E.P.I.C. Word of Truth: Recent Episodes
Keith M. Seiber
The Lord Reigneth — The Unshakable King! In a culture shaking under judgment, Psalm 93 anchors our souls: “The LORD reigneth… the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.” (Psalm 93:1, KJV). Stand holy, speak truth, take courage—Christ is King, and HE is mightier than the floods.
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Anchored & Advancing Podcast of New Beginning Baptist Church
Faith Foundations – Foundational Teaching for the Church
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In this powerful exposition of 1 Corinthians 15:58, discover what it means to live the Christian life with unwavering faith and purpose in today's challenging world.
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You may feel too young, you may feel too old, or unqualified, or unsure. But if you are in Christ, you are not disqualified. You are not second-tier. You should not and do not have to wear a permanent label on your chest from something that is long ago in your past.
You are called to be an example. Not for your glory—but for His. This isn’t just a message for young pastors—it’s a call for every believer to become the kind of Christian that turns heads.
Not because we draw attention to ourselves—but because we shine the spotlight on Christ.
Not because of ourselves, but because God can and will use anyone to do anything for Him – regardless whether men say we can’t do what Christ calls us to do – we are to follow Christ – for He is the head of the Church and the Living Word of God. He is the final arbiter of what we can or cannot do for Him and His church.
In this sermon, I want you to think about BELIEF and BEHAVIOR. Paul says here that how one ought to behave in the house of God (the church), is connected to what we confess, what webelieve to be true.
Vince Lombardi, the Hall of Fame coach of the Green Bay Packers, was notorious for his emphasis on fundamentals. His teams won championships because they could block, tackle, and execute better than anyone else.
It is said that once, frustrated by his team's poor performance, he held up a football and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football!”
He knew their core knowledge, their core beliefs about the game of football, affected their performance or their behavior on the field. Like Coach Lombardi, the apostle Paul knew well the importance of going back to the fundamentals.
He penned this letter to Timothy because the church at Ephesus was starting to drift away from the basic truths of the Christian faith. Like the Ephesians, we need regularly to be reminded of the foundational truths of our faith. So, Paul writes this passage as a reminder that the church must give its attention to the essential truths.
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Genesis 49:10 "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be."
In this sermon, I want to show you that in a world full of broken promises and failed kings, there is one who came to be everything your soul has been searching for. He is called Shiloh here in Genesis chapter 49, and He changes everything.
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What happens when an entire nation simultaneously cries out to Jesus?
What You'll Learn in This Sermon: ✅ Why Israel must endure the Age of the Gentiles (6 biblical reasons revealed) ✅ The shocking truth about the Mosaic Covenant still binding Israel today ✅ How the War of Armageddon leads to the greatest revival in history ✅ The exact moment Jesus returns to earth (timing revealed in Hosea 6:1-2) ✅ Why God allows desperate circumstances to bring breakthrough ✅ How an entire nation gets saved in a single day ## Key Bible Passages Covered: - Daniel 9:24 - The 70 weeks prophecy - Zechariah 12:10 - Israel looks upon Him whom they pierced - Romans 11:25-27 - All Israel shall be saved - Zechariah 14:1-2 - The siege of Jerusalem - Hosea 6:1-2 - The third day miracle
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Hear what it means to be a prisoner of hope, not of our circumstances, not of sorrow, not of the valley, but a prisoner of hope, a prisoner of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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What’s the thing you’re afraid of losing? The thing you’re chasing, whether you realize it or not? Maybe it would take several moments to really deeply consider the answer to that question.
Perhaps it is a career? A sense of security? A certain lifestyle? Your children’s success? Your own comfort?
Let’s take it a step further now. What are you training for? You might say, “I’m not training for anything.” But that’s really not true.
You are always training. Every day, every choice, every priority—it's shaping you. You're not static. You're becoming something. You’re preparing for something. And eventually, you’ll stand before Someone.
Here’s the problem: most people are spending their lives training for things that won’t matter 100 years from now.
They spend years in the gym shaping a body that will eventually weaken. They obsess over finances, storing up treasures they cannot take with them. They build a resume that cannot be read in Heaven.
And here’s the question: Is it worth it? Will it last?
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Have we made repentance too easy?
We live in an instant world—instant coffee, instant messaging, instant everything. And somewhere in our convenience culture, we’ve tried to make repentance instant too. Just repeat after me. Quick prayer. Raised hand. Walk an aisle. Done.
But here's the thing—that’s not what we necessarily see in Scripture.
That’s not how people respond when they encounter the holiness of God and the weight of their sin.
Now someone might say, “What about the thief on the cross?” Good question. Yes, he was saved in his final moments—when he cried, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42).
But look closer. In those few breaths, he acknowledged his guilt—“we receive the due reward of our deeds” (Luke 23:41). He declared Christ's innocence—“this man hath done nothing amiss” (Luke 23:41). And he placed his faith in Christ's kingdom. That’s real repentance. Not rushed. Real.
It wasn’t about time. It was about the heart.
Some people have years and never truly repent. The thief had moments—and did. What I’m calling “long form repentance” isn’t about time on a clock. It’s about depth. Sincerity. Transformation.
To fully understand what is happening here, we must return to the scene on earth where the final war—the War of Armageddon—is reaching its peak. The Antichrist, still in power and enraged by the destruction of his headquarters in Babylon, now targets Jerusalem to establish his final seat of authority.
Stages of the Campaign of Armageddon So Far:
- Stage I – Movement Toward Jezreel Valley: This happens as the Euphrates is dried up and the Antichrist begins advancing westward across the Euphrates into Israel, aiming to invade Jerusalem in his last-ditch effort to defend his empire from God.
- Stage II – Babylon Attacked and Destroyed: God ensures the final and complete destruction of the city with the final vial judgment, as the Antichrist marches on Jerusalem.
We mentioned how God possibly could have used Russia for this. Daniel 11:44 speaks of the moment the Antichrist receives this news about this.
- Stage III – The Siege of Jerusalem and the Battle at Bozrah (Petra): The Antichrist being enraged over the report of the total destruction of Babylon, desires the total annihilation of all believing Jews and Christians and launches a final offensive:
- At Bozrah (Edom): He targets the protected Jews hiding in Petra. Prophets like Jeremiah foretell the Lord’s defense and destruction of the Antichrist’s forces there.
- And at Jerusalem: Armies from all nations besiege the city. Prophets Joel, Isaiah, Micah, and Zechariah describe the siege in vivid, prophetic detail. Jerusalem will be surrounded, humbled, and pressed—but will cry out in repentance and faith.
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There is coming a day that will burst the seams of joy itself. There is a supper on the schedule of eternity that will make every wedding you have ever attended seem like a shadow.
It will not be a wedding of one man and one woman, but of the Bride and the Lamb. It will not take place in a cathedral but in Heaven itself.
And when the trumpet sounds, and the sky rolls back, and the clouds part as a scroll, revealing the King in His glory—what will follow is not just judgment, not just triumph, but celebration.
This is the marriage supper of the Lamb!!
And my heart is so stirred by this, because if you are in Christ, this is your wedding day.
This is the moment when longing is satisfied, when the Church—spotless, radiant, glorified—is united forever with Her Bridegroom.
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Imagine a moment when every voice on earth falls silent—the cities that once roared with traffic and trade, the parliaments that once passed their policies, the theaters that once entertained the masses, the stadiums that once erupted with applause—all fall silent.
The music has stopped. The lights have gone out. The laughter of sin is gone. And in that vast silence… a new sound rises—not from earth, but from Heaven.
“Alleluia.”
This is not poetic hyperbole. This is prophetic reality. We are standing at the brink of the end of the world system as we know it—Babylon is falling. The great city, symbolic of all human rebellion, religious deception, and economic corruption, is not merely being judged—she is being erased.
Revelation 18:21–19:3 is God’s thunderous final word on a world that said to Him, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” It is the funeral of the godless, followed immediately by the wedding music of the saints. Babylon is gone. The Bride is ready. And Heaven erupts in the loudest hallelujah the Bible has ever recorded.
- What do you do when God finally judges every wrong?
- When every injustice is answered?
- When every martyr’s cry is vindicated?
You worship. You lift your voice not in horror, but in hallelujah. Because when God judges, He does so in truth and righteousness. And when Babylon falls, Heaven doesn’t mourn—it sings.
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There are seasons in the Christian life when we cannot see what God is doing. We pray, but there seems to be no answer. We seek direction, but the path remains unclear. We long to sense His presence, but instead, we feel silence.
Job experienced this kind of deep distress. His life had been shattered—his family taken, his health destroyed, his wealth lost. And in his suffering, he searched for God but could not find Him.
"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him." (Job 23:8)
Yet, in the midst of his darkness, Job declares a profound truth, "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)
Just because you can’t see God doesn’t mean He isn’t working.
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In this sermon, we are considering what to do when God has not said “yes,” and He has not said “no.” He’s just said… “Wait.”
And it is in that place—that long, painful, uncertain place—that Isaiah 40 speaks with such tenderness, such hope, and such power.
You see, if we are honest—we all hate to wait. We hate it because waiting reminds us we are not in control. And we like control, don’t we?
We like plans. We like progress. We like seeing the next step. We like speed. But then life hits the brakes, and we hit a wall. And we find ourselves in that painful, confusing, in-between space—the space where God has not said “yes,” but He has not said “no” either. He’s just said… “Wait.”
And the truth is—we do not know what to do with that.
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Part of Unveiling the End Times Series
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What do you do when God does not do what you have asked Him to do?
What do you do when you pray the right prayer, for the right reason, with the right heart— and the answer is no?
Not silence. Not “wait.” Not “in a little while.” But a hard, clear, painful “no.” What do you do when God says no?
- You asked for the healing—and it did not come.
- You asked for the door to open—but it stayed shut – like really shut like slammed shut.
- You asked for the storm to pass—but it pressed in harder.
- You begged for the burden to be lifted—but it’s still on your back, day after day.
And what’s even harder to swallow is this:
- You know God could have said yes.
- He had the power to do it.
- He had the authority to do it.
- He had the compassion to do it.
But He didn’t. He didn’t do it. He said very plainly no. And now you are left with a question that shakes your faith to its core:
Can I or How Do I Trust God When He Says No?
This is where faith begins to grow or unravel. Because saying “yes” to God when He says “yes” to us is easy. But saying “yes” to God when He says “no” to us—
That’s where trust becomes real. That’s where hope is tested. That’s where belief is refined. And that’s exactly where the apostle Paul found himself in 2 Corinthians 12. Here’s a man who had seen things no one else had seen.
So what you have in Micah 7 is the voice of a righteous man living in a nation under judgment. He is not naive about the sin around him, and he is not unaware of the sin within him.
He feels the weight of national collapse and the weight of personal guilt. He has watched justice break down, truth be silenced, and enemies rise in power.
But—in the midst of it all, Micah speaks words that defy despair. "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise..." (v. 8)
That is what makes this passage so compelling. It is a cry of defiant hope. This is not an idealist. This is a man who has been in the valley, who has tasted the consequences of sin, who has witnessed devastation, and yet—he still looks up and says, "My God will hear me... He will bring me forth to the light... I shall behold His righteousness."
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We live our lives surrounded by the tangible, the visible, and the physical. Yet, that is the least of our reality. The greatest part of our reality we cannot see. The spiritual world is vast and eternal.
We navigate our days based on what our eyes see and what our hands touch. But Scripture tells us that beyond the veil of our senses lies an invisible world filled with celestial beings—angels—sent by God Himself, engaged in divine ministry, and intricately involved in our lives.
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One of the realities of the Christian life that is often misunderstood is the presence of spiritual dryness.
