His presence, His wisdom, and the testimony of His mighty works. They had His power to help them in all their need, yet they stayed away from His meetings. They would not come to Him. In pride, they refused to trust and believe Him. The situation amazed Jesus. Their unbelief was just incredible, but He had to accept their rejection. He could not force Himself upon them, so He left town and traveled to the villages around Nazareth.

II. Jesus marvels at great faith. (Luke 7:1-7) Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” a. A Roman centurion had a servant very dear to him who was sick. Note that the centurion built the Jews a synagogue. He diligently sought Jesus. The centurion was a very humble man who sought Jesus through the Jews because he did not feel worthy to approach Jesus. The centurion was a man of faith. He believed Jesus could meet his need. The centurion illustrated perfectly what great faith is. Jesus marveled at his faith. (v:9)

1. Great Faith believes that "God is": that He is sovereign Lord over all. Believing God takes faith. (Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” All power is subject to Him.

2. Great Faith believes that "God rewards those that diligently seek Him." Faith in Jesus words believes He will use His power on behalf of those who diligently seek Him. The great faith of the Roman centurion believed God had given Jesus supreme authority over every other power and authority that exists. Philippians 2:10 (NKJV) At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth. Many believers diligently seek the Lord, but the centurion's faith was so much greater than most believers. Why? Because he believed that the Word of Christ was all that was needed. Jesus did not have to be present for the need to be met. As a centurion, he was under the Roman government’s authority and he had been given authority over men. All he had to do was issue an order and it was carried out, whether he was present or not. He was a sovereign commander. He was saying, "How much more authority you have, O' Lord. Your authority is supreme. Speak the word only, and my need shall be met."

III. The results of great faith. The centurion’s servant was healed right then. Luke 7:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

Conclusion: Believing, that is, great faith, is a rare thing. Not many believe with great faith; yet belief in Christ is one of the greatest qualities of human life—a quality ignored, neglected, and in some cases denied. Often Christians limit Jesus’ power from working in their lives by not believing He is able to deal with their particular circumstance. May we determine right now to have great faith in Jesus!

Invitation: Have you put total faith in Jesus for your salvation? Have you confessed your sins to Jesus and asked His forgiveness? If you do, He will save you from hell! Where is your faith level on a scale from 1-10? We either allow Jesus to work in our lives or we limit Him by our faith! Jesus always wants to do more in our lives if we will allow Him!

Real Joy

 

Intro: Are you missing the joy in your life because you are only focusing on being happy? The next time someone asks, “Are you happy?” you should tell them, “Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m sad, but I’m always joyful in the Lord.”

I. You may ask “what do I have to be joyful about?” First & foremost, we have joy in the fact God loves us so much He paid the price for our sin with the life of His Son Jesus Christ & through Him we have eternal life. We also find joy by being with one another. Being together, in church and even in our homes. We can do things like tell stories, share memories, talk about our family, & many other things. We can have joy because God invites us to take all our cares to Him in prayer and leave them with Him. 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

II. The Bible has many things to say about godly joy. Psalm 5:11 (NKJV) ¹¹  But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. In John 15:11 we read were Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” This is God's will for you!

III. Even when we are put through hard times we still have joy with the Lord. The apostle Paul probably went through more hardships than anyone in the Bible except for Jesus. But he had joy. Joy that could not be taken away. Many of the Books he wrote were written in prison. Paul was locked up when he wrote Philippians. He was imprisoned but Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Here he is in prison telling us to rejoice. If Paul can find reason to rejoice in times like this we can do the same. Godly joy cannot be taken away from us! Life has times of hardship & sorrow, but through anything we can rejoice & be joyful in our Lord!

