Podcasts about creator god

Why do giraffes have long necks or kangaroos have pouches? Evolutionists answer that natural selection has favored the development of certain characteristics while discouraging and eliminating other features. But if this is what happened, we, who believe in creation have a few questions.Giraffes have long necks, say evolutionists, because conditions favored the development of long-necked creatures that could feed on higher parts of the tree. But then many other grazing animals live side by side with giraffes and manage to get by. The horse, according to evolutionary explanations, has crowned teeth in order to survive in its environment. And yet the cow, with its uncrowned teeth, survives quite well in the same environment.Some evolutionists say that plants developed berries so that their seeds, inside the berries, would be carried far and wide by hungry birds, thus ensuring the plants' survival. Why then did some plants develop poisonous berries? And if the maternal instinct evolved to preserve the next generation, why do creatures like the stickleback fish, sea horse, and midwife toad to name a few, leave total care of the young to the male?The truth is that natural selection does not offer a clear and consistent explanation for the living world. The diversity of the created world does not bear witness to evolutionary principles, but to the artistry of our Creator God.Job 5:13"He taketh the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.”Prayer: Dear Father, You confound those who are wise in their own hearts and give wisdom and clear vision to those whom You have made pure through the blood of Christ. Let the wisdom and vision I seek be that which You provide. In Jesus' Name. Amen.Ref: R.L. Wysong, D.V.M., The Creation - Evolution Controversy, (Inquiry Press, Midland Michigan). Image: Three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), Holger Krisp, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Tall grass - dead mower. That was my sad situation that spring. I tried everything to get my power mower going, but it really didn't want to start. Of course, that didn't stop the lawn from growing, no. I went away for a little while, came back, and the grass was now taking over. (Get your machete, Ron.) Well, I played with my mower again and again, and it still didn't respond. We were starting to look like maybe the set of a “Tarzan” movie. And my mower, oh it didn't care. So I started looking for alternative equipment to get the job done. Let's see, my hair clippers. Yeah, how about that uh...the ones you use for your haircuts? I was desperate, but I did not try to cut the grass with my hair clippers. No, they work great on hair; they would not work great on my lawn. But, on the other hand, how would you like to get your hair cut with a lawn mower? I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Missing Your Meaning.” Well, you'd have to wonder about someone who tried to use hair clippers to trim a lawn or a lawn mower to trim hair. They both work fine when you use them as they were supposed to be used. But machines don't work when you use them for something they weren't designed for and neither do we. And right there is the reason so many of us are wondering what the meaning of our life really is; why we still don't know the answer to life's most fundamental question “Why am I here?” We're missing what we were designed for and things just don't seem to be working. Even people who are enjoying a lot of success, whose life is pretty smooth, have to admit that in their honest moments it's still not very fulfilling. The meaning just isn't there. The peace isn't there. And when we're not living like we were designed to, things just don't work very well. Marriage doesn't work like it's supposed to, relationships don't, even our achievements. There's never enough love, never enough excitement, and never any real peace. Time to break out the Manufacturer's instructions. Of course I mean the Manufacturer of you and me. Here's how your Creator says you were designed to live. Put your life next to this blueprint and see how you're doing. It's in our word for today from the Word of God in Colossians 1:16. Speaking of Jesus Christ, God says, “All things were created by Him and for Him.” There's your created destiny in six words, “Created by Jesus and for Jesus.” Like the earth was created to revolve around the sun, you and I were created to revolve our life around the One who made us, but we don't. The reality is more like this: “Created for Him - living for me. In the Bible's words, “Each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). If you're missing the meaning of it all, it's because you're missing the One who gives life meaning; the One who gave you your life in the first place and the One who gave His life so you could get back to your Creator. Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for all of your “me first” choices so that Grand Canyon between you and God could finally be bridged. So you could finally know the peace of being who you were made to be - of belonging to the One whose love you were made for. Maybe you're ready to begin this awesome personal relationship with your Creator God. It's like coming home. If you'd like to, why don't you tell Jesus that right now? “Jesus, I'm Yours.” Tell Him you're putting all your trust in Him to be your rescuer from your sin. And only He had the power to walk out of His grave under His own power and to walk into your life. I'd love to have you visit our website today because there is the information you need to make sure you've begun a relationship with Jesus. That site is ANewStory.com. You've done enough days without the meaning you were made for haven't you; without the Savior you were made for? If you'll open your heart, you have just spent your last day without Him.

