Join us each week as we carefully walk through God’s word and seek to learn more about who God is, who we are and how we can live out our purpose in this life.
Commitment trumps fear, confidence drives commitment, experience builds confidence and faith opens the door to more experience. Jesus’ commitment unto death opened the door for us to experience new life and life eternal! It’s time to experience Him!
Our faith is increased as we see His full separation from His son. By Faith, we are now able to see how we have been fully restored with the Father and look to the future with hope.
Jesus compelled by the love of God, gave himself to be crucified so we can have the desire to deny ourselves, and the ability to carry our cross and follow Him.
Most people desire righteous justice. When an innocent person is condemned, we want to unpack all the evidence we can in order to set the individual free. Hindsight reveals and reminds us:
1) Who Jesus is
2) God truly loves His people.
3) We have truly been set free from our own condemnation
4) To live the life God created us for… GOD HAD A GOOD PLAN!
Bogus trials, lies and ignorance…and the denial of a friend. All part of God’s plan? Bad things for God’s great purpose!
Have you ever considered why Jesus was in so much agony? Why was he was driven to his knees, asking God to NOT make him suffer God’s wrath? Join us as we dive into the heart and mind of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
God is in the business of relationship preservation and He is the only One who can securely preserve ours to Him. God has purposefully prepared the final passover in Jesus to provide a secure relationship forever.
How much is Jesus’ love worth to you?
Message by Wally Palmer
Christmas message by Wally Palmer
Advent message by Wally Palmer
“The routine rituals of sacrifice maintained daily peace with God and His people but didn’t necessarily change the heart. The baby born in Bethlehem would change the heart of man and provide peace with God always and forever.”https://youtu.be/eucV0VFCT5U
The declaration of Jesus as the Messiah sets him up as the Greatest King who sacrificed everything to conquer our sin. Does your life’s response reflect that King Jesus is on the throne of your heart? (Today’s video is unavailable)
When we intimately know the Scriptures we see God’s love and power in Jesus. This motivates us to passionately live out the greatest commandments to love God with all we are and love our neighbor as ourselves.
The image we portray declares who we are, who we belong to. As image bearers of God, we are to give our whole lives to Him and live as though we are fully submitted to His will.
The authority in Jesus is the same authority that builds the foundation of our faith. Does the building of our life reflect the foundation of Christianity?
“A synthetic faith is one that looks real on the outside but is not real on the inside. True faith that comes from Jesus bears real fruit, indicating a real transformation of the heart on the inside.”
“Moses wanted God more than anything…do we?”
“Jesus is revealed as the True King, who has given victory to HIs people over the slavery to sin, restoring the relationship with God the Father once and for all. Thus far, as you’ve been introduced to Jesus, who is He to you? Do you recognize Him as the True Victorious King?”
Faithfully following Jesus means we follow Jesus in the good and the bad that may come from being a Christian. Are you willing to accept the cost of faithfully following Jesus?
You cannot buy your way into the Kingdom of God but gaining entrance comes with a cost. Jesus alone gave up everything to pay the price we could not afford to pay, to provide access into the Kingdom. Are you willing to give up whatever is keeping you from following him?
Children are so valuable to Jesus that he says the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. As adults, we must receive God’s kingdom with the same heart and mind as a child.
The covenant of marriage before God is so sacred that it is never to be broken or ended. Unfortunately our sinful nature has led many marriages to end up in divorce. While Jesus’s teachings may not bring happy thoughts or good feelings about divorce, the sacrifice of his own life secures an eternal marriage covenant with God the Father that can never be broken.
“The greatest people are the most faithful followers of Jesus. Greatness in the world is the glorification of self. True Followers of Jesus, however, will not only see others as greater than themselves, but will willingly sacrifice their lives to God in order to serve God’s kingdom purposes.”
The revelation of Jesus’s divinity assures us that not only is He the One who has come to restore us to God but He knows everything we need to know about what it means to be in God’s family! If that’s the case…don’t you think we should listen to everything He says?
Jesus had every right to live a pain free, well-liked, long life on this earth. Instead he surrendered his rights in order to do the will of God the Father. The life of the Christian is to do the same by fully surrendering our lives to the will of God, even if it means dying for the gospel.
The purpose of sending Jesus to earth is to restore our severed relationship with the almighty God. Through Him we are not only restored into a right relationship with God, but restored emotionally, physically, intellectually, and spiritually.