Invitation: The only way to have true joy is if you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. You must confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive you. If you are sincere, He won't turn you away! Then you will know true joy as you live in Him!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill each one reading this with Your joy. Fill them with Your Spirit and hold them close to You. Give them the strength, comfort and encouragement they need for each day. Let them experience Your love and joy in a special way. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Overcoming Unbelief

 

Scripture Text Mark 9:14-24

Introduction: Webster defines unbelief as lack of belief. We in the church would describe it as lack of faith in God. Abraham is considered the father of faith because he believed God, and for his belief in God it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:1.)
Mark 9:14-24.¹⁴ And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. ¹⁶ And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” ¹⁷ Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. ¹⁸ And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” ¹⁹ He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” ²⁰ Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. ²² And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” ²⁵ When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” ²⁶ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. A. Unbelief is one of the biggest strongholds a believer will encounter. Why? Because the stronghold of unbelief is not so readily identifiable and it is personal. First, it can be easily hidden by an outward display of emotions or participation. Second, because it takes a confession from the person to admit that they do not believe God. Many people, not only the saved, but the unsaved claimed to believe in God, but do not believe God. There is a big difference in believing in something or someone and believing the truthfulness of the system or person. Take for example the American political system, many of us believe in democracy but do not believe the politicians. Many Christians today suffer from the same syndrome, they say they believe in Him, but do not believe Him. Unfortunately, because of the stronghold of unbelief they go thru this life unfulfilled and never really reach their full potential. We believe God for salvation (eternal life) but often question if he will keep us or supply our every need. One must understand why this stronghold is so dangerous, is because it takes you out of a faith walk with God. It leads you to rely on your own means or others, thus opening the doors for pride, idolatry deception, etc. to take root in your life. (1). First thing you must do is recognize that God is greater than any problem you encounter and change your thought pattern by:

(1). Believing God for who He says He is. The Supreme Master and Ruler of the universe.
B. Believing God can do what He says he can do. He cannot lie!
C. Believing you are who He says you are. 1 John 3:1 (NKJV)Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.

(2). Second renew your mind: Romans 12:2 (NKJV) ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Praying God’s word (scripture) out loud, in this manner you are breathing, speaking and hearing faith. It is a release of the spirit of faith. (2 Corinthians 4:13). ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak. Speaking God's word increases faith, by creating confidence in Him, rather than your ability to believe.

(3). Third, Pray continuously: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) pray without ceasing,
This brings a break through. It is God's will that we be free from strongholds of every kind. Galatians 5:1 (NKJV) Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. It keeps you in constant fellowship and communion with God.

(4). Fourth, study God’s word: It teaches us to have faith in God's word. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Reading God's word increases our confidence (trust) in Him. We trust what He said and who He is.

Invitation: First step to overcoming unbelief is to believe God's word concerning salvation. Romans 3:23 (NKJV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 10:9–10 (NKJV) But if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Confess your sin to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life and if you mean business, you will be saved. Then you will become a child of God!

Blessings of the Believer

 

Scripture Text

Psalm 36:7-9

Intro: We who are children of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the most blessed people on earth. Some envy the wicked, but they are not blessed of God. Psalms 1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I. There is security in the Lord. Psalm 36:7 (NKJV) How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.                                                        A. His unfailing love endures forever. We have the Security of a merciful, loving, kind, caring God. (Psalm 57:1) Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. God’s loyal love is precious, because humans can take refuge in the Lord like chicks taking refuge under their mother hen’s wings. If we are in God’s will, nothing can touch us without His permission.

II. There are abundant provisions. Psalm 36:8 (NKJV) They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.                                                A. The fullness of God’s house. The psalmist here uses the imagery of the temple to say that believers enjoy the provisions of God’s house. (Isaiah 55:1-2) ¹ "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come; buy wine and milk Without money and without price. ² Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. God invites people to come to Him. The blessings God gives are available without cost. Salvation is a free gift of God; it refers to spiritual redemption and physical deliverance. Both are intended here. The Lord asks how people could be interested in other things besides Himself as He is the only One who can bring genuine satisfaction. Throughout all history people have tried to find satisfaction through many things other than God.

