When a Christian is baptized, he indentifies with the death of Christ and with His resurrection. Pastor Ed teaches us that as we are submerged into the water during baptism, this is symbolic of the death of self. Our sinful nature is dead and can no longer be tempted by what the world has to offer. Then as we come up out of the water, we indentify with Christ’s resurrection. This illustrates the new birth in Jesus and the beginning of our new life. We overcome the world by the power of the cross and will one day live eternally with God.

We live in a world that is often governed by fear and worry. A cursory glance at the evening news can instill fear in almost anyone. However, the Christian does not have to be ruled by fear because we are governed by our faith in Christ. In today’s message, Pastor Ed challenges us to trust God and forsake our fear and worry. The Lord grants us many precious promises. To take hold of these promises, we need only to believe that God is able to keep them. As our faith grows, we find the peace that surpasses all understanding.

When we make the choice to accept the gift God extends to us and become forever more His children, we take on a lifestyle that would have been foreign to us before. We are suddenly set apart from the world, and are called to live a life focused on God. It seems easy in the beginning, but the influence of the world can creep in and take over. Pastor Ed cautions us today against letting who we used to be continue to be who we are with Christ, and encourages us to let Christ guide our steps and focus our hearts!

This life will have struggles. That is guaranteed. As Pastor Ed reminds us today, we will run into opposition as we do our best to live a God-glorifying life in a world filled with evil and destruction. However, there is one example that we can turn to when we find ourselves in the midst of difficulties – Jesus! He too lived a life oppressed by the world, yet through it all, He honored His Father with His actions and words. We are asked to live a similar lifestyle – exalting God, even when the world is against us!

In the book of Daniel, we read an overview of human history. What that history reveals is that men are sinful, rebellious and violent. However, Daniel’s prophecies also uncover the Lord’s omniscience and sovereignty in human events. Pastor Ed teaches us today that though we often do not fully understand what the Lord is doing, we know that God is fully able to finish the redemptive work He started since the fall of man. Jesus’s Word will be completed, and as such, we can rest in His abilities to rule planet earth.

When Adam and Eve dwelled in the Garden, Satan sold Eve the lie that she could become like God. Our enemy is selling the same lie today. He has even convinced many people that God doesn’t exist and that one can chart his own course without answering to God’s authority. Pastor Ed points out in today’s message from Daniel chapter 11 that whenever man exalts himself or tries to walk without God, it always leads to great disaster. Conversely, those that obey the Lord and give Him honor will be blessed.

In Daniel chapter 10, Daniel asked God to help him understand a vision. Daniel waited for twenty-one days before getting an answer to his prayer. What Daniel didn’t know was that during the long twenty-one day wait, angels were warring with principalities because Satan was attempting to hinder Daniel’s answer. This Biblical example demonstrates that sometimes when we face difficulty, we might be experiencing spiritual warfare. Pastor Ed teaches us today to recognize that spiritual warfare exists, and to never give up in prayer.

In Daniel chapter 10, Daniel prayed fervently and fasted for his people Israel. He longed to see the Jews return from their Babylonian exile to their homeland Israel. Daniel appealed to the Lord’s sense of mercy, because he knew that God had no obligation to answer because of man’s sin. In today’s message, Pastor Ed teaches us to come to the Lord in prayer with a spirit of humility like Daniel. We must recognize that the only reason we can come into the presence of Jesus is because of His grace and mercy.

In today’s message from Daniel chapter 8, we will learn about Daniel’s glimpse into the future. Pastor Ed interprets Daniel’s vision of the ram and goat. Pastor Ed then teaches us that the future Daniel saw came to pass and is now written in secular history books. This astonishing fact proves the authenticity of Scripture. Finally, Pastor Ed will point out that the only Person that will rule over the people of earth justly and fairly is Jesus Christ. Therefore, we wait patiently for the day of His return.

In Daniel chapter 8, Daniel has a vision of a ram and a goat. The animals fight in an epic scene that causes violence throughout the earth. In today’s message, Pastor Ed teaches us the meaning of the dream. The animals represent kingdoms on earth. God uses these animals as symbols to represent the beastly fallen nature of world governments and all of mankind. Pastor Ed reminds us that even as un-regenerated men cause trouble for the people of God, Christians can take heart that God is on His throne and He will prevail.