Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

Inthe first 10 verses of Luke 19, we meet Jesus as the Savior who seeks the lostand we have the story of Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector who comes to faithand salvation through Jesus Christ. Then, in verse 11, we meet the master whorewards faithful servants. My friend, that's who Jesus is. He is the Savior,but he's also the master who expects us to be faithful servants.   Itsays in verse...

Here in Luke 19, Jesusis giving us this story of a rich man getting saved and making sure weunderstand what's impossible with men is possible with God. If you go back to Luke18, you might remember the rich young ruler who came running to Jesus and leftvery sorrowful. Jesus then made the statement, "How hard it is forthose who have riches to enter the kingdom of God."   The rich man i...

Todaywe are looking at one of the most exciting stories in the New Testament. I liketo call it the story of a little big sinner. That's the story of Zacchaeus, aman who comes seeking Jesus as Jesus is seeking him. What a wonderful story. This is probably one of the favorite stories of little children in Sundayschool growing up, with the great song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man,and a we...

Today,we're looking at Luke chapter 18, specifically verses 35-43, the last verses ofthe chapter. Jesus began this chapter by teaching about prayer, that men oughtalways to pray and not to faint. He gave us several stories about prayer. Inthese last verses Jesus teaches us that the prayer that always turns the ear ofGod to see our need, and give us the miracle that we need, is the “desperate p...

Today,we will continue looking at the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesuslooking for salvation. He came running, knelt before Jesus, asked the rightquestion, and came to the right person—all the right things. Matthew’s gospelcalls him “young” twice, emphasizing he also came at the right time of life. That’s a good time to give your heart to Christ, but it’s never too late. Aslong as yo...

22 So when Jesus heard thesethings, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you haveand distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come,follow Me." 23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for hewas very rich.   Today,we're looking at Luke chapter 18, verses 18-30, the story of the rich youngruler who comes to Jesus looking for salv...

18Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do toinherit eternal life?" 19 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Megood? No one is good but One, that is, God. 2 Lukenow tells us what we call the story of the “Rich Young Ruler” in verses 18-30.This incident takes place as Jesus is traveling with His disciples to Jerusalem. What is interesting to me is that t...

InLuke chapter 18, Jesus begins this chapter talking about prayer, teaching aboutprayer. He's preparing His disciples for the time when they will have theresponsibility and the command to take the gospel to the far ends of the earth,and he knows a major part of accomplishing this great task will be knowing howto pray. You'll see in the first chapters of Acts how the disciples must havelist...

Jesusbegan this chapter (vv. 1-8), by telling a parable about prayer, speaking aboutthe necessity of prayer, that we ought always to pray and not to faint, and thefrequency of prayer, that we are to pray without ceasing, continuously,believing that the presence of the Lord is in our lives, knowing that He'sthere, and we have open communication with Him through Jesus Christ. Oh, howwonderful th...

Todaywe're looking at Luke 18:1-8. Jesus is teaching a lesson on how men oughtalways to pray and not to faint. We are to pray without ceasing, and here Jesusgives us a story of contrast. There is a widow who has no standing with thecourt, going to an unjust judge, asking to be avenged of her adversary. In ourfirst lesson, I said this widow is like us in some ways, but that's beforewe'r...

1Thessalonians 5:17 - “Pray without ceasing”.   Ifwe don't pray, we will faint; it's as simple as that! The word faint describesa believer who loses heart and gets so discouraged that he or she wants toquit. There is a connection between what our Lord said in Luke 18:1 and Hisstatement in Luke 17:37. If society is like a rotting corpse, then the"atmosphere" in which we live is be...

8 I tell you that He will avenge themspeedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith onthe earth?"   Luke18 is a chapter that has influenced my prayer life as much as any other passagein the Bible. I love Luke chapter 18. We mentioned yesterday how people changeour lives, but it's not so much the people themselves, it's the stories fromtheir lives that tea...