III. There is life in the Lord. (Psalm 36:9a) For with You is the fountain of life; A. Jesus came for this purpose. John 14:6 (NKJV)Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the (life.) No one comes to the Father except through Me. Understanding, joy, and abundant life come from the Lord, our Source. (John 10:10b)

IV. There is light in the Lord. (Psalm 36:9b) For In Your light we see light. A. The light of the Lord overcomes darkness. John 8:12 — Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Jesus lights our way through the darkest of times. His Spirit guides us.      2Cor. 4:6 — For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: So in contrast with the corruptions of the wicked, an obedient believer’s life is characterized by security in the Lord, abundant provisions, life, and understanding in God’s presence. This is the promise of God for all His children.

Invitation: If you are enjoying these provisions of the Lord you should give thanks right now. If you are not enjoying all these provisions of the Lord, now is the time to correct that. Simply confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life. Do it now!

Be Still

 

Scripture Text

Psalm 46:10; 2:1-12

Intro: We live in a time of chaos today. Everything seems to be totally out of control. Sin is rampant. There is deception and lies everywhere. In the media, government and in people Divisiveness rules our land right now. There is little stability in our world today as we look around us but God speaks to us from His word. Let us be encouraged by God’s word. He is our only stability no matter what! He is in control of every situation and circumstance.

I. God says in His word to “Be still.” [Ps. 46:10a] Be still means to be tranquil, silent, quiet, and at rest in your soul and mind. No matter what's going on, we should have peace. a. This is a challenge for all of us. We must work at it. There is Sickness, Political unrest, biased false news media, war, hatred and division everywhere. There is no substitute for time alone with God. We are to read His word, meditate on it and we are to pray about everything. Stillness before the Lord in quiet time allows Him to prepare us for the unexpected challenges and opportunities in life. We should focus on Him rather than trying to figure out every problem we face and wondering what will come next or grieving over past things. God says we are simply to “be still, be at peace” and acknowledge His Lordship over our lives and Surrender to His will.

II. Then God says to “know” something. Know means to recognize and discern. a. We are to know, recognize and understand that He is God and has everything under control. He has everything covered, nothing takes  Him by surprise. He's already in our future working things out on our behalf and for our good. Let there be no doubt whatsoever that He  has a perfect plan for all of us. We can put our complete trust in Him in every situation and circumstance we face. We just need to wait before God quietly and simply let Him do His work in us so He can accomplish His perfect will in our lives. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

III. God says know “I will be exalted in the earth.” [Habakkuk 2:14]    a. God will be (exalted) means raised in rank, honor, power, character, glory among all the nations of the world. God’s lofty position over all will be made known to all nations who live on the face of the earth. Habakkuk 2:14 (NKJV) For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea. All the idols of the world will be burned up by God’s wrath when Jesus comes to rule and reign. All the other religions of the world that have sent many to hell by their false teachings and killing will be destroyed by the fire of God’s wrath and He will be exalted as His word proclaims. God will have His salvation proclaimed in every nation, among every people, and in every tongue. The nations abroad that do not worship Him, but worship idols, shall see that He alone is the true God, and that He is worthy of universal adoration and worship. God in all His glory will rule supreme on the earth over all through His Son Jesus Christ, the Anointed One and nothing can stop that. Psalm 2:1-6 (NLT) ¹  Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? ²  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. ³  “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” ⁴  But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. ⁵  Then in anger He rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. ⁶  For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain. b. God has declared that His Son Jesus will rule the earth and all the peoples on earth will bow before His Son Jesus Christ and confess He is Lord over all to the glory of God. Philippians 2:9-11 ⁹ God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Psalm 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Our Safety,sanctuary, hiding place. Selah (which means) Stop and meditate on that! We must never forget that God is on our side. We have the victory thru Jesus. Romans 8:31b If God is for us, who can be against us?                                                    Conclusion: If you have not developed the habit of a quiet time to still your mind and soul in daily prayer and bible study, why not begin now so you will draw closer to God and realize He is sovereign over you and all the earth. When you do you will have rest and peace in your mind and soul. Nothing else will do that for you!

