Podcasts about god isaiah

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Ultimate Reconciliation of All (1) (audio) David Eells – 12/10/25 I have found that the truth always motivates people to holiness, to turn loose of the world and run after God; but a lie always makes people comfortable where they are, and there are a lot of lies out there. People who like to make up their own gospel turn the grace of God into lasciviousness by choosing to believe that once saved is always saved. That means there's no use in taking any warning from the Lord seriously, since that false doctrine negates the possibility of being lost. These people are not motivated because they erroneously believe their “ticket's been punched.” Today, I'm going to speak to you about a doctrine that's in the church denominations called “ultimate reconciliation of all.” Many Unconditional Eternal Security people find this easy to fall into since in effect you cant be lost. Ultimate Reconciliationists believe there will come a time when the wicked, including the devil and his angels, in some cases, will come out of torment and be reconciled to God. This doctrine did not come from Christians but Unitarians and Universalists who brought it from England to the New England colonies in the 18th century. The fruit of this doctrine is the same as that of unconditional eternal security. If no one can ultimately be lost, why fear God or the warnings of Scripture? It destroys motivation to study and obey the Word of God or evangelize the lost and dying. Like the unconditional eternal security people, many of these will take the mark of the beast and are taking the spiritual mark now. What else would the devil have you believe? I have ministered in several churches that believed this. Generally, the people are very prideful and judgmental of those who do not have their “deep revelation”. They are forced to pick and choose verses in order to justify this doctrine, and it makes them disrespect the Word. I have debated many with this doctrine over the years, some on our live internet chat Bible study a few years ago. When they can't back it up with scriptures, they generally resort to insults. We who believe the Word just don't have “the revelation”. Reconciliationists say the Greek words for forever and ever mean “unto the age of the ages”, meaning when used of those in eternal punishment, it is only for a period of time after which everyone comes out of the lake of fire. They lie. “Unto the age of the ages” is only in one place. (Eph.3:21) unto him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever (unto the age of the ages) Amen. Here it says, “unto all generations unto the age of the ages”, which is only as long as men have children, clearly making it a period of time. In the four Greek manuscripts I have, which range from the oldest to the Received Text, the second-to-last Greek letter of “age” in this verse is an omicron, the 17th letter of the Greek alphabet, which makes this word singular, “Age”. In every other place, the second-to-last letter in the word “ages” is an alpha, the 1st letter of their alphabet, making this word plural, “Ages”. In every other case where “forever and ever” is the translation, “unto the ages of ages” is the literal wording, which has no end. The manuscripts and Bible Numerics prove this to be the case. (Rev.14:11) and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever (unto the ages of ages); and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. There is no end to the fiery punishment. Many will receive the mark because of this false doctrine. That means that God would die if it were only a period of time. Notice in (Rev.15:7) And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. So if they are correct, using the same words, when these people come out of hell, God dies. If it were only a period of time in the following verses, the devil, beast, and false prophet would come out of the lake of fire at the end of that time. (Rev.20:10) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Even though many Reconciliationists say they do not believe the devil will be saved, according to this doctrine, he has to be. If there is an end to his torment, God will die for the same phrase is used for the longevity of each. They say that “forever,” Greek: “aionios”, meaning “unto the ages”, is for a period of time, but the Kingdom will cease if that is true. We are told forever is without end. (Luk.1:33) and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Vines says this is a Greek Idiom; i.e., an expression whose meaning cannot be derived from the elements of the word. Idioms can always be explained by their usage in the text. If one said, “After he kicked the bucket, I went to the funeral”, you know that “kicked the bucket” means death. It is so with the Greek word for “for ever” or “eternal”. Forever is clearly set apart from a period of time in this verse: (Phm.15) For perhaps he was therefore parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever. Clearly “for ever” is far more than a period of time. They also say eternal, which is the same Greek word, “aionios”, meaning “unto the ages”, and has no end. (Joh.10:28) and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. Clearly the elect only are eternal and eternal is clearly set apart from a period of time in this verse: (2 Cor.4:18) while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal (temporary or for a season); but the things which are not seen are eternal. If eternal is only a period of time, then at the end of that period, the wicked come out of hell and God and the righteous die. (Mat.25:46) And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. If “eternal” is only a period of time, then, according to this doctrine, God, the Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God, the new body, etc., would come to an end; but God is also immortal, i.e., deathless (1 Timothy 6:16); the Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14); the Kingdom is eternal (2 Peter 1:11); and the new body, which is also immortal, i.e., deathless, is eternal (1 Cor­inthians 15:52,53; 2 Corinthians 5:1). Here is the clincher: Those who do not have eternal life will “not see life”. (Joh.3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life (Greek: aionios; “unto the ages”); but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. We can't twist those words. “Not see life” clearly means never. Those who have eternal sin “never” get forgiveness. (Mar.3:29) but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin. Once again, we can't twist those words. Reconciliationists use the following verse to claim that “eternal” has an end. (Rom.16:25) Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, (26) but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God. There is no end of eternity, just as God here is eternal, but there are points in eternity when things are manifested like the revelation of Christ here. From our point of view, eternity goes into the past and into the future. Something may be eternally future without being eternally past. For instance, we have eternal life because we entered into eternity. The spiritual man in Jesus is eternal for he came out of God. His flesh had a beginning for He was sown of God and born of Mary.  And even before that He was “the beginning of the creation of God” and “the first-born of all creation”. This was a point in eternity. When other terminology is used in the Word as we have seen, the Ultimate Reconciliationists are at a loss. (Isa.66:24) And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. Clearly the wicked souls do not die for they are in eternal fire. (Job.5:6) How much less man, that is a worm! And the son of man, that is a worm! Which will not come out of fire. (Mar.9:47) ... it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; (48) where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Notice that using different words they will always be in fire. (Psa.49:19) He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light. Again using other words they will never see the light of truth. They also say, “everlasting” is a period of time, but as we can see, it has no end! (Jer.20:11) But Jehovah is with me as a mighty one [and] a terrible: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be utterly put to shame, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten. Everlasting here is clearly eternal. When I was younger, “Ultimate Reconciliation” was often called the “Restoration of All Things,” taken from the KJV. (Acts 3:21) whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things (Things is not in the original Greek.), whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been. Restoration here is “apokatastasis,” meaning “back in order”. Only God's people can go back to order because the rest never had order. Notice that when the Lord returns after the Tribulation, the “restoration of all” of His elect is completed. At that time, He is not restoring the wicked but destroying them. (Rev.19:15) And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty. Even a thousand years later, when all the wicked are resurrected at the Great White Throne judgment, they are taken from hell and thrown in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-15). That makes it clear that “all” is all of the elect, not all people, as even the Jews understood. To the Jews, “all” meant all of the elect. It is the same today. All of the elect, but without racial distinction, classes or conditions of people, rather than just physical Jews. All Israel is all elect Jews and Gentiles who are grafted into the olive tree (Romans 11:19-24,26), not those who are broken off. Compare the “all” in Mark 1:5 and Luke 7:29-30, where “all” is clearly the elect. The “all” whom the Father gives to Jesus are the