There are times when we feel vibrant, when prayer is easy, when the Word of God leaps off the page and grips our hearts. There are seasons when obedience flows naturally, when the fire of devotion burns bright, and when we feel a deep sense of intimacy with the Lord.
But… there are also times when none of that seems to be true. There are seasons in the Christian life when we simply don’t want to do anything.
- We don’t want to read the Bible.
- We don’t want to pray.
- We don’t want to fight sin.
- We don’t even want to go through the motions.
The fire we once had seems to have burned low, and we feel spiritually dull, tired, and numb.
This is not uncommon. In fact, this kind of struggle is woven throughout the pages of Scripture.
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The Apostle Paul, the most influential missionary in church history, a man of unwavering faith and perseverance, openly confesses here that he was "pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life." This is not a casual statement. The Greek word for despaired (ἐξαπορέομαι, exaporeō) means to be utterly without a way out, completely at a loss, to feel trapped with no escape.
- This is deep affliction.
- This is the kind of suffering that pushes a person to the very brink.
- This is the kind of affliction that pushes a person to the edge where life itself feels like it is slipping away.
This is the inspired Word of God - Paul is not exaggerating here. He is describing a moment in which he and his companions believed they were going to die.
And yet, what do we see in this passage? That God had a purpose even in this depth of suffering—to strip Paul of all self-reliance and teach him to trust only in "God which raiseth the dead” (v.9).
This passage is not just about suffering; it is about where we place our trust in suffering. Paul’s affliction serves as a lesson for us: When we reach the end of our rope, the end of our strength, we discover the sufficiency of God's power.
Let’s examine four key truths from this passage that will help us understand how we, as believers, are to respond when we find ourselves despairing even of life.
- The Weight of Suffering
- The Purpose of Suffering
- The Power of Deliverance
- The Role of Prayer
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This is one of the most controversial passages in 1 Timothy. And one of the most controversial and ignored or twisted passages in all of Paul’s letters, of the New Testament, and all of the Bible. It has not always been controversial, twisted, or ignored.
That is a more recent phenomenon in the history of the church. And controversial does not necessarily mean unclear. It is very clear.
The passage itself is not too difficult to understand. Our problems with it today have to do with the proper and biblical application of this text. It has been gotten wrong, and misused and abused – quite often in my opinion, among conservative circles.
We believe the Bible is God’s Word to us. We believe this passage is God’s Word to us. So we cannot ignore it. We should not abuse it. We must strive to get it right – and then believe it, preach it, teach it, and live it out.
If this is not God’s word, then the problems with the application of this passage disappear. Then you can simply say, Times have changed. But we are not a liberal church – we are a biblical church.
So we affirm this to be God’s Word for us today – just as much as it was God’s Word for the 1st century Christians that first heard it. It is as relevant today as it ever was.
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This passage assumes that we already have a grasp on God’s purpose for men and women. Paul assumes that is basic and elementary, but in our society today, unfortunately for many this is not the case.
Paul refers back to Genesis 1, 2, and 3 — so, there is something that we need to know from Genesis before we can make sense of 1 Timothy. With this sermon, we are going to go back to the basics and seek to give a concise theology of the sexes. I am using the word “sexes” intentionally because I am trying to get at the normal, natural, biological reality of men and women.
Now, we are called to honor God's design in an Age of Confusion. We are living in a day where the world has lost its mind. The culture we see around us is not just confused—it is in open rebellion against the God of the universe.
It has forsaken truth, rejected creation, and shaken its fist at the Almighty. One of the clearest battlegrounds of that rebellion is the denial of God’s design for men and women.
- The world hates
- It hates the order of creation.
- It hates the headship of man.
- It hates the beauty of biblical womanhood.
And it will shout down, cancel, and destroy anyone who dares to stand against its radical self-destruction. And yet, stand, we must!
- We must not compromise.
- We must not waver.
- We must not shrink back in fear.
Because this is not about personal preference or cultural tradition—this is about God’s glory. This is about obedience to His Word. This is about whether we will bow to the spirit of this age or whether we will submit to the unchanging and holy authority of Scripture.
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In these verses, God is summoning us through His Word to a life of prayer that shakes the heavens and transforms the earth. 1 Timothy 2:1, 7-8 stands as a holy command, beckoning us to prioritize prayer—not as a perfunctory duty, but as an all-encompassing posture of our lives before the living God.
The Apostle Paul’s words thunder down through the centuries: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men… [then verse 8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."
- “I exhort” “I will”
What does this mean for us today?
- It means that our prayers are not peripheral to our faith—they are the very lifeblood of our communion with God.
- It means that to pray is not merely to speak into the void; it is to step boldly into the throne room of grace, where the King of kings bends His ear to hear us.
- And it means that the purity of our hearts, the truth of our words, and the faithfulness of our actions matter infinitely in the sight of God.
But here is the question that presses upon us with unrelenting urgency: Do we live as if prayer is our lifeline to God? Or have we allowed prayer to be reduced to a hurried formality, a rushed checklist, or a desperate last resort?
Paul’s exhortation cuts through our complacency like a blade: Pray! Pray everywhere. Pray with holy hands lifted, hearts unshackled by anger, and minds fortified against doubt.
This is not a casual request; it is a divine summons to live with heaven in view and Christ at the center of all we do. It is a call to be a people who pray with urgency, speak truth with boldness, and approach God with faith that moves mountains.
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No amount of effort or ingenuity could ever bridge that gap. Yet, into this hopelessness, God Himself provided the only solution. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, not just to show the way, but to be the way—the one and only mediator who could bring sinful humanity back into fellowship with God.
Today, we turn to one of the most powerful and foundational texts in Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:5-7. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declares with clarity and urgency, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
This passage confronts a world that loves to believe in “many ways” to God, in endless “doors” to heaven. It contradicts a culture that prizes individualism and self-made spirituality. But here we see an unyielding truth:
- There are not many ways, only one.
- There are not many mediators, only one.
- There are not many doors, only one—Jesus Christ, the one who gave Himself as a ransom for all.
This message is more than theology; it is the heartbeat of the gospel. It declares the exclusivity of Jesus as the only means of salvation and emphasizes that His work on the cross was sufficient and final.
Let us fix our hearts and minds on the grandeur of God’s righteous judgment, a truth proclaimed from the pages of His eternal Word.
As we delve into the mystery of divine justice upon Babylon, that city of ancient pride and rebellion, we are drawn to the sovereign orchestration of God in the affairs of nations, “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will” (Revelation 17:17).
Babylon—first among the Gentile kingdoms to subdue God’s chosen people, Israel—was not merely a tool of conquest but an instrument of divine discipline.
Thus saith the Lord through His prophet, "And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 51:24).
How sobering is this truth: God, who raises up rulers and nations, also casts them down for their pride and iniquity. Babylon, far more than an ancient empire, stands as a symbol of every false system of worship and rebellion against the Most High.
From her idolatrous foundations to her end-time personification as the harlot of Revelation 17, she epitomizes humanity's defiance against the holy God.
As we contemplate this, let us marvel at the divine paradox: God’s sovereign use of evil to accomplish His purposes while rendering just recompense to wickedness.
Babylon’s rise and fall unveil both the holiness of God and the rebellious heart of man. Yet, in these judgments, we see the gospel’s shadow—pointing to the ultimate victory of Christ, the Lamb who was slain, who will one day cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess His Lordship.
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For the church to fulfill what I Timothy 2:1-4 teaches us, and tells us the church is supposed to do, we need to be a healthy church, a biblical church, in other words, a strong church.
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Have you ever paused to consider what it means to worship a God who is infinitely wise?
His wisdom is not like ours—limited, flawed, or bound by time. His wisdom is eternal, universal, and incomprehensible.
- It is a wisdom that designed the heavens, ordered the earth, and set the boundaries of the seas (Proverbs 3:19).
- It is a wisdom that governs the rise and fall of nations, the movement of the stars, and the beating of your very heart.
But more than the grand works of creation, consider this: God’s wisdom reached into the abyss of human sin and, through the foolishness of the cross, made a way for sinners like us to be reconciled to Him (1 Corinthians 1:21 - For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe).
Think about it—while we were lost, blind, and running headlong into destruction, God’s wisdom wove a plan of redemption so perfect, so profound, that even the angels marvel at it (Ephesians 3:10).
- And yet, how often do we lean on our own understanding, dismissing His perfect wisdom for the fleeting counsel of man?
- How often do we measure God’s ways by our standards, doubting His goodness when life’s path twists and turns?
The wisdom of God is not a mere theological concept; it is the foundation of our faith, the comfort of our trials, and the guiding light for our lives.
This is our fourth message in I Timothy and we have seen a charge, its purpose, and why it was necessary in 1:1-7. Paul introduces his letter to Timothy with a command: “charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (vs.3-4).
The charge is a command to not teach things that undermine, mute, or contradict the gospel or engage in needless debates or questions that do not edify.
Its aim is love from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. The implication is that true doctrine creates and sustains a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith, and in so doing produces love.
Paul is saying that everything he teaches, and every command he gives to be rid of false doctrine is for the sake of faith that produces love.
It was necessary because some men who wanted to be teachers of the law were misusing it and in so doing undermining the gospel. This leads Paul to an explanation of the law and its proper use in verses 8-11.
Paul then spends 6 verses explaining how he came to have this ministry of ensuring that truth was being taught in the local church; and how God transformed him from a blasphemer into a faithful gospel teacher (1:12-17).
And then there is a hard stop at the end of verse 17. A very strong, “enough about me.” A point at which I think a summary is appropriate.
Like Paul, Timothy is to call others to believe and teach “sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God” (vs.10-11). Or another way to word it or look at it:
- Timothy is to call the church, the local church to right faith and right teaching, which flows from and agrees with the gospel.
- He is to ensure that the faith and teaching in the local church fits with the gospel. He is to protect and promote true doctrine.
This leads us to our current text, which can be summarized this way: War a good warfare for the sake of your faith.
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
The apostle Paul is so straightforward and simple here. He is intending to give us something that he wants us to hold onto. He is telling us something here that he wants us to never forget. And this is it — that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.
That is the main message of this passage, and therefore it is the main message of this sermon. It is also the main message of this church. This is the reason why any of us are here right now. Its because Jesus saves sinners.
When Paul refers to “the law,” what does he have in mind? Is it laws in general and how they work, or the commands of Christ specifically, or the Old Testament law in particular? And what does it mean for how we as Christians read and teach about “the law” today?
But before we get to the question about law, there is another we need to tackle first. So let’s approach I Timothy 1:8–11 by asking (and answering) three questions.
- What is “sound doctrine” (v.10)
- How do Christians use the Old Testament Properly? (vs.8-10)
- Why is the “Glorious Gospel” so Good? (v.11)
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The epistle opens with words that demand our attention, setting before us a foundation so steadfast that it has weathered the scrutiny and storms of time, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" (I Timothy 1:1-2).
In these verses, we find a declaration as firm as the apostle’s calling, and as broad in scope as the eternal purposes of God Himself.
There is a power, a divine authority that flows through Paul’s words here, tracing its origins to the very command of God—a command that is not a mere suggestion but an edict of heaven itself.
Paul calls himself an apostle not by choice, nor by chance, but by the commandment of "God our Saviour." We are called to serve by the commandment of "God our Saviour."
Paul knows that his purpose is not self-willed but divinely mandated, pointing us toward the infinite grace and boundless mercy of God, who has orchestrated history to bring forth His Son as the beacon of hope for a broken humanity.
As we reflect on this greeting, it is not just an ancient salutation; it is an invitation to consider the weight of this commission. Timothy is called “my own son in the faith,” a reminder of the relational fabric of Christian discipleship and community that binds us to Christ and each other.
We live in a world saturated with distractions. Every day, we are bombarded by messages, advertisements, and noise that pull us away from the most vital, most soul-sustaining, most life-giving truth available—the Word of Christ.
