GOD GAVE THEM OVER! Refused to obey him— Instead, they rejected him.  But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. —Acts 7:39, 42 God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. —Romans 1:24 God gave them over to shameful lusts. —Romans 1:26 God gave them over to a depraved mind. —Romans 1:28             When people do not want to obey God or retain the knowledge of Him and reject Him then He turns away from them and gives them over to worship the created things, to sinful sexual desires of their hearts, to shameful lusts and to…

GOD IS IN CONTROL! So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.” —Acts 5:38-30 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:1-2             If our Lord God Almighty wants to do something, it will be done.  In the context of the verses above “Gamaliel, a teacher of the law,…

JESUS— THE AUTHOR OF LIFE The Author of life —Acts 3:15 The author of their salvation —Hebrews 2:10 The author of eternal salvation —Hebrews 5:9 The author and finisher of our faith, —Hebrews 12:2             Read any good authors lately?  The author is the one who is the creator of a book.  He is the person behind it.  He is responsible for it.  He is the source and origin of it. Jesus is the Author of all life!  He is both the author of both physical and spiritual life Do you see the birds?  Jesus authored them! Do you see the fish?  Jesus authored them! Do you see the turtles?  Jesus authored them! Do you see…

WITNESS But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. —Acts 1:8 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. —Acts 2:21 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. —Romans 10:13 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And…

YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE! And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” —Luke 23:43 What pictures come to your mind when you think of paradise?  A scenic ocean island in warm climates where the temperature is perfect, no conflict and everything you want is there?  Paradise will be different from a worldly perspective.  It would be described according to what a person finds pleasurable.              Paradise was pleasurable and will be so when we get there.  Heaven will be a paradise and so much better than anything we can imagine.  “However, as it is written: “What no…

JESUS BROKEN FOR US! And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” —Luke 22:19-20 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.  And being in an agony he…

BE LIKE JESUS Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.  All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to…

I AM FREE! I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. —Psalm 133:45 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:31-32 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. —John 8:36 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. —Galatians 5:1 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live…

REPENTANCE Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. —Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” —Luke 15:10 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to celebrate. —Luke 15:23-24             When you read the parable of “this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” you find a true humility…