Gospel Dynamite with Allen Mashburn

A Biblical Exposition of Matthew 7:24–27 Our Lord concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a searching contrast: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” —Matthew 7:24–27, KJV These verses are far more than a charming illustration or moral tale. They form the solemn, climactic warning of the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). After unfolding the character of true righteousness, the realities of kingdom life, the heart of prayer and giving, the dangers of anxiety and being judgmental, and the narrow way that leads to life, Jesus now presses every hearer to a decisive response.  The question is not merely “Have you heard?” but “Have you obeyed?”   The Context and the Force of “Therefore” Matthew 7:24–27 stands at the very end of Jesus’ longest recorded discourse. Immediately preceding it are three paired contrasts that build to this point: The two gates and two ways (7:13–14)   The two trees and their fruit (7:15–20)   The two claims at the judgment (“Lord, Lord…”) versus doing the will of the Father (7:21–23)   In 7:21–23, Jesus warns that many will claim His lordship with impressive religious activity yet be rejected as “workers of lawlessness” (anomia — lawlessness, rebellion against God’s revealed will).    The “therefore” (Greek: οὖν — oun) is not a casual transition. It draws the inescapable conclusion from everything that has gone before.  It means, “In light of all I have said — the radical demands of the kingdom, the necessity of fruit, the danger of false profession — this is how you must respond.” The entire Sermon on the Mount is not optional religious advice. It is the authoritative teaching of the King. The “therefore” demands that every listener move from hearing to doing.   Hearing and Doing: The Great Divide “whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them…” The Greek is emphatic: πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ἀκούει … καὶ ποιεῖ αὐτούς (pas oun hostis akouei … kai poiei autous). ἀκούει (akouei) — “hears.” This is not mere a question of hearing. In biblical usage, akouō often carries the idea of hearing with understanding and attention that calls for response. Jesus is addressing those who have sat under His teaching, who have been exposed to the light of the kingdom. ποιεῖ (poiei) — “doeth.” From the verb ποιέω (poieō), meaning to do, to perform, to practice, to produce.  It is in the present tense, suggesting ongoing, habitual action— MAKE IT A HABIT! — a lifestyle of obedience, not occasional compliance. This is the same word used in 7:21 (“he that doeth the will of my Father”).   Both the wise and foolish man hear. The difference is not access to truth but response to truth.  James echoes this exactly: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). Hearing without doing produces self-deception — the most dangerous spiritual condition. Examine your life honestly. Do you read Scripture, listen to sermons, or discuss doctrine — yet continue in known sin, neglect known duty, or live as though Christ’s words are suggestions rather than commands?    The difference between information and transformation is obedience.   The Wise Builder and the Rock “…I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock…”   The Greek for “wise” is φρόνιμος (phronimos). It does not mean merely clever or intellectually sharp.    It describes one who is prudent, thoughtful, far-sighted, and practically wise — someone who thinks ahead and acts accordingly.    It c

Eternity Future: The Glorious New Heaven, New Earth, and the Literal Holy City New Jerusalem After the thousand-year reign of Christ upon this earth and after the final judgment at the Great White Throne, Scripture opens the door to the eternal state. The old order ends completely, and God brings forth a new creation filled with His presence, His glory, and His redeemed people. This is not a vague spiritual realm. It is a real, tangible, physical reality that will last forever. Let us begin by anchoring ourselves in the immediate events that lead into this eternal future. After the thousand years expire, Satan is released for a short time. He deceives the nations one last time. They gather in vast numbers like the sand of the sea to surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. Then the devil himself is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet already are. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Immediately following this, John sees the Great White Throne. The One seated upon it causes the earth and the heaven to flee away. There is no place found for them. The dead, small and great, stand before God. Books are opened, including the book of life. Every person is judged according to their works recorded in the books. The sea gives up its dead. Death and hell deliver up their dead. All are judged. Then death and hell are cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Whoever is not found written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire. With the judgment complete and the old creation removed, John records the breathtaking vision of what comes next. The New Heaven and the New Earth John writes: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” The old heaven and earth do not merely receive a fresh coat of paint. They pass away entirely. The elements melt with fervent heat. Everything built on the foundation of sin and rebellion is dissolved. In its place God creates something entirely new in quality and character—a heaven and earth where righteousness dwells perfectly and permanently. There is no more sea. Throughout the Bible the sea often pictures unrest, chaos, and separation. In this new creation those things are gone. There will be no restless tossing of waves, no vast oceans dividing continents, no symbol of the wicked whose waters cast up mire and dirt. The new earth will be a place of perfect order, perfect stability, and perfect unity under the rule of God. The prophet Isaiah had already seen this coming reality hundreds of years earlier. He declared: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock; and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They sha

The Great White Throne Judgment: The Final, Dreadful, and Eternal Reckoning of the Wicked Dead   In the majestic and awe-inspiring closing visions of the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John, carried along by the powerful inspiration of the Holy Spirit, beholds a series of breathtaking scenes that unveil the final consummation of all things and the eternal destiny of every soul. Following the glorious thousand-year reign of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth, after the last desperate and futile rebellion of Satan, and after the complete and utter defeat of Gog and Magog with fire from heaven, the divine spotlight turns with solemn intensity upon the most terrifying and irreversible event in all of human history: the Great White Throne Judgment. This is the ultimate, final, and most dreadful courtroom of the entire universe, where every single soul that has ever died in unbelief, impenitence, and open rebellion against the living God will be supernaturally raised from the dead, solemnly examined with perfect scrutiny, and eternally sentenced according to the flawless, unerring, and infinitely holy justice of Almighty God. Revelation 20:11-15 stands as one of the most sobering, heart-shaking, conscience-piercing, and fear-inducing passages in all of Holy Scripture, a passage that should cause every reader to tremble and every unrepentant sinner to flee without delay to the mercy of the cross. The full text of this profoundly solemn and eternally weighty passage, as given in the inspired and infallible Word of God, reads as follows in its complete and unbroken form: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” This tightly woven, divinely inspired passage forms a self-contained and climactic unit that brings the entire millennial section of the Book of Revelation to its dreadful, everlasting, and irreversible close. It follows immediately after the final casting of Satan, the devil, into the lake of fire where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever. It stands just before the glorious and radiant unveiling of the new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. The context is saturated with absolute finality, divine justice, and the irreversible nature of eternity. The redeemed saints of all ages have already participated joyfully in the blessed first resurrection and have reigned triumphantly with Christ for a full thousand years. Those who now appear trembling before the throne are precisely “the rest of the dead” who “lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5). The old creation, stained and cursed by sin, is even now dissolving before our eyes, and every unsaved soul must now give a full, terrifying, and inescapable account before the burning, all-seeing holiness of Almighty God. Let us now carefully, reverently, and thoroughly exposit this passage verse by verse, drawing out its rich and multifaceted meaning through the original Greek language where it adds vivid force and eternal impact, through the surrounding biblical context, and through the weighty, soul-stirring eternal truths it so powerfully proclaims to every generation. The Scene (Revelation 20:11) “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place

The Millennial Kingdom: Christ’s Glorious Reign Upon the Earth Beloved reader, imagine a world where righteousness flows like a mighty river, where peace blankets every nation, where creation itself bursts forth in renewed splendor, and where the Lord Jesus Christ reigns visibly and personally from Jerusalem upon the throne of David. The Scriptures unveil this magnificent future age in vivid detail—a thousand-year period of unparalleled blessing, justice, and prosperity under the sovereign rule of the King of kings. Let us open the King James Version together and allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate these precious truths. As we journey through God’s Word, may our hearts be stirred with hope and holy expectation. The Foundation: Satan Bound and the Saints Raised The Apostle John, exiled on the Isle of Patmos, received the climactic vision of this kingdom in the Book of Revelation. Hear the very words of Scripture: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:1-6, KJV) With Satan bound and sealed in the bottomless pit, deception and demonic influence are dramatically curtailed. The Prince of Peace can now establish His rule without the constant sabotage of the adversary. At the same time, the faithful—particularly those who endured great tribulation—are raised in the first resurrection to share in Christ’s government. This is no vague spiritual kingdom; it is a literal, earthly reign following the glorious return of Christ described in Revelation 19. The King and His Throne: Fulfillment of Ancient Covenants At the center of this kingdom stands the Lord Jesus Christ, fulfilling every promise made to the fathers. The Davidic Covenant is realized in full: “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” (2 Samuel 7:16, KJV) The angel Gabriel declared to Mary: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33, KJV) Isaiah foresaw the government resting upon His shoulders: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7, KJV) Daniel beheld the Son of Man receiving universal dominion: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given

The Tribulation: Hell on Earth   Our springboard text is Revelation 6:16-17: “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”   These words, ripped from the throats of kings and great men, rich men and chief captains, mighty men and every bondman and every free man, echo across the shattered landscape of a world in collapse.    As the sixth seal bursts open, the sky rolls up like a scroll, mountains and islands are moved out of their places, and the sun turns black as sackcloth while the moon becomes as blood.  Men do not cry out for mercy; they scream for the rocks to crush them rather than face the wrath of the Lamb. This is the Tribulation—the seven-year period of divine judgment poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. It is hell on earth, the time of Jacob’s trouble, the great tribulation spoken of by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:21 as unparalleled in human history.    The book of Revelation, the unveiling of Jesus Christ, lays it bare in vivid, terrifying detail. We will walk through it in the exact prophetic timeline John received, seal by seal, trumpet by trumpet, bowl by bowl, pausing at the parenthetical texts the Holy Spirit inserts to show us the behind-the-scenes reality of salvation and conflict amid the judgments. After the messages to the seven churches in Revelation 1–3, John is caught up through an open door in heaven in chapter 4.        There he sees the throne of God, the four living creatures crying “Holy, holy, holy,” and the twenty-four elders casting their crowns. In chapter 5 the Lamb as it had been slain takes the seven-sealed scroll from the right hand of Him who sits on the throne. Heaven explodes in worship: “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Then, in chapter 6, the Lamb begins to break the seals, and hell on earth is unleashed in perfect, ordered fury. The first seal: Revelation 6:1-2. “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”  A counterfeit Christ rides forth—the Antichrist—deceiving the nations with a false peace. No arrows yet, only a bow; he conquers through diplomacy and lies before the sword is unsheathed. The world cheers a man of peace who is in reality the man of sin. The second seal: Revelation 6:3-4. “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”    Global war erupts. The red horse rider turns the planet into a slaughterhouse. Brother against brother, nation against nation—blood flows in rivers as the false peace shatters. The third seal: Revelation 6:5-6. “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”  Famine stalks the earth. A day’s wages buys only a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley—bare survival. The rich may still afford luxuries, but the masses starve while inflation and scarcity crush the poor. The fourth seal: Revelation 6:7-8. “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse

The Battle of Gog and Magog Ezekiel 38:1-3 “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.” This chosen text from the opening verses of Ezekiel chapter 38 serves as the foundation for our exposition of the battle of Gog and Magog. The prophecy spans Ezekiel 38 and 39, two chapters that form a unified oracle delivered by the prophet during the Babylonian exile. Ezekiel, whose name means “God strengthens,” was a priest carried into captivity in 597 B.C. alongside King Jehoiachin. His ministry, spanning roughly 593 to 571 B.C., addressed both the judgment upon Judah and the future restoration of God’s people.    In these chapters, the Lord shifts from messages of immediate hope and restoration (as seen in Ezekiel 36–37) to a dramatic foretelling of an end-times invasion that will demonstrate His sovereign power over the nations.    The prophecy is set explicitly “in the latter years” and “latter days” (Ezekiel 38:8, 16), pointing to a future period when Israel has been regathered to her land.   By historical geography and biblical genealogy, we understand and believe Gog to be the leader of Russia and Magog as the country itself—Russia. This aligns with a careful reading of the ancient names in light of biblical genealogy, historical geography, and etymological connections preserved in early sources.    The prophecy is not vague symbolism but a specific geopolitical forecast involving a northern power and its allies descending upon a restored Israel.  The structure of the prophecy unfolds in clear stages. Here are the pertinent details presented as bullet points in the order they appear in the biblical text, each accompanied by its primary scripture reference: The divine summons to prophesy against Gog of Magog: The Lord commands Ezekiel to set his face against “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” and to declare God’s opposition (Ezekiel 38:1-3).   God’s sovereign control over the invasion force: The Lord declares He will “turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws,” drawing forth Gog and his vast army of horses, horsemen, and fully armed troops (Ezekiel 38:4).   The composition of the multinational coalition: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya join with shield and helmet; Gomer and the house of Togarmah from the north quarters come with all their bands, along with “many people” (Ezekiel 38:5-6).   • The command to prepare for battle: Gog and his company are told to be prepared and to act as a guard for the assembled forces (Ezekiel 38:7). The precise timing of the invasion: “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them” (Ezekiel 38:8).   The nature and scale of the assault: The invaders ascend “like a storm” and cover the land “like a cloud,” with Gog and all his bands and many people (Ezekiel 38:9).   The evil thought that motivates the attack: At that time, thoughts will arise in Gog’s mind: “I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey…” (Ezekiel 38:10-12).   • The inquiry of observing nations: Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish with their young lions question the invaders’ intent to seize spoil, silver, gold, cattle, and goods (Ezekiel 38:13). The confirmation of Israel’s security at the time of attack: When God’s people Israel dwell safely, Gog will know it (Ezekiel 38:14).   The geographic origin and military character of