elect in John 17:6,9 and in John 6:37,45. We see the same thing when we look at John 8:2, Acts 22:15, 2 Corinthians 3:2 and 1 Corinthians 15:22. Compare Romans 12:3 and 2 Thessalonians 3:2. Read 1 Timothy 2:6, Colossians 3:11 and Matthew 20:28. Jesus came to save only all of His own (Isaiah 53:8,11; Luke 1:68,77; Romans 9:21). God is not wishing that any of His people perish (2 Peter 3:9). (Rom.9:11) For [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, (12) it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. Reconciliationists say that God unconditionally loves the whole world and could not fail to save it. They like to use this verse as proof. (Joh.3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. Yet, God clearly specifies what part of the world He loves here as “whosoever believeth”. Jesus disagreed with their interpretation of this verse. (Joh.14:21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him. (22) Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Joh.15:10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (15:14) Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. Here's even more proof from the Word: (Rom.9:13) Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. (Psa.5:5) The arrogant shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. (Psa.11:5) Jehovah trieth the righteous; But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. (Pro.6:16-19) There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: (17) Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood; (18) A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren. (Pro.8:17) I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me. (Hos.9:15) All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more; all their princes are revolters. Friends, we cannot make God's love a worldly love. God would not be love if He permitted the wicked into His Kingdom to leaven the whole lump. God does not dwell in time and can, therefore, love by faith the elect whom He foreknew and foreordained. (Rom.9:11) for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth, (12) it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. (13) Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. (Psa. 11:5) Jehovah trieth the righteous; But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. God's people who live in sin will prove themselves called but not chosen, and He will love them no more. (Hos.9:15) All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more; all their princes are revolters. This is not traditional, but I hope I've made it clear. (1 Cor.15:22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Ultimate reconciliationists use this verse to say that those in Adam, the whole natural man creation, and those in Christ, the whole spiritual man creation, are the same people, so therefore God will save all. However, the next verse narrows those “in Christ” to those who are His at His coming. (23) But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. As most know, when Jesus comes, He will eternally destroy the wicked who were obviously not in Him. (2 Thes.1:7) and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, (8) rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: (9) who shall suffer punishment, [even] eternal destruction from the face of the Lord....   PREDESTINED AND CHOSEN Let us see who the full measure of those in Christ are, and also if God ever planned to reconcile all of Adam's seed. “Predestine” means “to determine destiny before it happens”. “Foreordain”, which is the same Greek word, means “to ordain an event before it takes place”. (Eph.1:4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: (5) having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. You who are manifesting sonship by bearing fruit have been chosen and are being drawn by God. (Rom.8:29) For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained (predestined) [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. God foreknew and decreed all who come to the likeness of Jesus, but not the apostate. “Foreknew” here does not mean that He looked into the future and saw what we would be. “Foreknew” here means “to know before” and is not connected with actions or events, but persons. God knew these people before the foundation of the world because He does not dwell in time. God conceives and knows what He creates before He speaks it into existence, just as we conceive and design something first in our mind before we make it. “Knew” speaks of intimate knowledge; for instance, Adam knew Eve. Jesus will say to those who called Him Lord but do not do the will of the Father, (Mat.7:23) “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (I.e.,from the foundation of the world): depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. To the foolish virgins who had not the oil of the Spirit, Jesus said, “I know you not”. The ones that God intimately knew He “foreordained” before the creation to be conformed to the image of Jesus. God is creating us through His gift of faith and grace and His Word in us. These are the people on the narrow road. This is grace. (Rom.8:30) and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. We see here that all who are foreordained will be called, justified, and glorified. They will not fall away but will bear the fruit of Christ. Are there others who are called but not foreordained? Let us see. (2 Tim.1:9) who saved us, and called us with a holy calling … Notice that only the saved are called. “Called” is from the Greek word “kaleo”, which means “to invite”. “Called” is an invitation given only to God's people (for more proof, read Hebrews 3:1; Hosea 11:1; 1 Timothy 6:11,12; Matthew 25:14; Romans 1:6,7) to partake of His heavenly benefits in Christ in order to bear fruit. Those who bear fruit 30-, 60-, or 100-fold will be proven to be the chosen, or picked. Naturally, if at harvest time you have no fruit, rotten fruit, or unripe fruit, you will not be picked. The called are the vineyard of God (Isaiah 5:7). The chosen are the much smaller percentage who bear fruit (verse 10). (Mat.22:14) For many are called, but few chosen (Greek: eklektos; “elect”). The “called” can fall, but the elect or chosen will not ultimately. (Hos.11:1) When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. (2) The more [the prophets] called them, the more they went from them .... The Lord saved those who ate the lamb and were baptized in the Red Sea. He then tried them in the wilderness to see who would be a believer in the midst of trials, and only those entered the Promised Land. Jude warned the called of this very thing. (Jud.1) Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called ... (5) Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. Notice that the called were saved, but some did not continue in faith to bear fruit and were destroyed. Friends, God is not looking for what we loosely call “Christians”, but believers or disciples, as they were called. Jesus gave us very clear examples of His servants who are called but do not come and partake in order to bear fruit. Jesus shared a parable in which a king made a marriage feast for His son. (Mat.22:3) … and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden (Greek: “called”) to the marriage feast: and they would not come. They were full of excuses (a farm, merchandise, a new wife, etc.). (Mat.22:8) Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. Even one who appeared to come did not have on a wedding garment, which implies putting on Christ (Romans 13:14) or putting on righteous acts (Revelation 19:8). (Mat.22:13) Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few chosen. A few of the called are chosen or elect because they bear fruit. (Mat.25:14) For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (Greek: “bondservants”), and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. Obviously, the man who went away was the Lord, and His bondservants are His people. Two of these example servants brought forth fruit of the talent given them (Matthew 25:20-22), but one buried his in the earth (used his talent for the earthly, Matthew 25:24,25). When our Lord returns, He will say, “And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth” (Mat.25:30). The apostle Paul, who said of himself that he was called in Galatians 1:6, also said, “But I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected” (That's the Greek word for “reprobated”) (1 Cor.9:27). There is much more proof that the saved and the called can fall. Some good examples are 2 Peter 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:11,12; Hebrews 3:1,6,12,14, and Romans 11:1-7,19-23. Friend, you probably know if you are called, but are you chosen? You must be diligent in your walk of faith to prove this with fruit. (2Pe.1:10) Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election (“choosing”) sure: for if ye do these things (the attributes of Christ listed in verses 5-7), ye shall never stumble: (11) for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God, at the cross, has already given us everything that we need to bear fruit through faith. (3) Seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; (4) whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Faith in the promises through the midst of trials will give us the fruit. The called have the power and the opportunity. The called and the chosen, or foreordained, use the power by faith and take the opportunity. The only ones who will ultimately be with the Lord are identified in this verse. (Rev.17:14) These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings; and they [also shall overcome] that are with him, called and chosen and faithful. Notice that the called who are chosen will be faithful. I did not make these verses up; they are the Word of God. Those who have eyes and ears will see and