CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Micah’s prophecy of the Messiah’s birth continues with what His reign is going to look like. With the benefit of hindsight, we know that the nation of Israel’s initial reaction to Him will be rejection and God will judge them for it, there is a promise of their restoration and enjoying His reign over them forever.

1. The road to Heaven is paved by opposition from the world.

2. God isn’t through with the Jewish people.

3. Jesus is the only reason we know, have, and can be a source of peace.

The conclusion of the book of Judges involves a series of events that set off a chain reaction of disasters for Israel spiritually and politically. Due to a purposeful neglect of God's Word and an overall attitude of picking and choosing what to believe about the Bible, it led to a repeat of history that no one wanted to hear happened in the first place and somehow got worse.

1. No Christian is an authority over the Bible.

2. Doing what you want as long as you don't hurt anyone eventually hurts someone.

3. Everyone is an example. For better or worse.

In light of current events taking place in Iran, it is important to be aware of God's future plans for the people of that nation.

1. The people of Elam are modern day Iran and Persia. Specifically Khusestan.

2. Islam has and remains the greatest motivating factor for the world's hatred of God's People.

3. Israel and Iran both have a place in God's plans for the future. Not for destruction, but a restoration He will see to personally.

The success of the United States and Israel in dismantling Iran's nuclear program will set up a state of peace in the Middle East that should be used as motivation to look up and anticipate the Lord's return. Not as a cause, but the kind of environment Jesus said would precede His coming.

1. The enemies of God's people always find their efforts backfire on them.

2. The state of the world before the Rapture won't be chaos, but peace and safety.

3. No matter how chaotic this world becomes, God is still on the throne.

The prophetically significant events taking place in 2025 shouldn’t make us think there are dates to the Rapture, but some important things to remember as we remain vigilant, sober, and rejoicing at His coming as Scripture tells us to do.

1. The greatest manifestation of the heart of Satan is hatred of the Jewish people.

2. The world’s state before the Rapture will be celebrating peace and safety.

3. Every Christian’s desire should be to escape God’s Wrath.

The Parable of the Prodigal Sons showcases the heart of God as a father perfectly. Through Jesus' illustration to the Pharisees of the main difference between themselves and God, He draws attention to their lack of joy at the mercy they themselves also need before a just and holy God.

1. Fatherhood is a ministry where God models His nature through us.

2. God the Father went first when seeking reconciliation with us regardless of whether or not we deserved it.

3. God is the only One who can love like Father's are called to.

The prophecy of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem also provides another detail about who the Messiah/Son of David would be. He is described as eternal, which is something only God can truthfully claim.

1. The location of Jesus’ birth was predicted 800 years before it took place.

2. Jesus’ claims to be God were in the sort of things He did and said.

3. God’s character is trusted because He’s kept every promise He’s ever made.

Paul's introduction to his second letter to Thessalonica shows what early Christians were teaching each other. They were aware of the fact they were going to be persecuted, that there are consequences to rejecting God, and that the Second Coming would be a very real hope for all of them and put an end to what they were enduring.

1. 2 Thessalonians is extremely early information regarding Christian beliefs.

2. Persecution was something the entire early church was aware of and endured.

3. The short term consequences of rejecting God is acting less and less like Him. The long term consequences are what those actions deserve.

During the time of Judges, we are shown just how dark a time it was spiritually by being shown the life of one man named Micah. His spiritual compromises were the norm at this point in history and it only brought disaster on him and his home. We have the benefit of learning from his mistakes and seeing what kind of people he surrounded himself with that kept him from the relationship with God he could have had.

1. False prophets rarely stay in one place for long.

2. False prophets are ultimately motivated by money.

3. God doesn't let His children get away with anything.