We are in the process of uploading Arick’s music to our website so be patient. We are hoping that it’s going to happen in the next few weeks. His music is edifying and encouraging and definitely worth taking a listen to. His genre is considered top 40 Christian music. He will be releasing new Christian music every few weeks on this website so make sure you watch for it.

The music is copywritten and may not be downloaded or copied in any regard, but it’s free to listen to at this website. Crank it up in the morning and enjoy and sing along!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8

Grace is defined as “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; disposition to kindness and compassion.”

“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Romans 5:15

The gift of God’s grace is given so that we may be forgiven for our sins. If we truly believe in Jesus, when we receive that grace, our faith will cause us to have some kind of action in our life. We are given grace so that we can become forgiven, and live our lives in a holy and just manner. We cannot earn His grace: He gives it freely to those who call upon Him. It is a free gift.

A gift is something that is given to you without any strings attached. You can choose to receive that gift or throw it away, it is your choice, because it is yours. We want to make sure that we don’t throw away His precious gift of salvation.

When we have faith and belief in God, our faith will cause us to do things for Him that show our faith, both to Him and to others. It will cause us to praise Him and to help others grow in His word. Your faith will cause you to do His teachings. 

There are some that say that we can get to heaven “through faith alone.” They say that all that they need to do is just simply believe and they’ll go to heaven, and that they don’t need to have any works. But James teaches in James 2:20 and also in verse 26 otherwise.

“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26

If works don’t show up in your life as a Christian, then you really don’t have faith. Faith causes an action of love towards God and towards others. Our faith needs to be alive, not dead. A dead faith is really no faith at all. Faith and works are a pair. You cannot have faith without having works. 

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6

If a building contractor took out a construction job to build a shopping center, they are believing that they are going to complete it someday. They have faith that they can complete the job, and their faith will cause them to continue working until the day they have finshed. If they didn’t have faith that they could do the job, then they wouldn’t have started the job in the first place. The completed project shows their faith.

Remember that God’s grace cannot be earned. There is nothing that we can do to merit His grace and forgivness. It is available for free through faith and belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.  Start today, and show your family, your neighbors, and your friends what the grace of God is doing in your life.

In Christ,

Andrew

(Andrew is no longer a part of this ministry, as he purposely lied, deceived me, and then betrayed me. These actions were done willfully and with intent. Although many of these writings are helpful, he completely abandoned this calling, and joined up with the world instead. Nothing can dictate Our lives more than a love for Christ Jesus and being chosen to His service, but he chose to love the world instead.)

Good morning and welcome in today and today we’re going to take a look at some scripture from the book of Acts but I wanted you to think about this for a moment…

Imagine if I told you since the day you were born that the skies are purple. You would believe that wholeheartedly. When someone comes along and tells you that the skies are blue you would resist that and wouldnt want to believe them.

I understand because I’ve been there. It was the truth of God’s word that opened my eyes. As I’ve said before it can be very difficult to shake off things that you have been taught that are wrong, but repentance is accepting the truth that the skies are blue. No matter how much we struggle with that, nothing can change that fact.

Jesus wants all men to repent, that is why it is so important to understand what this word means.

: to change one’s mind and heart

You know what, each of us everyday change our minds about something. As we walk through the grocery store we pick up a loaf of white bread but then we change our mind and pick up wheat instead. Perhaps you’re driving in the car with the children and you’re heading to the lake but then you change your mind and decide to go to the park instead. These are very simple acts that we do in our day-to-day routines but that is what we are supposed to do with regard to the Christian Life. Repentance is changing your mind.

You walk into a shoe store to buy a pair of running shoes but while you’re there you decide you would rather have walking shoes instead. You sit down in a restaurant and order a hamburger but then you quickly change your mind and order a slice of pizza instead. Repent means to change your mind.

Matthew 21:28

²⁸ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

²⁹ He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

³⁰ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

³¹ Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

³² For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

We can see in the simple illustration from the Lord Jesus Christ that repentance is to change your mind about something.

