A Moment of Hope

We will wrap up this week with another key to powerful prayer. A key you can use to gain access and entrance into the presence of God. A key to open the locked places of your own heart and find healing. A key to unlock a deeper understanding of who God is and how much he loves you. Here is today's key: don't be anxious about anything. This is a hard one. Especially when it seems as though there are opportunities for anxiety everywhere. But Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Paul is in prison when he is writing these words. He did not know if he would be killed the next day or released. He faced uncertainty. Trial. Persecution. Despair. Pain. Loneliness. Yet this was his message to the Philippian church…and us today. Paul tells all of us the pathway to God's peace. Don't worry about anything. Pray and release it all. Pray and surrender it all to your Daddy in heaven. And don't forget to pray with thanksgiving. Express gratitude. Be thankful. Why? Because as you remember what he has done for you in the past, you will remember and begin to believe he can do it again. This will increase your faith and expectation as you present your request to him. Then you will receive God's peace. His peace will be like a citadel that guards your heart. It will protect your mind from fear, worry and harm. It's a peace that passes all human understanding. It's God's supernatural peace from heaven. His peace will allow you to face all situations in this crazy, broken world. Prayer is God's pathway to his peace.

Isaiah 22:22 foreshadows the power that would be accessed through Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Jesus was given keys to open doors no one can shut and shut doors that no one can open. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us (Romans 8:11). Because of that, we have been given keys as well to use for the glory of God alone. I am sharing some of the keys that I have found to powerful prayer. Today's key: NEVER give up when you need justice. Luke 18:1-8 is the Parable of the Persistent Widow. A widow was treated unjustly. She approached an unjust judge who neither feared God nor man. Looking with mere human lenses, there was not much to hope for here for her! But the widow started to pound on his door. She pounded. And pounded. And pounded. Until finally, he became so weary of her incessant knocking that he gave into her request for justice. In verse 1, Jesus tells us the purpose of this parable: that we always continue to pray and never give up—especially when asking for justice. If something unjust has happened to you, go to the eternal Judge of the universe and ask for justice. If the judge in this parable responded in favor of the widow's plea for justice, how much more will our God respond to our similar cries for justice? Keep asking in faith, for when Jesus returns, more than anything else, he wants to find faith residing in us as we live on earth (Luke 18:8). Believe God will answer. Know that he is just and righteous in all he is and does (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 11:7).

Keys are used as a means of gaining entrance or access to something. We are spending two weeks looking at keys for your prayer life. I am sharing a new key with you each day, ones meant to help you gain access into God's presence through prayer. Today we are looking at this key to powerful power: shameless audacity. Or as Luke 11:8 says, "impudence." Read Luke 11:5-8, the parable of the friend at midnight. If you remember, Jesus gives a teaching about a man who goes to visit his friend at midnight. He knocks on his door and explains he needs some bread for another friend of his who just arrived from a journey. The friend he visits tells him to leave him alone. He is in his warm, comfortable bed and probably half asleep. What Jesus points out next in verse 8 is so interesting. He says, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs." Impudence. Shameless audacity. A cocky boldness. This man keeps knocking PERSISTENTLY even though it's midnight. Why? Because he knows that his friend is a good friend and if he asks enough times, his good friend will respond. God is a faithful, good and loving Daddy (Deuteronomy 7:9). And as I reminded you a couple of days ago, we are friends of God (John 15:15). Because of this, we pray with one of the few times the word is mentioned in the Bible: shameless audacity. Impudence. Some have even said the word can mean "swagger." Being SO confident that your good and loving Daddy God will answer you. Because you know him. You know his nature. And God is a good Daddy and friend!

I am handing you a different key each day to learn how to access the powerful presence of God through prayer. When doors seem to be locked, God desires for us to learn how to open them. His Word gives us so many insights that can guide us as we pray. Another key to powerful prayer: persistence. One definition of persistence is "firm or obstinate continuance in course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition." Yesterday we looked at Matthew 7:7-11. Jesus explains truths about God's goodness as a Father. The verb tense used in that passage is the imperfect, which means continual. The asking, seeking, and knocking here is meant to be persistent. Continual. Never giving up. Relentless. We admire persistence in people's stories that lead to success. Stories where people pursue something and finally succeed. Persistence is at the heart of a champion. If the power of persistence is true in the natural world, how much more must it be true in the spiritual world – especially through prayer! When you are persistent in prayer, it shows God both your desire and your faith. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." When you are delighting, or finding joy in the Lord, your desires end up being his desires. This ensures your requests are aligned with his heart and will. With what is best for you. If it's not, and you are delighting in him, trust that he will tell you. If you know God has promised you something, keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. And don't ever give up!

We are going to take the next two weeks and look at various tools for developing a powerful prayer life. I want you to picture each day as a key that I am going to hand you. This key is meant to show you a way you can open a spiritual door and access the powerful presence of God. For some of you, these may be new keys you have never known. For others, you may find that these are keys that you either forgot about or lost. Either way, I pray you will use these keys regularly and purposefully. Let's jump in. The first key is this: know the character of God. Take a moment and read Matthew 7:7-11. In these verses, Jesus asks a profound question. If earthly fathers, who are consumed with original sin, still want good gifts for their kids, HOW MUCH MORE does your perfect heavenly Daddy want to give you, his kids, GOOD GIFTS? As Jesus points out in these verses: If you were to ask your earthly dad for a fish, would he give you a snake? What an awful dad that would be! Or if you were to ask for bread, a staple of life, would he give you a stone? Ridiculous! That is not a good dad! God's nature and character is good. Psalm 145:8 says, "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." For those of us who have put our trust in Jesus and can call ourselves children of God, we have been reconciled fully to our Father. He no longer calls us servants, but friends (John 15:15). The sin that separated us from his love was paid for by Jesus on the cross. Approach God knowing that he is a good Daddy. An intimate friend. He desires to give GOOD gifts to his children. That's you and me. Knowing this KEY will change how you pray every day!

We are completing our two week study on suffering. This final point on suffering is one of the greatest keys I have found to overcoming suffering: have a constant awareness of the thereness of God. The presence of God changes everything. God is our refuge and strength. He is described as an ever present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is with us in the pain. His presence is the present. And Jesus is fully present in the moment of pain. When you pass through the waters, God is with you. The rivers will not overwhelm you. The fires will not burn you. "The Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" is with you and for you (Isaiah 43:2-3). Jesus promised he would be with us until he returns (Matthew 28:20). He promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Isaiah 64:8 says that God is the potter and we are clay. He can mold our pain for gain. In fact, the wonder and mystery of grace is that Jesus takes all of our bad and gives us all of his good. So, where we have pain, he offers healing. Where we are afraid, he gives peace. Where we feel defeated, he gives victory. When we are weak, we are actually strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). God promises vindication and victory in all things (Isaiah 54:17). Believe him. Even when you don't feel like it. Choose to say, "I trust you, my Lord." My dear friend Travis Greene has a song called "Watch Him Turn It." The lyrics say, "Stand still. Watch him turn it. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But we serve a God who does much more than we could ever imagine. Whatever happens, it's working. He's turning it around right now. Watch him work." I would encourage you to take these truths to heart amidst your suffering and pain. Believe. Trust. Seek Jesus's constant presence. Have awareness of the thereness. And watch our great God work.

