Elmhurst CRC

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Gregg DeMey

Rachel Kloster (as read by Billy Heschl)

Kelly Day, Director of Coffee Break Bible Study

Kyle Olson 0:08

Welcome to Elmhurst, CRC'S daily dose of the Word of God. This week we will contrast the visible with the invisible worlds, are we reading from the voice translation of Ephesians, six, verses 10 through 12. Probably a good idea to start at ten, not earlier.

Kyle Olson 0:27

 "Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God, put on the full armor of God to protect yourselves from the devil in his evil schemes. We're not waging war against enemies of flesh and blood alone. No, this fight is against tyrants, against authorities against supernatural powers and demon princes that slither in the darkness of this world, and against wicked spiritual armies that lurk about in heavenly places."

Kyle Olson 0:57

 Let's pray. Lord, thank You for Your word. Thank you for your spirit. Thank you for your gift of armor. Lord, we know you only want the best for us. You want to protect us, you are our father. Sometimes it seems, Lord that maybe you've left us here all alone, with no help at all. But as we dig deeper into your Word, and we spend time with you, we realize you are with us and your spirit. You are with us in the flesh, when you sent your Son Jesus, and that you go ahead of us protecting us from things that may come. Your word it also tells us that we will face challenges in following you, and that we will have battles, intense battles, not only in the world that we see, but in the invisible spiritual world. Help us to see those things for what they are. Shine a light in the dark places, scattering those enemies so that they may have no power against us. But also Lord, You tell us to love our enemies, to pray for them, to treat them with grace and mercy. And so, Lord, we pray all of this. We know that you can give us the strength to do all these things. In Your name. Amen.

Rebekah Wilson 0:11

Welcome to Elmhurst, CRCS daily dose of the Word of God. Today's Tuesday August 1, and this is Rebecca Wilson. This week we will contrast the visible with the invisible worlds by reading Colossians two verses six through 10. I'll be reading from the New Living Translation.

Rebekah Wilson 0:30

"And now just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so that you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy are high sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ. For in Christ, the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe."

Rebekah Wilson 1:15

As Paul continues in his letter to the Colossians, he's admonishing them in their faith. Over and over, he explains and teaches about the superiority of Christ, for whom Paul is in chains. As believers in Jesus we are to grow in our obedience to Him. Paul tells the Colossians and us to let our roots go down deep and to drop some stubbornness from Christ. Our faith grows stronger and more vigorous as we obey and put our faith to action. This naturally leads to an overflow of gratitude for Jesus as we recall his good deeds on our behalf and his faithfulness to us. Being filled with gratitude then prepares us and protects us against the enemy schemes to deceive and distract us. As Paul says, when we are full of the wisdom of Christ. The philosophy and nonsense of this world will be obvious, behind every lie or falsehood against God. There is an invisible enemy stoking the fire, the enemy had targeted the thinking of the Colossians and targets our thinking today, to distract us or confuse us or to deceive us about the truth of who God is. And we don't have to be afraid, though, because as Paul points out, the truth about Jesus already dwells within us as followers of him.

Rebekah Wilson 2:39

Let's pray. Father God, when I think about the fact that Jesus dwells within me and has taken up residence in my soul, I am filled to overflowing with thanksgiving. We thank you for providing a way for us to be temples of your spirit. Help us to be rooted and built up in our faith in you. Help us to be strengthened in our face so that no one is able to fool us or deceive us through hollow philosophy. Lord, we take up our shields of faith to protect us from all the enemy's flaming arrows, and we pray this all in Jesus name, Amen.

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Kara Hackert, Director of Children & Family Ministries

Sheri Van Spronsen Leppink, Director of Communications

Kyle Olson, Technical Director