Sermons By A Word From The Lord with Archbishop Foley Beach
Episodes
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Sunday Nov 14, 2021
Whose Money Is It, Anyway?
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
This Sermon series assembles important Biblical references to all aspects of money and finances and their influence and impact on us; therefore, helping us to apply these Scriptures to our lives today. The reason for this series is because money and possessions have captivated our culture.
In Colossians 1:16, Paul establishes Jesus’ Divinity and primacy: “For him {Jesus} all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.". Jesus is the Creator and owner of all things both Earthly and Universally. Also, the Psalmist, in Psalms 24:1-2, establishes the supremacy of God’s “ownership” of all things: “The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.".
God’s aspects of “ownership” include our: 1) time – we can’t change time or add time to a twenty-four-hour day or our earthly lives; 2) land – we are but passing through with only temporary stewardship for the land we occupy before our death; 3) animals – God created and owns all animal life; 4) gold, money and finances – as God tells us in Haggai 2:8: “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.”; and 5) all that we possess (tangible and intangible) – health, mind, family heritage, creativity, bodies.
When we realize that Jesus owns everything, even though we have worked hard to obtain and enjoy the benefits of land, money, time and the other tangible and intangible components of our lives then and only then do we obtain a freedom to truly live our lives to the fullest. Everything that we “have” and “enjoy” is because of and from the ownership of God, as we are told in 1 Chronicles 29:14-15: “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.”.
Jesus is either the Lord over all, or He is not the Lord at all! In the New Testament, the word “Lord” means the one that rules over us for our own good. In these times today, we must be intentional to have Jesus as the “Lord” over our lives, money and possessions. Intellectually, we must come to a place where we recognize and accept that Jesus is the owner. Most people in Western Christianity never come to this realization and acceptance of Jesus’ ownership and “Lord” over all.
The Lord wants to bless us and reward us while we recognize His ownership and use, to His name, of all that He has permitted us to use and possess in our lifetime. It helps to openly acknowledge God’s ownership of all that we possess – acknowledge to God that we are in partnership with Him for all that He has permitted us to possess while we are on this earth.
In his writings, Andrew Murray recommends guidelines that we: 1) receive all our money with thanksgiving and as coming from God; 2) lay everything down before God as belonging to Him; 3) let our dealings with money be a part of our spiritual life; and 4) make the study of the Word of God, relating to finances and money, become a key part of our lives.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:19-24; Colossians 1:15-20; Psalms 24:1-2; 2 Peter 3:8; Matthew 6:27; Leviticus 25:23; Daniel 4:17-30; Deuteronomy 8:18: Psalms 50:10; Matthew 6:26; Haggai 2:8; Job 1:20-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Chronicles 29:14-15. (Click the Bible References, in blue, below to read the full Bible text for these Scripture References.).
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “To Be a Jesus Follower, You Must First Enter the Only Door to God’s Kingdom and that Door is Jesus – the Door to Eternal Life”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
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Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Sunday Nov 07, 2021
Where Is Your Treasure?
MESSAGE SUMMARY: This sermon begins a series which assembles important Biblical references to all aspects of money and finances and their influence and impact to help apply this Scripture to our lives today. The reason for this series is because money and possessions have captivated our culture.
Jesus discusses “money” in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-21): “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.". The Bible does not condemn the accumulation of wealth and possessions. Rather, the Bible encourages hard work to produce and save wealth and possessions in combination with related generosity and thankfulness while always remembering that all “treasure” comes from God and is God’s. It is clear, from the Bible, that God wants to bless us with what is necessary to live fruitful lives during our earthly life. However, the key to Jesus’ warning, in Matthew 6:19-21, is ourselves and not the act of deriving money and “treasure”. It is when “money” and “treasure” and the process of their accumulation becomes an idol of ourselves then our lives’ focus leads to our greed and materialism and away from a Kingdom focus.
