Sremon On the Net

THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

Luke 11: I should have a question mark following the title for a very good reason. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray He gave them a model. There are six petitions in this model and are some of what He wants us to pray about. Actually Jesus was against people ‘praying’ by speaking repetitive phrases. Today you will find structured prayers and expressions of prayers in religions. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a born again believers service you will never hear anyone repeating this prayer nor any other type of repetitive ‘prayer.’ When a true believer prays to God, he or she talks to Him. This is true worship and is what He wants. He does not want to hear repetitive, meaningless for the most part, babbling. Jesus makes this point in Matthew 6:7: “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

 

Jesus then spoke to them about perseverance using an analogy of a man asking to purchase bread from the baker after he had gone to sleep. This led Him into telling them in verse 10: “Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

 

The crowd was beginning to accuse Jesus of performing miracles by evil spirits. He explained to them that He was able to drive out evil spirits because of His Father giving Him this power. He informs the crowd that the Kingdom of God is upon them but they refuse to accept the truth. Following a discourse about evil spirits He said in verse 29: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” He then chastised them saying they are a wicked generation that asks for signs. He said the only sign they are going to get is that of Jonah, as he was a sign to the Ninevites who will stand at the Judgment and condemn this generation.

 

When Jesus had finished speaking a Pharisee invited Him to dinner and when He sat down to eat the man noticed that Jesus did not wash his hands. Jesus then told the man how his people strive to be clean on the outside but are unclean on the inside; full of wickedness and greed. Then Jesus gave them a discourse of six ‘woes’ condemning them with each one. One in particular that is so appropriate today is the one about the lawyers burdening the people with the law that they don’t adhere to and confuse the people. Verse 52: “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge, you yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” When Jesus finished and left they became furious and were trying to devise ways to get rid of Him.

 

Not much has changed today; buts let us focus on the positive. Jesus wants us to ask, seek, and knock on His door when we need Him and He will respond. God says in Jeremiah 29:13: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” He wants the believer to be a light to the world and we should respond to that call. Non-believers should seek Jesus, tell Him you are lost and have sinned and he will respond because he says He will in His Word. He will give anyone the Holy Spirit that asks. And remember God is your Father and as you would speak to your biological father, so speak to God the Father in prayer. If you used repetitious sayings with your father how would he know you simply want to talk and have fellowship with him. God is our Father, talk with Him, He listens. And praise Him.

 

The real Lord’s prayer is in John 17.

 

 

 

Sermon On the Net

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10: Jesus sent 72 workers to the surrounding areas preaching the Word and healing the afflicted. They reported back to Him of their success. An interesting point here is Jesus’ instructions of not taking any provisions with them because they will be provided. This action supports my personal conviction that God will provide the needs of anyone doing His work with a deep conviction. I never believed, and still don’t today, that one has to ask for money for His work. Jesus set a tone that we (Evangelists and church leaders) should emulate. Jesus said that people who listen or reject the workers are doing the same as if to Him. Verse 16: “He listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but him who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Another very interesting point in this chapter is Jesus telling them to be more grateful that their names are recorded in Heaven (verse 20), rather than their success evangelizing. We should all say amen to that.

 

We all know the parable of the Good Samaritan, how he was the only one of three passersby who stopped to help a person in need and provided for him until he recovered. This is a good lesson for us to follow. One never knows who it is that is in need. I believe that when we do something good for others it is the same as doing it for God. In Hebrews 13:16 it says, “And do not forget to do good and share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

 

The last point Jesus made in this chapter is that we should be more concerned with listening to His words than anyone else in this world.

 

His most important words to us are to love, honor, worship Him and to love others as we love ourselves. We can never be reminded enough of these two commandments. Most important is to remember to praise Him daily.

 

My friends; honoring and worshiping God is to accept His free gift of eternal life and to fellowship and praise Him every day. To love our neighbor as ourselves is to do exactly that; love them without expectation of return. Doesn’t God love in that way? Did He allow His Son to be crucified on the cross expecting a return? No, He did not. He desires that we will accept His gift but He won’t force it upon us. Why not accept His unconditional free gift of life so that you, too, can rejoice that your name will be recorded in Heaven?

 

 

 

Sermon On the Net

THE TRANSFIGURATION

 

Luke 9: Jesus sent the apostles on a missionary journey. He told them not to take any provisions with them and to stay in homes that welcomed them. They did as He instructed, preaching and healing, and when they returned He took them to Bethsaida. When the crowd learned of their presence they came to Him and He preached and healed them. Late in the day Jesus fed the crowd of about 5,000 men with 5 loaves of bread and 12 fish and they all had plenty to eat and 12 baskets were left over.

