Podcasts about before christ

Before leaving for a three-week seminary intensive in Manila, Pastor Chris shared a vision for the summer centered on a powerful truth from Ephesians 2: Jesus takes people who should never belong together and makes them family.He began by observing that our world is deeply divided. People often build their identities around political, cultural, economic, or generational differences. Yet this struggle is not new. Paul addressed a similar reality in the first century through the division between Jews and Gentiles—two groups separated by generations of hostility, prejudice, and misunderstanding.Paul's answer to this division is the gospel. Before Christ, all people were spiritually homeless—separated from God, without hope, and searching for belonging. Pastor Chris emphasized that every person longs for a place where they are known, loved, and accepted. Apart from Christ, that longing can never be fully satisfied.The turning point comes with the words “But now.” Through Jesus, those who were far from God have been brought near. Christ is not only the giver of peace; He is our peace. Through His death on the cross, He destroyed the walls that separated people from God and from one another, creating one new family united in Him.The cross does more than forgive sins—it turns strangers into family.Paul describes believers as fellow citizens of God's kingdom, members of God's household, and ultimately a dwelling place for God's presence. The church is not simply a gathering people attend; it is the family God builds. While imperfect, it remains God's answer to loneliness, division, and isolation.Pastor Chris challenged the church to reject a casual view of community. Jesus loves His church, died for His church, and is building His church. Because the church is the Bride of Christ, believers cannot claim to love Jesus while remaining disconnected from His people.As the church enters the summer months, he encouraged everyone not to drift spiritually but to stay engaged in God's family. Some may need to come home to God, some need to reconnect with biblical community, and others need to actively help build the family through service, encouragement, and commitment.The sermon closed with a reminder that Jesus is still doing what He has always done: bringing broken people together, saving them by grace, and building them into a family where strangers become friends and friends become family. One day every earthly division will fade away, but the family of God will remain forever.

What is the biggest threat to your spiritual fire? It isn't doubt or persecution—it's amnesia [01:04]. When we forget what God has rescued us from, our passion fades and church can feel mechanical [02:24]. In this message, we dive into Ephesians 2 to see how Jesus radically redrew the boundary lines of faith. Before Christ, we were completely alienated and without hope [10:02]. But through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus didn't just mend our vertical relationship with God—He destroyed the hostile, horizontal dividing walls that separate us from one another to create one new humanity [14:35], [17:16]. Because we share the same Holy Spirit, our unity isn't something we have to manufacture; it is a reality we are called to live out [19:40]. Living in disunity or harboring bitterness is like a spiritual autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself [21:52]. Listen in as we challenge ourselves to take the cross seriously by prioritizing authentic, loving community and letting the Holy Spirit make our biblical unity a tangible reality.

In this guest message, When Rescue Is Ready, David Ong walked us through Ephesians 2:110 and reminded us of the rescue God has provided through Jesus. Before Christ, we were spiritually lost and separated from Godbut in His grace, God moved toward us. Salvation is not something we earn or achieve; it is a gift given through the love and mercy of Jesus. This sermon encouraged us to remember both the depth of our need and the beauty of Gods rescue. And because we have been rescued, we are now invited to live differentlywalking in gratitude, humility, and sharing the story of what God has done in our lives so others can discover that same hope.

Before Christ saved us, we were utterly powerless against the sin that so easily entangles us. But now, we have an entirely new position. In Christ we have strength to fight sin and live for God.

John writes to help us have confidence in who we are and what it means to be a child of God. He uses contrast to make it clear. Either you are a child of God or you are not. Either you are walking in righteousness or living in sin. This is how we know where we stand and how we can have confidence in Him. Before Christ, our lives move with the grain of the world. Sin feels natural and smooth. But when we become a Christian, the grain reverses. Now when we move back toward old patterns, it feels rough. There is friction. That friction is not shame. It is conviction. It is evidence that God has changed our desires from the inside out. This does not mean we will never sin again, but we will not keep on sinning as a pattern. There will be a tension. There will be a fight. We just cannot go in that direction anymore. God's seed abides in us, and He is shaping us through the process of sanctification as we become more like Him. Check out our video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/-UksSHg_wYcSubscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/8wmeCwBf_zkLearn more about us at chestnutmountain.orgFollow us on Facebook & Instagram @chestnutmtn_

Paul's story is one of radical change—once opposing God and trusting in his own righteousness, now seeing clearly through the gospel. Writing to the Galatian church, his urgency comes from a dangerous distortion: adding anything to Jesus. Whether through rebellion or trying to earn God's approval, both paths miss Him. Before Christ, we were all far from God, even when we looked “good.” The gospel isn't a formula to follow but a person to know. You're not serving an equation—you're serving Jesus. So are you telling a story about yourself, or living a testimony that points to Him?You can join our OneLife Sunday morning gatherings via livestream at 9am and 11am CST every Sunday morning. Or if you're local to the Bay Area of Houston, we'd love to have you join us in person Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 9am and 11am!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to join us live on Sunday mornings: / @onelifehoustonListen to more messages from OneLife Church at https://www.onelifehouston.com/messagesIf you would like to give to OneLife Church, you can do that here: https://www.onelifehouston.com/giveAt OneLife, we want to be and make disciples of Jesus who love God, one another, and our world. We are God's people making much of Jesus in everyday life for the good of the neighborhoods in the Bay Area of Houston and beyond.For more information about us and our gatherings, visit https://www.onelifehouston.com

Paul's story is one of radical change—once opposing God and trusting in his own righteousness, now seeing clearly through the gospel. Writing to the Galatian church, his urgency comes from a dangerous distortion: adding anything to Jesus. Whether through rebellion or trying to earn God's approval, both paths miss Him. Before Christ, we were all far from God, even when we looked “good.” The gospel isn't a formula to follow but a person to know. You're not serving an equation—you're serving Jesus. So are you telling a story about yourself, or living a testimony that points to Him?You can join our OneLife Sunday morning gatherings via livestream at 9am and 11am CST every Sunday morning. Or if you're local to the Bay Area of Houston, we'd love to have you join us in person Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 9am and 11am!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to join us live on Sunday mornings: / @onelifehoustonListen to more messages from OneLife Church at https://www.onelifehouston.com/messagesIf you would like to give to OneLife Church, you can do that here: https://www.onelifehouston.com/giveAt OneLife, we want to be and make disciples of Jesus who love God, one another, and our world. We are God's people making much of Jesus in everyday life for the good of the neighborhoods in the Bay Area of Houston and beyond.For more information about us and our gatherings, visit https://www.onelifehouston.com

Welcome to Day 2846 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – The Covenant and the Messiah: How Israel and the Nations Find Salvation in Yahweh. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2846 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2846 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled:  The Covenant and the Messiah: How Israel and the Nations Find Salvation in Yahweh. The God who spoke to Abraham is the same God who walked among men as Jesus of Nazareth. There has never been a shift in divine identity. From Genesis to Revelation, Yahweh is the name revealed to Israel, and Jesus is shown to be Yahweh incarnate. This continuity is critical. If Jesus is not Yahweh in the flesh, then His claims have no weight, and the cross is powerless. But if He is, then the covenants He made before His incarnation still hold, and the standard for faithfulness has not changed. The first segment is: The Abrahamic Covenant Still Stands God's promise to Abraham was everlasting. That covenant included a land, a people, and a mission to bless the nations. It was not conditioned on perfect obedience but on God's own faithfulness. While Israel at times fell under judgment due to breaking the later Mosaic covenant, the Abrahamic covenant was never revoked. Paul reaffirms this in Romans and Galatians, explaining that the promise to Abraham came first and was fulfilled in Christ, who is both the seed of Abraham and the true Israelite. That means Israel still has a place in God's plan, not by ethnicity alone, but through covenant loyalty to Yahweh, now fully revealed in Christ. The Sinai covenant, given after Israel's redemption from Egypt, was never a means of salvation. Yahweh had already saved His people. The Law was given to shape them into a holy nation, to guard them from corruption, and to point forward to the Messiah. Paul makes clear that the Law, which came centuries after Abraham, did not annul the promise. Salvation was always grounded in believing loyalty to Yahweh, not in legal observance, but the Law served as a guardian until Christ came. The second segment is: Jesus Is Yahweh in the Flesh Jesus was not a new deity or a created being sent by another god. He was and is the visible image of the invisible God. When He spoke, He used phrases that only Yahweh had used. When He forgave sins, calmed seas, and raised the dead, He did so with divine authority. His role was not to replace the God of the Old Testament, but to make Him known fully. This is what Israel had been waiting for, even if many could not recognize it at the time. The third segment is: Covenant Loyalty Before Full Revelation Before Christ came in the flesh, salvation was still possible. Those who followed Yahweh in faithful loyalty, trusting in His mercy and living in obedience to what had been revealed, were counted as righteous. This is why Abraham, Moses, and David are not outside of salvation even though they lived before the Incarnation. They were not saved by their works, but by their loyalty to the God who would ultimately fulfill the covenant through the Messiah. The fourth segment is: God's Justice Toward the Unevangelized Gentile The Bible acknowledges the reality that not every Gentile hears the good news in their lifetime. Yet it also shows that Yahweh is perfectly just in dealing with them. His judgment is not limited to external circumstances, but penetrates the heart and its inclinations. Jesus said that if His miracles had been performed in Tyre, Sidon, or even Sodom, those cities would have repented. This shows that God knows not only what people actually did but what they would have done under different circumstances. Likewise, when David asked God about Saul's pursuit at Keilah, God revealed what would happen if David stayed, even though David's choice altered the outcome. These passages reveal that Yahweh's knowledge includes both actual history and potential history. Gentiles who never heard the name of Christ are not outside this justice. Paul explained that their consciences bear witness to the law written on their hearts, and that God will judge the secrets of all through Christ Jesus (Romans 2:14–16). This means Yahweh knows the full posture of a person's heart toward Him, even in the absence of explicit revelation. God does not strip anyone of free will. But He knows perfectly how each person leans, what possibilities they considered, and what their response would have been if given more light. No one who would have been loyal is condemned unfairly. Whether through providence, as with Cornelius who was sent Peter, or through His perfect judgment at the end of the age, Yahweh ensures His justice is true. These examples also remind us that Tyre, Sidon, and even Sodom were not completely ignorant of Yahweh. Through Israel's presence in the land, trade, conflict, and even alliances, His name was known. The difference was that they never experienced Yahweh physically walking among them, healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom. Jesus's comparison drives home the weight of rejecting greater revelation: the outsiders with limited knowledge would have repented if given more, while those with full access to God's presence in Christ still turned away. The fifth segment is: Jews and Gentiles Are Both Accountable Once the Messiah came, the truth was revealed to all, Jew and Gentile alike. This did not erase Israel's story or uniqueness, but it clarified the path of salvation. The same Jesus who fulfilled the Law and the Prophets also opened the door for Gentiles to be grafted in. However, that same door still swings on the hinge of loyalty to Yahweh, who is now revealed as Jesus. Salvation was never about merely belonging to a group. Many Israelites perished in the wilderness despite being covenant members by birth, because their hearts were not loyal. The prophets consistently warned that outward signs like circumcision meant nothing without inner faithfulness. In the same way, Gentiles cannot assume that church membership or moral standing alone secures salvation. What God has always required is believing loyalty, faith expressed in trust, obedience, and allegiance to Him. For Israelites, covenant loyalty to Yahweh has always been the basis of salvation. Now that Yahweh has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus, rejecting Christ is no different from rejecting Yahweh. Yet the prophets also foresaw a day when Israel would recognize Him at last. Zechariah declared that they will look on the one they pierced and mourn for Him, and Revelation affirms that this moment will come on the day of the Lord. This shows that God has not abandoned His people. Many who do not yet see clearly will one day weep in repentance when their Messiah is revealed. The sixth segment is: There Are Not Two Paths, But One Fulfillment This is not about supersessionism, which teaches that the Church replaced Israel. It is also not pluralism, which claims that all faiths lead to God. Nor is it Marcionism, which pits the God of the Old Testament against the God of the New. Instead, it is a biblical unity that affirms Jesus as the fulfillment of what God always promised. Salvation has always come through faithful trust in Yahweh. Now that He has come in the flesh, that faith must include recognition of Jesus as Lord. The seventh segment is: The Danger of Getting This Wrong To deny that Jesus is Yahweh is to reject the gospel. To claim that Jews can be saved apart from Christ is to invent a second way of salvation. To pretend that the Church has replaced Israel is to ignore the promises of God. Each of these errors leads to a distortion of the gospel, whether it's by undermining the covenants, corrupting the character of God, or redefining salvation. The goal is not to create separate categories of who is in and who is out, but to proclaim the one true God, revealed in Christ, to all people. The eighth segment is: A Difficult and Divisive Topic The relationship between Israel, the Church, and salvation is one of the most debated subjects in Christian theology. Over the centuries, believers have held different perspectives, with some stressing replacement, others continuity, and still others proposing parallel covenants. At times these debates have been clouded by political concerns or even...