We are finishing up today and tomorrow with a couple of final thoughts on suffering. I hope it has been helpful to further understand why suffering exists in our world and to know what God says about how to navigate it. These last two days aren't reasons for suffering, but rather some conclusive thoughts. Remember that suffering either breaks our backs or bends our knees. If you think it is your job to carry the weight of suffering, it will crush you. Remaining stiff and upright in an attempt to shoulder the pain yourself is ultimately pride. Choosing to bow in humility, letting Jesus carry the load for you, will allow you to stand upright once again. Matthew 13:24-30 reminds us that wheat and weeds will grow up in fields side by side. Interestingly, they look exactly the same until wheat sprouts what are called ears. The one other thing that sets wheat apart is that wheat bows when it reaches maturity, while weeds, or tares, stay stiff and upright. When the storms of life come, they will either make us bitter, battered or better. If we try to lean on our own strength and understanding, we will become bitter. We will be battered to cynicism and despair. But if we allow suffering to remind us that we are not in control and release our lives to the Lord, we will become better. Stronger. Less prideful. More able to continue through life and help others walking through similar sufferings (2 Corinthians 1:4). Always remember. Christians worship a God on a cross. Through suffering, Jesus received a resurrection life. A glorious victory! We, too, are promised a similar eternal victory. That's God's desire as well for those who love him and have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

There are so many reasons why suffering happens. While it helps give us a framework for what is going on in this broken world, it doesn't make the pain any less. In addition to some of the reasons we have been talking through, we also suffer when God disciplines us. Ouch. This one is not fun. Hebrews 12:11-13 says, "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." If you had a good, loving, honest earthly father, you know that Godly correction is normal and even necessary in a healthy home. Kids love boundaries and discipline is often the tool needed to help them stop destructive behavior. Momentary discipline can save children from harm and a lifetime of pain. Our heavenly Father disciplines us for these reasons as well. Its purpose? To give us the "peaceful fruit of righteousness" mentioned above. God wants us to live in the right standing with him and with others. This honors him. While it can be painful, choose to yield to the loving and fruitful discipline of your heavenly Father. Yes, it hurts at the moment. But know that it is only because he loves you and wants the best for you. If you never got to experience the unconditional love of an earthly father, I pray that you will have an encounter with your heavenly Father that will change you forever. Allow him to show you what true love is. 1 Corinthians 13 is a great place to start. He is patient. Kind. Long-suffering. His love is not rude or irritable. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing but only with the truth. As you understand how much he loves you, you will be able to receive his discipline with the deep understanding that it will ultimately produce character, which produces hope (Romans 5:4-5). A loving eternal Daddy does sometimes discipline his children, but only for our good and his glory.

We are exploring different reasons why suffering exists and how we can be more than conquerors with the suffering we face (Romans 8:37). Many people find suffering to be the greatest roadblock in following Jesus. They simply cannot reconcile why a good God could allow bad things to happen. I pray some of these conversations help answer those questions and give perspective as to why suffering exists. There are reasons for suffering. We live in a broken creation. We are humans who make mistakes. Jesus promises persecution for those who follow him. And other people's sin can bring on suffering. Here is another reason for suffering. Because of Satan's attacks. Satan studies our lives, knows our weaknesses, and attacks accordingly. In the same way a sports team studies their opponent's game film to prepare for an upcoming game, Satan studies our game films. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12 that he had a thorn in his flesh that was a direct assault from Satan. Any follower of Jesus is an opponent to Satan's plans and he wants to take you down. Look at the story of Job in chapters 1-2. Satan is prowling around looking for someone to attack and does everything he can to cause Job to turn from the Lord. Or Luke 22:31 where Jesus tells Simon Peter that "Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat." What do we do? First, we must realize that our war is not against flesh and blood but powers and principalities of the darkness, led by Satan himself (Ephesians 6:12). Also, we realize that Satan is a creature and God is the Creator. God rules over Satan's wiles. Next, we must also daily put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Be specific about each piece of the armor. God's truth holding each piece of the armor together. Guard your mind with the helmet of salvation. Hold high the shield of faith. Protect your heart with the breastplate of righteousness. That way, you are ready when, not if, the enemy attacks. And wield the sword, the only offensive weapon, which is God's Word. Finally, walk with a swagger. You've won! Jesus who lives in you is greater than he, Satan, who lives in the world (1 John 4:4).

We have been exploring the subject of suffering. What does the Bible say about suffering? What causes suffering? How can we be overcomers in the midst of suffering? Let's first look at another reason for why we suffer and that is persecution for professing faith in Jesus Christ. Plain and simple, we will suffer because we love Jesus. Jesus told us in John 15:20 that persecution would happen to those who follow him. If we saw him experience suffering, we should expect it can also happen to us. The pupil is not greater than the teacher. Jesus made some audacious claims. He claimed to be the only way to the Father (John 14:6). He healed hurting people on the Sabbath, something strictly forbidden by the religious leaders. He offended the religious and offered grace to the lost. He found himself in the crossfires of disdain and disgust from so many. Many people hate that God demands moral purity on their lives. They hate that Jesus wants complete control of everything they have. They resent any authority and do not want to think that God knows what is best for their lives. The increased persecution of Jesus's followers all around the world is one of the many signs that suggests Jesus' return is more imminent than ever before. In the history of the world, persecution for Christians has never been greater than it is right now. Tertullian, considered in church history as one of the great church fathers, said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Any time suffering happens because of resistance to the pure gospel of Jesus, we should expect the church to flourish. This should cause our joy to increase, knowing that nothing is wasted. Remember, any persecution that we have here will be greatly rewarded in heaven (Matthew 5:12). As the beautiful song "The Wonderful Cross" reminds us, Jesus's way bids us to come and die and find that we might truly live. Take heart, my friend. Weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Today we look at another reason for suffering. Sometimes we suffer because of willful, rebellious decisions. Let's be honest. There are moments when we don't just make a stupid mistake, but we know God's will and willingly choose the opposite. It's rebellion in action. We shake our puny fists at the Almighty. We do what we want. And it's dangerous. I often see this playing out inside the church world. Let me share an example. Someone may sit in the congregation for years, hear clear biblical teaching on sexual purity, and yet choose to live with a partner and engage in sexual activity outside of the confines of marriage. In this situation, that individual knows what God says, but chooses the opposite. Willful rebellion. When we discover a sin like this, what should we do? Confess it. Again, practice 1 John 1:9. God is faithful and just and will forgive you. Ask God to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you just as David did in Psalm 51 after he made a willful, rebellious decision against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba. When you do this, you will instantly sense God's redeeming grace flooding your soul. In that moment you should know that you are forever forgiven in his eyes. As far as the east is from the west, that is as far as he has removed his transgressions from you (Psalm 103:12). When you confess your sin, it is forgotten. And the great exchange takes place. God exchanges your sin for his grace and righteousness. What a great deal! New purpose is given to you in place of shame and condemnation! Grace. Forgiveness. The most wonderful gifts anyone could ever receive.