The purpose of the bible is to reveal Jesus to the world as the Only way of salvation and we are invited to see, hear, understand and declare Jesus as the Christ.
Special testimony by Nick Driessen at 45:00.
Solid faith comes when we clearly see the power and compassion in Jesus. This solid faith compels us to put all of our trust in Him alone for salvation.
Jesus explains that the root of the problem dwells in every person’s heart and the only cure for the rottenness comes from Jesus himself.
Message provided through Wally Palmer. Are you focused on keeping religious traditions to maintain a relationship with God or do you focus on responding to what Jesus has done for you on the cross? Message recorded on Facebook live. https://www.facebook.com/villagecommunitychurchkimberly
When we are away from Jesus we can quickly forget who Jesus is and our faith can quickly turn to fear. Consistent intimacy with Jesus keeps us faith FULL and fear less (Full of faith and at peace).
As The true shepherd, Jesus always knows the best way to care for His wandering flock. Those who are tired, hopeless, uncertain, or flat out lost can find rest, peace, direction, help and hope from Jesus!
When we know Jesus’s true identity as Lord and Savior, there is a real grief over our sin that leads us in true repentance.
The gospel message is simple and worthy to share, but we must rely on God’s power and direction to faithfully share it.
Rejecting Jesus for who he really is leaves us powerless and leads to experiencing the sting of death. When we see Jesus for who he is as Lord and Savior, there’s freedom to experience a new life, new era of blessing forever.
Desperation comes when all control is gone.
Being in control makes us feel secure & Security makes us feel safe from anything that leads us to despair. Many times we have in something we THINK is secure, only to see it slip out of our white knuckle grip and we are free falling to despair.
When desperation leads to faith in Jesus, we experience a secure hope for all eternity; a true happiness that lasts forever!
Satan wants to destroy God’s creation, Jesus is the ONLY one to defend God’s people by setting us free from that which leads us to total destruction.
Faith in Jesus allows us to be part of God’s kingdom, trust him with everything and witness the growth and glory of His magnificent Kingdom!
We will only be able to truly hear the true message of Easter when we are seeking to listen to the voice of the Resurrected Christ.
Video ends before message ends. To hear the ending, start audio at 39:33.
Jesus is the only True “strong man” who has come to save God’s children. Those who seek to do God’s will can be assured they are children of God.
Did Jesus call a group of ordinary men to do the extraordinary. Absolutely NOT! Why? Because ordinary people cannot do extraordinary things. This proves that when God invites you to be part of his extraordinary work, there must already be something extraordinary about YOU! Jesus is preemptive and proactive, to prevent anything that will thwart His purpose! And he wants to use YOU to be part of His perfect plans!
As Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus introduces himself as the one who delivers both the Sabbath and man from a state of distress. Rejecting Jesus declares war with God, but acceptance of salvation leads to restoration & peace with God now and forever.
Today’s message can also be found on YouTube as our gathering was cancelled due to Corona Virus concerns. Feel free to CLICK here to watch it or listen by clicking below.
Is it possible God has allowed the Covid-19 virus to shut down our lives in order to lovingly invite us to a Sabbath rest? What is a Sabbath rest? Listen here to learn that what God intended for rest, man made into work. Jesus introduces a rest for us now and for all eternity!
The Kingdom of God ushers in a new (different) way of being in relationship with the Father through Jesus. This new way doesn’t work with the old traditions of man. If we welcome “different” we are at peace with God, if we resist or reject it, we declare war. (Video Reference attached)
The controversy begins…
This series is entitled “Allow Me to Introduce you to Jesus” As we walk through the Gospel according to Mark we pray God will reveal the person of Jesus, God’s plan of salvation in Jesus, and what it means to truly follow Jesus.
Jesus, the One Israel has been waiting for is here! Not only do we see Jesus’s authority over demons, authority in his teachings, and authority over all creation, but we get to see his authority personally, in our own lives, in our own calling in ministry.
This series is entitled “Allow Me to Introduce you to Jesus” As we walk through the Gospel according to Mark we pray God will reveal the person of Jesus, God’s plan of salvation in Jesus, and what it means to truly follow Jesus.
Jesus’s affirmation as God’s beloved Son at his baptism in the wilderness provides us that IN CHRIST, we have the assurance of salvation through the power of the Holy Spirit. This gives us the power to repent from sin, resist temptation and believe in Jesus as Savior as He pursues us in the midst of our own “wilderness”.
