Friday January 20, 2012 Jesus starts to preach!

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison He returned to Galilee. ----- From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near."

Good Friday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. Can you believe we are 2/3 the way through January already? COME ON, SPRING!! Friday and it is the day we pray for all those who are working the fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus, those who by the way should be preaching and teaching these words... "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Anyway, as we pray for those workers of God today, please remember Daniel Stoner and his family. More coming on them real soon. Also please remember Vicki on that daily prayer list. And please also pray for Dolores, she is having lots of problems, and in the past two days she has fallen twice.

Speaking of how time flies. I can remember when I went to high school, and some of my school classmates and LONG TIME friends are on the line. If my memory serves me right we went back to homeroom and waited for the dismissal bell which rang at 3.05 PM. Hey, kids on line, am I right on that time? Anyway, it seemed like that last 5 minutes would never pass, but from the time we got out of high school the clocks went into high gear. In fact, the clocks turn so fast as we get older I now have one mounted on the celling and use it for a fan.

Jesus Starts to Preach: Matthew 4:12 - When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison He returned to Galilee. ----- 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." (NIV)

Let's review for just a minute and look back, where did we hear those words before? For that I am just going back to -----------

Matthew 3:1 - In those days John The Baptist came preaching in the desert of Judea and 2 saying "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near." (NIV)

So again as I look at what Jesus was doing while here on earth and look for when I feel He was showing us just what we should do, in other words teaching and preaching and setting examples for us to follow, I see He was setting us up for the messages we are to be talking to our flocks about. On this occasion as Jesus started to preach and teach He was telling the same things as John, His forerunner was telling... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. And again what I am going to tell you this day, REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. Do you see the example that Jesus is showing us? For sure He is not copying what John had said, because Jesus is not a follower, He is a leader, however, John was sent with a mission from God to start with, and that was to prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. I also want you to notice that you will not find me wasting any time at all (could not say that in school), I also want you to notice that you will not find me wasting any time at all trying to figure out when Jesus is coming back, it is enough for me to know and believe that He is coming back, and I want to thank God our Father in Heaven that He did not send Jesus back while I was still lost and had drifted away from Jesus. Pastors, preachers, teachers of the gospel, Sunday School teachers, gospel singers and all others who are taking the Good News of Salvation through Jesus to the masses have enough to do without trying to tell people that Jesus is coming back and then picking a date. I will tell you this much, however, He is coming back and it could be today!!

Our job is to get our flocks ready so that when Jesus comes for His bride, we are ready, we are dressed in white for we have already come to Christ and have been forgiven. Our robes are clean, we have been forgiven and brothers and sisters, once that is done for us we have others to tell. Folks, there is only one way to heaven and it is through Jesus, don't let anyone tell you different. You cannot buy your way in! You cannot work your way in! Although work is required after you are saved! You cannot talk your way in once the end has come! The only way into Heaven is through Jesus and I want to show you that in scripture. So here are just a couple of them.

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. (NIV)

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. NO ONE comes to the father except through me. (NIV)

So let me put it to rest for today and for the week like this... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.

Dear Father in Heaven, when we are out preaching and teaching, singing and talking about You, give us the words to say when we tell folks that Your kingdom is coming. In all of our prayer requests I pray Your will to be done. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Now go forth and share your Blessings and please, folks, share these words also... REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR. Do not be afraid to tell the good news of Salvation and it starts, folks, with Jesus going to the cross for us, and we repenting of our sins for us and also for Him... Have a blessed weekend... love ya, Pastor Dan.