Invitation: Do you have a relationship with this all powerful God? Have you gotten still before Jesus and confessed your sins to Him and asked Him to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over? If not now is the right time!

Spiritual Growth

INTRO: When we confessed our sins to Jesus Christ and asked Him to forgive us and save us, we began a spiritual journey that will not end until we leave this earth. So many Christians never grow in their spiritual life, thereby missing out on God's best. Here are a few suggestions to help you progress on the road of spiritual growth. If you do these things you will surely grow spiritually and you will gain tremendous strides in your relationship with Jesus and as a result you will experience more of Him and His blessings in your life. God has much more for all of us Christians who grow in Him.

I. Acknowledge who you are. You are a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit. Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. If you can accept this idea, it will change your attitude toward many things in your life. If you have been born again by God’s Spirit, His Spirit also lives in your physical body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

II. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Look inside you, and try to find out what the Holy Spirit is saying to you. The Holy Spirit is the power by which Christians are brought to faith, then baptized into the body of Christ and then helped to understand their walk with God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 ⁹ But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." ¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

III. Make an effort to think positively. Proverbs 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Your life will be guided by what you think. Always try to look at the bright side of life. Open the door for the positive and close it for the negative. The word of God is very positive! If you find yourself thinking negatively, immediately direct your mind to thinking on His word. As we read the word of God the Holy Spirit renews our mind to think as God does. Colossians 3:1-2 ¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Rom. 12:2 says, "Don't be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." God's word will do that!

IV. Start learning and practicing meditation on God’s word. Psalms 1:1-3 ¹ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

V. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. [Eph. 5:18] And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation or excess; but be filled with the Spirit,
Surrender to the Holy Spirit's control and live the Spirit filled life. Galatians 5:22-23] ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. By bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives we can live for God and be victorious in every circumstance and situation. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

VI. Thank God for everything. Thank God for everything that you have in, through and from Him. [Ephesians 1:3; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 ¹⁰ "Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. ¹¹ Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. ¹² Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. ¹³ "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.

Invitation: Spiritual growth begins with a personal relationship with Jesus. Do you even know Jesus? If not, now is the time to admit that you are a sinner and ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and invite Him to live in your heart. Then be baptized to show the sincerity of your salvation.

If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, where are you in your relationship with Him since you have been saved? Are you growing daily in your spiritual walk with Him? WOULD YOU PRAY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN YOUR LIFE? 

A Full Reward

 

Intro: 2 John 1:8 warns us to, "Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what you have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward" (Amplified Bible).

There are many ways to lose your rewards. Being seduced by false teachers is one way that Christians can lose their reward at the judgment. With this in mind, John writes that the reason to guard against deceivers is our own desire not to lose our reward at the judgment seat of Christ. Another way to lose rewards is listening to what people say instead of what God says in His word. Other ways of losing your rewards is not praying or reading God's word and putting other things before God. Habitual sin will also rob us of our full reward. Jesus cautioned the church at Philadelphia to “hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (see Rev. 3:11). Every believer has the potential of a full reward or a complete loss of reward. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 (NKJV) ¹¹  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³  each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. The determining factor is our faithfulness to Christ. Justification is not in view here because it is not something we worked for, but something we received as a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) ⁸  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹  not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. One thing is certain, no one wants to lose their full reward! Our desire is to run our race, finish our course, and receive our full reward. Paul did exactly that: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7 NAS). We can receive our full reward just like Paul! But we must be attentive to the things that come our way just like he did. We cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked or distracted by sin or the things of this world. We cannot lose what we have accomplished. We want to receive our full reward! Our first priority is to focus on the task which God has assigned to us, whatever it is. Then, we must make frequent "checks" along the way. We must be certain that we have not allowed something that is second or third in importance, to take first place in our lives. We must pay close attention to what we do in life in order to continue in the right direction. There are signs to help to gauge our progress. Should we see an unfamiliar sign on our path, something that does not point in the direction of God's will, we must stop and see if we have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. We must continually ask for God's guidance in our lives. We must obey the commandment to love God with all we are and our neighbor as ourselves. Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV) ³⁰  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. ³¹  And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Invitation: If you have never received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, you will not even make it to heaven, much less have a reward. To receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord simply confess your sins to Him and ask Him to for give you and save your soul from hell. Be baptized to show you are sincere. Then you too, can begin to lay up treasures and rewards in Heaven.