And although we may try to over analogize this or to hash it over to the point that everyone gets confused, the truth is that the most simplistic meaning of the word repent, means to change your mind.

Changing your mind can be as simple as accepting the truth over a lie. Changing your mind can also hurt when you accept the truth of the things that you have done wrong in your life because of the teachings of scripture.

Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

God wants us to repent so that he can forgive us of our sins.

For me personally I had been raised in a form of Christianity that was heretical.

One day a man walked by me on a street corner and gave me a king james bible. I spent many months reading and studying this book. It helped me to recognize the error of my way. It helped me to recognize the errors of what I had been brought up in. I repented from all my false. Beliefs. I went from church to church to church but I had to keep leaving them all because they didn’t believe what I believed. I had repented, changed my mind and been converted to the truth.

The Apostle Paul is an example of repentance. He repented and believed the truth about Jesus Christ.

His name was Saul and he was a Jewish Pharisee who was persecuting those who were professing to be Christian along with their churches. At that time of his life he was fighting against God but eventually realized that Jesus is the Messiah that the Father sent to save the world. Paul accepted him as his savior and got forgiven for his sins. He repented and believe the truth and eventually went out into the world and started churches that he once was trying to destroy.

Repent means to change your mind.

It’s clear in the scriptures that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Because of that each of us need to repent and come to Jesus Christ so that we can get forgiven for our sins. In the Old Testament they used to offer unto God earthly lambs, but remember it was John the Baptist who called Jesus the Lamb of GOD.

How many of you out there have a farm where you raise animals. In the Old Testament they would bring their best sacrificial animals to God as Able did. But you see, they were not enough to completely cleanse our consciences. God sent his perfect lamb to the Earth, sinless, faultless without blemish, who poured out his blood for us at the cross. Just as they partook of the sacrifices in the Old Testament, in Holy Communion we partake of Christ the lamb of God and his body and blood for the remission of sins.

Ultimately in order to get forgiven for our sins we need to repent and come to Christ Jesus. Jesus taught to repent or perish. God doesn’t want any of us to perish but to come to repentance and to believe the truth. This is why it’s so imperative to believe the truth because salvation hangs in the balance

Again, repent means to change your mind about something.

Luke 13

1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

In this passage it sure sounds to me that they had perished in their sins because they hadn’t repented and believed in Jesus.

It also sounds like the people in this passage who were listening to Jesus we’re not accepting the fact that they too were sinners who needed to repent.

Matthew 11

²⁰ Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

²¹ Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

²² But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

²³ And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

²⁴ But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

You see they weren’t repenting and believing the truth. Instead of changing their mind about Jesus and believing in Him, they exalted themselves over Him.

John 8 24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

The Lord Jesus grants us all forgiveness, but in order to obtain that we need to repent and to accept the truth.

In the church if you sin against a brother you’re supposed to apologize and tell them I repent.
Luke 17:3-4, KJV

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

I like to cook for my son but sometimes I don’t always cook it the way he wants it. He likes certain things a certain way and I make numerous mistakes but I always apologize and try to get it right the next time. In the church God gives us Grace to grow.

He gives us more than a second chance. He gives us 490 chances to get it right. God makes it so easy for us that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us. Before we’ve even done any works, he’s simply forgives us when he sees the state of our hearts. In the parable of the Prodigal Son when he returned back home his dad simply forgave him. He didn’t require that he pay everything back. He didn’t require that he do some kind of works of penance. He simply forgave him and started right back over at the point where the son had left in the first place. That’s the same Grace God wants to give each of us. He completely absolves us of our faults but we first have to admit the truth that we are wrong. To repent means to change your mind.

We are given lots of grace in the church and God expects that you share that grace with other people when they repent.

If you repent, you are changing your mind about the actions you did and and apologizing. It’s changing your mind. It’s saying you were right I was wrong. When God sees that state of heart he gives us forgiveness. He wants us to take that same forgiveness and give it to others who sinned against us and confess. He warns that if you will not forgive others he will not forgive you.