This is the first message of our series entitled “Allow Me to Introduce You to Jesus“. We will walk carefully through the Gospel According to Mark seeking to know the person of Jesus, God’s plan of salvation in Jesus, and what it means to truly follow Jesus.
This message begins with a wide angle view of God’s plan of salvation from ancient history, narrowing to the focus on “what happened in between the Testaments” to, being on the scene of the beginning of Jesus’s public ministry. We invite you to join us each week where as we pray God will continually remind us of our hope found only in the “good news” about Jesus Christ!
A pointed message with grace about examining our hearts.
A message preceding baptism. Should we baptize at infancy or wait until one professes faith in Christ?
Part 2 of the message “Live For The Future”
A new year encouragement message from Pastor Jason that is setting up the vision for the future. (If you are seeking a church family, this is a great message to start with). You’re being prayed for every week!
Message by Wally Palmer
The Christmas story is a story of God’s interruption into humanity for Change. A change that will last forever under the Covenant of grace. (Please note: the audio quality is low, you may need to turn up your volume)
Christ rescues us from traditions & worldly devotions to a place of pure devotion to him. This is why we GET to fearlessly serve God in righteousness all our days of our life!
“Traditions are not bad. Because of what Christ did for our salvation, we want to keep Christ the center of them”
When the Spirit of the Savior is present, we understand the True blessings of salvation. We can’t help but worship the One who is mighty to save. Additionally, the reality of our weaknesses are exposed and the merciful God forgives us. Merry Christmas!
God interrupts our insignificant life with the MOST significant message that gives an eternal significance! Nothing is impossible with God!
This glorious interruption involves divine intervention and the power of the Holy Spirit, communicated by an angel, directed by God. All for the sake of ushering in our King, Savior, Jesus. This first interruption begins with a small spark in an intimate setting…the temple…
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 Always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Growth in Gospel Centrality is most effecting when we are a Gathered, Grounded, Giving, church that Go’s into a sick world with a message of Hope in Christ.
Those who live in Christ will live for all eternity in bodies that will last for all eternity.
If Christ has not been resurrected, then we should live as though everything in this life matters, BUT if the resurrection of Christ IS true, we get to live as though everything about eternity matters most.
As Christians, our whole lives must be lived out from the foundation of Gospel Centrality, therefore we must fully understand the whole Gospel. Some might say “the hardest thing to do is forgive someone.” It’s possible that “the hardest thing to do is keep the Gospel the center of life.”
The environment of a Healthy church should be one where the Gospel is clearly communicated in an orderly fashion; as God has clearly communicated his love for us in Christ and in the order of creation.
God is the giver of spiritual gifts to the members of his church body. While the gifts are different, they all have equal value and are equally necessary to build up the body into One Holy, Healthy body in Christ!
Why do we gather as a church family? Why do we take communion? How we answer these two questions should give us a good indication of the overall health of our own church body.
God is the God of order. Men & women are called to live and worship according to God’s order. We are to seek lives that honor and glorify God through how we honor one another.
Through Christ God has set us free from sin, therefore we must resist a life of duplicitous worship and live in sincerity to God in Christ alone.
Paul denies his rights so he can have a clear path to their hearts with the Gospel. When we consider the magnitude of our own personal salvation in Christ, we will give up everything so our loved ones can hear the hope of salvation in Christ.
A consistent committed relationship with God through Christ will create a consistent attitude of love towards one another; resulting in a healthy, growing body in order to stay alive.
Listen as Pastor Casey Getz from River Shores Church teaches through Exodus 3 on 6 reasons for us to daily pursue living in the presence of God. You WILL be blessed!
“Relationships can bring the most anxiety to a person’s life”
Relationship anxieties will distract us from our relationship with God.
Paul provides great wisdom regarding the married and unmarried. When we apply these truths appropriately to our I believe we will be free of relational anxiety and fully devoted to our relationship with God.
Paul gives us 3 ways to describe how he seeks to live & be known. Faithful TO Christ, Foolish FOR Christ and a Father IN Christ so that the name of Christ is renown everywhere!
Paul’s faithfulness to the pure Gospel has become unpopular with the Corinthians & they have condemned him for it. In this short paragraph Paul is declaring who he will remain ultimately faithful to and what he will remain faithfully to do.
God’s church is so important to him that he goes to great lengths to see that it is well built. We are to consider the high cost of the foundation and carefully build it with the best materials possible; for our work will certainly be tested.
