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Posts from September 2022

Planting Good

12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12 (NLT) You reap what you sow is a very common saying that most of us know. It’s about karma, you get back what you put into the world. It is actually a biblical statement. When you…

Recap

Let’s do a quick recap about this lesson that Jesus is teaching. It starts with the original parable which talks about the farmer and where he is planting his seeds. That is verses 1-9. Then the disciples question the meaning of the parable. They didn’t understand. Jesus explains it’s not about just hearing, it is about truly listening, that it’s not about just listening, it’s about working to understand. This is verses 10-17. Then Jesus explains the verse in bigger…

Understanding

18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall…

Questions

10 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” 11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13 That is why I use these…

The Parable

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell…

Living Sacrifice

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) We have a choice to make every day.  We can conform to the…

Created For

After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. Ecclesiastes 12:13 (GNT) Each of us was created for a purpose.  We need to have love and respect for God and to obey his commands.  While there are many commands that apply to all of us, there will also be commands that are specific to each of us.  God has a unique purpose…

Nothing Gained

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (NIV) The world we live in is temporary.  We were created for eternity.  We can spend our…

Creator or Created

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25 (NIV) We are children of the creator of the universe.  God spoke and all things were created, including us.  At times, we forget how big our God really is and focus on the things in our lives.  What we focus on becomes big in our lives.  These things take over our thoughts, minds, emotions and…

No-god

All those who make no-god idols don’t amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing – they’re total embarrassments!  Who would bother making gods that can’t do anything, that can’t “god”?  Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality.  The blacksmith…

Expect the Unexpected

33 Even at that hour of the night, the jailer cared for them and washed their wounds. Then he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 He brought them into his house and set a meal before them, and he and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God. Acts 16:31-34 (NLT) Notice the unexpected turn of events of this dreadful night.  From being responsible for harm to Paul and Silas to nursing their wounds and restoring health and strength to…

Bad = Good

29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” 32 And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household. Acts 16:29-32 (NLT) What an incredible opportunity would have been missed if only things went according…

When God Shakes Things Up

26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself.  28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!” Acts 16:26-28 (NLT) The first mission trip of Paul and Silas was a life-changing event for more than just…

Who’s Your Daddy?

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Acts 16:25 (NLT) Imagine the hopeless situation Paul and Silas found themselves in.  The two men do what brings them most comfort and remind themselves who is for them.  They begin to sing words of comfort to their souls and confidence in their heavenly Father.  God hears the songs of His children.  That night in prison, God was listening and so were the jailer and…

New Beginning Setbacks

22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:22-24 (NLT) Have you ever found yourself preparing for a new chapter in life?  Did you expect that it would be great?  For the Believer, it may have been…

Review

1. THERE IS NO MISTAKE TOO BIG FOR GOD TO FORGIVE.Matthew was known as a dishonest tax collector that was very greedy. Jesus still choose him and used him to further His kingdom. God can not only forgive your mistakes, but He can still use you. 2. THERE IS NO LIFE TOO FAR GONE FOR GOD TO REDEEM.After Matthew decided to follow Jesus he instantly introduced him to other tax collectors. Matthew not only became one of Jesus’ disciples but…

Jesus is Worth Everything

45 “…the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46 (NIV) Jesus is worth the price. No matter how high it is. Once you see Jesus and he comes in to change your life, there is nothing worth more. Jesus sacrificed everything for us. He thinks we are worth the cost too. Jesus is worth great value and offers…

Thou Shalt Not Judge

 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum? [tax collectors and sinners]” 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:30-32 (NLT) Jesus came to save everyone, not just the ones who considered themselves holy. The religious elite…

Levi Left Everything

28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Later, Levi [Matthew] held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.Luke 5:28-29 (NLT) Levi (Matthew) left everything to follow Jesus. That is how strongly he felt about Jesus. We know Tax collectors were known as traitors and sinners. The worst of the worst. When Jesus came, He saw Matthew and all He had…

Offended by Others

27 Later ,as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi [Matthew] sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. Luke 5:27 (NLT) Tax collectors at the time period were not liked. They were known to be sinners. Nobody wanted to be around them. Jesus saw past that. He saw people who needed His help and He didn’t hold their mistakes against them, he sought them out to help them. NO matter what…

Requires of You

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  Micah 6:8 (NIV) We can easily feel as if we can’t live up to God’s expectations for us.  We may view him as an overbearing parent or someone sitting in heaven waiting for us to make a mistake so He can discipline us.  But that is not the case. …

Witnesses

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8 (NIV) A witness shares what they heard or saw with others.  Each of us has a testimony.  God has done multiple things in our lives that we can share with others.  He has touched us and changed us in ways that can be used to…