Robert Baltodano shares from John 17 where Jesus begins His high priestly prayer by glorifying God and declaring His work finished.

One of the Bible verses that is most commonly quoted by people who are in direct rebellion to the words of Jesus and scripture is “Judge not, that you not be judged!” Is that true? Of course Jesus did say it, but He said a lot of other things in the very same message to clarify how we are to relate to others. Today we look at the whole message He was giving.

The beatitudes are beautiful but can we really keep them? They are designed to make us both desperate and confident.

Can these two attitudes work together? Only a person whose hope is in the eternal, whose eyes have been opened and spirit illuminated; only a person who knows they are unable to obey through human effort will find the joy of Jesus in them.

There are times in our lives when we deal with situations we don’t understand. We question God, wondering why He doesn’t act. Sometimes we even question the answers God gives us. In those times of uncertainty we should cling to God and embrace who He is.

Who are you in this story? Are you the Pharisee or the man with the withered hand? The Pharisees sought to trap Jesus and the man with the withered hand reached to Jesus for healing.

Can you accept the other people Jesus has chosen to follow Him? Matthew is called by Jesus. He responds and throws a party! The religious leaders also respond and much is revealed about their dead legalism by Jesus.

The peace of God isn’t given to us so we won’t feel nervous or worry. The peace of God should rule in our hearts and should be the standard by which we direct our lives.

It wasn’t just challenging for Mary to receive the Word of the Lord from Gabriel, it was a difficult, wonderful and incredible road she travelled her whole life. But it was worth every bit of it to her! Mary’s goal in life was clear from her youth. In this teaching we’ll see her prophecy of the great reversal!

God told Abraham that his descendants would be in Egypt for 400 years. There, they were clinging to a promise made to their forefathers! It was a promise they did not fully understand.

As Zacharias ministers in the temple, the last direct Word from God was 400 years earlier to the prophet Malachi. The promise of Messiah, the deliverer greater than Moses, is being clung to by a people who do not fully understand. Nonetheless, God is speaking and acting.

Just like the leper that was cleansed and fully restored, Jesus wants to cleanse us from sin and restore our relationship with God.