Maranatha: Our Lord is Coming! The Rapture of the Church    In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) The scene is etched forever in the sacred record of Scripture. It is the night of betrayal. The Passover supper has been eaten. The traitor has gone out into the darkness. The eleven remaining disciples sit in stunned silence as the weight of impending loss presses upon their souls.    Their Master has spoken plainly of His departure. He has washed their feet. He has given them the new commandment of love. And now, with the shadow of Gethsemane already falling across His face, the Lord Jesus Christ turns to address the deepest fear in their hearts. He does not offer vague religious platitudes. He does not speak in the language of uncertainty. Instead, He utters words that carry the full force of divine certainty, words that have echoed down through two thousand years of church history as the unbreakable promise of His personal return.   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   These verses stand as the cornerstone of the doctrine of the Rapture of the church, the blessed hope that has sustained persecuted saints, comforted grieving families, and ignited holy urgency in every generation of believers. Yet the full power of this promise is often missed in English translation.    The blazing heart of the passage lies in the Greek construction of the words “I will come again,” and it is there that the exposition must linger with scholarly precision and devotional weight. The verb translated “I will come again” is the present indicative active of the Greek word erchomai—literally, “I am coming.” It is not the simple future tense that one might expect for a distant event.  It is the present tense employed in a manner called the futuristic present tense. This is no grammatical accident. It is a deliberate choice by the Holy Spirit through the pen of the apostle John.    In classical and Koine Greek, the present tense can be used to describe a future action when that action is viewed by the speaker as so certain, so inevitable, and so imminent that it is as good as already unfolding before the eyes. The futuristic present tense does not weaken the promise; it intensifies it. It lifts the event out of the realm of mere prediction and plants it squarely in the realm of divine declaration. Jesus does not say, “I might come someday if conditions allow.”  He declares with the full authority of the Son of God, “I am coming.” The present tense shouts certainty. It breathes imminence.    It carries the weight of a future so fixed in the eternal counsels of the Godhead that the Speaker can speak of it as already in motion.   This futuristic present is not unique to this verse, but its placement here is profound.    The same construction appears elsewhere in the Gospel of John when Jesus describes events that are absolutely assured in the divine plan. The grammar itself becomes a theological hammer, driving home the truth that the return of Christ for His own is not a distant possibility but a present reality in the mind of the Savior.    He is even now, from the vantage point of eternity, in the act of coming. The promise is so certain that the tense of the verb collapses the future into the present. This is the grammatical foundation upon which the entire doctrine of the Rapture rests. The Rapture is not an afterthought in the plan of God.        It is the next great event on the divine calendar for the church of Jesus Christ, an event so fixed and so

Dealing with Depression: Finding Hope and Victory in the God of All Comfort    Depression is a profound heaviness of soul that the Scriptures describe with raw honesty. The Bible does not employ our modern clinical term, but it portrays the experience vividly: the spirit overwhelmed, the heart cast down, the bones troubled, the soul in despair, even the wish that life would end. Yet the same Word that records this darkness repeatedly declares that God draws near to the brokenhearted, that He is the lifter of the head, that His comfort abounds in affliction, and that joy comes in the morning. Throughout Scripture we see God’s choicest servants pass through seasons of deep discouragement. Their stories are recorded not to magnify their weakness but to display God’s faithfulness in the lowest places. By examining these lives, and by listening carefully to the voice of God in His Word, we discover divine principles for enduring and overcoming depression from a thoroughly biblical standpoint. I. Elijah: Despair After Victory The prophet Elijah stands as one of the clearest examples. In 1 Kings 18 he experienced one of the greatest public triumphs in redemptive history—fire falling from heaven on Mount Carmel, the prophets of Baal defeated, the people confessing that the Lord is God, and rain ending a three-and-a-half-year drought. Yet in chapter 19, a single threat from Jezebel sends him fleeing in fear and exhaustion. Hear the Word of the Lord in 1 Kings 19:3-4 (KJV): “And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” Elijah, the man who had just called down fire, now prays for death. He feels his labor has been in vain, that he is no better than his fathers, that everything is “enough.” This is the language of depression: exhaustion, hopelessness, isolation, and suicidal ideation. But observe God’s tender response. Verses 5-8: “And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.” God does not begin with rebuke. He begins with physical care—sleep, food, water—twice. The angel acknowledges the reality of Elijah’s limitation: “the journey is too great for thee.” God remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). When Elijah reaches Horeb, he repeats his complaint in verses 9-10: “And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” Depression distorts perspective. Elijah believes he is utterly alone. God gently corrects him in verse 18: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” Then God gives Elijah new work and a successor. God meets Elijah in his depression with physical provision, truthful perspective, renewed purpose, and the quiet whisper of His presence (verses 11-13). II. Job: Prolonged Suffering and Overwhelming Grief Few stories portray sustained depression more graphically than Job’s

When Anxiety Feels Louder Than God   There are times in the Christian life when anxiety seems to shout louder than the voice of God. The pressures of daily living—the demands of school or work, the pull of peers in the wrong direction, the subtle temptations of the enemy to sin, and the uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring—can create a clamor in the soul that drowns out the quiet assurance of God's presence. Yet the Scriptures speak directly to these very struggles, offering not mere human advice, but divine remedies that bring peace and victory. We will focus our attention on three key passages that address the heart of this matter: Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, and Psalm 34:4. These verses, taken from the Authorized King James Version, provide a clear pathway from anxiety to the peace that only God can give. First, let us read Philippians 4:6-7 in full: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote these words from a Roman prison, where anxiety could easily have overwhelmed him. Chains clanked around his wrists, the future was uncertain, and yet he penned one of the most triumphant letters in the New Testament. His secret? He refused to be "careful"—that is, anxious—about anything. Instead, he turned every concern into a conversation with God. Notice the comprehensive nature of Paul's instruction: "in every thing." No worry is too small or too large to bring before the throne of grace. Whether it is the stress of examinations and deadlines in school, the pressure from classmates to conform to worldly standards, the temptation whispered by Satan to compromise holiness, or the fear of what lies ahead in an unpredictable world—every thing qualifies for prayer. Paul specifies three elements in this prayer: prayer itself (general communion with God), supplication (specific requests), and thanksgiving (gratitude even in the midst of trial). Thanksgiving is the key that keeps prayer from becoming mere complaining. When we thank God for His past faithfulness, we remind ourselves that He is still in control. The result is breathtaking: "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." This is not the absence of problems, but the presence of God in the midst of them. It is a peace that defies human explanation—a garrison, as the word "keep" suggests, stationed around the heart and mind like a Roman guard around a priceless treasure. Through Christ Jesus, this peace stands sentinel, preventing anxiety from storming the citadel of the soul. Consider the young student facing overwhelming school pressures—exams that seem insurmountable, projects that pile up, grades that determine future opportunities. The enemy whispers, "You can't handle this; you'll fail." Peers add their voices: "Everyone else is cheating—just this once." The future looms dark: "What if you don't get into the right college? What if your plans fall apart?" In such moments, anxiety roars. But when that student obeys Philippians 4:6-7, turning those burdens into thankful prayer, the peace of God descends like a quiet shield. The problems may remain, but they no longer dominate the heart. Now turn with me to 1 Peter 5:7: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Peter, who once sank in the waves because he focused on the storm rather than on Christ, now writes with pastoral tenderness to suffering believers. The word "casting" pictures a deliberate act—throwing the entire weight of our cares onto the Lord, as one might hurl a heavy burden onto a strong beast of burden. "All your care"—not some, not the large ones only, but all. The everyday stresses, the relational tensions from peer pressure, the spiritual battles against Satan's temptations to sin, the nagging fears about tomorrow—all are to be cast upon Him. Why can we do th

Let's turn together in our Bibles to the book of Genesis, chapter 3, and focus our attention on verse 15. This is one of those pivotal verses in Scripture that has rightly been called the protoevangelium—the first announcement of the good news of salvation. In the King James Version, which we'll use throughout our study today, it reads: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Imagine the scene in the Garden of Eden just moments after the fall. Adam and Eve have disobeyed God, eaten the forbidden fruit, and now they stand before Him in shame and fear. The harmony of creation is shattered. Sin has entered the world, bringing with it death, curse, and separation from God. It seems as though Satan, working through the serpent, has scored a complete victory. Yet right here, in the midst of pronouncing judgment, God speaks a word of incredible grace—a promise that shines like a beacon in the darkness. This verse is the seed from which the entire message of redemption grows. It's the foundation for everything that follows in the Bible, pointing us ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, I want us to unpack this promise carefully, phrase by phrase, and trace how it unfolds through Scripture. We'll see God's sovereign grace at work, the conflict between the two seeds, the suffering and triumph of the Savior, and what it all means for us personally. My prayer is that as we study this together, we'll gain a deeper appreciation for the gospel and a stronger confidence in God's unbreakable plan. 1. The Divine Initiative: "And I Will Put Enmity" Notice first who takes the initiative here. God says, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman." The "thee" refers to the serpent, and as Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 make clear, this is none other than Satan himself: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." God doesn't command Adam or Eve to start fighting the devil. No, He declares sovereignly, "I will put enmity." This is pure grace from beginning to end. Fallen humanity, left to ourselves, has no natural hostility toward Satan. In fact, we're at peace with him and at enmity with God. As Ephesians 2:1-3 reminds us: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." And Colossians 1:21: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." By nature, we love the darkness and hate the light (John 3:19-20). But when God plants this enmity in a heart, everything changes. The one who once listened eagerly to the serpent's lies now becomes his enemy. This is the beginning of regenerating grace—the Holy Spirit turning a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Think about it: Eve had just been deceived by the serpent, yet God promises to create hostility between them. From that moment, humanity is divided into two spiritual lines: those who remain friends with the serpent and those in whom God has worked to make them hate sin and love holiness. This isn't something we muster up on our own; it's God's doing. What encouragement this is! If you're a believer today, that enmity toward sin in your heart is evidence of God's grace at work in you from the very foundation of the gospel promise. 2. The Two Seeds: "Between Thy Seed and Her Seed" Next, God speaks of the ongoing conflict: "and between thy seed and her seed." Throughout Scripture, this theme of

Israel's Future in Bible Prophecy:  A Biblical Exposition   Introduction: The Setting from Luke 21 As we open our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, we find Jesus standing on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the city of Jerusalem. His disciples marvel at the temple's grandeur, but the Lord turns their attention to far greater matters—the signs of the end times and the destiny of His people.    In Luke 21:20-24, Jesus declares: "And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.”   Here, the Lord Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, a tragic fulfillment of judgment on unbelieving Israel.    Yet, notice the phrase "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." This points beyond that historical event to a future restoration. The "times of the Gentiles" refer to the period when Gentile powers dominate Jerusalem, but it has an end. From this vantage, Jesus shifts in verses 25-28 to cosmic signs and His return:   "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”   Luke 21 sets the stage for our study: Israel's past rebellion, present trials, and glorious future under the Messiah's reign. God's Word promises that though Israel has stumbled, He will lift them up. Let us trace this thread through Scripture, seeing God's unchanging faithfulness to His covenant people. Israel's Past: From Abraham's Call to Repeated Rejection To understand Israel's future, we must first look back to her origins. God did not find Israel as a nation; He created her. In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord calls Abram, a Gentile idol-worshiper from Ur of the Chaldees:   "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”   Abram—later Abraham—became the father of the Jewish nation through Isaac and Jacob, whom God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). This was no accident of history; it was divine election. God promised Abraham an everlasting covenant in Genesis 17:7-8:   "And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”   This covenant is unconditional—based on God's promise, not Israel's performance. It includes land, seed, and blessing, and it stands today. God reiterated it to Isaac (Genesis 26:3-4) and Jacob (Genesis 28:13-15), forming the twelve tribes of Israel.   Yet, from the exodus onward, Israel