A steady diet of focusing on Christ rather than “man” will give us all we need to be faithful servants in building God’s kingdom.
Paul is attacking this division by getting to the root of their belief system. There is only One real wisdom and One source for this wisdom which comes from God through the His Spirit.
When we surrender our minds to the awesomeness of man, the church falls apart. When we surrender our hearts to God, we know the True meaning of Awesome and this Awesomeness has the power to make all things new and hold all things together!
CLICK HERE for video illustration from sermon.
As Christians, we need to remember everything comes from God and He is faithful to provide everything we need for salvation and everything we need to live out our calling to be a Healthy Church for a Sick World.
People in God’s church are to work together to advance the Gospel message through protection, providence and partnership.
Protection: Purifying the church by purging evil.
Providence: Caring for one another.
Partnership: Using our gifts to build up the church and Live in the world, set apart for God’s glory.
Listen as Wally walks through scripture to reveal the blessings of the opportunities to use our money, time and talents to bring glory to God and bless people!
Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Genesis 14:18-20, Leviticus 27:30-34, Numbers 18:21; 25-34, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
This is the final message on membership. Village Community Church’s vision statement: “Village Community Church exists to be a Gospel centered, bible teaching, community focused church. Through this we strive to love God and know our identity in Christ and love others and help them to do the same.” Listen here as we discuss the vision for Village Community Church moving forward with membership!
The honorable life of the man qualified to be an elder will begin at home and transfer to the life in the church. The answer to “who is in charge” isn’t just a name, it’s the character of the men called to shepherd the local church.
If someone interested in a church were to peek into the walls of Village, who would they see and what are they doing?
This is the first of our series on local church membership. Membership in a local church is lived out as a partnership in the body of Christ. God’s story reveals His providence and protection of His people throughout human existence. We are therefore called as the local church family to live out the same providence and protection within the biblical framework in partnership with one another.
Click to hear today’s Easter message of hope!
The announcement of Jesus as the long awaited King brings a threat to the proud, curiosity to the uncertain and praise to the seers! When the eyes of the blind are opened, the mouths will joyfully shout Hosanna in the Highest!
Listen as Wally Palmer, gives an overview of the book of Galatians with six important takeaways!
When we fully surrender everything to God in the Gospel, we will freely walk by the Spirit in the newness of life through full submission of all that we are!
The marks of a true Christian are shown through the fruit of the Spirit. When the weight of the world is felt, the true Christ follower will naturally bear this fruit as they bear the burdens of the world with their brothers and sisters in the family of God.
In view of the fact that we all still wrestle with sin, Paul gives proverbial instructions to the local church family on how we are to walk with one another as we keep in step with the Spirit. As Christ followers, our focus should be on equipping our brothers and sisters to live as Christ calls us to live. If we live this way, I believe we will be the church in the community God is calling us to be.
True repentance and obedient living only happens when we are led by the Spirit. Therefore we must stay alert and tuned into the Holy Spirit for the ability to truly love our neighbor.
Paul is giving a clear “all in all out” statement here inviting them to choose which path of salvation they will choose. Vertical or horizontal. With each path Paul gives the traveling conditions and the ultimate destination. If freedom is what we long for, we must consider which path we choose.
When God opens our eyes to show his passionate pursuit for us we see a love that transforms our sinful hearts. The same love that motivated God to pursue after us is the same love that will 1) drive us into deeper intimacy with God, 2) with our brothers and sisters in the church and 3) motivate us to share the greatest news we’ve ever heard with others!
Paul uses an OT illustration to invite the Galatians to consider the question “Who’s your mama?” The message invites us all to consider whether we too live by faith or in the strength of our own flesh.
Paul seeks to reach the hearts of the Galatians by taking a trip down memory lane. This text challenges us to consider taking our own trip down “Memory Lane” to be reminded that it is the love of God and the passion of Jesus Christ that gives us freedom by guiding us to the “Street of Truth”.
Being adopted by God into His family makes us an heir to an inheritance that is out of this world! As sons and daughters of this gracious God, we are now able live in deep intimacy with our heavenly Father!
Guest preacher Wally Palmer brings a solid message from Galatians 3!
When we believe that it’s possible for us to please God by our actions we will be wooed to the idea that our “religious” life will save us. When we understand that pleasing God on our own is IMPOSSIBLE, we are wooed by faith in Christ alone for salvation and will joyfully live obediently to God’s law in response to the free gift of salvation!
