The Open Word (Audio)

Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt, and people worshiped Him as Messiah - THIS was the day! However, they focused so much on what God did NOT do, and completely missed what He DID do. They were longing for a Messiah who would free them from the Roman Empire and establish Israel again. While they expected a worldly and temporary salvation, they missed God’s much greater plan: their salvation for eternity! Pastor David will encourage us not to miss what the Lord is doing in our lives – even today!

God has offered His salvation to each of us. His grace and His mercy have been given to ALL His children equally. No one has received more than the other. However, in today’s study, Pastor David will talk about how differently each one may manage, grow and multiply what they have received… Some may bare much fruit, while others not so much - even though they all received the same “seed” to begin with. Our master will return soon… Have we been faithful to what we have been given?

Jesus told His disciples the parable of the minas, where servants were given money for them to invest well, until their master would return. In the same way, today we also face that mission: our King will return; what have we done with what He has given us? He has the expectation that the gifts He has blessed us with will be used to the benefit of His Kingdom! Pastor David will challenge us to think today: in the end, is our life going to be rewarded, or wasted…?

In today’s study, Pastor David will speak of “God incidences”, when He places us on the right place at the right time, in divine encounters. We will learn the story of Zacchaeus, who used to steal money from people… until one day, he climbed up a tree, curious to see who Jesus was. Jesus saw him, called him down, and said he would go eat with him at his house. Zacchaeus trajectory was suddenly changed! The world runs in a tight schedule… but God wants to interrupt our agenda, and fulfill the plans He has for us!

The Jews had a very hard time understanding who Jesus was... However, Pastor David will teach the story of a BLIND man who, although could not see, declared Jesus as the Son of David. Bartimaeus exhibited a great deal of FAITH. Not in secret, but out in the open, for ALL to hear! He believed Jesus could do the impossible for him. His boldness spoke highly of his TESTIMONY of transformation. Do we KNOW – or do we truly BELIEVE – what Jesus is really capable of doing in our lives? What is our level of faith today?

When Jesus asked the rich man to sell ALL of his possessions, was He being too extreme?? Why didn’t Jesus ask him to sell SOME, or a good portion, but ALL?? In today’s study, Pastor David will unpack the calling every Christian has in their journey following Jesus. We are likewise challenged to leave everything behind, as we decide to follow Him. Our hearts cannot be attached to things from our past, or things from this world. Have we surrendered everything into His hands?

Today, we will hear the story of the young man who comes to Jesus enquiring Him about Eternal Life. He claims to have kept the Law, he seeks Jesus, he desires eternity, and Jesus tells him to sell all he owns. What went wrong with this man, that ends up leaving Jesus worse than when he arrived? Pastor David will raise the question… did this man own riches, or did his riches own him..?? Is our love for possessions greater than our desire to follow Jesus and have eternal life?

Jesus invites to Him all the little children. He highlights their PURITY and their trust in the Father. Today, Pastor David will teach us 3 parables that will talk about: the prevailing prayer, the perversity of pride, and the power of purity. We will learn the heart and importance of PRAYER - if God is going to do HIS plan anyway... then why pray?? We will also learn about the Pharisees example of PRIDE and how that can destroy you. Jesus resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

How do we pray? To what degree of persistence do we pursue the Lord with our requests? Today, Pastor David will teach Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow, and the judge who granted her request. We will learn the qualities of us persisting in faith, but also the importance or trusting God’s plans. Pastor David will teach about times when God answers “yes”, “no”, or “not yet”. Above all, when we release our requests to Him, we can trust His perfect will to be done!

As in the times of Noah and Lot, people live their lives today unaware that the judgment of God is coming. And by the time we realize that the judgment is here, it’s too late to make different decisions... Today, Pastor David will encourage us to see where we are SPIRITUALLY. Maybe our hearts and minds are still attached to this world, instead of God. NOW is the time to surrender our lives completely to the Lord, before His return. We will study what the Bible says about the Last Days and the rapture of the Church.