How is someone ever going to confess their sins if they don’t repent and believe the truth of the error of their way? Why would they confess sin if they believe that they are right? They have to change their mind from what they are doing or have done, to the truth in the way Jesus wants us to live or to act. It’s clear that in the scriptures Jesus wants all men to repent not only to God but to those around you who you have wronged.

There’s a false gospel going around out there in the world today where people are saying well I don’t have to go to a pastor or priest or confess my sins to anybody, I can go directly to God. Remember if you sin against other people and they are upset with you in the church, God expects you to go confess your sins to them no matter who they, even if they are a priest or a pastor a friend or relative or a spouse. If you can’t admit your faults and say I’m sorry when you’re wrong other people you’re no different than a heathen.

Some of these people feel like they’re above apologizing to others. In that state they are caught in the snare of the devil.

Repentance is changing your mind.

Sin is the opposite of love. Jesus teaches us the great commandments to love God and our neighbor, therefore we conclude that if we dont choose to love, it is sin. That is as simplistic as I can make it.

If we repent, we turn from our belief or views that we might hold, to another. We turn from lies to truth. We turn from sin to love.

Have you ever had a belief in your heart and mind that you held, but then changed over from that thinking? Many Jews that Jesus came to save have been taught that Jesus was stolen away in the middle of the night, but the truth was he was seen alive after he died. Conversion means to change your mind or what you perceive as true.

If you repent you show or say that you are sorry for something wrong that you have done. That happens when you start to believe the error of your own ways. Repentance is when you turn from what you think is true in your own mind, and accept the real truth of how we all are wretched sinners who come short of the glory of God.

Have you finally accepted the truth about the purple sky?

“For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” Mark 9:41

A reward is defined as “a thing given in recognition of one’s service, effort, or achievement; or to make a gift of something to someone.” For example, a child might receive a gold star on a homework assignment if they completed it properly. Or someone might receive a reward of money for finding and returning a lost pet.

The bible teaches us that if we give a cold cup of water to someone in the name of Jesus, that He will reward us. When we do it in the name of Christ, we are pushing the praise and thanks off of ourselves and giving it to the Lord. We want everyone to praise His name, and not our own. When we do this, Jesus will reward us.

We don’t know exactly what or how we will be rewarded in heaven. Maybe in heaven some people will have better houses, or are put in charge over certain groups or areas in heaven. Maybe their crowns will be better or maybe they will have certain abilities that some others won’t. But it is certain that if we diligently seek the Lord, He will reward us.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Sometimes the world might persecute you for taking a stand in your faith in Christ and His word. Maybe they will call you names or say that you are a loser. Don’t worry about what they say about you, just be glad, and know that the Lord will reward your faith. The world persecuted our Lord, and because we should want to be just like Him, we should count it joy when we are persecuted: because it means we are living as He did.

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:12

If someone gives a donation, do it secretly, in the name of Christ. Many times I have seen pictures of wealthy individuals giving money to charities or to youth groups. It may be a good and nice thing to help others out, but we should always try to keep it a secret; instead of writing a check that has a name on it, make out a money order use cash, so that any praise does not come to you, but instead can be given to Christ. If we do this we can be certain that the Lord will reward us.

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:1-4

I don’t know about you, but I want to be rewarded in heaven someday. It’s like putting money in the bank. When you put in your money, you don’t have access to it right away, but it’s sitting and waiting until the time that you come for it. Imagine putting in just a dollar a day for 50 years: just that little bit every day and you will have stored up over 18,000 dollars! The same applies to the rewards that Jesus gives us. If you just give one cold cup of water a day to someone for the rest of your life, imagine how many rewards our Lord will give you! But why stop at just one? Do as many things for Christ as you can, and GREAT will be your reward!

In Christ, 

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to look at some scripture from Ephesians chapter 5. Verse 25 says…

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

This morning we’re going to take some time and break this passage down bit by bit. I hope you’re feeling hungry for the word of God!