The question for us today is not whether we are being influenced, but by what are we being influenced? What is shaping your mind, your heart, your decisions?
If you are not allowing the Word of God to dwell in you richly, something else is. And the stakes could not be higher.
Paul commands us in Colossians 3:16 to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” This is not just a suggestion or an option for those who have extra time. It is an urgent and vital command for every believer.
If the Word of God is not filling your mind and saturating your soul, you will be starved spiritually, and you will begin to drift. There is no middle ground here.
Either the Word of God is dwelling richly in you, transforming your mind, and guiding your steps (Romans 12:2), or the world is creeping in, filling the void with its own empty promises.
But Paul does not stop with the command to dwell on the Word. He emphasizes the richness of it—“dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” This is not a shallow, surface-level engagement with Scripture. What Paul is talking about is a deep, transformative, life-changing relationship with the Word.
We are indeed facing an urgent crisis in missions today. As of 2024, there are an estimated 3.4 billion people—roughly 42% of the world’s population—who live in unreached people groups. These are people with little or no access to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They reside in places where there is no viable Christian witness, no church presence, and often no Bible in their language. Most of these unreached groups are concentrated in the "10/40 Window," which stretches from West Africa across Asia, home to over 3.2 billion unreached souls.[1]
This staggering number highlights the immense need for missions. Without intentional effort, these people will live and die without ever hearing the good news of Christ. It underscores the urgency of sending missionaries, supporting missionaries, and fervently praying for laborers to enter the harvest fields both in the world and here at home.
In Romans 10, the Apostle Paul lays out a clear and compelling message about the necessity of getting the gospel to all people. The urgency of missions is clear, and Paul’s words echo across the ages: “How shall they hear without a preacher?”
Paul, writing with passion and urgency, reminds us that "whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (v.13). But before we can see people calling on the name of Jesus, we must ask, "How will they hear?"
[1] (Koering, 2024)
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There is a profound and foundational truth we need to grasp as believers in Jesus Christ: When we were saved, something radical happened. We were not just given the way to heaven, no, we were made new. There’s just something about the risen life.
In our previous message, we learned that we need to:
- Seek the things above with all your heart.
- Slay the sins that entangle you.
- Stop the old patterns of behavior that belong to your former life.
In this message we will see how we have:
- Something to Start
- Something to Settle
- Something to Surrender
The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
In Colossians 3:10, the Apostle Paul declares this transformation clearly: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Paul is not just giving us theology to ponder here; he is laying out a powerful challenge.
You have put on the new man—now start living like it! Start acting like the new creation God has made you to be.
This is where the battle begins, isn’t it? We know we have been made new in Christ, but too often we still live like the old person. We fall back into sinful habits, we let worldly desires dictate our decisions, and we forget that we have been given a new nature, a nature that longs to serve God in righteousness.
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“If ye then be risen with Christ.” What a staggering reality! Paul is not offering us a suggestion here—he is declaring a truth that changes everything.
- If you are in Christ,
- if you’ve truly been born again, you are not who you used to be.
- You have been raised to new life!
This is not just some metaphorical language or spiritual sentiment. You have, by the power of God, been resurrected with Christ Himself! And now, this new life should govern everything about you.
If we are indeed risen with Christ, then, why do we live as if we are still buried in the old ways? Why do we grope around in the darkness, enslaved to earthly things, when we have been called to walk in newness of life, in the light of His glorious resurrection?
This is not just an abstract theological idea—it is the bedrock of our entire Christian existence. The resurrection of Christ was not just a historical event that we commemorate on Easter. No! The resurrection is a living, breathing reality that should infiltrate and transform every corner of our lives.
When Paul says, “If ye then be risen with Christ,” he is declaring that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is now at work in you! How can we possibly remain unchanged by that? Paul follows this with a command: “Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
Here is the question: Are you seeking the things that are above? Are your thoughts and affections set on Christ, or are they tangled up in the trivial pursuits of this fading world?
Paul is saying, if you have been saved, “You’ve been raised from death to life—now live like it!”
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We live in a time when hunger for many things dominates the world—hunger for power, influence, wealth, and pleasure. Yet, Jesus calls His people to hunger and thirst for something far greater: righteousness.
What does this mean, and how does it apply not just to our personal lives but also to the broader life of our nation? To hunger and thirst for righteousness is not simply a religious aspiration but a deep-seated, urgent desire for God's moral order to reign in every aspect of life.
The profound truth of Matthew 5:6 calls for nothing less than a total orientation of our lives toward the righteousness of God. We are not meant to nibble at the edges of righteousness or sample it like a buffet where we pick and choose what we want.
No, this hunger and thirst Jesus speaks of is intense. It is a yearning, a deep longing that can only be satisfied by the fullness of God's presence and His righteous reign. It is a desire so overwhelming that it drives every thought, every decision, and every action.
But here's the tragedy: this hunger can be dulled. As you feed your heart and mind with entertainment, comfort, and empty pleasures that do nothing to nourish your soul and, worse, dull your appetite for what truly matters.
This is Where Many in our Culture Find Themselves Today
Even Christians can fall into the trap of consuming the empty promises of a culture that denies God and His righteousness. But the hunger remains. Deep down, there is an ache—a hunger planted by God Himself—that longs for more than what the world can offer.
That hunger is meant to drive us to God, but we must be vigilant, for the distractions of the world can quickly dull our spiritual appetites.
As Christians, this hunger is not just personal. It has societal implications. Proverbs 14:34 declares, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” If righteousness exalts a nation, then what logically flows from that verse is that our desire for righteousness, then, must extend beyond our own lives and our own families.
- It must influence how we engage in society.
- It must influence how we vote.
- It must influence how we speak and engage with the culture around us.
- And it must influence how we stand for truth.
We are called to be salt and light in a world that desperately needs both (Matthew 5:13-16). But to do so, as Christians, as God’s people, we must first recover a deep hunger for the righteousness of God, not only for ourselves but for our nation.
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In Matthew 5:5, we encounter one of the most counter-cultural statements Jesus ever made: "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."
Think about that for a moment. Jesus, standing on that hillside, surrounded by the crowds, looking into the eyes of a people oppressed by the might of Rome, spoke these words: "Blessed are the meek."
- Not the powerful.
- Not the aggressive.
- Not the influential.
- The meek. “Blessed are the meek.
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Revelation 16:8-16 is a vision of unrelenting judgment—vials of wrath poured out from heaven, scorching heat, suffocating darkness, and the assembling of armies for the final battle. This is not a distant, metaphorical warning. This is the real end of the world, and the horror we read about is not confined to paper—it is coming.
The sun, which once gave life, will burn with an unbearable heat. The very air will grow thick with demonic deception. And nations, in a spiritual blindness, will march to the valley of Armageddon, where God Himself will bring His justice upon a rebellious world.
But here is what should make us tremble most: even in the midst of these divine judgments, men will curse the name of God. They will see the plagues, feel the heat, experience the darkness, and yet, they “repented not to give Him glory” (Revelation 16:9).
- How can the heart be so hardened?
- How can humanity persist in defiance even as the earth crumbles beneath them?
As we dig into these verses, I want you to feel the weight of this truth. This is not just about them—this is about us. This is a warning to our generation, and to every person who hears this word today. The time is short. The judgment is real. And the only hope is repentance before the living God.
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As we enter this passage in Revelation 16, the question that should echo in our hearts is this: “Are you ready to face the wrath of God?” And if you are not ready, what is holding you back from running to Christ today?
Let’s pray for eyes to see and hearts to respond as we walk through this solemn and urgent text together.
In our passage, we see a vivid, terrifying picture of the judgment of God being poured out upon a rebellious world. This passage describes the beginning of the seven vial judgments, a final series of plagues unleashed upon the earth before the return of Christ.
We are entering into a period of judgment unlike anything the world has ever seen—one that will make the plagues of Egypt look like minor inconveniences in comparison.
There is urgency in this passage, and we must feel that urgency today. This is not a future that is far off. God’s patience will not last forever, and when His wrath is finally poured out:
- it will be swift,
- it will be severe,
- and it will be utterly righteous.
The time for grace will give way to the time for judgment.
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In Matthew 5:4, Jesus, in part, speaks to these very experiences: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."
But what does it mean to mourn in the way Jesus speaks of? This is not just any mourning; it is a righteous mourning, a mourning that flows from the heart of God Himself.
Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn in this way. But this comfort is not the fleeting solace of worldly distractions; it is the profound, enduring comfort that flows from the very heart of God, who is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).
This comfort is rooted in the cross, where Christ bore the full weight of our sins and opened the way for ultimate healing and restoration.
Righteous mourning, as spoken of in Matthew 5:4, is a deep, spiritual sorrow that aligns with God’s heart. It is not merely the grief that comes from personal loss or disappointment, but a mourning that arises from the recognition of the devastating effects of sin—both in our own lives and in the world around us.
This mourning is a profound sorrow over a child who has turned away from the faith embracing the lies of the world.
It is a mourning that recognizes the breakup of a marriage is not just the end of a relationship; it is the tearing apart of a sacred covenant that God has ordained.
It is a sorrow that grieves over the loss of what God has joined together, recognizing the spiritual implications and the reflection of Christ’s love for the Church. This mourning is accompanied by a deep reliance on God’s promise to bring beauty from the ashes of brokenness.
The death of a loved one brings profound grief, but for the believer, this mourning is also righteous because it acknowledges the intrusion of sin and death into God’s good creation.
This mourning is comforted by the assurance that we will be reunited with our loved ones in the presence of God. "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him" (I Thessalonians 4:14).
Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” For the one who mourns in righteousness, there is the assurance that God is near to the brokenhearted and that He is a God:
- who redeems brokenness,
- who can bring beauty, and new joy into your life from the ashes,
- and who uses even our deepest sorrows to conform us more to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28).
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Pause with me for a moment and consider the staggering truth that confronts us. The God whom we worship is not a distant deity, confined to the lofty heavens, removed from the turmoil of this world. He is not a God who merely watches from afar, unconcerned with the pain and suffering of His creation.
No, our God is both omnipresent and immanent. He is everywhere at once, and He is intimately near—so close that the very breath in your lungs is a testimony to His sustaining power.
Let the weight of this sink in: The Almighty, who spoke the universe into existence, is not just beyond the stars; He is also right here, in this very room, in this very moment.
The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 139:7-10, "Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me."
Can you fathom that? There is no corner of this universe, no depth of despair, no height of joy where He is not present.
You cannot escape His presence—nor should you want to! For this omnipresent God is not just everywhere:
- He is with you.
- He knows your fears.
- He knows your struggles.
- He knows your heartaches,
- and He stands ready to hold you, guide you, and comfort you with His omnipotent hand.
This is not a God who is indifferent or aloof.
- This is a God who cares.
- A God who is involved.
- A God who is near.
So, let us approach this truth with awe, with trembling, and with a heart yearning to know more of this God who is both transcendent in His majesty and immanent in His grace. Let us dive deep into the riches of His omnipresence and immanence, and may our souls be forever changed by the revelation of His glorious nearness.
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Imagine a vast, invisible world teeming with spiritual beings – most of which are, thankfully, ministering spirits. These spirits are ancient, they are powerful, and they are purposeful.
They were all created by God before the foundation of the world. These beings, known as angels, move at the command of the Almighty, executing His will with unwavering precision.
Yet, not all of these beings remain in the light. Some have fallen, having rebelled against their Creator, casting themselves into darkness, becoming the enemies of our souls. These fallen angels, led by Lucifer, now seek to deceive, to kill, and to destroy.
This is not merely a cosmic tale of good versus evil. This is our reality. These angels, both holy and fallen, are woven into the fabric of our lives and our spiritual battles. They are not distant, ethereal forces; they are active, engaged, and integral to the drama of redemption.