In this broken world, suffering is commonplace. If you have lived life for any length of time, you have experienced suffering. What are the reasons for suffering? Here are some of the reasons we have already covered: we live in a broken creation, with fallen bodies, and people's selfishness causes them to hurt one another. We can also experience suffering from our personal mistakes. Sometimes we just make stupid mistakes and suffer accordingly. I don't know about you, but there have been times when I have made some really stupid decisions. Uninformed. Selfish. Hasty. Emotional. Not led by the Spirit of God. Mistakes made by never asking God for counsel. What do we do when this happens? First, confess to God when you experience conviction from the Holy Spirit. Admit your fallen nature and be honest about your mistakes. Remind yourself that you have been redeemed as a child of God and called to live differently than the world says to live. Secondly, ask God for wisdom to avoid making the same foolish mistake in the future. Don't lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 says that as we trust in the Lord and not on our own understanding, he will make all of our paths straight. Finally, repent. The simple way to define what it looks like to repent is, "Stop it!" But there's more. You also turn away from bad behavior and turn toward a behavior that produces life. Your mind is renewed and you become transformed, desiring to please God at all costs (Romans 12:2). This is God's pathway to freedom and making this world a better place in which to live.

Suffering is an unfortunate part of this broken world. Creation is broken. Our bodies are broken. Why is there so much suffering? What do we do with it as followers of Jesus? We are looking into some of the reasons suffering exists and also how to overcome it. Here's a major reason we suffer. Because of other people's sin. When sin entered the world, so did the desire to hurt and manipulate others. The first example of this is Cain killing his brother, Abel. Cain's sin was rooted in jealousy and pride and people have been hurting one another ever since that murderous moment (Genesis 4). We must be vigilant to recognize jealousy and pride in our own lives and kill them before they grow in power to hurt someone else. Here is another of God's weapons for handling the sins of others: forgiveness. Through the grace and mercy of Jesus, we were offered forgiveness for our sins. As God forgives us, we are now to forgive one another (Colossians 3:13). We are not to seek vengeance (Romans 12:19), but rather forgiveness. In Luke 23:34, Jesus says, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This is the only way to be set free from those who hurt you. When you forgive other people, it frees you up from being negatively affected by their sin. It frees you from bitterness. The age old saying, "Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the person who offended you to die" is so very true. Kill jealousy and pride. Cain shows us it can lead to murder. And when others hurt you, flee from bitterness. It will only hurt you. Then you will never hurt others…and have helped alleviate suffering in this broken world.

Suffering in our world brings so much grief. Suffering also frustrates the minds of people who are skeptics of the Christian faith. Why is there suffering? How could God still be good in the midst of such suffering? These are valid questions and I have much empathy for those who ask these questions. But there are answers. In addition to living in a fallen world, another reason why we suffer is because we live in fallen human bodies. God told Adam and Eve that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17). As the story unfolds, tempted by God's archenemy, Satan, Adam and Eve end up eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In that moment, death, sin and suffering came on the scene. From the moment these three things entered the world, God's enemy relentlessly attempts to kill, steal, and destroy. Please know, dear friend, God never intended death to be a part of our lives. The enemy of our souls is the author of all evil. But humanity bought the lie of temptation. We introduced this chaos through our own rebellion. Every time our bodies groan, hurt, or experience pain, they are longing for the day of redemption, waiting "eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23). Because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we will one day have perfect resurrection bodies. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 says that "we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." Death has no sting and has been swallowed by victory. Pain and suffering in our mortal bodies is temporary for those who follow Jesus. The message of Jesus is the only religion in the world where the Divine enters into the squalor of this world on a rescue mission to make the way for the family of God to be restored. In other words, God wins!!! One day, Jesus will defeat sin, death and suffering once and for all! Glory to God!

The presence of suffering in our world is one of the greatest hindrances in people coming to faith in Jesus. Many ask the question, "How could a good God let bad things happen?" I want to sit with you this week and dig into some of the mysteries and complexities of suffering. Why do people go through suffering? Plain and simple, suffering happens because we live in a broken and fallen world. We breathe bad air. We eat bad food. We suffer from natural disasters, which are actually unnatural. God never desired disaster to be part of his creation. People hurt one another. Our emotions don't operate as they should, thus fear, anxiety, depression, shame, etc. So, what is the biblical answer for what to do when suffering happens? First, when you see and experience suffering around you, remember how broken this world is. Read and reflect that Romans 8:22 says that creation is groaning and will be until the day that Jesus returns. Our bodies also groan, looking forward to the day of redemption (verse 23). Suffering should not surprise us. Secondly, remember how God wants you to live amidst suffering. You play an important role as an ambassador of his kingdom. You are meant to display glimpses of what heaven will be like to this broken and suffering world. Everywhere your feet step is your mission field and because of Jesus, you are now an agent of hope in a hopeless world. You bring peace where there is chaos. You provide freedom to captives. You bring healing where there's hurt. Finally, remember that one day, Jesus WILL return and restore creation and our bodies to what it was in Genesis 1-2. To God's original intent. Live purposefully each day, while longing for the day when Jesus makes all things new! What a glorious day that will be!

I am going to teach you a fancy Latin term today. Ex nihilo. It means "from nothing." This is the message of Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." God spoke the world into existence. But before that, nothing existed. With a word, God created the heavens and the earth from nothing. He did not need a single thing to create this universe. As humans, we always need matter to create something new. A table must be made from trees. Streets need asphalt or concrete to be paved. Buildings need metal and wood to be built. But God. God needs nothing to create. He created the sky, the trees, the animals, and humanity ex nihilo. All from nothing. What a miracle! Do you have a hopeless situation today? Where it seems like nothing is going to change? Do you feel stuck and unable to move forward? Ask God for a miracle. He is the God of the impossible (Matthew 19:26). With one word, God can change a hopeless situation. With one word, he can bring hope to your hopelessness. He can create beauty for ashes. A garment of praise for a spirit of despair (Isaiah 61:3). Maybe you read this and still feel hopeless, thinking that God has nothing to work with to even begin to create something new in your life. Remember, that doesn't matter. Even if he has nothing to work with, he can create something beautiful ex nihilo. From nothing. Trust him today. God is the only one who can make something from nothing. And make it beautiful in the process.

"God doesn't give you dying grace until you are dying." I believe this quote originated from Corrie Ten Boom, the Christian who survived the Nazi concentration camps in World War II. She lived in a reality that demanded unwavering trust in the timely grace from her heavenly Father. Regardless of who originally said it, this message is so important to understand as followers of Jesus. We may not be facing Nazi regimes like Corrie Ten Boom, but we will inevitably face trials and tribulations of our own (John 16:33). Jesus promises to give us the grace we need for whatever situation we may face. 2 Corinthians 12:9 promises that God's grace is sufficient for whatever we may face. His power is made perfect in our weakness. When we follow Jesus, our weaknesses become an opportunity to boast in the power of Jesus. He can take any situation and turn it for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28). This promise of God's sufficient grace is for every single problem you will ever face. But it is given to you as you need it. If it's a problem you won't face until tomorrow, God will not give you the grace today that you'll need tomorrow. But he will give it to you tomorrow! He is a good Father who is present and ready to give grace for each needed moment. This is especially true when facing death, the final and greatest enemy of all. When that day comes, Jesus will give you the grace needed even to face that. And you will be able to face it with courage and victory. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 says that death has no sting! It has been swallowed up in victory. "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." What a wonderful promise!