The truth of what we believe about our identity is revealed by how we respond to our circumstances and surroundings. We tend to base our identity on acceptance and rejection. “We all long to be accepted, valued, wanted, needed.
Questions…Where do we seek acceptance from & how is it secured?
Paul shows that faith in Christ alone is the only way for us to have a true and secure identity!
The fact that we’re saved by grace alone is enough motivation for us to live without yielding to the pressures of religion or the world. We’re blessed this week to have Wally Palmer, a member of Village Community Church, walk us through Galatians 2:1-10 to give further insight to what it means not to yield to religion but to truly yield our whole life to Jesus Christ.
Jesus, not just the light of the world, but the light FOR the world and the light IN the world.
Jesus is our only source of Comfort and Joy. Following in obedience to the Father’s will leads to an intimate relationship with God which provides all the comfort and joy we will ever need.
Remembering the events leading up to the greatest Birthday ever! As we recall the message from heaven through the angel Gabriel we recall the joy in the anticipation of the arrival of our King Jesus!
As we await the return of Christ or our final breath, we live life to glorify God and enjoy him through a life of repentance, worship and obedience. John chapter 17 gives insight into Jesus’s prayer as he asked God to keep His people safe and continue to purify them in order to bring glory to God!
As we enter into this Christmas season our eyes are invited to focus on the glorious hope of the future return of our Savior Jesus Christ; who will make all things glorious and new!
Man’s gospel, leads to man’s plans. God’s plan, was to redirect man’s plan to live out God’s plan for man to bring glory to God through God’s gospel!
Paul reminds us firmly that we are fired from a job that we were not hired for. His invitation is to remember the message of salvation through faith alone…through grace alone..in Christ alone!
Paul hasn’t been gone too long before the Galatian Christians are pressured to conform to living under the Law instead of resting in salvation through grace alone. Listen here as we overview the book and look forward to a journey of freedom through Galatians .
As we conclude our series in 1 Timothy, Paul encourages Timothy to “guard the deposit” that was entrusted to him. Listen here as we recap the “deposit” in this letter. We encourage you to read the book of 1 Timothy before listening and pray for God to reveal himself to you through it! 🙂 May God bless you richly through His word!
“Money equals happiness”. One ticket with matching numbers can make one REALY happy. Does the happiness last? Or does this love of money lead to ruin? In this scripture passage Paul is encouraging those who are rich to fix their gaze NOT on the false hope of wealth, but on the One True God who provided the greatest ticket of all…the One that leads to eternal life; where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more crying and death shall be no more!
Pastor Jeff Coggins continues to bring encouragement from 1 Timothy to Fight the Good Fight of our faith in Christ Jesus “because as a Christian, you get God!”
In this passage, Paul gives proper diagnosis and prognosis of those who are struggling with contentment. The gospel is our ONLY hope for a life of contentment. What are your symptoms? Listen here to find out!
In the 3rd part of the mini series on “honor” Paul gives instructions straight from the heart of Christ regarding the Christian bondservant’s behavior towards his master. While we may not love our current work environment, our Christ-like behavior is what pleases God most.
This is part 2 of a 3 part miniseries within our study of 1 Timothy. Paul teaches young Timothy the high importance for the church to protect the position of the elder through proper providential care, and exercising proper discipline. This will support and protect the elder as well as the church’s purity, care and service.
This is part 1 of a 3 part miniseries within the “Shepherd’s Guide to a Great Church” series. What is the church family’s position on how to properly care for widows and why should the church honor them? Answers to this question and more in this week’s message!
Today we celebrate our 1 year anniversary of public worship! Listen here for a recap of what God has been teaching us and challenging us in the sphere of Western Culture Consumeristic Christianity from Acts, Ephesians and 1 Timothy.
Paul encourages young Timothy with a fitness plan that includes a regular diet of God’s truth, along with exercising love, faith and purity; which will have an effect not only in EVERY ASPECT of this life but for all ETERNITY. https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/vcckpodcast/1+TImothy+4%2C7-16%2C+9%3A9%3A18%2C+.mp3
One of Satan’s biggest goals is to destroy God’s church (God’s people). What better way than to divide and conquer through lies and deception from within. Paul continues his charge to Timothy to fight the good fight by following the good doctrine which leads to something to believe in.
Do you ever wonder what the motivating factor is as to why people go to church or even call themselves Christians? This short halftime message from the Apostle Paul takes us deep into the love of God to show us our true Identity as the “Pillars” of the household of God! Listen here for a message that every Christ follower needs to understand as the foundation of a “Great” church.