In this message, we will embark on a journey through the Scriptures, where the veil between the seen and unseen is drawn back. We will encounter the terrifying reality of fallen angels and their moral corruption.
We will end with a crescendo of hope, a trumpet blast of victory. Though the fallen angels wage their war, the battle is already won. Christ, our conquering King, has triumphed over them at the cross, disarming principalities and powers, and making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15).
In Him, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), and no force in heaven, on earth, or in hell can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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As we delve into this text, I want you to feel the weight of what is at stake. This is not just an ancient prophecy; it is a divine warning and a call to worship. God’s justice is not to be trifled with, but neither is His grace.
He offers you a way of escape, through the blood of the Lamb. But that offer has an expiration date. The question before us is urgent: Will you stand with those who sing the song of the Lamb, or will you face the seven last plagues?
Let us approach this passage with reverence and trembling, with awe and with urgency, knowing that what we are about to explore is not fiction, but the very future of this world—a future ordained by the sovereign hand of God. May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to respond to the truth that is set before us.
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With Matthew 5:4, there are so many different ways and angles you can look at this text. Originally, we were going to have a message on mourning and meekness, and then, the more I wrestled with this text, the more I thought about it and prayed over it, I realized we need to spend just some time on the mourning aspect maybe even a couple of messages on mourning before we move on to Matthew 5:5.
This message is going to be about mourning, and exactly what mourning or kind of mourning Jesus is talking about. What Jesus is telling us here is that this mourning is a righteous mourning.
With that, we are going to look at mourning over sin, which is the main application of this passage, but this passage also covers the comforting of all those who mourn righteously and so we are going to look at several different aspects of how you can mourn righteously.
I think the main areas in which you can experience this righteous mourning are:
(1) mourning over your sins and the sins of the world (which is the primary application of this text),
(2) mourning over a wayward child, a prodigal, child,
(3) morning over the loss of a loved one, and
(4) mourning over the dissolution of a marriage.
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John sees "one like unto the Son of man" sitting on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown and holding a sharp sickle (Revelation 14:14). This imagery of “one like unto the Son of Man” signifies the authority of this figure to carry out this harvesting.
Notice verses 15-16, “another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth…” (Revelation 14:15-16).
We see here “one like unto the Son of Man,” at the cry of “another angel” thrusts in his sickle and reaps the harvest of the earth, gathering the faithful to God (Revelation 14:15-16). This harvest represents the righteous being brought into the presence of the Lord.
Mark 13:27 "And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."
In stark contrast, another angel emerges from the temple in Heaven, also holding a sharp sickle. This angel is instructed to gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, representing the wicked, and cast them into "the great winepress of the wrath of God" (Revelation 14:17-19).
The ensuing imagery of blood flowing from the winepress, reaching "unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs" (Revelation 14:20), vividly depicts the severity of God's judgment upon the unrepentant.
May this sobering vision drive us to deeper faithfulness and a greater commitment to the Lord, as we await the day when He will bring His righteous judgment upon the earth. May we be found faithful, proclaiming His gospel and standing firm in our testimony, until that glorious day when we are gathered into His eternal kingdom.
The Sermon on the Mount is widely recognized as the heart of the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth. Although almost 2000 years have passed since Jesus uttered these words, they remain as relevant today as when the Savior's lips first breathed them.
One author described the Sermon on the Mount this way:
“After nineteen hundred years the Sermon on the Mount still haunts men. They may praise it, as Mahatma Gandhi did; or like Nietzsche, they may curse it. They cannot ignore it. Its words are winged words, quick and powerful to rebuke, to challenge, to inspire. And though some turn from it in despair, it continues, like some mighty magnetic mountain, to attract to itself the greatest spirits of our race (many not Christians), so that if some world-wide vote were taken, there is little doubt that men would account it ‘the most searching and powerful utterance we posses on what concerns the moral life.’”[1]
The Sermon on the Mount does express the ethic of the Millennial Kingdom, but it also applies to all of God’s people at this moment in history.
The righteousness described in the Sermon on the Mount should be the goal for the character and conduct of every believer today.[2]
“Although the Sermon on the Mount may drive sinners to seek God’s forgiving grace, the sermon was intended to be a description of the effects of God’s transforming grace. Believers should recognize that the righteousness described in the Sermon on the Mount is not attained through mere human effort. On the contrary, this amazing righteousness is progressively produced in Jesus’ disciples through the expression of God’s saving power.”[3]
[1] (Hunter, 1965)
[2] (Quarles, 2011)
[3] (Quarles, 2011)
The attributes of God are not that of which He is composed. The fact that God is God should indicate to us that God is not composed of anything, He is not a sum of His attributes.
Anything that is composed of different parts, or attributes of its nature, had to be composed by something greater than the composition. If God, the Almighty Father, had been composed, then something greater than God would have had to do the composing.
But God is not composed of His various attributes, God is not made of parts, God is not made, God simply is, and always was, and always will be. A.W. Tozer put it this way:
“God’s attributes are not God; that is, I say that God is self-existent, but that’s something that I posit about God – that isn’t God. I say that God is holy, but holiness is not God. I say that God is wisdom, but wisdom is not God. God is God!”[1]
Now, I want you to imagine for a moment the vastness of the universe. Picture the innumerable stars, galaxies, and celestial wonders that stretch beyond our comprehension. Now, consider the One who spoke all of this into existence with a word.
Imagine the One who was before time itself began, who exists in perfect independence, needing nothing and needing no one, yet choosing to create, choosing to create so that He could love, and so that He could redeem, so that He could redeem a race that would reject Him, blaspheme Him, and eventually crucify His own Son.
With this message, we are going to explore a little bit of that God, and the attributes or qualities of that God that led Him to do just that.
We are going to explore the profound and awe-inspiring attributes of our God: His Self-Existence, Eternity, and Transcendence. These are not mere theological concepts, but truths that reveal the very nature of the Almighty. They should shake us to the core and draw us into deeper worship and adoration.
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[1] (Tozer, 2015)
The Bible speaks often of angels, and yet their true nature, purpose, and activities are subjects shrouded in both wonder and misconception. Today, we will journey through the Scriptures to explore the characteristics of these extraordinary beings, who serve as messengers, warriors, and ministers of God's divine will.
Imagine with me for a moment a realm teeming with beings of unimaginable power and purity, a realm that intersects with our own in ways we often cannot see, that we cannot begin to comprehend, but at times we can profoundly feel or sense.
This realm is not a product of human imagination or the stuff of ancient myths; it is reality. It is a reality described in the pages of the Holy Scriptures. Today, journey into this realm as we begin our study of the Doctrine of Angels.
Our study will encompass three key areas:
- Creation and Existence of Angels
- Characteristics of Angels: Angels are spiritual beings created by God, possessing remarkable power, intelligence, and holiness. They are innumerable, and though they are spirits, they can take on physical forms when required by God's purposes.
- Organization, Nature & Employment of the Holy Angels: The Holy Angels, those who have remained faithful to God, are organized into various ranks and orders. We will explore the archangel, Michael, the captain of the heavenly host, and Gabriel, God's special messenger.
We will look into the seraphim, who stand in the presence of God, crying, "Holy, holy, holy," and the cherubim, who guard the glory of God. We will also consider the roles of the ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
So, as we open the Scriptures and explore these profound truths, let us do so with hearts full of reverence and minds eager to understand more fully the mysteries of God's creation.
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First, we observe Jesus teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
His message was one of repentance, hope, and the imminent arrival of God's Kingdom. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus preached with authority and clarity, captivating the hearts and minds of His listeners. This was not just a proclamation; it was an invitation to enter into a new relationship with God, a relationship defined by grace and truth.
Second, we see Jesus healing all manner of sickness and disease.
His miracles were not mere acts of compassion; they were signs of the Kingdom's power breaking into the world. Every healing was a foretaste of the restoration and wholeness that the Kingdom of God brings.
Lastly, we witness the multitudes following Him.
From Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond Jordan, people flocked to Jesus. They were drawn by His teachings, His miracles, and His undeniable presence. They came seeking healing, hope, and the words of eternal life that only He could provide.
As we embark on this series exploring the Sermon on the Mount, let us remember the profound impact of Jesus' ministry that drew the multitudes to Him.
- It was a ministry marked by powerful preaching.
- It was a ministry marked by compassionate healing.
- And it was a ministry marked by a magnetic draw that transcended social and geographical boundaries.
May we, too, be drawn to His words, seeking to understand and live by the principles He taught. May the Lord open our hearts and minds as we journey through His Word together.
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The recent events in our country should draw our hearts and minds to contemplate those three profound and interwoven truths:
- The sovereignty of God,
- The depravity of man,
- And the fragility of life.
These truths reveal the grandeur of God's reign, the depths of our fallen state, and the fleeting nature of our earthly existence.
God‘s hand, God's sovereign hand, I believe, was truly there in Butler Pennsylvania eight days ago. God is not finished writing the story that is the life of President Donald Trump. God has a purpose for him to be alive. President Trump, himself, recognized the gracious and providential hand of God in the events of that day.
God spared His life, miraculously spared his life – I don’t think you can argue against that statement. But just as God still has something He wants from the life of our former president - God still has something for each and every one of us:
- He still has plans for our lives.
- He has things He wants us to do for Him.
- He has a perfect will for our life that He still wants done.
Everything I just said is true or we would not be here today either.
Eight days ago, the events in Butler Pennsylvania got me thinking we need to ponder these truths as a church. We need to contemplate what we saw happen. But I think we need to look at it theologically.
We need to look at those events from a theological perspective and the main three theological themes that kept coming to my mind as I considered what happened there in Butler Pennsylvania, with the attempted assassination of President Trump and the death of the firefighter from Pennsylvania, the three theological things that kept coming to mind were:
- the sovereignty and providential hand of God in the lives of men,
- the depravity and the sinfulness of man, of how one man could desire to kill other men,
- and the third theological thing that kept coming to my mind was the fragility of life. Our life is a vapor. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. We are not guaranteed this evening, much less tomorrow.
In the book of Daniel, we read, "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35). Here the Word of God declares God’s absolute sovereignty. He reigns supreme over all creation.
- His decrees are unchallenged,
- His purposes are unthwarted.
- He is the Alpha and the Omega, orchestrating all things according to His divine will.
The time comes in every Christian's life when we must make a pivotal decision: whom will we serve? Joshua's challenge to the Israelites resonates through the ages and into our very hearts today.
He declared in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
The choice he presented was stark and clear-cut: serve the LORD or serve false gods. Today, the challenge remains the same, though the false gods may take different forms.
- Are we going to serve the Lord, or are we going to serve ourselves and our priorities?
- Are we going to serve evil and the devil, or are we going to serve the Lord?
- Are we going to serve tradition or are we going to serve the Lord our God properly?
In this message we turn our attention to Revelation 14:6-8, a passage that serves as a powerful reminder of God’s ultimate sovereignty and justice. As we navigate through this prophetic vision, we are confronted with the reality of divine judgment and the urgency of the gospel message.
This section of Scripture, set within the larger context of the Tribulation, provides us with profound insights into God's righteous dealings with humanity and the fate of those who reject His grace.
The passage begins with the vision of three angels, each delivering a critical message to the inhabitants of the earth:
- The first angel, flying in the midst of heaven, proclaims the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (Revelation 14:6). This angelic herald emphasizes the universal scope of the gospel, calling all people to "fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come" (Revelation 14:7). This proclamation underscores the imminence of divine judgment and the need for repentance.
- The second angel follows, announcing the fall of Babylon the Great, "that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8). Babylon stands for the corrupt world system in rebellion against God, and its fall signifies the inevitable collapse of all that stands opposed to God's righteousness.