I have found there to be tremendous danger in self-made success. The problem with people who can work their way into a place of success is that they often find themselves worshiping their creation rather than their Creator. Our culture emphasizes the need to be self-made. Work hard. Achieve. Be successful. Reap the benefits of your success. Don't get me wrong. We should work hard. Colossians 3:23 and 1 Corinthians 15:58 both call us to work at everything we do with all of our hearts for the Lord; always abounding in work and knowing our labor is not in vain. We are to do all of this for the glory of the Lord. But self-made success that is devoid of humility and dependency on Jesus can quickly turn to self-sufficiency and self-worship. We end up worshiping ourselves - the creator of our success - rather than the Creator who gave us everything to be successful in the first place. The very ability to work hard is a gift from God. Any creative thoughts or ideas we have are placed there by him. The energy to get up every day and pursue success comes from him. Deuteronomy 8:18 says, "You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Remember. What an important word. It is the weapon with which we can fight the dangers of self-made success. Remember who created you. Remember all you have is a gift from God. Remember you were created for a purpose. Remember who should get the glory. Remember your priorities. Remember to rest. These "remember" phrases will keep you free from being tempted to think you are greater than your Creator. To Christ alone be all glory!

You're in sales. God's in management. It's not the other way around. We serve the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and are responsible for living out his commands. Jesus commands his followers in Matthew 28:19-20 to take the gospel into all the world. This is not optional. Our job, as his followers, is to share this good news. Jesus was sent on a mission by the Father to live his life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). God loved the world so much that he was willing to sacrifice his son, knowing he would live the sinless life none of us could live. Die the death we all deserved. And make the way for us to be reconciled to the Father and to have eternal life (John 3:16). Too many Christians are hesitant to share this good news. Fearful of being rejected by those who hear this message. Yes, it's a message that offends the flesh. But it brings eternal life to the soul like no other religion in the world. Your job is to tell others about Jesus. It's God's job to awaken them to salvation and draw them to faith in him. Should someone reject the message of Jesus, they are really rejecting him, not you. He will deal with them in his way and in his time. So share. Live each day with the good news of Jesus on your lips. Be ready in and out of season to give a reason for the hope you have found (1 Peter 3:15). Then relax and watch God work. Take the pressure off yourself! After all, you're in sales. God's in management.

Picture this for a moment. You are sitting by a pool on a hot summer day. You look over to your right and see a grown man playing in the kiddie pool by himself. This man is splashing around with a plastic inflatable dolphin and arm floats. He then lies on his belly in 3 inches of water and begins to kick his feet. He could be fully submerged in the adult pool that is a few yards away, but chooses the kiddie pool. What would you think? I know if I saw this, I would certainly find it to be weird and might even call the police. Let me ask you another question. Do you think this man is an example of maturity? I would say no. Hebrews 5:13 gives a strong warning to those who profess Christ, saying that if we are still drinking milk, we are like children, unskilled in the word of righteousness. Adults don't drink breast milk. As babies mature, they progress to eating solid foods. Hebrews 5:14 goes on to say that "solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." Maturity and discernment walk hand in hand. Solid food is for those who are strong, grounded, and firm in their faith. Take a moment and be honest with your own Christian discipleship development. Are you still drinking milk in the faith? Do you think it's time to eat meat? Are you still playing in the kiddie pool of faith? Do you think it's time to grow up? Dive into the deep end and learn how to swim in God's great pool of grace. The vast, deep waters can be intimidating, but when you learn how to swim in them, you will find freedom. Hear the Father's heart for you today. It's time to grow up. It's time to become a mature follower of Jesus. One that represents the bride of Christ with confidence, courage, and conviction. One that knows your identity in Jesus and lives it out. Dear friend, it is time for the church to be the church. Let's jump in the deep end and watch what God does!

"Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy" (Isaiah 61:7). The prophet Isaiah revealed God's promise to double the Israelites' portion of what they'd previously lost. This promise came to them while they were still in Babylonian captivity. God repeated the same promise to the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 9:12). God intended, once again, to restore double to the Israelites as they returned to their Promised Land. How does this promise hold true for us today? As we trust in the Lord, we can believe with confidence and assuredness that God will restore double for anything we have experienced. Where there has been dishonor, God says you will rejoice in your inheritance! Where there has been shame, God says you will possess a double portion and everlasting joy! God upheld the same promise to Job after his trials (Job 42:10). He restored double to Job for everything that was lost! Would you step out in faith and believe this today? In the aftermath of loss, would you choose to believe that God is still good and waiting to restore? Two times what you lost? Somehow. Some way. He will give you double for your trouble. Believe and trust in the goodness of God today and forever.

We serve a God who is a professional fixer upper. Long before Chip and Joanna Gaines made that phrase famous with their hit television show "Fixer Upper," God has been in the business of making old things new. In Jeremiah 30:3, God promised to restore the Israelites to the land after they had been removed from it for 70 years. He is the same God today that he was back then. Imagine God like a repairman for a moment. You take something broken to him. You leave it with him. You trust that he will get the job done. You do not call a repairman every five minutes to see if he has done his job. You leave it with him, trusting and knowing that he will do what he said he would do. In his time and his way. Our God, the Restorer, wants us to give him our broken pieces and ask him to heal us. He loves to restore broken people and broken stories. He takes joy in finding the most hopeless, distraught, impossible situations and breathing life into them. Isaiah 61 shows God's plan to send Jesus into this world to heal and restore. The coming Messiah would bind broken hearts, declare freedom for captives, and release prisoners from bondage. He would bring gladness for mourning and praise instead of a faint spirit. Do you believe God is the Restorer of your broken places? If so, hand your broken pieces to him. Wait. Trust. And know that he is able and faithful to complete it. That is faith.

God is sovereign over all of history. He began it. He will end it. That word sovereign means to possess ultimate power. The Lord our God has all ultimate power. In Job 38:4, God asks Job a very important question. He says, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" He wanted to remind Job that the Creator of the universe was truly sovereign over every detail of Job's life. God knew Job's heart. He knew his needs. He knew his pain. God also knows your heart. Your needs. Your pain. Every detail of your life, he knows. Therefore, even before you pray, remember that God knows what you need and how to answer those requests before you even ask. "Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24). The Lord spoke this promise over Israel and we, too, are beneficiaries of that promise because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. God is a promise-keeper. He always has been, and always will be. The reality of God's faithfulness should fuel your prayer life. You can be confident that God hears and answers all your prayers. Jesus also said in Matthew 6:8 that the Father knows what you need before you ask. He said this as God in human flesh, which should encourage your prayer life even more! If God says it, we should believe it. And he says this. Before you call. He will answer. Call out to him today!

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4). Hope is one of the strongest forces in the universe. It gives people the ability to keep moving forward. If I was delivered once, I can be delivered again. Think about this illustration. A bunch of rats were placed in a vat of water in an experiment. They swam furiously for hours, but eventually, they started to give up. Moments before their impending death, they were rescued. Dried. Fed. Allowed to rest for several days. Then they were placed back into the vat of water. What was the difference the second time? Instead of swimming for only a few hours before giving up, they swam for 24 hours straight before showing signs of giving up. How did they last so much longer? They believed that since they had been saved once before, they could be saved again. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:10 that God "delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." Think of a time God has made a way where there seemed to be no way out. Remember the joy and gratitude you felt in that moment. Can you feel hope rising up in your heart? Now remember. If God did it once, he can do it again! Persevere. Don't give up. Hope does not disappoint.

