Sermons from 2018 (Page 5)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you…

The Lord works righteousness     and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses,     his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious,     slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse,     nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve     or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth,     so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the…

“And afterward,     I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,     your old men will dream dreams,     your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women,     I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens     and on the earth,     blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness     and the moon to blood     before the coming of the great…

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high…

If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!  For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.  And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.  We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing…

“If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 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.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me.Because I live, you also…

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.  So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world.  But when the set time had fully come,God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  to redeem those under the law, that we might receive…