Let’s start with verse 25

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

First of all men if we are really going to love our wives even as Christ loved the church we have to explore how Christ loved the church.

I’ve always believed that if you truly love others you are going to speak the truth to them. If you truly love your wives, you are going to speak the truth to them. The truth is found in the Holy scriptures.

Jesus is the way the truth and the life. If you really claim to love other people you will give them the Word of God because it leads to their salvation and eternal life. It begins at home with your wife and also your children. Which one of you men out there don’t want your wife or your children to be in heaven someday?

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection for somebody else. It’s a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something and having tender attachment and fondness toward them. It means being affectionate or tender, or to cherish somebody else.

How does the Lord Jesus show us how much he loves us?

He loved the church by preaching to it. He loved the church by teaching them God’s holy Word. He loved the church by guiding them into biblical truth. He loved the church by dying on the cross for our sins. He loved the church by extending to us His forgiveness and mercy.

As a representative of the lord in our own homes, that is the love that we are supposed to show our wives.

For years I have said that the greatest love that you can ever give or show someone else is to guide them into biblical truth because if they accept it and convert and believe it, it’s going to lead to their own salvation and eternal life.

The greatest love in my life personally that I have ever known is found in what Jesus taught. It helps me. It comforts me. It guides me. It leads me. It converts me. It’s save’s me.

Again we are supposed to love our wives that much. To love them as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. Jesus spent his time preaching and teaching and educating the church. That my friends is real love. Why?

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

The Lord Jesus wants you men to be a part of sanctifying your wives through biblical truth. If you truly love them you will do it because it leads to eternal life where we can all be together someday forever. Teaching God’s word is not just meant for a pastor or preacher in a church somewhere. Men who love your wives and your children will teach and educate them at home in God’s holy word.

Sanctify means to free from sin and to purify. Your wife may be sinning against you or other people so you educate her in the scriptures and try to convince her to turn away from her sins and to believe what Jesus wants her to do. That is how a husband loves the wife. This is what Jesus does for the church.

In that fact, you are truly showing her how much you love her because you care about being with her forever in eternity. Jesus preached and taught to us so that we could overcome sin and be with him forever.

A husband wants to cleanse the wife with the washing of water by the word.

John 15:3 says “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

You men are supposed to educate your wives in knowledge of God’s holy word. Listen to what the Apostle Peter teaches.

1 Peter 3:7 – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge.

Continuing….

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Holy means someone who is perfected in perfect love. I’ve taught my family at home that if it is Charity in its purest form, that is holiness: the opposite being sin.

A husband is supposed to instruct his wife on how to walk in perfect love towards him and others. He’s teaching her how to please him. He’s teaching her how to please and obey the teachings of Christ. When she’s doing these things perfectly she is sanctified and holy. She’s walking in perfect love. What a wife to be praised and adored!

A blemish is a small mark or flaw which spoils the appearance of something. We are not talking about physical appearance here. We are talking about her actions. A man is trying to instruct her to become a kind loving obedient faithful wife. That should be the husband’s greatest goal. To help her achieve that, so that the neighbors and the community talk about her saying how wonderful and kind she is and how loving and selfless she is. She is the product of a loving husband who teaches and and instructs her day by day in God’s Word.

Think about it men, don’t you really like to hear people in the community talking about how nice your kids are? Your children are a reflection of you and how you have trained them. So is your wife. She needs to be the epitome of love and kindness.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Remember that in marriage the man and the woman become one flesh. You are no longer two, but one. So you see when you love your wife you are loving yourself because she is a part of you. Take a look in the mirror would you hate that person in the mirror? Your wife has become a part of your own body in marriage. As much as your hands or your feet are a part of you she belongs to you and has integrated herself into your very being. Just as Eve has a piece of Adam, wives become a part of us.

Continuing on it says….

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

To nourish means to provide with food or other substances necessary for life and growth; feed.

How does the Lord Jesus nourisheth us? He feeds us day by day with spiritual food from the scriptures. He does this so we can become pleasing unto him and perfected in love.