A Concise Biblical Examination of John 1:1  and It’s Importance to Our Faith     “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”      This verse is like a treasure chest full of truth about who Jesus is. It tells us that Jesus, called “the Word,” is God and has always been with God. Let’s break it down into three simple parts, using the original Greek words to help us understand, and see how it shows that Jesus is fully God.   Part 1: “In the beginning was the Word”   What it says in Greek: En archē ēn ho Logos   Simple meaning: “When everything started, the Word was already there.”   -“In the beginning”:  This is like the very first moment of everything, just like the start of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, where God created the world. The Greek word archē means the start of all things.  It’s saying Jesus was there before anything was made.   -“Was”:  This Greek word tells us the Word didn’t start existing—it was already there, always existing, forever. Jesus didn’t have a beginning; He’s eternal God.   -“The Word”:  The “Word” is Jesus. In Greek, Logos means God’s way of speaking or showing Himself. Jesus is God’s special way of talking to us and showing who God is. The word ho (the) means He’s the one and only Word, not just any word.   What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, was there before time began. He didn’t get created because He’s eternal, just like God. This shows us Jesus is God because only God has no beginning.     Part 2: “And the Word was with God”   What it says in Greek: kai ho Logos ēn pros ton Theon   Simple meaning: “The Word was close to God.”   -“Was with”:  The Greek word pros means being right next to someone, like best friends who are always together. It shows Jesus was with God in close proximity, sharing a special relationship.   -“God”:  This is talking about God the Father. The Greek words show it’s a specific person, not just a vague idea of God. Jesus, the Word, is not the Father, but He’s with Him.   What this tells us: Jesus is a distinct person from God the Father, but they’re together as One. This shows Jesus is part of the Godhead, not a creation. It’s a hint that God is more than one person but yet still one God.     Part 3: “And the Word was God”   What it says in Greek: Kai Theos ēn ho Logos Simple meaning: “The Word was God.”   -“God”:  In Greek, Theos means God, but here it doesn’t have the word ho (the) like before. This doesn’t mean Jesus is less than God. It’s a way to say Jesus has all the qualities of God—He is God in His nature, not a different or smaller god. -“Was”:  Again, this word shows Jesus didn’t become God; He always was God, forever.   What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, is fully God. He’s not just like God or partly God—He is God, with all of God’s power, glory, and nature. This is super important because it tells us Jesus isn’t just a great person or a prophet; He’s God Himself.   Kai ——  And Theos —  God ēn ——-   was (can also mean “always existed”- thus, “God ‘always existed’ as the Word.”) ho ——   the  Logos — Word   Our translators didn’t get it wrong, it was proper to translate it “…and the Word was God,” in English in 1611.  Saying “God was the Word” is like saying God’s essence is perfectly shown in Jesus. It’s two ways of saying the same thing: Jesus is truly, fully, 100% God.  Christ came to fully reveal God to humanity, thus the Word was God and God was the Word.   Why This Matters: Jesus is God — Yet there are approximately 10,000 world religions that claim He isn’t. (Source:  Google, Accessed 10-8-2025)   John 1:1 is like a big sign shouting that Jesus is God. Here’s what we learn:   1. Jesus is eternal: He was there “in the beginning,” before anything was made. Only God is eternal, so Jesus is God. 2. Jesus is close to God: He’s with God the Father in a special, loving relationship, showing He’s a person in the Godhead, not just a thing or idea. 3. Jesus is fully God: The Word is God, sharing all of God’s qualities.

Join Pastor Mashburn as he examines the Scriptures on the subject of "Spiritual Warfare in a World that Hates Christ & You."

It's been a heavy week.  A good man has been tragically taken from us by an assassin's bullet.  Charlie Kirk was a brilliant mind, a good man, a faithful husband and father.  Join Pastor Mashburn as he examines the Scripture and gains strength for these difficult days.

As we continue to study “the whole armor of God,” we continually need to be reminded why this is such an important topic. Verses 10-13 introduce the subject of spiritual warfare. We are told that the saints of God are engaged in a great cosmic battle against a powerful, relentless enemy. Our enemy is called “the devil,” v 11. Our enemy is said to employ “wiles,” v. 11. This word refers to “the tricks, schemes, and methods” the devil uses to undermine the faith of the saints, and to attack the glory of God.  God’s command to His people is that they “stand” against the attacks of the enemy, vvs. 11, 13, 14. The word “stand” is a military term. It means “to hold a critical position during a time of enemy attack.” It is the image of “a soldier refusing to yield even one inch of ground to an attacking foe.” It is not the image of someone on the offensive, but rather, it is the picture of a soldier on the defensive, protecting the ground that has already been won.  God had given His people some very precious possessions. He has given us truth, His church,  His Word, His grace, His salvation, His blessing, etc. And, the devil wants all of it. He will stop at nothing to take everything we have been given by the Lord.  If we are to keep what we have received from the Lord, we must “stand” and hold on to the critical ground we have received from the Lord. To do that, God says we must “put on the whole armor of God.”

We are studying pieces of “the whole armor of God.” The “armor or God” is a necessary tool in our fight against  our common the enemy, the devil. Without every piece of the amor in place, we are easy prey for the enemy. When the pieces of the armor are missing, Satan has little trouble defeating us. He has little trouble damaging our testimonies, infiltrating our churches, and devastating our church. When the armor is missing, we are easily defeated.   Yet, when a saint of God is dressed in “the whole armor of God,” the enemy has a hard times dealing with them. When the armor is in place, he cannot penetrate their defenses, and he must watch helplessly as they “stand” for God’s glory day after victorious day. I want that to be my testimony, how about you?   Let’s continue to examine the pieces of “the whole armor of God.” Knowing what they are and how to use them will help us to “stand” for the Lord in victory.

The verses before us speak about spiritual warfare. They remind us that we are in the fight of our lives. Against a relentless, powerful enemy. We are engaged in battle with a spiritual being who is intent on our destruction. We are fighting against an enemy who hates our God, and who hates us too. He wants to devour our families, destroy our testimonies, devastate our church, and discredit our God. But, this enemy of whom I speak is not all-powerful. The God we serve is, 1 John 4:4.

Today, we examine the Scriptures to learn what it means to be created in the image of God.  Join us in Genesis 1, as we search the Scriptures for the answers.

Our Lord loves children and He desires them to be cared for, loved, and given the Gospel of Christ at an early age.

“Finally!” The first word of verse 10 is a blessing, isn’t it? That word indicates that we have reached the last major section of the book of Ephesians. As Paul nears the end of this precious book, he closes with a final series of admonitions. He challenges his readers to open their eyes to the spiritual warfare in which they are engaged. He calls them to be sure they are on the right foundation, wearing the proper spiritual garments, fighting the right enemies, and trusting the right Lord. Verses 10-18 are a statement about the matter of Spirit-Filled Warfare.

In this passage, we are given insight into the battle we are engaged in and into the weapons with which we are to fight this battle. My friends, we are in the fight of our lives! If we are to do what the Scriptures say and "stand", v. 11, 13, 14, then we must know how to prepare ourselves for this battle. Here, Paul reveals some aspects of the battle in which we find ourselves this evening. I just want to remind you tonight that we are involved in The Fight Of Our Lives and we must know how we are to prepare to ourselves to be effective in that fight.

Paul has previously discussed our relationship with God, our worship, our marriages, and the parent-child dynamic. In these verses, he shifts focus to the master-slave relationship, a common institution in the Roman Empire, where an estimated 50 million people were enslaved. While the Bible does not explicitly condemn slavery, it acknowledges the system's widespread abuse. Since slavery is unfamiliar to us today, let’s explore insights from Dr. John MacArthur about this ancient practice. In Greek and Roman societies, slaves had no legal rights and were treated as commodities—bought, sold, traded, or discarded like animals or tools. Roman citizens viewed work as beneath them, relying heavily on slave labor. Compassionate masters, like Pliny the Elder, who mourned his slaves’ deaths, were rare. One Roman writer classified agricultural tools into three groups: articulate (slaves, who could speak), inarticulate (animals), and mute (tools and vehicles). Slaves were barely distinguished from animals or objects. The Roman statesman Cato advised discarding old or sick slaves as worthless, and stories abound of cruel punishments—like Augustus crucifying a slave for killing his pet quail or Pollio feeding a slave to lamprey eels for breaking a goblet. Juvenal described a slave owner who delighted in the sound of his slaves being whipped. Given the rampant abuse in slavery, God inspired Paul to provide instructions for both slaves and masters. While slavery no longer exists in our society, these principles apply to the employer-employee relationship today. Let’s examine these verses to understand Spirit-Filled Service and how it shapes our service to God and others.

The sufficiency of Christ affirms that Jesus Christ is wholly adequate to meet every need of the believer—salvation, sanctification, provision, and intercession. This doctrine stands as a cornerstone of Christian faith, offering assurance and direction in a world filled with competing ideologies and self-reliance.   In salvation, Christ’s exclusive role as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) and His singular name for salvation (Acts 4:12) establish that His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12-14) fully atones for sin, requiring no additional works or mediators. For sanctification, Christ initiates and completes the believer’s transformation (Philippians 1:6), with His Spirit and Word conforming them to His image (2 Corinthians 3:18) and rendering them complete in Him (Colossians 2:9-10). In provision, Christ meets all needs—material, emotional, and spiritual—according to His infinite riches (Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:31-33), with His grace proving sufficient even in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). As High Priest, Christ’s ongoing intercession ensures believers are saved to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25), secure from condemnation (Romans 8:34), and represented by a righteous advocate when they sin (1 John 2:1-2).   For believers today, Christ’s sufficiency counters cultural pressures to seek fulfillment in self-effort, materialism, or pluralism. It calls Christians to trust solely in Christ, rest in His finished work, proclaim His adequacy, and persevere through trials by His grace. This truth fosters a life of faith, rooted in spiritual disciplines and bold witness, assuring believers that Christ is enough for every challenge and need. In Him, they find complete salvation, transformation, provision, and advocacy—now and forever.

Ephesians 6:1-4 instructs children to obey and honor their parents, as this aligns with God’s command and carries a promise of blessing and long life. Parents, particularly fathers, are urged not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them with godly discipline and instruction, fostering their spiritual growth in a loving manner.

Ephesians 5:22–6:4 outlines Christian household relationships, emphasizing mutual love and respect. Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, while husbands are instructed to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loves the church. Children are to obey their parents in the Lord, and fathers are urged to raise their children with discipline and instruction in the faith, without provoking them to anger. The passage underscores Christ-centered roles, fostering harmony and godliness in the family.

This verse is about how Christians should treat each other with humility and respect. It’s part of a bigger section in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians about living a godly life (Ephesians 5:1-20) and leads into advice about relationships like marriage and family (Ephesians 5:22–6:9).   "Submitting yourselves" means choosing to put others first, not because you have to, but because you want to show love and kindness, just like Jesus did (Philippians 2:5-8). The words "one to another" mean everyone in the church should do this for each other, no matter who they are. It’s about working together as equals to build a loving community (Romans 12:10).   The reason for this attitude is "the fear of God," which means respecting and honoring God. It’s not about being scared but about living in a way that pleases Him. When we do this, our actions come from a heart that loves God, not just following rules. This verse teaches that Christians should act with humility and care in all relationships. Instead of trying to be in charge, we should serve others, like Jesus did (Mark 10:42-45). By doing this, we create peace and show the world what God’s love looks like. Ephesians 5:21 calls us to live selflessly, making our churches and homes places of unity and support.

In our text, Paul is telling the Ephesian believers what the Spirit-filled life is all about. He tells them that when they are walking in the Spirit, there will be some evidence of His presence in their midst. It is that truth that I would like to focus in on this evening. I want to share with you the Evidence Of The Spirit Filled Life. When you and I are filled with the Holy Ghost, we will still speak English, but we will be more like Jesus than we have ever been. That is what the Spirit of God wants to do in your life and mine. He wants to duplicate the life of Christ in every saved individual. Are you filled with the Spirit this evening? Let's check the evidence and see where we stand.