Pastor John Murphy teaches from Galatians 4:1-11 that the real issue for many believers is not behavior but the belief that we must earn God's love through performance. Before Christ, we lived like slaves driven by rules, fear, and the need for approval, but God sent His Son to redeem us and bring us into His family as adopted sons with full rights and His Spirit within us. The challenge now is to stop living like slaves, trying to prove ourselves, and instead rest in the freedom, security, and identity we already have as God's children.

Joshua BoydSeries Context Part of a “Walk Through the Bible” series (30,000-foot view)  Key theme: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever The Old Testament is still relevant—Jesus Himself quoted it often What is Righteousness? “Righteous” = what is right, just, and fair The key question: Whose perspective defines what's right? Culture says: “what's right to me” Bible says: God alone defines what is rightThe Problem with Human Perspective We judge based on personal feelings (“that's not fair”)  We: Excuse ourselvesAccuse others Like in Judges: everyone did what was right in their own eyesCore TruthGod is always: Right  Just  Fair Judgment in the Bible There is a clear line:  Right → Reward  Wrong → Judgment  This has never changedWhat has changed?How judgment is paid Before Christ → people bore judgment  After Christ → Jesus took judgment on the cross ➡️ God's standard never changed—only the payment method didThe Cross Changes Everything Jesus took:  The full punishment of sin  For all people (past, present, future)  We have a choice:  Accept His sacrifice → no personal judgment  Reject it → bear judgment ourselves Key Biblical PrincipleJudgment is never random—there is always cause and effect Example: Nations like Edom and Moab  Had opportunities to help Israel  Chose wrongly → judgment came later  Lesson: God gives opportunities before judgmentMisunderstanding Justice Today We often ask: “Where is justice?”  Truth: History isn't finished yet Final justice is coming Personal Application1. Stop judging others Our perspective is limited  God sees the full picture 2. Judge yourself instead “If you judge yourself, you won't be judged”  Repentance shifts judgment to the cross 3. Trust God's character Even when it doesn't seem fair  God is never wrong Grace vs License Grace ≠ permission to sin  Grace = opportunity to:  Be forgiven  Still live righteously Suffering ClarifiedTwo types: Suffering from wrong choices  Suffering for obedience ➡️ If suffering for God: Keep doing what is right  Trust Him fully Final Takeaways God's standard of right and wrong never changes  Judgment is always just and deserved  There is always an opportunity for repentance  Jesus took your judgment—if you accept it Closing Challenge Don't rely on your perspective  Align with God's definition of righteousness Repent quickly, obey consistently, trust fully

This powerful message challenges us to understand what it truly means to be a living sacrifice in light of Christ's resurrection. Drawing from Romans 12:1-2, we're reminded that our response to God's mercy isn't found in religious rituals alone, but in the daily crucifixion of our flesh. The sermon unpacks the three parts of our being—body, soul, and spirit—revealing that while our spirits are made alive in Christ, our bodies constantly war against God's purposes. The most profound truth presented is that every selfish decision leads to loneliness, while dying to ourselves leads to abundant life. We're called to remember that being a Christian means being a Christ-follower, and Christ's path led through death to resurrection. The challenge isn't just to celebrate Easter morning, but to live as those who understand that He is risen every single day, offering us new mercies and the power to overcome our flesh. This isn't about perfection, but about pressing forward, forgetting what lies behind, and straining toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.SERMON NOTES – Romans 12:1 (Resurrection Sunday)I. Big Idea  Because of God's great mercy shown in Christ's death and resurrection, believers are called to present their bodies as a **living sacrifice**—this is our reasonable, spiritual worship.II. The Basis: “By the mercies of God”  - Romans 1–11: God's mercies explained.   - We are all sinners; none righteous (Rom 3).   - God consigned all to disobedience (Rom 11:32).   - Jesus is the **propitiation** (payment) for our sin.   - In Christ we are **justified** – “just as if I'd never sinned.”    - Our record is wiped clean; sin cast as far as east from west.   - We are being **sanctified**, seated with Christ, more than conquerors (Rom 8).   - There is now **no condemnation** for those in Christ (Rom 8:1).  - Our response (Rom 12:1) is not to God's wrath, but to His mercy.III. Three Parts of the Person  1) **Spirit**  - Before Christ we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1).  - When we're born again, God **quickens** our spirit—His Spirit now dwells in us (Rom 8:9–11).  - The same Spirit that raised Jesus now lives in believers and grants authority “in Jesus' name.”2) **Soul** (mind, will, emotions)  - Greatest command: Love God with all your **heart, soul, mind** (Matt 22:37).  - The Word of God divides **soul and spirit** and discerns thoughts and intentions (Heb 4:12).3) **Body** (flesh)  - The ongoing struggle: our body/flesh has been in control for a long time.  - Paul: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this **body of death**?” (Rom 7:24).  - We “leak” spiritually; our flesh constantly pulls us away.  - Command: **Crucify** the flesh (Gal 5:24; Rom 8:13; 1 Pet 2:11).   - Every selfish decision leads to loneliness.IV. Living Sacrifice  - OT image: costly, bloody bull offering reduced to ashes (Lev 1).  - Daily picture: we present ourselves to be “burned up” and swept away—our will, rights, and demands.  - This is “your reasonable service” / “spiritual worship” – not just singing, but **surrendered living**.V. Example: Marriage (Eph 5)  - Wives: submit to husbands as to the Lord.  - Husbands: love wives as Christ loved the church—**dying** for her.  - Marriage works when both give 100%; someone has to “die” to self.VI. Paul's Perspective (Phil 3:8–14)  - Counts all things as loss to gain Christ.  - Wants to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in death.  - One thing: **forget what lies behind**, strain forward, press toward the upward call in Christ.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS  1. Daily Surrender: Begin each day praying, “Lord, my body is yours today—eyes, mouth, hands, schedule.”  2. Crucify the Flesh: Identify one recurring sinful habit; actively “put it to death” by confession, accountability, and replacing it with obedience.  3. Relational Death to Self: In marriage, family, work—choose one concrete way today to die to preference and serve another.  4. Mind Renewal: Saturate your soul with Scripture so the Word, not culture, shapes your desires.  5. Forget and Press On: Stop rehearsing forgiven sins; receive Christ's finished work and move forward.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS  1. Which aspect of God's mercy in Romans 1–11 impacts you most personally, and why?  2. Where do you most feel the tension between Spirit and body in your daily life?  3. What does being a “living sacrifice” practically look like in your current season?  4. How have you seen selfish decisions lead to loneliness in your own story?  5. What “past” do you need to forget so you can press on toward Christ?  6. What specific step will you take this week to present your body as a living sacrifice?

Hope collapses fast when it's built on what can change. Money shrinks, plans unravel, people disappoint, and emotions swing. In A Living Hope, Tyler Lynde opens 1 Peter 1:3–9 to name a different kind of confidence: a living hope rooted in the Father's mercy and anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is not vague optimism or denial; it is a confident expectation based on God's promises, not our mood, status, or circumstances.Tyler traces the source and motive of living hope—God the Father and his great mercy—and explains the miracle of new birth. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead and unable to bridge the gap to a holy God. But God, rich in mercy, makes us alive with Christ. This is regeneration, the Holy Spirit imparting spiritual life to a dead heart and creating a new capacity to trust Jesus. Living hope is not self-improvement; it is rescue, restoration, and right standing with God through the new covenant.He then slows down on the name of “our Lord Jesus Christ,” unfolding how Jesus is Lord (the Sovereign with the right to rule our lives), Jesus (the Savior who saves from sin), and Christ (God's anointed, exalted to the highest place). From the cross to the empty tomb, Tyler shows why the resurrection is the Father's public “Amen” to Jesus' “It is finished”—the sacrifice accepted and the victory secured. Because Jesus lives, we can live now in newness of life and forever in the age to come.This living hope also reframes suffering and the future. Trials refine faith like fire refines gold, producing joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. The Holy Spirit walks with believers, helping us persevere. Peter's promise of an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading points us ahead: whether we pass into God's presence or welcome the return of Christ, death is swallowed up in victory.Tyler speaks tenderly to those who have drifted, reminding us that the Father welcomes prodigals home. The message closes with a clear invitation to trust or return to Christ and with communion as a tangible reminder that we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.If you need durable hope for what you're facing, watch and share this message. What do you need living hope for right now?We are Trinity Community Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.Subscribe to our Podcast & YouTube channel to find past sermons, classes, interviews, and more!Find us on Facebook & Instagram