Cherish means to protect and care for someone lovingly. The scriptures teach us that God careth for us and that’s the way we want to treat our wives. When you care for somebody else you are looking after them and providing for their needs both spiritually and physically.

You men provide a home, food, and other provisions to care for her. You have been charged with that responsibility. We provide not only physically but are helping her to grow in the teachings of Jesus Christ day by day so that she can become the perfect woman of charity. Without a single blemish or fault. That is the ultimate goal.

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

In the church as baptized Believers we partake of Holy Communion. When we do we become a part of Christ. We become members of his body of his flesh and of his bones. The marriage is a replication of that. The wife represents the church and the husband represents the Lord in the Christian home.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

So in a marriage you are no longer two people but one flesh. Te church doesn’t leave Christ, neither does He abandon us. We have different functions and purposes as a man and a woman but our bodies are joined together as one. As Jesus is head over the church, man is head over his wife. Like the church, she is the body. As the Church is subject unto Jesus Christ, the wife needs to be subject under her husband in everything because he is the head and we are the body. As Jesus leads the church the husband needs to lead the wife and she needs to obediently follow.

This is why teaches in verse 32

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Looking at verse 33 it says

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

As I’ve said already the greatest love that I have ever been given are the teachings of Jesus Christ found in the Holy scriptures. It’s only through the scriptures and through faith in what they teach, that we ultimately can be saved and someday enter into paradise. What greater love could you ever give someone else, or to your wives? If I’m going to love someone in the way I want to be loved I would want them to give me scripture so I could grow into what God wants me to become. I couldn’t think of any better gift.

The wives need to reverence their husband. It’s more than calling someone a reverend but it’s about the act of reverencing them. All husbands are deserving of that title.

Reverence is a feeling of deep respect or awe. I’ve always tried to explain it to my family like when you would go into a courtroom and there’s a judge how would you treat them. A judge needs to be treated that way and others in who are in a place of authority, including any husband out there in the world. A husband chose to care for you and take care of you for the rest of your life. And you need to reverence him for doing so as a faithful wife.

So, husbands love your wives the way Christ loves the church and gave himself for it. Guide her and lead her in the teachings of scriptures so she can become a perfect loving wife without a spot or blemish, perfected in God’s grace.

And that’s where I’m to stop right now but Lord willing will talk to you some more tomorrow till then bye-bye everybody

To pray means to “entreat; implore; to make a request in a humble manner; to address God with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving.”

When we pray, we admit that God is over us, that we are unable to do something on our own and that we need God’s help. We need His wisdom and power to help us with a problem or situation that we might have.

For example, if someone isn’t feeling well, or maybe was involved in a car accident, they can pray to the Lord for healing and comfort through their time of pain or suffering. Other family members or friends might also pray on their behalf to God for them as well. Or if someone is dealing with a fault in their life, they can ask others to pray for them to the Lord that they would overcome their sin.

James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

When we pray to God, it shows Him that we are seeking His help for something, or are in need of His divine guidance. 

It takes humility to pray and ask for help. It takes a seeking heart to come forward and say, I need your help, Lord. He wants to help us, and all we need to do is come to Him and ask through prayer.

Jeremiah 29:12, “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.”

Jeremiah 33;3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

We can pray just to thank the Lord for His grace toward us. When we wake up in the morning, we can thank Him for the beautiful day. We can thank Him for our clothes or before our meals. Remember when Jesus fed the 5,000, before they ate, our Lord blessed the meal. Luke 9:16

Sometimes we don’t now what we should prayer for, but we can know that the Holy Spirit will pray for us.

Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

We never want to forget to put God first in our lives. We can pray to Him at any time of day, and about anything. Before any decision we should always remember to pray about it. We need His guidance in every part of our life.

Phillippians 4:6, “…but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Colossians 4:2, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16, “…Pray without ceasing.”

Romans 12:12, “Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.”