Biblical Exposition of John 14:1-3   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   John 14:1-3 stands as one of the most comforting and hope-filled passages in the New Testament, spoken by Jesus to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion. These verses form part of the Farewell Discourse (John 13–17), where Jesus prepares His followers for His imminent departure. The words are tender and pastoral, addressing both immediate emotional distress and eternal hope.   Verse 1: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." The opening command, "Let not your heart be troubled," is a present imperative in the Greek implying a continuous action: "Stop being troubled, and do not allow yourselves to remain troubled." The disciples were understandably anxious. Jesus had just announced His departure (John 13:33), Peter’s denial (John 13:38), and Judas’ betrayal (John 13:21-30). Their world was unraveling, yet Jesus calls them to a posture of trust.   The phrase "ye believe in God, believe also in me" uses the verb pisteuete, as imperative ("believe"). Jesus is urging them to extend their trust in God to Himself. This establishes His divine authority and unity with the Father, a recurring theme in John (cf. John 10:30, 14:9). The call to faith is both a remedy for their troubled hearts and a foundation for the promises that follow. The heart is the seat of emotion, will, and intellect. Jesus addresses their emotional turmoil with a command to anchor their faith in Him. This sets the tone for the passage: trust in Christ’s person and promises is the antidote to fear and uncertainty.   Verse 2: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." This verse introduces the future hope central to the passage. The phrase "my Father's house" refers to heaven, the dwelling place of God (cf. Psalm 33:13-14; Isaiah 63:15). The term "mansions" translates the Greek (monai), meaning "dwelling places" or "rooms." While the KJV’s "mansions" make one think of grandeur, the emphasis is on permanence and personal space within God’s household, not necessarily a palatial spread.   The phrase "are many mansions" is in the present tense in Greek underscoring a current reality. Heaven’s capacity is vast, with room for all of Christ’s followers. Jesus’ parenthetical remark, "if it were not so, I would have told you," reinforces His truthfulness and pastoral care. He would not allow His disciples to cling to a false hope.   The clause "I go to prepare a place for you" is most important. The verb "I go" is in the present tense, and "prepare" is in the future tense in Greek, but contextually it carries a futuristic present sense.    In Greek grammar, the futuristic present describes a future event with such certainty that it is spoken of as already occurring. Jesus’ departure (via His death, resurrection, and ascension) is the means by which He will prepare this place, and the certainty of His mission is as good as accomplished.   The Personalized Place: The phrase "a place for you" is deeply personal. The "you" is plural, encompassing all believers, yet the singular word, “place.” suggests individuality. Christ is not preparing a generic dwelling but a tailored space for each believer within the Father’s house. This reflects the intimate knowledge and care Jesus has for His own (cf. John 10:14, 27). The verb "prepare" implies deliberate, purposeful action, akin to a host readying a home for cherished guests. This act of preparation underscores Christ’s ongoing intercessory work in heaven (Hebrews 7:25) and His role as the forerunner who secures our eternal home (Hebrews 6:20).   The image of "many

Intro: Genuine, biblical faith is a miracle! Faith in God is something we do not possess naturally. Eph. 2:8 tells us that faith is “the gift of God.” God enables us to believe in Him for salvation, then He gives every believer some “measure of faith”, Rom. 12:3. That is, God empowers His children to believe Him, to serve Him, to glorify Him through the power of the faith in Him that He gives to us! This outworking of faith in God’s people has allowed them see demonstrations of God’s power that boggle the mind. It has allowed them to receive answers to prayers for things that appeared impossible. Consider the following: Joshua 10:12-14 – Joshua commanded the sun to stand still so Israel could defeat the Amorites. Isaiah 38:1-6 – King Hezekiah was told that he would die. He prayed to the Lord and God added 15 years to his life. Genesis 22:1-14 – Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac, who was the son of promise. He obeyed by faith and God spared Isaac, providing a ram in his place. Joshua 14:6-16 – 85 year old Caleb believed God for the power to defeat a mountain infested with giants. God gave him that mountain. 1 Samuel 17:1-54 – A teenage boy named David believed God for the power to defeat a giant named Goliath. God gave him the victory. Daniel 3:1-30 – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego believed God to keep them from the power of a pagan king and a fiery furnace. God met them in the furnace and protected them there. Many, many more examples could be given, Ill. Heb. 11:32-35, but these are enough to teach about the power of biblical faith in God.    The passage before us today magnifies the power of biblical faith. On Monday morning of the Lord’s Passion Week, as Jesus his disciples walked toward Jerusalem, Jesus cursed a fig tree, 11:12-14. When they passed by the next day, the fig tree was dried up. Jesus uses this experience to teach His disciples a lesson about Biblical Faith.

A Biblical Exposition on the Bodily Resurrection of Christ: Its Meaning for the World and the Believer   The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, a historical and theological truth that reverberates through time, shaping the destiny of humanity and the hope of every believer. The resurrection is not merely a symbolic or spiritual event but a physical, bodily reality that validates Christ’s identity as the Son of God, secures salvation for believers, and guarantees the future resurrection of all who trust in Him. Today we will explore the biblical teaching on Christ’s resurrection, its implications for the world and the believer, the consequences if Christ had not risen (as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15), and the hope of our future resurrection grounded in His triumph over death   I. The Fact of Christ’s Bodily Resurrection The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a well-attested historical event, recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20–21) and affirmed throughout the New Testament. It was not a hallucination, a spiritual metaphor, or a myth, but a physical reality witnessed by many. John 20:27–29 “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”   Jesus’ invitation to Thomas to touch His wounds demonstrates the physicality of His resurrected body. This was no ghost or vision; Christ’s body bore the marks of crucifixion, yet He was alive, speaking, and interacting. Thomas’s response, “My Lord and my God,” reflects the magnificent weight of the resurrection: it confirms Jesus’ deity and lordship.  The blessing pronounced on those who believe without seeing extends the resurrection’s significance to all believers across generations, calling us to faith in the testimony of Scripture. Luke 24:39–40 “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.”   Jesus explicitly counters any notion that His resurrection was merely spiritual. His body was tangible, composed of “flesh and bones,” yet glorified, able to transcend physical limitations (e.g., appearing in locked rooms, John 20:19). The continuity of His body (bearing crucifixion scars) and its transformation (no longer subject to death) reveal the nature of the resurrection body—both physical and glorified. This is the prototype for the believer’s future resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:3–8 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”   Paul’s summary of the gospel emphasizes the resurrection as a historical fact, corroborated by multiple eyewitnesses. The appearances to Peter, the apostles, over 500 brethren, James, and Paul himself provide overwhelming testimony. The phrase “of whom the greater part remain unto this present” invites scrutiny, as living witnesses could be questioned at the time of Paul’s writing.  The resurrection fulfills Old Testament prophecy (“according to the scriptures,” e.g., Psalm 16:10), anchoring it in God’s redemptive plan.   II. The Significance of Christ’s Resurrection for the World The resurrection of Christ is not an isolated event bu

Join Pastor Mashburn as he expounds the sufferings of our Lord in the olive press of Gethsemane.

Beginning in Ephesians 4:1 and continuing through 5:14, the Apostle Paul has challenged the church concerning her walk before the Lord. We have been commanded: Eph. 4:1-2 - To walk in Humility Eph. 4:4-13 - To walk in Unity Eph. 4:17-32 - To walk in Separation Eph. 4:14-16; 5:1-2 - To walk in Love Eph. 5:3-14 - To walk in Light Now, we are challenged to add to those virtues the quality of wisdom. The word “wisdom”, in our language means, “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.” In Scripture, it carries the idea of understanding the will of God as it is revealed in His Word, coupled with the desire to live it out.

Ephesians chapter 5 is all about change. It is designed to teach us that we are different from the world around us, and since we are different, we should live lives that are different. The simple truth is that believers should be different from those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. A brief review of the first seven verses of this chapter clearly demonstrate this truth. In verse 1, we are commanded to live like God. In verse 2, we are commanded to love like God. In verses 3-7, we are commanded to leave this world and its ways behind. Beginning in verse 8, the Apostle tells us why we are to be different. This is something we need to hear and heed. After all, we are living in this world. We are “strangers and pilgrims” here, 1 Pet. 2:11. While we are “strangers and pilgrims,” in this world, there was a time when we were citizens of this world. We lived like they live. We thought like they think. We did what they do. We were part of them. But, when we were saved by the grace of God, we were delivered from our old life of sin, and we were given a new life of righteousness.

In our previous study of Ephesians 5, we explored verses 1-2, where we were instructed to be "followers of God, as dear children." This means we should emulate God in the same way a child mimics a parent. We are called to love as He loves, walk as He walks, speak as He speaks, and live as He lives—in essence, to reflect the Father in every aspect of our lives. This is a challenging directive, yet it is the standard we are urged to pursue daily.   In the verses we'll examine today, another command is given. Verse 7 states, "Be ye not therefore partakers with them." Just as we are to mirror the Lord in all possible ways, we are equally called to reject the behaviors, mindsets, and patterns of the world. This passage will guide us on what we should avoid as we navigate life in this world.   It’s all too simple to slip into the world’s routines and rhythms. It’s tempting to just go along with the crowd, adopting the ways of those who do not follow God. It’s easy to echo the sentiment of Ambrose of Milan: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”   Many Christians fall into this trap. We take on the world’s styles, its language, its values, its forms of entertainment—nearly everything it offers. Yet, the Lord calls us to stand apart, to be distinct from the world in every way.   The Lord Himself addressed this clearly: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” (2 Corinthians 6:17).   If we are to model ourselves after anyone, let it be the Lord. If we seek a pattern to follow, let us look no further than the Lord God Almighty.

As we begin to study the 5th chapter of this great book, we are immediately confronted by a passage the demands that we do the impossible. We are called to be like God. We are called to love like He loves. It sounds like an impossible task. How can we, sinful, human, frail, failing people ever be like Him or love like Him? This text has much to say about this call to be like the Lord.

This passage builds on what Paul has been saying about the new life we have been given in Jesus. The word “wherefore” calls our attention back to verses 17-24, which are a basic overview of the new life we have in Jesus. Since the old man of sin has been “put off,” v. 22, since the mind has been “renewed,” v. 23, and since the “new man,” has been put on, v. 24, the child of God is expected to life a transformed life. I would remind you that the putting off of the old man, the renewing of the mind, and the putting on of the new man, are events that took place in our lives when we were born again. When the Lord saved us, He changed us. We were made “new creatures,” 2 Cor. 5:17, at the moment of conversion. Everything changed! A life the had never existed began at that very moment. That is the essence of the new birth. You were born again as a new creation of God at the moment of conversion.

In the first phrase of verse 17, there is a word that beckons to focus our attention backward. It is the word “therefore.” Anytime you see “therefore” in the Bible, you should stop and see what it is “there for.”  This word calls our minds back to what Paul has been teaching us about our high calling in Christ Jesus. Because we have been given all the benefits mentioned in verses 1-16, we are not to be like the lost, pagan Gentiles who live around us. What benefits is Paul talking about? Our calling to “salvation by grace” through faith, vv. 1-3. Our unity in the body of Christ, vv. 3-6. Our unique gifting by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and His church for His glory, vv. 7-10. Our being built up through the ministries of gifted individuals in the church, vv. 11-16.  Because we have been given all these advantages, and made the partaker of such gifts from God, we are to walk in a manner that is different from the world around us.  In the verses that are before us today, we are called to A New Walk For A New Life. Paul issues some very specific challenges for all those who are saved. These challenges teach us how we are to walk, and how we are to be different from those who have not been saved.

The word E Pluribus Unum appear on The Great Seal of the United States. Until 1956, E Pluribus Enum was the unofficial motto of the United States. In 1956, the official motto of the United States became In God We Trust. E Pluribus Unum, while not the official motto of our nation, still appears on our Great Seal and on other currencies and documents produced by our government.   E Pluribus Unum is a Latin phrase which means “out of many, one,” or “one from many.” This phrase pictures the United States as a melting pot. It envisions our nation as one nation, made up of many individuals. While there is diversity and division among the people that make up the United States of America, at the end of the day, we are all still Americans. Regardless of the country of our origin, the color of our skin, the type of politics we embrace, or where we stand on many social issues, we are “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” The United States is a unity made possible by, and in spite of, great diversity.   I want you to see that the phrase “out of many, one” could also be applied to the church. Paul has just told us that we are one on the Lord. That we stand together as one in the Lord. We are in the same body. We are indwelled by the same Spirit. We share the same hope. We serve the same Lord. We believe the same faith. We have experienced the same baptism. And, we are children of the same Heavenly Father.   As I mentioned when I preached from verses 4-6, we are made one through our relationship to the members of the Holy Trinity. The same Spirit lives in each of us. The same Lord died to save each of us. The same God has saved us and brought us into His family. We are on in Him!   Yet, as the first word of verse 7 points out, we may be one, but we are still many. The word “but” in this verse is more than a simple conjunction. It literally means “in spite of that,” or “on the other hand.” The idea is that, while we may be united in Jesus, but we are still expected to be different people. We are expected to be individuals for the glory of God. We may be commanded to do everything in our power to maintain the unity of the body of Christ, v. 2-3, but, at the same time, we are to celebrate the diversity that makes our unity possible.

Apparently, when Jesus visited the Temple on Sunday, He saw some things that He did not like. During this visit on Monday, He will address some of those issues. The events that occurred during our Lord’s visit to the Temple on that Monday morning are what I want to look into today. Let’s join Jesus as He goes to the Temple on a Monday morning. I want to share a few thoughts that we cannot afford to miss. I want to point out A Description Of The Temple; A Dispute At The Temple and A Decision At The Temple.

Paul has been teaching us in Ephesians that God, by His grace, and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, has brought together people from every imaginable background, and has made them one in Jesus Christ. Jews who were born under the Law and who are subject to the Law, and Gentiles who were given over to dumb idols, have been brought together in one body.   The ground of our unity does not rest in our ability to get along with one another. Our unity in the body of Christ rests upon the common elements that we share as members of His body.   All of the elements Paul mentions in these verses are freely given to us by the grace of God. They are the fruit of our relationship with Him. It is these elements that make unity within the church a real possibility.