understand, but the rest will justify their religion and ignore the Scriptures. Before time and the future, God sovereignly spoke the end from the beginning, bringing these things into existence in time. Some would argue, “How could God make a promise to all of His called and then not keep it for those who do not bear fruit?” The answer is that every promise in the Bible is useless until someone walks by faith in it. Our part of the covenant is faith; God's part is power and salvation. We can break the covenant through unbelief. (Num.14:11) And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them? (12) I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they. Notice that God is saying this to His own people who did not believe that He would disinherit them. Lest any believe that God cannot make a promise and then take it back when they do not walk in faith, pay attention to this: (Num.14:23) surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that despised me see it. (30) surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. (34) and ye shall know my alienation (Hebrew: “revoking of my promise”). Unless we mix faith with God's promises, they are void. (Heb.4:2) For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they (God's people): but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. Many Israelites walked in sin and were disinherited and blotted out of God's book. (Exo.32:33) And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. The same is true of the Christians who do not overcome sin. Notice what the Lord said to the church. (Rev.3:5) He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life... They will be rejected from the body of Christ. (Rev.3:16) So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Many of God's people, Israel, were broken off because of unbelief, and Christians who were grafted in but do not walk by faith will be too. (Rom.11:20) Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee. (22) Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Those who are still grafted in at the end are called “all Israel”… (26) and so all Israel shall be saved... Those who are still in the Book of Life, still grafted in, are the elect (Greek: “chosen”). (Rom.11:2) God did not cast off his people, which he foreknew ... (5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election (Greek: “chosen”) of grace. A remnant is the ones who are left. Notice that they are foreknown and chosen. Sovereign God will have those who are truly His. Abiding in Christ is where salvation is. Some say God gave us the gift of eternal life so He cannot take it back. In Galatians 3:16, we are told, “To Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ”. So the promises were given to Christ, not to us individually. The only way the promises are ours is if we abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ is bearing fruit (John 15:1-6), walking as he walked (1 John 2:3-6), believing the same teachings given by Jesus and the apostles (1 John 2:24; Jude 3; Matthew 28:20), not adding or subtracting from the Word (Revelation 22:18,19), not walking in sin (1 John 3:5,6), and keeping his commandments (1 John 3:24). In Christ is the only place we can claim the gift of eternal life. (1Jn.5:11) ... God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. God does not have to take His gift back; His people walk out of it. (1 Cor.6:18) ... Every sin that a man doeth is without the body ... When you walk in willful sin, you are not abiding in His body, for in him is no sin (1Jn.3:5). (6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not … For instance, fornication, whether spiritual or physical, takes away the members of Christ and makes them members of a harlot (1 Corinthians 6:15,18). Only Christ and those abiding in Him are chosen. (Eph. 1:4) Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world... Only Christ and those abiding in Him are going to heaven. (Joh.3:13) And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven... Jesus Christ is the Manna from heaven, the Word, Who takes up residence in those who love Him; this is the fruit that God is coming to choose. By this time, I am sure some are thinking that they do not measure up. We must first abide in Christ by faith accepting the gospel report that “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me” (Gal.2:20). Those who walk by faith that they are dead to sin and Christ now lives in them are accounted as righteous until God uses that faith to manifest righteousness in them. (Gal.3:6) Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. Amen. Next, I'd like to share with you a couple of testimonies from our website of people who received the revelation of the error in their thinking concerning their own salvation.   Coming Judgment on the Lukewarm Sandy - 01/15/2014 I had a dream that thousands of demons entered my bedroom, then jumped on me while I was in bed, devouring my flesh. I was totally paralyzed. I repeatedly shouted out, “You must flee, in the name of Jesus!” These demons continued to attack me. There was total darkness -- no Jesus. It was HORRIFYING. I felt as though I was in the pits of hell, and this is where my soul is going if I don't change my ways. Then I was whisked away, and I was standing in front of a large cross. From the center of the cross, a bright light was shining. I heard the Lord say to me, “Come to the cross. I did not hear or respond to your cries because you are not abiding in Me. Horrific evil is here, and more is coming, and if you do not abide in Me, you will be devoured. I will not hear nor respond to your cries, if you do not abide in me, and you will not be able to fight off this evil in your own strength”.  Then I was whisked back to my bed, where the demons were devouring me again. I was once again paralyzed. I breathed on them, saying, “Jesus”, and they eventually all fled. I woke up with tears streaming down my face, crying out to the Lord. Now, here is what is so IRONIC: I considered myself to be a born-again, saved Christian! Over the past few years, I've started to walk in the ways of the world, thinking it is okay because ‘I know the Lord loves me; I am a good person and I am saved.' How many other Christians are thinking in the same way? How many other Christians are not truly saved? I turned away from Jesus in my walk. It was a slow and subtle turning away, convincing myself all along the way that I can walk my walk, give the Lord ‘courtesy prayer' and everything will be okay. I WAS SO WRONG.  Thank You, LORD, for Your warning, as horrifying as it was. Thank You, LORD, for giving me another chance to make You Lord of my life.   My Salvation and Deliverance from Satanic Music James Austin - 07/08/2008 When I was a child and up to the age of 15, I had gone to some Baptist and Methodist churches off and on. I had even been what I believed at the time to be saved and baptized. I never really placed importance in my salvation as most Christians at the time. I was scared about hell, so I thought if I got saved, then I would go to heaven and still do whatever I wanted. When I was about 16, I cared only about the world and gave God no attention at all. I was associating with people who weren't Christian and listening to music that wasn't Godly. I began to stop believing that there was a God and didn't care if He even existed. A year and a half ago, I was up late one night and I had nothing to do and I started thinking about life and the world and I felt a sudden loneliness and sadness, and I looked up and said, “God, if You are real and Your Word is true, then help me; I want to know the truth.” I don't think it was even two weeks and God led a brother I work with by the name of Nehemiah to me to inquire about carpooling with me. By this time, I had forgotten about what I had asked God. I was still listening to satanic music and living very worldly. The first week he rode with me to work, I didn't play any music because I began to feel ashamed and did not want people to know which music I listened to. At this time, I didn't know Nehemiah was a Christian. A few weeks later, someone else with whom we were carpooling informed me that Nehemiah was a Christian. Then I really felt low and inadequate to be around him. One day, I was looking at some space nebula and stuff, and I saw what looked like Jesus' face in one of these objects in space. Then I started thinking about God even more. I asked Nehemiah one day about it, and we began talking, and he told me some things the Bible spoke of. Then, after about two weeks of talking and debating with him, he led me to your website, and I started reading and listening to some of your stuff and became very fearful of where I was headed. That morning when I got home from work, I cried to God to forgive me and save me. I confessed to so many evil things I had done and wept, and then felt a peace come over me. I have been reading and listening to your programs and teachings ever since, and I feel the Holy Spirit every time I do. God began to work in me, and I bought your “Sovereign God” book and an ASV Bible. Now I have the New Testament on audio, and I only have the desire to listen to music that glorifies God, and I listen and read the Word of God. I have lost the desire to watch all TV programs because I can now see the sinful nature of TV and how TV glorifies sin. I believe God has saved me and He also healed me from plantar fasciitis (a painful tendon injury) by faith alone. Glory to God! God Bless you, brothers and sisters. I don't listen to evil music, and I feel better inside. God has really changed me. Thank you! I had sent an email about my wife a while ago, but I couldn't remember if I had ever given my testimony to you. My wife is still an unbeliever, but I continue to pray for her salvation. I believe that one day God, in some way, will also save her.