The Book of Hebrews has consistently pointed us to the supremacy of Christ. We have seen Jesus Christ exalted above angels, above Moses, and above the Levitical priesthood. To put it simply: Christ is So Much Better!
We have been reminded that He is our great High Priest, who has entered once and for all into the holy place, obtaining eternal redemption for us. We have explored the themes of faith, perseverance, and the New Covenant, learning that our faith is anchored in the perfect work of Christ.
We have been warned against the dangers of drifting away, of hardening our hearts, and of falling into apostasy. Yet, we have also been encouraged by the "great cloud of witnesses" that surrounds us, urging us to run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
As we come to the final verses of this magnificent letter, Hebrews 13:22-25, we find the writer's closing remarks—a heartfelt plea, a blessing, and final greetings.
While addressing the relationship between spiritual leaders and their congregations, this passage offers profound insights that are particularly relevant as we consider the role of fathers in our lives and the church's life.
This passage calls us to obedience and submission to those who lead us, for they watch over our souls with a sense of divine accountability. Fathers, too, are called to be shepherds in their households, guiding their children in the ways of the Lord with love and integrity.
Just as spiritual leaders are to watch over the flock of God, fathers are entrusted with the spiritual nurturing and protection of their families – that is the most important thing fathers can do, and that is our priority, this responsibility has priority over all other things for fathers.
The role of a father mirrors that of our heavenly Father—caring, guiding, disciplining, and loving unconditionally. This caring guiding, and loving is not based on how our children behave or how they behave toward us – fathers we are to do all this unconditionally.
Fathers, much like our spiritual leaders, are to lead by example, living out our faith in every aspect of life. We are to be men of good conscience, striving to live honestly and in a manner that glorifies God.
Welcome, today, we’re discussing a topic that many of us have faced—dealing with people who believe lies about us. We’ll explore how to respond, encourage ourselves in the Lord, and move on with peace and confidence.
It’s incredibly disheartening when people believe lies about you, especially when you’ve lived with integrity. Proverbs 12:19 reminds us, "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." The truth stands the test of time, while lies are fleeting.
In Proverbs 6:16-19 the Lord tells us just what He thinks about lies and the liars that tell them, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Jesus faced false accusations throughout His ministry. In I Peter 2:23, we read, "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Instead of retaliating, Jesus entrusted Himself to God. We, too, should refrain from responding in anger or seeking revenge.
Following Jesus' example in responding to false accusations and lies about us is a powerful testimony to our faith and character. Jesus faced numerous false accusations throughout His ministry, especially during His trial and crucifixion. Let's look at some key principles we can glean from His response, grounded in Scripture.
In the face of false accusations, Jesus often chose silence. In Matthew 26:62-63, during His trial before the high priest, we read, "And the high priest arose, and said unto Him, Answerest Thou nothing? what is it which these witness against Thee? But Jesus held His peace."
By holding His peace, Jesus demonstrated control and trust in God's ultimate justice. This echoes the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7, "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."
Link to Purchase book mentioned in this episode
In this message we explore a profound and stirring passage from the book of Hebrews, one that calls us to reflect deeply on our salvation, our sacrifice, and our service to God. Hebrews 13:10-16 provides us with a rich tapestry of theological truths that not only illuminate the path of our redemption but also challenge us to live lives of faithful devotion and sacrificial service.
Our journey today will take us through three pivotal points:
- Grace Not Works - Not Both (v.10): This verse draws a clear line between the old covenant of works and the new covenant of grace. It underscores the futility of attempting to earn God's favor through our deeds while emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice.
This point turns our attention to Ephesians 2:5 which says, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" This reminds us to remember our past condition—dead in sin—and the miraculous transformation through Christ who made us alive.
- Our Second Point – The Sacrificial Type & Antitype (vs. 11-13): The sacrificial system of the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice. He suffered outside the gate to sanctify us, calling us to bear His reproach and follow Him.
- Our Third and Final Point - Service of the Saints: (vs. 14-16): Our earthly journey is temporary, but our service to God has eternal significance. We are called to offer continual praise and thanksgiving, to do good, and to share with others. These acts of service are the sacrifices that please God, reflecting our transformed lives and our commitment to His kingdom.
Let us be encouraged and emboldened to live out our faith with conviction, knowing that our salvation, our sacrifice, and our service are all rooted in the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This message will explore four main points. First, we will delve into the idea of guarding against carnality, as emphasized in verses one through four. Next, we will reflect on the assurance that God gives the increase, beautifully outlined in verses five through seven.
We will then examine the concept of God rewarding our efforts, as highlighted in verses eight and nine. Lastly, we will uncover the importance of growing on the right foundation, as explored in verses ten and eleven.
So, let’s briefly as an introduction look at each of these points, and then we will dig into them as we move along in our message.
Point #1 - Guard Against Carnality vs. 1-4:
Here the Apostle Paul addresses a concerning issue within the Corinthian church—carnality. Here, he reminds the believers that their spiritual growth should move them beyond infancy.
It is a timely reminder for us as well, urging us to remain vigilant against allowing our spiritual journey to be constrained by worldly desires. We will explore the dangers of carnality and the steps we can take to guard against it.
Point #2 - God Gives the Increase vs. 5-7:
Here, Paul reminds us that while he may have planted seeds of faith, it is only through God's grace and power that true growth and increase occur. As we navigate our journey of faith, it is essential to relinquish control and trust that God will work in wondrous ways.
Point #3 - God Rewards Our Efforts vs. 8-9:
In these verses the Apostle Paul draws our attention to the importance of our efforts in building God's kingdom.
We learn that our labor in the Lord is not in vain and that each one of our contributions, however small they may seem, holds significance in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. God honors and rewards our faithfulness as we work diligently in His service.
And Point #4 - Grow on the Right Foundation vs. 10-11:
In the final portion of our passage, Paul highlights the necessity of building our spiritual lives on the right foundation. We must ensure that our foundation is none other than Jesus Christ Himself.
In these next few moments, may the Holy Spirit guide us as we dive deeper into this passage, desiring to grow in our understanding, commitment, and purpose in God's glorious plan.
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Click the link below for the book referenced in the introduction to this message on Revelation 13.
https://2020bible.pub/2024/04/06/rise-of-the-beast-a-study-of-revelation-chapter-13/
Here in Revelation 12 and our passage in the final verses of this chapter we are met with vivid imagery, symbolic language, and profound truths that unveil the ultimate plan of God for the culmination of human history.
In these verses, we witness a dramatic scene unfold before our eyes: the dragon, Satan himself, enraged and filled with fury, pursues the woman who had given birth to the male Child. This woman, representing the nation of Israel, is protected by God and flees into the wilderness, where she is nourished and kept safe for a time, times, and half a time.
This period represents the final three and a half years of the Tribulation, a time of unparalleled turmoil and persecution on the earth. During this time, the Dragon, knowing his time is short, unleashes his full wrath against the woman and her offspring, those who keep the commandments of God, and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
As we unpack these verses, we will see the unfolding of God's sovereign plan, the fierce opposition of the enemy, and the ultimate victory of God's people through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.
The Faith Foundations website mentioned in this message has foundational and doctrinal messages (audio and full notes). You can access it at the following link: Faith Foundations for the Church
This passage, encapsulated in the single word "Remember," serves as a poignant reminder of our duties, our doctrines, and our devotion to the Almighty.
First, we are called to: Remember Faithful Leaders (Hebrews 13:7). The writer of Hebrews urges us to recall those who have spoken the Word of God to us, whose faithfulness echoes through the corridors of time.
Their examples, their sacrifices, and their steadfastness in the face of adversity serve as beacons, guiding us in our own pilgrimage of faith.
Second, we are to: Remember Our Unchanging Savior (Hebrews 13:8). In a world of shifting sands and fleeting ideologies, our Lord Jesus Christ stands as the immutable Anchor of our souls. His unchanging nature is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer, offering us stability in a world of uncertainty.
Third, we are to: Remember Right Doctrine (Hebrews 13:9a). The writer warns against being led astray by diverse and strange teachings. We are called to hold fast to the sound doctrines passed down to us, doctrines that are rooted in the unchanging Word of God.
Lastly, we are to: Remember Grace (Hebrews 13:9b). It is by grace that we are saved, through faith, and not of ourselves. This grace is not a license to sin but a call to live in obedience to God's Word, empowered by His Spirit. So, let us heed the call to remember.
- Let us remember the faithful leaders who have gone before us.
- Let us remember the unchanging Savior who walks beside us.
- Let us remember the right doctrines that guide us.
- And let us remember the grace that sustains us.
May this remembrance be the foundation upon which we build our lives, to the glory of our God. Imagine you are on a hiking trail in beautiful East Tennessee, surrounded by dense forest (which I hope to be on such a trail in a couple of weeks).
And as you walk, you notice that the path splits into two. One trail is well-worn, with clear signs pointing the way, while the other is overgrown and barely visible.
The well-worn path represents the teachings and examples of faithful leaders who have gone before us. These leaders have faithfully proclaimed the Word of God, guiding us on the right path. Their lives serve as signposts, pointing us toward Christ and His unchanging truth.
On the other hand, the overgrown path symbolizes the diverse and strange doctrines that seek to lead us astray. These teachings may seem new, different, and appealing at first glance, promising easy answers or worldly wisdom. However, they ultimately lead to confusion, spiritual danger, and death.
As we navigate through life, we are faced with these two paths. The challenge is to Remember the example of those who have faithfully taught and lived out the Word of God while rejecting the false teachings that seek to divert us from the truth.
Hebrews 13:7-9 reminds us to remember these faithful leaders and to be wary of strange doctrines. Let us stay on the path of truth, firmly grounded in the unchanging grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hannah, a woman of deep devotion to the Lord, exemplifies godly womanhood in her life. Her story teaches us valuable lessons about faith, prayer, dedication, and the power of God to fulfill His promises.
Hannah Was a Godly Woman - despite her barrenness, Hannah remained faithful and devoted to the Lord. Her character shines through her actions and her trust in God's plan for her life.
In her distress, Hannah made a vow to the Lord, promising to dedicate her child to His service if He would grant her a son. This vow demonstrates Hannah's deep faith and her willingness to surrender her desires to God's will.
Hannah's story reminds us that God is always faithful to His promises. Just as He answered Hannah's prayer for a child, He is ready to answer our prayers and fulfill His purposes in our lives. Hannah's story also teaches us that our strength and victory come from the Lord, not from our own efforts or abilities.
One of the points we will be examining in this message is the age of the Earth. The age of the Earth can be a contentious issue, often debated between scientific theories and biblical truths, and often debated among Christians as well. While some propose an ancient earth, the Bible provides a clear timeline of creation, pointing to a relatively young earth.
One of the intriguing questions that arise from the early chapters of Genesis is the identity of Cain's wife. Genesis 4:17 mentions Cain building a city and finding a wife. This seemingly simple question actually highlights the broader scope of humanity's early history.
Another big question is about dinosaurs and dragons. The mention of behemoth and leviathan in Job 40-41 has led some to speculate about dinosaurs and dragons in the Bible.
The theory of evolution stands in stark contrast to the biblical account of creation. While some attempt to reconcile these two viewpoints, the fundamental differences in their premises make such harmonization untenable.
The Bible teaches us that God created each kind of creature according to its kind, a concept that aligns with the observable evidence in nature. As believers, we hold fast to the truth that God's Word is infallible and provides the ultimate explanation for the origins of life.
On the sixth day, God crowned His creation with the pinnacle of His handiwork—humanity. In Genesis 1:26, we read, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' This day was a culmination of divine design, as God fashioned man and woman, distinct from all other creatures, and breathed into them the breath of life. As we meditate on this truth, let us marvel at the intentionality and purpose with which God created us, setting us apart as bearers of His image and stewards of His creation.
