Pleading your case in heaven's court

Job 23:4-5, 7a; Luke 18:1-7

Jesus taught prayer by using court room imagery. Like the widow who did not give up in going to a godless judge with a plea for justice against her adversary, we also should not give up in our prayer (Luke 18:1-4). The judge refused her for a while, yet she continually begged the judge to give her legal protection from her opponent (Luke 18:3). Finally, the wearied judge saw to it that she received justice. Jesus summarized this way, asking if God would not bring about justice to his own who cry out to him day and night (Luke 18:5-7)?

Luke 7:11-17 - The Widow's Faith

Widow of Nain (Harold Copping, 1927)

Pray and Read:  Luke 7:11-17

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 7:11-17 to teach believers that Jesus provides hope for the hopeless and life for the dead.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about hope.

Key Verse: Luke 7:13

Sermon Points:

1.   Jesus provides hope for the hopeless (Luke 7:11-13)

2.   Jesus provides life for the dead (Luke 7:14 -17)

Luke 7:1-10 - The Centurion's Faith

Jesus marvels at the centurion's faith

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 7:1-10 to teach believers that the faith that honors Christ yields greater compassion, humility, and power.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about Christ-honoring faith.

Key Verse: Luke 7:9

Pray and Read:  Luke 7:1-10

Sermon Points:

1.   Christ-honoring faith yields greater compassion (Luke 7:1-5)

2.   Christ-honoring faith yields greater humility (Luke 7:6-8)

3.   Christ-honoring faith yields greater power (Luke 7:9-10)

Iranian Pastor Youcef still alive, Nations protest order

Youcef, Joel, Tina, & Daniel Nadarkhani

UPDATE 3/5/2012
Sources connected directly to the case have confirmed as of Saturday morning in Iran that Youcef is alive, that he is doing well and is in good health. Thank the Lord. Youcef's life is still in imminent danger as long as he remains behind prison bars. We can’t stop praying and spreading the word about his situation until he is out of prison. Please post these updates to Twitter, Facebook and send them on to friends and family. The US House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning Iran for the death sentence for apostay and demanding his immediate release. The Senate is now working on their version of the resolution. Germany summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry to express their concerns over Youcef's case. As we have reminded you in the past this is a spiritual battle. The Islamists in Iran want to destroy Christianity from that country. We ask that you pray for Youcef's strength to stand for the Gospel and that the Lord Jesus would use his testimony to bring many to the transforming power of Christ. Source: Present Truth Ministries 3/5/2012

Luke 6:17-49 - Sermon on the Plain

Sea of Galilee near Capernaum

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 6:17-49 to teach believers to experience the blessings of walking in belief, not the woes of unbelief, and to walk in love toward enemies.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about walking in belief.

Pray and Read:  Luke 6:17-49

Sermon Points:

1.   Walking in belief is blessed, but in unbelief are woes (Luke 6:17-26)

2.   Putting belief into practice develops Christ-like love (Luke 6:27-36)

3.   Putting belief into practice develops Christ-like integrity (Luke 6:37-42)

4.   Putting belief into practice develops Christ-like character (Luke 6:43-45)

5.   Putting belief into practice develops Christ-like stability  (Luke 6:46-49)

Luke 6:1-16 - Lord of the Sabbath

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 6:1-16 to teach believers that belief is not about following a list of rules but about a relationship with God that affects your relationships with others.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about a relationship with God.

Pray and Read:  Luke 6:1-16

Sermon Points:

1.   Believing is not about following a list of rules (Luke 6:1-11)

2.   Believing is about a relationship with God (Luke 6:12-16

Flexible Prayer Plan

Here is a flexible prayer framework to help you hear God’s gentle prompting in prayer. Use it if it serves you or change it to suit you.

Luke 5:27-39 - Common Sinners & New Wine

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 5:27-39 to teach believers that Jesus calls us to the joy of commitment to Christ and in the expectation found in Christ.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about the joy found in Christ.

Pray and Read:  Luke 5:27-39

Sermon Points:

1.   Jesus calls us to the joy of commitment (Luke 5:27-32)

2.   Jesus calls us to the joy of expectancy (Luke 5:33-39)

Luke 5:12-26 - Up on the Housetop

Healing the Paralytic (James Tissot)

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 5:12-26 to teach believers that Jesus has authority both over our worst disease – sin and to forgive and restore.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about forgiveness and restoration.

