Pastor John D Jakes

Why We Need Jesus

This is Easter week. Good Friday is now just days away. Although it may seem superfluous, I feel a need to examine why Jesus had to come. My reason is simple: in every generation there have been whole groups of people who seem to be oblivious to their need for a Savior of their soul. …

Pastor John

April 20, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

Baptist, Calvary, church, cold, come near, dead, faith, forgiveness, friend, God, grave, hope, indianola, Jesus, joy, love, mercy, philosophy, positions, reconciliation, relationship, sin, theology, wonder

Good things gone awry

Last Sunday afternoon we were talking about the rich young ruler in Mark 10. We noticed that the man thought about what he could ‘do’ to be saved. He asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.” I know that this is a grammatical nuance, but I pointed out then (and…

Pastor John

April 15, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

appearance, Baptist, be, being, Calvary, checklist, church, do, doing, faith, forgiveness, God, heart, indianola, Jesus, Mark 10, prayer, works

What Makes Church, Church?

Have you ever thought about what difference there is between worshipping God on your own by the lake and worshipping God with God’s people on a Saturday night or Sunday morning? Hebrews 10 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider…

Pastor John

April 5, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

another, Baptist, Calvary, church, encouragement, faith, friend, God, Hebrews 10, indianola, Jesus, love, me, mercy, prayer, reaching around, speech, we

A Serious Mission

God’s Word says, “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14-15) …

Pastor John

March 30, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

Acts 14, Baptist, Barnabas, Calvary, church, compromise, convictions, cross, crucifixion, disciple, God, gospel, indianola, Jesus, love, Paul, political, salvation, save, sinners, social, universalism

On Mission With God

In Acts 13 we see Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. On Sunday, we did not focus on Paul and Barnabas’ success. Instead, we focused on their response to opposition and resistance. It is there that we see Paul and Barnabas’ character shine through. We do not see them grow frustrated or hopeless. …

Pastor John

March 22, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

Acts 13, Baptist, Barnabas, Calvary, character, church, convictions, disciple, faith, feelings, God, indianola, Jesus, Judges, knowing, love, military, morality, Paul

Faith in the Trenches

Sunday, we looked at the deliverance of Peter from Herod in Acts 12. It is an amazing passage of Scripture highlighting the power of God. It is also a profound example of fervent prayer. Yet, the part that I personally find so instructive is the response of the people. Acts 12:5 says, “So Peter was…

Pastor John

March 14, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

actions, angel, Baptist, Calvary, church, disciples, discourage, doubt, encourage, exercise, faith, free, God, hope, indianola, Jesus, love, Peter, prayer, prison, stretching

Faith that is Self Evident

Last Sunday we looked at James 2:14-26. James has some hard words for those who do not live out their “faith”. He calls it dead. He asks if such faith can save anyone. He declares that such faith is useless. These are hard words. It gets even harder when he says that a person is…

Pastor John

March 8, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

Baptist, bubble, Calvary, church, demonstrate, evidence, faith, hope, indianola, life, lived out, love, self-evident, works

Walk through the valley

Mountains and valleys. We seem, as spiritual beings, to desire the mountain top experience with God. In Acts chapter, Peter has quite a mountain top experience with God. Not only does he have a vision, but God also changes his understanding of the gospel message. That’s quite a mountain top! Then comes chapter 11. He…

Pastor John

February 23, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

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Touching the Throne of God

Revelation 4:8 declares that the four living creatures say “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Have you ever thought about what that would be like? What would it be like to just say, all the time and without stopping, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord…

Pastor John

February 8, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

Baptist, Calvary, Christ, Christian, church, distractions, flesh, focus, God, hope, indianola, Iowa, Jesus, lethargic, love, power, worship

Desiring God Conference on Prayer

This week I went to a conference that dealt with the prayer life of a pastor. Since the conference speakers quoted the reformers quite liberally, I thought that it would be appropriate to put a quotation on prayer in this week’s devotion. This is from my favorite preacher of the 1800s, C. H. Spurgeon: “Continue…

Pastor John

February 3, 2011

Salvation, Uncategorized

Baptist, Calvary, Christ, church, continue, hope, indianola, Iowa, joy, life, living, love, pray, prayer, Spurgeon