He Is Series Immanuel (God with us) — When You Feel Far from God but He Never Left Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” Every time I think about this, I am still amazed. I still can't believe God loves us so much that He sent his only Son to die on a cross for us. What makes it even more remarkable is that when God created us, He knew this was going to have to happen, and He created us anyway! Doesn't that feel crazy to you? I can definitely understand a parent doing something extreme to get their child out of a difficult situation. We have all heard the stories of the incredible things parents have done to save their children. However, they didn't know they would have to do it in advance. God did. God knew exactly what was going to happen in the garden. He knew the betrayal before it even happened. Yet, He created us anyway! I love to think about Adam and Eve and how they got to walk in the garden with God. I can't even really picture it, as I don't know what God looks like or how that worked. However, it is a great thing to sit and meditate on. Was God just a voice in the wind? Did he have a body when He visited them in the garden? What was that like? No one knows, but we can sit with the Lord and ask Him to help us visualize it. I feel as though that would be a calm and peaceful exercise in feeling the Lord around us. I can think of so many ways that God is with us. He is with us in church in so many ways. His Word is proclaimed during Mass. His body and blood are contained in the Eucharist. He is consumed by each person who approaches communion. God also sent the Holy Spirit to be within us all the time. It was really important for God to be with us. So important, He sent Jesus. After Adam and Eve betrayed Him, He separated Himself from them and from His people. Yet, he still looked after them and protected them. He was still their God, but it was more from a distance. They could no longer see Him as they did in the garden. Before Jesus came, God stayed separate from his people. When they built the temple, they built a special place called the “holy of holies,” where God's presence could dwell in a special way. However, only one person could enter this area, only once a year on the day of atonement, and it was only to make a sacrifice. God would talk to his people through a prophet. Everyone couldn't hear God's voice; only a select few whom God trusted passed along his messages or performed his signs of wonder. No one was allowed to see His face. All that changed when Jesus arrived on the scene. Another amazing thing is that God revealed his plan to his people over 700 years before Jesus was born. In Isaiah 7:14, it says, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” This is such a good example of God knowing when the right time is. He mentioned Jesus coming a long time before He came. However, He did promise to come. He did promise that He would walk among them again. I think the 700 years are important for us because they show that God has a plan for everything. God wasn't just waiting in heaven for a random day and time to bring Jesus to earth. He was in all the details. He was arranging everything perfectly. He picked Mary out specifically. He ordained her for this task, and she said yes! His timing was and is perfect. We don't know why God picked the time and place that He did for Jesus to come into the world. We don't know why he picked Mary or Joseph. We do know that Mary and Joseph were the perfect parents for Jesus. We know God's plan worked, and we are not reunited with Him. Do you remember when I told you about the special room in the temple where the presence of God was kept? It was called the Holy of Holies and was separated from the rest of the temple by a curtain. Did you know that the curtain was torn in two when Jesus died? In Matthew 27:50-52, it says, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” God wanted us all to know that there was nothing in between us anymore. He is no longer separated from us! I think most of us know this on some level, and yet I am not sure we are internalizing what that really means for us. I think most of us know that we can talk to God anytime we like. I think this has always been the case. However, did you know that you can hear the voice of God as well? God is talking to each one of us, and if we sit and listen, we will hear Him talking to us. This is very different than the people in the Old Testament. Before Jesus came, direct communication with God was pretty limited to the Priests, Prophets, and Kings. The Priests mediated between God and the people through sacrifice and the law. The Prophets, men like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah, received direct divine revelation from the Lord. The Kings, like David, were anointed and guided by the Spirit of God. The ordinary people, like you and me, could encounter the Lord through the Torah and sacred Scripture, the liturgy of the Temple, and the prophet's public proclamations. But direct, personal, intimate access to God was not the common experience. The Holy Spirit would come upon people for a specific purpose, then would withdraw. Aren't you so excited that you came into the world after Jesus did? After Jesus died on the cross for us, everything changed! God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within each baptised person. Not just for a purpose, or a season, but ALWAYS. We now also have direct access to the Father through Christ. (Hebrews 4:16). Prayer is no longer just a petition from a distance. According to the CCC#2564, prayer is a living relationship- a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is life, not merely words. Here is an analogy to help you see the difference. Before Christ, it was like writing a letter to someone across the ocean, hoping they would read it. After Christ is like having a conversation with someone sitting right next to you. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to have such a close relationship. My prayer for each one of you is that if you didn't know this was possible, you do now. I hope if this information is new to you, you are so excited to see what is possible for your relationship with God. Did you know you can sit down and have a conversation with Him, and He will talk back with you? He also talks to us through Scripture, other people, songs, visions, and so many ways. God is with you. He is right there next to you. He is in every situation you are in. He is rooting for you. He is protecting you. He is guiding you. He loves you. He is with you in the good times and in the bad times. I know sometimes we feel alone. We all do. The truth is that we are never alone. God is always with us. If we can't feel his presence, it is not because he is hiding from us. Many things can get in the way of feeling God's presence. They are things we put there, though, not Him. Here are some of them. Unconfessed sin busyness and distraction, a false sense of self-sufficiency, treating prayer as a technique instead of the gift that it is Physical and emotional exhaustion Spiritual dryness (this is not always caused by us; this could be God's invitation to love Him for who He is, not merely for the consolations He gives. Interior Distractions Anger or Bitterness towards the Lord Not taking Spiritual experiences seriously Unforgiveness I am not going to go into detail about each of those. I just wanted to show you that if you are not feeling God's presence, you are not alone, and also, it is not because God is not there. Also, if you want to feel God's presence more, you can do the opposite of those things. For instance, if you have unconfessed sin, you can confess it and remove that barrier. If you have unforgiveness, you can learn to forgive and remove that barrier, too. The CCC#45 says, “We are created to live in communion with God, in whom we find our happiness.” Dear Immanuel, I ask you to bless everyone listening to this episode today. Jesus, we are so grateful you are with us. We are grateful that you walk with us through all the fires of our lives. We are grateful you are there to celebrate the good times. Lord, we ask you to help us to feel you more in our lives. Help us notice you more in our lives. We want more of you and less of us, Lord!! We ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus's holy name, Amen! Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with a friend. Also, if you could help me out and leave a review that would be great. I look forward to seeing you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day! Today's Word from the Lord was received in October 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, let your hearts know that I am with you until the end of time. Let my words resonate through every trial. Let my presence soothe you. Let my presence go beyond any circumstance.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

March 29th, 2026 | No Other Gospel | Galatians 3:15-29In this message from our No Other Gospel series, Pastor Daniel Norris walks through Galatians 3:15–29 and unpacks a powerful truth about who we are because of Jesus.Before Christ, we were held captive—imprisoned under the weight of the law, unable to save ourselves. But the law was never meant to rescue us; it was meant to reveal our need for a Savior. Through God's promise, fulfilled in Christ, everything changes.Now, in Christ, we are no longer prisoners—we are sons and daughters of God. Fully accepted. Fully covered. Fully loved. And through Christ, we are heirs to the promise, united as one family, no longer defined by our past, our status, or our differences.This message is a clear and compelling reminder: you don't earn your identity—you receive it by faith. The gospel doesn't just forgive you; it gives you a new name, a new standing, and a new future.Whether you're exploring faith or need to be reminded of who you are in Jesus, this episode invites you to stop striving and start living in the freedom of the true gospel.There is no other gospel.Do you know JESUS?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER?: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nblongview.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT through giving: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠⁠⁠

March 29th, 2026 | No Other Gospel | Galtatians 3:23-29In this message from our No Other Gospel series, Pastor Matt Darby unpacks Galatians 3:23–29 and calls us back to the freedom and identity found in Jesus.Galatians reminds us how easy it is to drift. We begin with grace, but somewhere along the way we start measuring ourselves by performance—relating to God like employees instead of sons. Without realizing it, we slip back into the very bondage Christ died to free us from.Pastor Matt walks through three powerful movements in this passage:Before Christ, we were captive. In Christ, we are sons. Through Christ, we are heirs.The law was never meant to save us—it was meant to expose our need for a Savior. But through faith in Jesus, everything changes. We are no longer imprisoned by our inability to measure up. We are fully accepted, fully covered, and brought into the family of God with the standing of heirs.This message is a clear reminder that your identity is not something you earn—it's something you receive. In Christ, you are no longer defined by your past, your performance, or others' opinions. You are defined by what God says is true: you belong.If you've been striving to prove your worth or struggling to live in freedom, this episode invites you to return to the gospel—where grace defines you, and freedom is yours.Are you living like who you used to be—or who Christ has made you to be?Do you know JESUS? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/do-you-know-jesus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need PRAYER? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbgilmer.org/pray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support through GIVING: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nbbctx.org/giving⁠

