Author: Pastor Howie

08 09 Luke 18.15-30 Our passage reminds us of how important it is to bring children to Jesus.  We should do all we can to welcome it and not hinder it.  Jesus encouraged children to come to Him because the kingdom of God is made up of those who are like children in their faith.  We must come with total trust and dependence on the finished work of Christ and by faith receive that gift.  There is nothing we can do to earn eternal life as illustrated in the second section of this passage.  A rich ruler came asking Jesus what he must “do” to inherit eternal life.  There is nothing we can do but believe.  What we need has already been done for us on the cross.  Praise the Lord for the finished work of Calvary.

 

08 02 Luke 18.9-14 Jesus has been talking about the Kingdom of God which is coming soon.  He has encouraged prayer for it to come and to pray for courage until it comes because leading up to that day, it will be like the days of Noah and Lot.  People will be carrying about business as usual, unconcerned about the impending judgment to come.  In our passage today, we find through a parable, Jesus telling us how we can be sure we are a part of God’s kingdom.  “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”  That’s the only way.  Two people are described.  Two people offer prayers.  Two paths will be followed.  There is the religious who think they will get in God’s kingdom but haven’t called on God for His mercy, and there is the repentant, who know that is the only way.  Of the two, which are you – religious or repentant?

07 26 Luke 18.1-8 Jesus continues His discussion regarding the coming Kingdom with a parable.  Knowing that events leading up to the coming of Christ will only get worse, what should we do?  There are only two things.  We can either become discouraged and fainthearted by it all or we can pray.  Prayer emboldens and encourages us to remain faithful until the Lord returns.  We must be courageous, committed, and confident in prayer.  With seeming injustice, we are reminded that God will eventually bring judgment.

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07 19 Luke 17.20-37 The Pharisees thought they were already part of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus told them the kingdom needed to be in them.   Because they had rejected the king, they were not part of the kingdom.  They needed to believe Jesus was the Messiah and they would not.  Jesus told the disciples about the physical kingdom that was still in the future.  The Lord will return and bring judgment just as it was in the days of Noah and Lot.  Be ready, it’s about time. 

07 12 Luke 17.11-19  What is that everyone needs but no one deserves?  It’s what 10 lepers ask for.  It’s mercy.  Only the Lord can give it.  Otherwise we all deserve to die.  In time, if nothing could be done, these 10 lepers would die.  As Jesus was passing through town one day on His way to Jerusalem they stop Him and ask for mercy.  They wanted to be cleansed of their accursed disease and the inevitability of death.  Jesus saw them and moved with compassion for them, healed them as they went to see the priest.  But only one came back, and Scripture tells us he was grateful and worshipful.  That day he received more than physical healing for his body.  He also received spiritual healing for his soul.  Jesus said it was his faith.  Have you been cleansed of sin? 

07 05 15 Luke 17.7-10 Jesus concludes this series of instructions to the disciples with a lesson on service.  Scripture reminds us of our need to serve the Lord and each other.  There are many, many ways to do so.  We need to be observant and obedient stepping out in faith to assist others in need.

06 21 Luke 17.1-4 Forgiveness is something we so easily say we have done when someone has offended us, but have we really?  Jesus offers some great and timeless principles to help us with the issue of forgiveness. 

06 14 Luke 16.19-31 In a familiar story about an extremely rich man and an extremely poor man Jesus contrasts their two destinies to reveal to us that in this life we make the choice of where we will spend eternity.  The story is given not to bring condemnation but to bring conviction, not to foster rejection, but repentance.  Just as heaven is a real place, so hell is a real place.  Where will you spend eternity?

What happens when we don’t pray?  Scripture identifies some concerns related to our prayerlessness.