God can heal our sickness. He can touch our need, and He can do it right now. He can do it as easily as He could yesterday, or that He could do tomorrow. In our text, we read desperation in the calling of blind Bartimaeus. The bible does not describe him by his name but as Blind Bartimaeus. He had become known by his problem. If we become known by our problem, we have allowed our problem to become bigger than God. It is evident of a distance from the Lord. Bartimaeus knew of Jesus. He had heard what Jesus could do and believed that if Jesus could do it for somebody else, He could do it for him. Bartimaeus was desperate, but Jesus was just as desperate to reach him. Jesus wants to touch us as badly as we want to be touched. Bartimaeus was tired of living a life filled with his troubles. The crowd tried to silence him, but he cried even louder. His right now needs, prompted a right now miracle.

God can heal our sickness. He can touch our need, and He can do it right now. He can do it as easily as He could yesterday, or that He could do tomorrow. In our text, we read desperation in the calling of blind Bartimaeus. The bible does not describe him by his name but as Blind Bartimaeus. He had become known by his problem. If we become known by our problem, we have allowed our problem to become bigger than God. It is evident of a distance from the Lord. Bartimaeus knew of Jesus. He had heard what Jesus could do and believed that if Jesus could do it for somebody else, He could do it for him. Bartimaeus was desperate, but Jesus was just as desperate to reach him. Jesus wants to touch us as badly as we want to be touched. Bartimaeus was tired of living a life filled with his troubles. The crowd tried to silence him, but he cried even louder. His right now needs, prompted a right now miracle.

Our text is the story of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers in the temple. The Bible tells us that Jesus would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. Jesus decided to give them an object lesson that just because you carry it into the temple, does not mean you have to carry it out. Just because you come to church with a burden, does not mean that you have to leave with it. Jesus can deliver us from these burdens. As a church, we have to make it safe for people to lay down their burdens. We must create a climate of deliverance.

Our text is the story of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers in the temple. The Bible tells us that Jesus would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. Jesus decided to give them an object lesson that just because you carry it into the temple, does not mean you have to carry it out. Just because you come to church with a burden, does not mean that you have to leave with it. Jesus can deliver us from these burdens. As a church, we have to make it safe for people to lay down their burdens. We must create a climate of deliverance.

Our text is familiar to those who have been around the church for long. Paul’s words describing the communion are among the holiest we have. The description of the events of the last supper, the betrayal, and the subsequent trial and execution are core to our faith. Paul reminds us that Jesus’ description of communion occurred on the same day that Jesus would fulfill His purpose. Jesus knew as he sat with these chosen disciples that they would betray HIm, would fail Him and would deny Him. Even in the midst of this, Jesus offers them that which they did not deserve. At the moment when treachery and deceit were at its highest, Jesus broke bread and offered to each of them His body.

Here is forgiveness, love, and grace in the face of great adversity. He was broken in so many ways, but at this moment, He gives them the greatest gift they could ever receive; His unmerited favor. The bread was symbolic, but He was literally offering them His body as a living sacrifice for their sin. He gave what they could not give so that they (and we) can enjoy what they do not deserve. He put His body in our hands. He gave us His best. He offers forgiveness of sin. He offers truth. Why would anyone not want to receive that? When He gave them the bread, he gave them all the forgiveness they would ever need. It was all the mercy that they would ever need. All the grace, encouragement, love, healing, strength, and help that they would ever need. He has given to us all that He is and all the power that He possesses. He did it when hatred, treachery, and deceit was at its highest. And He did it for us. He did it because we needed it. He was willing to be beaten that we might be healed. His love is stronger than our failure, and He gives it without measure. That is love's greatest offer.

Our text is familiar to those who have been around the church for long. Paul’s words describing the communion are among the holiest we have. The description of the events of the last supper, the betrayal, and the subsequent trial and execution are core to our faith. Paul reminds us that Jesus’ description of communion occurred on the same day that Jesus would fulfill His purpose. Jesus knew as he sat with these chosen disciples that they would betray HIm, would fail Him and would deny Him. Even in the midst of this, Jesus offers them that which they did not deserve. At the moment when treachery and deceit were at its highest, Jesus broke bread and offered to each of them His body.

Here is forgiveness, love, and grace in the face of great adversity. He was broken in so many ways, but at this moment, He gives them the greatest gift they could ever receive; His unmerited favor. The bread was symbolic, but He was literally offering them His body as a living sacrifice for their sin. He gave what they could not give so that they (and we) can enjoy what they do not deserve. He put His body in our hands. He gave us His best. He offers forgiveness of sin. He offers truth. Why would anyone not want to receive that? When He gave them the bread, he gave them all the forgiveness they would ever need. It was all the mercy that they would ever need. All the grace, encouragement, love, healing, strength, and help that they would ever need. He has given to us all that He is and all the power that He possesses. He did it when hatred, treachery, and deceit was at its highest. And He did it for us. He did it because we needed it. He was willing to be beaten that we might be healed. His love is stronger than our failure, and He gives it without measure. That is love's greatest offer.