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032526.cfmDeath appears to be the ultimate end for many, yet Jesus reveals a deeper truth that transforms our entire perspective on mortality. In the Gospel of John, we witness the raising of Lazarus, a powerful sign that death is not final for those who believe. Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life, promising that whoever believes in Him will never truly die. This is not merely spiritual metaphor but eternal reality for the baptized Christian.Yet Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, showing His profound compassion for human suffering. He understands our grief because He entered into it fully on the cross, carrying every cross we bear. The shortest verse in Scripture reveals the depth of Christ's humanity and His solidarity with those who mourn. However, the Lord weeps most deeply not over physical death, but over spiritual death—the loss of the soul through mortal sin.At Baptism, we were raised like Lazarus from spiritual death to new life in Christ. We became temples of God, filled with divine life. But when we commit grave sin with full knowledge and deliberate consent, we become spiritually dead again, like the dry bones Ezekiel saw in the field. The tragedy is not that we cannot return, but that we choose to remain bound by sin when Christ offers liberation.The Sacrament of Penance was instituted on Easter Sunday as a sign of this ongoing resurrection. Through Confession, we are untied from the bonds of Satan, sin, and death. Saint Augustine taught that the recreation of our souls through redemption is more majestic than the creation of the universe itself. Every confession is a personal resurrection, a chance to rise again in the Spirit of God.During Lent, the Church enters into a liturgical dying. The Alleluia is buried, flowers are removed, and statues are veiled. On Good Friday, even the Mass is taken from us. Yet from this complete emptiness, life shines through in Christ's Resurrection. We must enter this dying to self through penance, prayer, fasting, and the Sacraments to share in His glory.The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” reminds us that the Church will enter the kingdom only through this final Passover, following her Lord in death and resurrection. Before Christ's Second Coming, the Church must pass through trials that will shake the faith of many. We see confusion and scattering in our time, yet we must not let our faith be shaken. Like Lazarus, even when all seems lost, we can always have hope for resurrection. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032226.cfmDeath appears to be the ultimate end for many, yet Jesus reveals a deeper truth that transforms our entire perspective on mortality. In the Gospel of John, we witness the raising of Lazarus, a powerful sign that death is not final for those who believe. Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life, promising that whoever believes in Him will never truly die. This is not merely spiritual metaphor but eternal reality for the baptized Christian.Yet Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, showing His profound compassion for human suffering. He understands our grief because He entered into it fully on the cross, carrying every cross we bear. The shortest verse in Scripture reveals the depth of Christ's humanity and His solidarity with those who mourn. However, the Lord weeps most deeply not over physical death, but over spiritual death—the loss of the soul through mortal sin.At baptism, we were raised like Lazarus from spiritual death to new life in Christ. We became temples of God, filled with divine life. But when we commit grave sin with full knowledge and deliberate consent, we become spiritually dead again, like the dry bones Ezekiel saw in the field. The tragedy is not that we cannot return, but that we choose to remain bound by sin when Christ offers liberation.The sacrament of Penance was instituted on Easter Sunday as a sign of this ongoing resurrection. Through confession, we are untied from the bonds of Satan, sin, and death. Saint Augustine taught that the recreation of our souls through redemption is more majestic than the creation of the universe itself. Every confession is a personal resurrection, a chance to rise again in the Spirit of God.During Lent, the Church enters into a liturgical dying. The Alleluia is buried, flowers are removed, and statues are veiled. On Good Friday, even the Mass is taken from us. Yet from this complete emptiness, life shines through in Christ's resurrection. We must enter this dying to self through penance, prayer, fasting, and the sacraments to share in His glory.The Catechism reminds us that the Church will enter the kingdom only through this final Passover, following her Lord in death and resurrection. Before Christ's second coming, the Church must pass through trials that will shake the faith of many. We see confusion and scattering in our time, yet we must not let our faith be shaken. Like Lazarus, even when all seems lost, there is always hope for resurrection.Believe in Him who says, I am the resurrection and the life. Take advantage of the Eucharist to store up spiritual grace. If you are in mortal sin, go to the confessional and be resurrected. The Lord does not want to weep over the loss of your soul. He wants you to live forever. ★ Support this podcast ★

Paul reminds the Colossians of their spiritual journey from enemies to saints. Before Christ, we were alienated from God, hostile in mind, and doing evil deeds - completely separated from our Creator. Through Christ's death on the cross, God accomplished what we could never do: reconciliation. Now we stand holy, blameless, and above reproach before Him. This transformation requires perseverance in faith, remaining stable and steadfast in the gospel. True believers will continue in faith, not through their own strength, but because God preserves them through His grace.

Before Christ returns, proper Christian gratitude is displayed in diligent Christian service. Old Testament Text: Psalm 2 https://media.urclearning.org/audio/tm-wait-03-01-2026.MP3  

"In Galatians 4:1–7, the Apostle Paul unfolds one of the most glorious truths of the gospel: God sent His Son and His Spirit so that sinners would no longer be slaves, but sons—and heirs of all that God has promised.This sermon explores how justification by faith necessarily leads to adoption. God does not merely declare believers righteous; he declares them his own children. Everyone who is justified in Christ is also adopted in Christ. To deny justification by faith, therefore, is not only to deny how sinners are forgiven, but to deny the freedom, intimacy, and inheritance of the children of God.Paul explains this reality through the metaphor of an underage heir—one who is truly an heir, yet lives under guardianship until the time appointed by the father. Before Christ came, God's people lived under the law in this way. But apart from Christ, Gentiles were not heirs at all—they were slaves, bound under the “elementary principles of the world,” enslaved to false religion and the power of sin.Into this bondage, God acted. In the fullness of time, the Father sent His eternal Son—born of woman, born under the law—to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. Christ placed himself under the law, not for his own sake, but for ours, accomplishing the obedience we could never render. He became the Son of Man so that sons of men might become sons of God—by grace.And God did not stop there. Having made us sons through Christ, he sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. This Spirit testifies to our adoption, crying out “Abba, Father,” granting assurance, intimacy, and confidence before God. The Spirit confirms what the Son has accomplished: you belong to God.The conclusion is unmistakable: if you are in Christ, you are no longer a slave—you are a son. And if a son, then an heir through God. This is the glory of the gospel: redemption, adoption, and inheritance, all given freely by grace through faith in Christ alone.#Galatians #Adoption #JustificationByFaith #SonsOfGod #UnionWithChrist #GospelFreedom #HeirsOfGod #TrinitarianSalvation #GraceAlone #FaithAlone #ChristAlone #ReformedTheology #BiblicalTheology"

Ever questioned your life's trajectory? In this message, Pastor Nick Tallo walks us through Ephesians 2, a powerful picture of what life looks like apart from God and the incredible transformation made possible through His grace.Paul doesn't hold back. He reminds us where we started… and then shows us what God has done to bring us fully alive in Christ. Main Takeaways:1. Understanding Our Condition Before Christ, we were spiritually dead—caught in patterns we couldn't escape and separated from the life God designed for us. (Ephesians 2:1–3)2. Grace Intervenes Then come two of the most hope-filled words in Scripture: “But God.” Because of His rich mercy and great love, He makes us alive with Christ. This isn't earned, it's grace. (Ephesians 2:4–5)3. Living From Victory We're not just rescued, we're raised and seated with Christ. That means we live from acceptance, not for it, and our lives become a display of His grace to the world. (Ephesians 2:6–7)At 2Rivers, our mission is to guide you to become passionate followers of Jesus so you can experience life the way He intended. No matter your past, God's grace makes a new future possible.▶️ Next StepsIf you're exploring faith or want to grow deeper:Subscribe for teaching that connects Scripture to everyday life.Need a Bible? Pick one up at a weekend service—it's our gift to you.Resources MentionedEphesians Devotional Guide (available at church)Free Bibles at the Welcome Desk

Paul reveals in Colossians 1:13-14 that following Christ involves the most profound relocation possible - a complete transfer from Satan's domain of darkness into God's kingdom. Before Christ, we lived under spiritual darkness that blinds our minds and enslaves our wills. God rescues us through divine intervention, not through our own efforts. This deliverance is already accomplished through Christ's blood at Calvary, where He paid the penalty for our sins in full. We are now citizens of Christ's kingdom with immediate benefits including justification, adoption, and ongoing sanctification. Our forgiveness is complete and irreversible - all our sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west.