May we be steadfast in our commitment to God's Word, standing firm against the tides of skepticism and worldly wisdom. Let us go forth, proclaiming the glory of God's creation and the truth of His Word to a world in need of His saving grace.
In this message we delve into the profound truths of God's Word concerning two contrasting but intimately related aspects of our Christian walk: covetousness and contentment.
This emphasizes that our entire lifestyle should be characterized by a lack of covetousness, showing that our behavior and attitudes should align with God's principles of contentment and trust in His provision.
Likewise, this verse is also saying our entire lifestyle should be characterized by a state of contentment, and confidence in the fact our Lord and Savior will always be with us and never leave us nor forsake us.
In Hebrews 13:5, the writer provides us with a powerful exhortation:
- urging us to live without covetousness,
- to live with contentment,
- and ultimately, to live with confidence in God's unfailing promises.
Covetousness, the desire for things that belong to others, is a temptation that has plagued humanity since the dawn of time. From the Garden of Eden to our modern-day struggles, the allure of what others possess often leads us astray.
However, as believers, we are called to a higher standard. We are called to live without covetousness, we are called to be satisfied with what God has graciously provided for us.
Now the contrast to covetousness is contentment and if you think about it contentment is a rare and precious virtue in today's world. It is the antidote to covetousness, the inner peace that comes from trusting in God's provision.
Contentment does not mean complacency or laziness; rather, it is a deep-seated trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, knowing that He will always provide for our needs.
So as we strive to live without covetousness and live with contentment, we can do so with confidence, knowing that God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. This assurance should fill us with boldness and courage, knowing that we are not alone in our journey but are accompanied by the ever-present God who loves us beyond measure.
It is not uncommon for us to approach God with preconceived notions of how we expect Him to answer our prayers. However, the Scriptures teach us to trust in His wisdom and not impose limitations on His ability to bless us.
Proverbs 3:5-6 again says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
In the context of prayer, these verses remind us of the importance of trusting in the Lord completely. When we bring our requests before Him, we should not rely solely on our own understanding or limited perspective. Instead, we are called to trust in God's wisdom and leading.
Trusting the Lord with all our hearts means:
- surrendering our desires,
- surrendering expectations,
- and surrendering our plans to Him.
It involves acknowledging His sovereignty and believing that He knows what is best for us. This includes trusting the answer He gives us, even if it is different from what we expect or desire.
When we acknowledge God in all our ways, including in our prayers, He promises to direct our paths. This means that as we trust Him with our requests and accept His answers, He will guide us in the right direction.
This guidance may not always be what we anticipate, but we can have confidence that God's plan is perfect and that He is working for our good (Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose).
As we delve into the Scripture, we are reminded that every word penned in the Bible is breathed out by God, serving as our guide to truth and life.
In the beginning, the Almighty set forth the heavens and the earth, crafting each aspect with intentionality and purpose. As we ponder the vastness of creation, we find ourselves confronted with the ultimate question of purpose.
Why did God create the universe, the earth, and all that dwells within? Our study reveals a Creator who delights in His creation, who establishes order, beauty, and life, and who desires to display His glory and share His love with beings created in His image.
The timeline of creation is a topic of much debate and discussion. Yet, as we stand firm on the foundation of Scripture, we see clearly the testimony that the world was crafted by the divine Word in six literal days.
This understanding not only aligns with the historical reading of Genesis but also affirms the power and authority of God’s Word. In a mere six days, the Lord brought forth all that exists, demonstrating His infinite power and sovereign will.
Day Two of Creation - sees the formation of the firmament, separating the waters above from the waters below. This act of divine separation and organization sets the stage for the habitation of life, showcasing God's meticulous care in preparing the earth for His crowning creation.
Day Three of Creation - unfolds with the gathering of waters and the sprouting of vegetation. Here, God introduces diversity and abundance, filling the earth with plants and trees, each according to its kind. This day speaks to God's provision and foresight, ensuring that every need of His creation is met even before bringing forth life.
Day Four of Creation - marks the appointment of the sun, moon, and stars to govern the day and night, to mark seasons, days, and years. The celestial bodies stand as constant reminders of God’s faithfulness and the ordered rhythm of life designed by His hand.
Day Five of Creation - witnesses the teeming of life in the waters and the skies. Fish and birds, created in a vibrant array of forms and functions, declare the creativity and care of the Creator, each reflecting His glory in unique ways.
Day Six of Creation - culminates in the creation of land animals and, ultimately, mankind—created in the very image of God. This final act of creation before the day of rest underscores the special place humanity holds in God’s heart and plan, entrusted with stewardship over the earth and commissioned to live in relationship with Him.
As we journey through these divine acts of creation, let us be stirred by the majesty and mystery of our God. Let us marvel at His power, wisdom, and love. And let us respond with worship, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to live according to His purposes, bearing His image in a world that desperately needs His light.
Genesis 1:1-3 is not merely the introduction to a sacred text; it is the foundation upon which our understanding of life, purpose, and God Himself rests. Let us draw our hearts near to these eternal truths as we wrap up this message this morning.
First, we recognize the omnipotent Creator—"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
- Not a force,
- not a collective consciousness,
- not evolution,
- not a big bang,
- not chance,
but the Almighty God, who is sovereign and supreme, created the heaven and the earth.
It is He who fashioned everything from the vast expanse of the universe to the intricate details of our being. Who among us will dare to challenge His authority or question His existence when all creation bears His signature?
Next, the question stands before each one of us: Will you believe God? Not merely believe in Him but believe Him—take Him at His word. Genesis 1:1 doesn't just demand our acknowledgment; it requires our faith. In a world where truth is often considered relative, the truth of God's Word stands unshakeable.
Will you anchor your soul in the shifting sands of human wisdom, or will you plant your feet firmly on the solid rock of God's unchanging truth?
Look at the magnitude of God's creation. "The heaven and the earth"—everything that exists, seen and unseen, material and immaterial. There is no realm or reality outside of His sovereign handiwork.
Every galaxy, every atom, every heartbeat pulses with the rhythm of His divine intention. How can we look upon the beauty and complexity of the world around us and not be moved to worship its Creator?
The location of God's creative activity unfolds in "the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." Here, in the formless void, God's Spirit hovered, ready to enact the divine will. God chose to create here, in this space, bringing order, beauty, and life from chaos.
Does your life feel formless and empty? Know that the same God who spoke light into the darkness can speak life into your deepest voids.
Finally, we marvel at the method of God's creation—"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." By His word alone, reality came into being.
His command was sufficient to ignite the dawn of creation, bringing forth light out of the darkness. This same powerful Word speaks to us today through the Scriptures, guiding, creating new life within, transforming darkness into light.
We stand at the crossroads of belief and unbelief, of divine truth and human reasoning.
The God who created the heavens and the earth by His word alone is the same God who offers you new life through His Son, Jesus Christ, by faith alone.
Our text presents us not just with a narrative to admire but with a commission that demands our entire being—our hearts, our minds, and our actions. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20).
These words, spoken by our resurrected Lord, are not mere suggestions or dreams of what could be. They are the very essence of our calling as followers of Christ.
This Great Commission is not optional; it is the cornerstone of our identity as disciples of Jesus. It is a charge to action, a call to arms in the spiritual battle for souls waged across the expanse of time and into the eternity that beckons.
The world around us groans under the weight of sin, despair, and darkness. People are searching for hope, for meaning, and for salvation. We have the answer. We possess the message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ—the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.
“But how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15).
The charge before us is clear. We are to go, to make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the transformative truth of the Gospel. This is not a mission we undertake alone.
For the commission comes with a promise of His perpetual presence—"lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world"— this assures us that in our obedience, we are empowered by the very presence of Jesus Christ Himself.
Therefore, let us cast aside every hindrance, every fear, and every doubt that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race before us.
- Let us be bold in our proclamation,
- wise in our teaching,
- and fervent in our love,
that through us, the world might encounter the risen Christ.
The time for hesitation is over. The moment to act is now. The fields are ripe for harvest, but the laborers are few. Will you answer the call? Will you embrace the Great Commission as your personal mandate? Will you carry the message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to a world in desperate need?
Now, as we reflect on Resurrection Sunday, let us anchor our hearts and minds in the divine proclamation that forever altered the course of humanity and eternity itself.
Hearken unto the words that shattered the chains of death and sin, "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." “He is not here: for He is risen!” The tomb is empty! He is not there! We serve a risen and eternally living Savior!
This resurrection account here in Matthew is not merely a historical narrative to inspire the fainthearted. No, this is the very power of God unto salvation! Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” The resurrection is the key.
The empty tomb is the eternal testament to the Lord Jesus Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil. A victory not just witnessed in the annals of history but one that reverberates through every generation, calling each of us to a life transformed.
As we bask in the glory of our risen Lord, let us not be spectators of this divine triumph. The resurrection is a clarion call to action, a summons to arise from the slumber of complacency and to clothe ourselves in the armor of God.
For it is faith, faith in Jesus, faith in His death, burial, and His resurrection that gives us the victory! For in Christ's victory, we are more than conquerors, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Yet, this victory demands our participation. It beckons us to live in the reality of the resurrection, to embody its power in our daily lives, and to proclaim its truth to a world ensnared by the shadows of despair and sin.
Jesus always describes discipleship in this way, as an “either/or” proposition.
- Either we follow Jesus, or we chase after the world.
- Either we seek to please Jesus, or we seek the approval of men.
- Either we serve God, or we serve wealth…you cannot serve both.
Joseph and Nicodemus were good men – righteous men even – but until this moment, they were trying to have both. They wanted to remain on the Sanhedrin Counsel and with the approval of the other Pharisees and Sadducees…At the same time, they wanted credit for following a Messiah that the rest of the Counsel despised and wanted to kill. But there was literally no way they could have both…one allegiance would always win out over the other.
This is the challenge facing every disciple of Jesus…we are called out of the world by our faith, and yet we remain in the world for a time. Jesus said we must be willing to “lose” this world so we can serve the interests of the next, and that means making different decisions, living differently, and having kingdom priorities, not worldly priorities, it means putting Christ first, His Word and His local Church first, over the priorities of the world and entertainment and rest.
Following Jesus may mean losing a few friends, losing promotions, or your job…it may even mean losing your life. That is the dilemma Jesus places in front of all His disciples…which is why Jesus asked us to count the cost of following Him.
Matthew tells us Joseph was a rich man, so we would understand the great sacrifice he was making by stepping forward. He would likely lose his position on the council, his place in society, the respect of his peers, and his means of support.
So, Joseph does, finally publicly side with Jesus, and as He does, he fulfills Scripture. Isaiah 53:9 says the Messiah dies among criminals and He is buried in a rich man’s tomb.
As we reflect on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, we are confronted with the reality of our own sinfulness and the immense sacrifice that was made for our salvation. In Matthew 27:45-50, we see the darkness that covered the land, the cry of abandonment from Jesus, and His final breath as He gave up His spirit.
This scene should not only move us to tears but also to action.
We must recognize the gravity of our sin and the weight of the sacrifice that was made on our behalf. The death of Jesus was not in vain, but rather it was the ultimate act of love that calls for our response.
Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate act of love because, as it is written in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself for the salvation of humanity, out of love for us. As it is written in Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Through His death and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated the depth of His love for us and provided a way for us to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life.
This act of love shows us the great extent to which God is willing to go to save us and bring us back into a relationship with Him.
We are called to repent of our sins and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. We must acknowledge our need for a Savior and accept the gift of forgiveness that was paid for on the cross.
Let us not take this sacrifice lightly, but instead, let us live in a way that honors the sacrifice that was made for us.
Today, I urge you to examine your heart and your life.
- Are you living in a way that reflects the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ?
- Are you perhaps, taking your salvation for granted, and what Jesus did for you for granted?
