Brooklyn Tabernacle - Audio Sermons Feed

Jesus is our good shepherd. He keeps us safe; He sees our needs; He welcomes us back if we stray. But we see people every day who are hurting and spiritually hungry, and worldly things will never fill their spiritual void. It’s up to us to point them to the good shepherd—the only One who can meet their needs.

Life gets overwhelming sometimes. We have schedules to keep and bills to pay. But we can get so caught up in work that we forget that the Bible tells us to rest. God has given us this gift so we don’t burn out. Let’s make time to rest in the Lord today as we work for Him.

Many of us have hurtful family stories. The sons of King David were hurt too—and they became bitter. But unforgiveness can destroy lives. Roots of bitterness in our hearts will cause us to make choices we never imagined we would. There is no room in the Christian heart for bitterness. We must call on God today to help us forgive others!

None of us wants to keep living in sin. But we can’t solve the problem by ourselves. The good thing is, God is so wonderful and loving that He didn’t just save us and forgive us—He also promises to work in us as believers. God will replace all that is negative and hurtful with goodness and healing if we allow Him. Will you let Him do that today?

The ultimate deception is going by the feeling of truth. Faith is not about feeling. Let us not be like King Herod, who felt a stirring in his spirit but didn’t change anything. May we act on our faith in Jesus Christ our Savior!

How do you feel when you get corrected? Herod certainly didn’t feel too happy about it when John the Baptist told him he was wrong. Instead, he blamed John and put him in prison. We too often try to find something wrong with the person correcting us, even when they’re right. Let’s be open to God warning us when something’s wrong in our lives.

Nobody wants to be told that they’re wrong. It’s not a very popular message! John the Baptist saw that firsthand. But we are called to speak the truth with love. If we love others, we should want to tell them the truth of the gospel! Let’s do it today.

We could change the world—if we would lean into the power of prayer like Paul did. When he was in prison, he wasn’t worried about how matters would work out. He knew that the Holy Spirit was helping him and that people were praying for him, so everything would be okay. What faith! Let’s start praying and trusting the Spirit today.

The disciples “went out and preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12). But they didn’t yet understand the full message of the gospel—that repentance must be followed by believing in Jesus. Salvation isn’t just repentance, and it isn’t just believing. It’s both. Let’s repent of our sin and believe in Jesus to save us from sin today.

Nobody leaves behind his wallet, suitcase, and snacks before a trip. But that’s exactly what Jesus told His disciples to do! He gave them everything they needed, including spiritual authority. When we follow Jesus’ instructions, we are examples of His power.

We often hide what’s going on inside. We put on masks and act the part. But God sees what’s inside us. He is the Father of mercy and comfort—He wants to help us! Even now we can take what we are facing and let Him fix it. Let’s receive comfort from God and show it to others too.

Sometimes don’t see how God could solve our problems, so we say, “He can’t do it.” That’s what the people of Jesus’ hometown did. They were actually offended by the Lord’s homecoming because they doubted His ability and authority. But Jesus wants us to have faith like children. Let’s believe that He can do what He says He will.

We all have little problems piling up that bring us stress. Yet how often do we take them to God? Jesus cared enough about the little things to get food for a girl He had just brought back to life. Even our biggest problems are small to God. He can take care of our needs if we let Him.

Anytime we want to get involved in the work of the Lord, we will be attacked. That’s what happened to Nehemiah when he tried to rebuild the temple. He was opposed and mocked at every turn. But he knew what to do: “Don’t be afraid!” he told the people. “Remember the Lord, and fight!” God says the same thing to us today. Let’s be strong in the Lord and stay in the fight.

Do you think Jesus has favorites? Of course He loves everybody, but He often brought three specific disciples into His confidence, like he did when he healed Jairus’s daughter. If we’re going to grow in the Lord, we need to surround ourselves with friends of like spirit who will encourage us in our faith.

We all face circumstances that make us afraid. But fear is never God’s will for us. The Lord cares so much about us. He has the last word on everything! When Jairus’s little daughter was at the point of the death, Jesus told him five key words that we can implement still today: “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.”

The world is filled with so much pain, but in the midst of the pain Jesus has given us a powerful gift to sustain us and give us strength to persevere. This gift of joy also empowers us to build a great relationship with God and others, so they too will experience the gift of overflowing Joy in knowing Jesus can and will help them live a life of joy-filled faith.

Faith is nothing more than taking what’s offered to us. One woman in the Bible was incredibly ill, but she had so much faith in Jesus that she was healed just by touching the hem of His garment. What are you facing today? Take it to Jesus in prayer, and trust that the Lord will give you what you need.