Introduction I remember the first time I sat down to read the book of Revelation. It was the summer of 1992a pleasant Pennsylvania eveningsitting on the back patio of the small house where I spent my teenage years. That night, I read all twenty-two chapters in one sitting. Early on, I underlined a verse that encouraged me:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy(Rev. 1:3). Those words felt like a promisethat something good awaited anyone willing to step into this book. But as I kept reading, I grew more and more confusedespecially when I reached chapter 6. The imagery became overwhelming, the questions multiplied, and when I finished, I had only highlighted a handful of verses. That night marked both my introduction to Revelation and the limits of my confidence in ita confidence that, for many years, did not grow much beyond that patio chair. Part of the reason I read Revelation in the first place had to do with a movie I watched with my friends calledA Thief in the Night, which focused on what theologians call the rapturethe belief that believers will be caught up to meet Christ in connection with a future tribulation. Passages like 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 are often cited in support of this view. For the sake of time, we read just the words from 1 Thessalonians:The Lord himself will descend from heaven and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (v. 16). Because the wordrapturedoes not appear in the Bible, many people encounter it through popular books and films, such as theLeft Behindseries. Those works helped popularize one particular way of reading prophetic textsknown as dispensationalismwhich has had a significant influence on American evangelical churches. Dispensationalism is one of several interpretive approaches Christians have used to read Revelation, and it developed in the nineteenth century before spreading widely through conferences, study Bibles, and evangelical institutions. My own thinking as a new Christian was deeply shaped by this framework. I share that not to critique my past, but to be honest about the lenses I brought with me as I opened this bookand the lenses many of us bring with us still. Its also important to know that dispensationalism is not the only way Christians have read Revelation. Throughout church history, believers have approached this book in several major ways:Preterist,Historicist, andIdealistreadings. Faithful Christians have held each of these views while confessing the same gospel and worshiping the same Lord. That diversity of interpretation is not new. In fact, G. K. Chesterton once observed,Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.[1] How to Read Revelation Today When I began myRevelation and Its Parallelsproject, I heard a simple statementone Ive never been able to trace to a single sourcethat has guided everything since:Revelation cannot mean for us what it did not first mean for John and the first-century church.That sentence has served as a compass for my book, my preparation for this sermon, and every message in this series. I believe this principle is confirmed by Revelation 1:3, where we are given one of the clearest clues for how this book is meant to be read:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.This is the first of seven blessings in Revelation,[2] and it was originally spoken to seven real churches that existed in history. That blessing was not abstract or theoreticalit was given to ordinary believers gathered in local congregations. To read Revelation rightly, we must first recognize that it is aletterwritten to seven churches. At the same time, it is alsoapocalypticfrom the Greekapokalypsis, meaning unveiling. Apocalyptic literature communicates truth through visions and symbolic language, revealing heavenly realities that are normally hidden from everyday sight. It invites us to question the assumption that appearances always reflect reality. What seems powerful and permanent by earthly standards may already be exposed as temporary when seen from heavens perspective. What does that mean for us today? Revelation was writtentofirst-century churches, but it was writtenforthe church in every generation. It speaks across time, culture, and ethnic boundaries precisely because it first spoke clearly and meaningfully to the first-century church. And one of the clearest ways John teaches us to read this book is through the careful and consistent use of numbersespecially the number seven. Let me show you what I mean. Reading Revelation Through Its Use of Numbers There are a series of numbers that you must be aware of that are used throughout the Bible. When you are trying to figure out what those numbers mean, you MUST understand how those numbers are used throughout the Bible. So, the important numbers you need to be aware are 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 24, 3 (also 42 months, and 1260 days), and 1000. I have a whole chapter in the beginning of my book on the use of numbers in the book of Revelation, but for now let me highlight why this is important without getting into the weeds. The Number Seven The most predominant number used throughout the book of Revelation is the number seven. Many people associate seven with judgmentbut Revelation begins withseven churches, not seven disasters (Rev. 13). Before Christ judges the world, He walks among His churches, knows them by name, commends their faithfulness, and calls them to endurance. Throughout Revelation, the number seven consistently communicatesdivine completenessthe fullness of Gods purposeful and perfect work. There are not only seven churches, but alsothe seven Spirits of God. The seven Spirits are before Gods throne (Rev. 1:4) and are sent out into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). John is drawing on the imagery ofZechariah 4, where the emphasis is not on multiple spirits, but on thefullness of Gods Spirit at work. John is not describing seven distinct spirits, but the complete, sevenfold Spirit of the Lord. Each time we encounter this phrase, we should hear the echo of Zechariah 4:6:Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. In Revelation 5, John is told,Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals(v. 5). Then something that happens often in Revelation occurs: John hears one thing, but when he turns to see, he sees something unexpected. In verse 6 he seesa Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes.Jesus is the Lamb. The seven horns do not describe physical features, butcomplete authority, since horns symbolize power. The seven eyes representperfect knowledgethe Lamb fully knows His people and their suffering. Throughout Revelation there is a scroll withseven seals, followed byseven trumpetsandseven bowlsof wrath. But here is what often surprises people: there are alsoseven blessings, sometimes called the seven beatitudes of Revelation. So let me ask this question: if the number seven is used everywhere else in the book to communicate a real and meaningful theological truth, why would we assume it functions differently when applied to a period of suffering often called the tribulation? The number seven is even applied toevil powersnot to suggest their equality with God, but to show how evil attempts tomimicthe completeness that belongs to God alone. Even then, its power is borrowed and its end is certain. We will return to the number seven again at the end of the sermon. The Number Three The number three is also an important number in Revelation. It does not appear as obviously or as frequently as the number seven, but it is woven throughout the book in meaningful ways. We see it immediately in Revelation 1:4, where John writes: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. In the Greek, John begins very simply and deliberately:from the One who is, and who was, and who is coming.[3]This threefold description refers to the Father and emphasizes His faithful presence across all of timepast, present, and future. Before Revelation introduces conflict, judgment, or suffering, it grounds the church in the identity of the eternal God. Heres the encouragement: before Revelation tells uswhatwill happen, it tells uswhoGod is. The book does not begin with fear, but with divine testimonya settled assurance that the God who was faithful in the past is present now and will remain faithful in what is yet to come. Before Revelation confronts the church with suffering, it anchors the church in the faithful, triune God who speaks with one unified voice. The Number Four After Revelation reveals the nature of God, it shifts focus to encompass all of creation and its relationship to Him. In the Bible, the number four frequently symbolizes the entirety of the created worldrepresenting the total extent of Gods handiwork. By utilizing this number, Revelation emphasizes that Johns vision is not limited to a specific location or group, but instead embraces the whole of creation. We see this in Revelation 4 with the four living creatures who surround the throne of God (Rev. 4:6-8). Have you ever thought about the way they are described? The first living creature had the appearance like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third was like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Taken together, the point is that the entire created order is made to worship the One who is on the throne. God rules over creation! So when you read in Revelation about the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the four corners of the earth, the four winds, know that what is being referred to is the whole created world. One of my favorite places the number 4 is used is in Revelation 5:9-10 regarding the song that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Jesus ransomed a people for God 1) from every tribe, 2) from every language, 3) from every people, and 4) from every nation. The Numbers Twelve and Twenty-Four The numbertwelverepresents the people of God. In the Old Testament, it refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, and in the New Testament, to the twelve apostles. Scripture consistently uses twelve to communicate that Gods people are known, formed, and established by His saving work. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2, Gods people are being built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:1922). In Revelation, the numberstwelveandtwenty-fourfunction together to identify the people of God as a unified whole. Twelve signals Gods covenant people, and twenty-four brings that picture to completion. In Revelation 4 and 5, John seestwenty-four eldersseated around the thronetwelve representing Gods people under the old covenant and twelve under the newtogether, at rest, and worshiping. The emphasis here is not on calculation, but on reassurance. Revelation is not telling us how many belong to God; it is assuring us thatallwho belong to Him are gathered, secure, and present with Himnot one is missing. The Number 1000 A final number worth mentioning isone thousand. Like the other numbers weve seen, Revelation does not use one thousand to satisfy curiosity or to function as a precise chronological measurement. Throughout Scripture, the number one thousand often communicates theall-encompassing scopeof Gods work and promises. We see this clearly in the Old Testament. Psalm 50:10 says,For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.The point is not that God owns exactly one thousand hills and no more. The psalmist is using the number to say thateverything belongs to God. One thousand functions as a way of expressing abundance and totality, not limitation. That same use of the number helps us understand Revelations reference to144,000. This number is not meant to be decoded, but understood. Twelve tribes multiplied by twelve apostles, multiplied by one thousand, forms a picture of thecomplete people of God, fully known, fully gathered, and fully secure. The emphasis is not on how many are counted, but on the assurance thatno one is missing. In the same way, when Revelation later speaks of a period described as a thousand years, the focus is not on constructing a timeline, but on affirming that Gods purposes arefull, complete, and lacking nothing. In Revelation, one thousand does not tell ushow longGod reignsit tells ushow completelyHe reigns. Conclusion Now, back to the number seven. One of the most startling discoveries I madeone that truly floored mecame as I traced the biblical parallels shaping the book of Revelation. As I worked through both the Old and New Testaments, I began to see a repeated pattern suggesting that Revelation is intentionally structured in a particular way. As I sketched out what I was seeing, that structure took shape as aheptagon, reflecting seven distinct yet interconnected perspectives. At the same time, I noticed that Revelation consistently moves toward a single, overarching theme:a new Eden, infinitely better than the firstwhere redemption reaches its climax in the new heaven and new earth. I also became convinced that theseven Jewish feastshelp govern the movement of the book. As you can see in the diagram, Revelation is designed to be read fromseven different vantage points, much like the four Gospels present Jesus from four complementary perspectives. What this prepares us to see is that Revelation is not laid out like a straight timeline moving neatly from beginning to end. Instead, John repeatedly returns to the same redemptive realitiessometimes from the perspective of the church, sometimes from heaven, sometimes through judgment, and sometimes through worshipeach time helping us see more clearly what is already true. You may have noticed the small slinky on your seat this morning. I put those there intentionally. A slinky doesnt move forward in a straight lineit advances by looping back over itself. And in many ways, thats how Revelation works. The book moves forward by returning again and again to the same redemptive realities, each time from a different vantage point. Thats what I mean when I talk about therecapitulatory natureof Revelationand thats what thisseven-fold vantage point diagramis designed to help us see. Rather than presenting a single, forward-moving sequence of events, Revelation shows us the same story from seven different angles, each one reinforcing the same central truth:God reigns, the Lamb has conquered, and His people are secure. This diagram isnt meant to flatten Revelation or oversimplify it. Its meant to help us see how its visions relate to one anotherhow seals, trumpets, bowls, and worship scenes are not competing timelines, but recurring perspectives on the same unfolding reality. Revelation isnt a puzzle to be solved, but a picture book meant to be seen. When we view it from heavens perspective, it becomes a source of assurance rather than confusion. Its purpose is not to challenge us with riddles, but to steady our faith, strengthen our hearts, and draw us into worship of the Lamb. [1] G. K. Chesterton,Orthodoxy(London: John Lane, 1908), 21. [2] On the seven beatitudes of Revelation, see 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14 [3] Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 54.