To support the ministry of Immanuel Church visit https://www.immanuelnashville.com/give

Jim cracked me up with the story he told in his recent family newsletter. He and his honey were enjoying some personal time at the Atlantic Ocean, which is really big. Jim decided to take a picture of himself and the ocean, which is really big. Later, he made a disturbing discovery which he reported this way. "I think I missed the ocean!" Which is really big. Oh, he's in the picture, but the Atlantic is nowhere to be seen. Now how can a smart guy miss something as big and as beautiful as the ocean? Well, by totally focusing on himself. I've made that mistake. Missing the big thing because I was so focused on myself. I suspect I'm not alone. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "What You Miss When You're a Selfie." When we're hurting, when we're grieving, when we're grappling with this big problem, we tend to go inward and become all about ourselves. We miss the person we married because we're so focused on our frustrations with them. Before we married them, we magnified what we loved and minimized what bothered us. Now we're all about our frustrations with them, forgetting all we loved about them. So it's selfie time. All about me. Losing sight of the one we once could not live without. So we stop loving like we did, and they start responding to the change. We can miss our kids the same way. By dwelling on how they're disappointing us, defying us, or distancing themselves from us. So we're sucked into a cycle of seeing - and talking about - only what they need to change. Not seeing - and talking about - the big picture of their strengths and their potential. We focus the lens on our hurt and our fear and our frustration, and we miss the big stuff. That masterpiece God made and entrusted to you in that child. I know how much my picture can become a selfie when I'm going through a hurting time. Pain tends to make us selfish: self-centered, self-pitying and all those nasty self words. But my Bible tells me that there's always something bigger going on than the immediate situation. It's affirmed in our word for today from the Word of God from Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." And the Bible says, "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). There's a Big Plan for my good. But I'll miss the big and beautiful part if I just focus on my pain. When my precious Karen was suddenly gone that May, my natural tendency was to be all about me - my grief, my life without her, my future. But, thankfully, God quickly rescued me from my selfie. And He began to show me what I could become through this greatest heartbreak of my life. I can honestly say my heart is more open than it's ever been - open to God's voice, open to letting my journey help somebody else on their journey, open to broken and breaking hearts that are all around me. What's scary is that our "selfie" can actually cause us to miss the biggest and most beautiful sight of all - the God who made us. We so want to have life our way that we live as if we've dethroned Him from the throne of our life. In the Bible's words, "Each of us has turned to His own way" (Isaiah 53:6). And, you know, all those choices where we've sort of said, "God, You run the universe, but I'll run me" - well, in the Bible's words they have "separated you from your God" (Isaiah 59:2). And you knew that without listening today, you could feel that gap between you and Him. All about me. Missing the God who's the reason we're here; whose love we're made for. Who thought we were worth sending His Son to die for. Maybe this is the day that you release the wheel of your life - your selfie life - to the One you were made to know and made to belong to. And the One who gave you your life is the One who's supposed to be running it. Would you tell Him today, "Jesus, from now on I'm yours." Go to our website. There's so much more there about how to be sure you've begun a relationship with God. It's ANewStory.com. The Ocean of God's great love is right there within my sight, that big thing, unless I'm blocking the view.

Kara Hackert, Director of Children & Family Ministries

In this week's message, guest speaker James Rickershauser leads us through Isaiah 55:1–13, showing how the deep need of every human heart—our hunger for meaning, joy, and fulfillment—is met not by striving or self-made solutions, but by the compassionate call of God to “come to the waters.” From the emptiness of chasing what cannot satisfy, to the Messiah's invitation to receive salvation freely, to the anchor of God's unshakeable promises, Isaiah 55 reveals that true life is found not in what we achieve but in the God who abundantly pardons, restores, and satisfies His people.In the end, Isaiah calls us to stop digging empty wells and to find our lasting joy, hope, and satisfaction in the glory of God alone.

Brent Wilson preaches from Isaiah 9:6 on December 7th, 2025.

Pastor Roger WilliamsIn a world that nurtures fear...we actively trust Jesus as a warrior who fights for his people (because he wants to!)

Transformative Truth: The infinitely powerful Son of God fights for His people. 1.  "Mighty God" on earth 2.  "Mighty God" in heaven 3.  "Mighty God" in heaven and on earth together

An ex-Jehovah's Witness turned pastor lays out a loving, Bible-first way to reach JWs—without shouting matches. Joel Settecase sits down with Pastor Jason Contino (former JW) to unpack the exact questions, Scriptures, and posture that opened his own eyes and is now changing conversations at the door.The nine verses discussed in this episode: John 8:58 (“Before Abraham was, I am”) Exodus 3:14 (“I AM WHO I AM”)John 1:1 (the Word is God) Isaiah 43:10 (“Before me no god was formed…”) John 10:31–33 (they pick up stones because He “makes Himself God”) John 1:3 (all things made through Him) Deuteronomy 32 (unique deity of Yahweh; likely 32:39) Isaiah 9:6 (“Mighty God”) Isaiah 10:21 (“Mighty God” again)

Support the ministry and help us reach people worldwide: https://bit.ly/MarinersGiveGet your copy of the 2026 Annual Read: Tozer on the Son of God by A.W. TozerFirst Time?Start Here: https://bit.ly/MarinersconnectcardCan we pray for you? https://bit.ly/MarinersPrayerOnlineYou can find information for all our Mariners congregations, watch more videos, and learn more about us and our ministries on our website https://bit.ly/MarinersChurchSite. FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinerschurch• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinerschurch• Twitter: https://twitter.com/marinerschurch• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinerschurch

In this sermon "Comfort in Sorrow," Pastor Patrick Austin begins a new Advent series exploring passages in Isaiah that prepare our hearts to celebrate Christ's coming. Focusing on Isaiah 40:1-11, Pastor Austin observes that while the Christmas season offers temporary comforts through traditions and material things, we're all searching for something deeper—a comfort that truly saves and soothes our weary souls. The sermon reveals that just as the Israelites in Babylonian exile needed God's comfort, we too need the same message: "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" (Isaiah 40:1). Pastor Austin explains how this passage points to Christ in three ways: the promise of comfort (God's forgiveness and love), the person of comfort (Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy), and the proclamation of comfort (the good news that Jesus has come and will come again). He concludes with practical applications: rest in God's promise that He hasn't forgotten us, receive Jesus as the only true source of comfort, and proclaim this message to others who are searching for hope during the Christmas season.   WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you.   ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613   SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM)!   CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration

Thank God (Isaiah 12) Chris Weniger November 30, 2025 by Deer Creek Church

1) Fear Not: God Comforts His People (v1–5)2) Fear Not: God's Word Stands Forever (v6–8)3) Fear Not: God Himself Comes to Shepherd His People (v9–11)4) Fear Not: God Is Incomparably Powerful (v12–26)5) Fear Not: God Sustains His Weary People (v27–31)

Passage Isaiah 49:1-7 Speaker Nick Butcher Series Here is your God (Isaiah 41-49) Play Audio Download MP3 Download PDF

BIBLE STUDY| MIRACLES OF JESUS SERIES.|THE FIFTH MIRACLE OF JESUS pt.10| WALKING BEFORE GOD, COVENANT, IDENTITY & ETERNAL WITNESS|JESUS WALKING ON WATER| CHIMDI OHAHUNA MARK 4:38 – “And They Awoke Him” They had fished all night. They were professional sailors. They had lowered the sails, bailed the water, tightened the ropes — everything their expertise taught them. Yet the boat was sinking, and Jesus was sleeping.In one of the rawest moments in the Gospels, the disciples finally run out of options and cry, “Master, don't You care that we are perishing?” And with three words — “Peace, be still” — the One who was their last resort proved He should have been their only resort. This power-packed session from Go Forward Conference 2025 tears the mask off every subtle form of self-dependence we still carry into ministry, business, marriage, and destiny. You will discover: ✓ Why your professionalism, degrees, experience, and five-fold strategy will always reach a storm it cannot calm . ✓ How the grace of God does not compete with your ability, rather it completes and augments it.(Proverbs 3:5) ✓ The dangerous difference between doing things that are good, moral, and ethical etc. and doing things that are scriptural and Christ-exalting. ✓ Why secular trends are the new “wood, hay, and stubble” of modern Christianity. ✓ The lie from hell that says “I'm praying too much” or bothering God” (God calls your prayers incense, not inconvenience! Revelation 5:8-9) ✓ How to disturb God in audacious faith instead of complaining in paralysing fear (Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 55:16-17) ✓ The forgotten truth of Genesis 2: God rested so YOU could progress, but only when His hand is on your head can your head ever work right. ✓ Why depression, frustration, and burnout are symptoms of a head operating without the laid-on hand of God (Isaiah 45:1, Psalm 20:6) Beloved, this is not another motivational talk. This is a prophetic confrontation against every place we have made Christ Jesus Plan B. • If you've ever felt like you're rowing hard but sinking fast • If you're tired of sensual, earthly wisdom that can explain problems but never silence storms • If you're ready to move from “I'll call on Him when all else fails” to “He is my first, my only, my immediate resort” Then, Awake Him now. The storm is listening. Key Scriptures: Mark 4:35-41 • Proverbs 3:5-6 • Jeremiah 33:3 • Ephesians 5:17 • Isaiah 45:1 • Genesis 2:15-20 • Acts 3:6-9 Don't just attend the conference. Let this session mark the day you stopped helping God and started letting God help you. Any questions arising from this study can be submitted to chimdiohahunaministry@gmail.com. Check our bio to know how to give your love offerings to the ministry. Grace to you! Jesus is Lord. #GoForward2025 #AwakeHim #JesusMyOnlyResort #HandOnMyHead

11/23/2025 What is the Purpose of the Millennium? From Got Questions.com--The millennium (also known as the millennial kingdom) is the 1,000-year reign of Jesus after the tribulation and before the Great White Throne Judgment of the wicked. During the millennium, Jesus will reign as king over Israel and all the nations of the world (Isaiah 2:4; 42:1). The world will live in peace (Isaiah 11:6–9; 32:18), Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:1–3), and, at the beginning, everyone will worship God (Isaiah 2:2–3). The purpose of the 1,000-year reign is to fulfill various promises God made to the world. Some of these promises, called covenants, were given specifically to Israel. Others were given to Jesus, the nations of the world, and creation. Jesus' 1,000-year reign will be a time of promises kept.

Separation from God - Isaiah 59:1-2 1.The Cause - Sin 2. The Nature - Separated 3. The Expression - Hid His Face 4. The Consequence - He Will Not Hear 5. The Surety - The Lord's Hand is not Shortened

Passage Isaiah 45:20-25 Speaker Mike Hood Series Here is your God (Isaiah 41-49) Play Audio Download MP3 Download PDF

A short series about the Nicene Creed, its historical context and its relevance for today. #NiceneCreed #JesusChrist #TheTrinity #FatherSonHolySpirit #Gnostics #secretknowledge #unity #Modalism #blasphemy #Matthew12v31 #Matthew28v19 #Mark3v29 #Luke12v10 In this occasional series on the Names of Christ, we consider the four titles used about Jesus from Isaiah 9:6 #NamesofChrist #Messiah #MightyGod #divine #powerful #deity #miracles #Saviour #omnipotent #Exodus3v14 #Isaiah 9v6 #Matthew2v11 #Mark4v39 #John1v1-3 #John8v58 #John10v17-18 #Romans9v5 #Colossians1v16 For more audio from GBM, visit www.gbm.org.uk/listen To contact us, please email servingtoday@gbm.org.uk

Series: Isaiah Text: Isaiah 40–51Preacher: Rachael LinDate: 16-11-25

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Kyle Olson, Technical Director