Some of us aren’t sure if Jesus can really heal. Others of us might be afraid to bother Him. But Jesus wants us all to come to Him. Through the faith-filled actions of a religious leader and a chronically ill woman, we see how God honors every kind of faith—even when it isn’t perfect. May we have the bold faith to touch Jesus and let Him touch us.

We don’t have to be theologians to tell someone our testimonies. When Jesus freed a man from demon possession, He told him to stay home and tell everyone his story. Our testimonies are irrefutable! No one can say, “I don’t see it that way.” Let’s tell somebody today what Jesus has done for us.

Sometimes, we all need a breakthrough in our lives. Jacob found blessing and breakthrough by wrestling with God. But as Christians, we don’t have to wrestle with the Lord. He has made His home in our hearts! Today let’s surrender to God and be blessed.

If you saw a maniac become calm and sane, wouldn’t you want to follow the One who had healed him? But the crowds who witnessed that very miracle chose to run Jesus out of town. When people turn their backs on Jesus and say, “Get out,” He leaves. But wherever we invite Jesus, He will come. Let’s invite Jesus into our lives today.

Jesus is the answer to any problem we face. He overcomes every kind of evil—hate, racism, loneliness. As we see in the story of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5, no human force can restrain sin. Praise God, Jesus can break the power of sin!

God understands what we are going through. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can take any issue we have to a God who is empathetic. He has what we need to face any struggles—He just asks that we take our problems to Him. Let’s trust in something bigger than ourselves to take care of our needs.

Nobody says, “Let’s build a nice condo in the graveyard! I love to be near those tombs.” But that’s where a man Jesus met lived—driven away from social intercourse, from people, from love. Satan tries to isolate us too. “No one likes you at that church.” “That church is a joke.” But God says, “Don’t stop meeting together.” Thank God for the body of Christ.

In the midst of a terrible storm, the disciples panicked. But when they awakened Jesus, He said, “Why don’t you have any faith?” When Jesus tells us that we’re going to the other side of the lake, we are going to get to there. How encouraging that is! We will make it until Jesus comes again, as long as He’s in the boat with us.

Too often our Bible reading is looking for verses to back up what we already believe. But just as Jesus taught the disciples privately what His parables meant, so we need to ask the Spirit of Jesus, “Open my heart. Teach me what Your Word means.” We all understand in part. Let’s take time to search the Word and let the Holy Spirit teach us.

We all face things in our lives that feel impossible to overcome. However, big faith solves big problems. The Bible tells us that the Lord will increase our faith when we spend time with Him. May we start growing in faith today by taking our problems to Jesus and believing He will help us.

When we sow the seed of the gospel, the results might look insignificant. But look what the Christian church has grown into since Jesus planted the gospel in people’s hearts! Lives by the millions have been changed. Thank God for the church of Jesus Christ. Let’s enjoy its fellowship this week, and let’s continuing sowing the seed of the good news.

If a farmer sowed his seed but then dug it up after two weeks because nothing was coming up, he would ruin it. When we sow the seed of the gospel, we water it with prayer. God shines on it by His power. Then, mysteriously, the seed starts growing. Who are you praying for today? Don’t quit! The seed is germinating within hearts. Soon we’re going to see a harvest.

We are in an invisible power struggle every single day. Satan uses people to discourage, distract, and depress us. But God offers us His power to overcome! That’s why Paul encouraged us to put on the whole armor of God. With this armor, we can stand in the Lord’s power against the schemes of the devil.

Too often we don’t use what God has given us. We don’t give, serve, share, shine our lights. But Jesus said that if we use what we have, more will be given us—and if we don’t use it, it will be taken away. It’s God’s reverse welfare. Whatever God has blessed us with, let’s use it, share it, shine it, go after it, and more will be given to us.

“Pay close attention to what you hear.” That’s what Jesus said. Every time we pick up the Bible, go to church, read a spiritual book, we should pray, “Oh, God, give me ears to hear.” Why? Because when we really listen, God will teach us more. Let’s listen carefully today!

Whatever God gives us is for other people. That’s why Jesus said, “A lamp isn’t put under a basket! It’s put on a stand, where its light can shine.” What are we doing with the light God has given us? He teaches us so we can teach others. He encourages us so we can encourage others. Let’s let our light shine today, in Jesus’ name.