- Perhaps you are unsure of your salvation, are you willing to turn from your sin and accept the gift of salvation that is freely offered to you?
The death of Jesus on the cross is a reminder of the incredible love that God has for each and every one of us. Let us not take this love for granted, but instead, let us respond with gratitude, repentance, and a renewed commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly.
May we never forget the sacrifice that was made on our behalf, and may we live our lives in a way that reflects the love and grace of our Savior. Repent, believe, and be saved! “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Everything hinges on knowing who God is and what He has done for us by His grace in Christ. He has given us great privileges, by speaking to us from Heaven through Jesus’ blood, and by giving us a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
He is the great God, whose voice will shake both earth and heaven. He is a consuming fire.
So, we have great responsibilities: we should take heed to serve Him with obedient, grateful, and reverent hearts.
“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (v.25). Don’t tell God no. Do not refuse to do what God has clearly commanded us to do, what He is calling you do to. Let us not refuse to do for God what He expects us to do for Him as Christians.
- Remember, keep in mind, don’t forget the blood that was shed for your sins.
- Don’t forget how great our God is.
- Don’t forget how God speaks to us through the blood of Christ.
- Don’t forget the awesome power of God, how He will shake the heavens and the earth.
- And do not refuse to obey the God who is a consuming fire. Don’t say not to God!
We are so, so, so privileged to be God’s children. Do not refuse to do the basics of the Christian life. Be faithful to church. When the doors are open be here. Serve your church, seek ways to serve your church.
Witness for Christ. Come to outreach. Put up door hangers, pass out tracts, give out the Gospel, and tell people about Jesus and how they can be saved from the penalty of their sins.
“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (v.25) see that you refuse not God! Don’t say not to God!
In this message we finish our look at the first beast (the Antichrist) and begin to look at the second beast (the False Prophet). We show how all will come to worship the Beast and the Dragon. We discuss how the main sin that is spoken against concerning the Beast and the Dragon is blaspheming God. We end talking about the False Prophet, how he completes the unholy false trinity and is used to get the whole world to worship the Dragon through the Antichrist.
In this episode we are looking at the First of the two Beasts of Revelation chapter 13. We examine his background throughout Scripture, as we delve into the first three verses of Revelation chapter 13. We look at his character. We look at how Satan is a great counterfeiter. We look at his possible ethnic identity. We explain the significance of his title "The Son of Perdition." This message also compares and contrasts the Antichrist to Jesus Christ and starts to explain Satan's unholy counterfeit trinity.
In this message we look at Enduring Faith. Faith that stays true to the Lord through His enabling. We are not promised an easy life. We are not promised all joy and no sorrow. But we can have God-confidence that will give us the strength we need to trust in Him and live this life by faith.
The only options for a sinner are Christ or Judgment. The only options for those living in willful sin are Christ or Judgment. The only options for every man or women are Christ or Judgment. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Make sure Jesus Christ is your Savior. Choose Christ. The only option beside Christ is to choose to reject Christ and face an eternity of judgment in torments in the Lake of Fire.
In this message we see how the resurrection of Jesus Christ turns tragedy into triumph in the life of those who accept Him as their Savior. We see how Mary Magdelene was the first person Jesus appeared to and how significant that was. We look at how significant it was that Peter and John ran to His empty tomb. We also consider the doubts Thomas had and how we must believe in Jesus and His gospel message by faith - by getting saved we truly turn the tragedy of a Hell-bound life into the triumph of a Heaven bound eternity.
This message is about the trials and crucifixion of Christ and how that many things in John chapter 20 parallel to our current day and time.
In this Word of Truth podcast, we are looking at same-sex relationships in light of the Bible. God's Word is crystal clear on the subject. But sometimes what is forgotten is that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. We need to have a proper Biblical outlook and attitude regarding this issue. We also cannot compromise on what the Bible teaches. This podcast examines this subject and also offers some defense from common attacks to the Bible regarding issue.
This podcast is about Transgenderism and a Christian response. There is no single issue that demands our attention more, right now as Christians, than this issue. This is sin goes against nature and God. Romans chapter 1 makes that abundantly clear. In our approach to this issue, we need to be frank, we need to stand strong, we cannot bend on this issue. We cannot compromise on this issue. But with this issue we also need to be full of compassion to those who are enslaved by this sin.
We are in John chapter 18 considering Four Witnesses in Darkness. We are looking at the darkness of duty, the darkness of fear and discouragement, the darkness of self-importance, and the darkness of weakness and pragmatism. We look at these darkness's in light of the arrest and trials of Jesus.
This is an important podcast to listen to. We consider the phrase "the days of Noah" and all that means to us today. We look at what was going on in "the days of Noah" and we parallel to what we can see today in our world. The Lord Jesus teaches us what to expect from society and the behavior of the world as we see "that day" approaching. As we see the time of the Lord's return getting near, we need to stay mission focused. We need to use this knowledge to motivate us to do the work of the Lord with more fervency.
In this message we look at sinning willfully in the life of a Christian and non-Christian. We also look at the topic of Hell and the eternal destination for all those who are not born-again believers and possess eternal life through Jesus Christ.
In this episode we examine Matthew 24:26-35. We look at Jesus' teachings here on the end of the Tribulation. We also look at the Parable of the Fig Tree and the Dry Bones of Ezekiel 37 and how they fit together and tell us some of the same things. This is a key episode on understanding the potential timing of the Tribulation and how Israel becoming a nation again fits into the greater End Times narrative.
In this word of truth podcast we continue our series titled "Salvation 101" and discuss Hamartiology (the doctrine of sin), the results of the fall, and the basic plan of salvation. We discuss this doctrine in a basic way. We do not delve too deeply into it. The goal of this series is to give the listener a basic understanding of the many facets and components of Salvation. Such as:
- The Fall of Man
- The Doctrine of Sin
- Faith
- Repentance
- Forgiveness
- Justification
- Regeneration
- Adoption
- Assurance of Salvation
- Sanctification
- Living a Victorius Christian Life
- Confessing Christ Before Men
In this podcast we get a glimpse of the Tribulation given to us by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse. We go over the midpoint of the Tribulation and the Abomination of Desolation at its immediate aftermath and how that affects the Jewish people of that time. We discuss salvation, the gospel and how one is saved now and in the Tribulation. We close out by briefly touching on the end of the Tribulation.
In this message is discussed how we should not let the Devil keep piling guilt and regret upon us over past sins and spiritual failures; also, this message points out that the Messiah is the solution to our sin problem. Salvation is not of works, we cannot perform works to get ourselves saved or to pay our sin debt - only Jesus Christ can pay our sin debt. This message ends discussing how we need to get busy "Let Us"ing "so much the more"ing as we get closer to the return of Christ. The seven "Let us"ing's we are to get busy doing are: (1) Drawing near to God, (2) Holding fast our profession of faith, (3) Provoking one another unto love, (4) Provoking one another unto good works, (5) Be faithful in our church attendance, (6) Exhort one another, and (7) Do all these "so much the more"ing as we draw closer to the return of Christ.
In this message we discuss temptation. Temptations will happen, but we must not shift the blame for our acting on those temptations. We must not blame others or God for our sins, for our acting on temptations. To overcome temptations, we must recognize their source, we must understand the incredible force that temptation has on us, and we must comprehend temptations course. This message gives us relevant and applicable truth on how to deal with temptation when it comes.
In this podcast we go over the signs of End of the Age and the Temple. We see how we are in the end of the age. We are in what Jesus referred to as the Beginning of Sorrows. We believe this time-period has begun and we walk through how all the newspaper headlines of today and the last century seem to prove that belief to be true. We spend some time in Luke chapter 21 as well.
This message is about the greatness of the New Covenant, and how the Old is no longer needed, now that we have the New. We also touch on the climax of Redemption - where Jesus applies His blood in the Heavenly Holy of Holies on our behalf - to pay our sin debt for us. We end discussing the appointment all men have with death. We will all be judged. We need to make sure we are saved and appear at the right judgment. You do not want to be at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Very IMPORTANT podcast. This podcast is essential to help understand the flow of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25. In this podcast, we discuss the Disciple's bewilderment at what Jesus said about the coming destruction of the Temple and the end of the age. We briefly go over the entirety of the Olivet Discourse to demonstrate the flow of it and the order in which Jesus answers the disciples' questions. This is the most important podcast to listen to - to help you understand the outline of the Olivet Discourse and when and how Jesus answers the Disciples questions. Jesus walks us through and tells us which questions He is answering - we just need to know what to look for.
In this message we talk about the purification that is available through the blood of Christ. We look at Satan's sin in Heaven and the repercussions to that. We look at the sin of pride. We look at how Satan seeks to glorify himself. We examine how Satan recently tried to exalt himself at a music awards ceremony. Finally, we close out looking at the precious power of Jesus to give us victory over those strongholds of sin in our life.
This podcast begins to look at the Olivet Discourse and the End Times prophecy in it. We look at the questions that were asked by the Disciples. We cross reference these questions to add two more questions to those that were asked. We discuss the coming judgment of Israel. We look at the two-stage nature of the Lord's Second Coming, and we conclude by talking about how important it is for Christians to study the End Times and to have a good understanding of the End Times.
This message is about the necessity of the Death and Blood of Christ for our Redemption from Sin. For an heir to receive an inheritance a death has to occur. For Believers to receive the inheritance of eternal life the death of the perfect Son of God had to happen. His death was not optional to our salvation. His shed blood was not optional for our salvation. It is through Jesus' death and shed blood that we can be saved.
In this episode we finish our look at the book of Zephaniah. We see how the Bible teaches us that judgment begins in the house of the Lord (I Peter 4:17). We look at the Judgment of Nations and how the Lord reaffirms part of the Abrahamic Covenant. Zephaniah also shows us how the nations are judged because of their pride (Zephaniah 2:10-11). Then we look at the judgment of God's people in chapter three. We see how God's people had, and still do even today, Satanic leaders in their midst. We close out this study with a picture of the Day of the Lord and the glorious establishment of God's kingdom. We also end with a look at how our God is a singing God and what a blessing that will be.
In this message we look at the Wilderness Tabernacle and the imagery and pictures associated with it. We see how something new was needed, something better and superior was needed for man to have a personal relationship with God and to have our sins permanently forgiven. We close be seeing how we can be forgiven, we can have a clear conscience, we do not have to live with a lifetime of guilt - God can give us new life through and in His Son - Jesus Christ!
In this podcast we are looking at the fall of man and how that relates to our salvation. We are looking at how the account of the fall of man is an accurate account that explains the origin of the problem of sin in mankind and demonstrates the need for salvation.
In this podcast we are in the book of Zephaniah - looking at the Dark Side of the Love of God. We will be looking at how God's love is displayed in judgment and how that judgment is a sign of the love of God. We will also take a quick look at the Catholic church and how it fits into end times prophecy. We will also look at how all the earthy indications seem to be pointing to the soon end of civilization as we know it. We seem to be quicky heading into the Apocalypse.
In this podcast we are finishing up our Plotline of Bible Prophecy section in our study. We define biblically what is meant by the word Tribulation in association with the end times. We also briefly look at the three sets of judgments found in the book of Revelation. We end this podcast explaining what it means to be born again - and emphasizing the necessity that all mankind needs to be born again. All men need to be saved; all men need to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.
In this episode we are discussing the timing the Rapture and of Christ's Second Coming. We will also discuss the bodily return of Christ to this earth and how He steps foot once again onto the Mount of Olives. We also briefly look at the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and how they each indicate what will happen with their appearance and how those things are very plausible even for our day and time.
In this message we finish up our introductory material and move on to discussing how we will proceed through this study on the End Times and go over important truths and principles about Bible study and End Times prophetic interpretation. This is an important podcast to listen to in regards to End Times study. We go over important and needed information to know and understand as we move forward in our journey through the End Times.