If you have spent any amount of time with me, you know I love three-word prayers. Simple, childlike, effective ways to talk to God. Here is a simple three-word prayer: Let God arise (Psalm 68:1). Start your day declaring this truth! What exactly am I asking God to do? I'm asking God to rise up and fight my battles for me. I'm relinquishing any false belief that I know how to navigate my life better than he does. I'm choosing to believe that his ways are higher than mine. I'm trusting him to restore what feels lost. There are promises of God throughout the Bible. So when I pray this prayer, I am choosing to believe that God can arise and back up any promise that he has made in his Word. The effects of sin leave us broken and in need of a Savior. Our flesh is weak. But God is powerful and says when we are weak, we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Today, as you think about your mountains. Problems. Seemingly impossible situations. Cry out this simple prayer: Let God arise! They are not bigger than God. Then sit back and watch. See if your enemies aren't scattered. God will be victorious over your battles.

Let me share with you one of my favorite phrases. So simple. So true. God is in control. In the 1990s, Twila Paris came out with a song. She must love this phrase as much as I do. She said, "God is in control. We believe that his children will not be forsaken. God is in control. We will choose to remember and never be shaken. There is no power above or beside him, we know God is in control." Today, I just want to highlight again and again this simple, but profound statement that I utter repeatedly. Every day. Every hour. Every minute. God is in control. There are certain seasons of life that feel more effortless, predictable, and simple. Others are riddled with chaos, confusion, and despair. Whether in good times or in bad, we serve a covenant-keeping God. He holds the universe in his hands. Nothing is outside of his control. He is omniscient - all knowing. Omnipresent - all present. Omnipotent - all powerful. In Job 42:2, Job declares to God, "that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Nothing that God wants to happen can be stopped. Trust him. Surrender all to him. Relax in him. Enjoy your day and this new year to the full. Give God all of your junk. Don't worry. Choose joy! Be happy! God is in control. God really is in control. You can trust him in all things.

Here we are in a brand new year. What is going to happen in the next moments? Days? Months? Years? No one knows. Ralph Abernathy said, "I don't know what the future may hold, but I know who holds the future." This quote could not be more true. Especially in these times. We don't know what the future holds. Without a deep, abiding faith in Jesus, this could easily create panic, fear, and despair. But as followers of Jesus, we have a different story. We do know who holds our future. We can have peace in storms, calm in chaos, victory in battle. All because of the saving grace of Jesus that has grafted us into the family of God. God. Our Father. Our Creator. He began the world (Genesis 1:1) and he will end the world (Revelation 1:8). He works everything for good. He has a good plan. He is the Alpha and Omega - the Beginning and the End. What an incredible opportunity we have to release hope to those around us right now! Share the message of Jesus with boldness and love. I believe people are longing for answers and are open to receiving salvation! Speak of this man who died on a cross to save you and me FROM an eternity in hell and FOR a kingdom purpose on this side of eternity. His name is Jesus.

I love the power that comes from intentionally choosing a child's name. Marilynn and I sought the Lord with each child for a name that would reflect his heart for their lives. Name changes are also significant. Think about a woman whose name changes after getting married. Or a child who gets adopted and takes on the last name of their new forever family. God cares about names too. He cares so much that he would often change names to reflect who people became after encountering his love and being filled with his Spirit. Abram to Abraham. Sarai to Sarah. Jacob (trickster) to Israel (strength of the Lord). Simon (wishy-washy) to Peter (the Rock). Saul to Paul - his Greek/Gentile name showing his gospel call to the Gentiles. God loves you so much. He doesn't look at you through the lens of the names you may have called yourself or had others call you. God calls you his "child." Beloved. Chosen. Forgiven. A life yielded to Jesus changes everything. It gives you a new identity and a new name. Galatians 4:6-7 says, "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." One day everyone will be given a new name (Revelation 2:17). So many people here have the same name! Just google your name and see how many names like yours exist. But your name in heaven will be uniquely, perfectly, and eternally for you by our eternal Father. What a special day that will be for all of us!

As a young baby is developing, there are many stages of development and milestones to reach. From crawling to sitting up to eating to walking to running, a child's life is a series of new beginnings. Over and over again, a young child experiences new things. Did you know followers of Jesus go through stages of development, too? As our faith develops, we experience many opportunities to learn and grow and mature. This process is not always linear. We often suffer small setbacks. Sometimes large ones. Why? Because we are flawed humans living in a fallen world with broken people. At times, we are faithless. But God is always faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Think of Abraham, the father of our faith. He walked with God. Heard his voice. Obeyed. Then disobeyed. Then obeyed again! Abraham went to Egypt and told his wife Sarai to lie and tell others she was his sister and not his wife. He knew the pharaoh would seize her because of her beauty, bring her into his harem, and perhaps even kill Abraham (Genesis 12). So, he devised this plan. Bottom line: Abraham trusted his own methods over God's. What did God do? He brought Abraham out of Egypt and back to the Promised Land! To begin anew. To start over. God renewed his covenant with Abraham. God gave him a new beginning. A fresh start. God does this with all of us as well. Through Jesus's love and forgiveness, he gives second and third chances. New beginnings, all filled with Jesus's enormous grace.

Here we are at the start of another year! Even in a season of so much unrest and confusion, I feel great anticipation for what God is going to do this year. The Gospel of Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and when I think about that message being released to people looking for hope, it makes me jump for joy. I am sure you have heard the pithy phrase, "Out with the old, in with the new." Well, did you know this timeless phrase is rooted in Biblical truth? Jesus said, "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). All things! God loves to take old things and make them new. A new song (Isaiah 42:10). A new thing (Isaiah 43:19). A new day (Lamentations 3:22-23). God is a professional "fixer upper." He delights in taking the broken places of our lives and making them brand new. It is not enough for him to put a bandaid on our wounds. He wants to heal the wounds and move us from glory to glory in the process (2 Corinthians 3:18). A new thought life (2 Corinthians 10:5). A new boldness (Proverbs 28:1). A new strength (Isaiah 41:10). A new hope (Romans 15:13). A new peace (John 14:27). And a new beginning (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus wants to rid your life of old, negative and hurtful things and replace them with new ones. Better ones. Holy ones. Invite him into your story. He will radically change every part of it for the good. If Jesus said he makes all things new, then there is no part of your life he can't make new. Nothing. Believe Jesus. Trust God to make things new. He loves to do so. Through the power of his grace. Happy 2023!

This will be our final blog of 2022. We hope that you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. We will resume our daily Moment of Hope on January 2, 2023. Our Advent prophecy today is when Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." If you remember, Old Testament prophecies were God's way to whisper of the coming Messiah. He gave clues and indicators that pointed to the Advent of Jesus. To have over 300 Old Testament prophecies come true hundreds of years later is simply amazing. Hosea 11:1 says, "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son." This prophecy gives the whisper that ends up being fulfilled when Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt in Matthew 2:16. Herod ordered for all male children two and under to be killed. He had heard of one who had been born called "king of the Jews." That was a title his father had claimed that Herod now held. He was threatened. Jealous. Desiring to share his glory with no other human. He alone would be king! Mary, Joseph and the newborn baby Jesus fled to Egypt to escape harm. It is sobering to see what jealousy can do to a person's heart. Some say that jealousy walks hand in hand with a murderous spirit. It is why we must be so on guard in our personal lives against a spirit of jealousy. It can produce all sorts of evil. We see this with Herod. But Jesus is the King of the Jews. And Gentiles. And all. One day, he will return as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will reign forever and ever. Until that day, we worship him. Follow him. Serve him. Adore him. He is worthy of all of our praise. From him comes all things. To him are all things. He alone deserves the glory.

