Monday Mini-Messages Archive 2009

Monday's Mini-Messages Archive 2009

12/28/09

Leviticus 16:21 - "Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel...And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited." In this passage the scape goat carries the sins of Israel off into the dark wilderness to be remembered no more. Likewise, Jesus took upon Himself our sins and buried them in the depths of the Sea.

12/07/09

Galatians 3:24 - "For the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ..." According to this verse, the law (i.e. Old Testament commandments) has a very specific purpose. It is our schoolmaster, or teacher. It teaches us of the moral nature of God and how utterly sinful we are. This then brings us to Christ, the only one who can provide us forgiveness of sins.

11/30/09

God has revealed Himself through creation, ("The heavens declare the glory of God," Psalm 19:1), through our conscience, ("the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness," Romans 2:15), but most specifically through His word. If a person responds positively to the "light" God has given them, He will give them more "light." Therefore, respond to the revelation God has given you and seek Christ.

11/23/09

An Englishmen in America has been reported to have said, "If I believed what the Bible taught about hell, I would walk across a sea of glass on my hands and knees to warn my countrymen of it." So, please forgive me if I attempt to point my FB friends to Jesus, because I do believe the Bible, and in Mark 9:43-48 Jesus described hell as a place where "...the fire...shall never be quenched."

11/16/09

1 John 3:4 - "...sin is the transgression of the law." Sin is defined as breaking God’s commandments. Many people find validation if the government legalizes their sin (i.e. fornication, adultery). However, just because governments legalize behaviors, it does not make them right. The government does not determine what is sinful, only what is lawful. God still determines what sin is. And Jesus is still the remedy for sin.

11/09/09

Ex. 16:2-4 "...Israel murmured in the wilderness...Then said the LORD...I will rain bread from heaven." Israel was complaining about being hungry and wished they could go back to Egypt. After a while they complained about having to eat manna, they wanted some variety. This demonstrates how unworthy they were of God’s goodness. Likewise, we are completely undeserving of God sending the "true manna from heaven," Jesus Christ.

11/02/09

False religion teaches that you must earn your way to heaven by performing good works or certain religious acts, but the Bible declares just the opposite. "For by GRACE are ye saved..." (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is the unmerited (i.e. unearned) favor of God. You cannot do anything to earn God’s favor or save yourself from the punishment you deserve because of your sin. Jesus did that!

10/26/09

Mark 6:18 - "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." John the Baptist did not have a positive only message. He called the Pharisees hypocrites, exhorted all men to repent, and told Herod his adulterous relationship was wrong. Because of his boldness, many admire John, but few choose to be like him and expose religious hypocrisy, decry sexual immorality and proclaim the need for all men to repent.

10/19/09

1 Corinthians 5:7 - "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." In Exodus 12 God instituted the passover feast for Israel. If they took the blood of a lamb and applied it to their door, when the death angel passed over, their first born was spared. In like fashion Jesus Christ is a passover lamb. If you appropriate His death, shed blood, and resurrection to your life, when the judgment of God falls, you will be saved.

10/12/09

Isaiah 45:5 - "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me." Who is God and what is He like?" Many popular ideas about God originate in the imaginations of men, not the Bible! One thing we can know for sure about God is that He loves us. His love for every sinner was demonstrated when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Have you embraced the God of the Bible as your Saviour?

10/05/09

Genesis 41:25 - "And Joseph said unto Pharaoh...God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do." Through a dream God revealed to Pharaoh Egypt was going to have a famine in seven years. Fortunately for Egypt and many other nations, Pharaoh believed God and made preparation. As a result a future of blight was turned to a future of bliss. Have you heeded God's warnings about your future?

09/28/09

2 Samuel 23:16 - "The three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water...and brought it to David." Why did these men fight a whole host of philistines, risking their lives for just a little water? Because it was something their king desired. When the Word of God declares to you the things King Jesus desires, do you ignore the risks and dangers and do your best to bring Him His wishes?

09/21/09

John 3:3 - "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Many people find their identity in the most significant event of their lives, i.e. surviving cancer, giving birth to their child, or winning a high school football championship. I, too, find my identity in the most significant event of my life, when I was born again by repenting of my sins and believing Jesus Christ died for me!

09/14/09

2 Samuel 18:33 - When David's son died, he cried, "O my son Absalom...would God I had died for thee." David's response here is much different than the emotion he showed when his baby died in 2 Samuel 12:21-23. The difference in emotion is because the baby died and went to heaven, but Absalom went to hell. When there is no certainty of an eternal reunion all hope is lost. Therefore, ensure you and your loved ones are saved!

09/07/09

Romans 3:20 - "...by the deeds of the law (i.e. Ten Commandments) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." All religions teach a person gains heaven by their good works or by being a good person. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible declares all have sinned and broken God's commandments and deserve to be punished. But the Bible also provides a remedy, Jesus!

08/31/09

John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: NO MAN cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME." Some are critical of the exclusive claims made by Bible believers, but it appears to me Jesus made a VERY EXCLUSIVE claim i...n this verse. He said He was the ONLY way to God. Therefore, as one preacher put it, He is either a lunatic, a liar, or LORD. I vote for LORD! What about you?

08/24/09

Genesis 19:24 - "Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD." Sodom and Gomorrah are a perpetual reminder that God will judge unrepentant sinners. However, Lot is an example of how God will deliver the righteous before pouring out His wrath. Which are you, an unrepentant sinner or a sinner declared righteous by God because of your Faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ?