When we pray to the Lord, we shouldn’t repeat our prayer over and over and over again, such as Catholics do, when they say their “Hail Mary’s” (which by the way is wrong. No where in the Bible does it teach to pray to Mary for anything. Our prayers are to Jesus and God the Father only.) Imagine someone asking you for a ride, asking you for a ride, asking you for a ride. Isn’t that just ridiculous? The Lord will hear our prayer the first time; saying it over and over again is pointless.

Matthew 6:7, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathens do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”

And when we pray, we need to do it not to be seen by others. Some people pray in front of others just to be seen; they want others to praise them and say, You are such a good, holy person.  Our prayers to the Father should be done in secret. 

Matthew 6:6, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and they Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

If someone does something evil toward you, Jesus tells us that we should pray for them. Remember that we are all sinners, and we all need help. By doing good to others that hate you we can show them that the power of good is far greater than the power of evil. 

Luke 6:27-28, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

Sometimes in our live we will reach a point where we are tempted to do evil. And while the bible does say to count it joy when we are tempted (because it is then that our faith is tested and is made stronger), we should pray that we do not give in to those temptations, but instead defeat them. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus tells us to pray “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” It takes the power of Christ to defeat sin. We might readily say that we want to overcome an issue, but without the Holy Spirit we are weak. Through Christ we are made strong.

Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Every morning and every night, remember what the Lord did for us, and thank Him. Pray to Him that He would help us with all our shortcomings and mistakes. And always pray for others, that they would see the light of Christ working in our life.

In Christ,

Andrew

Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at some scripture from Luke chapter 6 and we’re going to talk about Mercy.

Luke 6:36 ” Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

What does it mean to be merciful? It means to bring someone relief from something that is unpleasant.

Our first example of Mercy today is in Luke chapter 10

Luke 10:29-37

²⁹ But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

³⁰ And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

³¹ And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³² And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

³⁷ And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

God wants us to be merciful with each another. The reason why is because he is a merciful God. He shows us his Mercy each and every day and he wants us to extend that mercy to others.

2 Cor 1:3 “blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

Luke 18:35-40

³⁵ And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

³⁶ And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

³⁷ And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

³⁸ And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.

³⁹ And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.

⁴⁰ And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

⁴¹ Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

⁴² And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

⁴³ And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

When someone is merciful they are compassionate. Compassion is a sympathetic consciousness of anothers distress with a desire to alleviate it.  Its the act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another. Our Lord Jesus Christ is filled with compassion.

Ps 145 8-9

⁸ The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

⁹ The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Mark 6:34 – And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

A merciful person will extend kindness to others, no matter who they are.

Luke 6:35 “for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Merciful people are very caring and forgiving people.

1 Pet 5:7 ” Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God extends to us his mercy and forgiveness and expects those who have been forgiven to forgive others.

Matt 6:14-15 for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Merciful people show forbearance towards others.

Forbearance is the action of refraining from exercising a legal right.

1 cor 6:7 now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

That is called Mercy.

matt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:

That is called Mercy.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Mercy in another dictionary says refraining from the enforcement of something (such as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due.

I’ve told my family for many years that Jesus Christ could have destroyed the entire world in the blink of an eye, but do you know what he did? He showed mercy. He took upon himself the pain and the misery and the suffering that we deserved because of our own sinfulness. That my friends is the greatest mercy I have ever known.

God wants us to be merciful with each other as he has been towards us.

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Matt 5:7 blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matt 9:23 but go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

When somebody is merciful they’re going to take pity on others. Pity is the feeling of sorrow and compassion caused by the suffering and misfortunes of others. Pity is sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffering, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one to give relief or aid or to show mercy:

James 5:11- Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Heb 4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Col 3:12- Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

When it says bowels of mercies, the archaic definition means the seat of pity, tenderness, or from the innermost parts; especially deep within the heart.

James 2 12-13- So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

Mercy is something that is so contrary to the human nature. Everyday I’m so glad that Jesus came to show us what mercy is all about.

That’s it for today everybody Lord willing we’ll talk to you some more tomorrow so then bye bye

Matt 5:44 -48 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?”