As we continue to explore these Advent prophecies, we find our next one in the subsequent verses 10 and 11 of Psalm 72. If you remember, verse 9 spoke to the shepherds being heralded by a celestial choir to go and bow before baby Jesus. Psalm 72:10-11 prophesies the Gifts from the Magi being brought to Jesus. "May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!" As we see in Matthew 2, three wise men, who were kings or stargazers from the east, were led by a magnificently bright star to the birthplace of Jesus. They sensed great joy as they traveled. When they arrived, they fell down and worshiped the king. Could it be that these wise men were Jews from the Assyrian Diaspora in 722 BC, seeking signs in the stars? Many believe the gospel is revealed in the signs of the stars. Think about Virgo, the virgin. Leo the lion. While new age astrology and the worship of stars is unbiblical and wrong, Genesis 1:14 says that the lights in the sky were given for signs and seasons. There are so many examples where the enemy has created counterfeit messages to the real message of Jesus. Could it be that these signs in the stars were meant to display the message of the kingdom? And that these signs led the wise men to the Savior? I can only imagine the emotion the wise men felt when they arrived, just like the shepherds did, as they met the Messiah and worshiped him. The powerful and the poor alike fall down before the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Did you know that the Psalms were written in the 10th century BC? It is incredible to see how many prophecies were written hundreds of years before Jesus ever arrived. Psalm 72:9 prophesied that desert tribes would bow down before the Messiah and enemies would lick the dust. This prophecy is full of meaning, showing that those who worship Jesus would be both great and small. We see in Luke 2:8 that shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flocks, heard of the Savior, who is Christ the Lord. These men were considered the lowliest in their society. Nomads who wandered in the desert. Often overlooked. Yet God called these shepherds to the manger through a heavenly, military choir singing, "Glory to God in the highest!" They were beckoned to bow before Jesus, thus fulfilling the Psalm 72 prophecy. Have you ever felt overlooked? Unseen? Unimportant? The Gospel levels the playing field for all people. It doesn't matter who you are, what you have done, where you have failed, where you have succeeded. God sent his son Jesus to live the life that none of us can live, die the death we all deserve and raised him from the dead to extend eternal life to all who believe in him. Philippians 2:10-11 reminds us that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. On this day, everyone, whether they like it or not, will acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus. Whether you struggle with pride or unworthiness, the ground at the foot of the cross is level. Jesus is waiting to heal all of our wounds and iniquities. Bow down before the throne of Jesus and receive his forgiveness. It is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive.

As we continue to explore these Advent prophecies, we are reminded of the extravagant love of the Father. We see the measure he goes to draw people to his heart. In Isaiah 11:1-2, Jesus was said to come from the stump of Jesse. "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." This prophecy speaks to the fact that Jesus will not only come from Bethlehem, but from the seed of King David, the son of Jesse. In 2 Samuel 7, the prophet Nathan speaks to King David and predicts that the coming of Jesus will be through David's lineage: "When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom…And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever." Jesus fulfills this prophecy. Jesus lived the life that Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaach, Jacob, Judah, Jesse, David, and so many others in his lineage could not accomplish. Jesus established his kingdom that will never end. Let us remember in this Advent season that the many prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament have already been fulfilled. Interestingly, in the New Testament, there are eight times more prophecies about his Second Coming. This should increase our faith that Jesus's imminent return is assured. It should transform our minds to think with hope. If you have never been awakened to this message, today is the day to put your faith in Jesus and be saved. Jesus came once. He is coming back again!

There is such wonder in piecing together the connections between the Old Testament prophecies and the birth of Jesus. Advent prophecies are powerful indicators of the miraculous birth of Jesus. Over 300 prophecies, written hundreds of years before they ever happened, came to pass. God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 and said, "I will bless those who bless you, and he who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." The promise is to Abraham and his seed. Note "his seed" here is singular. Isaac goes on to be Abraham's promised biological seed, his long awaited child. But this prophecy is not about Iaac, for not all nations on the earth have been blessed through Isaac. This is a prophecy about Jesus. Jesus comes from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to the nation of Israel from which Jesus was born. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, all of the nations have heard or will hear about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. They have heard or will hear about the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life. They have heard or will hear about a kingdom not of this world that will reign forever and ever. Those who put their faith in Jesus by confessing with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in their hearts God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9) become the beneficiaries of this Abrahamic covenant. This prophetic promise from Genesis 12 releases blessing over God's people to the thousandth generation. Revelation 7 paints the picture of "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'" All this from one seed, Jesus! Sit back for a moment and imagine that glorious day. We have been grafted into a story of eternal hope and glory. As we experience afflictions in this world and as our outer selves continue to waste away, remember that there is an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Put your faith in Jesus today. It will forever change the trajectory of your life!

The Bible recounts the greatest story ever told. We are exploring some of the Advent prophecies in the Old Testament that point to the birth of Jesus. Remember that God used these prophecies to give whispers of the coming Messiah. Each prophecy is important. Picture the magic of children on Christmas morning for a moment. There is tremendous anticipation and joy as little ones wake up with expectation for what is sitting under their tree. They know there are treasures inside of each gift and they can't wait to peel open the wrapping paper to find out what is there. A good earthly father and mother find no greater joy than to watch their children open their gifts. Can you imagine how much our heavenly Father must enjoy watching his children seek out his hidden treasures and piece together prophetic mysteries of the Old Testament, coming to realize Jesus is the Messiah? Today's Advent prophecy is Jesus coming from the tribe of Judah. As Jacob prophesied over his sons, he said the following of Judah: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples (Genesis 49:10)." Jacob prophesied to Judah that from his tribe would come one who would be a lion. One with great strength. One who would rule with a scepter. He would be a king. King Jesus came from the tribe of Judah. When he first arrived, Jesus came as a Lamb, meek and mild, in the form of a baby. He was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. But when he returns one day, Jesus is coming as a lion. He will rule with a scepter, the sign of a great and powerful King. Forever and ever, he will be King of kings and Lord of lords!

Advent season is upon us. A special time to reflect on the arrival of Jesus, our Savior. The hope of the world. Advent prophecies are displays of the beautiful reality of Jesus's first coming. They should bring peace to all of the good news of Jesus and also anticipation for his second coming. Today's Advent prophecy takes us to the town of Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 says, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days." Over 500 years later, this prophecy is exactly fulfilled when Herod inquires of the chief priests and scribes in Matthew 2:4-6 where Jesus would be born. They answer him by quoting the prophecy from the book of Micah and speaking of Bethlehem. Bethlehem is a small town about 14 miles southwest from Jerusalem. It is also where King David was born, Israel's most famous king who is in the genealogy of King David (Matthew 1:1). How could Micah the prophet have known, with such specificity, what was going to take place 500+ years before it ever happened? The only logical answer is the Holy Spirit, the one who wrote the Bible. He gave Micah this information – authoritative, accurate, and true. Think about that for a second. This prophecy comes to pass with total accuracy hundreds of years later. The connections and perfect assimilation of every puzzle piece are baffling. Were it not for a Divine hand, establishing Divine connections, writing a Divine story. When I see prophecies in God's word that have no explanation other than the hand of God writing a magnificent story, it provokes worship and obedience to God's Word. May each one of us feel an increased adoration in this advent season for our Father in heaven, for Jesus his son, and for the Holy Spirit. May our worship of the Triune God and obedience to his will similarly increase.