The Biblical reference to the “heart” represents our eye and soul of who we are – our lives’ focus. If our “heart” is generous, we will have the insight into the light of God’s Kingdom. However, if we are greedy and self-focused then we will become “self-deceived” – not seeing reality. Jesus emphasizes that we cannot serve (i.e. single-minded focus upon) both God and “money”. God could care less about our “money”; God is concerned about our “hearts”. If our “heart” is in the right place, them our “money” will be in the right place.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 6:19-21; Proverbs 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:17; Matthew 6:22-23; Psalms 119:10; Psalms 119:19; James 1:5; 2 Corinthians 9:11; Matthew 6:24; Luke 12:16-21; (Click the Bible References, in blue, below to read the full Bible text for these Scripture References.).
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “God Sees Jesus Followers as ‘In Christ’: ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
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Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Life Lesson on Paradise
MESSAGE SUMMARY: A Yale Pediatric Oncologist’s (A Window to Heaven: When Children See Life and Death) experienced a life transformation from being an Atheist to an Agnostic and then becoming a Christian because of her involvement with the death and near-death experiences of young children with cancer. These children had no predisposed reason to understand God or Heaven; however, their verbalized near-death experiences are compelling. In Luke 13:22-30, Jesus gives us a glimpse of Heaven because He does not want us to miss out on Paradise.
Are you going to be saved? Before presenting His Parable of the Narrow Door, Jesus sets up this Parable in Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.". in John 10:7-9, Jesus tells us that He is the door: “So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.". Also, Jesus paints the picture, in Luke 13:24, of a feast in Paradise: “And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.”. In this Parable in Luke 13:25, Jesus expresses how difficult it will be to get into Heaven: “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’". After the door is inaccessible, Jesus tells us in Luke 13:27: “But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’".
Knowing God personally and His Grace, through Jesus on the cross and Jesus’ Resurrection, is what enables us to have eternal life – Jesus the Christ is the door, as Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He is the only way to eternal life: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’". Eternal life is offered to us through God’s grace, but we can only receive eternal life through our personal faith and our knowing God through a personal relationship with Him.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 13:22-30; Luke 23:43; Revelation 2:7; John 3:16; John 10:7-9; John 17:3; Matthew 7:21-23; John 14:6.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Your Sin Is Never Too Great so that You Are Lost to God’s Salvation - “Return to Me {God}, and I Will Return to You”
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Sunday Oct 24, 2021
Sunday Oct 24, 2021
As Christians, We Tend to Easily Walk Away from Jesus, but He Rejoices When We Return
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son – As Viewed through the Eyes of the Young Son: The younger son, firstly, took his inheritance, for which he was not yet entitled, and abandoned his father to move to a “distant country”. These were the actions of someone who abandoned his responsibilities, disrespected his father, broke off his relationship with his father, and then treated his father as being dead. In the “distant country”, the younger son quickly squandered his inheritance through sinful living. Being destitute in the “distant country” that was experiencing a severe famine, the younger son hired himself out to tend pigs (NOTE: For a Jewish person of that period, it was an abomination to work with pigs.). Also, he was starving; therefore, the son ate the food rejected by the pigs.
However, in the desperate situation in the “distant country”, the young son “came to his senses” – he had an inner awakening. As a part of coming to his senses, the son, as described in Luke 15:17-20a, remembered and returned to his father: “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father.”.
Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal Son – As Viewed through the Eyes of the Father: As requested by the younger son, the father gave the younger son his unentitled inheritance; and, without resistance, the father let his young son leave. When the young son “came to his senses” and returned to his father from a “distant country”, the father saw his son returning; and the father ran, thereby disgracing himself, to meet the young son while the son was still a great distance away. The father’s heart was filled with compassion and love upon the return of the young son – the father was expressing unmerited and unsolicited love for his returning son. The young son had disgraced and disrespected his father, and the young son deserved to be punished. However, the father took all the hurt, disrespect, and punishment merited by his young son on himself. The father expressed this punishment merited by the young son when the father ran to his son; accepted and restored the son back into his family without question; and celebrated the return of the young son.