In verse 3, we are commanded to walk in unity as a body. In these human bodies we inhabit, there is wonderful unity. If you don’t believe me, take a hammer and strike your thumb. You will be amazed at the unity your body can summon in a moment of crisis like that. Paul illustrates this great truth in 1 Cor. 12:12-26. Verse 3 is The Plea For Unity.   These verses do not state the next truth, but it is implied here nonetheless. If we must do as verse 3 says and “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit” it must mean that the unity we are supposed to keep can be broken. Sadly, it can, and quite easily at that. The greatest challenge to the unity of the body of Christ are the very people who are the members of that body. The real problem with our unity is in our diversity. We are a different and diverse people with differing opinions, ideas, wants, and methods, which are unique to each individual in the body. The greatest threat to the unity of the church is not the devil or the world, it is the very people who make up the body. Thus, we have The Problem Of Unity.   In the middle verse of this section, verse 2, Paul speaks about The Path To Unity. In this verse, Paul mentions five qualities that each member of the body must possess if there is to be true, lasting unity in the church. The first of those qualities we have already considered. It is the word “lowliness.” This word means, “to think or judge with lowliness; to possess lowliness of mind.” It speaks of “humility.” Humility, as we learned last time, is “the quality or condition of being humble;  modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.” The word used here for “lowliness” literally means, “a deep sense of ones littleness.” It is not thinking little of oneself, it is not thinking of oneself at all! Genuine humility, or lowliness, is the absolute antithesis of pride, which is thinking only of yourself.   The other qualities that Paul mentions in this verse flow from a humble spirit. When we come to the place where we are truly humble, these other qualities will naturally be a part of our lives. Unfortunately, we seem to be in a constant search for humility, thus these other qualities were lacking as well. As elusive as humility and these other qualities are, they are essential if there is to be true unity in the church. When these qualities are a part of each of our lives, unity will be the result. When they are not part of each of our lives, it is an evidence that there is pride within our hearts. When there is pride within us, the very unity of the church is threatened.   I would like to spend our time today in the remainder of verse 2. I want to talk about the four qualities that remain. We have talked about “lowliness.” Now, let’s consider “meekness,” “longsuffering,” “forbearance,” and “love.” Let’s study these qualities together as we consider The Path To Unity.

In this message, Pastor Mashburn examines why Christmas had to happen to accomplish God's Will, Purpose, and our Salvation.

In our last study of this chapter, we talked about the unity of the church. We spoke specifically about the plea for unity issued by Paul in verse 3. In that verse, Paul challenges the church to work toward the goal of “unity”, or “agreement”, within the church. He goes on to tell us that this is only possible when we allow the Spirit of God within us to cause us to walk together as one.

This message was preached at the Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC where Pastor Mashburn examines the Scripture and helps us rest in prayer.

In verse 1 Paul calls the church to remember where we came from and all that the Lord has done for us in Christ. He uses the word “therefore” to call to our minds all that He has taught us thus far in the book of Ephesians. He has been writing about doctrine, precept, and belief. Now, he turns his attention to duty, practice and behavior. The phrase at the end of verse 1 that reads, “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,” is worth another quick glance.   The word “vocation” refers to “a calling; or a career.” It refers to “a person’s life’s work.” The calling we received from God to come to Christ by faith was not a call for a weekend getaway. It was a call to live a radically changed life for the glory of God. We are called on to live differently because we now know Jesus. We are live lives that are “worthy” of what we have been given in Christ. The word “worthy” means, “to balance the scales.” We are to live lives that prove we belong to the Lord. We are to live lives that glorify Him in the world. We are to live such weighty lives that we “balance the scales” with God.   Having told us what God expects of us, Paul now moves to tell us how to bring this to pass in our lives. He teaches us in these verses how to walk the worthy walk. One of the clearest ways the church can prove the reality of what it teaches is by living out the essence of what Paul talks about throughout the book of Ephesians.

The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.” The first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profound in the Bible. Over the course of just 66 chapters, Paul lays out a wonderful catalog of divine truth.  In the first three chapters of this book, Paul’s focus has been on doctrine. He has been telling us about the doctrinal truths we believe. He has also been teaching us about our positional standing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us as Pastor continues this powerful study in the Book of Ephesians.

Up to this point, the book of Ephesians has been one long theological exhalation. Paul has emptied the contents of his soul as he has revealed mysteries that were hidden from the foundation of the world. The first three chapters of Ephesians are a theological goldmine. The verses we have studied to get to this point in the book are so embedded with heavenly nuggets of spiritual truth that it is impossible for mortals to fully grasp all they teach.  After this great outpouring of truth, Paul concludes this chapter by giving voice to the praise that dwells in his heart. As Paul writes the words of this great book, he is overwhelmed by the truths he has been privileged to learn. So, after he prays for the Ephesian saints, he lifts his voice in praise to the One Who made all this possible.

The verses before us today reveal a man in prayer. Beginning in verse 14, Paul turned his heart toward the Lord to pray for the believers in Ephesus. In our last study, we looked at verses 14-15 and talked about Paul’s Pattern In Prayer. Today, we way to consider verses 16-19 and think abut Paul’s Petitions In Prayer.   As Paul prayed for the Ephesians believers, he made some very specific requests on their behalf. It is interesting to note what he did not ask for when he prayed. He did not pray for anything physical, material or financial. He did not pray for the healing of their sick. He did not pray that they would be delivered from persecution. He did not pray about the economy in Asia Minor. Paul did not occupy his prayer with so many of the things that seem to mark our own prayer lives.

If you are a praying person, you know the difficulties associated with prayer. The flesh hates to pray! Not only that, but the mind is easily distracted during prayer. Have you ever stopped to pray and started off well enough, only to have your mind get sidetracked? Have you ever found yourself thinking about matters that are not even remotely connected with your prayers? If you have, welcome to the human race. We are a short-minded people who are easily distracted.   It seems Paul had this issue as well. He started to pray back in verse 1, and then he became sidetracked and spent the next twelve verses describing the “mystery” of the church. Just for the record, Paul was not distracted by any fleshly motives. His mind did not lead him down some primrose path. The Holy Spirit distracted Paul. He was so overwhelmed by the truth that he had been given that he spent some time both exalting and exulting in the revelation of the “mystery” of the church.

The Lord could have compared His people to anything in the world. He could have said, "My people are like bears, they are strong!" He could have said, "My people are like lions, they are courage, fearless and brave!"He could have said, "My people are like foxes because they are so shrewd and wise." He could have even said, "My people are like doves because they are so peaceful and meek." Instead, when the Lord described His people. He called them sheep. As you may or may not know, sheep are not the brightest animals to ever appear on the earth. In fact, they have a reputation for being quite stupid! They are dumb and they are defenseless! They require a shepherd to care for them. They require a shepherd to protect them. They require someone who will look after their smallest needs and who will lead them to where they need to be. When the Lord called us sheep, it may be less than flattering, but it is right on target! Since sheep are so needy, they form a special bond with their shepherd. He is required to get to know them intimately. He knows the ones who are prone to wander. He knows the weaker ones. He knows the loyal ones too. He even knows them all by name. The sheep, despite their stupidity, becomes familiar with the voice of the shepherd. They know his sound and his smell. There is a bond between sheep and shepherd that just isn't found anywhere else in the world of agriculture. If you ever come to understand that, then being called a sheep isn't such a bad thing after all! This much beloved Psalm allows us a glimpse into the unique relationship between the Heavenly Shepherd and his human sheep. We are reminded in these verses that we enjoy a special bind with our Shepherd. Notice the blessings we can glean from this Psalm today as we think about The Shepherd And His Sheep.

So far, Ephesians 3 has given us some insight into the man we know as Paul. In verse 1, Paul tells us that he is “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul was imprisoned by the Roman beaded on charges made by the Jews. Yet, Paul did not see himself as the prisoner of either Rome or of Judaism; Paul understood that he was where he was by the will of God. Paul was the prisoner of Christ.  He was in prison by the will of God, for the glory of God, for the good of the church, the body of Christ. In verses 2-6, Paul tells us that he is a pioneer. That is, he was given the revelation of truth that was hidden from all the great prophets, preachers, teachers and leaders of the past. Paul was allowed to understand some thing that Moses never understood. He was given truth that was never made clear to Abraham, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah or Daniel. He understood things that John the Baptist had no knowledge of. Paul was a pioneer preacher, blazing the trail for the church, the body of Christ. In the first six verses of this chapter, Paul reveals the “mystery” he has been given. He writes about the amazing truth that the church of Jesus Christ, or His body, is made up of both saved Jews and saved Gentiles. The “mystery” is that in Jesus Christ; those who were on opposite sides of religion are made one in the Lord. The “mystery” is that, in Jesus Christ, all people, regardless of their race, their heritage, or any other considerations, are made one. Having revealed the “mystery”, Paul now exults in that “mystery.” He wants us to know why He is preaching what he preaches. Let’s take a few minutes to walk through these verses together today. There are some wonderful truths in these verses that we need to notice. Let these verses encourage you as we look at another facet of the life of Paul.

In chapter 4, John is caught up into Heaven.  When he arrives there, he sees God Himself sitting on a glorious throne.  John sees Heaven arrayed as a courtroom.  God is preparing to unleash His wrath on the inhabitants of the earth. In the midst of this awesome scene, we also see that Heaven is filled with the praises of Jehovah.  Heaven understands what the Lord is about to do and the inhabitants of that city praise the Lord for His glory, His power and for His creation.  They are also acknowledging His right to judge the earth. It seems that John is taken to Heaven to give him a heavenly perspective concerning what is about to happen on the earth.  I mentioned this last week, but it is still true: when the events of this earth are viewed from a purely earthly perspective, they can cause fear, doubt and confusion.  But, when all the events of history are viewed through the eyes of Heaven, everything makes sense! So, chapter four ends with God receiving the praise of His created ones and of His redeemed ones.  Heaven throbs with the voices of those caught up in their love for Almighty God.  Chapter fivefinds us in the same courtroom in Heaven.  Now, praise has ceased for a moment and heavenly business is about to be transacted, and we are going to have front row seats as it is acted out. We are about to find out that, in Heaven, Jesus is the central Figure.  He is the center of attention.  I believe that Heaven will be a glorious, wonderful place.  I believe there will be streets of gold, walls of jasper, gates of pearl, and more glory than you and I can imagine.  I believe it will be great to see Abraham, Moses, Paul, and the rest.  But, the main attraction of Heaven will be Jesus Himself.  In this passage, we are going to see Jesus Himself, in His rightful place; glorified and exalted in Heaven.

Welcome to another episode of Gospel Dynamite. In today's message, we delve into Ephesians 3:1-7, exploring the profound insights of Apostle Paul, the pioneer preacher. Paul unveils the mystery of the church, a divine secret hidden for ages but now revealed through his ministry. Discover how Paul, under the sovereign control of Jesus Christ, conveys the unity of Jews and Gentiles in one body - the body of Christ. This episode emphasizes the importance of understanding that every believer, irrespective of their background, shares the same blessings and promises in Christ. Join us as we learn about Paul's unique calling and the stewardship entrusted to him by God, and how we, too, are called to fulfill our divine purposes. Be inspired to embrace your spiritual gifts and serve for the glory of God, knowing that the same Spirit that empowered Paul empowers us today. Don't miss this powerful teaching on the grace, unity, and mystery of the church. Tune in and be edified by the profound truths of God's Word.

Today, Pastor focuses on Paul’s statement in Eph. 3:1. In this verse, Paul reveals his identity as “a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” In this small, but powerful verse, Paul gives us some insights into life that we do not want to miss. We share with you the insights into being a prisoner that not only helped transform Paul’s time in prison into a ministry, but that also served to transform his life for the glory of God. The insights given here have the potential to do the same for us. Let’s take a few minutes to consider Paul the Prisoner.

In this message, Pastor Mashburn examines the transition found in Revelation 4:1.  We pray you are encouraged and challenged in your faith to go deeper in the Word.

Paul’s emphasis in chapter 2 has been on the grace of God in salvation. He describes our lost condition in verses 1-3. He talks about God’s amazing salvation in verses 4-10. Then, Paul reminds us that we were Gentiles. As such, we were separated from the provisions and promises of God, v. 12. Not only that, but we were separated from the Jews, who were God’s chosen people. They had the Law of God and they held the keys to pleasing God. The Gentiles had nothing but condemnation and hopelessness. In our natural condition we were lost and headed to Hell, but so were the Jews. They might have had the Law of God, but they did not know the God behind the Law. Both the Jew and the Gentile were lost. In Jesus, Paul tells us that we have been reconciled to one another and to God. Jesus broke down the walls that separated the Jew and the Gentile, and He broke down the walls that separated lost sinners from God, v. 13-18. When Jesus died on the cross, He opened the door of salvation to all who would believe, whether they are Jew or Gentile.