Rachel Klooster & Billy Heschl

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Fear is a powerful emotion that must not rule your life. All of us can have fears that we need to conquer. Maybe you are afraid about: your future, your children, your health, your finances, your marriage or not finding the right person to marry. People can fear social interactions/how you relate to others; heights; death; spiders; public speaking; and enclosed spaces.   The Bible has much to say about overcoming fear by knowing and trusting God. In Isaiah chapters 40-66, for the Jewish people it seemed like their whole world had collapsed around them after their nation was invaded, Jerusalem was destroyed and they were taken as prisoners to a foreign land. But from chapter 40 onwards, God comforts His people through the prophet Isaiah by promising them a better life and future than they had imagined was possible and He told them there was no need to fear (Isaiah 41:9-10).   There are powerful and encouraging words in Isaiah 43:1-7 which start with a reminder that God is not only the creator of the heavens and the earth but He is the one who has created the Israelite people and formed them. He is intimately and personally connected to them. In these verses we see how they then, and we also today, have no need to fear. We can:  1. Live a fear free life because we are redeemed by God (Isaiah 43:1-4 NIV & MSG; John 8:34-36 MSG) 2. Live a fear free life because we are personally called by God (Isaiah 43:1) 3. Live a fear free life because we belong to God (Isaiah 43:1b) 4. Live a fear free life because are precious to God (Isaiah 43:4; Zechariah 2:8) 5. Live a fear free life because we are loved by God (Isaiah 43:4; Jeremiah 31:3) 6. Live a fear free life because God is with us even in difficult times (Isaiah 53:5; Hebrews 4:15-16) 7. Live a fear free life because God has a good plan for our children as well as us (Acts 2:39; Isaiah 43:5-7) Apply  1. Live a fear free life because we are redeemed by God. Redeemed is a biblical word which means to buy back. As Christians we have been bought out of the slave market of sin because Jesus paid the price of our sins with His blood (Isaiah 43:1-4 NIV & MSG). Before we were Christians we used to live a life of pain being slaves to sin and perhaps you think what your living now is a consequence of your own sin, your own decisions but when you're in Christ, when you believe in Him and follow Him, the price is paid and you are no longer a slave to sin. You have been forgiven and freed from the kingdom of darkness (John 8:34-36 MSG). 2. Live a fear free life because we are personally called by God (Isaiah 43:1). Why were these people of Israel afraid? Because they feared they had been abandoned by God due to their own rebellion and sin, leading to a sense of hopelessness. They needed to be reminded that God had a personal claim on them and that's why He starts reminding them I created you, I formed you. In those moments we can feel that fear is taking control over our life, but I would like to take this moment to remind you that today, you can live a fear free life He has called you by name just like Jesus called His disciples. Imagine that! God Himself knows your name. You are on His radar.  3. Live a fear free life because we belong to God (Isaiah 43:1b). When someone has paid for something, it means it is theirs. That's who we are to the Lord, because He was the one who paid the price for our ransom. When we were slaves to sin we were not His, but at this point it is a clear declaration of belonging. Everyone wants to belong and the Lord wants you to know that you belong to Him, you do not need to live a life of orphan. We are sons and daughters of God.   4. Live a fear free life because are precious to God (Isaiah 43:4). You matter to God. God said of the Israelites who felt so unwanted that they were the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). Referring to the pupil of the eye, this is the most delicate and guarded part of the body, which means you feel anything that touches your eye. God is sensitive to everything that touches us. God says you are precious to Him. 5. Live a fear free life because we are loved by God (Isaiah 43:4). It is one thing to say ‘I love you', it is another is to show love. These words here are so meaningful. God doesn't change, doesn't lie, whose words are irrevocable is saying “I love you” (Jeremiah 31:3). His love for you is real and everlasting. More than any other thing in life, in God's love for you is unchanging.   6. Live a fear free life because God is with us even in difficult times (Isaiah 53:5). The Israelites were captured, far from home, hopeless, it was one of the most difficult situations someone could be. It all seemed too overwhelming. But the Lord wanted them to know He would always help them. The verse doesn't says “if” you pass through the waters or the rivers, or the fire, it says “when.” But what could these waters, rivers and fire represent for us today? Are you going through a situation that makes you think it is bigger than you? That you can't handle or is overwhelming? There are situations in life where you feel pushed by a strong river without even strength to hold onto anything to get out. Well the promise here is that God says ‘don't fear. You will not drown. You will not be burnt. You will come through. And that is true for you and for our families, churches and nations. There is a big difference between believers and non-believers. We both go through tests and difficulties but when we are with Christ we are never alone in life, the heaviness of the tests is not on us, we can be helped but someone who not only knows the circumstances but who has gone through the same in victory (Hebrews 4:15-16). 7. Live a fear free life because God has a good plan for our children as well as us. When the world seems dark it's easy to worry about your children, but like the parents of Moses we need to have faith that God will protect and use our children to lead their generation and not be overcome by the pressures around them. The Holy Spirit is promised to be poured out on the young as well as the old; your sons and your daughters (Acts 2:39). Here there is a promise that the children of Israel will be regathered from far and wide (Isaiah 43:5-7). This literally happened when the Jews were able to return home and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. And it happened in May 1948 and since then, when the Jews after 1900 years of being scattered around the world, returned to the ancient homeland. God is also interested in your children, and He will gather them to himself and fulfil the plans He has for them. So don't fear about your children. Trust God.  

Passage Isaiah 42:10 - 44:5 Speaker Mike Hood Series Here is your God (Isaiah 41-49) Play Audio Download MP3 Download PDF

And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

Acts 8 records that Saul accented to Stephen's stoning and sets out on a course of destruction like an enraged bull. The objects of his persecution are the faithful believers in Christ. However, the greater the persecution, the faster the gospel spreads. Philip preaches Christ in Samaria and his testimony is supported by miracles. The city of Samaria had been bewitched by Simon the Sorcerer. However, Simon recognises the difference between his tricks and the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit. The record tells us that baptism only took place for believing adult subjects. Verse 12 provides us with a definition of the gospel - "the things concerning the kingdom of God and the things concerning the name of Jesus Christ". Although Philip could perform miracles he could not bestow the gifts - that only occurred through the laying on of the Apostles' hands. Simon seeks to buy the gifts from Peter and John and is grievously condemned for attempting this. Philip is next told to join the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch of great authority under Candace their Queen. This eunuch was a proselyte and was reading Isaiah 53. The eunuch tells Philip that he fails to understand what the prophet spoke of. Philip commences with that chapter and explains Christ to the eunuch. No doubt Philip's preaching included the blessings from God on the eunuchs who choose the ways of God (Isaiah 56). Philip and the eunuch come to sufficient water for immersion. Philip explains to the eunuch that providing he has a wholehearted belief in Christ he may be baptised. Note how the record says that they both went down into the water and came up out of it together. The eunuch continues on his way rejoicing; but Philip is immediately snatched away to Azotus some 40 kilometres distant - the Lord having further work for Philip to do there.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

Who was this mysterious Rabshakeh and why did he foolishly challenge God? Find out with Nathan Jones and Vic Batista on the podcast, The Truth Will Set You Free!

This sermon was preached on October 12, 2025 at Antioch Presbyterian Church, a congregation of Calvary Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America located in Woodruff, South Carolina. Dr. Ian Hamilton preached this sermon entitled "Have Faith in God" on Isaiah 49:1-7. For more information about Antioch Presbyterian Church, please visit ⁠antiochpca.com⁠ or contact us at ⁠⁠⁠info@antiochpca.com.