After providing divine assurances, Paul reaffirms God's sovereignty in salvation by addressing the unbelief of Israel. God is sovereign in salvation because salvation rests upon His election of His people by His saving grace. Paul, anticipating objections, also addresses common questions regarding God's sovereignty in salvation. God is justified in His election because God graciously bestows mercy upon the undeserving. God is fair in His wrath because the wrath of our Creator God reveals the goodness of His grace. As we reflect upon God's sovereignty in salvation, we are strengthened to faithfully preach the Gospel to all.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. 2 Samuel 22 Matt Freeman Download TranscriptIt's good to see you guys this morning. If you would go ahead, grab a Bible and turn to 2 Samuel 22. If you don't have a Bible, I want to encourage you to grab one of the black ones that are under the seats right in front of you. We're going to be on page 313. I'm going to put some of the extra passages and verses on the screen for us, but the bulk of our time is just going to be walking through this passage together. So, we want you to have a Bible in your hands.If we haven't met yet, my name is Matt Freeman. I get the opportunity to serve here as a lay pastor. And most Sundays you'll see me up here with a guitar in my hands or maybe playing piano and leading worship. But I am thankful for the times where I get the opportunity to teach our church family when it makes the most sense for our team. The truth is I'm usually just called in for the passages that Chet and Spencer find too difficult. But today is a little bit more in my wheelhouse.And so we're coming to the end of our time in 1 and 2 Samuel and we're bringing our study on the life of David to a close. And Chet mentioned this last week, but we have left the chronological flow of things and we've really just entered into the epilogue where the writer of 1 and 2 Samuel is just highlighting specific vignettes in David's life for us to focus in on to learn something from. But part of what's interesting here is that the books of 1 and 2 Samuel are historical narrative, meaning that they're just giving us a historical account of the people of God. And we've been tracing that through the lives of Samuel and then Saul and now David.But in this epilogue, we're given a song, which is crazy because we've been walking through all of this history, but now we're given a song. In fact, in the ESV, the title is David's Song of Deliverance. And so, it's at least curious enough for us to lean in and go, why a song? Why here? And for me, I love music. So, I'm pumped about the fact that it's a song.I listen to music constantly. I am either playing or singing all the time. People who know me well know my life is like I'm a walking musical. But music has this incredible power about it. It has the ability to make us feel things more deeply than we could without it. Just imagine your favorite movie without the musical score behind it.Imagine Jaws without the two notes getting faster and faster and faster. Imagine the opening of a Star Wars movie without the fanfare. It's just words suddenly going across your screen at an awkward angle. Think about it. Think about going to a wedding. The doors open.The bride walks in and it's just shuffling feet. Music helps us feel that moments matter. Music also helps us remember things way more easily. Some of you have a very deep bank of song lyrics. Some of those songs you wish you could forget, but you just remember songs. Let's play a game.[He prompts the congregation with a brief Bon Jovi lyric, and they sing the response in harmony.] That wasn't just melody. It was harmony. Like, also, I bet you didn't have singing Bon Jovi on your bingo card for this morning. But we could play that game all morning long. Music's also a part of how we learned. Nearly half of everything you learned in elementary school was set to a song.It's part of how we give honor and celebrate. It's why we sing happy birthday. We do the national anthem. You know, over the course of your life, music is how you got through your first breakup. Music's how you got pumped up for a game. You know that if you're at a college football game and the band kicks in, it's go time.Music helps us feel these things. And here's the reality. God created music. He beautifully and intentionally and creatively baked all of this stuff into it, and he made it important in the life of his people. Roughly one-third of the Old Testament is divinely inspired poetry. The book in the Bible with the largest number of chapters and one of the largest books in the Bible is the book of Psalms.John Piper says in the Psalms you can find 27 different human emotions and how they're given expression in relation to God. The people of God are a musical people. We're singing people. We're commanded over 50 times in the Bible to sing to the Lord. And here we are at the end of historical narrative and we're given a song. And it's not just any song.It's a song that's so important that it's not just put in the Bible once, it's in the Bible twice. We have a near verbatim replica of this song given to us in Psalm 18 that we started as our call to worship this morning. And so, knowing that God's the creator of music and knowing all that he's put into it, why do we get this song here? So at this season of David's life, after decades of war and strife and danger and hundreds of deliverances, it says that David now has rest from his enemies and from Saul. He's now a successful and powerful king. And what does David do?He worships God. In the ancient world, when earthly kings came to the end of their lives and they wanted people to celebrate their victories and conquest, they would build monuments to themselves. They wanted future generations to look at their strength, their power, their accomplishments, but not David. David doesn't say, "Look at me." He says, "Look at God." The song is not a monument to David's victories.It's a testimony to David's God. And so its placement here in the epilogue is to teach us that it's all about God. So in some ways this morning, David's going to teach us about worship. We're going to walk through this song together, and we're going to let David fix our eyes on the Lord. Hopefully by the end of it, we're going to see how this song extends to us, into our lives and into our story as well. So let's ask the Lord to help us do that.Would you pray with me? God, we know that you have intentionally placed this song in the epilogue after we've seen so much of David's story for a reason. So, I pray that you would help us let David fix our eyes on you this morning. That we would see why David worships you his whole life long. And that would extend into our story as well. In Jesus' name, amen.So, let's take a look at it together. 2 Samuel 22. Again, this is mirrored in Psalm 18, meaning it's not just David's personal song. It is meant to be a song of deliverance for all of God's people. And what we're going to see here is that this song is all about David's God, not David's victories. But verse one gets us into it. It says this:> And David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. (2 Samuel 22:1 ESV)It just sets the context for the song. We're not actually into the song yet. And it says that David spoke these words to the LORD. So LORD, if you're looking in your Bible, it's capitalized.It's L O R D. This is the personal covenant name of God that he gave to his people. This is Yahweh. And so David is singing this song to his personal God, Yahweh. And again, we've left chronology here. We don't know exactly when this sits in David's life, but we've read 1 and 2 Samuel, so we know a lot of things.We know the kinds of deliverances that he's been delivered from. We know at least we can go back to one of our first encounters where God delivers David from Goliath and then battle after battle with the Philistines and then from Saul. But we've also seen that once he becomes king, he's delivered from his son Absalom, who rebels against him. He goes on the run. Most recently, we looked at the rebellion of Sheba. And so David, looking back over a lifetime of deliverance with gratitude in his heart, can't help but erupt in praise to the Lord.And so let's pick it back up in verse two. We'll go through seven:> He said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,> my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,> my shield, and the horn of my salvation,> my stronghold and my refuge,> my savior; you save me from violence.> I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,> and I am saved from my enemies.> For the waves of death encompassed me,> the torrents of destruction assailed me;> the cords of Sheol entangled me;> the snares of death confronted me.> In my distress I called upon the LORD;> to my God I called.> From his temple he heard my voice,> and my cry came to his ears. (2 Samuel 22:2–7 ESV)You can just feel the language of an old, battle-worn warrior here.David has continually found his strength in the Lord. And so he reaches for every word that he can find. Look back at it. It says rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn, stronghold, refuge. But notice, David is not just teaching us to praise God only when life feels good and settled.He's teaching us how to praise God in the middle of every season. He remembers the waves of death, the torrents of destruction, the days when he felt alone and afraid, surrounded and desperate for rescue. And yet in all of it, he cries out to the Lord and he praises the Lord. So he praises God in the midst of his strength and in his weakness, in his victories and in his fears. In the midst of the battle and when he's been delivered, he turns all of it into worship. And let me step to the side for a moment and go into worship leader mode. Again, David's teaching us about worship. This isn't the main point of the passage, but I do think there are a couple of things that help highlight for us why corporate worship matters.Okay, first one is this. We sing to God in every season of life. So, it matters that we sing songs like that on Sunday morning. When we come into this room, we're going to sing songs of praise like we've done this morning. We have sung “Cornerstone” and “The Rock Won't Move,” high songs of praise to God. But we also need songs in the midst of pain and grief and lament.Songs like “Lord, I Need You” or “He Will Hold Me Fast.” We need songs for all of it on Sunday morning because we all come into this room in different seasons of life. And we have a God who can relate to us in all of it. So, we want those songs to be reflected.It also means that we sing to God, but also for the benefit of everyone else in the room. This morning, when our vocalists pulled the mics down and you could just hear the room singing, it was incredible. This is one of my favorite verses. This is from Ephesians 5:19. This is Paul talking to the church, giving them some instructions.It says, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” So, we sing for God, to God, but it's also for the benefit of everyone else around us. And so, there have been times, guys, where I've walked into this room and I've been struggling. I've been hurting. I wasn't leading worship. I was just in a seat. And we start singing songs, and I'm looking at the screen and having a hard time believing the words that are up there.But I start looking around the room at my brothers and sisters, and I see them singing. I see the couple who's just lost a child. I see the marriage that is struggling. I see the brother or sister who is currently walking through a battle with sin. And they're standing, and with faith and hope and trust they're praising the Lord. Suddenly I'm encouraged because I'm looking at their faith, and I'm back to my feet and singing, which kind of makes the third point obvious. It highlights why it's important that we regularly gather and participate on Sunday mornings. It's not just enough to come into this room.God has intentionally put something in the times where we are singing to him and singing for the benefit of others that is meant to teach us how to walk the journey of faith with him in all seasons. And again, David's teaching us about worship here. We're seeing God for who he is. And then he continues back in the passage. He's going to paint this picture for us a little bit more here. He's going to use even more colorful and descriptive language for us to describe how the Lord has delivered him time and again.Let's pick it back up in verse 8:> Then the earth reeled and rocked;> the foundations of the heavens trembled> and quaked, because he was angry.> Smoke went up from his nostrils,> and devouring fire from his mouth;> glowing coals flamed forth from him.> He bowed the heavens and came down;> thick darkness was under his feet.> He rode on a cherub and flew;> he was seen on the wings of the wind.> He made darkness around him his canopy,> thick clouds, a gathering of water.> Out of the brightness before him> coals of fire flamed forth.> The LORD thundered from heaven,> and the Most High uttered his voice.> And he sent out arrows and scattered them;> lightning, and routed them.> Then the channels of the sea were seen;> the foundations of the world were laid bare,> at the rebuke of the LORD,> at the blast of the breath of his nostrils. (2 Samuel 22:8–16 ESV)The reality here is that we have such a finite capability to comprehend the glory and the magnitude and the majesty of our Creator God. And there's something about this type of poetic and metaphorical and descriptive language that just plainly saying it does not get across.Let me give you an example of this. Someone could say, “I would like to travel to my hometown in the mountains because I have a positive emotional connection with it.” That's technically clear. That's communicating information. Or someone could do this.[Sings a brief excerpt from “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”]And now what could have been a plain sentence is emotion and longing and geography and family and home. The plain sentence may be true, but the song engages us in a completely different way. And that's exactly what David's doing right here. David's not giving us a weather report. He's not saying that smoke literally came out of God's nose or that God physically flew on a cherub through the clouds. He's reaching for language that's big enough to help us picture and feel what ordinary language cannot: that when the God of the heavens and the earth chooses to move to rescue his servant, it's as if the whole world were laid bare.Plain language can tell us that God delivered David. But there's something about this type of language that helps us feel the majesty of the God who does the saving. So, David reaches for earthquakes, fire, smoke, thunder, darkness, and lightning. Because when God comes to save, he doesn't come lightly. And he continues on with some of this kind of metaphorical language. Again, he's trying to help us picture it. He continues in a similar way back in verse 17.Let's read a few verses here:> He sent from on high, he took me;> he drew me out of many waters.> He rescued me from my strong enemy,> from those who hated me,> for they were too mighty for me.> They confronted me in the day of my calamity,> but the LORD was my support.> He brought me out into a broad place;> he rescued me, because he delighted in me. (2 Samuel 22:17–20 ESV)I mean, it's just beautiful, right? It's this picture of David drowning beneath the waves, and God pulls him out and rescues him. It's similar language to what we see used to describe the Israelites coming out of Egypt: they come through the water. He rescues them.Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you were drowning? Like literally drowning. It's terrifying. I actually have a couple of these stories from growing up. So, when we were growing up, we used to go to the state park in my hometown. It's not in West Virginia; it's in South Carolina. We would go to the lake.They had this nice swimming area. There was a beach. There was a part where you could swim that was kind of partitioned off with buoys so that you knew that you could touch. And we had gone there with some friends. But out beyond the buoys, there was this dock. It was about 40 feet from the shore. And on this dock was a high dive.And so, you know, we're there with friends. It's like, let's go. All right. So, we're going to swim beyond where our feet could touch. And we're going to swim past the buoys out all the way to this dock. We're going to clamor up on the dock.And then, you know, we've seen people jumping. My friends go to jump. And so I ascend the ladder and get to the top of this high dive. And most people were just kind of jumping off. Well, I thought I'm going to do a flip. And a flip I did.And so I did that flip and then I just kept going. So guys, I hit the water and all the air left my body and my body froze and I started going underneath the water. And then my body woke up and so I thrashed to the surface and I'm screaming and crying and I'm disoriented because I don't know where I'm at. And thankfully there were lifeguards in canoes because obviously this has happened before. And so they come over to me and they pull me from the water into this canoe. And if everybody had not been watching just by the sheer sound of me hitting the water, they're watching now because I am screaming and crying.And now they've got to canoe me the 40 feet back to the shore. And you know, my friends still love to tell this story. They laugh about it all the time. They think it's super embarrassing. And I just remind them it's not a big deal. I'm sure that happens to a lot of 17-year-olds.To be fair, I was in third grade, but it was still super embarrassing, and it does come up in stories a lot. But all jokes aside, guys, there was a moment where if they're not there and they don't pull me from the water, I don't know. And that's what the king of Israel is saying. David's saying, “If not for God, if God had not pulled me from the water, I was sunk.” It's beautiful, just incredible language. And again, he's given us a picture here.He continues on. Verse 21 says:> The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness;> according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.> For I have kept the ways of the LORD> and have not wickedly departed from my God.> For all his rules were before me,> and from his statutes I did not turn aside.> I was blameless before him,> and I kept myself from guilt.> And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,> according to my cleanness in his sight. (2 Samuel 22:21–25 ESV)This is where the song gets a little difficult to process. David says, “The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness.” And immediately we want to stop him and be like, “David, buddy, we've read the story. We've read 2 Samuel.” And again, we don't know where this falls in David's life, but we know where the writer of 2 Samuel put it after we've already read all of this mess.We know about the adultery with Bathsheba. We know about the murder of Uriah and all the chaos that ensues from that, the failures in leadership. There's deep mess that marks parts of David's life. So when David says, "I was blameless before him," it feels out of alignment to us. And part of the reason it feels strange is because we tend to only have two categories for this type of claim. Perfection or failure.So either you get it all right or you fail. You don't. You're disqualified. So when David talks about righteousness and blamelessness, we hear him claiming perfection. But that's not actually what David's doing here.David's not saying, "I never sinned." We know that he sinned. He knows that he sinned. He's saying he kept the ways of the Lord. In verse 22, it says, "I have not wickedly departed from my God." When David sinned, he repented.When Nathan confronted him over Bathsheba and Uriah, David didn't harden his heart like Saul had done. He broke before the Lord. David knew that he sinned. Psalm 51 is David's repentance from his sin. And I think that's part of why Scripture can describe David in such unique terms. Maybe you'll remember this from 1 Samuel.This is after Saul had sinned, and Samuel comes to him and says this to Saul: “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart. And the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” The difference between Saul and David is that David repented when he was confronted in his sin. And so the righteousness here is not sinless perfection.It's covenant faithfulness. It's loyalty to the Lord. It's why David can be described as a man after God's own heart. Not because David never failed. It was because even in his failure, he kept coming back to the Lord. And that's extraordinarily good news for us: part of keeping the ways of the Lord and the decrees of God is that he has made provision for sinners to come to him.And part of how we follow faithfully is that we own it. We confess our sin to the Lord. We confess our brokenness and we repent and we turn from it. And so again, David's teaching us about worship. He shows us that the faithful life is not a sinless life. The faithful life is a repentant life.The life that keeps returning to a God who saves, to a God who gives grace. And he keeps describing that God in the next few verses. Pick it back up in verse 26:> With the merciful you show yourself merciful;> with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;> with the purified you deal purely,> and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.> You save a humble people,> but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.> For you are my lamp, O LORD,> and my God lightens my darkness.> For by you I can run against a troop,> and by my God I can leap over a wall.> This God—his way is perfect;> the word of the LORD proves true;> he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (2 Samuel 22:26–31 ESV)Isn't that so good? It's what we read out loud together just a little while ago. He shows himself merciful. He saves a humble people who know that they need it. He's a shield to those who will run behind the shield to seek refuge in him.He's a lamp that lightens the darkness. This is why it's important that the songs that we sing tell us the full counsel of God as revealed in his word. We can look back at verses 8–16 and see a God who's mighty and big and in majesty and thunders and can lay the world bare, who's also merciful and gracious and patient. And so we've proclaimed with David, “This God—his way is perfect.” It's incredible. And so we're going to continue on in verse 32.And this time we're going to read a little bit larger section. And I want us to be looking for who's the main player, who's the focus of the passage. You're going to see all kinds of pictures, so many of the stories that we've already read about David, but I want you to look for who's the focus as we walk through this. Pick it up in verse 32:> For who is God, but the LORD?> And who is a rock, except our God?> This God is my strong refuge> and has made my way blameless.> He made my feet like the feet of a deer> and set me secure on the heights.> He trains my hands for war,> so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.> You have given me the shield of your salvation,> and your gentleness made me great.> You gave a wide place for my steps under me,> and my feet did not slip;> I pursued my enemies and destroyed them,> and did not turn back until they were consumed.> I consumed them; I thrust them through, so that they did not rise;> they fell under my feet.> For you equipped me with strength for the battle;> you made those who rise against me sink under me.> You made my enemies turn their backs to me,> those who hated me, and I destroyed them.> They looked, but there was none to save;> they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.> I beat them fine as the dust of the earth;> I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.> You delivered me from strife with my people;> you kept me as the head of the nations;> people whom I had not known served me.> Foreigners came cringing to me;> as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.> Foreigners lost heart> and came trembling out of their fortresses. (2 Samuel 22:32–46 ESV)Notice who's the most important.Who's the focus? God trains, strengthens, enlarges, makes, sets, protects, subdues enemies, and establishes David. The message is simple. David fights, but it's God who wins. This is one of Scripture's clearest pictures of divine sovereignty working through human responsibility. David acts, but God is ultimately the one who's in control of all things.And so in this song, it becomes clear who gets the glory. Who's the focus? It's God. David may be telling his story, but David's not the hero of the story. God is the hero of David's story. And David knows this.I think it's why it's included here in the epilogue. This is the king telling his people, “Look to God. He's the deliverer.” David never takes the credit. He says it's about God. This is one of the reasons why on Sunday mornings, the large majority of the songs that we sing are either about God or to God, versus what we do or what we're going to do for God.There's a place for the latter, but this psalm reinforces that if we're talking about what we've done or what we're going to do, it's all because the Lord is sovereign over all of it. We act, but he's in control. He's the one who gets the glory. And at this point, David kind of reverts back to where he was at the beginning of the song. He just explodes back into praise. Let's finish the song.Verse 47 to the end:> The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock,> and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,> the God who gave me vengeance> and brought down peoples under me,> who brought me out from my enemies;> you exalted me above those who rose against me;> you delivered me from men of violence.> For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations,> and sing praises to your name.> Great salvation he brings to his king,> and shows steadfast love to his anointed,> to David and his offspring forever. (2 Samuel 22:47–51 ESV)The song ends where it began with praise, but now the praise expands. David says, “I will praise you among the nations.” He understood that the blessings of God were meant to extend to all peoples of the earth. Which is really good news for us because David was a Hebrew, and this song is in the Hebrew songbook.So it's good news that it was meant to extend to the nations because that's most of us, right? This becomes missionary theology in the New Testament. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 15, talking about the mission of God, God's glory going to the nations, going everywhere. And so this song has been driving. It's been in a slow, big build and crescendo to the finale, which is really this final verse. And so, we're going to look at the final verse again and focus in on it because there are some key words here that should really pull our minds towards covenant language.Let's look at it again. It says, “Great salvation he brings to his king and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.” It says, “Great salvation he brings to his king.” That's the first time that word has shown up in this entire psalm: king. And we think about God establishing David as the king. It says he shows steadfast love. This is the Hebrew word hesed.We see it show up in Moses. We see it show up around 200 times in the Old Testament alone. This is God moving and working. It's a reminder of his covenant love to his people. He shows steadfast love to his anointed. We know that David's the anointed king, but the word for anointed here is Messiah. Then there's offspring.We see that it's coming through a line, and this is a throne that's going to be established forever. And these are not just random words. All of these are echoes of God's covenant with David. And so to refresh our minds for this, I want us to look back at 2 Samuel 7, where God has given this covenant to David, because I think it's going to help us see it. It says this:> When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12–16 ESV)And here's what we know. The kingship passes to Solomon, and Solomon fulfills some of this. He does build a temple, but then he also makes some terrible decisions, and then he dies. The kingdom passes to his son Rehoboam, and almost immediately everything goes sideways. The kingdom splits, and it's never reunited.So the question remains, how will this kingdom be established forever? What kind of king can receive all of the promises of David and never lose them? What kind of son can reign forever? And as we read verse 51 and this section in 2 Samuel 7, I hope for the Christians in the room, all of the light switches have just started to turn on because it's all pointing to Jesus. The answer is Jesus. Look back at it here: “Great salvation he brings to his king.”It's the kind of king who would step off his throne and come down to his people in the greatest act of steadfast love. He comes as the one who is anointed, the long-awaited one, the Messiah. He comes in the line of David, and he comes to establish a kingdom that will last forever. Not an earthly kingdom but an eternal kingdom. This song ultimately belongs to the greater son of David. David can sing this song as a repentant king upheld by grace. But Jesus can sing it as the perfectly righteous king whose hands were truly clean, who perfectly kept the ways of the Lord, who never sinfully departed from his God, who was truly blameless.And here's the wonder of the gospel. The only king who was worthy to be rewarded for his righteousness traded places with us. At the cross, the righteous king was treated as the guilty one so that guilty people could be made righteous in him. He came and entered the storm of judgment for us. He bore the wrath that we deserved. He died the death that we should have died. And he rose again in victory as the deliverer.So this song is fulfilled in Jesus. And because it's true of Jesus, it gets to be true for everyone who belongs to Jesus. When David says, "The Lord is my rock," we know even more fully that Christ is our rock and our firm foundation. When David says, "The Lord is my fortress," we know even more fully that we are safe and secure in Christ.When David says, "The Lord is my deliverer," we relish in the fact that Jesus delivered us from sin and from death and from hell. When David says, "He rescued me because he delighted in me," we know that even more in Christ because the Father delights in the Son. And by faith, we're united to the Son. And so David writes this song about his life, but the song's not ultimately about David. It's about David's God. The story of David's life is God's faithfulness to David through every season—in danger, in deliverance, in weakness, in victory, in sin, in repentance, in sorrow, and in joy.David looks back over his life and he says, "Don't look at me. Look at the God who's been faithful." And because this song is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, it gets to be true for us as well. The band's going to come back up, and they're going to lead us in a final song. But I want you to focus here for just a few more moments because I have a question I want to ask you and I want you to consider. If you were to write a song about your life, what would it be about?What would the lyrics be? Who would the song be about? Would it be a song that's about striving or achieving, building, trying to make a name for ourselves? Would it be a song that's about anxiety or worry or seeking to be in control or trying to white knuckle our way through life as if everything depended on us? Or would it be a song like David's a testimony that through every season God has been faithful? And the good news for you this morning is that in Jesus, this song gets to be your song.It gets to be my song. That his rescue becomes my rescue. That his refuge is my refuge. That this king is my king. And one day, every song of deliverance will roll into the new song of eternity. Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.So until that day, let's keep singing like David. Let every rescued sinner echo this refrain from verse 47. The Lord lives and blessed be my rock and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation. Let's pray. God, you have been faithful and good throughout my life. Help me use every breath to sing of your goodness. In Jesus' name, amen.

