08 May 2016
Two-Minute Features | 15 May 2016 | 01 May 2016

Beatitude #5- The Merciful, Part 2 (TMF:405)

Friday, May 13, 2016
Peace to Live By: Beatitude #5- The Merciful, Part 2 (TMF:405) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Many a times, throughout the Gospels, Jesus showed mercy to those who desperately needed it. Many a times, individuals would call out to God for mercy, and Jesus would be very willing to give it. The Apostle Paul would note, in Romans chapter 11, “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all” (Romans 11:32, ESV). God is in the mercy business—he is merciful to sinners, and merciful collectively to all. On a more serious note, Jesus wanted to make it clear to his followers, and everybody really, that mercy is not only needed but also is required and necessary. Last time we talked a little bit about unforgiveness, and I want to touch again on this subject today. God wants the Christian to have mercy on others—whether the offender be a Christian or non-Christian. As a matter of fact, God demands it and warns anyone who does not take heed to his Words. Let’s look at Mark 11:25. Jesus said, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25, ESV).

Beatitude #5- The Merciful, Part 1 (TMF:404)

Thursday, May 12, 2016
Peace to Live By: Beatitude #5- The Merciful, Part 1 (TMF:404) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       So, the first Beatitude we are looking at today is: ““Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” (ESV). As we saw last time, and will continue to see today, Jesus goes very counter-culture when it comes to the Beatitudes. But that’s the way God is, really. Our world has been affected by sin—and continues to be affected by Satan and his demons, and therefore, what the world thinks often doesn’t match what Scripture says. In our world today, the drive of our society is for people to be strong. There is nothing wrong with being strong—the only problem is, the world most often has an incorrect attitude about what ‘being strong’ actually means. Jesus called his followers—his disciples—to be merciful. A lot of people, though, see mercy as weak. Yet throughout the New Testament we see God’s call on our hearts, as Christians, to be merciful. Indeed, it is a command from God. Jesus said on one occasion, ““Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. ’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 9:12-13, ESV).

God is in the Business of Saving Lives (TMF:403)

Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Peace to Live By: God is in the Business of Saving Lives (TMF:403) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       No matter what you’ve done in your life—how far you’ve strayed away from God, he wants you to come to him in brokenness and humbleness. God is in the business of saving lives and giving people new lives, and that includes you today, if you will believe in Him. Recognize that your current way of living isn’t giving you the true fulfillment that you are desperately seeking, and realize that God wants you to be fulfilled in Him. If you want to accept Jesus Christ today as your personal Lord, and your personal Savior from all your sins—if you want to accept Jesus today, then follow my lead in this prayer: God, I realize today that I don’t have life inside me. The life I have been living isn’t right, and today I want to turn from this life and have a new life in you. I give myself over to you. Please forgive me of my sins from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, and make me to live in a new way. Give me life through Jesus, one that he have created. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Beatitude #4- Satisfied in Righteousness, Part 4 (TMF:402)

Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Peace to Live By: Beatitude #4- Satisfied in Righteousness, Part 4 (TMF:402) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Trying to be good and do good is a characteristic of a truly born-again person. It is the way we can detect and understand if someone is truly saved. Do we see change in the person’s life? It is true that real life is found only Jesus. One doesn’t find the best life in just trying to be good—or trying to be pleasing to everyone—not trying to offend anyone. One finds real life in the living of life through the Spirit of God—though the Words of Jesus. The Apostle Paul noted in Romans, “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (8:6, ESV). Possibly today you are poor in spirit—maybe you’re depressed. Maybe you see no hope in this world, nothing to live for. Well, I’ve got good news for you today. You can have real fulfilling life by recognizing a new identity in Christ. If you will turn from the things that offend God and give yourself over to him, he promises you an inheritance, one that includes both benefits now and even many more in the future.

Beatitude #4- Satisfied in Righteousness, Part 3 (TMF:401)

Monday, May 09, 2016
Peace to Live By: Beatitude #4- Satisfied in Righteousness, Part 3 (TMF:401) - Daniel Litton
(tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       I want us to consider what the Apostle John stated in his epistle of 1 John. Turn over there, or tap there, to 1 John chapter 3. Let’s start in verse 4: “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:7-10, ESV). We see that part of being a Christian, in our new nature, is to have the desire to do what is pleasing to God. We should want to do good and not to do evil. The Holy Spirit will convict us when we do wrong things, and He will give us a desire to want to do what is right in day-to-day life. Sin is easily identifiable through the reading of Scripture, and God the Holy Spirit reminds us of what he has said in his Word.