Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Let us look today at how a rich man entered the kingdom of God. This rich man is Zaccheus. The scripture passage is found in Luke 19:1-10.

In these 10 verses, we see and hear four declarations.
– v5 is Jesus’ declaration;
– v7 is the people’s declaration;
– v8 is Zaccheus’ declaration;
– v9-10 is Jesus’ second declaration.

These four declarations brought out a beautiful story of how a rich man joyfully received the Lord and entered the kingdom of God.

Verse 10 is the central idea of the whole story. In it, there are three important thoughts: the Son of Man came, to seek the lost, to save the lost. This is Zaccheus’ story.

1. The Son of Man Came v1/v5

2. To Seek the Lost v2-7

a. He is a man who cheats people of their money

b. He is a man whose true character falls short of his good reputation

c. He is a man who is poor in spirit

3. To save the Lost v8-9

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Genesis 22 is the story about the greatest test of Abraham’s life. When Abraham passed this big test, the Bible’s chronicle of his life gradually decreased and attention turned to Isaac. We can see therefore that Abraham had truly graduated.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 22

On this Father’s Day, let us examine the spiritual test that a father had faced.

1. The Topic of the Test v.1-2

– this is a very clear request
– this is a very unreasonable request
– this request is extremely difficult to accept

2. Preparation for the Test v.3-8

– Abraham took action to prepare for the test
– Abraham took away hindrances in preparation for the test
– Abraham prepared his own resolve, his will to obey

3. The Test v.9-14

– Abraham passed the test because of his Faith in God
– Abraham passed the test because of his Fear of God

4. Result of the Test v.15-18

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John 20: 24-29

Jesus Appears to Thomas

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

1. Doubts can be caused by life’s disappointments

2. Doubts can be part of our growth process

3. Doubts can be stepping stones to discover truth

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Moses is one of the greatest characters in the Old Testament.

Passage: Exodus 3:1-10

Exodus chapter 2 narrates how this great man, Moses, tried to rely on his own strength to save the Israelites, and how his attempt led to him committing murder. He was forced to flee to the wilderness of Midian, where he stayed for forty years.

Exodus 3:1-10 is the account of Moses’ encounter with God. By then, Moses was already an 80-year old man. If God had not called him, or if he had not accepted God’s calling, Moses would have lived and died as an ordinary shepherd in Midian. No one today would know who he was, nor would his name still be mentioned.

Exodus 3:1-10 is the turning point of Moses’ life. Through the vision of a burning bush, God changed Moses’ whole life. In this vision, God made Himself known to Moses.

1. Know God’s Protection

2. Know God’s Holiness
– Whenever God appears, the place becomes a holy place
– Maintain an appropriate distance from the Holy God

3. Know God’s Faithfulness

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Scripture Passage: Matt 15:21-28. Persistence in Faith inspite of Pressure

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

27“Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

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Scripture Passage: John 2:1-11.

Today is Mother’s Day. Let me share the story of a mother’s encounter with the Lord. I’ve entitled this message “Mother, What Do You Want Me To Do?”

The woman is Jesus’s earthly mother, Mary. In these 11 verses, we find four conversations.

The four conversations are continuous, meaning without the first conversation, there would be no second. Without the second conversation, there would be no third. Without the third conversation, there would be no fourth. And without the fourth conversation, the Lord’s glory would not be revealed.

1. The First Conversation – Jesus and His Mother v.3-4

2. The Second Conversation – Jesus’s Mother and the Servants v.5

3. The Third Conversation – Jesus and the Servants v.7-8

4. The Fourth Conversation – the Master of the Banquet and the Bridegroom v.9-10

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Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Verse 8 in this passage reads:
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

What does it mean that “Peter saw this”? What did he see? He saw a miracle, and he saw three things from this miracle.

These three things transformed his life:

1. Through grace, he saw the grace-giving Lord — he saw the Lord behind the miracle.

2. Through the grace-giving Lord, he saw his own depravity

3. Through his own depravity, he saw a sinner’s need

And because of this transformation, Peter was used greatly by God.

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There is a special revelation in John 14:8-9. Philip asked the Lord, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered him by saying, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Seeing Jesus is seeing the Heavenly Father. To encounter the Lord Jesus is to encounter God. When a person encounters the Lord, what changes will occur in him? What happens to his understanding of God? Let us look at a woman caught in adultery and her encounter with the Lord.

1. The Lord is a Lord that does not condemn us for our sins

2. The Lord is a Lord who makes no compromise at all with sin

3. The Lord is a Lord full of wisdom and mercy.

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