The most influential ruler of all time, the greatest king to ever walk the face of the earth, is also mankind's greatest example of humility.Jesus may have been born in a stable, but the Son of our Creator God was anything but ordinary. He lived a humble life, but performed miracles along the way, and showed us what it means to be a humble servant leader among men.Jesus selflessly took human form, God incarnate, to become a living sacrifice for our sins. He did not profess His innocence and demand to be taken down from the cross; rather, Philippians 2:8 says, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”Jesus gave up His place on the throne where God rules the universe. He gave up His power to defend Himself, but willingly gave His life as a ransom for many. He loved us so much that He died for us. He endured shame, ridicule, torture, and an agonizing death on that cross.What greater humility is there?Philippians 2:3–4 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”A godly man is humble, and Jesus Christ is our ultimate example.Let's pray.Lord, we are humbled by your sacrifice. Jesus took our sin upon Himself when He took our place on the cross, and the gift of salvation is the result of His choice. We are so grateful for that love. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Genesis 1:26-27, 30-31 NLTThen God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. … And that is what happened. … Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!God said “let us”—us being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—“in our image.” We were created by a Community, in community, for community.The Father made us, the Son saves us, the Spirit guides us. Right now, when God sees you, when He looks at who you are, He sees you as “very good.”Can you, will you accept today that God looks at you with eyes of love and goodness?Listen again to these key phrases, this time from the Message Bible:God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature. … God created human beings; he created them Reflecting God's nature..… God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! (Genesis 1:26-27, 30-31 NLT) Right now, close your eyes and picture Your loving heavenly Father, Your Creator, looking at You, inviting You into His community, caring for You, and pleased with who He made you to be.Can you accept that He says this of you right now - God looked over everything he had made, He looks over you and says; it is so good, so very good!Pray with me: “Creator God, Father, thank You that you made me with purpose, for a purpose. You created me to live in community with You and for You. Help me to always remember that I am made in Your image. As above, so below.”

Did you hear the true story of the 2-year-old Arizona boy who was rescued to safety earlier this year by a shepherd-dog? Make no mistake, those shepherding instincts didn't come through evolution— they came from a Creator God who is Himself the Ultimate Shepherd. In Psalm 23, the Bible informs us and inspires us with the truth that the LORD is our shepherd. So what does the Shepherd provide, and how does Jesus ultimately fulfill this role for us?  (VBS Celebration Sunday: Emerald Crossing) 

These scriptures give us perspective of God's dominion and reach. They remind us that Creator God is also the only one with power and dominion over the universe. As God's children, we are in awe of all we see - powers and authorities in heaven and on earth acknowleding His rule. May we not forget, as we too, belong to Him.Daylight Meditations is a daily podcast from CFO North America. Please visit CFONorthAmerica.org to learn more about our retreats, and online courses. If you are encouraged by this podcast, please consider supporting us. Contributors: Michelle DeChant, Adam Maddock, and Phil Reaser

Send a text or comment!SHAFOIN STUDIOS and BEARANOOGA PRODUCTIONSp   r   e   s   e   n   t   s  :MY NEW NORM Podcast- S6 E11Guest: Brae Wyckoff- KWA / Kingdom Writers AssociationEpisode: You Were Created to CreateHost: Barry Scott YoungAbout this Episode:Every person is created in the image of a Creator God. Creativity isn't reserved for artists or authors—it's part of God's design for every believer. Whether you're writing, building a business, raising a family, leading a ministry, or solving problems at work, you were created to create.This conversation explores how discovering and using your God-given creativity can impact lives, expand God's Kingdom, and leave a lasting legacy.About Brae Wyckoff:Brae Wyckoff is an award-winning, internationally recognized author, speaker, and mentor who has written and self-published numerous books across fiction and nonfiction. He founded the Kingdom Writers Association (KWA) in 2016, which grew into an international community helping Christian writers discover, develop, and publish their God-given message. Together with his wife, Jill, he later co-founded Kingdom Creativity International to disciple writers and creatives worldwide.Episode Description:Have you ever wondered why you feel compelled to build, write, teach, invent, design, or create?What if that desire wasn't accidental?In this inspiring conversation, Barry Scott Young sits down with award-winning author Brae Wyckoff to discuss why every believer was created to create. They explore overcoming fear, discovering purpose, stewarding creativity, and learning how God uses ordinary people to create extraordinary Kingdom impact.Whether you've dreamed of writing a book, starting a ministry, launching a business, or simply using your gifts more intentionally, this episode will challenge and encourage you to stop waiting and start creating.Three Big Takeaways:1. Every believer is creative because we reflect our Creator.2. Your gifts become meaningful when surrendered to God's purpose.3. The world needs what God has placed inside you.About Kingdom Writers Association:The Kingdom Writers Association began as a local Christian writers community and has grown into an international ministry equipping writers through training, mentoring, conferences, and community. Its mission is to help Christian writers and creatives use their gifts to advance God's Kingdom.Closing Thought:“God never creates anything without purpose. If He created you, then He created you with something only you can contribute. Stop waiting for permission. Start creatingResources:Brae Wyckoff:www.kingdomwritersassociation.coSupport the showmynewnorm.buzzsprout.com/ / YouTube.com/@mynewnorm

This profound exploration of Genesis 1 challenges us to reconsider three fundamental questions that shape our entire existence: Where did we come from? Why are we here? And where are we going? Unlike the ancient Babylonian creation myths filled with violent, chaotic gods who created humans merely as servants, or our modern claims that reduce us to cosmic accidents or sophisticated animals, Scripture presents a radically different story. We discover that we are intentionally crafted icons of the one true Creator God, made in His very image with purpose and dignity. This isn't just ancient philosophy—it transforms how we understand our value today. We're called to be creators under the Creator, to shape and order the world around us, to rule as co-regents with God Himself. The text introduces us to functional ontology, the idea that something truly exists when it has purpose and meaning, not just physical presence. This helps us understand why we can feel 'out of place' even when physically present—we're wired for purpose, not just existence. The message culminates in a powerful three-part response: hallelujah for God's goodness in creating us, hatred for the sin that mars His beautiful design, and hope through Jesus Christ, the perfect image bearer who restores what sin destroyed.

Lift up your eyes . . . to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. . . . — Isaiah 40:26 Life's problems can weigh us down so much that we may feel as if we can't look up. But we need to lift our gaze to consider the greatness of God and the majesty of his creation. As Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” In a similar way, Romans 1:20 testifies, “Since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature— have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made. . . .”When God summons the great multitude of stars, calling each one by name, not one is absent. The Creator not only made them but also named each one. There are more stars in the sky than we count. Yet God summons each one, calling them by name, and they promptly appear.God knows every one of the trillions of living cells in our bodies. He knows every hair on our heads. He upholds all things by the power of his word. “In him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). He has created, preserves, and governs all things. All things exist for the praise of his glory.In what ways are you discovering how great and powerful the Lord is? We can trust in him to handle whatever problems we might encounter. Creator God, lift our eyes from our burdens to your majestic power. You sustain all things. Deepen our faith in you as we observe your care, wisdom, and amazing work each day in the world around us. Amen.

GENESIS gives us the foundational TRUTH of the Bible, necessary for us to receive SALVATION, whereas believing the LIE leads to destruction (2Thess 2:10,11). It's the fundamental issue of reality - ORIGINS. Why is this universe here? Why are we here? Is there a God who created us, or is it all just a big accident? Everything depends on this issue including our identity, meaning & purpose. There are only 2 ways to interpret reality – the TRUTH or the LIE. The TRUTH is there is a GOD, who CREATED all things and defines who we are. He has the right of ownership & sovereignty over us, and to expect our loyalty. He defines right & wrong. We are accountable to Him, and one day will judge us. He gave us the freedom to choose or reject Him, to believe the TRUTH or the LIE, but will hold us accountable for our choices. The LIE says we're just accidents, the product of random events (evolution), so our life has no purpose or meaning. No wonder there's such despair in society. The only alternative is ATHEISM (this universe is all there is). EVOLUTION is a BELIEF, a RELIGION based on the LIE, to explain our ORIGINS apart from God. You either believe there's a personal Creator God, or that you're part of an evolving universe. The LIE means there's no God and no absolute moral code, so we are our own god and can define our own reality and do what we want. So, a culture that promotes the LIE becomes immoral The Kingdom of LIGHT is governed by the TRUTH, whereas the kingdom of DARKNESS is governed by the LIE. The key spiritual battle over every soul is whether he embraces the TRUTH or the LIE. Only if he LOVES the TRUTH can he be SAVED by trusting Christ. God revealed the TRUTH to man in (1) CREATION & (2) CONSCIENCE, but since men love the darkness more than the light, they suppress the Truth in their hearts, exchanging it for the Lie, and so worship the creation rather than the Creator (idolatry), resulting in immorality (Rom 1:18-25). The TRUTH of God is given in the first chapters of GENESIS, the most attacked part of the Bible, for Satan knows the foundational place Genesis plays in establishing the TRUTH. *Genesis 1 describes God's CREATION of the universe (1:1), then how God brought forth all living things by direct CREATION – not EVOLUTION. It describes God as uncreated & eternal, not part of this universe. *Genesis 2 describes the direct creation of Adam & Eve (not by evolution), in the image of God, not apes (Gen 1:26-27), and that we are all descended from them (Acts 17:26). It describes the FALL. Adam SINNED, bringing the whole human race into a state of SIN & DEATH (Rom 5:21-21, 1Cor 15:22). This is opposite to evolution, in which we were created by a process of cruelty (sin) & death. The Bible says God made everything GOOD. Genesis 3 reveals the PROBLEM of SIN, so we need SALVATION. If we don't accept the truth that MAN is a SINNER, we will not feel our need for a SAVIOUR, so the Cross will be foolishness to us. It also reveals the nature of the LIE, and its entrance into the human race through Satan. The LIE is we are our own gods, independent from God. Satan denied the TRUTH of a supreme Creator God. Instead, he claimed the whole universe, including God, is evolving. The LIE was the basis for man's FALL into SIN, for embracing the LIE, led them to rebel against God (Gen 2:17, 3:1-5) resulting in all mankind becoming sinners (Isa 53:6). God's TRUTH in Genesis 2-3 reveals the nature of SIN as rebellion against God (rejection of His authority), and also reveals its consequences: the CURSE & JUDGMENT. The penalty of SIN is DEATH, which came on the whole human race in Adam (Gen 2:17, Rom 6:23). God put the TRUTH in man's heart, that he's a created being, under God. As such, he was made to depend on God and submit to His authority. But Satan challenged this basic TRUTH, by feeding man the LIE - the only alternative explanation for our existence apart from Creation. They BELIEVED the LIE, that we could be like God, knowing good & evil in ourselves, and so be independent from God, and as a result sinned (Gen 3:6). Genesis 3 reveals God didn't finish with man when he sinned. In His love, He promised He'd send the MESSIAH, to save us (v15), and instituted a sacrificial system, to point to how He'd save us (Gen 3:21, 4:4). The everlasting GOSPEL is based on the foundational TRUTH of GOD as our CREATOR (Rev 14:7). The truths of sin, righteousness & judgment )(n 16:8), as well as the truth of SALVATION, are seen in the story of NOAH & the FLOOD (Gen 6-8), for it shows how man's SIN infected the whole human race, until GOD had to JUDGE man's SIN by a world-wide FLOOD. But before that, He provided SALVATION, through Noah's Ark (a picture of CHRIST, our ARK of SALVATION), for all those who believed & entered the Ark. Likewise, those who trust in Christ are put into Him and are saved from judgment, for in His Atoning Death, the judgment we deserved fell on Him, instead of us, so we could be saved under His Covering.

GENESIS gives us the foundational TRUTH of the Bible, necessary for us to receive SALVATION, whereas believing the LIE leads to destruction (2Thess 2:10,11). It's the fundamental issue of reality - ORIGINS. Why is this universe here? Why are we here? Is there a God who created us, or is it all just a big accident? Everything depends on this issue including our identity, meaning & purpose. There are only 2 ways to interpret reality – the TRUTH or the LIE. The TRUTH is there is a GOD, who CREATED all things and defines who we are. He has the right of ownership & sovereignty over us, and to expect our loyalty. He defines right & wrong. We are accountable to Him, and one day will judge us. He gave us the freedom to choose or reject Him, to believe the TRUTH or the LIE, but will hold us accountable for our choices. The LIE says we're just accidents, the product of random events (evolution), so our life has no purpose or meaning. No wonder there's such despair in society. The only alternative is ATHEISM (this universe is all there is). EVOLUTION is a BELIEF, a RELIGION based on the LIE, to explain our ORIGINS apart from God. You either believe there's a personal Creator God, or that you're part of an evolving universe. The LIE means there's no God and no absolute moral code, so we are our own god and can define our own reality and do what we want. So, a culture that promotes the LIE becomes immoral The Kingdom of LIGHT is governed by the TRUTH, whereas the kingdom of DARKNESS is governed by the LIE. The key spiritual battle over every soul is whether he embraces the TRUTH or the LIE. Only if he LOVES the TRUTH can he be SAVED by trusting Christ. God revealed the TRUTH to man in (1) CREATION & (2) CONSCIENCE, but since men love the darkness more than the light, they suppress the Truth in their hearts, exchanging it for the Lie, and so worship the creation rather than the Creator (idolatry), resulting in immorality (Rom 1:18-25). The TRUTH of God is given in the first chapters of GENESIS, the most attacked part of the Bible, for Satan knows the foundational place Genesis plays in establishing the TRUTH. *Genesis 1 describes God's CREATION of the universe (1:1), then how God brought forth all living things by direct CREATION – not EVOLUTION. It describes God as uncreated & eternal, not part of this universe. *Genesis 2 describes the direct creation of Adam & Eve (not by evolution), in the image of God, not apes (Gen 1:26-27), and that we are all descended from them (Acts 17:26). It describes the FALL. Adam SINNED, bringing the whole human race into a state of SIN & DEATH (Rom 5:21-21, 1Cor 15:22). This is opposite to evolution, in which we were created by a process of cruelty (sin) & death. The Bible says God made everything GOOD. Genesis 3 reveals the PROBLEM of SIN, so we need SALVATION. If we don't accept the truth that MAN is a SINNER, we will not feel our need for a SAVIOUR, so the Cross will be foolishness to us. It also reveals the nature of the LIE, and its entrance into the human race through Satan. The LIE is we are our own gods, independent from God. Satan denied the TRUTH of a supreme Creator God. Instead, he claimed the whole universe, including God, is evolving. The LIE was the basis for man's FALL into SIN, for embracing the LIE, led them to rebel against God (Gen 2:17, 3:1-5) resulting in all mankind becoming sinners (Isa 53:6). God's TRUTH in Genesis 2-3 reveals the nature of SIN as rebellion against God (rejection of His authority), and also reveals its consequences: the CURSE & JUDGMENT. The penalty of SIN is DEATH, which came on the whole human race in Adam (Gen 2:17, Rom 6:23). God put the TRUTH in man's heart, that he's a created being, under God. As such, he was made to depend on God and submit to His authority. But Satan challenged this basic TRUTH, by feeding man the LIE - the only alternative explanation for our existence apart from Creation. They BELIEVED the LIE, that we could be like God, knowing good & evil in ourselves, and so be independent from God, and as a result sinned (Gen 3:6). Genesis 3 reveals God didn't finish with man when he sinned. In His love, He promised He'd send the MESSIAH, to save us (v15), and instituted a sacrificial system, to point to how He'd save us (Gen 3:21, 4:4). The everlasting GOSPEL is based on the foundational TRUTH of GOD as our CREATOR (Rev 14:7). The truths of sin, righteousness & judgment )(n 16:8), as well as the truth of SALVATION, are seen in the story of NOAH & the FLOOD (Gen 6-8), for it shows how man's SIN infected the whole human race, until GOD had to JUDGE man's SIN by a world-wide FLOOD. But before that, He provided SALVATION, through Noah's Ark (a picture of CHRIST, our ARK of SALVATION), for all those who believed & entered the Ark. Likewise, those who trust in Christ are put into Him and are saved from judgment, for in His Atoning Death, the judgment we deserved fell on Him, instead of us, so we could be saved under His Covering.