As Christians, we rejoice in many beautiful truths. But there’s another truth that’s not so convenient: when we become believers in Jesus, we get into the biggest fight we can imagine. Satan wants to destroy us. That’s why the Bible says, “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty strength.” Our strength won’t cut it. Yes, we’re in a fight. But Jesus in us is greater than any power that can come against us.

We can read the Bible and never get to Jesus. But Jesus said, “He who has an ear, let him hear.” Hear what? What the living Christ is saying to us through the Word or by His Spirit. The Word is supposed to point us to Jesus Himself. Let’s ask the Lord today to tune our ears to hear Him speaking to us.

The Word of God is powerful. But if it’s going to bear fruit in our lives, it has to get into our hearts. As we read God’s Word each day, let’s pray, “God, help me to hear what You’re saying in that verse, and let it get deep inside me.” When the Word goes deep into the soil of our hearts, we’ll start seeing changes in our lives without even trying to make them happen.

Ron Hicks was sentenced to life in prison. But in that hopeless situation, he heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he was transformed by the power of God. After decades preaching Christ in prison, he was miraculously released. Now he asks us, “Is there anything too hard for God?” No matter our story, God can transform us in Jesus. There is nothing impossible with God.

The Word of God is all powerful. But Jesus said that thorns can choke it out and make us unfruitful. What are the thorns? “The worries of this life, deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things.” Let’s pray, “Lord, don’t let worries and material desires crowd out what You want to do in my life.”

Some people receive the Word of God with joy. But when trouble or persecution come, they give it up. They’re shallow. But God is always trying to take us deeper. Let’s open wide our hearts today and say, “Lord, let Your Word go deep within my heart.”

When some people hear the Word of God, it doesn’t sink in. Satan quickly distracts them. “Nah, don’t listen to that. You don’t want to be a holy roller.” For the Word of God to bear fruit in our lives, it has to sink into our hearts through acceptance, meditation, and faith in Christ. Let’s not let Satan steal the Word of God from us today.

What releases God’s power in our lives? Faith. When a woman who had been sick for twelve years had the faith to touch Jesus, He healed her. What do you need from Jesus today? Look to Him. Reach out to Him today. When we have the courage to believe Jesus, He will minister to our needs.

Who is closest to Jesus? In Mark 3, it wasn’t His mother or His brothers. It was whoever did God’s will. That means obeying the Word of God and also following the personal, individual promptings of His Holy Spirit. Do we want to be in intimate, close, fellowship with Jesus? Then let’s, by His grace, do God’s will.

“Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” What does that mean? Jesus is represented on earth today by the Holy Spirit. If we reject the Spirit’s conviction, His voice, His work in our lives, then there’s nothing left except eternity without God. Let’s enjoy the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and be wide open to all He wants to do in our lives.

Logic says that the more we have, the better. But God has a different math. Obedience to God sometimes costs us, but it’s worth it. Just as He showed King Amaziah of Judah, the Lord is able to give us much more than we give up! Let’s surrender our own plans and let God bless us beyond anything we could dream.

Jesus is stronger than demons. In the name of Jesus, the strong man, Satan, can be bound so that people can be set free. Throughout church history, darkness has been invaded by light, not by people with a mental knowledge of the Bible who want to argue about doctrine, but by people who come in the power of the name Jesus. Let’s enjoy that victory today, in Jesus’ name.

Disunity will hurt a church. Maybe even destroy it. That’s why Jesus said, “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:25). Why then is Sunday morning at eleven, like Martin Luther said, the most segregated hour of the week? We can be unifiers, or we can be dividers. Let’s rejoice with everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.

Jesus’ family didn’t understand His mission. When the Lord became so busy doing God’s will that He had no time to eat, His family tried to stop Him. Yes, we need balance and rest. But we also have to follow the will of God—and sometimes that means lots of work. Jesus didn’t get irate. He just kept doing what God had called Him to do. We can’t please everyone. Let’s keep doing what God wants us to do today

Life can get hectic. We can all relate to Martha in the New Testament, who was worried and upset preparing dinner while her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet. But Mary chose what is better. We can too. Let’s stop trying so hard to do everything right and instead take time to quiet our hearts and sit with Jesus. He wants to meet us and help us more than we know.

What did Jesus first call His disciples to do? Not to preach sermons, cast out demons, build a church, or memorize Scripture. Jesus called them, first and foremost, “to be with him” (Mark 3:14). The primary call for us today is the same. Being with Jesus brings a calm, a peace, a weight to our witness. Let’s make deep fellowship with the Lord our goal today, by His grace.