In this powerful and sobering episode, we reflect on the recent deaths of Charlie Kirk and Pastor Voddie Baucham — two bold men who shaped our generation and challenged Christian men to stand firm in truth. Their sudden passing reminds us of life's fragility and the urgent call to live faithfully, boldly, and ready. What does it mean to be “ready” in our time? Spiritually, morally, practically, and missionally? This episode challenges Christian men to confront their mortality, examine their legacy, and rise to the calling God has placed on their lives.

Isaiah 6 lifts the veil between heaven and earth, revealing a vision of God so holy, so glorious, that it both devastates and transforms the prophet. In this message, Pastor Bob unpacks Isaiah's encounter with the dangerous beauty of God: a holiness that exposes sin, purifies the repentant, and calls them into mission.This passage invites us to see God as He truly is, to confess our need for His mercy, and to answer His call with courage and surrender. Come and be captivated by the blazing holiness of God and discover how His grace can transform your life and send you into the world with renewed purpose.September 21, 2025

The verses in this chapter talkabout living Jesus Christ. Remember we said in chapter one we talk about knowingJesus Christ. Before we can live for Christ, we need to have our eyes of ourunderstanding open to the knowledge of God. After we begin to know and understand our position in Christ then we can beginto live Jesus Christ. Inchapter one, Paul has described our spiritual possessions in Christ. Now hespeaks in chapter two about our spiritual position in Christ. First, heexplains what God has done for all sinners in general; then he explains whatGod did for the Gentiles in particular. The sinner who trusts Christ has beenraised and seated on the throne (Ephesian 2:1-10), and believing Jews andGentiles have been reconciled and set into the temple (Ephesians 2:11-22). Whata miracle of God's grace! We are taken out of the great graveyard of sin andplaced into the throne room of glory. Todaywe will begin to look at these first three verse of Ephesians 2: “And you Hemade alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walkedaccording to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power ofthe air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom alsowe all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling thedesires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath justas the others.” Here Paul gives us a full-length picture of the terriblespiritual condition of the unsaved person. Note his characteristics: Firstthing Paul wants us to understand is sin's work against us! Paul gives thespiritual condition of the unsaved person. First, he notes that we are dead intrespasses and sin. Of course this means we're spiritually dead. We're unableto understand and appreciate spiritual things. We have no spiritual lifewhatsoever. We can talk about God. We can talk about the Bible. We can evenhave it memorized. But the truth is there is no spiritual life in us aside fromthe fact that when we get saved the Holy Spirit, the life of God Himself comesto live within us. But before then, we are dead in trespasses and sins. We cando nothing to please God. We'relike a dead man. Just as a person physically dead does not respond to physicalstimuli, so a person spiritually dead is unable to respond to spiritual things.A corpse does not hear the conversation going on in the funeral parlor. He hasno appetite for food or drink; he feels no pain; he is dead. Just so with theinner man of the unsaved person. His spiritual faculties are not functioning,and they cannot function until God gives him life. The cause of this spiritualdeath is "trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). "Thewages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). In the Bible, death basicallymeans "separation," not only physically, as the spirit separated fromthe body (James 2:26), but also spiritually, as the spirit separated from God(Isaiah 59:2). Myfriend, the unbeliever is not sick. He is dead. He doesn't need resuscitation.He needs a resurrection. All lost sinners are dead, and the only differencebetween one sinner and another is the state of decay. The lost derelict on skidrow may be more decayed outwardly than the unsaved society leader, but both aredead in sin—and one corpse cannot be more dead than another! This means thatour world is one vast graveyard, filled with people who are dead while theylive (1 Tim. 5:6). We need to understand that's our position before oursalvation. And sin works against us and we're dead in these trespasses andsins.  Oh,how we ought to rejoice in the fact that one day we met Jesus Christ if you'rea believer. And if you do not understand spiritual things, there's a reason forit. We never really appreciate our health until we have experienced a terriblesickness. And we will never appreciate and be grateful for our life in Jesus Christuntil we realize how dead we were in our trespasses and sins! 

Sitting in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, I visited with a mother as her newborn baby cuddled up against her chest. In this technologically advanced medical facility, the doctors had recommended a very low-tech “prescription” to improve and strengthen the child’s health—the new mom was to spend extended periods of time simply holding her daughter. There’s almost nothing like the overwhelming love and tender compassion of a parent to provide healing comfort for a child. We see this powerful imagery in the prophet Isaiah’s description of God with His people. Even after prophesying impending exile for the nation of Israel because they’d rejected God (Isaiah 39:5-7), Isaiah emphasized to the people that God still loved them and would always provide for them. God’s tender compassion and secure care is evident in the beautiful metaphor where He is described as a shepherd who, much like a loving father, gathers His sheep “in his arms and carries them close to his heart” (40:11). God’s presence grants us peace and protection and reminds us that He carries us close to His heart, like a newborn baby with its mother. As He “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (v. 29), the Spirit’s healing comfort allows us to meet the challenges of each day.

Watch Dr. Henry P. Davis III from First Baptist Church of Highland Park To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/857/29

After watching the World Trade Center as part of my skyline for many years, it hit really hard that awful September 11th to see those towers come crashing down and thousands of lives with them. The day after the first attack on the Trade Center, which was back in 1993, I was greeted by a TV crew as I got off a flight from Newark. Of all things, they asked me as a New Yorker how I felt after that first bombing. And I could only think of one word, "vulnerable." That was my answer. Well, since the events of that September 11th, and the years since then, and all of the terrorism that has spread Iike a cancer. I think a lot of us are feeling more and more vulnerable all the time. It happens on the street, in churches, in malls, wherever! We're uncertain about what a new kind of war might mean, where the danger might pop up next, and what's going to happen economically. And some of us are trying to help our children understand this crazy world that we don't even understand. We all feel vulnerable. It's as if some of our own sense of personal security and safety started to come crashing down with those towers and it's been crashing ever since. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Safe in an Unsafe World." Even without the constantly disturbing events in the news, we all know the feeling of having things that we counted on suddenly come crashing down - a person we love, our job, the collapse of a marriage, a bad report from the doctor. In times like these, we're hungry for something we can anchor to, for something to sustain us when the bad news is more than we can bear, for something that will make us feel really safe. When our President, years ago, addressed the nation after that September 11th, he alluded to the one source of comfort and hope in moments like that. He quoted from that treasured 23rd Psalm in the Bible - actually, Psalm 23:4, our word for today from the Word of God. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me." The Bible holds out to you and me a security that can keep you safe in life's deepest valleys - even the valley of the shadow of death. That security is a relationship. It's a person. "You are with me, Lord" the psalmist said. All our lives we've been looking for one "unloseable" love. And there really is one. It's the love of the One who made you, the One you will meet on the other side of your last heartbeat, the One whose love caused Him to literally lay down His life for you. In our vulnerable moments, our moments that are more than you can handle alone, those moments when you've gone seeking God, maybe you've realized that there's something that is separating you from Him. The Bible says that feeling is right. The Bible says, "Your sins have separated you from your God" (Isaiah 59:2). But Jesus came to remove that wall between you and God - the only way it could be removed - by Jesus dying to pay the death penalty for you and for me, hijacking a life that God was supposed to run and we took it instead. Either you have this life-saving relationship with Jesus or you don't. It all depends on whether there's been a time when you grabbed the outstretched hand of Jesus like a person trapped in the wreckage would grab the hand of his rescuer. If you are ready for the kind of security, the safety that only Jesus Christ can offer, if you're ready to begin this anchor relationship with the man who died for you, would you tell Him that right now right where you are? "Jesus, you died for me. My life is yours from this day on." I want you to know for sure that you have that anchor, that security from this day on. So I'd invite you to go where some information is that will really help that happen. It's our website, please check it out today - ANewStory.com. I'd love for you to visit there as soon as you can today. My prayer is that you'll be able to go to sleep tonight knowing you are in the safest place in the universe - the arms of Jesus Christ - and that you'll be able to say, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil - for You are with me."