08/17/09

Genesis 15:6 - "And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Very few scriptures carry the same level of significance as this verse. It is elaborated upon in Rom. 4, Gal. 3 and James 2. Romans 4:23-24 ...says, "It was not written for his sake alone...but for us also..." If we believe God and the record He has given us of His Son Jesus Christ, we too will be declared righteous.

08/10/09

Genesis 12:3 - "...and in thee (Abraham) shall all families of the earth be blessed." This incites the question, "In what way is Abraham a blessing to all people? See Galatian 3:8, through his seed came the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. See also Acts 3:24 - "God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you!" God wants to bless you! But in order to be blessed you must believe on Him!

08/03/09

Genesis 7:16 - "And they that went in (to the ark)...as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in." While Noah's ark was a massive vessel, it had only one door. And when Noah and his family were safe inside, GOD SHUT THE DOOR! Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved," Get in "the ark of safety" (i.e. Jesus Christ) before God shuts the door of opportunity and it is too late!

07/27/09

Genesis 4:4-5 - "...the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect." Like Cain, many people try to come to God on their own terms. But God will never accept you on your terms. If you want to come to Him and obtain His salvation, you will have to come on His terms, which means repenting of your sin and believing that Jesus died for you, was buried and rose again!

07/20/09

2 Samuel 12:5, 7 - "David...said...the man that hath done this thing shall surely die...Nathan said to David, Thou art the man." When David heard Nathan's story, he pronounced severe judgement upon the man. However, what he did not realize is the story was a parable which characterized his own sin. It is so much easier for us to see the sins of others and condemn them. But what abour our own sins?

07/13/09

Isaiah 12:4 - "Praise the LORD...declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted." Are you comfortable talking to others about the Lord, salvation and the Bible? It makes most people uncomfortable because spiritual things are very rarely discussed. I suggest we change this trend and make it common to discuss these things. If you are a Christian, God commands it! Praise the LORD!

07/06/09

2 Samuel 10:1-2 "After...the king of the children of Ammon died...Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash." If you will read this chapter you'll discover that Nahash rejected David's attempt to show him kindness. This resulted in King David defeating Hanun and his people in battle. Likewise, those who reject God's desire to show them kindness have only one thing to look forward to, judgment.

06/29/09

2 Samuel 11:1 - "...at the time when kings go forth to battle...David...tarried still at Jerusalem." Most believers are familiar with David's sin with Bathsheba. However, are you familiar with the things which attributed to his "fall." 1) He stopped fighting, 2) He didn't Flee temptation and 3) He didn't Follow godly instruction. If you are serious about serving God, then fight, flee and follow! See 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

06/08/09

1 Chronicles 13:12 - "How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?" This chapter is a perfect illustration of what happens when we try to do a good thing in a wrong way. David neglected God's instructions on how the ark was to be moved, and as a result, Uzzah lost his life. Do we perform God's work in God's way: 1) Through the local church, 2) With an emphasis upon preaching, 3) Using Christ-honoring music?

06/01/09

2 Samuel 1:11 - "Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them...and mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul." How would you respond to the death of someone who sought to kill you? David did not respond with joy. Instead, he responded as God does to the death of the wicked: Eze. 18:23 "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? and not that he should return from his ways, and live?"

05/25/09

1 Sam. 30:24 - "...as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff..." David saw value in both those who fought on the front line and those who stayed back by "the stuff." Likewise, I believe the Lord Jesus Christ sees value in men and ministries who are more offensive (soul-winning), and men and ministries who are more defensive (contending for the faith). Both are needed!

05/18/09

In 1 Peter 1:3-9 we see: 1) A Promise concerning the future (an inheritance reserved in heaven), 2) The Presence of trials in the present, and 3) A purpose for faithfully enduring the trials (to Glorify God and earn praise). In 1 Samuel 26 David's life illustrates this text: God promised he would be king, but in the present he was plagued by trials (on the run from Saul), but he endured these trials to God's glory!

05/11/09

1 Samuel 25:17 - "...for he is such a son of belial, that a man cannot speak to him." Nabal's servants had interacted with him enough to know he was not willing to accept instruction. This led to his death. David, however, exhibited a great deal of humility by heeding the mild rebuke of Abigail, who instructed him not to avenge himself by killing Nabal. What type of person are you? Do you listen to scriptural instruction?

05/04/09

1 Samuel 24:19 - "For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away?" King Saul, who was attempting to kill David, could not understand why David did not kill him when he had the opportunity. It is NOT NORMAL for God to deliver your enemy into your hand and then to let him go. It may not be normal, but sure is Christ-like. "...while we were yet sinners (i.e. God's enemies), Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

04/27/09

2 Corinthians 6:1 - "We then...beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." This verse would seem to indicate it is possible to receive the grace of God in vain. As a believer, you can do this by not allowing God's grace to produce in you the intended results, such as 1) Carefulness (2 Cor. 6:3-4; 7:11), 2) Godliness (Titus 2:11-12), 3) Faithfulness (Heb. 10:29), and 4) Holiness (Jude 1:4).

04/20/09

Jonah 1:12 "...I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you." Jonah confessed the storms he and the sailors were facing were the result of his disobedience. Too often in our lives when things go wrong, we blame everyone but ourselves. Our problems are not always our spouse's fault. They are not always the preacher's fault. They are not always our neighbor's fault. We need to learn to say, "It is my fault!"

04/13/20

Psalm 16:10 - "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Both Paul and Peter reference this Psalm in sermons recorded in the book of Acts. In both cases, it says this psalm is referring to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Check it out: Acts 2:27 and Acts13:35. Jesus' body did not "see corruption," In other words, it did NOT decay in a grave, because He arose!

LISTEN

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