Tag: Val Watkins

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:57 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Jesus Sends Out The Twelve Apostles
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 9:1-9
Duration: 20:57
Size: 9.59 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Jesus Sends Out The Twelve Apostles
Luke 9:1-9

These twelve apostles were trained by Jesus to carry on his mission after his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.

I. Their Empowerment (Luke 9:1)

Luke said that Jesus gave power and authority to the twelve.

Today, Jesus has given authority to preach the gospel and make disciples.

II. Their Mission (Luke 9:2)

People simply need to recognize that they are sinners, repent of their sin, put their trust in the person and work of Jesus, and surrender their lives to God’s sovereign and gracious kingship.

III. Their Instructions (Luke 9:3-5)

A. Regarding Luggage (Luke 9:3)

Jesus wanted his apostles to travel light on that first short-term missions trip so that they would learn to trust him completely for everything, even their basic needs.

B. Regarding Lodging (Luke 9:4)

They were to be content with their lodging.

C. Regarding Reception (Luke 9:5)

Rejecting the message of the kingdom of God was serious.

IV. Their Obedience (Luke 9:6)

V. Their Effect (Luke 9:7-9)

Whatever his reason, Herod was asking the right question, “Who is this?”

They did not know it at the time, but their ministry laid the foundation for a ministry that has led to the salvation of literally billions of lives since the first century.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:08 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Help God, I Hurt
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:40-56
Duration: 27:08
Size: 12.4 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Help God, I Hurt
Luke 8:40-56

I’ve learned to hide my feelings so deeply that sometimes I can even fool myself.

They were very different people but had this one thing in common, they were both hurting.

But Jairus was desperate, and desperate times call for desperate measures.

We think that God is only concerned with the big important problems in this world.

It is one thing to press Him and another thing to touch Him by faith.

You know its so amazing how quick some folks can get attached to objects and attribute power to it.

Have you ever felt like maybe God wasn’t in quite as big of a rush as you are?

Reach out to Jesus even through the crowd. Sometimes there may be a crowd that prevents you from coming to Jesus…maybe that crowd may be your friends, or maybe it’s even the church.

And you may place your trust in Christ and things may get worse.

So what is the word from the Lord today; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him shall never perish but will have everlasting life.”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:20 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: Freedom In Christ
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:26-39
Duration: 23:20
Size: 10.6 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Freedom In Christ
Luke 8:26-39

It is only when Christ is present, whether in the life of an individual, a family, a church, or a nation, that they experience genuine and lasting freedom, but even that freedom is something most believers will never experience because of three obstacles that we face.

Satanic Opposition

The Bible plainly tells us that this man was plagued by a mob of demons that went by the name of Legion.

No I want you to be clear on this; if a man or woman rejects Christ and goes to hell, they go because they made a conscious choice to reject Christ.

Love of Darkness

You see, one of the greatest obstacles most people will ever face is their own love of the darkness they live in.

When you step out of that world into the world of light, then you can find freedom like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

Fear

It didn’t matter that this man who had been in such bondage was now set free, or that this Jesus was just as concerned about their eternal souls – they were afraid and unwilling to have any dealings with Him.

Jesus went all the way across that lake just to meet this man and set him free.

The obstacles are real, and they are difficult to overcome. Most will never find freedom, but for those of you who are ready, Jesus stands today ready.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:21 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: There Is Purpose In The Storms
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:22-25
Duration: 26:21
Size: 12.0 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
There Is Purpose In The Storms
Luke 8:22-25

Although the Sea of Galilee is only 5 miles wide and 13 miles long it has a history of terrible storms.

The disciples in obedience to his command hoisted the sail and begin the five mile trip across the lake.

Sometimes We Will Face Storms In Our Lives.

The once placid lake of our life becomes a storm tossed, angry, raging sea.

But no matter what storms come up in our life, we can call upon Jesus.

When We Are In A Storm We May Think That We Are Out of God’s Will.

You can find a storm and be right in the center of God’s will.

Without difficulties, without trials, without stresses and even failures, we would never grow to be what the Lord wants us to become.

When We Are In A Storm We May Think That God Doesn’t Care.

When we are in the midst of a crisis of one form or another and it seems that Jesus doesn’t care, He just does not seem to be interested or concerned with what we are going through.

When We Are In A Storm We May React In Fear Rather Than Faith.

In reality their problem was not the storm around them but the unbelief within them.

When We Are In A Storm We Need To Remember To Cry Out To The Father.

I am so glad I serve the God of the Universe who not only created everything that is, is not limited as to He can act by His own creation.

When In A Storm Faith Will Keep You From Being Afraid.

Jesus cares, not only cares, but acts and saves.

We Disappoint The Lord When We Give In To Fear.

Although their fear was natural, they had no excuse for their lack of faith.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:41 — 9.9MB)

Sermon Audio: Are You Related To Jesus?
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:19-21
Duration: 21:41
Size: 9.92 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
Are You Related To Jesus?
Luke 8:19-21

In order to understand these three verses you have to take them in light of the entire chapter of Luke 8.

If you put Luke and Mark’s accounts together you don’t see a contradiction simply their twist on the account: Hearing God’s word and putting it into practice is God’s will!

Being baptized or being related to a leader in a church is all good but if we are not hearing God’s word and putting it into practice we are simply standing outside to see Jesus.

God did not leave us in the dark about how to come to him. It”s found in the Bible.

We can read, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and if we continue to hold a grudge with someone, the word has not gotten a hold of us.

I realize that for some of you, reading the Bible is new. You might be intimidated; you don’t know where to start.

Is there a…

Sin to confess
Promise to claim
Attitude to change
Command to obey
Example to follow
Prayer to pray
Error to avoid
Truth to believe
Something to thank God for?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:50 — 1.0MB)

Sermon Audio: The Parable Of The Lamp
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Luke 8:16-18
Duration: 18:50
Size: 8.62 MB

Luke-The Investigative Gospel
The Parable Of The Lamp
Luke 8:16-18

Jesus continued teaching how his true followers respond to the word of God. He gave his disciples another parable, the one we call The Parable of the Lamp.

Does God’s word go in one ear and out the other? Or do we hear God’s word in such a way that we really obey it?

It would be completely foolish to light a lamp and then cover it so that it could not light the room.

It seems that the emphasis in Luke’s Gospel is Jesus’ own teaching, and in particular how it is received.

When you hear the message of the gospel, the message of God’s word, you must hear it responsively.

We are to reveal those things and confess those things to God, knowing that if we don’t, that God will himself expose us.

Every time you hear the message of the gospel and resist it, you make it easier to resist the next time.