H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 12:15

H. verse 15: Then he said to them, ” watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

E. Jesus is explaining to someone in the crowd that they should watch out for greediness.

A. We cannot take anything with us when we go. People today are greedy and stingy when it comes to God and others. They pile up possessions of all forms and one day it will not matter at all to them, for they will face God with nothing and face judgement.

R. Father I pray you will help me to find any area of my life where I am greedy so i can fix it. I want my possession to be over you, my passion, my life, about you! In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 11:23

H. verse 23: ” Whoever is not with me is against me,and whoever does not gather with me, scatters.”

E. Jesus is talking to the crowds after he was accused of driving out demons as beelzebul.

A. We cannot straddle the fence when it comes to worshiping Jesus. it only brings chaos and you do not get a full understanding of a relationship with him. If we will follow him with our whole hearts, we will understand what is accepted and expected as his disciples.

R. Father, I straddled the fence and wasn’t with you whole heartedly. Draw me closer Father if I start to ride that fence again. I want it to be all of me in a relationship with all of you! Thank you for your mercy and patience with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 10:20

H. verse 20: ” However do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

E. The 72 that Jesus had sent out to heal and cast out demons in His name returned overjoyed that the spirits ( demons ) submitted to them in his name. Jesus was glad for them to be joyous in this but wanted them to remember that their reward is in heaven, in this they should be joyous!

A. We focus on what we “Do” here on earth. We focus on our busyness for God, our deeds. But Jesus wants us to know our reward comes from faith alone and that is an eternal life in heaven. Our names written in heaven for eternity not from deeds but from following him through belief and faith.

R. Father we get excited when we do for you and we see a miracle from it, but we should be more overjoyed that we will be in our heavenly home for eternity because we believe in you, have faith in you, and trust in you enough to go out and work for you. Lord may my joy always rest in the fact my name is written in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 9:58

H. verse 58: Jesus replied, ” Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

E. As Jesus was walking along, a man said to him, ” I will follow you wherever you go.” ( vs.57) Jesus’ response to the man was straight forward, I have nowhere to lay my head, implying that it wouldn’t be easy for him to follow. Jesus didn’t always have it easy on his journey and he wanted the man to know he had nowhere to call home, to lay his head.

A. Following Jesus isn’t always easy. There are so many traps set for us by Satan. People, even today, are persecuted all over the world for following him. You also have to die to self which is not easy at all. BUT, if we keep our focus on Jesus, he will show us that his way, the narrow way, is best. It is easier than following this world and comes with a reward that can’t be matched! Eternal life with Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

R. Father let me be like the plowman, focused on you and what lies ahead, an eternal life with you in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 8: 25

H. verse 25: ” Where is your faith?” He asked his disciples.

E. Jesus and his disciples were crossing the lake and a storm came about and caused the boat to be swamped. The disciples became afraid.

A. Where is your faith? We say that we have faith but as soon as we get sick or hear a bad diagnosis, we start to worry. Our flesh is weak but our God is strong! When we start to worry we should remember that faith is hope, it’s confidence in what we hope for and the assurance of something we cannot see. ( Heb:11:1) When we start to worry we should remember Jesus’ question and we should let go and let God handle it! Exercise your faith today, whatever it is that’s got you worked up or worried and if you have NO control over it, and even if you do, let God handle it! Take it to him in prayer.

R. Father God, pelase remind me of this verse of scripture anytime I seem to forget my faith! Your promise is that we have nothing to fear! Lord, I stand on your promises! Thank you for the goodness of your powerful name! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 7: 12-13

H. verses 12-13: As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother and she was a widow. 13 When the Lord saw her his heart went out to her and he said, “don’t cry.”

E. Jesus was traveling and came to Nain, a town, where he came upon this scene. He had compassion for this woman because he knew life would be hard for her as she was already a widow and this was her only son. He raised her son back to life so she would not be alone. The Enduring Word commentary suggests Jesus found death to be the enemy and that is why he raised so many from it.

A. Jesus shows us here that we need to show compassion to those less fortunate than we are. We should soften our hearts and help them when they are in need. This widow had no one left and Jesus knew how hard she would have it, we also know when people are less fortunate than us, we need to open our hearts. Jesus did not like death and today we can defeat death by believing in Jesus just like the young man he brought back to life, he can and will bring us back to life, an eternal life!

R. Oh Father God, you are so faithful to us! You have given us hearts to be filled with your Spirit so we can show compassion to those who need our help. You’ve given us your Spirit so we can tell others how they too can be raised from the dead, the dead life they lead without you in it! Father I pray you would send someone for me to tell about you and may I always be willing to help those less fortunate. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 6:27

I have been behind on my daily blogs, busy with life and Bible studies. I am currently in the study of 2 Corinthians with the ladies in the church and it’s a great one! All Things New by Kelly Minter. I am Going to try and post 5 blogs today. I hope you will find them easy to understand. My journals are beginning to change, but the best is yet to come when we get to Paul’s writings. Meanwhile, let’s carry on with Luke.

H. “But to you who are listening I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

E. Jesus was talking with his disciples and goes on to say in verse 28 to bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

A. This is hard for us! It is one of those easier said than done lessons from Jesus. If we trust him with our lives, then why is it so hard to trust his lessons and follow them? When someone is against you, then put on your full armor of God. Trust him to fight your battles while you bow your head in prayer for those who persecute you.

R. Dear Father, Help me, help me, it’s all I seem to cry endlessly some days! I need to remember no one can bring harm to me especially with words when I have you to turn to! May I always bless my enemies and simply love them like you say! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 5:16

H. verse 16: But Jesus himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

E. The news was spreading quickly all over and large crowds would gather around wherever he was, he needed to get away, to be alone so he could talk with his Father.

A. We need alone time with our Father. We pray at church and we pray for others when asked, but to have a true relationship with our Father we must pray unceasing and our devotion time, our alone time to open our hearts up to God is very important.

R. Father God, as I study your Word and learn more about you, I learn something new daily and I pray I would never forsake my alone time with you. It is my time with you, it is cherished time. I pour my heart out to you Lord in prayer as it should be. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 4:43

H. verse 43: But he said, ” I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

E. Jesus was speaking to the people of Capernaum, a town in Galilee. They wanted him to stay with them.

A. Today we are called to go out and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. That is our purpose here. We are called to make disciples of all nations. If we who are called do not spread the good news of Jesus then we are not showing faith in Jesus.

R. Father God, help me each day to proclaim the good news of Jesus Chrust to whomever I can! Help me to remember this is why we are here, this is my purpose in life! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Luke 3: 9

H. Verse 9: The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

E. John the Baptist is speaking to those coming to him who he knows are not descended from Abraham as they say. They do not produce fruit in keeping with repentance, and they are coming to be baptized, in fact, he calls them a brood of vipers.

A. There are many like that today, they say they are saved, but they do not repent. They do not change their ways, they only want a get out of hell free card. They do not produce fruit for God’s Kingdom. The ax which is God’s wrath will also cut them down and throw them into the fire. The fire is hell. Those who mock God, who smear His name all the while hoping to get into Heaven, woe to those who do such things. HELL! It is real!

R. Father, I pray that I never forget to repent for the sins I commit and change my ways. I pray that those I love will remember to repent, change their lives and live for your glory and not their own! I pray that I will live for your glory and not my own. I want to produce an anbundance of fruit Father, for your Kingdom! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.