In this chapter, Paul is attempting to teach us that in Christ, all our differences are put to death. While the world may fight their wars, society may argue over their different agendas, and homes may be divided, the church is a place where unity and peace should prevail. In Jesus Christ, there is a oneness that that brings all believers together on common ground of faith in Jesus Christ.   Having told us in verses 1-12 about the richness of our past and our loss condition, Paul tells us in verse 13 that we “who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” I would remind you, that this section of chapter 2 is dealing with the body of Christ. It is doing with the fact that the body of Christ is made up of both redeemed Jews and Gentiles. These two groups were the avowed enemies of one another. This is illustrated in verse 11. The differences between the Jew and the Gentile are driven home clearly by the words of verse 12. Then, verse 13 gives us the glorious news that Jesus, through shedding of his blood, has reached out to those who were lost in sin, and has brought them near to God.

Paul is writing to the Ephesians, and to us, to let the church know that, in Jesus, the walls are all taken down. In Jesus, there is no master or slave. There is no male or female. There is no rich or poor. There is no Greek or Barbarian. And, there is no Jew or Gentile. In Jesus Christ, we are all made one! That is the whole point of these verses.   In verse 11, Paul reminded us of The Divisions Of The Past. He reminds us of the wall between the Jews and us.   In verse 12, Paul reminds us of The Devastation Of The Past. He reminds us of just how bad the situation was on our side of the wall. In that verse, Paul reminds us that we had five huge problems. We were “without Christ” We were “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” We were “strangers from the covenants of promise” We were without “hope” We were “without God”   In our lost condition, we were separated from God. We were hopelessly lost and headed to Hell without Jesus Christ. We were in a desperate condition from which we could not save ourselves. In the verse we will look at today, Paul tells us how the wall was broken down between the Jews and the Gentiles. He tells us how we who were on the wrong side of the fence, were brought “near.”

Everything we possess as believers is ours through and by the grace of God. We earned nothing we have received. We deserved nothing we have received. We purchased nothing we have received. Everything we have in Jesus Christ has been given to us by the free grace of Almighty God.   God has given us the gifts of His grace without asking for a single thing in return. He doesn’t expect us repay Him for grace. While God does not expect any return payments from us; He does expect a return on His investment. The work of grace in us results in some very real changes in our lives. These changes allow us to live for God. Our living for Him, according to His will brings glory to His name, and that is all He wants from us!   When grace comes to a lost, dead sinner, that sinner is born again as a “new creature” in Jesus, 2 Cor. 5:17. The old appetites and ways of living are laid aside for a brand new life in Jesus. What God works in us by His grace will work its way out in our lives. Not only are we saved by His grace; we are changed by that same grace. As the grace of God works itself out in our lives, it manifests itself in us through our works.   Verses 8-9 made it very clear that works have no part in our salvation. We are not saved by what we do or by what we produce. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone! However, the proof that God’s grace has worked in us to save us is our works after we are saved. John Calvin said, “We are saved by faith alone, but he faith that saves is never alone.”   In other words, works do not save us, but we are saved to work. James 2:18 says it this way, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James is reminding us that while faith brings us into God’s salvation, Acts 16:31, our works prove the reality of our profession of faith.   The verse before us today is about the work of grace in our lives. This verse tells us what the Lord does in us when He saves us, and how He works through us to accomplish His will in the world. This verse is a challenge to all of God’s people to be the examples of grace He saved us to be.

In clear, concise language, the Apostle Paul lays out God’s way of salvation. This few verses are among the most important in the whole Bible. They teach exactly how people can be saved. They teach us about the Way, and the Wonder of salvation. These verses show all people, in all generations, in all places, and in all religions, what they must know in order that they might be saved from their sins and from the fires of Hell.   I want to take these verses and show you the truths that are exposed here. When these verses are taken at face value, they clearly reveal the way of salvation and how it is obtained.

Verse 4 describes a Divine Intervention. It describes God intervening in our lives to bring us to Jesus Christ by His grace. When God intervened in our lives, He brought us out of spiritual death, spiritual deception, spiritual depravity and spiritual doom. He literally took us out of Adam and placed us in Jesus. Col. 1:13 says it this way, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Thank God He has because, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive,” 1 Cor. 15:22. When we are placed “in Christ”, we become the exact opposite of what we were before. Everything changes, and it changes forever. These verses we will consider today describe the wonderful changes that are suggested in the word “but”. That word is a word of contrasts. Here, Paul contrasts what we have become “in Christ” with what we were before we met Christ. Not only has God intervened in the lives of the redeemed by loving them and saving them from their lost condition, He also identifies those who are redeemed with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, when God looks upon His redeemed ones, He never again sees us like we are. He sees us just as we are in Jesus. He does not see our sins, but He sees the righteousness of His Son. He does not see us as we are, but He sees us as He is! When God interrupted our march toward Hell and saved us by His grace, He changed our relationship with Jesus Christ. In our sins, we were separated from Him. In grace, we are placed into a vital relationship with Him. Notice these verses: “with Christ”, v. 5; “in Christ”, v. 6; “through Christ”, v. 7.

Ephesians 2:1-3 describes the deplorable condition of those who are unsaved. These verses remind us that the sinner “is dead in trespasses and sins”. Satan and the world system keep them in a constant state of deception. They are depraved in their appetites and their actions, and in that state, they have no appetite for the things of God. Their only goal is to satisfy their lusts and gratify their flesh. In that dead, deceived, and depraved condition, they are separated from God, and they are doomed to face God in judgment someday. The lost sinner is in a terrible situation today. My friend, if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are in trouble! You need to be saved by His grace, and you need to be saved today!

While these verses give us a depressing view into human depravity, these verses are essential to an understanding of the power sin holds over the sinner. Because sin invaded the human race, all humans are now sinners, and lost in their sins, until they come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am glad we have spent the time in the verses that we have for a couple of reasons.   First, because we considered these verses in depth, there should be no question in our minds that lost sinners are in deep trouble and are in need of a Savior. Second, because we have lingered here, and looked full in the face of the awful human condition, we should be motivated like never before to share the Gospel with the lost. Third, I am glad we lingered here because the Lord showed one of our young men that he was “dead in trespasses and sins” and he came to Jesus for salvation. That alone makes everything I have preached these last few weeks worthwhile.   Today, we will finish verse 3 and move on to truths that are more exciting. But, for today, we need to take one more dip in the cesspool of sin.

In verse 1, Paul lays out the desperate condition of those who have never been born again. He tells us that they are “dead in trespasses and sins”. This does not mean that they are merely crippled in their spiritual life. The word “dead” refers to a “corpse”. It refers to the fact that sinners are “dead” as far as their relationship with God is concerned. Sinners are spiritually dead!   They do not care about Him. They have no desire for Him. They do not appreciate anything that has to do with Him. They cannot come to Him on their own for salvation. For all intents and purposes, sinners are spiritual corpses, who need to be born again. They have bodies which live, breath, love and die, but they are dead even while they live.   Most of us who are saved understand this truth, because we have been there. We know how we were before Jesus redeemed us, and we know the great changes He brought about in our lives after salvation. In fact, while this passage reveals the terrible condition of the lost, it is a passage written to the saints of God.   In verse one, Paul says “and you hath He quickened.” Paul writes to remind the Ephesian believers, and all other believers who take the time to read this book, that their lives have changed. He wants us to know that because we are in Jesus, everything has changed.

This passage details the desperate condition of the lost sinner. This passage also reminds every redeemed child of God of what they were before God saved them by His grace. In chap. 1, Paul reminded us of our riches in Christ. He told us how God came to us, saved us by his grace, and adopted us into his family. Paul reminded us that the salvation we enjoy is completely of the Lord. This passage details what we were before we met the Lord Jesus Christ. This passage also declares the hopeless, helpless condition of those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. This passage exposes the devastating results of sin’s intrusion into the human race. I want to take these verses, and examine these "Dead People”. I want to share with you the characteristics that are common to all those who are trapped in the bondage of sin. If you’ve never been saved, this message is designed to teach you the truth about sin and its consequences. If you are saved, this message is designed to remind you of where you were when Jesus found you, and how He saved you and transformed your life by his power. This description of the lost around us and among us ought to stir our hearts to reach them with the Gospel of grace that they too might come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior!

Up to this point in the book of Ephesians, Paul has been praising the Lord. In one long sentence that begins in verse 3 and ends in verse 14, Paul ascends the heights of the glory and majesty of God. In this great song of praise, Paul describes in great detail the amazing riches we possess in Jesus. He also tells us all that God has done for us to bring us to Christ and to guarantee our eternal salvation. After telling these Christians much of what God had done for them, and how wealthy they were spiritually, Paul tells them how he feels about them. He wants them to know that they are not just on the mind of the Lord, but they are on the mind and in the heart of the great Apostle. As Paul begins to bear his heart to the people of God, his first words are “for this reason.” This phrase lets us know that Paul wants to help them understand the things he has already told them about. He is saying, “In light of all the blessings that flow to the saints of God from God, I want you to know that I am praying for you that you will understand everything you have been given in Jesus Christ.” Paul knows that he has given them a lot to think about. He has talked about subjects far too deep for most people to grasp. He knows they are confused by some of the things they have heard and that they are concerned about other things. He wants them, to know that he understands.   If you have been here for the other sermons in this series, you may have encountered some ideas and teachings that have concerned and confused you. That’s all right because we are all at different levels of understanding when it comes to the doctrines of our faith. As Paul pours out his heart to the Ephesians, he does so in an effort to help them understand what he has been writing to them. In reading his words to them, there is help for us as well. In verse 18 Paul tells them he is writing “that ye may know...”

In verses 3-6, Paul praises God for His sovereign work in our lives. He reminds us in verse 3 that God is good! God’s goodness translates into His blessings upon our lives. He demonstrates His blessings upon us by showering us with His blessings. Among those blessings is God’s work in salvation. He made us a part of His redemptive plan. This results in us being adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters; in having our lives changed by His power; and in our being accepted by God. That is a valid reason for praising the Lord. In verses 7-10, Paul praises God for His saving work. He reminds us that God sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ in to the world to redeem us from our sins. Through His precious blood we are redeemed by grace and forgiven of all our sins. God, in His great grace, opened our eyes to our lost condition; He made us aware of what Christ did for us when He died for us on the cross, and then He saved us by His amazing grace. To top it off, God did everything I just mentioned, and more, just because it brought Him pleasure. That is another valid reason for praising the Lord. In the text before us today, Paul tells us that God Is To Be Praised For His Sharing Work. In these verses, Paul turns his attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In these verses, we will not only see that God has provided a way of salvation and has revealed that plan unto us; we will also see that God has opened the treasure houses of Heaven and He shares everything He possesses with His redeemed people.

Pastor Mashburn continues his study in Ephesians, now with chapter 1: 7-10.

Pastor Mashburn concludes his study in Ephesians 1:3-6.

Pastor Mashburn continues his study of Ephesians 1:3-6 with Part 2 of this study.

Pastor Mashburn continues his study in Ephesians with this three-part series on verse 3-6 of Ephesians chapter 1.

In this episode, Pastor Mashburn begins his study in the Book of Ephesians.  Share and post on your social media of what being in Christ has afforded us!

The pages of our Bibles are filled with accounts of men that seem larger than life. People like Moses, David, Daniel, Paul and others, all seem to be characters that are so far above the realm of our own experience that we may feel like we can never be like them. However, I'll let you in on a secret this morning: All of these people were just that: people! The fellow in our text is no different. When I read about the life and ministry of Elijah, I am amazed at his courage and at his power with God. Yet, I am reminded by the Word of God that Elijah "was a man subject to like passion as we are." (James 5:17) He was just a man who walked in humble obedience before his God. Today, we will focus in on this one verse and talk about "A Man Sent From God." In this message, I want you to see that God can take a nobody and make a somebody out of him. God can take any life that will be totally yielded to His will and use that life for His glory. Our goal this morning is to see whether or not we possess this kind of life within ourselves. If not, then you will be given the opportunity to get where God can use you.

