Ephesians 6:10-18 From our text passage we are encouraged to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We are told to put on the whole armor of God and we are told why we should do so. The reason we need to put on the whole armor of God is because it helps us stand against the schemes of the devil. If you don't have the whole armor of God on you don't stand a chance in spiritual warfare. Spiritual warfare is raging on the earth today and you need to be aware of it. The schemes of the devil, his devices are a big part of life and spiritual warfare. You can stand toe to toe with the arch and ancient enemy of mankind and not fall by God's grace if you put on the whole armor of God. If you do not stand in the day of battle it means you fell or you gave up. The Bible makes it clear that if we give up in the day of adversity or battle it is because our strength is small. People give up when they don't have enough strength. Proverbs 24:10 The schemes or devices of...

 Matthew 21: 42-44 Our text passage is part of a statement Jesus made at a time He was here in human form which gives us some insights into the kingdom of God. Jesus and His kingdom are one. Just as a man and his wife are one in God's sight so is Jesus and His kingdom. You cannot separate them. Wherever Jesus shows up, the kingdom of God is there and wherever Jesus is the kingdom is there. Both Jesus and His kingdom are likened to stones! Living stones! Stones have many uses- for building/construction, artwork, as a weapon, as a hunting tool with catapults etc Jesus is useful so is His kingdom. Those of us who become part of God's kingdom are useful too, for we are stones too, living stones who are part of God's building, God's kingdom! 1 Peter 2:5 A stone is a part of a rock or mountain, a small part. To reject the kingdom of God is to reject Jesus, to reject Jesus is to reject the kingdom of God. The new Jerusalem, which is the physical manifestation of God's kin...

  Matthew 20:15,16 Our text passage shows us that the first can become last and the last can become first. The standards of God's kingdom is different to our world systems. God gives people hope and a change of story in His kingdom, He does so in His goodness. In the kingdom of God, those who are last by the world's standards can become first. It's based on God's goodness and mercy to individuals, a personal contract or covenant that has nothing to do with who was in the lead or who had been ahead. Luke 16:19-31 God's goodness is His loving kindness manifested in a life. May God be good to you, and may you experience the goodness of God. God is a God who is good to the underdog. God is a God who gives a chance to the underdog- those who have been despised, rejected, and hopeless. When God begins to favor such people it will not seem fair. Matthew 20:1-16 Those who came in last, according to the parable got got an equal wage with those who started first, that is favo...