 

One time Jesus was alone with the disciples and He asked them who people thought He was. They said various people of long ago and then He asked them who they thought He was. Peter said He was the Christ and Jesus told them not to tell anybody. He then told them of the events that would soon take place but they didn’t fully understand what He was saying. This is the passage where Jesus said in verse25, “What good is it if a man gains the whole world and loses his soul?” Jesus also said one should be willing to give up everything for Him. Those that deny Him will be denied by Him on judgment day.

 

Eight days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up onto a mountain to pray. As He was praying His appearance changed, becoming extremely bright and His clothes turned as bright as a flash of lightening. Two men appeared, Moses and Elijah, and began talking to Jesus concerning His departure. The disciples were very sleepy and when they woke up they saw Jesus and the two men. They were glad they were there and wanted to build a shelter for them, but while Peter was speaking a cloud came upon them and a voice came from out of the cloud saying in verse 35, “This is my Son whom I have chosen; listen to Him.” When the cloud lifted Jesus was alone. The disciples decided to tell no one what they witnessed.

 

The next day a large crowd met them and a man asked Jesus to heal his son of a very bad demon, which He did. While the crowd was marveling at what He did, Jesus told His disciples that He would soon be betrayed. They did not understand what He was telling them.

 

Later, an argument occurred among them regarding who was to be the greatest. Jesus knew their thoughts and took a child and had him stand beside Him and He told the disciples in verse 48, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For who is the least among you all—he will be the greatest.” 

 

This chapter concludes with Jesus telling them that nothing should prevent a true follower of His from following Him.

 

My friends we read of a continuing demonstration of Jesus’ compassion and love; the reason for His presence on earth. Compassion when He heals, love when He is crucified.

Could we heal a people who want to kill us? I think not. Could we suffer and die a horrible death for a people who want to kill us? I think not. But Jesus did exactly that.

Those of you who have not accepted Jesus as Savior are living under the rule of Satan. This is a strong and bold statement I know, but it is a fact. You can change your destiny by a simple request of Jesus, asking Him to be your Savior, telling Him you are a sinner and lost; and you will be found. Jesus promises that. He will accept all who come and at any time. Praise the Lord! Someone once told me that praising the Lord was more important than prayer; read the last 5 Psalms.

 

 

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MIRACLES

Luke 8: Jesus uses the parable of the farmer who sows seeds to explain the various reactions of people who hear the word of God. Some don’t listen, some hear without heart, some listen and believe for a little while but eventually fall away, some hear but they allow life’s worries, riches and pleasures to overcome their belief, and finally there are those who not only listen and are saved but they produce a good crop and stay steadfast in the word.

 

Jesus used another parable to explain to the disciples that they are to go out into the world and spread the good news of salvation. The more they do, the better it will be for them, those that do less will receive less.

 

Someone made a comment about His mother and brothers and He said in verse 21: “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

 

One day Jesus told the disciples to go with Him to the other side of the lake and on the way a storm arose. The disciples became afraid of the wind and begged Jesus to do something. He calmed the wind and rebuked them because they did not have enough faith to know that He would not let any harm come to them. Verse 25: “Where is your faith?”

 

When they arrived on the shore of Gerasenes they were met by a demon possessed man who had was naked and bound in chains because these demons were many and had possessed him for a long time. Jesus told the demons to leave the man and to enter a herd of pigs that subsequently raced to a cliff and fell over into a lake and drowned. He told the man to go to town and tell the people all that God had done for Him.

 

On their return trip a man asked Jesus to heal his daughter who was dying. On the way to his house Jesus felt power leaving Him and He asked who it was that touched Him. A sickly woman admitted touching His garment in hopes of being healed. Jesus told her faith healed her in verse48: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” When Jesus reached the man’s house He was told that she had died. He said she was asleep; He took her by the hand and said to her in verse 54; “My child, get up.”

 

‘Miracles’ is certainly an appropriate title for this chapter. When I was in business I used the seed sower parable to train my sales people and to train myself to follow the same principles inherent in this parable. This eliminated a great deal of frustration and concern for everyone who listened and put into practice what was being taught. The main issues were that people (prospects for life insurance) came in all sorts. Some people wouldn’t talk to them, some did and made appointments they didn’t keep, some purchased insurance and cancelled it prematurely, but there was that one person who purchased and became a client and center of influence with many referrals. Those who followed my teaching did extremely well; as did I. As Jesus said, “love much and receive much, love little and receive little.” Are you listening to Jesus? If you can’t hear Him it may be because you haven’t made Him part of your life. Jesus says that if you listen and accept, based on faith, you will receive Him, be saved, and then you will be able to hear Him; your choice; your time; your future.