Brooklyn Tabernacle - Audio Sermons Feed

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.

When Jesus called the twelve disciples, He didn’t choose anyone wealthy. No one trained religiously. No one strong or educated. He chose people with no aptitude—except an aptitude to make mistakes at first. Doesn’t that encourage us? God is not looking for ability. He is looking for availability. Let’s follow Jesus today.

A lot of us are so full of anxiety that we can’t sleep at night. But God doesn’t want His children to worry. “Humble yourself,” He says, “and give that burden to Me. I will handle it!” Our Father loves us so much. Let’s make up our minds today, by the grace of God, “I will cast my cares on God! He will handle these cares and pressures.”

Jesus never promoted Himself. But large crowds followed Him anyway. They heard by word of mouth how He was doing good and healing those oppressed by the devil. We do one thing for God, and we want everyone to know about it. Why don’t we just do good and help people and then seek obscurity? The more we give Jesus all the glory, the more the Holy Spirit will strengthen, bless, and help us.

Jesus told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He was asking him to do what he couldn’t do. As the man stretched out the thing that was a limitation in him, he was healed. What’s holding you back today? Laziness, materialism, unforgiveness, a secret sin? Stretch it out in the name of Jesus today. He will set you free.

Some Christians are more interested in rules than in people getting saved. “Do you keep the Sabbath?” “You can’t wear makeup.” “How often do you take communion?” But Jesus got upset with people who were stuck on the letter of the law but had no compassion in their hearts. Let’s not glorify the law. Instead, let’s give glory to Jesus and tell others of His love.

Jesus was constantly butting up against certain Old Testament teachings. “No, it doesn’t matter what you eat,” He told people. Instead, He taught, “I’m going to give you a new heart and mind.” That’s why He said new wine needs new wineskins. We don’t live by the old letter of the law. No. In Jesus Christ, we have new life.

Have you ever fasted? When we need more prayer, more Bible study, more waiting on God, more faith for victory over big mountains, fasting is appropriate as the Lord leads. How often? How regularly? Jesus didn’t say. But when we spend time with God and deny the physical world, the things of eternity will come closer to us.

God made laws for the universe, like gravity. They’re unchanging. But the apostle Paul wrote about a spiritual law that God created: “A man reaps what he sows.” Every day we are sowing seeds, either for good or for bad, and we will reap their fruit. By God’s grace, let’s sow for good. Then we will reap a reward, both in this world and for eternity.

When Jesus called a hated tax collector to follow Him, it caused a problem. “Why is He with riffraff?” the religious leaders said. But Jesus didn’t come for people who have it all together. He came for people who are messed up. If we have good doctrine in our churches but don’t love people, we’re missing the heart of God. Let’s be like Jesus.

Jesus had just healed a paralyzed man, and the people were giving God glory. But not the religious leaders. They had seen the miracles of Jesus. But they refused to believe in Him. That’s a word of caution for us. We can listen to daily devotions, go to church, read God’s Word, but it can become mechanical. Let’s be intimate with the Lord today. Let’s be open to His working and give Him glory.

Does our friend have a need? Let’s get him or her to Jesus. That’s what intercessory prayer is all about. Four men in the Bible were so intent on getting their paralyzed friend to Jesus that they tore up a roof and lowered him down in front of the Lord. Let’s be like those men and drop someone, in faith and prayer, right in front of Jesus today for salvation, deliverance, healing.

When our hearts are breaking, our worlds are in pieces, we can’t fix the messes we’ve made, does Jesus care? Yes. Even when we’ve ignored His plans for us and gone our own way, He is saying, “Come to me, all of you are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Jesus cares. His heart is touched with our griefs. Let's be comforted by His help today.

Some of us are lonely. We feel like no one cares. But Jesus has compassion on us. When a leper found the faith to ask Him for healing, Jesus didn’t just speak to the man’s disease. He touched him—an untouchable. Aren’t you happy that God in the flesh didn’t say, “Uh, step back a little bit.” Jesus wants to touch you and me today and fill us with His joy, peace, and healing.