LISTENING TO THE RIGHT VOICE

 

John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ~NIV

 

Listen for Jesus voice. Hear his voice above all the others sources that you can search on the Internet, at the library and from your friends and family. None of those sources have the ability to give life and life more abundantly. Jesus speaks the truth, because he is truth. Jesus' tender mercy is filled in every word he says to you. He has come to show you how great his love really is by laying his life down for you.

Stop and listen to him.

Take the time to reflect on Jesus grace in your life. Take the time to count your blessings in life, how you are able to read this, how you are able to hear this or how you are even able to hold this. The day-to-day activities that you can do are reasons to praise God for the life he has given you through Jesus His Son.

Are you listening?

Pray to God. Communicate to him and ask him to speak to your heart.  Allow Jesus to lead you with his message of love in your heart. See how Jesus' love will show you how to love your neighbor and improve your relationships. Jesus love is strong enough that it hopes and endures all things. Love never fails. Will you Let Jesus be your Shepherd and follow His every Word.

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Who Is Like the Lord…

 

"Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Ps 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Ps 113:5-6 KJV)

 

Praise the Lord our God for his great work for man. Who can be compared to God? God's great power and glory is evident through the world. God's great love toward man is a wonderful expression to behold. God's great love is worthy to be praised.

 

God takes care of the poor and the needy. God blesses the house of a barren woman into a house of children (Psalm 113:7-9). Be encouraged that it matters not how limited are your resources or if your bank account does not exist, this does not limit God. ""Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Ps 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!" (Ps 113:5-6 KJV)

 

Server God and praise his holy name and see how your obedience allows God to bless you. Your situation is neither out of God's reach nor out of his sight. He sees you and he is high above and loves this much, "That he gave his only begotten son (see John 3:16)."

 

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Who Jesus Calls Friend

Who does Jesus Calls Friends?

"You are my friends if you do what I command."

(John 15:14 NIV)

 

         Jesus does not call just anyone friends. Jesus says, "You are my friend if you do what I command." Jesus specifies what it means to be his friend in the obedience to him.  Jesus as Lord could exercise Lord and servant role, but Jesus desires to share with his followers. When we fail to obey we are betraying Jesus friendship.

What is Jesus commanding for you to do in your life that you are struggling to do? Why is this an issue? Jesus will not ask you to do anything that will harm you in your life. Jesus has come to so us the way to life and life eternal by dying to the world and living for him. Friendship with Jesus will cost you, but Jesus shows us how it is all worth it.

         Jesus shows us that friendship involves sacrifice, humility, forgiveness and love. Those are just to a few characteristics of friendship. Jesus showed this and more by forgiving us our sins, the humility in washing feet, the sacrifice of his life all because he loves us so.

         What greater love is there, than Jesus laying his life down for you so that you may have eternal life. What greater friend is there than Jesus who represents you before the father? There is no greater love than the love of Jesus Christ who commands our life and by our obedience we are qualified as friends.

Ties that Bind

 

Col 3:14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

Love will bind and keep unity and harmony. Above all use love to lead in showing forgiveness. This will show Christ ruling in your heart that in daily task love is shown first. Jesus said, "John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35 NAS95S).

 Let love be the center point in your relationships and all that you do. Let love be that compass that guides your decisions and points you in that right direction. God's love toward us is that great that he daily shows it to us and He has commanded us to do the same to others.  Follow Jesus lead and show love.

 Prayer:

     Lord, purify my heart and show me how to love more in my life. I want to be more forgiven and patient with all that I meet. No more excuses but it is time for me to make that change and show my love to you how I love your world you made. Amen. 

"Building a Better Community"

Zion Baptist Church

323 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr

Peoria, Il 61605

wk: (309) 676 4828

fax: (309) 676-8195

zionbcpeoria.com

Live Sermons

Meeting Jesus

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."" (Luke 19:5 NIV-G/K)

 

You may have met a teacher, a relative, friend or even a stranger that changed your life. You have come into contact with some people who have in turn left an impact in your life. You may have told your closest friends about this person and now they would like to meet this person that changed your life.

You can do that now. You can introduce someone to Jesus. Did he change your life? He changed Zacchaeus life. This is what happens when Jesus found it necessary to stay in Zacchaeus house. Zacchaeus went on to correct his wrongs and made them right. He repented when he accepted Jesus into his life. Just like Zacchaeus you too can change. Allow Jesus to come into your life and live with a clean heart.

Living with a clean heart is to actively seek Jesus every day. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem passing through Jericho and Zacchaeus wanted to see him. He climbed a sycamore just to see Jesus. Just seeing Jesus put him in the place to welcome Jesus. Everyday make an effort to see Jesus and welcome him into your house. See how your life will change. Make haste and let Jesus come live in your heart. 

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Live Sermons

BE CLEAN INSIDE

Luke 11:39 ¶ Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ~NIV

 

Clean on the outside but dirty on the inside. The saying goes that beauty is skin deep but ugly is to the bone. Society pushes image and how you dress because to show your social status and the appearance of being well in life. You can wash up real good and put on expensive clothes but this only covers up what is truly inside. That is why Jesus teaches, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (see Luke 12:34)."  Do you treasure you money, status and appearance more than integrity, the love of God and his commandments? Have you allowed material wealth drowned you in debt looking for God to redeem you? Living in this bondage of this material world is a life of hardship. Jesus has come to set you free of the chains of this world in living for him. Who the Son sets free is free indeed (see John 8:36). Be free of trying to impress others and just serve God and see how peace will fill you up and want will not be an issue but you learn how to be content with God.

 

Open up your heart to God and allow him to deal with the issues inside. Do not try to cover them up or even drown them out with drug and alcohol abuse. Do not attempt to mask the problem but do unmask and expose yourself to be changed. Jesus wants your full devotion and life. Give it all to him by releasing your pride and embracing humility. Be willing to confess where you fall short and stop trying to cover this all up. God knows all and sees all. Come to Jesus and let him clean you from the inside out.  

Trust In Me

 John 14:1  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me (italics mine NIV).

 

We too can find comfort in these comforting words from Jesus to his disciples. Jesus tells them to place their trust in him saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled". Understand that your trust is only as good as whom or what you place your trust.

 

Trust issues come up when the source you trust in is not a trustworthy source. Your trust is not in question but the source is in question. For example you desire food from a vending machine. You trust that the vending machine will give you what you pay for and you will be satisfied. When the vending machine does not give you what you have paid for you are not satisfied. You may actually be troubled. The machine shows itself to be untrustworthy, not you. Your trust was right but misplaced in a machine that is not consistent and not trustworthy.

 

God on the other hand has shown himself to be true, faithful and trustworthy. Also Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and his exact representation of his appearance (see Hebrews 1:3). Therefore put your trust in Jesus and his commandments and teachings. See how trusting God to guide your life will be better for you and your hearts will not be troubled. Trust in God is like an investment with a guarantee return of profit. Trusting in Jesus is the same. Trusting in Jesus as God's provision for the worlds Sins.

  

Gain comfort in Trusting in Jesus now and have peace in your heart knowing that God can supply your every need all through Christ Jesus.