True Joy

 

Intro: Are you missing the joy in your life because you are only focusing on being happy? The next time someone asks, “Are you happy?” you should tell them, “Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m sad, but I’m always joyful in the Lord.”

I. You may ask “what do I have to be joyful about?” First & foremost, we have joy in the fact God loves us so much He paid the price for our sin with the life of His Son Jesus Christ & through Him we have eternal life. We also find joy by being with one another at church. Being together, even in our homes. We can do things like tell stories, share memories, talk about our family, God & many other things.

II. The Bible has many things to say about godly joy. Psalm 5:11 (NKJV) ¹¹  But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.

In John 15:11 we read were Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

III. Even when we are put through hard times, we still have joy with the Lord. The apostle Paul probably went through more hardships than anyone in the Bible except for Jesus. But he had joy. Joy that could not be taken away. Many of the Books he wrote were written in prison. Paul was locked up when he wrote Philippians. He was imprisoned but Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Here he is in prison telling us to rejoice. If Paul can find reason to rejoice in times like this, we can do the same. Godly joy cannot be taken away from us! Life has times of hardship & sorrow, but through anything we can rejoice & be joyful in our Lord!

Invitation: The only way to have true joy is if you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. You must confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive you. If you are sincere, He won't turn you away! Then you will know true joy!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill each one reading this with Your joy. Fill them with Your Spirit and hold them close to You. Give them the strength, comfort and encouragement they need for each day. Let them experience Your love in a special way. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Blessings of the Believer

 

Scripture Text

Psalm. 36:7-9

Intro: We who are children of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the most blessed people on earth. Some envy the wicked, but they are not blessed of God. Psalms 1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I. There is security in the Lord. Psalm 36:7 (NKJV) How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.

A. His unfailing love endures forever. We have the Security of a merciful, loving, kind, caring God. (Psalm 57:1) Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. God’s loyal love is precious, because humans can take refuge in the Lord like chicks taking refuge under their mother hen’s wings. If we are in God’s will, nothing can touch us without His permission.

II. There are abundant provisions. (Psalm 36:8) They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

A. The fullness of God’s house. The psalmist here uses the imagery of the temple to say that believers enjoy the provisions of God’s house. (Isaiah 55:1-2)
¹ "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come; buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. God invites people to come to Him. The blessings God gives are available without cost. Salvation is a free gift of God; it refers to spiritual redemption and physical deliverance. Both are intended here. The Lord asks how people could be interested in other things besides Himself as He is the only One who can bring genuine satisfaction. Throughout all history people have tried to find satisfaction through many things other than God.

III. There is life in the Lord. Psalm 36:9a (NKJV) For with You is the fountain of life.

A. Jesus came for this purpose. (John 10:10b) Understanding, joy, and abundant life come from the Lord, our Source.

IV. There is light in the Lord. (Psalm 36:9b) In Your light we see light.

A. The light of the Lord overcomes darkness. John 8:12 — Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life." Jesus lights our way through the darkest of times. His Spirit guides us. 2Cor. 4:6 — For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: So, in contrast with the corruptions of the wicked, an obedient believer’s life is characterized by security in the Lord, abundant provisions, life, and understanding in God’s presence.

Invitation: If you are enjoying these provisions of the Lord you should give thanks right now. If you are not enjoying all these provisions of the Lord, now is the time to correct that. Simply confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. Invite Him into your life to guide and direct you until you go to live with Him in Heaven forever.