Looking at some of the Old Testament prophecies pointing to the coming of Jesus gives credence to the power of the Gospel. As we watch the revelation of Jesus' first coming, we should pause and ready ourselves even more for his second coming. Isaiah 9:6 says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Here the prophet Isaiah indicates that a baby king would be born. Many were expecting a powerful earthly, military ruler to come on the scene, but Isaiah knew otherwise. God would usher in the power of his kingdom through the purity of a little baby. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy as he stood before Pilate with the message that Pilate had no power unless it was given to him from above, by Jesus himself. This statement reflected a powerful leader who knew the government was on his shoulders. But Jesus embodied so much more than power. His lifestyle reflected the culture of heaven. Wonder. Wisdom. Might. Unconditional love. Family. Eternity. Peace. He lived with a mindset that was not of this world. If you are worried about the state of our world, take heart. This prophecy reminds us that all governments rest upon Jesus' shoulders. Nothing can change that. Not a one world government. Not a Great Reset. No agendas. Nothing! Jesus' kingdom is forever. It is a kingdom of true liberty and true justice. Of mercy and grace. Of truth and clarity. Of power and might. All governments will one day answer to him. One day we all will see and experience it. We should find tremendous peace knowing that Jesus reigns above it all!

The Old Testament prophecies pointing to the birth of Jesus are incredible. Over 300 of them came true. Think about this for a second. The probability of 300+ prophecies written hundreds of years before they happened coming true would be something like one in a zillion chances. It would be like filling the entire state of Texas with gold coins up to your knees. Then you are dropped into Texas, reach down, and pick up that exact coin. How improbable is that! Yet this example is akin to 300 plus prophecies being fulfilled in specificity written hundreds of years before their fulfillment. It's yet another reason to have absolute confidence in the authority of God's Word. Here is another Advent prophecy: Jesus being born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 says, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." This was released 500 plus years before it happened! The Messiah would be born of a virgin. Matthew 1:18 proves it. Joseph receives the news from an angel of Mary's pregnancy and is seen wrestling with how on earth that could be possible. They were not married nor had experienced intimacy in their relationship. The Virgin Birth is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. It simply can't be cast aside by those who oppose the supernatural. Nor can it be dumbed down by those who have tried to deny its importance over the years. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, conceived Jesus. He bypassed the normal, biological way sin is transmitted (Psalm 51:5) and created the perfect God/man in Mary's womb. Salvation had to be done this way. Jesus had to be perfectly God to forgive our sins on the cross. He had to be perfectly man to substitute himself for us and for our sin. The Son of God. Conceived by the Holy Spirit. Born of a virgin. To save the world. The miracle of all miracles!

We are in the Advent season. Advent means "coming" or "arrival." A wonderful time to celebrate the first coming of Jesus. He came to this earth as a baby. Wrapped in swaddling clothes. Lying in a manger. In the coming weeks, let's look at some of the prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the birth of Jesus. Did you know that Deuteronomy 18:21-22 says that a false prophet should be stoned? God took prophecy very seriously and this verse speaks to the severity of mishandled prophecies during Bible times. You know a prophecy is true if it comes to pass. All of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus' life came true. Over 300 of them. Written hundreds of years before Jesus actually arrived. Fulfilled in exact specificity. Friends, this does not "just happen." I think, in part, God cared so much about the correct stewardship of prophecy because He knew it would be a tremendous tool in pointing the world to Jesus as Lord. God used prophecy to orchestrate the arrival of Jesus by giving whispers of what he would be like so that when he came, no one would miss his coming. All Old Testament prophecies about Jesus should begin in Genesis 3:15. This is the Gospel of Jesus proclaimed in the midst of the Fall. It is the first prophecy indicating his coming arrival. Right after the Fall, the curse of sin enters the world. God speaks a prophecy of one who will come into the world, a man born of a woman. Though his heel will be bruised, he will crush the head of the enemy. The one born of the woman is Jesus. He came through Mary, a Jew from Israel. He was certainly bruised by the enemy on the cross, but rose up from the dead in resurrection power and glory, proclaiming victory over the power of sin, death, and the devil. In that moment, Jesus Christ bruised and crushed the head of the enemy and flipped the script on who had the final word. Romans 16:20 is the fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy, reminding us all that "the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." Not only did Jesus take back what was lost when he came back to life, but he gave us an indicator of what is to come when he comes back again and puts an end to this world's brokenness forever. As we celebrate this time of year, celebrate your recovery from your brokenness. Your healing. The power Jesus has given you over death…forever!

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. This hidden sign of Jesus' return has to do with Ethiopian Jews returning to their homeland of Israel. For years, Jews have been dispersed to Cush. In 586 BC when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem. And in 70 AC when the Romans did the same thing. In 1991, something phenomenal happened. The Israeli military pulled off a covert mission called Operation Solomon, where they airlifted Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours. It was quite the rescue mission. Zephaniah 3:10 prophesied, "From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones, shall bring my offering." Did you know that Cush is present day Ethiopia? This prophecy said that there would be a massive return to Israel from Jews living in Cush. This has indeed happened! Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews have returned to the Promised Land over the last years. It's yet another hidden sign that needs to be noted and observed. Jesus is coming back, dear friends. We do not know the day nor the hour, but we do know he is coming. As we measure the intensity and frequency of the signs, we should rejoice with great anticipation. Worship. Pray. Spend time in His Word. Rejoice. Our God is coming with vengeance. He is coming to save us (Isaiah 35:4).

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. This series is very much a treasure hunt of any possible hidden signs that may be indicating the return of Jesus drawing near. Much like an OBGYN uses an ultrasound to give a reasonable indication of a new baby's due date, my hope is that these hidden signs give you some perspective as to what is going on so you can stay aware and alert. 115 years ago, Eliezer ben Yehuda reestablished the Hebrew language. For almost 2,000 years, since 70 AD and the Jewish Diaspora worldwide, it had been dead. A prophecy in Zephaniah 3:9 says, "For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one accord." It is basically saying that as the people return to the land, the Hebrew language will be reestablished. When they return to the Promised Land, they will have their "pure speech" returned to them. This has happened. Once again, it sure does seem that this is another hidden sign being fulfilled leading to the return of Jesus. I can't help but think about Revelation 7:9, the day when "a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." I don't know if the Hebrew language will be the one spoken, but it will be one that all understand. And every word will worship Jesus. Take heart because the day is drawing near when a unity for the king and his kingdom will remain forever!

Our next hidden sign has to do with people in Kyiv, Ukraine being given potassium and iron pills. Like me, you may be reading this and thinking, "what?" Let me explain. Recently, the city council in Kyiv, in preparation for a possible nuclear attack by Russia, has set up evacuation centers for its people. The potassium and iron pills that are also being provided are to provide support if there were to be a nuclear attack. Would Russia dare use a nuclear weapon to win the war in the Ukraine? If so, could this be the precursor to using nukes against Israel, as the Ezekiel 38 coalition comes to life? Remember, it will be primarily Russia, Iran, and Turkey that wage war against Israel before Jesus' return. And Iran purportedly has, or is very close to, having nuclear weapons at its disposal. Here is yet again, another hidden sign in our midst of Jesus' promised return to this world. As the world seeks to prepare for natural disasters with natural solutions, remember what Jesus tells us to do in Matthew 25:1-13 in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Jesus says to be wise, to keep oil in our lamps, to stay awake, and to be ready to meet our Savior. The signs are coming with great frequency and intensity. Be ready.

