JESUS IS EQUAL TO GOD For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. —John 5:18 What so many people do not want to acknowledge what the Jews in Jesus day knew He was claiming. They wanted to kill Him for blasphemy because they knew He was claiming to be “equal with God” by “calling God his own Father.” Yes, the Jews knew what Jesus was claiming and wanted to kill Him for it! The vast majority of people today do not know who Jesus is. Let…

GO INTO THE HARVEST “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits…

WARN OF THE WRATH TO COME! Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son…. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. —John 3:18, 36 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. —Hebrews 10:31 “Turn from you evil ways or be condemned forever!” That is what the Lord said to me back in February of 1979. The message came across loud and clear. There was no mistaking…

POLITICAL MURDERERS Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance…

BE WHERE GOD DESIRES YOU TO BE! There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” —I Kings 19:9-10 Ever have the Lord say that to you? I remember pastoring a local church shortly after I finished Bible College. I was there for four years, resigned and said, “I will never go back into the pastorate again.” So for the next 3 years I went back into construction. I still spent time with the Lord, witnessed and was part of a local church, but I did not think the pastorate was for me. Then…

SHINE IN THE DARKNESS! When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. —I Kings 18:17-18 Who is it that brings trouble on a nation? It is not that trouble won’t come to a nation at all because we live in a fallen world, but there are people who bring trouble upon a nation. The prophet Elijah said so of Ahab and his relatives— “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your…

ONLY THE ETERNAL SON REDEEMS In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. —John 1:1-5 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. —John 1:9-10 The Word became flesh…

PRAY FOR RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” —Luke 24:45-49 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.…

PARADISE! Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” —Luke 23:43 People love to think about or try to find paradise on earth, but it will not be found. Even though there are many beautiful places on this planet they all pale when it comes to the heavenly paradise that awaits all who have called on the Name of the Lord Jesus. Paradise… you don’t get there by car, train, boat or plane… no, you can only get to paradise through Jesus. He is the gate for all those going to this eternal paradise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqo-adRyM_k When a follower of Jesus dies they are…

Wisdom So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. —I Kings 3:9-12 If…