THE FLOW OF GRACE AND FAITH  The Gift of God's Grace shifts the burden of spiritual growth from us to the divine Creator God – and the very logos DNA design of being a New Creation in Christ makes the pursuit of holiness no longer a behavioural project but the natural manifestation of a new grace-filled nature. Grace is not an add on to become more spiritual - it is the Primal Source and the genetic blueprint of the New Creation. Ephesians 2:4-10 (ESV) 4. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  5. even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Paul says that before Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead and sent the Holy Spirit all of humanity was in a state of being "dead in trespasses." it is a description of a state of spiritual being - dead-end. We once were lost (vs 1-3) but now are found in Christ. He says we were trying to achieve spiritual output from a dead-end source without the life of Jesus.  A dead-end nature cannot rehabilitate itself; it require a different kind of life entirely. If a person does not have a revelation of being reconciled katalasso –being conjoined in spirit with the Spirit of God and made partakers of the divine nature.  No behavioural modification bridges the chasm between Old Creation consciousness and Spiritual age to age life. This state of total "Deadness" demands faith in the divine intervention that is above and beyond the human system. 6. and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. The Divine Initiative of God was an act of death and resurrection for our sakes that was entirely apart from human faith, obedience, or response. God acted out of love to give his life to humanity. This was the act of universal reconciliation – katalasso – the divine outcome of the incarnation of Jesus and his death and resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit. But for it to become a conscious reality for us it requires our faith in that act of divine reconciliation. Paul calls us a New Creation – a creation model and not an evolution model – not trying to improve the old one.  This is not just some legal status but a spiritual merger where the individual is woven into the life of the Divine. This union is categorized by three specific dimensions of being "Together with Christ". Verses 5 and 6 Made alive together: The new life-essence that terminates the state of deadness. Raised up together: The elevation into a higher state of being. The word id ontology. Seated together: The establishment of a new position of authority and rest, centred in the divine life rather than human effort. 7. so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  9. not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  This Gift of Grace shifts the burden of spiritual growth from us to the divine Creator God – and the very logos DNA design of being a New Creation makes the pursuit of holiness no longer a behavioural project but the natural manifestation of a new nature. Grace is not an add on to become more spiritual - it is the Primal Source and the genetic blueprint of the New Creation. The way this New Creation model works is by shifting from "trying to acquire grace " to "permitting the flow of grace " In the old framework, we try to earn or generate spiritual value. In the New Creation model, we acknowledge that the grace life-force is already in effect. This is the "Logos logic" (vs.8) of Paul – see also in Romans 5. Romans 5:2. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God  Faith does not create grace; it accesses a pre-existing faith/grace system because Grace is the gift of the act of Divine Universal Reconciliation.Faith is the how-to of Access: Faith is not an achievement that produces salvation. It is the process of conscious agreement of letting the grace and faith OF Jesus flow from our spirit to our soul. It is the act of not frustrating the grace but allowing Spirit life to manifest through to the human soul as though through a pipeline connection. The operation of our faith is simply turning on the valve of the ‘faith of God' and not resisting or frustrating the flow of grace – and for this we are accountable. In the diagram - there is a red and yellow vertical line that represents Jesus bringing his human and divine Holy Spirit life into the life of humanity, represented by a horizontal purple pipeline. At that point there is a yellow circle representing the fullness of the grace (gift) of God's life. That life begins to flow from left to right as a pipeline of the grace of God right to the end where there is a bubble that represents our soul.  Halfway along the pipeline there is a yellow circle which represents a ‘faith valve'. That faith valve is where our faith in Christ is able to turn on or off the faith OF Christ and either maintain or frustrate the flow of grace to our soul. Galatians 2:20 And the life I now live in the flesh (the embodiment of my soul) I live by the faith OF the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness (alignment with God) were through the law, then Christ has died in vain Our soul bubble at the end will either be filled with a grace-filled hatch of yellow and purple or by stark lines of our own human effort. It is in our soul bubble where we meet the outside world – seen for who we are in our emotional and cognitive and spiritual life, along with the signs of bodily stress or calm. It will reflect a self-willfulness that has frustrated the grace or a self willingness that reflects the grace that puts God on display in our life. Our faith is not merely a personal belief in Christ, but belief in the faith OF Christ - Christ's own faith and life already operating within us. Galatians 2:16"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ..." Again:"...that we might be justified by the faith of Christ." Galatians 3:22 The scriptures have concluded all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to us who believe - our faith participates. Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." (KJV) Philippians 3:9"not having mine own righteousness... but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." Romans 3:22"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe." 9. Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." 10. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." 11. Phil. 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good purpose.  12. Phil 1:6 he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion …because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace. Our faith is therefore not an independent human achievement but a sharing in the faith life of the Son through the indwelling Spirit. Spiritual health is not about "getting" more of God's life but about accessing and "permitting the flow of the fulness of God's life" by turning on the tap of faith for the flow of grace that is already provided. This is perhaps the deepest implication of Paul's repeated phrase, "the faith of Christ”.Top of Form 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.   This distinction introduces a new ledger of accountability. Under the old human performance framework, people are judged by their willpower to adhere to external rules in honouring God. Under the New Creation model, the only measure of accountability is our access to the provided age-to-age life. This demolishes self-effort religion, as it proves that a legal pardon only juggles the ledger, whereas an ontological shift (a change in essential being) changes our very nature itself. This internal mechanism of faith naturally leads to the external manifestation of what Paul calls God's Workmanship (vs.19) The doing of "good works" is the natural fruit of a new nature rather than the "forced labour" of the old self. In this model, we can function as a "display case" for divine grace. This is the ultimate Workmanship (poema): Holiness becomes the spontaneous outward display of an internal change of a divine/human species, where the divine life is literally woven into the fabric of our spirit in the new mind and the new heart. This integration is the only process capable of the "salvation of the soul"—a feat that legal pardon is structurally unable to achieve. That's why I run the course. Old Self Framework (Effort) New Creation Framework (Expression) Frustrating the Spirit through strain "Being still" and "flowing" This "Expression Over Effort" model is the subjecting of self-will to God's will. When this happens the strain of religious performance is replaced by the natural "flowing" of the New Creation. This ceasing of self-will is the terminal point of the old nature and the realization of the soul's salvation. It is called Repentance from dead works. (Hebrews 6:1) The life of the Creator is woven into the very fabric of our mind (1Corinthians 2:16). This is not a psychological adjustment; it is a structural reality. Please understand! Superseding the Rehabilitation Myth: We must stop attempting to improve the old nature through more persuasive social rules. What was dead accepts a katalasso reconciled life Cultivating Permission over Performance: The goal of spiritual growth is the "being still" that allows the life of Christ to become the prime mover, resulting in the natural expression of the New Creation. The "rest of the New Creation" is realized only when we stop trying to improve the old self and begins letting the New Creation live through us. When the strain of self-resurrection ends, the authentic life of the New Species begins.      

In a world saturated with the "music of dysfunction," how do we protect the minds of our children? On today's episode of Anchored by Truth, we look at the power of combining Biblical doctrine with the rhythm and rhyme of music. Through the lens of the song "The ABC's of Faith," we discuss why repetition is one of the most powerful tools for learning and why we must be active, not passive, in the training of our children. -- Faith is not just a skill or a feeling; it is a gift from God that requires intentional transmission from one generation to the next. -- Kids are like sponges. If we do not fill their ears with God-glorifying messages, the culture will inevitably fill them with messages of despair and defeat. -- "Training" a child is an active verb. It requires parents and grandparents to constantly reinforce God's word, even as children grow and eventually leave home. -- The distinction between "good" and "evil" is being erased in modern society. We must return to the objective truth of a Creator God to give our children a solid moral framework for their lives. Scriptures for Further Study -- Proverbs 7:1-3 -- Ephesians 2:8 -- Philippians 1:29 -- Proverbs 22:6 This is episode 374. +++++++ You can find more information here: http://www.crystalseabooks.com/

A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple. — Isaiah 40:20 As we noted yesterday, idolatry is an offense to God. Today's text describes how a person who cannot afford to use gold or silver might choose a special kind of wood and then hire a craftsman to carve it into an idol that they can worship.An idol cannot do anything or even support itself, so how can a person trust it? Idols are fragile and lifeless in contrast to the all-powerful, living God. Idols are handmade from some kind of found material in contrast to the Creator God, who is spirit. If a person makes an idol and worships it, that would be like the creator worshiping the creature, revealing the foolishness of idolatry. Why would a person want to worship something that is lesser than they are?The psalmist, after speaking of the uselessness of idols, says, “Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them” (Psalm 115:8).The French reformer and theologian John Calvin said that the human heart is like a factory of idols. We think of our favorite idols, and we bow down before them: money, sex, power, status, leisure, ideals, and more.Let's be aware of the idols that we can too easily manufacture in our deceitful human hearts. Instead of being foolish, let's live by the wisdom of God. Living God, free us from the idols that our hearts can create. Expose every false trust and tear down every lifeless substitute. Guide us to worship you alone and to devote our lives wholly to you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Pastor Derek explores the concepts of the Truth and the Lie according to the Bible. He explains how believing the Truth leads to life, while believing the Lie leads to destruction. He emphasises the importance of embracing God's truth and rejecting falsehoods, in our spiritual journey of faith. This is ideal for those seeking a deeper understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith. The TRUTH by its very nature is NARROW, whereas the LIE is BROAD. There is ONE TRUE GOD and one true faith, but there are many false gods, and many false religions. Therefore, you will only find the TRUTH, by having a heart commitment to seek and to know the TRUTH of God, and a refusal to take the easy way, and accept the convenient lies that make your life easier (Matthew 7:13-14). The truth is reality, the Lie is an illusion. The Truth of God: (1) God is the Creator. and sovereign over all. He defines our identity and purpose. (2) There is an absolute standard of right and wrong (the Moral Law, based on God's own nature), and we are accountable to God to keep His Law. (3) Thus there is such a thing as SIN and GUILT, when we break God's Moral Law. (4) We will be JUDGED by God for how we have lived. Atheists say that faith in God is an escape for people afraid of the dark, whereas the truth is that atheism is a fairy-tale escape for people who are afraid of the light. We must choose between the light (truth) and the darkness (lie), John 3:19-20. The Lie is the denial of the truth. If there is no God, there is no absolute right or wrong, so we are free to do whatever we want, which is attractive to many. The LIE says there is no ultimate reality beyond this evolving universe, which means we can define our own truth. This allows man to be his own god, with the right to decide in himself, what is right and wrong, and he is not accountable to any higher being. This means this universe came into being from nothing by accident, and evolved all by itself – irrational! The Lie is EVOLUTION. Believing the LIE puts you in the broad road to corruption & destruction (Romans 1:18-25). Satan is the father of the Lie (John 8:44, Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:13-18, Revelation 12:3-4, Genesis 3:1-4). Believing the Truth is necessary to be saved, for the Gospel of salvation through Christ only makes sense if you believe the truth of God, righteousness, sin & judgment. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: “They will PERISH, because they did not receive the LOVE of THE TRUTH, that they might be SAVED. And for this reason, God will send them strong DELUSION, that they should believe THE LIE, that they all may be CONDEMNED, who did not believe THE TRUTH, but had PLEASURE in unrighteousness.” When men reject the TRUTH, because they want to be free to enjoy a sinful lifestyle, they open their heart to embrace the LIE (the only alternative), the deception that there is no God, so they can be their own god, free to live as they please. This then becomes the basis for their final CONDEMNATION by God. So, an essential first step for people to be SAVED is that they must believe in the TRUTH of the CREATOR God.

