Author: Pastor Howie

03 29 John 12.37-50 It’s hard to believe that anyone could not believe in the Messiah after many convincing miracles, yet our text tells us that there were those who chose not to believe.  Prophecy indicates that because they would not believe so that God made it so they could not believe.  They had chosen for so long to ignore the truth, that God judged them for their disbelief.  Jesus is who He claims to be and the text concludes with Jesus confirming His deity, the relationship He had with God the Father.  Consequently to believe in Him is to be saved.  To reject Him is to be judged and condemned.  It’s our choice to remain hardhearted or heaven bound.  There is a promise for those who believe.  There is the promise of salvation, there is the promise of sealing, and there is the promise of security.

03 22 Luke 13.22-30 Jesus, the master story teller, tells yet another story to answer the question someone asked about how many would be saved.  His answer is illustrated for us through the story of an open door, a door that is narrow, but a door that the owner shut.  Many people tried to get in but couldn’t because the owner had shut the door and wouldn’t be opened again.  The point Jesus was making wasn’t to say how many would be saved, the point of the illustration is for each person to ask if he or she is saved.  Do you know for sure you have gone through the narrow door?  That door is Jesus and it’s in the shape of a cross.  The old hymn tells it like this: the way of the cross leads home.  If you aren’t sure today, know this – God loves you and made a way through the door through His Son, Jesus.  He died so that we can enter, but the door won’t always remain open.  Know today that you are saved.

03 15 Luke 13. 18-21 What does an active kingdom of God look like?  The two parables Jesus uses helps to illustrate the appearance of the kingdom, that it is growing, and the advancement of the kingdom, that it should permeate the culture and have an influence in it for Christ.  To influence the world, we need to be actively engaged modeling the character of Christ.  We are to influence the world, not the other way around.

03 08 Luke 13.10-17 Jesus called a woman to heal her of an infirmity she had for 18 years.  We have the infirmity of sin from which Jesus bids us to come to Him to heal us of.  He did it on the Sabbath and longs to give us a Sabbath rest from sin.

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03 01 Luke 13.1-9  Life is filled with tragedy.  Jesus instructs from two tragedies and then illustrates from one.  The greatest tragedy though is the tragedy of the person who will not repent.  Tragedy even happens to Christians.  Why?  Read or listen and find out.

02 22 Luke 12.35-59 When we know someone is coming to visit, we do all we can to prepare ahead of time before their arrival.  We want everything to be as neat and presentable as possible.  Sometimes we start days before their coming to get everything done.  Why is it that so many people think they can wait until the very last possible moment to prepare for the Lord’s return.  In our passage today Jesus uses a series of stories to exhort us to readiness because we don’t know when He will return.  We prepare for His arrival by being saved and then by being sanctified – each day becoming more like the Lord in our character.  Are you ready?  He is coming – what if it were today?

02 15 Luke 12 13-34 There are really only two pursuits in life: earthly and eternal.  Jesus is asked to arbitrate in a dispute between two brothers over inheritance.  If they had looked at the Law it would have been very evident what they were to do.  Instead of addressing the issue of inheritance, Jesus proceeded to get at the real heart of the matter and talk about two besetting sins: avarice (greed) and anxiety.  If we pursue after things, it naturally leads to anxiety.  Jesus then reminds us of two important truths.  Seek first the kingdom of God and where our treasure is that is where our heart will also be.  The best pursuit is to seek after the Lord because He knows what we need and will provide if for us.  What are you pursuing today?

02 08 Luke 12.1-12 – Jesus begins to teach the disciples more urgently in order to prepare them for what was ahead.  They could expect persecution and they needed to be ready.  Most importantly, they needed to be prepared for heaven.  He is the only way.  Are you ready?

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02 01 Luke 11.37-54 Jesus minced no words when it came to the religious establishment, yet what He said, while true, was meant more than just condemnation.  It was a call for conviction and change in the heart.  We should take heed to Jesus’ words in this passage otherwise we might just be a hypocrite if…

01 25 Luke 11.14-36 Jesus always had a purpose for the things He did.  In this case casting out the demon from a man led to teaching that He has power over them and that through His very presence He was bringing people out of bondage to the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light..  The point is to hear and obey the word especially when it comes to knowing which side you are on.