The one attribute of God that the enemy likes to lie to us about, and distract us from, is that He's gracious. If Satan can cause the children of God to believe that God isn't gracious and loving, than he can also convince them that they must work for salvation. Salvation is only attained through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, not of works, lest any man should boast. Today, Pastor Ed will be encouraging us to rest in the grace that God has poured out to us.

As Pastor Ed continues his teaching series through the book of Judges, he'll be explaining how God doesn't call the qualified, but He qualifies those that He calls. If God has called you to complete a specific task in life, that means He has already given you the power to carry it out. When God calls you to something that makes you feel inadequate or unworthy, that's a great place to be, because God desires you to depend on Him for His strength so that He will get the glory.

If you were born into a Christian home, God has blessed you with an amazing opportunity. As Pastor Ed continues his teaching through the Book of Judges, he'll be encouraging those that grew up in the faith to remain steadfast and to resist the temptation to experience what the world has to offer. The world promises so much, but only delivers famine and drought to your soul. The lusts of the flesh only provide temporary pleasure, and then you reap destruction and spiritual death.

Today, Pastor Ed will be challenging us to remain steadfast and faithful to the Lord, especially when everything is going well in our life. The children of Israel went through a repetitive vicious cycle in their journey with God. They were blessed by God, then they grew comfortable and worshiped idols. Then God judged them for their sin, and they eventually repented, and repeated the cycle over and over again. Don't allow yourself to fall into this cycle! Keep your focus on the Lord no matter what season you're in.

Whose power are you using to accomplish good works in the world? Are you exhausting and expending your own energy and capabilities trying to do the will of God? As Pastor Ed teaches us in today’s message, we can labor until our hearts run dry and our hands are worn, but we can never do enough on our own. God gives us gifts and equips us, but if we fail to rely on the power of His Holy Spirit to supply us with strength and direction, we will inevitably fall short.

How many times do you start a project with enthusiasm and vigor, just to find yourself at the halfway point, completely devoid of any of that zeal you felt at the beginning? This can, and probably will, happen in your spiritual life at some point. We are running a race, and it requires patience and endurance. As Pastor Ed encourages us in today’s message, we need to see this race through to the finish line and that requires trusting in God for your strength and stamina.

Deborah was a prophet and judge over Israel. She was married, and perhaps had children, yet she found a healthy balance between her focus on her family and her role as a prophet. As Pastor Ed points out in today’s message, this is no simple feat. Many of us struggle with finding that balance. Sometimes we use our families as an excuse to get out of ministry. Or maybe we use our ministry as an excuse to avoid our family responsibilities. We need to seek a healthy balance between the two.

Our families and friends are watching how we live out our faith. We can be a good example or a bad one. Will your experience be an encouragement and inspiration or an example of how not to live a life of faith? As Pastor Ed teaches us in today’s message, when we trust God and allow Him to impact the world through us, that work goes beyond our short years in the flesh. His work goes on beyond our limited capabilities and reach and continues on for generations.

Often in our lives we can feel pulled down and defeated. To whom or what do we look to when we feel defeated? Do we try to fight the battle by ourselves? In today’s message, Pastor Ed will exhort us to allow Jesus to fight the battle for us. We can’t fight the battle in our own strength and wisdom. Jesus already won the battle against our enemy on the cross. Look to Jesus and trust Him to be faithful to fight for us and protect us on our journey in life. When we do that, we will find rest and peace in Him.

To whom do we look for help when we start to wander on our journey in life? In today’s study, Pastor Ed will teach us that even the strongest christians need God to direct their steps. We are like sheep that tend to wander. God promises to be our guide. We can’t do it in our own strength. Trust God to guide us and lead us on the right path for our lives. He only wants what is best for us. God will have compassion on us and He will be faithful to lead us on paths of righteousness.