Pastor Derek explores the concepts of the Truth and the Lie according to the Bible. He explains how believing the Truth leads to life, while believing the Lie leads to destruction. He emphasises the importance of embracing God's truth and rejecting falsehoods, in our spiritual journey of faith. This is ideal for those seeking a deeper understanding of the foundations of the Christian faith. The TRUTH by its very nature is NARROW, whereas the LIE is BROAD. There is ONE TRUE GOD and one true faith, but there are many false gods, and many false religions. Therefore, you will only find the TRUTH, by having a heart commitment to seek and to know the TRUTH of God, and a refusal to take the easy way, and accept the convenient lies that make your life easier (Matthew 7:13-14). The truth is reality, the Lie is an illusion. The Truth of God: (1) God is the Creator. and sovereign over all. He defines our identity and purpose. (2) There is an absolute standard of right and wrong (the Moral Law, based on God's own nature), and we are accountable to God to keep His Law. (3) Thus there is such a thing as SIN and GUILT, when we break God's Moral Law. (4) We will be JUDGED by God for how we have lived. Atheists say that faith in God is an escape for people afraid of the dark, whereas the truth is that atheism is a fairy-tale escape for people who are afraid of the light. We must choose between the light (truth) and the darkness (lie), John 3:19-20. The Lie is the denial of the truth. If there is no God, there is no absolute right or wrong, so we are free to do whatever we want, which is attractive to many. The LIE says there is no ultimate reality beyond this evolving universe, which means we can define our own truth. This allows man to be his own god, with the right to decide in himself, what is right and wrong, and he is not accountable to any higher being. This means this universe came into being from nothing by accident, and evolved all by itself – irrational! The Lie is EVOLUTION. Believing the LIE puts you in the broad road to corruption & destruction (Romans 1:18-25). Satan is the father of the Lie (John 8:44, Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:13-18, Revelation 12:3-4, Genesis 3:1-4). Believing the Truth is necessary to be saved, for the Gospel of salvation through Christ only makes sense if you believe the truth of God, righteousness, sin & judgment. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: “They will PERISH, because they did not receive the LOVE of THE TRUTH, that they might be SAVED. And for this reason, God will send them strong DELUSION, that they should believe THE LIE, that they all may be CONDEMNED, who did not believe THE TRUTH, but had PLEASURE in unrighteousness.” When men reject the TRUTH, because they want to be free to enjoy a sinful lifestyle, they open their heart to embrace the LIE (the only alternative), the deception that there is no God, so they can be their own god, free to live as they please. This then becomes the basis for their final CONDEMNATION by God. So, an essential first step for people to be SAVED is that they must believe in the TRUTH of the CREATOR God.

When our youngest son was just learning to walk and talk, my wife always knew when I walked in the door from work. She said she would just hear this loud, one-syllable announcement from our son, "DA!" No, not "Daddy"…not "Da-Da," just "DA"! And that's how he would greet me as I walked in. My wife said he actually would go to the door late in the afternoon and begin looking for me. And when I finally arrived—say it with me now—"DA!" I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Looking For Daddy.” My son went to the door looking for his father, and he found one. Tragically, a lot of people have gone looking for a father in their life and there was no one there. In fact, maybe for you the word "father" is a hurting word. In one way or another, your father wasn't there for you—physically, financially, emotionally, or supportively. You went to the door, but there was no one there. That leaves an emotional deficit. It makes you feel incomplete, cheated, unexplainably lonely, trying to compensate for the lack of a father's love in countless ways…some that leave you even more scarred. I call it a Daddy deficit. In our word for today from the Word of God there is hope for someone who has never had the father they needed. Galatians 4:4-6, God's Word, "When the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." God is showing us here this incredible possibility of actually belonging to our Creator in a deeply personal way—as a child in His family, with God Himself as your Father. Not like your earthly father. No, God is like the father we always wished we had, not the father we had. And God goes on to say here, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.'" Now, in the Greek language this part of the Bible was written in, that "Abba" is a deeply affectionate word for Father; it's like "Daddy" or "DA!" See, God literally offers you, not a religion, not a rulebook, but a love-relationship with Him—the Creator God—as your Daddy. Even if you've had a wonderful earth-father, there's still that sense of incompleteness, that sense of someone's missing. That's because someone is. See, there's a hole in your heart that can only be filled by this One who wants to be your Heavenly Father. He's always fair, always loving, always understanding what you're feeling, always dependable, always stronger than anything you're facing—always there for you. We're missing our ultimate Father, not because He's left us, but because we left Him. The Bible says, "Each of us has turned to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). We're separated from God by all the sins of our life--every time we've done it our way instead of His way. That's why, in the Scripture we read, "God sent His Son... to redeem" us. I'll tell you this; God removed all doubt about whether or not He really loves you when He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay your death penalty for your sin on His cross. I don't know how you picture God, whether He's waving a condemning finger at you, or His arms are folded, staring at you, or He's just too busy for you. That might have been your earthly father. It's not the Heavenly Father. His arms are wide open. He's so waiting for you to come to Him. The Father you've wanted your whole life becomes your Father when you put your trust in His Son, Jesus, to forgive all your sin. The Bible says, “To all those who believe in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God.” When you open up to God's Son, He makes you a daughter or a son of God. If you've never begun a relationship with Him, I would encourage you today to let your heavenly Daddy come into your life and love you as you were always meant to be loved, with a love that Jesus came for you to have. Tell Him, “Jesus, I'm yours beginning today.” Our website will give you more information on how to be sure you belong to Him. Check it out - It's ANewStory.com. Once you begin this loving Father relationship, wherever you go looking for your Father, He's going to be there!

Time of Grace's Mike Novotny, author of "Newlywed:  A Christian Guide for Loving Year One," points out that so much attention is paid by many engaged couples on the ceremony, but not on the assumptions and expectations each has about married life.  How do you work through these assumptions and expectations to develop a common gameplan for the marriage.  Pastor Bob Castro offers an analysis of the spiritual elements of the epic sermon in Steven Spielberg movie "Disclosure Day." Does it really undercut belief in a Creator God and the Christian faith? The Reconnect with Carmen and all Faith Radio are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here   

www.northmaincog.org/online Creator GOD 2026 Theme: Gentleness Series Title: Life Hacks – Lessons from Proverbs Scripture: Proverbs 3:19-20 June 14th, 2026 Follow along on the Bible App: http://bible.com/events/49617732

Last week's experience was skipped due to an electrical outtage so no upload was available for it.  FYP Series | Week 2: Creativity — Motion Church Podcast What if the church had a "For You Page"? Not one designed to give you what you want — but one curated to give you what you need? That's the heart behind the FYP series at Motion Church. Building on the foundation laid in the Motion Is series — to lead people to live, move, and have their being in Jesus Christ — this week's message zooms in on one of the three core values that drives everything Motion Church does: creativity. It might be the last thing you'd expect to hear a sermon about. But it just might be the most important one. Starting in Genesis 1, this message unpacks a profound truth: the very first thing Scripture tells us about God is that he created. And since we are made in the image of a Creator God, creativity isn't just for artists and musicians — it's woven into the DNA of every single person in the room. Three big ideas shape this message: Be Original. The church — and you personally — are called to be exactly who God designed you to be, not a copy of someone else's success. As the message puts it: "You are the only you, and only you can do what you can do, so you better do what God has called you to do." Your sphere of influence is uniquely yours. You can reach people that no one else can reach. Be Innovative. Creativity isn't just making something out of nothing. Innovation — taking what exists and making it better — is creativity too. Motion Church's commitment is simple: use whatever methods are necessary to communicate the greatest message of all time as clearly and compellingly as possible to as many people as possible. Be Excellent. Excellence isn't perfection. It's giving God the effort he deserves. And when you do, it honors him — and it opens doors. "That excellence will honor God, it'll inspire people, and that inspiration will give you access and influence into people's lives that you may not have had otherwise." Whether you've always seen yourself as a creative person or you've never once thought that word applied to you, this message has something in it for you.

Have you ever struggled to truly understand who God is? Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself through His names. Each name is like a flash of light in the darkness, revealing His character, His power, His presence, and His relationship with His people. In this message, we begin exploring one of the most important names of God in the Bible: Elohim — “The Strong Creator.” Why does the Bible introduce God to us first as Elohim in Genesis 1:1? What does this name reveal about His greatness, authority, and power? And why would this have mattered so deeply to the original audience who had just been delivered from Egypt? In Pastor Roger Pettay's message, you will discover: • Why God has so many names in Scripture • How God's names reveal His character and relationship with us • Why the name Elohim appears over 2,500 times in the Old Testament • What the plural form of Elohim means • Why Genesis introduces God first as the Creator God • What it means that everything belongs to Him This is more than a study of names. It is an invitation to know God more personally, worship Him more deeply, and stand in awe of the Creator who was there “in the beginning.” #Elohim #CreatorGod #NamesOfGod #BiblicalTruth #Genesis1 #KnowGod #ChristianFaith #BibleTeaching #SermonPodcast #ChristianPodcast #ExaltChurch #ExaltChurchVA

Adults and Kids have spent the week learning who our great God is by EXPLORING HIS NATURE! *God is our Creator*God knows everything and is our safe place*God is love*God is forever.**From Genesis to Revelation, we surved the whole of Bible to explore the nature of God and what that means for us in our everyday. We see in the beginning how God is the only one who can create from nothing. Each of us has been created in His image reflecting the artistry of our amazing **Creator** God. In the Psalms we learned an incredible truths; **God knows every single thing about us and that we are safe in His presence and promises.** When Jesus came to earth He fulfilled so many promises and demonstrated the power of God's love for His creation. **God's love is more powerful than anything!** We see in Revelation that God's Kingdom, love, and promises will never end. **God's presence is everlasting and He will be the Shepherd of His people forever**.  ------------------------Celebrate with us these truths that are for all ages and stages of life. From children to adults, we all can rest on the unchanging, amazing nature of God! Let us give thanks and praise to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever!------------------------Prepare for this week's teaching by reading **Psalm 103, 139, 136, and 115**

Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 3 Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 FCF: We often struggle fearing the deception that is to come. Prop: Because all who did not receive the love of the truth will be deceived, we must let no one deceive us. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we'll read yet again the text starting in verse 3 and going to verse 12. Today I'll be reading from the Legacy Standard Bible but you can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. You'll notice on the screen that this is part 3 of this sermon. If you have not heard parts 1 and 2, I would encourage you to catch up on the teaching Paul has given regarding the man of lawlessness. The previous two sermons are foundational in understanding what is going on here and how we are to think about the end times. However, the sermon today, although relying on some of the conclusions we've made in the last two sermons, is by far the most standalone of the three. The message today is terrifying. It is gut wrenching. Because it speaks of a time when God is truly done with giving mercy to people who have rejected Him. And although God has done similar things in the past – it has never happened like this and only once on this scale. It is also terrifying because it remains in a context which emphasizes that many of the people who are being discussed here who have rejected God, are those who at one point believed in Him. But as terrifying as this message is – there is hope and comfort in holding fast to saving faith. Let's read once more. Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Gracious, Merciful, and Holy Father, You have endured the wickedness of men for thousands of years. You are longsuffering, extending mercy to all and allowing men to profane Your name and reject Your Son while You continue to bless them and give them common grace. But one day You will remove Your Restrainer and allow the man of lawlessness to come forth. One day Your mercies will end. One day Your common grace to wicked men will cease. And one day You will judge the world. I pray that even now You would be merciful and gracious to those in this room. Speak now words of comfort to Your people through this text…but Gracious God, send Your Spirit to open the eyes of the blind here and speak words of terror to those who are perishing. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] ”It is the creed of every sound evangelical church that those who do go back to perdition were persons who never really believed in Jesus.” A.A. Bonar “None sink so far into hell as those that come nearest heaven because they fall from the greatest height.” William Gurnall [Slide 3] “To forsake Christ for the world is to leave a treasure for a trifle…eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow, all things for nothing.” William Jenkyn “To see a ship sink in the harbor of profession is more grievous than if it had perished in the open sea of profaneness.” William Secker [Slide 4] “The essence of apostasy is changing sides from that of the crucified to that of the crucifier.” John Stott “Scripture does not need to be denied for apostasy to begin: all that is needed is that scripture takes second place in our calculations.” Iain H. Murray Let these words prepare your heart for the preaching of God's Word today. I.) The Man of Lawlessness will be powered by Satan to deceive all the perishing, so we must not let ourselves be deceived. (9-10) a. [Slide 5] 9 - whose coming is in accord with the working of Satan, i. The LSB has put hash marks into the previous verse to set it off from what follows in verse 9. ii. This is incredibly helpful because for we western English readers, this would be quite jarring, since we would assume the “coming” he is talking about now is still the coming of Christ. iii. What we don't see that would make this even more jarring, is that in the Greek the word for “coming” is… parousia. Advent. iv. However, Christ will not come in accord with the working of Satan. v. Paul is going back now to the topic of the man of lawlessness. And Paul intentionally points to the mockery of Satan here by using the same word he has used repeatedly to refer to the return of Christ. Only this time he refers to the coming of the man of lawlessness. vi. That the man of lawlessness comes in accord with the working of Satan, clarifies and affirms that the man of lawlessness is indeed a man. vii. Much like Judas Iscariot was a man who was possessed by Satan Himself, so also this man of lawlessness is a man that will come in accord with the working of Satan. viii. This is probably an idiomatic way to say that this man too will be possessed by Satan. ix. Now just like the scriptures always see Judas as culpable for his own actions… he was not a victim… so also this man of lawlessness is not a victim either. x. This man will do and say things that are so egregious and so infamous that he could not be a mere man. xi. And this man will go along with it, willingly obeying his father the devil. xii. Again, this points to the mockery of Satan. xiii. Jesus did and said things that indicated that He was no mere man too, all in willing obedience to His heavenly Father. But this Anti-Christ figure will have an advent that is similar but will do the opposite. xiv. But that isn't the end to the similarities. b. [Slide 6] with all power and signs and false wonders, i. Part of the working of Satan happening for this man is that he is coming with all Satan's power and influence. ii. He will be able to perform signs and wonders, all of which will be false. iii. How do we determine if a sign or wonder is false? iv. Scripture gives two criteria 1. [Slide 7] In Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Yahweh clearly says that if a prophesy does not come to pass, then they know that what the prophet said was not from Him and that prophet has spoken presumptuously and should be put to death. 2. [Slide 8-9] Let's go to Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and read this together. Because what if the signs and wonders do come true? What if they are effective? a. Notice what God says… b. If a prophet performs signs and wonders that come to pass but they advocate worshipping other gods, they should not listen to that prophet. Why? c. Because Yahweh sent (take note of that. Yahweh sent) that prophet to the people to test their love for Yahweh. d. Then God reinforms them of the command. They should walk after Yahweh, fear Him, obey His commands, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. e. But the prophet should be put to death for His attempt to mislead God's people. v. [Slide 11] The wonders and signs the man of lawlessness commits won't be false because they won't be powerful, effective, or come to pass. They will be false because they will be used to encourage people to worship him instead of Yahweh. Or to worship him as Yahweh or Jesus Himself. vi. We know how our Lord Jesus is coming next. He is coming on the clouds. He will gather us to Himself. That is how we will see Him next. In the air. vii. EVERY ESCHATALOGICAL FRAMEWORK AGREES! viii. Remember that my friends. Remember God's people. We will see Him next in the AIR. ix. No matter what signs or wonders a man does on earth… He isn't Christ if we don't meet Him in the air. He isn't Christ if we must go to Him. The Real Jesus will bring us to Himself. We will be CAUGHT UP. c. [Slide 12] 10 - and with all the deception of unrighteousness i. Another key factor that is hinted at in Deuteronomy 13 was that a person bringing signs and wonders that advocates for the breaking or distorting of God's laws – cannot be sent from God. ii. Jesus Himself said that a house divided against itself cannot stand. How can the real Jesus appear and lead people to conclude that living unrighteous lifestyles is… fine? iii. That disobeying the law of God… is fine? iv. Did Jesus do this at His first advent? v. He fulfilled the law, but He never rejected it or broke it. Nor did He ever advocate His followers do so. vi. As loving as He was to sinners and as much as He healed people what did He say? “Go and sin no more!” vii. He said, “Your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.” viii. He said, “You must be holy as my heavenly Father is holy.” ix. When Jesus walks this earth again… x. HE WILL NOT TREAT SIN WITH KID GLOVES. xi. In Isaiah 11, where Paul pulled the reference to Christ consuming the man of lawlessness with His breath, in that same context it says that in that day “they will do no evil nor act corruptly in all My holy mountain. “ xii. The man of lawlessness though, will be a man who advocates a reversal of God's laws. Perhaps emphasizing love and peace over righteousness and blamelessness. xiii. Indeed, his only law is that all must worship… him. xiv. But what Paul says next is absolutely essential for a proper understanding of this time. d. [Slide 13] for those who perish, i. Notice that the power, the lies, the signs, these are all aimed at a specific group. ii. The perishing. iii. The bible gives us warnings and we must absolutely heed them. But just because the warnings exist doesn't mean that there is a chance that God's promises won't be fulfilled. iv. God has promised that He will seal all His people until the day of redemption. v. Just because the bible gives warnings of falling away and believing a lie doesn't somehow make God's promises null and void. vi. Instead, we must look for a way to make both truths of scripture stand with all their strength without contradiction. vii. And the church has, for thousands of years, understood that it is by hearing the word of God that we receive faith. Not just faith to believe on Christ but faith to believe all that God has said. viii. God's word is effective to produce change in the hearts of God's people. His Word will not return void or empty. ix. Warning passages accomplish their purpose to cause true believers to be alert and vigilant. x. This is the means God uses to prevent them from falling away and succumbing to a lie so powerful that if it were possible the elect would be deceived. xi. Paul makes it clear, that the man of lawlessness will be able to deceive ONLY those who are perishing. Why? xii. Because true believers, believers that have genuine faith, will heed these warnings, continue to reject sin and pursue Righteousness, and continue to believe God. xiii. Paul writes this as a comfort to a church whom he is convinced is counted worthy of God's Kingdom, whom he is convinced received the gospel in power. He is not uncertain about their identity as children of God. Therefore, this comment is designed to give them comfort. The perishing are the ones who will be deceived. xiv. So, they must not let themselves be deceived. xv. But why are they perishing? e. [Slide 14] because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. i. The wording here is actually quite important. 1. The expression we might expect is that these people who are perishing would be those who did not believe the gospel. Or perhaps that they did not believe the truth. Or that they did not receive the truth. 2. But that isn't what saves a person and eliminates their possibility of being deceived by this Satanic Superman. 3. Christ Himself said that in the last day there would be many who said to Him, “Have we not prophesied in your name, and performed miracles and cast out demons in your name, but I will say to them depart from me lawbreakers, I never knew you.” 4. Paul says that people who did not receive THE LOVE of the truth are those who are perishing. 5. Only those who cherish the truth will be saved. 6. What does it mean to cherish the truth? We'll get to that, because a little later Paul is going to give us the opposite of this. Just hang tight for now. ii. So, the deception of the man of lawlessness will reach all the perishing because they didn't receive the love of the truth. What does that mean? iii. Right now, the gospel call goes out to all men. All men are given at least natural revelation that there is a Creator God who must be worshipped and obeyed. And all men are called to repent and believe the gospel. iv. But one day that general call will stop. v. At some point – when this man of lawlessness steps on the scene, the general call of the gospel to all men will no longer be available. vi. That isn't to say no more will come to saving faith in Christ at this time… vii. God may still effectually call people to Himself. viii. But those who are perishing, those whom God has not elected, will believe the lies of the man of lawlessness. f. [Slide 15] Summary of the Point: Paul has presented who the man of lawlessness is and the blasphemies he will commit. He has discussed when he will come and how he will end. Now, Paul reveals how he will deceive and who will believe him. The perishing, whether they have professed Christ or not, all those who have not received the love of the truth will believe the power, signs, and wonders of the man of lawlessness, and will be deceived into unrighteousness. God's general call to all men to repent and believe the gospel will ultimately go extinct as all the perishing are given over to the lies of this man. If we are truly elect of God, and we have received the love of the truth, we will not succumb to these lies. But how do we know we are elect and have received the love of the truth? We do not let ourselves be deceived. We hold fast to what we have been taught. We trust God no matter what our senses say. [Slide 16 (blank)] Transition: Perhaps you wrestled with that statement regarding the gospel call. Perhaps you were uncomfortable thinking that there will be a time when God is going to stop calling all men to believe the gospel and will only call those who are elect. Well, if you struggled with that. Buckle up. It is about to get very uncomfortable. Paul will now reveal how it will be so that all the perishing believe the lies of the man of lawlessness. II.) In order to judge them, God will actively reprobate the perishing, so we must not let ourselves be deceived. (11-12) a. [Slide 17] 11 - And for this reason, God sends upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, i. For this reason – meaning because the perishing have not received the love of the truth. ii. God is not forcing them to not receive the love of the truth – but as a response to them not receiving it… God will act. iii. Why do I say that the general call of the gospel will cease? iv. Because God will send a different message. He has already sent the gospel call to all men. v. But He has not sent out another message to all men yet. vi. All the lies and deceit and questioning of God's truth today is all generated by the lies of demons and by evil men. vii. But one day they will not be the only voices spreading misinformation. viii. One day, God Himself will send an influence that deceives the perishing. ix. Ok. Stop right there. We all know that God cannot sin. Specifically, we know that God cannot lie. So how can we interpret this differently so God isn't lying. x. Well does this text actually say that God will lie? xi. It doesn't. xii. It says that God will send a deluding influence. The Greek word for “influence” here suggests it is strong and inescapable. xiii. Notice that it does not say “allow” either. The Greek word here, translated “send” cannot mean that God simply is “allowing or permitting” this influence to occur. The Greek word means to cause to go somewhere. xiv. God will cause a deluding influence to go to the perishing. xv. God isn't lying, He is sending someone or something to lie to the perishing. xvi. Why? xvii. So that they will believe what is false. xviii. The general call of the gospel ceases because God sends something to make sure they believe something else. xix. Why would God do this? b. [Slide 18] 12 - in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness. i. God wants to make sure that every single person who is perishing, is justly judged. 1. This phrase here is the explanation of what it means to NOT receive the love of the truth. It means to not believe the truth but to take pleasure in unrighteousness. 2. These are not, however, two items. They are one. 3. The New Testament often defines genuine belief as belief unto obedience. To have saving faith is to love righteousness. So, if we see someone taking pleasure in unrighteousness, they cannot believe the truth, no matter what they say they believe. ii. But attentive bible students might wonder why God needs to send a deluding influence at all. iii. If God did nothing, wouldn't they still be judged? iv. [Slide 19] The answer is yes. 1. The doctrine of election is a doctrine of God's intervention. a. In order for anyone to be saved, God must intervene. b. No matter what kind of Christian you are, you must believe that God saves us and must intervene to do this. c. Otherwise, you are a Pelagian and a heretic. d. God's elect are those whom God has chosen, according to the counsel of His will and based on nothing of us, to intervene for and rescue from our sin. e. The others that God has not elected will not inherit salvation, but not because God has intervened to keep them from salvation. Rather they will not inherit salvation because God has chosen to NOT intervene for them. f. God judges them according to THEIR deeds which are evil. 2. In short, all men are deserving of judgment and wrath because of their sin. God intervenes for some by electing them to salvation. v. So, what is different here? vi. God is no longer passive. He intervenes… but in order to assure that the perishing are judged for their rejection of the gospel and their unrighteousness. vii. This is what we would call the doctrine of reprobation. God closes and seals the door actively rather than passively. The outcome is the same, but God's activity in the matter is markedly different and it signals an end to God's mercy and common grace toward the perishing. viii. And the really interesting thing is, although we've only seen God do this on this scale once in the global flood, it was not accompanied by God sending a lie. But we do have smaller cases of this happening. 1. [Slide 20] In I Kings 22, King Ahab had long heard the prophesies of Micaiah. God's prophet. Yet Ahab continued to refuse the counsel of the Lord. He continued to ignore and dismiss what God said. a. God determined that Ahab's time… was up. That it was time for him to be judged. b. To ensure that Ahab would earn His judgement to the fullest, God met in a heavenly council. He and angelic beings took council and God determined the course of action. c. He determined that a spirit must go and deceive Ahab. In that setting a spirit stepped forward and volunteered to be a lying spirit to the prophets of other gods and encourage them to tell King Ahab that he should attack a city because he would be victorious. A lie. d. Of course, God's prophet told Ahab that he would fail and even relayed the story of this heavenly council. e. But Ahab continued to choose to believe these false prophesies rather than believe God's prophet. f. Would Ahab had suddenly changed his mind and listened to Micaiah had God not done this? No. He wouldn't have. g. But that is not what the story is about. h. It isn't about Ahab's rejection of God… it is about God's rejection of Ahab. i. And that is what makes the story so harrowing. j. Ahab rejecting God, is just par for the course. k. But God rejecting a King of Israel to the point that He sends a lying spirit to convince Him to continue to DISOBEY Him? That is what is terrifying. 2. [Slide 21] In 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 we see the same thing. a. We see God being fed up with Israel's disobedience under David's rule. b. The text of Samuel says that God incited David to take a census, and 1 Chronicles says that Satan enticed David to take a census. c. So, which is it? d. The devil is God's devil remember? e. God used Satan to accomplish His will. Which was to incite David to disobey so that God could judge Israel. f. Would they have earned His judgment without His intervention? g. YES!!! h. Again, this says more about God than about man. i. God's mercy does come to an end. At some point, God says, enough. ix. [Slide 22] And that is what is terrifying here friends. x. Wicked people loving their sin and rejecting God's truth? That has happened since Cain killed Abel. That isn't new or scary. xi. God sending a delusion to make sure ALL THE PERISHING reject Him? That is God rejecting, forever, those who are not His people. And that my friends… has never happened before. xii. There will be a day when God says… “I'm done with wicked mankind.” xiii. And it will coincide with a day when another says… “I'm God, I accept you as you are, come and worship me.” xiv. And everyone who hasn't received the love of the truth… will believe and worship that Satan empowered man. c. [Slide 23] Summary of the Point: For their comfort, Paul shows the Thessalonians that one day those who are persecuting them will be given over to the worship of the man of lawlessness. One day they will be judged. Paul's thought isn't quite complete. He will continue through the rest of the chapter to encourage them with positive news for them. But it is important that they know the end of the wicked. In order to judge them, God will give over those who did not receive the love of the truth to a reprobate mind so that He may judge them. They will believe and worship the beast and succumb to the pleasure of unrighteousness. So, what are the Thessalonians to do? Keep believing what they were taught. Hold fast and stand firm in the truth and do not let themselves be deceived. Why? Because with this man of lawlessness will come a great apostasy too. They must hear the warning of this passage and not let themselves be deceived, for only those who are truly elect will do so. Conclusion: So, CBC, what have we learned today that refines our beliefs and directs our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 24] In his correction of the lie that the Thessalonians have allowed themselves to believe, Paul has reminded them of all that he had taught them concerning the man of lawlessness. And in these concluding thoughts about him, Paul reveals his influence and who will be deceived by him. There is no doubt that Paul does this to draw a contrast between the Thessalonians and those who will be deceived. He will make that even more apparent with next week's text. But the fact remains, that when the man of lawlessness steps on the scene, he will be empowered by Satan to convince all those who did not receive the love of the truth, that he should be worshipped as Yahweh. God is not passive in this, but rather than intervening to prevent this, God's mercy has reached an end, and God will send along with him a deluding influence to convince all the perishing to believe his lies. God will give them over to reprobation so that He may judge them for their love of unrighteousness. Paul's opening application to the Thessalonians remains the application. Don't allow yourself to be deceived. First must come the apostasy and the man of lawlessness and the deception of the perishing. Then and only then will the Day of the Lord come and the Lord return to gather His people to Himself. Don't believe anything but what we have already taught you. Otherwise, they too will succumb to the lies of this man and the deluding influence of God. But what does this mean for us? How can we be sure that we don't let ourselves be deceived? 1.) [Slide 25] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the perishing are those who do not receive the love of the truth. a. Notice once again Paul's wording here. b. They do not receive the love of the truth. c. But wait a second, doesn't the bible simply talk about belief, faith being the way God unites us to Christ? d. It does. e. Isn't this a contradiction? f. Not at all. g. Just as we use the same word to talk about different aspects of the same thing, words like the cup which could mean 8 fluid ounces or just a drinking receptacle, so also the bible uses words differently depending on context. All doesn't always mean all. Call doesn't always mean the same thing. And as John the apostle demonstrates in his gospel, believe doesn't always mean the same thing. h. Here Paul is defining the kind of faith that saves. The kind of faith that unites us to Christ. It is not a faith that merely receives the facts. It is not a faith that merely respects the authority of the name of Jesus. i. The kind of faith that is saving… is a faith that receives the truth… and loves it. j. If salvation is a gift, we've all received gifts that we love. We have also all received gifts that we… do not love. k. We are warned in the gospels, that of the four soils of our hearts, three of them receive the gospel message. But only one produces fruit and is, therefore, useful to the farmer. l. The test of true and genuine saving faith is not in whether or not you believe in God or in Jesus… it is whether or not you love and cherish the truth of the gospel in your daily life. Is it precious to you to reflect on how you were once a sinner, doomed to hell, and Christ died to set you free? It is precious to you that Christ gave you His righteousness so that you could be declared righteous before God's judgment? Is it precious to you that the Lord sends His Spirit to all who are His and He enables us to live in obedience to Christ in an ever-growing way? Is it precious to you that Christ has united you to an assembly of people locally and universally who hold you accountable and encourage you? Is it precious to you to look hopefully toward Christ's coming as you live holy lives in preparation for His Kingdom? m. This is why when Paul later characterizes those who will be deceived, he says both that they did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness. n. In order to be saved by faith – it has to be a God-given kind of faith. What kind is that? One that propels you to seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness… first. o. Only those who love the truth… will deny the lie. 2.) [Slide 26] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the man of lawlessness will deceive the perishing. a. Everyone else. b. No matter what you say you believe. No matter how much time you've spent coming to church, reading your bible, or praying. c. Everyone who does not love the truth and take pleasure in righteousness. Everyone who does not seek God's Kingdom first and His righteousness. d. Everyone else… will worship the man of lawlessness as God and submit to His rule over their lives. e. Fearing that they will lose their jobs, their possessions, their land, their homes, their wealth, they will take his mark and worship him as God. f. And mark my words… a good percentage of them will be those who have claimed to believe on Jesus. Many of them will have said the sinner's prayer. Many of them will have gone to church and come from a Christian family. 3.) [Slide 27] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that in the last days God will give over the perishing to a deluding influence. a. See it doesn't all come down to this man of lawlessness' cunning or his power. b. Paul doesn't give him all that credit. And Paul doesn't want to mislead the Thessalonian church. c. This man of lawlessness will be a Satanic Super Man… but if God wished to oppose Him, this man would not deceive even one. d. The fact of the matter is that when this man steps on the scene, when the restrainer is removed, God will actively send an influence, probably Satan himself, to deceive every single person who has not received the love of the truth. e. He will do this not because they have not already earned their judgment. But because He is done with evil mankind. He is ready to remake the world. His Kingdom is coming in full. f. Why will this man be so successful? The short answer? Because God wants him to be. g. But… 4.) [Slide 28] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that the elect will succumb to the deluding influence. a. In spite of the strength of the lie, based on this text, based on what Paul will say next, and based on the other promises in scripture – we must not conclude that God will allow any of His elect to be deceived by this deluding influence. b. Jesus said that in those days, IF POSSIBLE, the elect might be deceived. Jesus' wording leaves no room for misinterpretation. It isn't possible. c. The question then that must be asked, is how does God preserve us? 5.) [Slide 29] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The Perseverance of the saints is primarily about God preserving us. a. The statement, “Once saved always saved.” Is technically true but oftentimes it communicates something that the bible flatly rejects. Even in this text. b. Just because you have professed Christ doesn't mean that you are saved. And just because you are saved, doesn't mean that you don't need to persevere. c. This doctrine must be primarily about God. d. God gives to all His elect a faith that endures. So much so that if we see our faith fail, it is not because we have lost it or because we did not persevere. It is because we were not given saving faith. We were a soil that received the message of the gospel but it did not produce fruit. e. The apostle John says of people who walked away from the faith, “that left us because they were not of us.” Not, “they left us because they are no longer of us.” f. God is the primary agent in preserving His people and enabling them to persevere… g. But… that doesn't mean we are passive. 6.) [Slide 30] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must not let ourselves be deceived. a. We are not passive in our own perseverance. b. Instead, God's true children will take warning passages such as these and, with fear and trembling, they will cling all the tighter to the gospel of Christ and the pursuit of holiness and righteousness, without which none will see God. c. God's true children will see the coming of this man of lawlessness, his empowering by the Devil, and God's active role here, and they will run back to what the scriptures teach and reject the lies even when all their senses tell them it is truth. And even when it will cost them everything. d. We must hold fast and stand firm in what we believe. e. So when we combine the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints with our role in persevering we realize that though we are certainly not passive in persevering… we are also… Praise the Lord… NOT ALONE. 7.) [Slide 31] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that Jesus accepts us as we are. Believing this is a symptom of not receiving the love of the truth. a. There is a teaching alive and well today that insists that Jesus accepts us as we are. b. Now what could be meant by that teaching is that there is no prerequisite to repenting of sin and trusting Christ. c. Meaning you don't have to be perfect in order to believe on Jesus. You don't have to have stopped sinning in order to become a Christ follower. You don't have to join a church, get a tattoo, be circumcised or any other prerequisite. d. If that is what is meant – then this is true. e. However, oftentimes this message ends up being – Jesus accepts you no matter what lifestyle you choose to keep living. Jesus will never ask you to be someone you aren't. Jesus just wants to love you for who you are. f. This… is a lie. g. Jesus died because of who you were. Jesus died because you fall short. You miss the mark. You are not good enough. That is why Jesus died. To pay for your shortcomings and to make you like Him. To change you. He died to make you a NEW CREATURE. Old has died… and new is taking its place. h. Jesus says in order to be His disciple you must crucify yourself… daily… and follow Him. i. He told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and follow Him. j. Christ's message is clear. k. Turn from your sin, follow Him and sin… no… more. l. There is no such thing as a Christian who loves his sin and Jesus too. m. There is no such thing as a Christian who dislikes God's law. n. There is no such thing as a Christian who loves this world. o. They simply… do not exist. p. They may call themselves Christians… but in the last day… they will be deceived, take the mark and worship the Anti-Christ, so that God may justly judge them. q. Jesus is so not satisfied with who you are, that He submitted to death to change you to be like Him. r. If you disagree – its time to really listen hard… 8.) [Slide 32] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” In the last days, many that profess Christ today will take the mark of the beast and worship him as God. a. The tension in the scripture is clear. b. Although God by grace alone unites His people to Christ's sacrifice through giving them faith in His Son, the kind of faith that God ALWAYS gives, is a faith that changes the person to whom it is given. c. When God gives faith, it is like when someone gets hit by a bus. d. Their life is going to be different from that day forward. It will change… because it must. e. The soil of the heart is prepared by the Lord to receive His truth and produce fruit. f. All other soils may look like they have received the truth… but things choke or scorch them to death. g. There will be many in that day who have prayed a prayer and accepted a cheap grace that forgives sin and asks nothing of them. A grace that has less to do with you being a citizen of God's royal family and more to do with keeping you from going to hell. h. But the same grace that keeps you from hell, makes you into a citizen of His family and conforms you to His standard. It's a package deal. You don't get one without the other. i. So how do you avoid being yet another dupe? How do you avoid standing at the judgment seat of Christ wondering why the books containing your works did not prove you were His? j. You must be born again. You must have your heart prepared by God to receive the love of the truth. k. How do you know God has done that for you? l. Well – is He stirring you now? Do you feel the Spirit of God pulling on you now? That is a pretty good sign that your heart is ready to receive the love of the truth. m. So, turn from sin. Turn from your pleasure in unrighteousness. Turn from worshipping and pursuing things on earth. Money, relationships, careers, possessions, lusts, passions… n. Turn from your desires, your pursuits, your will o. Lose your identity so that you can be absorbed into Christ's. p. Trust Him and love Him and what He has done for you. Love Him so much that He becomes your first priority. q. Submit to His rule over your life as your one and only King. r. Trust Him and love Him enough to leave all other things you trust and love behind. s. Then… and only then… will you start to see the Lord change you into His own possession. t. If that is you today… don't wait to tell someone. u. Don't walk out the door and think -I'll just tell them later. I'll just call them later. No. v. If you need to follow Christ. If you are done following you. Tell someone you know is a Christian here. We would like to rejoice with you and help you in the next steps. [Slide 33 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the church father Augustine of Hippo In a vast wilderness full of snares and dangers, look! At your enabling I have cut off many of them, thrusting them out of my heart. And yet so many of these things buzz on all sides about my daily life. Do I dare say that nothing of this sort catches my attention, or causes even the slightest interest? True, I do not spend time in the worst kinds of entertainment, I do not dabble in astrology or the occult. I detest all those sacrilegious mysteries. And I owe you my humble and singlehearted service, O Lord my God. Yet the enemy, with tricks and suggestions, looks for a way in. So I beg you, by our King, even if I am far away from consenting to the enemy, may it ever be farther and farther away. You enable me, and will enable me, to follow you willingly, doing what you want me to do. We ask this for ourselves in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: Now may He who raises the poor from the dust, The needy from the ash heap; And makes them sit with nobles And inherit a seat of honor. Bear you through troubled days, To you who trust in God's unchanging love. Until we meet again, Grace and Peace to you.