We do not often speak of the providence of God, but is evident from His word, that God provides for His people. God is always governing, guiding and providing for His people. There is a will of God that is working out in each of our lives. He is in control of everything and if we rely upon Him, He will see us through. The bible tells us that the steps of a good man are ordered. No matter where we may go, God has prepared a path for us. God is able to and WILL take care of us. There are times when God’s influence in our life is obvious. At other times, it is hard to see God in the trials and challenges in life. We easily lose sight of the very thing we need to be focused on: God is ever helping us to get to a better place. Whatever we are going through right now, God has planned an orchestrated it to put us into a place to build our faith and to confess that faith to someone else who needs to hear it in the midst of their own trial. Our text shows that the very thing that God uses to provide for us in a time of famine, could dry up. God wants us to learn not to rely on the gift, but to rely on the giver. Some people cannot hear the voice of God because of the brook. The education of our faith is incomplete until we learn that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. He does not take away to hurt us, but to prepare us for something better.

We do not often speak of the providence of God, but is evident from His word, that God provides for His people. God is always governing, guiding and providing for His people. There is a will of God that is working out in each of our lives. He is in control of everything and if we rely upon Him, He will see us through. The bible tells us that the steps of a good man are ordered. No matter where we may go, God has prepared a path for us. God is able to and WILL take care of us. There are times when God’s influence in our life is obvious. At other times, it is hard to see God in the trials and challenges in life. We easily lose sight of the very thing we need to be focused on: God is ever helping us to get to a better place. Whatever we are going through right now, God has planned an orchestrated it to put us into a place to build our faith and to confess that faith to someone else who needs to hear it in the midst of their own trial. Our text shows that the very thing that God uses to provide for us in a time of famine, could dry up. God wants us to learn not to rely on the gift, but to rely on the giver. Some people cannot hear the voice of God because of the brook. The education of our faith is incomplete until we learn that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. He does not take away to hurt us, but to prepare us for something better.

Our text is set at Simon’s house. Many were there including Lazurus, the Disciples, and Mary. As they sat at the table, Mary came to Jesus and anointed Him with a costly ointment. Most historians value the spikenard at one year’s wages. The fragrance of the ointment filled the room. This selfless act of sacrifice spoke of a deep and profound love that many did not understand. The moment is broken by the words of a cold, heartless man. The bible tells us that Judas did not speak out of any concern for the poor, but out of selfishness. Judas was a man who did not have a sense of sacred things. He was so used to getting, that he did not comprehend the act of someone who was giving out of love. In his carnality, Judas judged Mary’s gift to be a waste. More than just inconsiderate, Judas’ complaint was anti-spiritual. Some would say that Judas had a business view, but the reality was that he was ignorant of the priceless. He missed a divine moment. It is all too possible to be lost in the secondary and miss the primary importance of an act of worship. What is our salvation worth? What kind of sin or transgression did God have to forgive? What did He have to wash away? What is the value of that forgiveness? Judas missed an eternal truth in Simon’s house that day: There are some things that money cannot buy. Money cannot buy peace, joy, or hope. Judas’ sin was not in knowing the price of the spikenard, it was not seeing the significance of the worship that Mary offered. Judas knew much about money, but he did not know the miraculous work of God’s grace. There are moments when we cannot focus on the cost of something because it cannot compare to the priceless value of worshiping God. The spiritual value of the worship of the woman who gave the two mites was greater than the value of all who gave out of their plenty. There are some things that are too beautiful to be sold, no matter what the price. We cannot exchange His presence for anything. We are involved with eternal things. Every soul that walks through our door has eternal consequences. We cannot sacrifice the sacred for secular things. It is essential that we understand the priceless

Our text is set at Simon’s house. Many were there including Lazurus, the Disciples, and Mary. As they sat at the table, Mary came to Jesus and anointed Him with a costly ointment. Most historians value the spikenard at one year’s wages. The fragrance of the ointment filled the room. This selfless act of sacrifice spoke of a deep and profound love that many did not understand. The moment is broken by the words of a cold, heartless man. The bible tells us that Judas did not speak out of any concern for the poor, but out of selfishness. Judas was a man who did not have a sense of sacred things. He was so used to getting, that he did not comprehend the act of someone who was giving out of love. In his carnality, Judas judged Mary’s gift to be a waste. More than just inconsiderate, Judas’ complaint was anti-spiritual. Some would say that Judas had a business view, but the reality was that he was ignorant of the priceless. He missed a divine moment. It is all too possible to be lost in the secondary and miss the primary importance of an act of worship. What is our salvation worth? What kind of sin or transgression did God have to forgive? What did He have to wash away? What is the value of that forgiveness? Judas missed an eternal truth in Simon’s house that day: There are some things that money cannot buy. Money cannot buy peace, joy, or hope. Judas’ sin was not in knowing the price of the spikenard, it was not seeing the significance of the worship that Mary offered. Judas knew much about money, but he did not know the miraculous work of God’s grace. There are moments when we cannot focus on the cost of something because it cannot compare to the priceless value of worshiping God. The spiritual value of the worship of the woman who gave the two mites was greater than the value of all who gave out of their plenty. There are some things that are too beautiful to be sold, no matter what the price. We cannot exchange His presence for anything. We are involved with eternal things. Every soul that walks through our door has eternal consequences. We cannot sacrifice the sacred for secular things. It is essential that we understand the priceless