Introduction I remember the first time I sat down to read the book of Revelation. It was the summer of 1992a pleasant Pennsylvania eveningsitting on the back patio of the small house where I spent my teenage years. That night, I read all twenty-two chapters in one sitting. Early on, I underlined a verse that encouraged me:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy(Rev. 1:3). Those words felt like a promisethat something good awaited anyone willing to step into this book. But as I kept reading, I grew more and more confusedespecially when I reached chapter 6. The imagery became overwhelming, the questions multiplied, and when I finished, I had only highlighted a handful of verses. That night marked both my introduction to Revelation and the limits of my confidence in ita confidence that, for many years, did not grow much beyond that patio chair. Part of the reason I read Revelation in the first place had to do with a movie I watched with my friends calledA Thief in the Night, which focused on what theologians call the rapturethe belief that believers will be caught up to meet Christ in connection with a future tribulation. Passages like 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 are often cited in support of this view. For the sake of time, we read just the words from 1 Thessalonians:The Lord himself will descend from heaven and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (v. 16). Because the wordrapturedoes not appear in the Bible, many people encounter it through popular books and films, such as theLeft Behindseries. Those works helped popularize one particular way of reading prophetic textsknown as dispensationalismwhich has had a significant influence on American evangelical churches. Dispensationalism is one of several interpretive approaches Christians have used to read Revelation, and it developed in the nineteenth century before spreading widely through conferences, study Bibles, and evangelical institutions. My own thinking as a new Christian was deeply shaped by this framework. I share that not to critique my past, but to be honest about the lenses I brought with me as I opened this bookand the lenses many of us bring with us still. Its also important to know that dispensationalism is not the only way Christians have read Revelation. Throughout church history, believers have approached this book in several major ways:Preterist,Historicist, andIdealistreadings. Faithful Christians have held each of these views while confessing the same gospel and worshiping the same Lord. That diversity of interpretation is not new. In fact, G. K. Chesterton once observed,Though St. John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.[1] How to Read Revelation Today When I began myRevelation and Its Parallelsproject, I heard a simple statementone Ive never been able to trace to a single sourcethat has guided everything since:Revelation cannot mean for us what it did not first mean for John and the first-century church.That sentence has served as a compass for my book, my preparation for this sermon, and every message in this series. I believe this principle is confirmed by Revelation 1:3, where we are given one of the clearest clues for how this book is meant to be read:Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.This is the first of seven blessings in Revelation,[2] and it was originally spoken to seven real churches that existed in history. That blessing was not abstract or theoreticalit was given to ordinary believers gathered in local congregations. To read Revelation rightly, we must first recognize that it is aletterwritten to seven churches. At the same time, it is alsoapocalypticfrom the Greekapokalypsis, meaning unveiling. Apocalyptic literature communicates truth through visions and symbolic language, revealing heavenly realities that are normally hidden from everyday sight. It invites us to question the assumption that appearances always reflect reality. What seems powerful and permanent by earthly standards may already be exposed as temporary when seen from heavens perspective. What does that mean for us today? Revelation was writtentofirst-century churches, but it was writtenforthe church in every generation. It speaks across time, culture, and ethnic boundaries precisely because it first spoke clearly and meaningfully to the first-century church. And one of the clearest ways John teaches us to read this book is through the careful and consistent use of numbersespecially the number seven. Let me show you what I mean. Reading Revelation Through Its Use of Numbers There are a series of numbers that you must be aware of that are used throughout the Bible. When you are trying to figure out what those numbers mean, you MUST understand how those numbers are used throughout the Bible. So, the important numbers you need to be aware are 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 24, 3 (also 42 months, and 1260 days), and 1000. I have a whole chapter in the beginning of my book on the use of numbers in the book of Revelation, but for now let me highlight why this is important without getting into the weeds. The Number Seven The most predominant number used throughout the book of Revelation is the number seven. Many people associate seven with judgmentbut Revelation begins withseven churches, not seven disasters (Rev. 13). Before Christ judges the world, He walks among His churches, knows them by name, commends their faithfulness, and calls them to endurance. Throughout Revelation, the number seven consistently communicatesdivine completenessthe fullness of Gods purposeful and perfect work. There are not only seven churches, but alsothe seven Spirits of God. The seven Spirits are before Gods throne (Rev. 1:4) and are sent out into all the earth (Rev. 5:6). John is drawing on the imagery ofZechariah 4, where the emphasis is not on multiple spirits, but on thefullness of Gods Spirit at work. John is not describing seven distinct spirits, but the complete, sevenfold Spirit of the Lord. Each time we encounter this phrase, we should hear the echo of Zechariah 4:6:Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. In Revelation 5, John is told,Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals(v. 5). Then something that happens often in Revelation occurs: John hears one thing, but when he turns to see, he sees something unexpected. In verse 6 he seesa Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes.Jesus is the Lamb. The seven horns do not describe physical features, butcomplete authority, since horns symbolize power. The seven eyes representperfect knowledgethe Lamb fully knows His people and their suffering. Throughout Revelation there is a scroll withseven seals, followed byseven trumpetsandseven bowlsof wrath. But here is what often surprises people: there are alsoseven blessings, sometimes called the seven beatitudes of Revelation. So let me ask this question: if the number seven is used everywhere else in the book to communicate a real and meaningful theological truth, why would we assume it functions differently when applied to a period of suffering often called the tribulation? The number seven is even applied toevil powersnot to suggest their equality with God, but to show how evil attempts tomimicthe completeness that belongs to God alone. Even then, its power is borrowed and its end is certain. We will return to the number seven again at the end of the sermon. The Number Three The number three is also an important number in Revelation. It does not appear as obviously or as frequently as the number seven, but it is woven throughout the book in meaningful ways. We see it immediately in Revelation 1:4, where John writes: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. In the Greek, John begins very simply and deliberately:from the One who is, and who was, and who is coming.[3]This threefold description refers to the Father and emphasizes His faithful presence across all of timepast, present, and future. Before Revelation introduces conflict, judgment, or suffering, it grounds the church in the identity of the eternal God. Heres the encouragement: before Revelation tells uswhatwill happen, it tells uswhoGod is. The book does not begin with fear, but with divine testimonya settled assurance that the God who was faithful in the past is present now and will remain faithful in what is yet to come. Before Revelation confronts the church with suffering, it anchors the church in the faithful, triune God who speaks with one unified voice. The Number Four After Revelation reveals the nature of God, it shifts focus to encompass all of creation and its relationship to Him. In the Bible, the number four frequently symbolizes the entirety of the created worldrepresenting the total extent of Gods handiwork. By utilizing this number, Revelation emphasizes that Johns vision is not limited to a specific location or group, but instead embraces the whole of creation. We see this in Revelation 4 with the four living creatures who surround the throne of God (Rev. 4:6-8). Have you ever thought about the way they are described? The first living creature had the appearance like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third was like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Taken together, the point is that the entire created order is made to worship the One who is on the throne. God rules over creation! So when you read in Revelation about the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the four corners of the earth, the four winds, know that what is being referred to is the whole created world. One of my favorite places the number 4 is used is in Revelation 5:9-10 regarding the song that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sing: Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Jesus ransomed a people for God 1) from every tribe, 2) from every language, 3) from every people, and 4) from every nation. The Numbers Twelve and Twenty-Four The numbertwelverepresents the people of God. In the Old Testament, it refers to the twelve tribes of Israel, and in the New Testament, to the twelve apostles. Scripture consistently uses twelve to communicate that Gods people are known, formed, and established by His saving work. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2, Gods people are being built together on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:1922). In Revelation, the numberstwelveandtwenty-fourfunction together to identify the people of God as a unified whole. Twelve signals Gods covenant people, and twenty-four brings that picture to completion. In Revelation 4 and 5, John seestwenty-four eldersseated around the thronetwelve representing Gods people under the old covenant and twelve under the newtogether, at rest, and worshiping. The emphasis here is not on calculation, but on reassurance. Revelation is not telling us how many belong to God; it is assuring us thatallwho belong to Him are gathered, secure, and present with Himnot one is missing. The Number 1000 A final number worth mentioning isone thousand. Like the other numbers weve seen, Revelation does not use one thousand to satisfy curiosity or to function as a precise chronological measurement. Throughout Scripture, the number one thousand often communicates theall-encompassing scopeof Gods work and promises. We see this clearly in the Old Testament. Psalm 50:10 says,For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.The point is not that God owns exactly one thousand hills and no more. The psalmist is using the number to say thateverything belongs to God. One thousand functions as a way of expressing abundance and totality, not limitation. That same use of the number helps us understand Revelations reference to144,000. This number is not meant to be decoded, but understood. Twelve tribes multiplied by twelve apostles, multiplied by one thousand, forms a picture of thecomplete people of God, fully known, fully gathered, and fully secure. The emphasis is not on how many are counted, but on the assurance thatno one is missing. In the same way, when Revelation later speaks of a period described as a thousand years, the focus is not on constructing a timeline, but on affirming that Gods purposes arefull, complete, and lacking nothing. In Revelation, one thousand does not tell ushow longGod reignsit tells ushow completelyHe reigns. Conclusion Now, back to the number seven. One of the most startling discoveries I madeone that truly floored mecame as I traced the biblical parallels shaping the book of Revelation. As I worked through both the Old and New Testaments, I began to see a repeated pattern suggesting that Revelation is intentionally structured in a particular way. As I sketched out what I was seeing, that structure took shape as aheptagon, reflecting seven distinct yet interconnected perspectives. At the same time, I noticed that Revelation consistently moves toward a single, overarching theme:a new Eden, infinitely better than the firstwhere redemption reaches its climax in the new heaven and new earth. I also became convinced that theseven Jewish feastshelp govern the movement of the book. As you can see in the diagram, Revelation is designed to be read fromseven different vantage points, much like the four Gospels present Jesus from four complementary perspectives. What this prepares us to see is that Revelation is not laid out like a straight timeline moving neatly from beginning to end. Instead, John repeatedly returns to the same redemptive realitiessometimes from the perspective of the church, sometimes from heaven, sometimes through judgment, and sometimes through worshipeach time helping us see more clearly what is already true. You may have noticed the small slinky on your seat this morning. I put those there intentionally. A slinky doesnt move forward in a straight lineit advances by looping back over itself. And in many ways, thats how Revelation works. The book moves forward by returning again and again to the same redemptive realities, each time from a different vantage point. Thats what I mean when I talk about therecapitulatory natureof Revelationand thats what thisseven-fold vantage point diagramis designed to help us see. Rather than presenting a single, forward-moving sequence of events, Revelation shows us the same story from seven different angles, each one reinforcing the same central truth:God reigns, the Lamb has conquered, and His people are secure. This diagram isnt meant to flatten Revelation or oversimplify it. Its meant to help us see how its visions relate to one anotherhow seals, trumpets, bowls, and worship scenes are not competing timelines, but recurring perspectives on the same unfolding reality. Revelation isnt a puzzle to be solved, but a picture book meant to be seen. When we view it from heavens perspective, it becomes a source of assurance rather than confusion. Its purpose is not to challenge us with riddles, but to steady our faith, strengthen our hearts, and draw us into worship of the Lamb. [1] G. K. Chesterton,Orthodoxy(London: John Lane, 1908), 21. [2] On the seven beatitudes of Revelation, see 1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7, 14 [3] Craig R. Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018), 54.

The life of a Christian is a life of before & after. Before Christ, our life looked one way. After Christ, our life ought to look another way. But so often, even after Christ, we look the same. Therefore, Paul tells us, get up, get moving, and walk in the light as He is in the light. 

Fr. Shawn's Paranormal Ministry welcomes Maxim Furek Episode: 70 Date: January 9th, 2026 Topic: Maxim will be discussing his book " The Smurl Haunting - When Ed and Lorraine Came to Town" About Maxim Furek Maxim Furek's rich background includes aspects of psychology, addictions, music journalism, and the paranormal. He has a master's degree in communications from Bloomsburg University and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Aquinas College. Maxim has interviewed celebrity demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren and white witch Dr. Frederick Lamonte Santee. He was featured on Coast to Coast with George Noory, Exploring the Bizarre with the legendary Timothy Green Beckley and Tim R. Swartz, and Art Bell's Midnight in the Desert with Heather Wade. Maxim has written numerous rock biographies and paranormal-themes books, including: —The Lost Tribes of Bigfoot, published by Hangar 1, with the innovative Immersive Book Technology (IBT), documents an extensive timeline of Big Foot sightings over the years, offering a glimpse into the cultural and historical contexts in which these sightings have occurred. —Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle, and Music was featured on Australia's Mysterious Universe and on numerous podcasts. —The Death Proclamation of Generation X: A Self-Fulfilling Prophesy of Goth, Grunge, and Heroin has been used at Penn State University as “recommended reading” for “Introduction to Abnormal Psychology” and “Health Psychology.” —Flying Saucer Esoteric: The Altered States of Ufology explores the chronology of “flying saucers,” tracing historical accounts of theologians and astronomers who lived in the days Before Christ to the 2023 Congressional hearings and the Mexican alien corpses. —Coal Region Hoodoo: Paranormal Tales from Inside the Pit has been described as “A fascinating look into Pennsylvania's paranormal wormhole through a never-seen-before sociological and popular culture lens.” He is a respected contributor to Fate Magazine, and Paranormal Underground, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in the field. He will be the guest speaker at the 2025 Butler (PA) Paranormal Conference and the ECBRO Virginia Bigfoot Expo. www.maximfurek.com

Before Christ saved us, we were utterly powerless against the sin that so easily entangles us. But now, we have an entirely new position. In Christ we have strength to fight sin and live for God.

We like to think we're free—masters of our own fate, captains of our souls. But the truth is far different. Before Christ, we were all enslaved to what Paul calls "the elementary principles of the world"—cultural rules, religious regulations, and empty philosophies that promised freedom but delivered bondage. In this episode, Dr. John Neufeld unpacks how Christ's coming transferred us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.Christmas From Galatians: This Christmas, Dr. John takes an unprecedented approach to the season by exploring why Jesus' coming was absolutely necessary. Through the book of Galatians, this series traces God's plan from Abraham's promise through the giving of the Law to the arrival of Christ. Discover why the Law was never meant to save us but to diagnose our condition, how Jesus fulfilled what we could never accomplish, and how Christmas opened the door for all people to become sons and daughters of God.