Todaywe will be looking at a new chapter, Luke chapter 18. Over 50 years ago when I was in BibleCollege in Lynchburg, I went to Winchester, Virginia, to be a part of startinga new church, Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church. Right after I graduated in1975, I became the senior pastor of the church. Shortly after that, I met adear friend who greatly influenced our lives and greatly encouraged andassist...

32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will loseit, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.   Luke17:30-36 describes what will occur when Jesus Christ returns in judgment todefeat His enemies and establish His kingdom on earth (Rev. 19:11-20:6).Believers in every age of the church can take warning from these verses, butthey apply in a special way to Israel at the end of...

26 Andas it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son ofMan: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage,until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed themall. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, theybought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot wentout of So...

Today,It is my prayer today that our Heavenly Father will open our hearts to His Wordand help us understand the true nature of His kingdom and how it transforms usfrom within. And that He would guide us by His Spirit to live as citizens of Hiskingdom.   ThePharisees were looking for a kingdom they could see. Along with most of theJewish people thew were looking for a grand, political empire that w...

InLuke chapter 17, Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, is teaching His disciples somepowerful lessons they’ll need to learn and practice if they are going to befollowers of Jesus, making a difference in the world and turning it upside downfor the kingdom of God. He teaches about forgiveness—you’re going to beoffended, sometimes by those closest to you, and you have to forgive. Then,you’ll need faith t...

Lukechapter 17:1 begins with, "Then He said to His disciples." Jesus is teaching His disciples some powerful lessons, first about forgiveness,faith, and obedience in these opening verses. But now, in verses 7 through 10,He's teaching a lesson about faithfulness. My friend, when you live a life offorgiveness, faith, and obedience, doing what you're supposed to do as abeliever, you...

Today,we're moving on to Luke chapter 17, verses 1-6. Jesus has just rebuked andwarned the Pharisees about a place called hell if they continue in theirreligious hypocrisy and offend young believers as they sneer and mock JesusChrist. Now Jesus turns to His disciples in verse 1 and says to them, "Itis impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom theycome." Bas...

Inverse 22, it says, "So it was that the beggar died and was carried bythe angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried." Twopeople, a beggar named Lazarus, and a rich man, both had to face death. Then,in verse 23, it says the rich man died and was buried, "and being intorments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarusin his bosom.&...

Today,we're looking at Luke16:22-26, and we're talking about the subject of hell. Unless the rapture takes place first, everyoneon planet Earth will die. We will all face judgment and the Bible teaches wewill either go to a place of eternal torment, a literal hell, or to wonderfulplace of paradise called heaven. Jesus spoke about a literal hell on manyoccasions.   Goddid not create hell fo...

Today,we're looking at Luke 16:19-31. The subject of this passage is hell. I'll neverforget my very first message to preach in 1973 as a student at LibertyUniversity, then called Lynchburg Baptist College. It was in the back diningroom of the Echo Village restaurant in Winchester, Virginia, and the title ofmy message was "Hell Is No Joke." As I said yesterday, God used thispassag...

Today, we're looking ata solemn passage of Scripture as we examine Luke 16:19-23. Jesus has justsilenced the sneering Pharisees, pointing out their covetousness—their love ofmoney over their love of God. In fact, Luke 16:14 says, "Now thePharisees, who were lovers of money, heard these things and they derided him.” Theysneered at him. They mocked at him. Jesus talked about money and theco...

As I was studying thispassage I couldn’t help but recall a statement one of my Bible college professorsmade over 50 years ago at Lynchburg Baptist College (Now Liberty University).He said, “A man’s morality will dictate his theology.” The Pharisees of Jesusday had a head knowledge of the Old Testament Law better than anyone else. Theycould quote most of it from memory. But the truth is, they were...

9 AndI say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, thatwhen you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who isfaithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust inwhat is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not beenfaithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the trueriches? 12 And if you have not b...