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2–3 NLT) Have you ever gone through a hard time and wondered where God was? I can tell you where He was: He was right there with you. Not only that, but He will be with you tomorrow and the day after. And He will be with you on the day you leave this earth for Heaven. In Isaiah 43:2–3, God says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (NLT). You’ll notice that He doesn’t say, “I will keep you in the shallow end.” He doesn’t say, “I will make sure that you stay on the riverbank.” He doesn’t say, “I will keep you a safe distance from the fire.” God doesn’t promise comfort. The paths He lays out for us aren’t always smooth and level. He doesn’t guarantee a life free from failure, devastation, pain, anxiety, loneliness, or doubt. He guarantees that you will never face any of those things alone. You will never have to rely solely on your own strength to endure any of them. The psalmist David wrote, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NLT). God is with you. He will be with you. You don’t have to fear evil. God will be with you on your good days and on your bad days. He will be with you in your grief of a lost loved one and in your joy of a baby’s birth. You don’t have to be afraid. Jesus said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT). Also, the Bible tells us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NLT). There will never come a time when He changes His mind and leaves you. Sometimes when we pray, it may seem as though God is late in answering. Sometimes when God comes through for us, it is later than we expected. God is never late. His delays are delays of love. Even God’s silence can be a silence of love. He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him. He will enter into that pain with us. He will answer in the way He chooses. Call on Him. Reflection question: What does it mean to you that God is always present in the midst of pain, suffering, and struggle? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It might have been the scariest moment of my life. I was only ten years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was with my friends in Lake Michigan. We started out just wading, but they kept getting deeper past the lake bottom where it dropped off. We started swimming. Well, not we because I didn't know how, and I was too embarrassed to tell them. And I started taking on water fast. I mean, I went under twice, and I was thrashing around. As for my buddies, they thought I was just clowning around. I wasn't! I was drinking the lake. And then he came - the man from the shore who saw my predicament and he jumped in to do something about it. He had come to rescue me. I grabbed him with both hands. I hung onto him as if he were my only hope, because He was. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "One Hand Short Of Heaven." As I've studied the Bible, I've learned that what happened to me that day at the lake is a picture of another life-or-death situation and the rescue on which a life depends. In this case, the life-or-death situation involves the entire human race. So, it's about you and me. The Bible reveals our true spiritual condition in hopes that we'll recognize it and take the only action that will save our souls. God's book says, "Your sins have separated you from your God" (Isaiah 59:2)...that we are "without God and without hope in this world" (Ephesians 2:12)... and that we are "dead in our sins." Sin is so much more than just breaking somebody's religious rules. It's defying Almighty God by ignoring His rule over our lives and doing what we want instead. And it's all of us, even the most religious person listening today. We differ only in the degree of our rebellion against our Creator, not in the reality of that rebellion or in its awful, eternal consequences. We are that little guy, drowning, with no hope of saving ourselves. Our only hope of avoiding certain death is the same as it was for me that day - a rescuer. And it's at that point that Jesus Christ comes off the pages of the history books and becomes a deeply personal issue for you and me. He saw we were dying, He left heaven's shore, and He jumped in to save us at the cost of His own life when He gave His life in exchange for ours on a cross. Our word for today from the Word of God, in John 3:18, spells out the difference between those who will be lost and those who will be rescued: "Whoever believes in Him (that's Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe in Him stands condemned already because He does not believe in the name of God's one and only Son." It isn't what you do with some religion or some set of beliefs that matters. It all comes down to what you do with Jesus - whether or not you believe in Him. In the original Greek word that's translated as "believe," it means to put your total trust in Jesus, to hold onto Him like a drowning person would hang onto his rescuer. I know about that. And take it from me, that's holding onto Him with both hands. Some people miss Him because they try to grab Jesus with just one hand - because there's something else in the other hand they don't want to let go of. But that's what the Bible calls "another god." And you can't hold Jesus with one hand and some junk He died for in the other. Believing in Jesus is grabbing Him with both hands, turning from, abandoning whatever else has been your hope. Maybe you've tried to turn to Jesus without turning from your sin, that other hope. Well, it's got to be a two-hand faith, grabbing Jesus with all your heart and both your hands. Have you ever taken that life-saving step? It's time! Tell Him right now. He's come to where you are, and He's reaching for you with both hands - nail-scarred hands. It's time you grabbed Him with both of yours. I'd love to help you do that today. Our website's all about this beginning with Jesus. Go there today, will you? It's ANewStory.com. Grabbing Jesus with one hand or with both hands - that may be the difference between being saved and being lost.

We were made to create. In this conversation, Caleb and Isaiah explore what it means to partner with God in the creative process, bringing ideas to life through anointed innovation.Find out more about YWAM Furnace below

While the Bible is largely silent as to the precise nature of demons, a little analysis seems to reveal that demons are fallen angels who were cast out of Heaven along with Lucifer when he rebelled against God (Isaiah 12:12-15; Revelation 12:4, 9).

What happens when the very word "Father" triggers pain instead of comfort? For many, reconciling the image of God as Father with traumatic experiences of earthly fathers creates a profound spiritual struggle.This episode navigates the delicate terrain of father wounds with both gentleness and honesty. We acknowledge that many listeners bring experiences of neglect, absence, abuse, or abandonment to their understanding of God. These wounds can make it nearly impossible to trust that God as Father is fundamentally different from the human fathers who caused harm.Scripture doesn't shy away from questioning God. Job rants for thirteen chapters. David's laments fill the Psalms. Even Jesus cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" The biblical invitation to "reason together" with God (Isaiah 1:18) actually means "argue it out"—God welcomes your wrestling, your questions, and even your anger. If you're limping through life with father wounds, we pray you'll encounter the God who binds up bruises and heals wounds, not with pat answers, but with His loving presence.