In Christ, we are alive! Before Christ, we were dead in trespasses and sins but by the grace of God through faith in Jesus, we have been made alive! It is the abundant, transforming, eternal life that we have in Christ that changes everything about us, our walk, and our future. The Bible says that “as a man thinks so is he.” What you think is based upon what you believe. What you believe is based upon what you hear - for faith comes by hearing! As we embark on this brand new study, we will see who we are in Christ! To know who you are in Christ is ALL that matters. Once you know who you are in Christ, the lies of the devil and the opinions of man (including your own) fall to the wayside. If you prayed the prayer of Salvation please fill out this form so that we can mail you a free gift!https://gospeltabernacle.breezechms.com/form/salvationIf you would like to check out all our resources, send a message, or sow a seed into the ministry work please visit: https://www.faithformygeneration.com

Summary In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley illustrates the power of sin with a vivid analogy: a commercial floor buffer so strong that no person—not even the strongest among us—can control it. Like that machine, sin isn't something we manage, tame, or muscle through. Sin seeks to control us. Paul has already shown in Romans 6–7 that human effort cannot free us from sin's grip. But God has given us something far greater—His own Spirit. Dr. Easley explains Paul's sharp contrast: the mindset on the flesh is death; the mindset on the Spirit is life and peace. There is no neutral ground. The flesh is hostile toward God, unable to please Him, bent toward self, and spiritually dead. Before Christ, our minds were fixed on ourselves, our desires, and our autonomy, even if we didn't realize it. But the good news is stunning. Those who belong to Christ have the very Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwelling in them. The Spirit empowers us to live differently, to resist sin's control, and to pursue God's desires instead of our own. Through the Spirit, believers move from death to life, from hostility to peace, and from self-rule to the power of God at work within them. Takeaways Sin is not something we manage — it is a power that seeks to control us. A mind set fixed on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. There is no spiritual neutrality; the flesh is hostile toward God and cannot please Him. Before Christ, our minds are bent entirely toward ourselves and opposed to God's will. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Through the Spirit, believers move from death to life and are empowered to live in obedience. To read the book of Romans, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

In Romans 5, Paul reveals one prize after another for knowing Jesus Christ. Before Christ, we were enemies of God and at war with him, but through Jesus, the war with God is over, and we now live in a realm where grace reigns.

In Romans 5, Paul reveals one prize after another for knowing Jesus Christ. Before Christ, we were enemies of God and at war with him, but through Jesus, the war with God is over, and we now live in a realm where grace reigns.

Pastor Dustin explained that gratitude is far more than a feeling or a seasonal practice—it's a way of life that has the power to reshape how we see everything. When we fix our attention on what God has given us, complaining becomes harder and our hearts begin to shift. The 25 Days of Gratitude Challenge was designed not as a short-term exercise, but as a catalyst for lasting transformation. Changing our patterns is difficult, but it's essential if we want to live in the fullness God intends.Just as understanding flight changes the way we see airplanes, encountering Christ changes the way we see our entire lives. Paul experienced this firsthand. Once a Pharisee who valued status and outward achievement, his meeting with Jesus completely reframed his perspective. Writing to a culture obsessed with honor and appearance, Paul reminded the church in Corinth—and us—that Christ came in humility and suffering, not worldly glory.Before Christ, we tend to see our time, talents, and treasures as ours alone. But in Christ, everything becomes a gift to steward. Our time is entrusted to us, our abilities are on loan from God, and our resources become tools for His kingdom. Stories from people in our own church, like Roger and Jason, show how talents and resources can be used to serve others and give glory to God.This matters because we are called to be Christ's ambassadors—people who carry His message to a world longing for hope. We don't save anyone; only Christ does. But we are invited to stand in the gap, pointing others back to Him. Generosity, then, isn't simply an obligation. It's a privilege and a sign of spiritual maturity.For believers, the invitation is to open our hands and grow in generosity and sanctification. And for those who don't yet know Christ, the call is to stop searching for peace and belonging apart from Him, and find it in the One who became sin for us so that we might be made right with God.[00:00] - Welcome[00:24] - The Challenge of Gratitude[01:23] - Changing Patterns and Life Transitions[02:22] - Questions About Flight and Learning[03:58] - Discovering How Things Really Work[05:42] - Paul's Transformation and the Gospel[07:17] - How to Read and Understand Scripture[09:00] - Paul's Background and Hypocrisy[11:04] - Corinth: Wealth, Honor, and Culture[12:20] - False Teachers and True Apostleship[13:44] - The Way Things Were: Old Perspective[16:24] - The Way Things Are Now: New Life[18:54] - Stories of Stewardship in the Church[22:36] - Treasures and Generosity[23:25] - Why the Change Matters[24:00] - Ambassadors of Reconciliation[27:06] - The Bobsled Analogy: God's Equipping[32:39] - Challenges for Believers[35:56] - Invitation to Non-Believers[39:29] - Prayer, Response, and Generosity Opportunity[40:47] - Closing and Sending Forth

Before Christ, you lived under the dominion, the rule, the influence, the control of darkness. But when Jesus saved you, He didn't negotiate with darkness. He rescued you from it.Colossians 1:13We are (LIVE) on our website's [Morning Devo] podcast now!:::: sELAH rADIO Network https://soulwinnerz.org ::::::::: https://live.soulwinnerz.org and we want to see who you are by simply clicking here https://chat.restream.io/fb :::::Join the Adult Bible Study: https://soulwinnerz.org/adultBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-blaze-bible-study--525630/support.

Before Christ, you weren't simply struggling with sin; you were enslaved to it. Sin wasn't just something you did; it was something that dominated you.Ephesians 2:1–3We are (LIVE) on our website's [Morning Devo] podcast now!:::: sELAH rADIO Network https://soulwinnerz.org ::::::::: https://live.soulwinnerz.org and we want to see who you are by simply clicking here https://chat.restream.io/fb :::::Join the Adult Bible Study: https://soulwinnerz.org/adultBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-blaze-bible-study--525630/support.

Before Christ, we were spiritually dead, slaves to our sin and the world's destructive path, But God, rich in mercy and love, made us alive with Christ…

This week, Pastor Brandon continues our Journey Through Ephesians series with one of the most powerful chapters in Scripture — Ephesians 2. Before Christ, we were spiritually dead, slaves to the world, the enemy, and our own flesh. But Paul reminds us that everything changes with two words: “But God.” Through His mercy and grace, we've been raised to life, set free, and created for good works that He prepared for us in advance. This message is a reminder that salvation isn't the end — it's the beginning. We were dead, but now we are alive in Christ! ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome to Venture Church Online1:00 – Building expansion and generosity update2:30 – Introduction to Ephesians 23:40 – Reading Ephesians 2:1–105:00 – “Before and After” – setting up the message7:00 – Pastor Brandon's story about shoulder surgery8:30 – Who we were before Jesus10:00 – Spiritually dead and separated from God12:00 – Slaves to the world, the enemy, and the flesh14:40 – The world's pattern and influence16:00 – The deception of the enemy18:00 – Our struggle with the flesh and temptation22:00 – Deserving of wrath — the weight of sin24:30 – “But God” — the turning point26:00 – Made alive with Christ through grace28:00 – Understanding God's immeasurable love and mercy30:00 – Salvation as resurrection and new life32:00 – We are God's handiwork — His masterpiece34:00 – Created for good works prepared in advance36:00 – God's pursuit of those still in the “before”37:30 – The hope of transformation — “But God”39:00 – Invitation to follow Jesus and prayer of salvation40:30 – Closing announcements and worship night preview

Summary In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley unpacks one of the most misunderstood truths in the Christian life: freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to sin. If salvation is truly a gift—something we did not earn and cannot lose—then why does how we live still matter? Paul's answer in Romans 6 is both simple and profound: because we are no longer slaves to sin, we are now slaves to righteousness. Dr. Easley reminds us that everyone serves a master—either sin or God. Before Christ, we were bound to sin, chasing desires that only led to death. But in Christ, we've been set free—not to live as we please, but to live as His. This new kind of slavery is not oppressive; it's liberating. To be “enslaved to righteousness” means willingly submitting our lives to the One who saved us. Obedience born from gratitude, not guilt, marks the heart of a true believer. As Dr. Easley explains, the wages of sin are still death—but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. True freedom is not doing whatever we want—it's wanting to obey the One who freed us. Takeaways True freedom in Christ means choosing to serve righteousness, not indulging in sin. Everyone serves a master—either sin that leads to death or Christ who gives life. Salvation frees us from sin's power but binds us joyfully to obedience. Obedience from the heart reflects genuine transformation, not mere duty. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ. Living under grace means wanting to obey, not feeling forced to obey. To read the book of Romans, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

Are you alive? Pastor Connor continues our series in Ephesians with a look at chapter 2, where Paul writes that we all start out dead in our sins. Before Christ, we are stuck in slavery to Satan, the world, and our own desires, spiritually dead and headed for wrath. That's the bad news. The good news is that God's merciful love made a way for us to be raised from spiritual death and transferred to His kingdom of light and life! Pastor Connor talks about how this is a result of God's work, not our own. Once we're in His kingdom, though, he does have good work for us to do: work that He prepared a long time ago specifically for each of us. Join us to learn more about death, life, and God's good work in us.This week, our hosts continue their discussion on the book of Ephesians, some of the talking points were, spiritual death and good ways to bring up the topic to people who need to hear it, and could people who don't follow Christ do good works?. Oh and tune into the beginning to hear our hosts talk about what they prefer to hear first when receiving good/bad news.If you would like to watch the video podcast, find us on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMhDfGn0zfzi6XjcKkSVcFAFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/discovertbcInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/topekabiblechurchWebsite: https://www.discovertbc.com/

Humanism promises freedom but delivers the same rebellion mankind has repeated since the Garden of Eden. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar discuss how humanism, at its core, is an attempt to reach heaven without God. Oscar shares from his own past as an atheist, explaining how he eventually realized that humanists place hope in human potential while ignoring the Creator. They often rely on technology to end suffering or build a better future, but without an objective moral standard, this vision drifts. Values like equality, justice, and human dignity are rooted in Christianity, yet they are also borrowed and redefined apart from God. When His authority is removed, everything shifts.Ray and E.Z. demonstrate human nature with a simple experiment involving a wallet left out to see what people would do. Their conversation with the man who tried to steal it revealed how quickly morality bends to convenience. Humanism attempts to argue that man is insignificant by claiming the universe shows our smallness, while simultaneously elevating humanity as the solution to all problems. This contradiction shows that it is not about replacing belief with logic, but rather believing in oneself. The guys remind listeners that history proves against humanism: every attempt to build utopia without God ends in destruction. If money is your god, it's never enough. Even noble ideals fall apart when disconnected from God's truth.Even conservatism, when separated from Christ, can slip into humanism by trusting in policies or political victories rather than God's Word. Believers must stay alert, examining their hearts and watching for subtle ways pride can undermine their faith and dethrone God. Parents, in particular, are encouraged to intentionally disciple their children. Family devotions and honest conversations help equip kids with a biblical worldview before the world teaches them something else. The same principle applies in evangelism: build rapport, share the gospel clearly, and love others with joy.The guys wrap up with encouragement. Before Christ, many believers were humanists at heart, but surrendering to Him brings true freedom. Humanism continues to grow like a false religion, always promoting the power of man, yet Scripture provides the only firm foundation. The solution is to stay rooted in God's Word, reflect on how we spend our days, and intentionally disciple our families. When life is anchored in Christ, there is no wrong place or wrong time. Instead, we can have confidence that He reigns over all, and in Him, we find the security and joy that humanism can never provide.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

 Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV1. YOUR ENEMY HAS A STRATEGY "You followed the ways of this world" Ephesians 2:2A. He Uses Cultural CurrentsSatan doesn't need to possess everyone; he just needs to influence the cultureWhen the culture moves away from God, people drift with it naturally"Satan's greatest victory isn't making people bad - it's making bad things normal in a world that's going the wrong direction."B. He Makes Wrong Feel RightThe "ways of this world" feel natural and acceptablePeer pressure becomes spiritual pressure"When everyone's doing it, it's easy to forget that God isn't."Against the grainHis Strategy has worked well! He has deceived and separated all humanity from a relationship with God. (give premise to the Gospel, our SIN)"The ruler of the kingdom of the air" Ephesians 2:2A. Satan Is Real and ActiveNot a cartoon character with a pitchforkHe has authority in the spiritual realmHis influence is invisible but undeniableB. Satan Controls the AtmosphereThe "air" represents the spiritual atmosphere around usHe influences thoughts, attitudes, and motivations"Satan may not control your circumstances, but he's constantly trying to control your perspective on them.""The spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" Ephesians 2:2 A. He Works Through Willing PeopleSatan uses people who reject God's authorityDisobedience opens the door to his influenceNot everyone who opposes you is your enemy - they may be his victimB. He Creates a Domino EffectOne person's disobedience affects othersSin spreads through relationships and communities"Satan doesn't just want to destroy you - he wants to use you to destroy others."C. Lies He tellsDid God really say that?You don't matter to himYou call yourself a Christian?You don't want to look like a religious nut?2. YOUR ENEMY HAS POWER 3. YOUR ENEMY HAS A TARGET 4. YOUR ENEMY HAD YOU FOOLED "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh" Ephesians 2:3A. We Were All Under His InfluencePaul includes himself - "all of us"Being religious doesn't make you exemptWe followed our sinful nature naturallyB. We Lived for Self-Gratification"Cravings of our flesh and thoughts"We were slaves to our appetites and attitudesYou are not a free spirit able to do what you want… You are a slave to your flesh and it never is satisfied"Before Christ, we weren't free spirits - we were prisoners who loved our chains.""4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. "Ephesians 2:4-5A. God's Love Trumps Satan's SchemesThe word "But" changes everythingGod's love is greater than our pastHis mercy is richer than our mistakesB. God's Power Defeats Satan's PlansWhat Satan meant for destruction, God uses for redemption"Satan may have had the first word in your life, but God always has the last word."God is not concerned about where you have been… He is concerned with where you are going and who, and WHOSE  you are becoming5. YOUR ENEMY IS NO MATCH FOR GOD "Satan's power is like darkness - it seems overwhelming until the light shows up. When God says 'But' in your life, it's game over for the enemy."

The Day of the Lord – Paul warns believers not to be deceived by false teachings or claims that the Day of the Lord has already come.The rebellion and the man of lawlessness – Before Christ's return, there will be a great rebellion, and the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist figure) will rise, exalting himself above God and setting himself up in God's temple.God's restraint – This lawless one is being held back for now until the appointed time, but when revealed, Jesus will overthrow him with His word and power.Deception and judgment – Those who reject truth will be deceived by lies and face condemnation.Encouragement and prayer – Paul reassures the believers that they are chosen for salvation through the Spirit and belief in the truth. He urges them to stand firm and hold to the teachings they received and prays for God's comfort and strength for them.Key Theme:Paul teaches that Christ's return has not yet happened, warns about the coming deception and the “man of lawlessness,” but encourages believers to remain steadfast in the truth and rely on God's strength.

The Day of the Lord – Paul warns believers not to be deceived by false teachings or claims that the Day of the Lord has already come.The rebellion and the man of lawlessness – Before Christ's return, there will be a great rebellion, and the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist figure) will rise, exalting himself above God and setting himself up in God's temple.God's restraint – This lawless one is being held back for now until the appointed time, but when revealed, Jesus will overthrow him with His word and power.Deception and judgment – Those who reject truth will be deceived by lies and face condemnation.Encouragement and prayer – Paul reassures the believers that they are chosen for salvation through the Spirit and belief in the truth. He urges them to stand firm and hold to the teachings they received and prays for God's comfort and strength for them.Key Theme:Paul teaches that Christ's return has not yet happened, warns about the coming deception and the “man of lawlessness,” but encourages believers to remain steadfast in the truth and rely on God's strength.

The Day of the Lord – Paul warns believers not to be deceived by false teachings or claims that the Day of the Lord has already come.The rebellion and the man of lawlessness – Before Christ's return, there will be a great rebellion, and the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist figure) will rise, exalting himself above God and setting himself up in God's temple.God's restraint – This lawless one is being held back for now until the appointed time, but when revealed, Jesus will overthrow him with His word and power.Deception and judgment – Those who reject truth will be deceived by lies and face condemnation.Encouragement and prayer – Paul reassures the believers that they are chosen for salvation through the Spirit and belief in the truth. He urges them to stand firm and hold to the teachings they received and prays for God's comfort and strength for them.Key Theme:Paul teaches that Christ's return has not yet happened, warns about the coming deception and the “man of lawlessness,” but encourages believers to remain steadfast in the truth and rely on God's strength.

Before Christ, you were not a sinner because you sinned, you were a sinner because you had the nature of sin in your spirit. In Christ, you have been given a new nature. The nature in your spirit is now the righteousness of God. You are now a saint.

Before Christ saved us, we were utterly powerless against the sin that so easily entangles us. But now, we have an entirely new position. In Christ we have strength to fight sin and live for God.

If so, what is free will anyway? The term “free will” is problematic. While we humans have the obvious ability to make choices, including the choice to believe the Gospel, we are always under the influence of something. Before Christ, we were under the influence of sin (Romans 6:20). After we are born again, we are then under the influence of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 6:18).

Summary In this sermon, Dr. Michael Easley teaches from Romans 5:1–5, highlighting three profound benefits of being justified by faith: peace with God, standing in grace, and hope in the glory of God. Before Christ, we were enemies of God—hostile and guilty. But through Jesus' work, God not only forgives us, He declares us righteous and welcomes us into His presence. This peace is far more than the absence of conflict; it is a restored relationship with our Creator. We also stand in grace—a position we did not earn and cannot lose—offered solely through faith in Christ. Out of gratitude, our lives become a continual “thank You” to God, not an attempt to earn His favor. Finally, we boast in the hope of God's glory. This hope sustains us through tribulation, producing perseverance, proven character, and deeper hope. Trials are not meaningless; they are God's refining process, shaping us into what we could never become on our own. Because our hope is anchored in Him, it will never disappoint. Dr. Easley urges us to lift our eyes from life's burdens to the eternal vistas God has promised—resting in the peace, grace, and hope only He provides. Takeaways: Justification by faith gives believers peace with God—a restored relationship, not just the absence of conflict. Before Christ, we were enemies of God, but through His work we are declared righteous and welcomed into His presence. Standing in grace means living in a permanent position of God's favor, received through faith, not earned by works. Tribulations produce perseverance, which shapes proven character and strengthens our hope in God. God uses trials like a master craftsman tempers steel—refining us without breaking us. True hope in God will never disappoint because it is anchored in His glory, not our accomplishments. To read the book of Romans, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

What is the meaning of BC and AD (B.C. and A.D.)? What does Anno Domini mean? Does B.C. mean Before Christ? What is the meaning of BCE and CE (B.C.E. and C.E.)?

In Galatians 4, Paul draws a bold line between spiritual slavery and true sonship—and if you've ever felt trapped by religious performance like in Mormonism, this chapter is your invitation to step into the freedom of being fully adopted by God through faith in Christ alone.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Galatians 4 | From Slavery to SonshipTheme: Freedom in Christ vs. LDS Legalism and Spiritual BondageLast time in Galatians 3, Paul made it crystal clear: Salvation comes by faith in Christ—not by keeping the law. Paul dismantled the idea that law-keeping could ever make someone right with God.He pointed to Abraham, showing that even he was saved by faith long before the law was given. Paul explained that the law was like a temporary guardian or tutor, showing us our sin but never designed to save us.The big takeaway from Chapter 3: We are made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ—not by religious performance or obedience to commandments.Where Galatians 4 Picks Up:Now, in chapter 4, Paul continues that argument—but he shifts the focus to something deeply relational. He introduces the beautiful truth that believers aren't just forgiven sinners—they're adopted children of God!Paul uses family language—sons, heirs, adoption, Abba Father—to contrast the cold slavery of law-based religion with the warm relationship of grace-based Christianity.This next section will especially hit home for LDS listeners, because Mormonism still keeps people under law, denies full adoption until after lifelong worthiness, and often replaces a personal relationship with God with institutional loyalty and religious performance.Let's dive into Galatians 4: From Slavery to Sonship.Section 1: Galatians 4:1-7 | From Slaves to Sons: Relationship by Faith, Not LawPaul starts with a cultural illustration. In ancient times, heirs had no more rights than slaves until their father declared them full sons.Jewish context: Age 12, "son of the law"Greek context: Coming of age around 18Roman context (likely Paul's audience): The father chose the time for full adoption and inheritanceSpiritual point: Before Christ, people lived like spiritual minors—under guardianship, lacking freedom.Galatians 4:3 says we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world—elemental spiritual forces linked to pagan gods and demonic powers.Modern LDS Parallel:Many LDS today engage in spiritualistic practices: energy healing, chakra work, astrology apps, spirit communication, manifestation, and lightworking. Mormonism's openness to extra-biblical revelation makes this trend possible and widespread.God's Rescue Mission Through Christ (Galatians 4:4-5):Jesus came at God's appointed time to redeem those under the law. Not just freedom from slavery—but full adoption as sons and daughters.Result (Galatians...