John is taken in the Spirit to the throne room of God, and what he sees is amazing: angelic creatures, mysterious elders, beautiful thrones, and the presence of Almighty God Himself. It is enough to make anyone erupt in praise and worship of the Creator God! Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/preach-the-word/id1449859151?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2aSveQvIs7SPHWB4UcmSUQ

Today's classic episode is The Great I Am. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.Send us Fan MailFor more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Also connect with us in discipleship, watch our videos, follow us on facebook or send us an email

1 Timothy 2:1-2 .In this message, Pastor Lorch begins a series on prayer. Prayer can be defined simply as talking with God. There is nothing mysterious about prayer. If the Creator-God has revealed Himself to us, it is to be expected that He will desire His creatures to talk to Him. Prayer is directed toward the true and living God. There are several kinds of prayer mentioned in Scripture. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 mentions general prayer, as well as prayers of thanksgiving, supplication, and intercession. We also find in Scripture prayers of confession.

What if the reason Jesus had to become man reveals far more than being redeemed—it reveals how God intended humanity to reign? In Episode 9 of The Mystery of Godliness, Duane Sheriff teaches that at the heart of our salvation lies a profound mystery Satan never saw coming: God became flesh. Without the incarnation, humanity could not be saved, born again, or made into new creations. "God made flesh" is the pivotal foundation of the gospel. If Jesus were only a good man, His life could redeem only one life—but because He is Creator God made flesh, His sacrifice carries the worth of all creation.Drawing from 1 Timothy 3:16 and Genesis 3, Duane reveals that humanity's fall required humanity's restoration. The promised seed of woman pointed to the virgin birth, bypassing Adam's fallen bloodline and bringing forth a sinless Savior who could fully represent mankind. Through Christ, God not only provides forgiveness of sins, but also restores dominion, defeats Satan, and recovers the authority originally given to man—revealing redemption as the full restoration of righteousness, authority, and life through Jesus Christ.Click for FREE offer ➡️https://pastorduane.com/landing/the-mystery-of-godliness/

Our world is full of beauty. From paintings to people, we see beauty all around us because our Creator God is beauty. But sin can twist and distort our longings for beautiful things by making us ignore the Creator and create idols for our hearts. But godly wisdom isn't found in rejecting beautiful things; it's what gives us godly vision for godly beauty.

Wisdom in Scripture is more than intelligence or good decision-making—it’s a way of living rooted in reverence for God. Proverbs 9:10 makes it clear: wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. That “fear” isn’t fear of punishment, but a deep respect and recognition that God is the source of all truth, direction, and understanding. In a fast-paced world where decisions often feel rushed and emotionally driven, wisdom calls us to pause and look upward first. Rather than relying solely on instinct or opinion, God invites us to seek Him directly for guidance. When we intentionally ask for wisdom and make space for the Holy Spirit to lead, we position ourselves to live with greater clarity, peace, and alignment with His will. Highlights Wisdom in the Bible goes beyond knowledge—it’s rooted in reverence for God Proverbs 9:10 defines wisdom as beginning with the fear (reverence) of the Lord God is the ultimate source of discernment and understanding Modern life often pushes us toward rushed, emotion-driven decisions Seeking wisdom requires intentionally pausing and praying before acting Scripture encourages believers to ask God for wisdom confidently Daily dependence on God cultivates spiritual growth and clearer direction Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: What Is Wisdom?By Megan J. Conner Bible Reading:“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” - Prov. 9:10 (NIV) The Bible is full of references to the concept of wisdom. We are exhorted throughout the Word to seek wisdom, to employ it when making decisions, to represent it through our interactions with others, and to prayerfully request an increase of it in our lives. There are entire books in the Bible dedicated to the value of wisdom (Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, to name a few). With all of these references to wisdom in the Word, it is clear the Lord is trying to teach us something, but what? What does wisdom really mean for us in our modern, everyday lives? When we look up the definition of wisdom in the dictionary or a biblical concordance, we can see descriptions such as having good sense or judgment, the ability to discern inner qualities, teachings stemming from ancient knowledge, shrewdness, or prudence. Based on these definitions, true wisdom is more than intellect or knowledge. It is much deeper. It extends far beyond our human limitations, which is why we must look to the supernatural as our source of impartation and increase. I don’t know about you, but I struggle with the idea of possessing and successfully employing wisdom in everyday life. Our lives move at such a fast pace, and whether real or projected, it feels like our choices must be instantaneous rather than carefully considered. Even if I am able to carve out space for thoughtful deliberation, it seems like I rely much more readily on my ever-present, very forward emotions rather than sage discernment when making decisions. Perhaps you struggle with this as well. How then can we attempt to gain and prioritize wisdom? Our key scripture today states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10, NIV). Any search we embark on to gain wisdom must begin with the fear of the Lord. Fear in this passage isn’t being afraid. Rather, it is a sincere reverence and respect for our Creator God. It is an acknowledgment that He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the end (Rev. 22:13); that all things were created by Him and without Him nothing was made (John 1:3). HE is the answer. HE is the source. If we desire to gain greater insight and understanding, we must depend heavily on the Lord. We must look to Him first. This all sounds great, but how can we practically apply this to our lives? By intentionally asking the Lord to grant and increase our wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 says, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment,” (NLT). If the smartest thing we can do to gain wisdom is to simply ask for it, then that is the best place to start. The Word promises that if we ask, we shall receive and if we seek, we shall find (Matt. 7:7). The next time you are uncertain of what decision to make or how to proceed forward in an unpredictable scenario, stop and pray. Ask the Lord to grant you His wisdom. Create space for those whispers of the Holy Spirit, and God will provide. He is faithful to do all He has promised. Intersecting Faith & Life: How have you viewed the concept of wisdom in the Word of God? Have you seen it as treasured and valuable? Or do you struggle to believe you can possess such a quality? As shared earlier, I have wrestled with possessing and employing wisdom. However, I fully believe in the truth of God’s Word. If He tells us to seek wisdom and ask for it, then that is exactly what we should do. Understanding this, I started praying for wisdom every morning several years ago. My prayer is simple, nothing fancy. But when I recite this daily prayer, I sense a connection to the Word and God’s desire for me to grow in my faith. It is a small act of obedience that I believe has drawn me closer and more dependent upon the Lord. If you feel led, please join me in this petition today: “Heavenly Father, would you grant my family and me wisdom today? Help us to be present in the natural world, but live and work with Your supernatural wisdom that is beyond this world. Amen.” Further Reading:John 1:1-5Matthew 7:7-11 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Charles Darwin and some of his friends saw a certain beauty and order in evolution, believing that random processes can bring about living systems. That anyone survived what a poet has described as ‘nature, red in tooth and claw,' is a miracle for naturalists. Others believe miracles, if you can call them that, happen because some impersonal cosmic force allows them.There's not much comfort in that, though. Remember the account of ancient people who longed to see a miracle from their God? The Egyptians developed a complex system of gods that operated on a whim, but when the God of Moses showed up, they very clearly understood the true source of miracles. And that was the point of the 10 plagues: to show them that the Creator God was infinitely powerful and capable of producing miracles. We've been given a reasonable source that tells us where miracles come from: The Bible. Deuteronomy 29:2–3 says, “Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes, you saw those great trials, those signs, and great wonders.'”Here we see clearly that the source of any and all miracles is God Himself, not a force in the universe. Not a spirit guide. Miracles are from God alone, and He wants you to experience miracles in your life. He wants you to live an abundant life, not one of defeat and misery and oppression. His limitless power was seen by the ancients, and today, people on every continent see that miracle-working power. There's a beautiful description of this in Isaiah 43:13, which says, “Yes, and from ancient days I am He. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” And this is the truth we can expect from the One who really does want to help you, and help you today. Let's pray. Father God, you have put within each of us the knowledge that tells us you are the source of all miracle-working power. And this is part of the good news of Jesus that we get to tell others about. Thank you for the miracle of Jesus. Thank you for all of Your miracles. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Send me a Text Message!You are sent to love people all the way to Jesus. It's not enough to be like Jesus, and love like Jesus, on the Jesus Way we are sent to love others all the way to Jesus. That's our purpose. That's our "why." What if the most critical issue facing Chistians today is that we don't know what counts, so we settle for a lesser life.  And in the process, we lose the wide-eyed wonder and awe of the radical Good News that we have as our Father God, an unstoppable force, a Dream-Releaser of "beyond imagination" power.  That we have in Jesus a, passionate Savior and Leader, who was willing to die to see God's story written in our lives. That we haveopen access to the very Spirit of the Living, Creator God.  When we forget what counts, we forget that we are sent to love others all the way to Jesus. That's our "why," our purpose!

