I would like to speak to you about change. Perhaps you are lost, you can be saved. Your heart can be changed. Dear Christian, you know what I am talking about. You know a change took place when Jesus saved you. Yet, you also know that you aren't all you should be. Do you need to make some changes?
Devil costumes suggest a fictitious character. The Bible teaches he is real. My objective is that we would each be more sensitive to the reality of the Adversary, the Devil, and the spiritual warfare which rages all around us.
In our text the prophet Isaiah admonishes the people. He speaks to the wayward of Israel and exhorts them to turn back to God. He teaches them. Today, if you are wayward, away from God, hear this plea. Listen to the teaching. Hear the instruction.
Participation means obligation. If I give money to support a missionary, I share in the results of the gospel being preached. It is my objective to encourage you to financially invest in good things. Specifically, I am going to address mission's giving.
We live in a society which has adopted the philosophy of entitlement. As a result, man thinks God owes them. Our text gives us a different view of God and different view of man. In our passage you won't find even a hint of entitlement. Sinner, take heed, for salvation is of the Lord.
Our text speaks of the very early days of Jesus' ministry. In it we see the start of His labors. We have the calling of some of His disciples. It is my objective to learn some things as we study Jesus receiving these few men as followers.
With our continued prayers why hasn't God come to the rescue? Why does God seem to be apathetic? There are a couple of biblical texts which address such things. While I shall promote the direct lessons found in the biblical accounts, I intend to look at the subject in reverse too. There is a lesson to be found. Proposition: If there is a lesson on importunate prayer there is a cause for importunate praying. God may let that cause come into our lives.
It is my objective to look into this passage and learn something of Nehemiah's prayer life. Perhaps, through his example, we would see the necessity of prayer and be encouraged to follow in his steps. May it be our desire to be a man (or, woman) of prayer.
Our passage contains an account of a man being raised from the dead. Through this account I would like to point out that Jesus indeed restored physical life, but more than that, He can grant spiritual life. This text, then, is a reminder that Jesus gives life.
I would like to make it very clear today that God is God. He is the Creator and we are the creature. As such, we have an obligation to God. He CAN tell us what to do. Further, our text reminds us of our accountability before Him.