“And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Love for neighbor

1 John 4:12 – No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Love for God…

1 John 2:5 – But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Col 3:14 “and above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

the bond of perfection

Matt 10:36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”

enemy’s in your household

Offend

The bible teaches that we need to obey. Offending a little one is to try to instruct them to disobey. I have always instructed my family to obey. To obey God and Jesus. To obey my headship in my family. To obey mother and others who are supposed to be obeyed. To cause a little one who has been taught and instructed to obey, to offend them means to get them to go against conscience and disobey what they have already been taught in the church.

Jesus obeyed his earthly parents perfectly. It is the devil who was tempting him in the desert.

A child is a person under the age of 18. This is a child that has been raised in Jesus. To offend them is to get them to go against what Jesus commands them to do.

7. To draw to evil, or hinder in obedience; to cause to sin or neglect duty.

Hindering a child from obedience is trying to get them to disobey…as the devil did to eve. Teaching a child to hate and disrespect his dad.

Getting a child to go against biblical truth or what they have been taught.

1. To transgress the moral or divine law; to sin; to commit a crime.

To lead them into sin…

causing to stumble transgress and committing sin.

After we die, the Bible teaches us that we will all be judged according to the way that we lived out our time on the earth. Those who have lived their lives in accordance to the holy scriptures and served Christ will inherit eternal life in Heaven.

But for those who did not live for Christ, but instead lived according to the way that they wanted to, and ignored what the Lord taught, the bible teaches that those people will each have their own part in the lake of fire. 

After one dies, they are no longer abe to perform an action. When our bodies die, we are no longer able to serve and help someone. After we die, there is no ability to right a wrong or atone for any misdeeds that we have done towards God or others. 

When we were born into this world, we came in with nothing. Likewise, when we die, we will leave with nothing. There are certain people who want to be buried with money and fine things, believing that they will be able to take them with them into the afterlife. The truth is that we came with nothing, and we all will leave with nothing.

1 Timothy 6:7, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

This also includes our fleshy bodies. Our bodies were ultimately made from the dust of the earth, because Adam was created by God from the dust.

Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed life into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Psalm 103:14, “For he knoweth our frame; he rememberest that we are dust.”

The world and everything in the world is going to be destroyed at the end. We in our bodies are mortal creatures, meaning that someday, our bodies are going to die. Our bodies need to be changed into something different in order to enter into Heaven. Our bodies need to be changed from mortal, to immortal.

1 Corinthians 15:50-53, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

There we just read that instead of the bodies which we have today, at the last trump, our bodies will be changed into something different. Something better. Something that can live forever. Just like a caterpillar changes into a butterfly, we too will have different bodies. 

When we die and go to Judgement Day, we will be judged by how we lived our lives for God the Father. Did we love Him? Did we love others? Did we love His Son? Did we obey His word? Or did we ignore His love? Did we reject His Son, and live wicked, selfish lives? We all will be judged according to our works.

It teaches in Romans 2:6-9,  that God… “will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life; But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish upon every sould of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.”

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). In the end, God is going to separate the good from the evil, those who obeyed Him, and those who didn’t. He is going to separate the sheep from the goats. 

Matthew 25:31-33, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

He then says to the sheep on His right (those who did His word), “Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (vs 34)

But to the goats on His left (those who didn’t follow Him), “Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (vs 41)

The Lord is filled with an abundance of love and mercy, but eventually time will run our for those who refuse to obey His word. We need to make sure that we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). We don’t know when the last day of Earth is, nor do we know when our last day on Earth is. We do not know when we will die. Many young people may think, I’m young, I have plenty of time left. Yet, every day in the world, some young person loses their life, whether by an accident, or natural causes, or at the hands of someone else. “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:33)

Make sure you live every day for the Lord Jesus Christ. Live your life, knowing that at any time, your life could end. Do all that you can for the name of Jesus. Make sure you are keeping the faith of our Lord, so that when we meet Him at Judgement Day, we can hear those words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord.”

In Christ, 

Andrew