To say that Israel didn't really accomplish much in their wilderness wandering would be an understatement. In fact, what shouldn't have even taken but a few weeks' time, ended up taking them nearly forty years to arrive in the Promised land from Egypt. In today's message, Pastor Bill reflects on an important lesson that we can glean from Israel's sin in the wilderness. In his study, you'll learn that when we choose to live in a season of sin, more often than not, we'll have little to no progression in our faith.

Today, Pastor Bill wants you to understand, that you're responsible for what you know. When you come face to face with the Truth, of your sin, and choose to stay there, you're in open rebellion against the Creator of the Universe. Do you understand how eternally dangerous that is? If you die, in your sin, when you could have been set free, by humbly submitting yourself to the Truth, you've no one to blame. Jesus will cleanse you, of your sin, if you'll come clean, and repent. Are you willing?

In his message, today, Pastor Bill asks you, why do you still carry your sin? Jesus came to cleanse you of your sin. So, why would you want to remain in it? In Romans, Chapter Six, Paul writes, that you've been set free from sin. You're set free from sin, to no longer remain in sin. Through belief in Jesus, you can come, BOLDLY, before His Throne of Grace, to receive Grace and Help in time of need. Confessing your sin, and turning from it, by His work of Grace, you will be cleansed and restored.

Jesus told the Pharisees, “you search the Scriptures because in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” Pastor Bill encourages you to study the Old Testament Scriptures, looking for Jesus in them. The religious establishment, that ruled at the time of Jesus, looked to the Law as a rule book. But the Law is a picture of our hopelessness, without Jesus, and a picture OF Jesus, who has always offered salvation, by grace through faith, to those who would believe.

The Bible tells you, that, as a Christian, you are to walk by faith, and not by sight. Pastor Bill, in his message today, wants you to know that you have something that this world, just doesn't understand. You have Jesus. When you breathe your last breath, nothing else matters. Because you believe in Jesus, you will never die! When you know that, in your heart, that old hymn comes alive - The one that says, “the things of earth, go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Today, Pastor Bill reminds you, that you need to deal with the sin in your life. Confession and repentance are necessary for forgiveness. John wrote, that if we confess our sins, our God is faithful to cleanse us of our sin, every single time. And, forget about the idea that you don't have sin. He said, that if you say you have no sin, you make God out to be a liar, and His Word is not in you. You don't need to, nor should you, want to carry your sin. He came to deliver you from your sin, and the penalty of sin.

Have you ever stopped to consider, that your giving to the needs of the local church, or brothers and sisters in need, is an act of worship? Pastor Bill reminds you, today, that God gave His best for you. He gave His only Son, to take your sin upon Him, and to die in your place. And, then He gave you eternal life. The Bible tells us, that our love for Him is only because He first loved us. Your gift to His body, of whom you are a part, is declaring your love for Him, and for your brothers and sisters.

Every person who works for the body of Christ is a gift to the body from God. God loves his church and desires to see her holy and perfect in every way. Because of this, he gave her pastors and teachers. He gave her nursery workers to share his love with the children. He gave her admins to keep things running smoothly. He gives us to each other to serve each other. Pastor Bill will look at the body as a whole today, and help us remember that the people in our church are a gift to us from God.

Ultimately, our God is love. Everything that we hear about him, everything we read about him, must be filtered through that truth. Yes, hell exists, but God did everything he could to keep you from it. He even sacrificed his own son so that you could be forgiven and enter into his presence freely. In his love for you, he did not hold anything back that could erase the gap between you and him. Pastor Bill shows us the grace of God at work in the Old Testament today. Come see the Father's great love for you!

Pastor Bill reminds us of this incredible truth today; that we are created by God for a special, unique purpose on this earth. From before time began, God knew you and he planned out what your role would be. Do you know what it is? If you do, go for it with everything you've got and give all the glory to God as you go! But if you don't know what that unique purpose is, don't despair. Start by worshipping God. Start by bringing him glory. Grow closer to him, listen to his heartbeat and become more like him.