This episode is our wrap up of episode one in our End Times series. In this podcast we finish our introductory material and look at a brief history of the current regathering of Israel into the Promised Land.
Introduction to a new series of podcasts on End Times Bible prophecy. This will not be your normal study on the book of Revelation. This will be an in-depth study of the End Times Bible prophecies found throughout the Bible. We need to lay a lot of groundwork before we jump into the Book of Revelation. This is an important and timely series to listen to and learn from.
We are in a spiritual battle and it's foolish to think otherwise. But this is certainly not to suggest that we are helpless victims in this battle. We have all the resources necessary to win.
- But we have to choose to use those resources.
- We have to use those resources that are provided to us.
We are never promised automatic protection from spiritual warfare. We are never promised automatic protection from the Devil and his attacks just because we are Christians. We are never promised automatic victory.
- We have to live by faith.
- We have to walk by faith.
- We have to trust the Lord by faith.
- We have to obey the Lord by faith.
- We have to put our spiritual armor on by faith.
- We have to get in the battle by faith.
- We have to go through spiritual warfare against us by faith.
Everyone can have a new beginning in Christ no matter their background, no matter their past - everyone can have a new beginning with Christ.
We need to pray. We need to take prayer seriously. We have not because we ask not. Let's become better at praying. We need to pray more. We need to faith more. We need to trust God more. We need to get busy praying.
Our prayers are precious to the Lord. He wants us to bring all things to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6a - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication).
We should not take our prayer life for granted. We need to pray; we need to be praying always for everything. God answers our prayers; sometimes the answer might be “not yet”, or even “no”, but He will answer. We need to also understand that faith is a great and significant aspect of successful prayer.
Never quit, never give up on your faith in God. Faith tested is faith that is strengthened. All things in our life, including our prayers should be built upon faith. Faith knows there will be delays. Faith accepts God’s conditions and timing. If faith is exercised and holds fast through the waiting, the delays, the trials – the answer to our prayer, when it comes, will be that much sweeter and miraculous.
Faith is taking your eyes off of self, not trusting in your own abilities, and placing your gaze exclusively on God and totally trusting in Him. Faith is foundational to a successful prayer life and a successful Christian walk. Prayer exercised through a true and strong faith in Christ is true fellowship with God.
- How is your prayer life?
- What are you faithing God for?
- Are you asking, are you seeking, are you knocking?
- Are you staying focused on God in your prayers?
- Are you daring to pray for great and miraculous things?
- How is your faith?
The One who died for my sins, and died for your sins, the One who died a painful and bloody death on the cross. That is our one way to Heaven – through Him – He is the Door. Belief in Christ, faith in Christ, trusting in His life, His death, His burial, His resurrection for our salvation is the key - that is the one way to Heaven. That is the offense of the cross.
The offense of the cross is that your wisdom, is that your righteousness, is that your integrity, is that your good works – are all in God's sight as a pile of filthy rags. That is what can be offensive to the unsaved person. That is what can be offensive to the person that is not a Christian.
We need to put ourselves on the altar, and we need to put Christ on the throne of our life. We need to accept the cross gladly, and as we do, we should die to self as we magnify Christ.
Has someone hurt your? Has someone close to you hurt you or let you down? How we react to that hurt is very important. Do we react with brotherly kindness? Do we react with love? In our relationships do we demonstrate the Christian characteristic of brotherly kindness - even if someone has greatly wronged us? Bitterness can grow and can be stoked when we do not have brotherly kindness in our spirits and in our actions. We need to freely forgive all offenses, instead of planning revenge. Do not waste another moment thinking about self and dwelling on the offense - instead demonstrate the grace of God by forgiving, by loving, and by displaying Christian brotherly kindness.
We need to enter into the rest that only God through Jesus can provide us. There is rest available to the weary and burdened soul: rest for your spirit, the rest of salvation, the rest of submission and the rest of service.
All this is available to the Christian who just seeks to acquire it.
Faith in Christ should equal rest in Christ; but this is not always the case. Too many times Christian do not progress in their walk with Christ. We need to be very careful and diligent about not missing out on the rest that is available to every Christian if we would only pursue to acquire it.
We need to choose to enter into this rest with Christ. We should not just be content to be saved from Hell, but we should be choosing to live for Heaven.
This Word of Truth is about our care in the handling of the Word of God. We must make sure we are getting it right. We must make sure we are not elevating the teaching or the tradition of men over God's Word. Jesus speaks very strongly against putting traditional teaching on a pedestal higher than God's Word. It is extremely important that we interpret Scripture carefully and correctly. We must compare Scripture with Scripture. It is a terribly sinful thing to teach and preach tradition that is in conflict with the Word of God. We must study out and own doctrine and own standards and own convictions for ourselves, and not just because it has always been taught that way. We need to make sure we are being Biblical, and not traditional in our thinking and in our application of Scripture.
What the Bible teaches us is of utmost importance in our life. We need to determine to live by its teaching and principles. We need to "hearken... to do them." We need to hearken to live out God's will in our life. We need to hearken to live out the word of God in our life. As part of this hearkening we need to have an understanding of the word of God, and that understanding needs to be growing and maturing. We also need to make sure we have the pure word of God, not a corrupted version of it, but the pure word of God in our life. In order for us to have true freedom we need to live under the authority of God and His word. We need to hearken to His authority in our life and to His sovereignty in our life.
We have all been, like Joshua, given a charge from the Lord for our life. Are we living out that charge? Are we living out God's will for our life? Are we living out the charge of being witnesses for Him? Are we living out the charge of bringing others to Jesus? Are we living out the charge of sharing the gospel to the world? We have all been given a specific charge for our life as well - are we living out that charge from God?
In our passage Paul will be coming again to Corinth, but he tells them he will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost because there is a great door opened there for ministry as well as many adversaries. Paul is being sensitive to the Lords timing and opportunities the Lord is giving him to minister. He tells the Corinthians to not despise his “son in the ministry” Timothy who would be coming to them. Paul gives them in this passage some final words regarding their labor in the Lord, regarding living rightly in the Lord, and loving rightly in the Lord.
In this message we are going to look at the ultimate closing remarks of Paul, in that we will be examining the closing statements of the book of II Timothy and Paul’s last written words.
The Marked Significance of These Remarks
The deathbed statement of any individual has an importance that is not attached to other remarks. This is what lends much significance to II Timothy. It is the final written communication of Paul; it is his final message. It has a note of sadness that is not detected in his other epistles. Nevertheless, there is the overarching tone of triumph, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Paul wrote his own epitaph in chapter four of Second Timothy verses 6-8.
In this passage of Scripture you may start to recognize many of the names Paul mentioned in these closing remarks and start thinking how Paul’s ministry was not just Paul going it alone, but there were many people involved in his great ministry every step of the way. Paul got the headlines. He was the main preacher. He drew the crowds but he also had an amazing, faithful and special team of people behind him, supporting him, praying for him, and doing their part for Christ and His Gospel.
Whose eyes are your actions right in? In whose eyes are your decisions right in? Whose eyes is what we do or actions we take right in? Is it right in our own eyes? Is it right in our friend’s or family’s eyes? Is it right in the world’s eyes? Or is it right in the Lord’s eyes? – We need to make sure our decisions and actions we take are always right in the Lords eyes! For that is what ultimately counts.
It is impossible to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord without this character trait of temperance or self-control. Temperance is the power of God to do what you know you should do. A life that is lived with little or no temperance is a life that is filled with guilt and regret. That is why the Apostle Peter urges us to develop this character trait of temperance. We must learn to exercise self-control, we must learn to say "no" to many things in order to have the time and ability to say "yes" to the things that matter. Temperance can change our life from a life of impulse decisions to a life of purposeful deliberation.
We see a sorrowful picture of two blind men. They were poor, blind, and helpless. Then came a passing opportunity, followed by an earnest prayer. In this prayer they demonstrated boldness, faith and wisdom. There was also present a rebuking crowd along with a willing Saviour, who extended them a gracious offer and granted them a perfect cure. We may by blind ourselves, have a seemingly insurmountable problem, but we too have a willing and compassionate Saviour, if we have called on Him to save us from our sins, that we can take all our needs to as well.
We need to be committed to prayer. We need to be committed to praising God. How marvelous are the answers to prayer, when we are committed to praying, committed to trusting, and committed to waiting on the Lord for the answer. In this episode are many illustrations of commitment to prayer and the miraculous answers that come as a result of being committed prayers.
We need to learn to live and to pray in the eternal presence of God. The Apostle Paul said "God is above all, and through all, and in you all." We need a good comprehension of the omni-presence of the Lord as we pray and as we go through our life. Someone once referred to this aspect of God, His eternal presence, as the Eternal Now; God is always present, He is always with us, He is always everywhere. Learn to pray and live with the awareness of the eternal presence of God.
Jesus Cares! A different take on this passage about the church at Smyrna. We are looking at only practical and applicable truths from this passage we can use and apply to our everyday life. Yes Jesus does care. He cares about our situation, He cares about our trial, He cares about our problems, He cares about our poverty, He cares!
Prayer does not try to force God. We are to pray with urgency and anguish, but we are not to pray an impetuous type of pray. We are not to try to force God to answer our prayers. Do we pray to receive the answer to our prayer, or do we pray trying to force an answer from God? How we approach God in prayer matters. We need to approach God as a child does a father as he receives a gift, a child is not very successful when he tries to take the gift from his father. The father is much eager to give the gift when the child is anxiously waiting to receive it and not trying to take it. Are we praying to receive the answer or are we praying to force the answer?
There are two ways man can choose from. The narrow way or the wide way. One leads to blessings and life, and the other leads to destruction and death. One seems easy, tempting, and a short cut to success; the other seems narrow and not as easy. But in reality the narrow way is the easy way; it is the most wonderful and joyous way anyone could ever want to live. We just need to be patient and choose the narrow way, and live a life for Christ, and in Christ; and choose to avoid the wide and tempting way.
The disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray. He said "When ye pray," every Christian must have a when to their prayer life. Prayer must be planned and consistent. You need to have a when to your prayer life. Do you have a when time to your payer life? We all need a when time to our prayer life. Prayer should not be done just in stolen moments of time here and there, haphazardly. We should all have a consistent "when" to our prayer life.
Be Still and Know - Be Still and know that He is God. Think through your schedule you can probably find some alone time each day. We need to be still, alone, and focused on God as we pray. We need that time with Him. Do not pray as the hypocrites do to be seen of men, but pray not to be seen of men. Seek time alone and hidden away with God and pray. Find a daily time to be still and alone with God, acknowledge His presence and pray to Him.
Why develop our faith and prayer life? - Our prayers are precious to the Lord. He desires and cherishes our fellowship with Him. The Lord wants you to tell Him about your concerns, and your needs. He wants you to tell Him about your day. We should never take our prayer life for granted. Never quit, never give up on your faith in God.
There is much to be learned, and then applied to our own life from the life and example of Moses. We can learn much about prayer from Moses; we can learn much about faithfulness from Moses; we can learn much about sacrificial love from Moses. Listen to this message and see what you can learn from the life of Moses that you can personally apply to your own life. There is much to learn from the life of Moses for all of us.
Some say prayer is for the weak. Well it is for the weak, for man is weak. Who is strong apart from the Lord? Who can get along entirely by themselves, apart from any help from any person or thing? Who do you lean on? Do you lean on your job, your family, your riches? What if you lost them suddenly? We are to lean on the Lord, and we do this in part through prayer and developing our prayer life with Him.
What is meant exactly by the word prayer? Many Christians would say that prayer, “is asking things from God.” But there must be more to prayer than just “getting things from God.” It cannot be just that.
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