A Message to our iY Graduates by Pastor Abidan Shah
Who are the iYs? To give you a hint, this is the largest population in the earth’s history! They are in your homes, your workplace, your church, your community, your nation, and your world! Do you know any? What do they believe? How can we help them?
When God Meets Our Needs by Pastor Abidan Shah
In this message we will focus on the line – “Give us this day our daily bread.” After focusing on the glory of God in the first three petitions, Jesus turns towards personal petitions. He begins with our daily need for bread. It is obvious that He was talking about much more than just bread. It was an invitation to come without fear to our heavenly father for our daily needs.
Talking to the Father: Prayer that gets Heard – Pastor Abidan Shah
Repeatedly Jesus refers to God as the Father. He wants us to see Him as a benevolent and just heavenly father. He wants us to ask Him freely for everything we need.
Many times we have such a clouded view of God. We treat Him like the CEO of heaven, whose only desire is to take things away from us and make us feel miserable. Nothing is further from the truth. God wants us to ask Him for what we need and ask freely.
Secret Religion – Fasting
This week the focus is on Fasting. Again, Jesus warns His disciples not to make show of fasting. Instead, they should fast in a way that does not attract any attention. This message is vital to our spiritual lives. It not only reminds us of the importance of fasting but also teaches us the proper attitude of fasting.
Secret Religion – Prayer
This week the focus is on Prayer. Again, Jesus warns His disciples not to make prayer a time of spiritual show. Instead, they should pray in secret to their Heavenly Father. In turn, He will not only approve our prayers but also blesses us before all.
Loving the Unlovables – Part Two
This weekend we are actually going to look at the passage, 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” This is so easier said than done. But the world needs to see this lived out, especially by Christians.
Loving the Unlovables – Part One
This miniseries titled “Loving the Unlovables” is very vital in our world today. How do we deal with our enemies who threaten our lives while at the same time love them, do good to them, and bless them?
When Someone Offends You
The Old Testament had laid out the law – “Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” but Jesus told His listeners to “turn the other check.” What does that mean? Does it mean we need to sit back and watch the innocent getting massacred? Does it mean that evil people can run amuck? Does it mean that being a Christian means being a coward? No. Jesus is dealing with how we respond when someone offends us.
Why We Need Community – Part Two
Some people fear that community means someone is going to control my life. Nothing could be further from the truth! Community is the joy of walking with other pilgrims on the road of life.
As we learned last weekend, community is vital. It keeps us grounded. It helps us to make wise decisions. The reason many people make foolish decisions is because they live in isolation and get easily blown about by their feelings and emotions.
What is Jesus Doing in Your Life? – Part Two
In this message we will complete the comparison between the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament. The conclusion is this – What Jesus has done for His people, He continues to do for us today. We can trust His promises. He is always faithful.
What is Jesus Doing in Your Life?
When we study the Old Testament and the New Testament side by side we begin to realize that Jesus was none other than the “Angel of the Lord” who visited His people time and again before His birth 2000 years ago. In His pre-incarnate visits He did certain ministries for His people. Amazingly, those were the same ministries that He performed in His years on earth. And, yes – those are the same ministries that He still does for His people today. What is He doing in your life right now?
The Battle of the Christian Life
Several times in 1st and 2nd Timothy, Paul refers to the good warfare of the believer. He exhorts Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Many people compare Christianity to a peaceful walk in the park. To the contrary, it is a battle. But unlike earthly battles, God deems the Christian warfare “good”.
Unity in the Body
This is such a sacred, meaningful time as we look back at the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us. It also reminds us of the connection we have with other believers in the family of God. Communion is not just some old ritual. It is the foundation of our unity in Christ.
Keeping Your Word
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is talking about vows and oaths. He chastises the people for misusing and abusing vows in the name of God. He commands them to “let your yes be yes and no, no” The purpose of this antithesis is to remind us to be forthright, truthful, and honest when we make promises.
Keeping Intimacy in Marriage Part Five
In this message we will once again tackle the tough subject of adultery but this time look at how God is willing to forgive and restore. We will be looking at the example of King David and Bathsheba. This is a great reminder that daily we need the grace of God in our lives.
Keeping Intimacy in Marriage Part Three
This weekend I’ll be preaching part 3 of our miniseries from the Sermon on the Mount titled, “Keeping Intimacy in Marriage.”
All I can say is that if you miss this one, you will truly regret it! So…don’t miss it! Seriously, do not miss it!
Anger Management Part Four
In this message we will understand three basic things – Anger that lashes out, Anger that looks back, and Anger that lingers on. All this is coming straight out of the text in Matthew 5:21-30. The previous three messages were laying out the foundation for the series. This one is application all the way.
Anger Management Part Two
Last weekend we saw how anger is a divine emotion displayed by God numerous times in the Old Testament and several times by Jesus in the New Testament. It’s the natural outcome of the coming together of His Holiness and Love.
Unfortunately, we have used anger for all the wrong reasons. Instead of using it to bring righteousness in this world, we use it to satisfy our selfish needs. This weekend we will see how to redirect anger in our personal lives.
This is a very important message especially now when Christians are called to stand firmly and graciously for the truth.
Trust and Obey
I’ll be preaching a message called – “Trust and Obey.” Jesus is teaching His disciples that following Him is not a substitute to obeying God. In fact, the standards are higher than that of the Pharisees and the scribes. He will give a series of “You’ve heard it said…but I say to you.”
Ultimately, the only way people can obey such high standards is through the help of the Holy Spirit. He is indispensable to live the Christian Life.
Winning With God and Men
All of us want to be successful in our own way. We want God to bless us and we want people to honor us. Some people only care for one or the other – there are people who declare that they only care about God’s blessing and then there are people who live only for the applause of people. The Bible actually tells us to have both – Proverbs 3 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.
In the Old Testament we hear of young Samuel finding “favor both with the Lord and men.” Also, in the New Testament we hear of Jesus that He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
As a husband I want both for my marriage. As a father I want both for my marriage and my children. As a pastor and Bible student I want both for our church and the kingdom of God.