Imagine the scene. In verses 17-22 a very wealthy man has just turned his back on the Lord Jesus and is walking away. In v. 21, Jesus told this man how he could be saved. He was to sell everything he possessed and he was to give everything away to the poor. This act would give him real treasure in Heaven. By giving away all he had this man would be accomplishing three things. 1.  He would be getting rid of his real god, his wealth. 2.  He would be helping those around him who were in great financial need. 3.  He would be storing up true wealth in Heaven, where it would never be lost, stolen or ruined, Matt. 6:19-20. Then, Jesus told the man to take up his cross and follow Him. This is a call for this young man to make a public, once for all commitment to die to self and to live for Jesus. When this young man hears the words of the Lord Jesus, he turns around and walks away. He chose his wealth over salvation. He chose his way over God’s way. He chose eternal death over everlasting life. He chose the world over the Kingdom of God. He chose Hell over Heaven. The disciples were probably excited about the prospect of that fellow joining their number. They imagined all that he could do with his wealth, power and position. A lot of folks in our churches are like that too. When a wealthy, powerful individual comes in, they will be courted because of what they can contribute financially to the ministry. James warns against that mentality in the church, James 2:1-10. Jesus had a somewhat different approach! Jesus was not impressed by the young man’s portfolio, by his position in the synagogue, or by his prominence in the community. Jesus saw the man as he really was. He saw him as a poor, lost sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus offered the man everlasting life, but the man chose eternal damnation and walked away from Jesus. When he leaves, Jesus uses the moment to teach His disciples about the danger of riches in this world. He teaches them a few truths that all generations would do well to take to heart.

In Washington, DC, in the Museum of Natural History, there is a diamond called the Hope Diamond. It is a vivid, dark-blue diamond that weighs 45.52 carats. According to geologists, it is a diamond without equal in all the world. It was found in the 1600's and weighed over 112 carats when it was dug from the earth in India. It is considered to be priceless. It is said to be a matchless diamond. However, there may be another, larger, more valuable stone lying buried in the ground. To say the Hope Diamond is matchless is to presume on the unknown. Michael Jordan is called the greatest basketball player of all time. It is said that there will never be another as great as he is. He is declared to be matchless in his sport. However, somewhere on some playground, or in some school gymnasium there may be a youngster who will shatter all the records Jordan has ever amassed. To say that he is matchless is also a stretch of the imagination. Albert Einstein is said to be the greatest thinker the world has ever known. He pondered concepts so deep that we could never begin to grasp. His has been called a matchless intellect. However, who is to say that somewhere in this world today there isn't a child whose mind is so sharp and whose brilliance will dwarf even that of Einstein? The truth is, nothing in this world is matchless. Everything can be equaled or bettered by mankind. However, there is One who will never be equaled or bettered. His name is Jesus! In this text, the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm arises. Jesus is asleep in the boat and the Disciples feel that they are going to die. They awake Jesus and He speaks to the storm and the waves and winds lie at His feet as if they were docile lambs. His Disciples see this great miracle and ask a question that declares His greatness. They ask, what manner of man is this? Throughout His life, the story is the same. Everywhere Jesus went, men marveled and stood amazed at His greatness. When He was just an infant, Mary and Joseph "marveled" at what was spoken of Jesus, Luke 2:33; His enemies "marveled" at His wisdom and doctrine, John 7:15. His Disciples "marveled" at His compassion and love for sinners, John 4:27. The multitudes "marveled" at His power to heal, Mark 2:12; Matt. 9:8, 33. His enemies "marveled" at His word, John 7:46. His executioner "marveled" at the greatness of Jesus Christ. Things haven't changed! Jesus is still amazing all those who come to Him by faith. To say He is matchless is an understatement. He will never be equaled! He will never be bettered! He will always remain the matchless One. Forever.

The people are in the process of rebuilding the walls of the city of Jerusalem. It would have been difficult and backbreaking work for those involved, but it was necessary if they were to be safe from the attacks of their enemies and if they were going to worship God as His Law commanded them. As they labored to build the walls, they faced constant opposition to their work. They became weary and they became discouraged, but they never stopped their work. Eventually, they completed the task and were victorious over their attackers. In a sense this evening you and I are wall builders as well. We are building walls between the world and the things of God. We build walls that separate our lives from the ungodliness that surrounds us on every hand.  We build walls that are designed to protect the people and things we love from outside attack and destruction. Since this is true, would you also agree that there are times when we too tend to become discouraged? There are times when we grow weary in the battle to build and be all that God wants us to be. I believe that there are some truths contained in this passage that can help us remain strong, faithful and active in the struggle to build the necessary walls of life. There are three primary principles taught in this passage that teach is Biblical Truth Every Wall Builder Should Know.

The Freedom that we enjoy is never free.  There has always been and always will be a price of freedom.  We in America take for granted so often that even though we are born free, we never stop to think that somewhere someone paid a price so that you could exercise your “so-called” right to freedom!  The fact of the matter is that freedom is not a right as the secular humanistic world would have you be taught, rather freedom is a privilege given to everyone named an American; and that freedom was purchased with the toil, labor, sacrifice, and yes, blood of many men & women!  We as a people owe a debt of gratitude to all the men & women wearing a uniform who fight, protect, & defend our freedom, whether it be in the desert sands of Afghanistan & Iraq or the darkest street in the smallest town in America…thank God for our men & women who fight for us, protect us and yes die for us on the battlefield so that my children can run and play with freedom!    Our nation was formed with the blood of those that wanted to be independent from England.  In 1776, our forefather drafted a document that is revered as one of our most precious national treasures, the Declaration of Independence.  You can read through it in about 8 minutes.  Many of these men were considered traitors and wanted for treason.  John Hancock, the largest signature of document had a bounty on his head of 500 English pounds.  These men endangered all they had to form a new nation, called the United States of America.  When John Hancock signed this document, he signed his name so big that the King would not have any trouble seeing his name!  These men were considered renegades, rebel-rousers!  God give us more like them!  They formed a new nation!  Many lives were given so that you and I can sit here this morning and enjoy what we have!  Blood had to be shed for the freedom we have in this land!  America was formed with and by the blood of those who fought for it and America remains free by the blood of those that fight for it!   Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.   Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.   John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste.  For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died f

Sunday, June 6th, we were privileged to have the Lieutenant Governor of the Great State of North Carolina with us in our services.  We thank God for him, his wife, and family.  Their stand for Christ is outstanding.  Today, you will hear this message on our radio ministry.

A person cannot read through the Bible without encountering several wonderful families mentioned in its pages. There is that little family in Bethany made up of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. They were a great blessing to the Lord Jesus. There is Timothy's mother and grandmother, Eunice and Lois and the great impact they made on young Timothy. There is the family of Mary and Joseph where the Lord Jesus grew up and lived out His early years. What a family that must have been! In this passage we are invited to inspect another great family. So far as we know, this family was made up of just a husband and a wife. There names were Aquila and Priscilla. This couple is one of the greatest families recorded in the Word of God. The folks are mentioned 6 times in 4 books of the Bible. Each time, they are mentioned by Paul himself and this indicates that they were special to his life and ministry. If we will but take the time to investigate the passages dedicated to this special household of faith, we will see the attributes that make them stand out among the families of their time.

When you study the Scriptures, you will find that God puts the primary responsibility for having a godly, biblical family on the man. I think that may be why men and husbands and fathers have been under such severe attack in American culture. Very often, in the media, the husband and the father is portrayed as some kind of bumbling, stumbling fool. We are aware that men are going through all kinds of pressures in our society. Men have tremendous job pressures today. The economy is tight, and there is more pressure than ever upon men to provide for those they love. Men face tremendous temptations in our society today. There is the temptation of pornography. There is the temptation of alcohol. There is the temptation to cut corners in order to make more money. All these pressures and many more, are against men today. Join us as we look in the Word of God to see how we are to be men, leaders in our home.

Heaven is more than just a place. Heaven is the home of Almighty God. It is the home of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the glorious land where the redeemed of the ages spend eternity. It is the place where we all long to go. Of course, if you listen to most folks talk, you will find that we aren’t as anxious to get to Heaven as we sometimes claim. When sickness comes, we try everything we can to stay here as long as we can. We call on the doctor. We call on the church to pray. We call on the Lord to help us get better. We love this life and we want to stay here. That is understandable. Paul wrote to the Church of Philippi, “For me to live, is Christ — but to die is gain.” Well, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am looking forward to going home. So, let’s take our journey into our future today. Let’s try to wrap our minds around what the Bible has to say about a place called Heaven. As we do, let’s remember that while we may call it Heaven right now, one day, we will call it home. That is the thought I want to magnify today.

On June 6, 2021, we were privileged to have our Lt. Governor, Mark Robinson and his wife, Yolanda in our services.  Lt. Governor Robinson brought a stirring message and closed with an invitation for people to follow Jesus Christ.   You can fire the service here: https://youtu.be/8dHUeVSfo0c   Thank you for following this ministry.

Paul was without a doubt one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Christian who has ever lived. He was a man of power who was used of God in some very magnificent ways. He saw the Lord work more miracles and save more souls that you and I would probably see in several lifetimes. You would think a man of his stature would have needed no one or nothing. However, such is not the case. Several times in the writing of Paul, 1 Thes. 5:25; 2 Thes. 3:1; Heb. 13:18, he is found asking the people of God to pray for him. Here is a man who is on top of the heap spiritually speaking, yet he feels the need to have God's children battling for him in prayer. Yet, here is a man who is keenly aware of the benefit of having the saints of God lift you up in prayer. As Paul is asking the question, "Who will pray for me?", he is also illustrating for us one of the greatest privileges that is ours as believers. We have the privilege of being part of the ministry and work of others. When we pray for them and carry them and their needs before the Lord, we have a part in their ministry. So, while Paul is asking for people to lift him up, he is also inviting them to join him as he serves the Lord! You see, down through the years, God has given us some great spiritual giants. However, behind every one of them were people who prayed and touched heaven on their behalf. The names of the prayer partners may not be remembered here, but when the rewards are handed out at the Judgment Seat of Christ, those who labored in the closets will receive as much as those who labored in the field! Let's look at Paul's closing plea to the Roman Christians. He seems to be asking "Who will pray for me?" www.gospeldynamite.org

Today, we will be looking at a period of time known in the Bible as "The Time Of Jacob's Trouble." This phrase is found in Jeremiah 30:6-7. In these verses, Jacob, or the nation of Israel, is portrayed like a man who is about to give birth. This man is suffering great pains and is bowed in agony. The Bible tells us that there are no days to compare with those that Israel must endure. However, verse 7 shows us that Israel will be saved out of those days. By way of introduction, I would like to share two major reasons for this time known as the Tribulation.  There are many more reasons that could be stated, but these seem to stand out to me as some of the more crucial.   1. To Punish The Gentile Nations - Rom. 1:18; 2 Thes. 2:12-13; Rev. 19:15. For many thousands of years men have spurned the call of God to repentance and salvation. During the Tribulation Period, God will visit wicked humanity with the fruits of their sin: divine judgment! 2. To Purge The People Of Israel - Eze. 20:37-38; Zech. 13:8-9; Mal. 3:3. The Nation of Israel is guilty of rejecting the Messiah and of having a part in His death. However, God will use the terrors of the Tribulation to prepare Israel for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus returns to the earth in power and glory, He will be met by a believing remnant of the Jewish people. For some, this material can come across as frightening, however, we need to hear these things because there may be those people here who have never repented of their sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. These people, if Jesus returns in their lifetime, will face many of the things we will discuss during the course of this message. Those of us who are saved will not be here for even one minute of the Tribulation, but we too need to hear about these things. We need our hearts stirred about what the lost of this world are going to face. We need to realize that the responsibility of reaching this world before the Tribulation is on the shoulders of the redeemed people of God. May the Lord use these truths to stir the hearts of His children to action!

Many people in the world love to travel. They enjoy going from destination to destination seeing one thing after another. I suppose that if I had the resources, traveling is one thing I would do as well. Our text is about such a traveling man. Paul was probably the greatest missionary that has ever served the Lord. When he lists some of the things he endured for the sake of the Gospel, one of the things he mentions is the fact that he was "in journeyings often", 2 Cor. 11:26. As this great man moved from location to location, he did not do so as a mere tourist. Although the cities through which he traveled contained some of the wonders of the ancient world, Paul wasn't looking for a t-shirt, nor was he just trying to fill his scrapbook with snapshots of the temple of Diana, the coliseum in Rome or the Parthenon in Athens. No, Paul's plans and purposes in traveling were far greater than such earthly things. He traveled from place to place not as a sightseer, but as a soul winner. As we investigate these verses about the travels of Paul, there are insights that we can learn that will help us as we travel through the Christian life. You see, every Christian is a pilgrim in this world, 1 Pet. 2:11. If we are to travel while we are here, then let us at least learn to make it count for God.

