John 8:12 NLT

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Do we follow Jesus like He is our only source of light we should follow in life?

Level of Dependance on Jesus 1-10

Level of Obedience to Jesus. 1-10

Level of Confidence in Jesus. 1-10

John 3:19-21 NLT

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Ephesians 5:8-14 NLT

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on themfor the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

1 John 1:5-7 NLT

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Matthew 5:14 NLT

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

Psalms 119:105 NLT

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

John 8:2-11 NLT

but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” ---------

How do we find a balance of loving people living sinful lives and hating sin?

With a FULL MEASURE of BOTH LOVE AND TRUTH!

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Leviticus 20:10 NIV

“ ‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22-24 NIV

If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with heryou shall take both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death—the young woman because she was in a town and did not scream for help, and the man because he violated another man’s wife. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 17:6-7 NIV

On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting that person to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

Deuteronomy 19:15-19 NIV

One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse someone of a crimethe two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time.The judges must make a thorough investigation, and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelitethen do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you.

How to Love your LGBT Neighbor
This article is by Becket Cook: the author of “A Change of Affection: A Gay Man’s Incredible Story of Redemption”.
https://www.boundless.org/blog/how-to-love-your-lgbt-neighbor-during-pride-month-and-every-month/

How Should Christians Respond to Pride Month
This article of from The Rebelution
https://www.therebelution.com/blog/2021/06/how-should-christians-respond-to-pride-month/

How Should Christians Respond to Pride Month?
This podcast is from Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
https://billygraham.org/story/how-should-christians-respond-to-pride-month/

How Should Christians Respond to Pride Month?
This article is from "GotQuestions.org"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Pride-Month.html

Chaplin Mark Penfold of the Eagle Commission. Remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Part 16 - John 7:37-52

John 7:37-38 ESV

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Zechariah 14:16-19

In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, will have no rain.If the people of Egypt refuse to attend the festival, the LORD will punish them with the same plague that he sends on the other nations who refuse to go.Egypt and the other nations will all be punished if they don’t go to celebrate the Festival of Shelters.

Isaiah 55:1 NLT

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free!

Isaiah 58:11 NLT

The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

Ezekiel 47:1 NLT

In my vision, the man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple. There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side.

Zechariah 14:8-9 NLT

On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day there will be one LORD—his name alone will be worshiped.

Zechariah 13:1 NLT

“On that day a fountain will be opened for the dynasty of David and for the people of Jerusalem, a fountain to cleanse them from all their sins and impurity.

Isaiah 44:3 NLT

For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.

ARE YOU THIRSTY?

Part 15 - John 7:14-26


John 7:14-23
Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach.The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed.But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.)For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath?

John 7:24-33
Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah?But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him.But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?”When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus.But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.

John 7:34-36
You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks!What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”

A lack of commitment to learning and living the TRUTH results in a lack of...

- desire to do God's will

- discernment for what is right and wrong

- understanding Scripture

-assurance in salvation

Part 12 - Jesus is the Water Walker

John 6:16-24 NLT
16 That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! 22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. 23 Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.

Matthew 14:22-27 NLT
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Matthew 14:27-33 NLT
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Matthew 14:32-33 NLT
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Reasons you should look for the "Water Walker" when you're in a storm...

Maybe Jesus is trying to get your attention

Maybe Jesus wants to build your courage

Maybe Jesus wants to develop your obedience

Maybe Jesus wants to grow your faith

John 6:1-15

John 5:16-47

The Accusation: Is Jesus a lawbreaker and a blasphemer?

The Defense: Jesus is EQUAL with and subordinate to the Father in a perfect relationship of unity.

WHY didn't they believe? WHY couldn't they see who Jesus was?
"When our LOVE is MISPLACED our LIFE is MISGUIDED"

They loved RULES more than they loved God.
They loved POWER AND INFLUENCE more than they loved God.
They love LEARNING INFORMATION ABOUT GOD more than they loved living for God.
They loved APPROVAL OF OTHERS more than they loved the approval of God.

Part 4 - "Jesus Fills the Empty"

John 20:1-2 NLT
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

John 20:10-15 NLT
10 Then they went home. 11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

John 20:16-18 NLT
16 “Mary!” Jesus said.She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.

John 1:16 NIV
16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

John 3:16 NIV
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 14:16-17 NIV
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 14:26 NIV
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Acts 2:1-4 NIV
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 10:44-48 NIV
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Romans 15:13 NLT
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:11 NLT
11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Ephesians 1:22-23 NLT
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Ephesians 3:19 NLT
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Colossians 1:8-9 NLT
8 He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you. 9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 2:9-10 NLT
9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

JESUS FILLS THE EMPTY!