Category: Scripture

🔊 Listen to this

“”About that time, the disciples came in to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said,”I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like the little children, you will never get in to the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes humble as this little child is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming me. But you cause of of the little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

What sorrows awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.””

(Matthew 18, vv1-7, NLT)

“”Beware that you don’ look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My Heavenly Father.””

(Matthew 18, v10, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

“Then He asked them, “But who do you think I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the son of the Living God.”

Jesus replied,”You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build My church and all the power of hell will not conquer it.””

(Matthew 16:v 13-19, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship with the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me (the Apostle Paul) truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

(Philippians 2:vv. 1-5, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.

The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping an eye on both the evil and the good.

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns form correction is wise.

There is is a treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

The lips of the wise give good advice; the heart of a fool has none to give.” (vv 1-7, NLT)

“A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.” (v 18, NLT)

“Everyone enjoy a fitting reply; it is wonderful tos ay the right thing at the right time!” (v. 23, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

Why Jesus Used Parables

“”His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others do not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they will have will be taken away from them. That is why I use parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t reply listen or understand.

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will to understand. When you see what I did, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes- so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”” (Mathew 13, vv 10-17, NLT)

(Isaiah reference taken from Chapter 6, vv 9-10, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”But Jesus knew what they were planning. So He left that area, and many people followed Him. He healed all the sick among them, but He warned them not to reveal who He was. This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning Him:

“Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases Me. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise His voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally He will cause justice to be victorious. And His name will be the hope of all the world.””

(Matthew 12:vv 15-21, NLT) (Isaiah quote taken from Chapter 42, vv 1-4)

🔊 Listen to this

“”At that time, Jesus prays His prayer: “O Father Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased Me that You do it this way!”

“My Father has entrusted everything to Me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son choose to reveal Him.”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give to you is light.””(Matthew 11: vv 25-30, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”Come to Me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will take an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”” (Isaiah 55, v3, NLT)

“”Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.”

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. “

“You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name: they will be an everlasting sign of His power and love.”” (Isaiah 55, vv. 6-13, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“”No one can serve to masters. For you will hate the one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies fo the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their own clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown in to the fire tomorrow, He will certainly give you everything you need. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying “what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your Heavenly Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”” (Matthew 6: vv 24-34, NLT)

🔊 Listen to this

“Intimate God, therefore, in everything you do , because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, immure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolator, worshipping the things of this world.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey Him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of the light! For as the light within you produce only what is good and right and true.” (Ephesians 5: 1-9, NLT)