Pastor Sam Rainer preaches a series about God's names in the Bible. God has many names that reveal His various characteristics. To take His name in vain is to drag that holy name into something empty or false. This sermon unpacks the meaning of Elohim, the Creator God.

The God of the Holy Scriptures is the God of clarity, not the god of confusion. We, as followers of Jesus Christ and as lovers of God's Word, have a huge task before us. We have to clarify the massive amount of confusion that exists about God, about God's Son, about God's people, and about God's mission. The good news is that we are not left on our own to figure out the answers. God reveals Himself to us. God tells us who He is. These past two sentences are the foundation of this sermon series in Genesis. There are two main ways God reveals Himself in His Word. They are found in the first three chapters of the Bible. According to Genesis chapters 1 & 2, God is the Creator of all things. According to Genesis chapter 3, God becomes the Redeemer of fallen humanity. These two descriptions of God dominate the remainder of the Bible all the way to the very last chapter, Revelation 22. God as Creator speaks of His authority. God as Redeemer speaks of His atonement. We read over and over again with incredible detail what kind of Creator God is and what kind of Redeemer God is. This study is much more than informational. The ultimate purpose is being transformational. II. What kind of Creator is God? 1. God is a Powerful Creator 2. God is a Relational Creator 3. God is a Benevolent Creator 4. God is a Judicial Creator 5. God is a Gracious Creator

* You can get the sermon note sheet at: https://family-bible-church.org/2026Messages/26Apr12.pdf * This week, we are beginning a new study - in the book of Ecclesiastes. Many have had a variety of opinions regarding this book. However, as we will see today, this book reveals the viewpoint of life apart from a focus on God - a part from God, life is ultimately "meaningless." * The book of Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon from the perspective of an individual who was searching for meaning and purpose in life - apart from God. Solomon found out the truth - apart from an eternal relationship with the Creator God life is empty. "Vanity of vanities" is the end result of all pursuits for in the end everyone dies. However, if we apply the lesson which Solomon learned - "remember your Creator in the days of your youth" - then we find that there is meaning and purpose, not only in this life but into eternity as well. In this study of the book of Ecclesiastes, we will consider the true purpose of each of these phases of life which Solomon found to be but vanity "under the sun" by considering them while "remembering" our Creator God! * Today, we want to consider a proper understanding of the author of the book and it's theme. * This message was presented by Bob Corbin on April 12, 2026 at Family Bible Church in Martinez, Georgia.

In spite of ourselves, we are loved beyond measure by our Creator God. His tender lovingkindness is continually towards us. He gives us mercy and grace, loving us without end.

In spite of ourselves, we are loved beyond measure by our Creator God. His tender lovingkindness is continually towards us. He gives us mercy and grace, loving us without end.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260316dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 The Way God Operates One of the greatest difficulties we have in understanding our Creator God is that we assume he operates the way we do. We are tempted to judge him and his actions based on our own faulty criteria of what’s right and wrong, good and bad. When we do that, he seems to come up short, and his ways remain mysterious. But God explains time and again in the Bible that he operates on an entirely different level. His forward-thinking plans and pursuits do not naturally square with our sinful human logic, which is bound by time and immediate self-gratification. He says through his prophet Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). No wonder his ways are mysterious to us! But he’s not the one to blame; we are. We’re broken; he’s not! We’re not alone in having to struggle with this intellectual and spiritual handicap. Jesus’ hand-picked disciples stumbled around as well, trying to understand why God does what he does and getting it wrong. For instance, they assumed that the man they encountered in today’s Bible reading had been born blind because either he or his parents had committed some terrible sin. But they were dead wrong. Jesus explained, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Get that! God allows—even sends—painful suffering into our lives, and why? Because he hates us? No. So he can show us and others how powerful he is to save, now and forever. Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to see how you graciously work all things for my good. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260316dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3 The Way God Operates One of the greatest difficulties we have in understanding our Creator God is that we assume he operates the way we do. We are tempted to judge him and his actions based on our own faulty criteria of what’s right and wrong, good and bad. When we do that, he seems to come up short, and his ways remain mysterious. But God explains time and again in the Bible that he operates on an entirely different level. His forward-thinking plans and pursuits do not naturally square with our sinful human logic, which is bound by time and immediate self-gratification. He says through his prophet Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). No wonder his ways are mysterious to us! But he’s not the one to blame; we are. We’re broken; he’s not! We’re not alone in having to struggle with this intellectual and spiritual handicap. Jesus’ hand-picked disciples stumbled around as well, trying to understand why God does what he does and getting it wrong. For instance, they assumed that the man they encountered in today’s Bible reading had been born blind because either he or his parents had committed some terrible sin. But they were dead wrong. Jesus explained, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Get that! God allows—even sends—painful suffering into our lives, and why? Because he hates us? No. So he can show us and others how powerful he is to save, now and forever. Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to see how you graciously work all things for my good. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Join me for a transformative live in person event in Maui on May 14-17 https://www.brianscottlive.com/hawaii-2026   Join The Reality Revolution Tribe

How much would you weigh on Jupiter? Which planet has a moon that looks like a pizza? Does it really rain diamonds on Neptune?Learn the answers to these questions and more as you discover facts that are out of this world. Track the space race from shuttles to starships.Experience the dazzling display of auroras, stars, and nebulae. As you explore "Awesome Facts About Space," you'll see the amazing power of our Creator God.Enjoy this reading of Awesome Facts About Space by Mark Wainwright...Mark Wainwright loves adventure. That quest to see new sights, explore new lands, and meet new people has taken him to all 50 states and over 30 countries. He's ridden elephants in Thailand, hang-glided in the Swiss Alps, and even been stranded on a small boat in the Bismarck Sea.But Mark also loves finding adventure through the pages of a book! He especially enjoys reading stories that make him feel as if he is there with the characters and experiencing the action for himself.For 16 years, Mark led the editorial departments at several Christian book publishers. Then, in 2017, Mark transitioned to teaching professional writing courses at a Christian college in Florida. He now uses his publishing experience to help guide the next generation of writers and editors.Mark's writing credits include publication in magazines, newspapers, textbooks, and literary journals. He's recognized as an outstanding writer, editor, and contributor. Above all, Mark remains passionate about using his writing and editing skills for the glory of God. He encourages his professional writing students to courageously influence their communities through the power of writing.Learn more about his writing when you visit his website at http://www.Mark-Wainwright.comPlease share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria's Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.comFeedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@wearethebridge.orgDownload The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest podcast episodes as soon as they are published!

A coincidence occurs when two events that you know are not related happen in such a way that they seem related. Let's say that you receive an unexpected bill in the mail for $124.00. And in the same day's mail, you find a check for $124.00 with a note from a friend saying, "Here's the $100.00 you loaned me four years ago with some interest." What a happy coincidence.When more than two seemingly unrelated events seem to work together, you would have to conclude that they were, indeed, related.That's why scientists are beginning to wonder whether there isn't a plan to the universe after all. For life to exist in the universe, literally millions of details must come together in just the right way. If the force of gravity or the forces holding the atom together were only a tiny bit stronger or weaker, life could not exist. The carbon atom is the basis of life. Is it coincidence that the carbon atom is unique in its ability to form the long, complex chains of molecules needed for life? If stars burned at a slightly different rate than they do, life would either be burned up or frozen to death.Many scientists have actually stated in writing that they are astonished at the huge number of cosmic "coincidences" that have come together in the universe to make life possible. Some are even suggesting that the universe has an impersonal intelligence. But why cloud the issue this way? Why not simply recognize that there is indeed a Creator God who has created a whole universe just for the benefit of life—especially humankind?Psalm 40:5"Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You that despite man's studied unbelief, You have made Yourself and Your concern for mankind so clear that even unbelievers must recognize it. Use me and all of Your people to clearly voice the more complete details of Your love for all mankind in Your innocent suffering and death on our behalf. Amen.REF.: Mallove, Eugene F. Scientists puzzle over coincidences of the cosmos. Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Image: ISS-66 Astronaut Mark Vande peers at the Earth below, NASA, PD, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Two men changed the destiny of every human being—Adam and Jesus. In Part 3 of Godliness – The Gospel Scheme, Duane Sheriff teaches the mystery of godliness by exploring the connection between the first Adam and the last Adam. Adam, the first man, brought sin, death, and spiritual separation into the world through his disobedience, losing the dominion God originally entrusted to mankind.But God's answer was another Man. Jesus, the second man and last Adam, came as God in the flesh through the virgin birth, bypassing the sin nature passed on through human fathers. Creator God, in human form, reclaimed the dominion Adam lost through His perfect obedience, death, and resurrection.Salvation is not achieved through human effort but is received through the new birth in Christ. Millions of believers now carry Christ's life and authority on earth. Adam brought the fall—but Jesus brought the comeback. Through faith in Christ, we move from defeat to dominion, from brokenness to victory, and from death into the life God intended from the beginning.

Send us a textCreative resistance has been on my mind lately.That heavy feeling that shows up right when you sit down to create. The distraction. The doubt. The quiet voice that whispers, Maybe later. Maybe you're not ready. Maybe it doesn't matter.In today's episode, I'm naming that resistance for what it often is, fear, distraction, and even spiritual opposition trying to silence what God placed inside you on purpose.What if the resistance you feel isn't a sign to stop… but confirmation that what you're creating matters?We're diving into Scripture to uncover the truth that creativity isn't optional fluff or a side hobby. It's woven into who you are as someone made in the image of a Creator God. When you create, you reflect His nature. And when creativity is delayed, muted, or dismissed, the world misses out on what God intended to release through you.In this episode, we'll talk about: • Why creativity is God's idea, not yours • Why resistance shows up strongest right before breakthroughs • The lies that quietly block obedience, like perfectionism, comparison, and “I'll do it later” • How to overcome resistance with both spiritual truth and practical action • Why creating with God becomes both worship and warfareI also invite you into a gentle moment of reflection, asking: What has God been nudging you to create? Where have you felt resistance? What would obedience, not perfection, look like today?If you've been feeling stuck, weary, or hesitant to begin again, let this episode be your confirmation: What God placed in you is worth protecting, nurturing, and releasing.

Today we play a clip from everyone's favorite science celebrity, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Enjoy.Order Shroud-PilledOrder God's Eye View: https://a.co/d/7CI89rvBuy the Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/Gods-Eye-View-Audiobook/B0F55K2GT1?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdpWant to publish a book? Check out my publisher https://hemisphericpress.com/Check out our ad free substack: https://hemisphericpress.substack.com/Email feedback to godseyeviewbook@gmail.com

(Genesis 1:1) The Creator God is the God of new beginnings. In Genesis we meet the Lord who is able to speak and bring light out of darkness, perfection out of emptyness, order out of chaos. Begin again with God today! (10006260107) To download our supplementary resources for free, visit https://enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/ . Join our study through Scripture this year. Find resources for every book of the Bible at enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/ Whether you're a new believer or have walked with the Lord for years, you'll find thousands of free devotionals, Bible studies, audio series, and Scripture tools designed to strengthen your faith, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and help you stay rooted in the Word of God. Explore now at EnjoyingTheJourney.org. Extend the Work Enjoying the Journey provides every resource for free worldwide. If you would like to help extend this Bible teaching, you may give at enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/

For a parent, the death of a child is devastating. But to lose two of your children? Unimaginable! Yet that’s the experience of Australian musician, writer, and actor Nick Cave. In 2015, his 15-year-old son fell from a cliff and died. A few years later, Cave’s oldest child also died. In the grip of such overwhelming grief, how did Cave and his wife keep going? How would you? Cave attempted to find comfort in the world around him. “It’s the audacity of the world to continue to be beautiful . . . in times of deep suffering. That’s how I saw the world,” he said. “It was just carrying on, being systemically gorgeous.” Jesus knew the Source of such beauty, and He saw it for what it truly is: the very nature of His heavenly Father. His oft-quoted words in Luke 12—“consider the lilies” (v. 27 esv)—don’t dismiss the reality of suffering in our lives. In fact, they honor our great tragedies by offering an antidote to such harsh realities. Stop and consider the lilies, or the ravens (v. 24), or the sunrise. Christ taught us, “If that is how God clothes the grass of the field . . . how much more will he clothe you!” (v. 28). In the face of grief and loss, the world’s perspective falls short. Jesus encourages us to consider our Creator God who holds His audacious creation together and cares for us deeply.