We have already seen from this chapter that Paul was a soul winner. He had a heart for the lost and did all he could to reach them for Jesus. In ths passage, Paul portrays himself as a missionary. There is a sense in which these words are interchangeable. However, there is another sense in which they are not. In this second sense, a soul winner is someone who reaches out to the lost where he lives, in his community, in his family, at his place of work. A missionary, on the other hand, is someone who has been sent by the Lord to another place or another country to share the Gospel message. Now, for a church to be considered a real, New Testament church, that church must be engaged in the business of carrying out the Great Commission.  This involves our witnessing where we are and from there, reaching out into the whole world. We are to have a program of evangelism where we are, and we are to have a plan that encompasses the entire world in its scope. This is the mandate of the Lord Jesus, Acts 1:8. So, whether we are at home, at work, or on the foreign field, we are to be soul winner/missionaries all the time. This was Paul's heart and it is the heart that should be within each of our bosoms this evening. I want to take a few minutes to look at this passage and tell you How To Recognize A Missionary.

We are entering the final section of the book of Romans.  Throughout this great book, Paul has been dealing with the great doctrinal themes of the Christian faith.  He has struck a note so clear and so powerful that there is no disputing his logic, or doubting his conclusions.  Now, as he nears the end of his letter to the Roman Christians, he begins to speak of things that are personal in nature.  Before he closes, Paul wants to share his heart and his motives for service with the believers in Rome. One of the great things that becomes clear about this man from this passage is the fact that he has a heart for the lost.  Paul was a great preacher, of that there is no doubt.  Paul was a prolific writer.  After all, his pen gave us 14 of the 27 books of the New Testament.  Paul was a pioneer missionary.   He traveled from place to place starting churches and feeding the sheep of the Lord.  Yet, running through all of this was the fact that Paul had a deep, burning desire to see men saved.  Everywhere this man journeyed, he told men about Jesus.  When he was chained as a prisoner of Rome, Paul was telling men about Jesus.  When he stood before kings and world rulers, he told them about Jesus.  When he encountered a group of women praying by a river, Acts 16, he told them about Jesus.  Paul’s heart was aflame with the message of the Gospel.  He wanted men to know the same Jesus he himself knew so well. In the verses we have read this evening, Paul’s heart becomes as a soul winner becomes very clear.  As he shares his personal thoughts with us, he also paints a portrait of what a soul winner is.

It would appear that there is much confusion about the man of sin, who is to be the final human enemy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He will be wicked to the core and infused with power by Satan, himself.  The English language does not afford the adequate adjectives to describe the wickedness this man will possess and wield during the Tribulation.   It is our prayer that by the Word, we can point out truths about this man, his identity during this time of wrath, and his characteristics.  Join us for this study.

For over two decades a defiant, cocky man by the name of Napoleon created turmoil in Europe. Despite his small stature, 5 feet 2 inches, he caused great trouble for all the people around him. In a bid to regain some of the power he had lost due to a forced exile, Napoleon led his armies in a swath of devastation across the battlefields of Europe. On June 18, 1815, Napoleon and his armies faced the allied armies of England, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands, led by the Duke of Wellington. Before the battle commenced Napoleon, speaking to of his commanding officer, said "We will put the infantry here, the calvary over there, and the artillery in that spot. At the end of the day, England will be at the feet of France, and Wellington will be the prisoner of Napoleon." The officer responded, "But, we must not forget that man proposes and God disposes." With his typical arrogance, Napoleon stood as straight and as tall as his 5-foot-two-inch frame would allow ans replied, "I want you to understand, sir, that Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes!" Victor Hugo, the writer, penned these words concerning that battle, "From that moment Waterloo was lost, for God sent rain and hail so that the troops of Napoleon could not maneuver as he had planned, and on the night of the battle it was Napoleon who was prisoner of Wellington, and France who was at the feet of England." Pride is a ruthless taskmaster! It will convince us that we have all the answers and that we know better than even God. The passage we have read today gives us the testimony of a man who has learned a harsh lesson about the sin and pride that was in his own heart. In these verses, and in several others that precede them, we are given the details of Nebuchadnezzar's journey from sin to salvation. Join us in our study of The Gospel According to Nebuchadnezzar.

I read a story of two mountain villages.  One of these villages got its water from a mountain spring.  In the summer months when the weather was dry, that spring would dwindle down until there was barely a trickle of water coming into that little village.  There is just barely enough water to keep the village alive until wetter weather comes in. In the center of the other village, there is a fountain that is always flowing with a seemingly endless supple of thirst-quenching, life-sustaining water.  It is an artesian well that continues to gush regardless of how dry the summer months may become.  This village always has an abundance of water for its own needs and for the needs of others. These two towns stand as a parable for you and I.  They picture to two kinds of Christian life that are available to each of us.  Some believers live a life that is like a dwindling, trickling little stream that barely gives evidence of its existence.  Others live a life that is overflowing with the spiritual blessings of the redeemed: peace, joy and power.  When Jesus was here on this earth, He said that He came to give us “abundant life”, John 10:10.  This is a life that is overflowing with all the blessings of the Spirit of God.  He tells us that when we trust Him, we will be like that artesian well.  Our life will literally gush with the overflow of His work within us, John 4:14.

Beginning with Romans chapter 13, Paul has been talking about we should relate to the believers around us.  We have learned that, as believers, we are to love one another, help one another and accept one another.  This section serves as the climax of those thoughts.  Here, we learn that we are to have a spirit of toleration toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. You see, I don’t know whether you have noticed it or not, but we are all different.  We are here from different places, with different backgrounds and different types of upbringing.  If we aren’t careful, we can allow the differences we have become a problem in the fellowship.  We can look at a brother or sister who has some different ideas that we do and we can conclude that we just won’t fellowship with them because they are just plain weird.  However, it is our differences that make the church possible.   If we were all the same, this would be a dull and boring place, but the fact that we are different allows the church to be a place where unique personalities meet and produce a dynamic that can be found no where else in the world. Take a band for instance.  In that band there are all types of instruments, they sound different, they look different and they are all played differently.  You also have all types of musicians, who have all kinds of playing habits.  Yet, when all of this comes together, and all follow the leader and stay together, they can produce some beautiful music. This is the Lord’s desire for His church.  When we allow the Spirit of the Lord to operate in the church, we will love, respect and tolerate one another and produce a symphony of harmony that the world cannot duplicate.  When we all love the Lord, as we should.  When He is allowed to lead, as He should.  There will be peace, harmony and power in the church! There is a lot of talk in the world today about tolerance.  They mean that we are to affirm other people regardless of what they do in life.  For instance, if a person is openly homosexual, then the rest of the world is supposed to honor that person and encourage their lifestyle.  That is what the world means by tolerance.  Well, friends, there are some things that we just can’t tolerate!  What we are exploring here is an attitude within the church that accepts the personal differences of our brother or sister in Christ.  An attitude that loves them just like they are, even when we disagree, or even when they are wrong!  We might not be able to support their view, but we can still practice love for them; this is the theme of this passage.

Our Bibles are filled with statements about the morning. We are told that our Savior prayed early in the morning. Joshua, in the Old Testament, is pictured as a man who rose up early in the morning. Think of that morning in Gen. 22 when Abraham rose up early and took Isaac to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him. What a morning it was for Jacob when he awakened from sleep in the morning and set up a pillar of stones in honor of God at Bethel. It must have been a glorious morning for Daniel when the first rays of sunshine lit up the city of Babylon after that night in the lions den. Imagine how beautiful was the morning for the disciples after they spent that terrible night on the Sea of Galilee in that storm. Yes, all of these were great mornings. However none of them can compare to the morning that is discussed in the passage we have read this morning. I would like for us to spend some time today looking at that great morning when our Lord, Jesus Christ, conquered death, Hell and the grave forever. There has never been a morning like that before, nor shall there ever be one like it hereafter. Oh what a morning it was when Jesus rose again! Oh what a morning it was when He pulled the stinger from death and gave life eternal to all those who will place their faith in Him. Oh, what a morning that was! Now, please understand that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus has effects that reach down to this very day. You see: HE IS ALIVE this morning! Please join me for a few minutes as we journey through these verses and think on the thought: Oh, What A Morning!

The church of Jesus Christ is made up of individuals at every possible level of spirituality.  There are those who are fully aware of the freedom and the liberty that they enjoy in Jesus and they live accordingly.  On the other end of the spectrum are those who walk in fear of becoming defiled with the contamination of the world and they live accordingly.  If that were the end of it, there would be no problem.  However, those who realize and enjoy their liberty in Jesus are constantly being judged by those who think they live too loose of a life.  While those who are strict in their application of biblical standards are constantly being criticized by those who have adopted a looser standard.  One group is called liberal and compromisers, while the other group is legalistic and harsh. Paul here discusses the proper attitude Christians should have toward each other in debatable areas of conduct (things that are not clearly stated to be wrong).  He says that we are not to judge one another in such matter because God has received, both the weaker and stronger believer (vv. 1-3), because we can differ in good conscience (vv.4-6) and because we shall all be judged by the Lord (vv. 7-12).  You see, there are some things in life that are crystal clear!  The Bible is plain when it tells us that we should not drink, use drugs, curse, commit adultery, kill, steal, lie, etc.  These things are beyond debate and people who practice such things are sinners.  That is not my judgment, but that is a clear statement of the Word of God. View and hear more messages at www.gospeldynamite.org.

This is the morning when the Christian church celebrates what we have come to know as Easter. It is the day when we commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. May I remind you that Resurrection Sunday is not about Easter bunnies, Easter eggs or the giving of gifts, BUT is about celebrating the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the first Resurrection Sunday. With that in our minds this morning, let's journey back to that first Resurrection Sunday morning.

Having begun this chapter talking about the duty of the believer to respect and submit to government, Paul now turns his attention to the believers duty as he lives out his daily life. While government passes laws that are designed to protect and control society, the Christian has a duty to live out the life of Christ as he passes through this world. That is the emphasis of these verses. If you were observant as we read the text, you noticed that Paul uses the language of haste and urgency. He is telling us that the duties mentioned here are not to be put off for another day, but are to be carried out every day as the believer lives his or her life in the world. Let's take a few minutes this evening to consider The Believer's Spiritual Duty.

There are three institutions that have been ordained of God in this world. In each of them, there are levels of submission and authority. Those three institutions are: 1.   The Family - The family is a small community of related people who have as their interest the mutual care of one another. There is fellowship and sharing. There is labor and provision. There is also submission and authority. God has designated the husband as the head of the family. The wife is to submit to her husband. The children are, in turn, to submit to the parents. This makes for a happy home. When things are out of place, there is confusion and turmoil in the family. 2.   The Church - The church is a small community of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. They have as their interest the worship and service of God as well as the mutual care of one another. The head of the church is the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole church is to submit to His leadership. Under Him fall the Pastor, then the Deacons, and other members of the congregation. When God's order is maintained in the church there is blessing and harmony. When that order is violated, there will division and hurt. 3. The Government - The government is a larger community of people who are brought together under central leadership. They have as their interest the mutual good of all other citizens. The submission of the citizens to the authorities of the government will produce a tranquil society. It is the last of these three institutions that is in view in these verses. Since we are part of a secular society, we have certain responsibilities to that society. In chapter 12, Paul spoke at length of our duties on a spiritual and social level. In this chapter, he turns the focus to secular matters. How we relate to those outside the church, especially those who have the rule over us in society, it a very important matter.

In the first phrase of verse 17, there is a word that beckons to focus our attention backward. It is the word “therefore.” Anytime you see “therefore” in the Bible, you should stop and see what it is “there for.” This word calls our minds back to what Paul has been teaching us about our high calling in Christ Jesus. Because we have been given all the benefits mentioned in verses 1-16, we are not to be like the lost, pagan Gentiles who live around us. What benefits is Paul talking about? •   Our calling to “salvation by grace” through faith, vv. 1-3. •    Our unity in the body of Christ, vv. 3-6. •  Our unique gifting by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and His church for His glory, vv. 7-10. •  Our being built up through the ministries of gifted individuals in the church, vv. 11-16. Because we have been given all these advantages, and made the partaker of such gifts from God, we are to walk in a manner that is different from the world around us. In the verses that are before us today, we are called to Renew Our Minds. Paul issues some very specific challenges for all those who are saved. These challenges teach us how we are to walk, and how we are to be different from those who have not been saved.

This whole chapter is a plea for believers to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. Verses 1-2 are about Thinking About The Believer. We are to consider our own life and get it where it really needs to be. Verses 3-8 are about Thinking About The Body. They have to do with our place in the whole body of Christ. They are a challenge for us to fulfill our God-given role in being everything the Lord has saved us to be. Verses 9-21 continue the theme Paul is addressing in this chapter. Now, he is going to speak for a while about Thinking About The Brethren. These verses are filled with challenges for the children of God to live together, before the Lord and the world, as a God-honoring family. These verses, if they are heeded and practiced, would revolutionize the average Christian's life. There are three basic thoughts in view here as we think about Thinking About The Brethren.

Schaeffer was a theologian somewhat before his time.  This recording, goes along with one of his most popular books, "A Christian Manifesto."   This was recorded in the early 1980's, but it is so relevant for today.  I urge you to listen.  You will be blown away at how "on target" he was in 1980--of today's world.