The father, in this parable, demonstrates God’s love that God gives to us when we return to Him from a “distant country” of sin and broken fellowship. When we return to God, we see His love for us, but not for our sins and our actions that broke our personal relationship with Him. We and the young son must face the consequences of our sin when we walk away from God: but through Jesus’ acceptance of the cost of our sins on the cross and our repentance, we can return to the love and fellowship offered by God.
When we return from walking away from God, He rejoices; and there is rejoicing in heaven. God’s perspective, regarding someone who has walked away from Him, is expressed, in Luke 15:31-32, when the father is explaining to his older son why he is accepting and celebrating the return of his young son from a “distant country”: “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”. This parable clearly reflects that God wants intimacy and a personal relationship with us, and it hurts God when we walk away from His relationship with us. However, God and Heaven rejoice when we repent and return!
As we consider those around us who have rejected and walked away from God, what should we do for them? We should: 1) pray, asking God to invade their life and circumstances to the point they will want to return to Him; 2) love them where they are – we can’t rescue them; 3) “let them go” – they have intentionally rejected God (as the young son rejected his father), and our chasing after them may harden their heart to God; and 4) like the father in the parable, “be looking and expecting” their return – when they return, we need to embrace the one returning, with the love of God, like the father embracing and accepting his young son in the parable.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13).
Scripture Reference (ESV): Luke 15:11-32; Luke 15:7; Luke 15:10.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “As a Jesus Follower, the Greatest Witness for the Gospel that You Can Give Is for Others to See Jesus IN You”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
Sunday Oct 17, 2021
We Can Only Hope that We Do Not Take God’s Blessings for Grated and Fail to “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name”
MESSAGE SUMMARY: Introduction from “Living the Bible”:
Rev. William Tyndall, in the 1500s, translated the entire Bible, by hand, from Latin into English so that the ordinary people could have the Word from the Lord. Tyndall was burned at the stake, in 1537, by the Church for his gift to the human race. In 1611, Tyndall’s translation was used to develop the King James version of the English Bible translation. People have died in the translation, printing, and distribution of the Bible so that we can have the Bible to read and understand. If we would just take ten minutes a day to read the Bible, our Spiritual lives would be greater than we could imagine. By the way, it is OK to mark in the Bible – you can underline key points or make notes to increase your knowledge and understanding of the Lord’s Word. We need to systematically read the Bible so that we can learn and understand God’s Word through study and memorization. Also, we need to meditate on God’s Word from the Bible: “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalms 1:2). The five fingers for getting a grasp of the Bible’s scriptures are: 1) hear; 2) read; 3) mark; 4) learn; and 5) inwardly digest the scriptures. Remember, “The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and it contains all that is needed for our Salvation.”.
Today’s Message – “Giving Thanks to the Lord”:
In Isaiah 12:4, we are instructed: “And you will say in that day: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.’”. If we compare all our lives’ conveniences and facilitators today with the life situation of a twenty-five-year-old person in 1900, we will realize how truly blessed and privileged, in terms of things that make our lives easier, we are to live today. Also, we are blessed to live where we live today. When is the last time we gave thanks to God for living in this time period and living in America? “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name.”
We have so many things, including our health, job, home facilities, and family, for which we should “give thanks to the Lord”. However, we get focused on ourselves; and we forget how blessed our lives are. Therefore, we forget to “give thanks to the Lord”.
In Luke 17:11-19, Luke tells us the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers: “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When he saw them he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’". Of the ten lepers that Jesus healed, only one leper, the “foreigner”, gave “thanks to the LORD, call upon his name”. It seems that Jesus is disappointed that not one of His fellow Jews gave thanks for being healed. We can only hope that we don’t take God’s blessings for grated and fail to “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name.”. As Jesus Followers, we should not need our country’s upcoming legally designated Thanksgiving Day to, during every day of our lives: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name.”.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 17:11-19; Proverbs 13:1-25; Psalms 1:1-2; Joshua 1:8; Romans 15:4; Isaiah 12:4.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Is Your Faith Yours, or Is Your Faith a Faith Derivative of the Faith of Others?”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
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Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Jesus Compassion Is for Those Who Are Humble and Faithful; Pray that God Guides Us from Being Judgmental, Self-Righteous, and Self-Centered
MESSAGE SUMMARY: Luke 7:36-50 describes the compassion of God revealed to those who come to Him in humility and faith. In unpacking Luke’s Gospel reference, Luke is relating a dinner party taking place in the home of a Pharisee. The Pharisees’ thought that their attempts at righteousness would earn them more favor with God, but their focus was outward not inward and in their hearts. The Pharisees were always in Jesus’ face attacking Jesus and trying to dismiss His teachings.