Pray and Read:  Luke 5:12-26

Sermon Points:

1.   Jesus has authority over our worst disease -- sin (Luke 5:12-16)

2.   Jesus has authority both to forgive and restore (Luke 5:17-26)

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-10

Ask with humility and consciousness of need. Jesus tells us to ask him in prayer. Here the verb aiteō (αιτέω, ask) has the meaning of asking for something.^[1] When one asks in Christ, we ask with family or redemptive rights. In prayer, we ask God with humility because we have confidence in his promises. His promises are based on His character. We come to the Lord as dependent children, needing Him and His love and the basics of life.

Valentines Day candy for the rest of us

Luke 5:1-11 - Jesus' First Disciples

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish (Raphael)

Pray and Read:  Luke 5:1-11

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 5:1-11 to teach believers that Jesus calls us to the invitation of Good News and to the obedience of discipleship.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about discipleship.

Sermon Points:

1.   Jesus calls us to the invitation of Good News (Luke 5:1-3)

2.   Jesus calls us to the obedience of discipleship (Luke 5:4-11)

Luke 4:31-44 - Jesus' Authority

The Deranged Man in the Capernaum Synagogue by James Tissot

Pray and Read:  Luke 4:31-44

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 4:31-44 to show that Jesus has authority to help those in spiritual need, physical need, and gospel need.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about the authority of Jesus.

Sermon Points:

1.   Jesus has authority to help those in spiritual need (Luke 4:31-37)

2.   Jesus has authority to help those in physical need (Luke 4:38-41)

3.   Jesus has authority to help those in gospel need (Luke 4:42-44)

Psalm 86 - Intercessory Worship

Are you holding on to a promise from the Lord, something He has promised you, and it is long in coming? Is your expectation being stretched? Are you getting weary? Are you feeling desperate, or even despairing? Is He not moving according to your time frame? Are you saying, “Why, Lord? Where are you? Where is the answer? What is happening? Why the silence? When will you move and fulfill your promises? 

You have searched your heart for sin. You’ve pleaded. You’ve bargained. You’ve pouted some. You’ve felt sorry for yourself. You’ve gotten scared. It doesn’t take much for panic to seize you. God seems so far away that your prayers seem to fly short of the throne as if you were shooting birdshot at the moon.

Look for new Fair Trade logos

These logos on products like coffee and tea tell you that they were produced without the use of child or slave labor or involved in human labor trafficking. 

Look for them and buy products with these labels.

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Bridge animation

Radical Desperation for His Presence

Paul gives us two conditions for intercession in the church: holy hands, and no anger or dissension (1 Tim 2:8). Getting right before God, and then getting right with each other. God wants all kinds of prayers, requests, intercession, and thanksgiving (1 Tim 2:1). He enjoys common, simple prayers. The Lord enjoys radical, passionate prayers. We pray best when we admit our weakness and ask the Holy Spirit to take control of our prayer (Rom 8:26-27).

Have you ever been at a place where you were so weak that you had no other option than the Lord? If you haven’t been there, your time is coming. That’s not to scare you, but to warn you that if you want to walk with the Lord, you need to know that He will train you to trust Him. He will lead you into the valley of the shadow of death so that you can learn to know that He is always with you, so that His rod and His staff may comfort you (Psalm 23:4).

Straight-talking Billy Sunday

Excerpts from an often-repeated Billy Sunday revival sermon follow:

Billy Sunday

"Come on you slanderers; come on you assassins of character. Come on you sponsors of harlotry; come on you defamers of God and enemies of the Church; come on you bull-necked, beetle-browed, hog-jowled, peanut-brained, weasel-eyed four flushers, false alarms and excess baggage. I’ll fight you until hell freezes over, and then I’ll buy a pair of skates and tackle you on the ice.”

"I'm against sin. I'll kick it as long as I've got a foot, and I'll fight it as long as I've got a fist. I'll butt it as long as I've got a head. I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old and fistless and footless and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!"

