Tag: Jesus

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 12:18-29

On By BrianIn Hebrews HymnsLeave a comment

We do not come to what we can see
We do not need to hang back in fear
From our guilt Jesus has set us free
And He invites us to now draw near

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

When we draw near in worship and prayer
We come to God’s heavenly city
With God’s people and the angels there
Jesus whose blood cleanses you and me
(Repeat Chorus)

And in the center – behold our God
For we have come into His presence
Offer Him gratitude, honor, laud
Worship Him with awe and reverence
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Invest in Your Grandchildren’s Spiritual Welfare

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

There is a great need to instruct the next generation about the Lord – to teach them about Jesus. 

You want your grandchildren to grow up and know the Lord.  You want them to repent and believe and be saved and follow Him.  And so you must invest in this.

As you have opportunity, teach the gospel in your home to your grandchildren.  Read them a Bible story.  Tell them about Jesus.  Share your testimony.  Tell them what Jesus means to you.

Point them to Jesus in the way you live, as you exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit in your life.  As you walk with hope in a world of despair.  As you walk with joy in a depressed world.  As you walk with peace in a world of anxiety.  As you walk with love in a world filled with hate.  They will notice the difference in you.  Follow the Spirit and point your grandchildren to Jesus.

And pray for them to come to Christ.  Plead with Father for their salvation.  Intercede for them before the Throne of God.

Invest in your grandchildren’s spiritual welfare.

Spring!

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

Spring is here!  Temperatures are rising.  The sun is shining. Trees are budding.  Flowers are blooming.  New life is popping out everywhere after a long, cold, lonely, weary winter.

And Jesus came to offer us our own personal Spring, to give us new life in Him.

After a weary winter of personal sin and guilt, Jesus offers us a new life with all of our sins and guilt washed away.

After a lonely winter separated from God, Jesus offers us a new life with a loving relationship with Himself.

After a cold winter of cold hearts towards Him and others, Jesus offers us a new life with warm and loving hearts towards Him and others.

After a long winter of suffering and trials, Jesus will one day offer us a new life with no more suffering, no more death, no more tears.  He will make all things new!  Spring will be eternal!

As Spring appears all around us, may we remember and rejoice in the Spring Jesus came to give us.

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 12:4-17

On By BrianIn Hebrews HymnsLeave a comment

Resist and lay aside ev’ry sin
Struggle and fight, grow in righteousness
Submit yourself to God’s discipline
That you might share in His holiness

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

God disciplines His daughters and sons
For our own good, with wisdom and love
Training is hard, but when it’s all done
We shall be changed, and see Him above
(Repeat Chorus)

So strive for peace and real holiness
Watch over each other lest we stray
Beware of the root of bitterness
Your birthright don’t lightly toss away
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Follow Jesus

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

What would that look like for us to follow Jesus?

First, we must trust Him. You won’t get on a plane unless you trust the pilot, and you won’t follow Jesus unless you trust Him. Trust that He is your God and King, who died on a cross in your place to bear your sin to be your Savior. So that with your sin and guilt removed, you can go free, and you can draw near to God. Do you trust Him? That is the response that He calls you to make – trust Him as your Savior, King, and God that you might then follow Him.

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24, ESV)

Second, we must deny ourselves. If He is our God and King, then we must give Him our allegiance and follow Him even when we don’t want to, even when we don’t feel like it. Because we are not in charge. He is. Because we are not the king. He is. And so we obey. If He is our Savior who died to pay for our sins, then we must deny ourselves when we want to sin. We must deny sinful desires. How could we continue to do those things that put Him on cross to die? We don’t follow our hearts; we follow Jesus no matter what He calls us to do, even suffer like Him. For we must deny ourselves and take up our cross, willing to suffer for Him as we follow Him.

Third, we must serve Him. We deny self that we might serve Him. Now, how do we do that today? Jesus tells us in Mathew 25. In the Parable of the Talents, the Master gives each servant some money. Two invest it and are praised. One buries it and is condemned. The point is clear: use what God has given you for Jesus. Use the money God has given you for Jesus. Use the time God has given you for Jesus. Use the talents God has given you for Jesus. In all things serve Him.

Follow Him by trusting in Him, denying yourself, and serving Him with all you have.

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 12:1-4

On By BrianIn Hebrews HymnsLeave a comment

We must run with endurance this race
With faith in God and His promises
Trusting God daily, we’ll keep the pace
Resting each hour in His faithfulness

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

We must run this race with endurance
Looking ahead to the finish line
Laying aside ev’ry hinderance
Entangling sin that would slow, confine
(Repeat Chorus)

We must this race with endurance run
Gaze on the cross and His suffering
He looked to the future joy and won
We follow Him, our Savior and King
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 11:29-40

On By BrianIn Hebrews Hymns

By faith, we are saved from all our sins
There is no longer judgment to fear
Through His death Jesus our pardon wins
Fully forgiven, we now draw near

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

By faith, we follow our Lord always
Trusting Him through the good and the bad
He is with us to help us each day
One day we’ll rise, be forever glad
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Fear and Great Joy

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
(Matthw 28:8, ESV)

How should we respond to the resurrection of Jesus? The women who first visited the tomb suggest two ways:

First, fear! The woman departed quickly with fear. The soldiers earlier trembled with fear and became as dead men (v4). Fear was a common response to events of resurrection of Jesus. Here indeed is a fearful thing! An angel moves the stone to show an empty tomb and announces the resurrection. This is not the way the guards or the women expected that morning to go. It was just another assignment for the guards, just a visit to the tomb for the women, and suddenly it all goes sideways. Like if you went to a funeral, and the person in the casket suddenly got up and said “hello” and walked out. You would be afraid! Fear was a natural response to a fearful event. Our problem is that it is not our response. We don’t fear. The angel and Jesus both tell the women not to be afraid (v5, 10), but we do not need those words because we are not afraid. It has all become so familiar that we have lost sight of how earth-shattering, mind-boggling, crazy this is. The awesome power of God beyond anything we can imagine on display as He raised Jesus from dead naturally leads to fear!

Second, rejoice! The women departed with great joy! This Jesus whom they had followed, whom they had seen crucified and buried, was alive again! Imagine a beloved parent or child or sibling who has passed away suddenly alive again, and you begin to understand some of their joy. Do you love Jesus? Then His resurrection should bring you great joy! On top of that are the ramifications of His resurrection. Our sins defeated – the punishment paid, our shame and guilt removed. And death defeated – the hope of our own resurrection and the resurrection of those who have died in Christ. Here are reasons for great joy – so rejoice!