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. Another hidden sign of Jesus' coming return has to do with the ungodly behavior and qualities that will become commonplace for many. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 says that in the end times, "people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power." That's quite a list - especially that in the end times there will be "lovers of self." Take a moment and look around us. It is all about me. Everyone is looking out for themselves. "Love your neighbor" is in decline. "Cancel culture" is everywhere. "Hater mobs" are the loudest voices. The selfie culture we have found ourselves in is the new narcissism. People love to take photos of themselves, glorify their lives, and focus on self. We even have selfie sticks! In a world that should be all about Jesus, "it's all about me." I have to believe this is another hidden sign that is growing increasingly visible, pointing us to Jesus' return. So, what do we do as we see these things happening? Walk in the opposite spirit. Where the world says "self," be Jesus to the world. Love your neighbor. Where hatred spews, release love. Where the family is being attacked, build strong families. Where the world loves lies, love truth. Where deceit portrays itself as a form of godliness, walk intimately with Jesus and ask for his power. It will set you apart in the days to come.

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. Another hidden sign of Jesus' return drawing nearer has to do with Baal worship. In the Talmud, an interpretation of Jewish law, the rabbis foretold that there would be a return to Baal worship before the Messiah comes back. Worship of Baal includes polytheism, temple prostitution, and the sacrificing of babies to encourage the gods to increase the land's fertility. Guess what just happened? Russia rebuilt an archway in Palmyra, Syria where people once worshiped Baal. Is this merely a coincidence? Could it be a warning to all who are watching? God hates Baal worship. It is godless, sensual, idolatrous, and evil. It may be more prevalent than previously realized. We must all stop and pause for a moment so as not to be deceived. The severity of sin is real. In the first Advent, everyone expected the Messiah to come as a king. A powerful ruler. But Jesus came as a lamb. In the second Advent, Jesus comes back as a lion. However, many seem to be sleeping and could be deceived into thinking that Jesus will have a docile, quiet, gentle return to unite the world in peace. Wake up, church (Ephesians 5:14). We must grow up in maturity (Hebrews 5:14), walk in wisdom (Proverbs 28:26), and arise in strength and power (Isaiah 60:1). May this be our prayer for the church as the worship of Baal becomes increasingly commonplace. Wake up. Grow up. Wise up. Rise up. What a glorious time to be following Jesus!

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. We are finding many hidden signs pointing to the return of Jesus. It is actually quite comforting and exciting to see the omniscient (all knowing) and omnipotent (all powerful) attributes of our Father. Before Jesus's return, the Euphrates River will dry up, which will prepare the way for the kings of the east (Revelation 16:12). If you look for videos on the internet, you will find that this is happening right now! Some experts predict it will be completely dry by 2040. Revelation also says that a massive army from the east will attack Israel. Throughout the centuries, this has seemed impossible because the Euphrates River would keep this from happening. But now, with it drying up, could this prophecy be fulfilled? This is a seldom talked about sign, but it is there nevertheless. For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, could this be yet another sign that the time is drawing nearer for Jesus to return? As the things over this world continue to dry up, remember that whoever believes in Jesus will have rivers of living water flowing from within them (John 7:38). Jesus is the source of life. Both now and for eternity.

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. Here we seek out yet another hidden sign on this treasure hunt. God promised that Israel's land would become very fertile when his people return. In the 1800s, Mark Twain called Israel a wasteland. Yet, after May 14, 1948, when Israel was recognized once more as a nation, this land became very fertile again. Did you know Israel is now one of the world's major exporters of fruit and flowers? It has irrigation systems everywhere. The wasteland has been turned into multiple gardens. This is all very much in fulfillment to Biblical prophecies. Isaiah 35:1 says, "The desert and the parched land will be glad." Verse 7 of that same chapter says, "The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow." God loves to take dead things and bring them back to life. He is a God of life and life abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus was resurrected from the dead and is coming back soon for his bride! Stay hopeful as we prepare ourselves to celebrate Jesus coming into the world for the first time. And as we celebrate, remember he is coming back again! To Christ alone be the glory.

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. This treasure hunt is taking us through some of the hidden signs of Jesus' return drawing near. The next sign is a fully dressed reenactment of the Temple libations on the foot of the Temple Mount. Throughout the Old Testament, in Temple times, we see the consecration of the priests. Any utensils and garments used in service to God first had to be cleansed with water. The libation of water was made together with the pouring out of wine as a part of a cleansing ceremony. On October 11, 2022 this Temple libation actually happened. Thousands participated in it. Previously, Jews have been hesitant to gather near the Temple Mount. But not now. Is this a preview of something that could happen again when the Temple is reconstructed? Where sacrifices used to have to be made, Jesus comes on the scene and becomes the sacrifice to cleanse us from all righteousness (1 John 1:9). If we put our hope in Jesus, he makes us clean (John 15:3). Love God's Word. Recite it. Be washed by the water of the word (Ephesians 5:26), which cleanses and prepares the bride to be presented to Jesus without spot or blemish. And make sure you keep watching for more hidden signs. As you do, make sure you stay in the shelter of the Most High (Psalm 91:1). It's the safest place you can be.

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. We have been on a road trip, learning to read the signs of the times. These next signs we are looking for are more of a treasure hunt than a road trip. They are more hidden, less obvious signs that point to Jesus' coming return. The train from Tel Aviv airport to the Temple Mount is our next hidden sign. It is presently being talked about and constructed. Why would this be the case when there is no temple presently built? Could it be that the Israeli government may know something is going to happen with the rebuilding of the Temple and they want to preemptively make it easier for tourists and others to get to the newly constructed Temple on the Temple Mount? If you remember, the Temple must be built for the Antichrist to declare his deity. It is also where Jesus will one day be enthroned! Dear friends, this surely seems to be another hidden sign. Proverbs 2:11 says, "Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." Continue to spend time with your Father. Have faith like a child. As you do, God will teach you how to find discretion and understanding. Followers of Jesus should take note of these things as we await our coming King.

Our Hidden Signs of Jesus' Return series has been inspired by "End Times Made Easy" by Joseph Morris. He shares his perspective on the topics included in this series if you would like to explore further. We have been on a road trip together. Watching and learning about the signs of the times that point to the return of Jesus drawing nearer and nearer. Most of the time, signs are obvious and in plain sight. But sometimes, they are more subtle, almost hidden. Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out." These are more hidden signs of the time. Today is the start of Advent, which means "a coming" or "arrival." Advent is the celebration of Jesus' first coming. As we approach the day where we celebrate when He first came, let us also remember there will be a second Advent, a second coming. Today's sign is the 172 predatory birds on Temple Mount. Why is this important? Ezekiel 39 states that after the war of the coalition led by Russia, Iran, Turkey, and other countries against Israel takes place, God will fight for Israel. He will miraculously deliver his people. The number of bodies killed in this war will take up to seven months to be picked up. Because of the utter devastation, I can't help but wonder if this war may be a nuclear war. But God will aid in this process. He will have his own "clean-up crew" do the work: predatory birds. Carrion birds (Ezekiel 39:4) are these birds of prey that will help clean up after the slaughtering. Joseph Morris has found that there are currently 172 of these types of birds on the Temple Mount. Where did they come from? And could this be a hidden sign for God's people to look up? To see that the signs of Jesus's return are becoming clearer? If so, continue to trust. Obey. And seek God daily with all your heart.