In this message, we dive deeper into who God calls men to be first in their household. What is a man to be after attending the “University of Household Headship?” Listen here for a deeper understanding! See description under part 1.
Paul charges Timothy not to be hasty in the laying on of hands (1 Tim 5:22). After a careful study through the first 13 verses in 1 Timothy 3, it is apparent how crucial it is to consider qualifications for such a “Noble task”. Pastor Jason seeks to patiently and diligently examine the qualifications for both elders and deacons as God raises up men to oversee the church. We should seek nothing less than to properly care for and shepherd the people that God adopted for the high price of His Son’s blood. (Acts 20:28)
Listen as Forest Lakes District Pastor and Church Multiplication Catalyst Scott Sterner teaches on the proper heart posture and understanding we are to know as we offer prayers to our heavenly Father. Your outlook on prayer may be forever changed by this message!
In the context of the local church body, God has clearly orchestrated the model for how we are to conduct our behavior in the setting of public worship. Our conduct is what sets us apart from the World. The Apostle Paul instructs Timothy on how to teach proper conduct to men and women in the local church. This challenging message has a very encouraging message and hopeful ending. https://soundcloud.com/user-5715949/conduct-that-sets-apart-1-tim-28-15
Three Truths Everyone Must Know:
If Christ brought peace to the people in the family of God, how do we strive to live in peace among a climate of chaos, confusion, division and persecution? Pray for those who have influence over the climate. Pray for the leaders of our governments. Why? It is pleasing to God. This is an encouraging message for the reasons why we should pray for the leaders in our government and community.
This message dives into the important message for pastors to remain focused on establishing a culture of love from a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere heart. May God use this to spread his Love and Glory! Sermon audio from June 9th, 2018
This is a stand-alone gospel message from the EFCA-Forest Lakes District Superintendent from John 16:4-5. We’re blessed to have Jon bring a message of comfort on the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
If we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Gospel) to be set apart, we must wage the good war to protect the purity of the church family by guarding the Truth and protecting the family. The result has to be a great church family. Not a “great church” in the eyes of man…a church that is made holy and pure only by the blood of Jesus. We’re made great through Christ and are called to live great! Join us as we walk through 1 Timothy!
As believer’s we are those who tell God’s story of salvation. Paul’s benediction in Ephesians 6:21-24 is an invitation to live in an environment of peace, love, faith and Grace. If God uses people to live out His story, then our lives will reflect the character and nature of the Almighty author.
Sorry, we are having issues uploading the messages. We hope to have this fixed soon.
Numbers 5:1-4: Cleansing the Unclean Sermon Outline
God’s law offers protection from the curse – Leprosy, Discharge, Death God’s law offers protection from a Holy God – Uncleanliness and Defilement God’s son does what the law could not. (Mth. 8:2-3, 9:20-25)
The armor we have access to is provided by the most powerful, undefeated Almighty God! We are called to use it and use it properly. It gives us the ability to be victorious in the battles of life.
God Almighty gives us the strength we need to be victorious rather than vulnerable as we battle the true enemy, Satan and his evil army. Listen here for part 1 of the Spiritual warfare message from Ephesians 6:10-13
There is great potential for a family to be filled with joy when parents and children keep God at the center of their relationship. As fathers example Christ to the household, children are moved to be obedient, honoring their parents.
Paul’s encouragement to husbands and wives here provides two key ingredients to a great marriage. If you or someone you know is planning on getting married, is already married or struggling in your marriage, this message is for you. God has a structure and a plan for the roles of husbands and wives. His plans are good! You can have a great marriage; with God’s “good” plan!
Pauls message to the new believers in Ephesus is timely as they are now seeking to live holy lives in an unholy environment. His call to not even “speak” nor “listen” to idolatrous talk hits home in our hearts as our living conditions are similar. The hope of salvation is evident for those who’s evil ways are exposed by the light of holy living. Heart transformation leads to an environment of life!
“Knowing God’s will leads us to flee the environment of death and create an environment of Life. We therefore are moved to speak of holiness and righteousness, bringing light into a dark world.”
“God is not after our behavior modification, he wants heart transformation! His business is salvation!”
It’s one thing to be invited to imitate (or mimic) a parent, teacher, employer, athlete, or sports figure. But to be invited to imitate the Almighty God? Those are some big shoes to walk in but Paul encourages us with all confidence that we are able!