"The trouble with many men is that they have got just enough religion to make them miserable. If there is not joy in religion, you have got a leak in your religion. Some haven't religion enough to pay their debts. Would that I might have a hook and for every debt that you left unpaid I might jerk off a piece of clothing. If I did some of you fellows would have not anything on but a celluloid collar and a pair of socks.

Finally, you can find the help you need

Luke 4:14-30 - Jesus Rejected

Jesus Unrolls the Book, (James Tissot 1894)

A lot of big announcements are being made these days with a lot of fanfare and hype and big money behind them and with a lot of grandiose promises about hope and change and fixing the world we know, but there was an announcement two millennia ago in a small synagogue in a tiny, overlooked community in the Middle East that changed the course of human and cosmic history. What happened there teaches us a lot about life’s priorities and the importance of believing in something worthwhile. The announcement, found in Luke chapter four, however, did not turn out like we might have expected.

Pray and Read:  Luke 4:14-30

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 4:14-30 to teach believers that we must embrace Jesus and his mission and not reject it; we must operate in belief and not in unbelief.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about believing in Jesus and his mission.

Sermon Points:

1.   Embrace belief in Jesus and his mission (Luke 4:14-23)

2.   Reject unbelief in Jesus and his mission (Luke 4:24-30)

Mixed message

Unfortunately so many churches send mixed messages.

Pablum for Christians

Comfort in His Presence

In this old fallen world, life deals us blows. Perhaps the blow is a broken marriage. Perhaps it is bad news at the doctor’s office (Psalm 41:1-3). Perhaps it is the loss of a dearly loved one. Perhaps it is a layoff. Perhaps it is an errant child or grandchild. Perhaps it is a lie. Perhaps it is the sheer crushing strength of stress. Perhaps it is the ache of a violation years ago. Perhaps it is betrayal or rejection. Perhaps it is the devouring beast called depression. Perhaps it is being blindsided by your best friend. Perhaps it is the deep water of financial insecurity or unspeakable loss. Perhaps hope deferred has made your heart sick. Or discouragement, disillusionment, despair, depression, deceit, delusion, dead works, distrust, disgrace, disappointment, even death.

Luke 4:1-13 - Jesus' Temptation

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness (James J. Tissot, 1886-94)

Contextual Notes:

Following a birth narrative focused on Jesus’ fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants (Luke 1-2), Luke focuses his Gospel on the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He begins with the message repentance from Messiah’s Forerunner John the Baptizer (Luke 3:1-20), then Jesus’ baptism (Luke 3:21-23a) with its message that He is the promised Messiah, who will fulfill the role of the Lord’s suffering Servant through his sacrificial death. Luke then inserts Mary’s genealogy, proving that, like Matthew 1, Jesus fulfills both the Davidic and Abrahamic Covenants, adding also that unlike Adam, Jesus is the true Son of God (Luke 3:23b-38).

Now Luke shows Jesus’ last stage of preparation and the first and most important challenge in beginning his ministry – demonstrating that he is the true Son of God by refusing temptation in every area. Coordinated by the Holy Spirit, Jesus heads into a desolate area to fast and permits Satan to test the weakened Messiah. Luke demonstrates that Jesus is the ideal human being, unlike the fallen Adam and Eve (Luke 4:1-13). Luke wants you to see that Jesus is steadfastly obedient to the will of His Father in contrast to both Adam the first son of God (Luke 3:38), and Israel God’s son (Exod 4:22-23) and first servant. The true Son of God (not in a Garden but in a desert) and the true Servant of God in the wilderness will emerge from this temptation.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 4:1-13 to teach believers that through Jesus we can overcome temptations of the flesh, the mind, and the spirit.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about temptation.