In the Scripture references from Luke and Matthew below, Jesus gave strong words of description and condemnation regarding the Pharisees’ hearts and behaviors. However, there were many Pharisees that were Godly and spiritual men. We need to be careful that we do not become twenty-first century Pharisees identified by Jesus in Luke 7. Like the Pharisees, many of us know the Word of God; but we need to be careful that we do not become judgmental and self-surviving, thereby missing the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit and forgetting to apply the love and Justice of God in our lives and relationships. As Jesus tells us in Luke 39-43: “Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. ‘And Jesus answering said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ And he answered, ‘Say it, Teacher.’ ‘A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.’ And he {Jesus} said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’”.
Also, at this dinner party, in Luke 7, given by a Pharisee, Jesus tells us of a sinful woman who comes into the party. The woman comes up behind Jesus and weeps with such intensity that her tears fall on Jesus’ feet. The woman, after her earlier conversion, is probably overcome with the conviction of her sinful life and remorse, thereby becoming a servant to her Lord. In these actions of conviction and love toward Jesus, Jesus explains, to Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7:47, that: “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”.
Simon, the Pharisee, represents many modern day “church people”. We can get caught up in our personal righteousness. We get used to the presence of God and His peace in our lives, but then we encounter a new follower of Jesus. They, before their conversion, were living in the ways of the world without God’s peace. Now, these new believers are so excited with their new life; and their outward manifestation of their conversion may not “fit” with our personal Christian behavioral norms. Sadly, too many modern Christians judge and condemn these new believers rather than loving, encouraging, and embracing these new believers. After all, none of us deserve the forgiveness of God: “I am who I am by the Grace of God through Jesus. “.
God wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with us. Therefore, if there is anything in our lives blocking this talk with God, we must remove it – we need to open ourselves to what God will do for us if we will just let go of our life impediments. We must pray for God’s guidance that He keeps us from becoming judgmental, self-righteous, self-centered Christians like the Pharisees in Luke 7.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 5:20; Luke 11:37-44; Luke 15:1-7: Matthew 23:13-19; Matthew 23:23-36.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “God, the Father, Is Spirit; Jesus Followers Must Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth with Reality and Honesty and Not a Façade”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Sunday Oct 03, 2021
Sunday Oct 03, 2021
Put God First and All Else Will Follow
MESSAGE SUMMARY:
Who is going to be responsible? God wants us to take responsibility and accountability for that which He has entrusted us. Some would say: “God has not entrusted me with much.”. This person would be wrong! What about his or her life? What about Jesus Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to make disciples? What about the lives of his or her children? What about his or her job? God has entrusted us with much, and God is holding us personally responsible and accountable for these trusts.
In Jesus’ parable from Luke 16 about the rich man’s incompetent manager, Jesus summarizes the meaning of His parable in Luke 16:9: “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.". in Luke 16:12-13, Jesus summarizes His position regarding our responsibilities and accountabilities, along with the prioritization of our responsibilities, for His trusts given to us as well as the trusts given by others in us here on earth: “And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”. Jesus is, also, telling us that if we cannot be responsible for earthly treasures how can we be responsible for Spiritual Treasures.
