Be Wise

Proverbs 3:7  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 8:33-36 (Wisdom says) Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35  For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,
36  but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 

25  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 

26  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 

27  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." 

‘Make straight the way of the Lord’

                              The Testimony of John the Baptist
John 1:19-28  And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 
20  He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 
21  And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 
22  So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 
23  He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 
24  (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 
25  They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 
26  John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 
27  even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 
28  These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 

Are you the one?

                                      Are you the one?
Matthew 11:2-11  Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
3  and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
4  And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 
5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 
6  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 
7  As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 
8  What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 
9  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 
10  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 

11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

He is coming/Be prepared

                                           
                     Be Prepared for the Lord is coming 

Luke 21:25-28  “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 
26  people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 
27  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 
28  Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 

                  HOWEVER, As believers, FEAR NOT

Romans 10:9-13  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 
10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 
11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 
12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 
13  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord

Matthew 21:1-9  Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 
2  saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 
3  If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 
4  This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying, 
5  “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” 
6  The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 
7  They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 
8  Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 
9  And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 

Give thanks to the Lord

                                               
                              HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!
                             TO whom do we give thanks

Psalm 106:1  Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever

Luke 22:19, 20  And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 
   And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 

Psalm 30:12  that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! 

Watch - Be prepared

                                 The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1-13  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 
2  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 
3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 
4  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 
5  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 
6  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 
7  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 
8  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 
9  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 
10  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 
11  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 
12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 
13  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 

Forgive from your heart

                The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:21-35  Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 
22  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 
23  “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 
24  When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 
25  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 
26  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 
27  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 
28  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 
29  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 
30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 
31  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 
32  Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 
33  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 
34  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 
35  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” 

Prepare for battle - Put on the full armor

                                 The Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Children of God - All Saints Day

1 John 3:1-3  See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 
2  Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 
3  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 

Righteousness comes by Faith not Law - Know the truth and it will set you free

Romans 3:19-28  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 
20  For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 
22  the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 
23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 
24  and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 
25  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 
26  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 
27  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 
28  For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 

Which is the Great Commandment? Who's Son is Jesus?

                                  The Great Commandment

Matthew 22:34--40  But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
35  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.
36  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
38  This is the great and first commandment.
39  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 
40  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” 
                            Whose Son Is the Christ?
41  Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
42  saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”
43  He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
44  “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’?
45  If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
46  And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

UNITY in JESUS CHRIST

                                      Unity in the Body of Christ

Ephesians 4:1-6  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 
2  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 
3  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
4  There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 
5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 
6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

WITH GOD nothing is impossible-WITHOUT GOD nothing is possible

                          Jesus Raises a Widow's Son
Luke 7:11-17  Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 
12  As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 
13  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 
14  Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 
15  And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 
16  Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 
17  And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. 

Satan/Devil is defeated

                                      Satan Thrown Down to Earth

Revelation 12:7-12  Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 
8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 
9  And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 
10  And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 
11  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 
12  Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 

Walk in the Spirit

                                                       Keep in Step with the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 
17  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 
18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 
19  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 
20  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 
21  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 
22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 
24  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 
25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 
26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. 

Confess - Believe - Saved

Romans 10:9-17  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 
10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 
11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 
12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on Him. 
13  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 
14  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 
15  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 
16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 
17  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. 

Humble yourself

                     The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:9-14  He (Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 
10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 
11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 
12  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 
13  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 
14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

Jesus weeps and Jesus cleanses

                                                   
                              Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
Luke 19:41-48  And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,
42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 
43  For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 
44  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” 
                            Jesus Cleanses the Temple
45  And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,
46  saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 
47  And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him,
48  but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Beware false prophets; Know them by their fruits

  
                                     A Tree and Its Fruit
Matthew 7:15-23  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 
16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 
17  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 
18  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 
19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 
20  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 
                                  Not all will enter heaven
21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 
22  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 
23  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 

Free from sin -- Slaves to God

                                        Slaves to Righteousness
Romans 6:15-23  What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 
16  Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 
17  But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 
18  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 
19  I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 
20  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 
21  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 
22  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 
23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Put our Trust, Hope and Faith with and in Jesus and His Word

                   Behind each cloud the sun shines brightly... 

                                 The Great Commandment
Mark 12:28-31  And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 
29  Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 
30  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 

31  The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Jesus Christ -- the Power and Wisdom of God

                  Christ the Wisdom and Power of God

1 Corinthians 1:18-25  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 
19  For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 
20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 
21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 
22  For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 
23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 
24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 
25  For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 

Judging? Let God do it.

  
                                                 Judging Others

Luke 6:37-42  “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 
38  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 
39  He (Jesus) also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 
40  A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 
41  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 
42  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. 
                                            Matthew 12:36-37
  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 
37  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

Repent of sin; bring joy to Heaven

                                        Parable of the lost sheep
Luke 15:1-7  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 
2  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 
3  So he told them this parable: 
4  “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 
5  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 
6  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 
7  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 
                          The Parable of the Lost Coin
Luke 15:8-10  “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 
9  And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 
10  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents

Do not make excuses - do not reject the Lord's gifts

                      The Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14:15-24 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 
16  But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 
17  And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 
18  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 
19  And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 
20  And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 
21  So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 
22  And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 
23  And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 
24  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’” 

Fear not, Believe and Trust

1John 4:15-21  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 
16  So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 
17  By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 
18  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 
19  We love because he first loved us. 
20  If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 
21  And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 

You must be born again

                           You Must Be Born Again

John 3:1-17  Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 
2  This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 
3  Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 
4  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? .....
5  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 
6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 
7  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 
8  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 
9  Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” ..... 
10 Jesus answered him,........
11  Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 
12  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 
13  No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 
15  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 
16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 
17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

Tongues of fire

                            The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-4  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 
2  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 
3  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 
4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

We have a helper

John 15:-16:4 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 
27  And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. 

16:1  “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 

16:2  They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 

16:3  And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

16:4  But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 

The Great Commission-Jesus says "Go into all the world....

                                                  
                                                        The Great Commission

Mark 16:14-20  Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 
15  And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 
16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 
17  And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 
18  they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 
19  So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 
20  And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]] 

Be doers of the Word

          Be DOERS of the WORD - NOT HEARERS only

James 1:20-27  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 
21  Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 
22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 
23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 
24  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 
25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 
26  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 
27  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 

Hear Truth from Jesus

John 16:5-15  But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 
6   But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 
7  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 
8  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 
9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 
10  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 
11  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 
12  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 
13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 
14  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 
15  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 

REJOICE !! HE will come again

                                       Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy

John 16:16-22  “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 
17  So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’ and ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 
18  So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 
19  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 
20  Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 
21  When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 
22  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

The good shepherd

                                 The Good Shepherd
John 10:11-16  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 
12  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 
13  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 
14  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 
15  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 
16  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

                                             Jesus Appears to the Disciples
John 20:19-31  On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 
20  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 
22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 
23  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 

24  Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.
25  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26  Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
27  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 
28  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
 30  Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31  but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

Because of Him -- we live

                         For God So Loved the World
John 3:16-21  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 
17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 
18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 
19  And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 
20  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 
21  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” 

Believe or Not Believe -- Our Choice

                       The Ministry of Reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:14-21  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 
15  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 
16  From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 
17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 
18  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 
19  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 
20  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.