Pray and Read:  Luke 4:1-13

Sermon Points:

1.   Through Jesus we can overcome temptations of flesh (Luke 4:1-4)

2.   Through Jesus we can overcome temptations of mind (Luke 4:5-8)

3.   Through Jesus we can overcome temptations of spirit (Luke 4:9-13)

Luke 3:21-38 - The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus

Contextual Notes:

In Luke’s birth narrative (Luke 1:4-2:52), Luke demonstrates that whether there is unbelief (the priest Zechariah) or belief (Mary, Elizabeth, Shepherds, Anna, Simeon), the Messiah has arrived who has fulfilled the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. The Forerunner John called the people to repentance and holy living according to the Scriptures (John 3:1-20). Now Messiah Himself arrives on the scene to both inaugurate his ministry with baptism and divine confirmation of his identity and also demonstrate his ancestral claim to Messiahship.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 3:21-38 to teach believers that Jesus’ baptism and genealogy confirm him as Messiah, King of Israel and Lord of the Nations.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about Jesus’ baptism and genealogy.

Pray and Read:  Luke 3:21-38

Sermon Points:

1.   Jesus’ baptism confirms Him as Messiah (Luke 3:21-23a)

2.   Jesus’ genealogy confirms Him as Messiah (Luke 3:23b-38)

Scot Presbyterian praise dance

Luke 3:1-20 - John the Baptizer

John the Baptizer Preaching (Mattia Preti, 1667)

Contextual Notes:

In Luke’s opening birth narrative (Luke 1:4-2:52), he puts forward belief over unbelief  and the Messiah who fulfills the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. Now Luke turns to the Forerunner, John. Although some mistake John for the Messiah, John is very clear that Someone greater is coming (Luke 3:15-18).

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 3:1-20 to call believers to repentance of sin and the application of Scripture in our lives.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about repentance and Biblical living.

Pray and Read:  Luke 3:1-20

Sermon Points:

1.   The ministry of John calls us to the repentance of sin in our lives (Luke 3:1-6).

2. The preaching of John calls us to the application of Scripture to our lives (Luke 3:7-20).

Luke 2:41-52 - The Boy Jesus

The Boy Jesus with the Jewish Rabbis

Contextual Notes:

We have come to the end of what is called the Birth Narrative in Luke. All along the focus has been on how this baby who is coming will fulfill the covenants of Abraham and David.

Luke calls his reader to reject unbelief and embrace belief in this Child who has been born. The birth narrative began with an unbelieving priest in the Temple and ends with the Great High Priest in the Temple.

The Passover Jerusalem visit of the twelve-year-old Jesus is the only account about Jesus’ childhood found in the four Gospels. (There are false “infancy Gospels” written several centuries later that tell fanciful stories and made up legends about the boy Jesus. Sorry to inform that Jesus did not travel to India, study yoga with Far Eastern “masters”, visit with extraterrestrial beings, or learn and perform works of magic.) Luke does not include this vignette of Jesus’ childhood for the curious, but to reveal Jesus’ real human growth, as a man, mentally and physically, to show his true nature as being fully human as well as fully God.

Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 2:41-52 to teach believers that we are responsible before the Lord to prepare children for the work, the call, and the wisdom of the Lord in their lives.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about rearing children before the Lord.

Pray and Read:  Luke 2:41-52

Sermon Points: The boy Jesus teaches us that we are responsible to

1.   Prepare children for the work of the Lord in their lives (Luke 2:41-47)

2.   Prepare children for the call of the Lord on their lives (Luke 2:48-51)

3.   Prepare children for the wisdom of the Lord in their lives (Luke 2:52)

Pray for North Korean Persecuted Christians

But David strengthened himself in the Lord

The Women of Ziklag Taken into Captivity (James Tissot)

1 Samuel 30:6; Zechariah 10:12

While David and his 600 men were away from home,[1] the Amalekites had struck. They had raided the territory given to God’s people. The town of Ziklag where they lived was burned, and the Amalekites took captive their women and children (1 Sam 30:1-6). 

When David and his men returned exhausted after a 3-day march, they were devastated at what they found (1 Sam 30:4). The men were so upset and bitter at their loss and what they saw as David’s failure to protect their families, that there was talk of stoning him.

David, exhausted from a long march, having been rejected by Achish king of Gath (1 Sam 29:8) through no fault of his own, now finds total devastation of all he had and all he loved. David is at the end of himself. David was living among the Philistines out of a carnal decision to hide there from Saul (1 Sam 27:1-4).He has been living by his wits, using every trick of the energy of his flesh (1 Sam 27:10). Now he returns to Ziklag see the smoking ruins of all his possessions, his family lost, and the disaster of all his self-effort.