As Christians, it is imperative that we put God first. If we don’t put God first in our lives, then, in a subtle way, we begin to resent God and His Grace. Proverbs tell us, in Proverbs 19:22, that the desire of every human heart is to love: “What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.". Only Jesus can give us this “steadfast love”, which is a Spiritual gift or entrustment from God. However, most of us go through our lives trying to find substitutes for God’s love to fill our lives; and we can’t find a substitute outside of God. Only God and Jesus can meet out heart’s need for “steadfast love”.
By the way, our earthly riches don’t make it into heaven with us; only our heavenly or Spiritual riches accompany us. We are responsible and accountable for all with winch God has entrusted us – both earthly and heavenly.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 16:1-15; Proverbs 19:22; Matthew 28:18-20.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Daniel’s Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong’”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Saturday Oct 02, 2021
Saturday Oct 02, 2021
Put God First and All Else Will Follow
MESSAGE SUMMARY: Who is going to be responsible? God wants us to take responsibility and accountability for that which He has entrusted us. Some would say: “God has not entrusted me with much.”. This person would be wrong! What about his or her life? What about Jesus Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) to make disciples? What about the lives of his or her children? What about his or her job? God has entrusted us with much, and God is holding us personally responsible and accountable for these trusts.
In Jesus’ parable from Luke 16 about the rich man’s incompetent manager, Jesus summarizes the meaning of His parable in Luke 16:9: “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.". in Luke 16:12-13, Jesus summarizes His position regarding our responsibilities and accountabilities, along with the prioritization of our responsibilities, for His trusts given to us as well as the trusts given by others in us here on earth: “And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”. Jesus is, also, telling us that if we cannot be responsible for earthly treasures how can we be responsible for Spiritual Treasures.
As Christians, it is imperative that we put God first. If we don’t put God first in our lives, then, in a subtle way, we begin to resent God and His Grace. Proverbs tell us, in Proverbs 19:22, that the desire of every human heart is to love: “What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.". Only Jesus can give us this “steadfast love”, which is a Spiritual gift or entrustment from God. However, most of us go through our lives trying to find substitutes for God’s love to fill our lives; and we can’t find a substitute outside of God. Only God and Jesus can meet out heart’s need for “steadfast love”.
By the way, our earthly riches don’t make it into heaven with us; only our heavenly or Spiritual riches accompany us. We are responsible and accountable for all with winch God has entrusted us – both earthly and heavenly.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD’S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 16:1-15; Proverbs 19:22; Matthew 28:18-20.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Have Eternal Life, Even Before their Earthly Death, Because Whoever ‘believes him {God} who sent me {Jesus}’”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
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Sunday Sep 26, 2021
Sunday Sep 26, 2021
It Is Not that Jesus Does Not Want All To Be Saved but the “Gate”, To Our Salvation, is “Narrow” and Difficult to Enter
MESSAGE SUMMARY: Introduction from “Jesus the Divider”:
While Jesus does bring us “Peace”, Jesus tells us that His ways are not always our ways; and Jesus does not always bring us “Peace”. In the world, we have tabulation; but Jesus has overcome the world. In Jesus, we do have “Peace”; but when we do stand with and for Jesus, “division” and conflict are created. In this passage from Luke 12, Jesus wants His followers to know that following Him will have a cost in terms of conflict and worldly tribulation. Many in and of the world will not tolerate our communication of the Gospel. Jesus is not saying that “division” is good. Rather, Jesus, in John 17:22-23, expresses His desire, to the Father, for His followers to all be one with Him and the Father. However, Jesus is warning us that “division” is inevitable because we are human and sinners.
Jesus ends His message to those assembled, in Luke 12:54-56, with: “He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?’". In this passage, Jesus was pointing toward His purpose on earth and the cross; but no one understood His message at the time period of His teaching in Luke – they could not read God’s signs. Do we see and follow God’s signs, or do we miss them and become party to creating “divisions”?
Today’s Message -- Jesus the Narrow Door:
In our Gospel focus from Luke 13:22-30, Jesus was pointing His earthly ministry toward Jerusalem, the Cross, Resurrection, and His Ascension. Jesus was asked, in Luke 13:23-25, a pivotal question; and He responded: “And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’”". It’s not that Jesus doesn’t want all to be saved, it’s just that the “gate”, to our Salvation, is “narrow” and difficult to enter. As Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Jesus wants all people to be saved: “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.". However, all people will not be saved because some will not come to Jesus – they don’t want to be saved.
In Luke 13:26-30, those rejected by the master of the house argue for admission: ““Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”".
Jesus is the “narrow door” and the “gate” by which we enter the Kingdom of God and our Salvation. Jesus Himself tells us in John 10:9-10: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”. We have been given the job, by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, to help others find the “narrow door”.
As believers in the Gospel and Jesus Followers, we are invited, in Revelation 19:9-10, to the “Marriage Super of the Lamb”: “And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’ For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’".
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 12:49-56; John 16:36; John 17:22-23; John 14:27; Luke 13:22-30; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Matthew 7:13-14; Hebrews 11:1-40; John 10:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 19:9-10.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Daniel’s Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong’”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
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Sunday Sep 19, 2021
Sunday Sep 19, 2021
Are Churches Like Jesus by Welcoming Sinners; or Have Churches Become “holy huddles”? Therefore, Are Today’s Churches Missing Their Purpose?
MESSAGE SUMMARY: Penitence means to express such remorse and regret for one’s actions and to change these life actions. Penitence is a moment-by-moment occurrence. Faith guides us to repentance; therefore, we appropriate God’s Grace from the cross through our Penitence.
In Luke 15:1, the Tax Collectors and “sinners” had gathered to hear Jesus speak. The Apostle Matthew was a Tax Collector before he repented his sins and became an Apostle. We are all “sinners”; but each of us, in our own minds, has some level of righteousness or holiness. Also, each of us, in our own minds, has some personal perception of what “sin” is. Therefore, it is easy for us to call someone else a “sinner” based on our personal perception of “sin” – we say to ourselves: “I am sure glad that I don’t live like Joe!”. We are all sinners; but as Jesus Followers, our sins are forgiven. Like many of those in our churches today, the Church Leaders in Luke 15:2 did not think that it was good for Jesus to be associated with and speak to sinners: “And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’”. However, Jesus welcomes sinners into His presence. Are churches today, like Jesus, welcoming sinners; or have churches become “holy huddles”? If churches miss reaching out to those that are lost to Jesus, they are missing their purpose.
In Luke 15:3-32, Jesus shares three parables to illustrate the heart of God: 1) The Parable of the Lost Sheep – one sheep’s loss may mean no profit to the shepherd; therefore each sheep is valuable just as one “sinner” is valuable to God, and efforts must be made, like with the one lost sheep, to recover the “sinner” through their Penitence, which creates joy in heaven; 2) The Parable of the Lost Coin – the women had ten silver coins with each representing great value to her; therefore, the listeners to Jesus understood both the great effort expended to recover the one lost coin and the great joy in its recovery, just as the effort and joy related to the recovery and repentance of just one penitent “sinner”; and 3) The Parable of the Prodigal Son – the youngest son demands all of his inheritance, ahead of schedule, from his father, and then he goes away and squanders the inheritance in “sin”, but when the son awakens to his “sin” he repents and returns to his father, who celebrates, like God, the return of a “sinner” son. The Parable of the Prodigal Son, in Luke 15:32, illustrates the heart of God for Penitent “sinners”: “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”.
God is joyful when a “sinner” is Penitent because God has created us to have a personal relationship with Him, but God cannot abide with unrepentant “sinners”. Therefore, it is imperative that church communities not only lead Penitent lives themselves, but the church communities must focus on the recovery of the “lost sheep” (“sinners”). We must commune with God and repent of our own sins just as we become active in our church to lead its focus on bringing joy to God through the recovery of a “lost sheep”.
TODAY’S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus’ name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 12:49-56; John 16:36; John 17:22-23; John 14:27; Luke 13:22-30; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; Matthew 7:13-14; Hebrews 11:1-40; John 10:9-10; Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 19:9-10.
A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org.
WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH’S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Daniel’s Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong’”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/
DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB