Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

David Shedd walks the students through the story of Elijah the Prophet and his conversation on the mountain with God, seeing that He was not finished with him yet.

He examines the scope of God’s infinite love, that what God has in store through trials are unexpected blessings, and that there should be no presumptions to try and know God’s reasons for these trials.

Scripture Text

1 Kings 18-19

Main Points or Ideas

The Reality of Trials and Disappointments

• Life comes with trials, tests, and disappointments—they're a fact of life
• The existential question: How do we respond to what God allows in our lives?
• Disappointment is often described as "the gap between expectations and reality," but this definition is too shallow
• Trials can be unexpected and unfair (or feel that way)
• Trials and tests are intended to grow believers in dependency on the Lord and mold them into Christ's likeness

Elijah's Mountaintop and Valley Experience

• 1 Kings 18: Elijah's mountaintop experience at Mount Carmel—contest with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah
• God's fire fell, consumed the offering, and the people declared "The Lord, He is God"
• Elijah slaughtered all the false prophets and the drought miraculously ended
• 1 Kings 19: Immediately after this victory, Elijah ran for his life from Queen Jezebel
• Elijah reached Beersheba, went another day's journey alone, and his despondency deepened until he asked God to take his life—"I've had enough"
• After being miraculously fed by an angel, he traveled another 40 days to Mount Horeb in the Negev desert
• Elijah remained discouraged, despondent, and wanting to die—but God was not finished with him

God's Encounter with Elijah (1 Kings 19:9-18)

• God asked: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
• Elijah's response (twice): "I have been very jealous for the Lord...I, even I only, am left and they seek my life"—feeling sorry for himself
• God's demonstration: great wind, earthquake, fire—but God was not in any of these
• God spoke in "a low whisper" or "still small voice"
• God's correction: "Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal"
• Elijah completely underestimated and underappreciated the hand of Almighty God

The Scope of God's Love is Infinite

• Nothing surprises God—no exceptions to what we go through
• God uses disappointments and trials so we further depend on Him

What God Has in Store Emerging from Disappointments is Full of Unexpected Outcomes

• God delivers unexpected blessings and outcomes from disappointments
• God's ways are not our ways—Isaiah 55:8-9

Do Not Be Presumptuous About What God Intends

• Don't try to know what God intends amid disappointments
• You may not understand it even afterwards—God's ways are not your ways
• God's answers for Elijah were not in the wind, earthquake, or fire—they were in the "be still and know that I am God" whisper
• Elijah's presumption that no believers were left was completely wrong—there were 7,000 who had never bowed to Baal

Conclusion

Think of tests, trials, and disappointments with your eyes set upon eternity. Ask how God is speaking through your testing.

Will you face difficulties with joy? Will you seize this as an opportunity to mature in the nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit?

Dr. Jim Tillotson states that humans can live only one second without hope. He shows that Satan wants to crush hope but encourages students that hope is tied to God Himself. Dr. Jim also encourages the students to put their hope in God even when life is at its worst.

Scripture Texts

Titus 2:11-15; Romans 15:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Timothy 1:1; Romans 6:17-22; Revelation 1:13-17

Main Points or Ideas

Steadfast Hope (verse 13)

• "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ"

• The two men on the road to Emmaus had lost hope after Christ's death, but when Jesus revealed Himself, their hearts burned within them—hope returned
• Areas where students may be losing hope: paying school bills, finding a spouse, passing a class, recovering from health issues, having victory over besetting sin
• Satan wants to crush hope, like Job's wife who said "curse God and die" when they lost everything
• Hope is as necessary to the human spirit as oxygen is to the physical body
• God is the author of hope—Romans 15:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Timothy 1:1
• When losing hope, believers often neglect Bible reading, prayer, and meditation
• Misplaced hopes: hoping to go to heaven without Christ, hoping to grow without reading God's Word, hoping to live happily while in rebellion
• Life with Christ is an endless hope; life without Christ is a hopeless end

Glorious Appearing

• When Christ returns, it will be a glorious appearing like the Northern Lights—standing in awe at something amazing
• Revelation 1:13-17 describes Christ's appearance: white hair, eyes like flame, feet like brass, voice like many waters (like Niagara Falls—deafening roar), seven stars in hand, sharp sword from mouth, countenance like the sun
• When John saw Him, he fell at His feet as dead—the brightness and glory of Christ's return

Redeeming Grace (verse 14)

• "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for himself his own special people, zealous for good works"
• Redeem comes from Greek word meaning releasing someone held captive (prisoner or slave)
• Unsaved people are in bondage to sin; Christ came to set believers free
• Mark 10:45: "He gave his life a ransom for many"
• Romans 6:17-22: Believers were slaves of sin but have been set free and become slaves of righteousness
• When God freed believers from sin, He expected them to be His slaves—slaves to righteousness
• Every sin (past, present, and future) has been paid for by Christ—believers are freed from the penalty of sin
• Believers don't continue in sin because they love God, not because they lack ability to sin
• Don't be weird—be different; Christians should be different, not weird
• Good deeds are not an add-on but should be central—believers should be zealous for good works

Exploding Grace (verse 15)

• "Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you"
• Talk about Jesus Christ in conversations at work and restaurants
• Exhort—encourage others to think about Him
• Reprove—biblical edification means living better, not just feeling better
• With all authority—God's truth is absolute truth, always true for all people, all places, all times
• Let no one despise you—don't let culture shut you up; boldly proclaim gospel truths
• Make a difference—souls hang in the balance

Conclusion

When Christ comes back and believers stand before God in heaven, it will be better than any earthly victory or celebration. We have a lost and dying world that needs to hear about Jesus Christ, who is our hope, has redeemed us from every lawless deed, and calls us to be His peculiar people, zealous for good works.

Adam Beecher, pastor of New City Church in Ankeny, speaks to the students about Cain and Abel. He looks at the story of Scripture from the very beginning and gives context to how God first gives whispers of the gospel. He looks at the root of anger and the type of love Cain and Abel had for God.

Scripture Texts

Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 11:4; Hebrews 12:24; Matthew 5:21-22

Main Points or Ideas

The Enemy Within

• Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd—both fulfilling God's commission to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion
• Cain brought "an offering of the fruit of the ground" while Abel brought "the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions"
• God regarded (literally "saw") Abel's sacrifice but did not see Cain's
• The difference: Abel was generous, giving the best and trusting God for the rest; Cain's offering lacked faith
• Hebrews 11:4 reveals Abel offered by faith and was commended as righteous
• Cain became very angry and his face fell—his heart was hard
• God's counsel (the first counseling session in the Bible): "Why are you angry? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it"
• This is the first mention of the word "sin" in the Bible
• God warns about a new kind of enemy—not the serpent in the garden, but an enemy within
• Cain represents the first Pharisee—his sacrifice was transactional, wanting God's blessings without wanting God himself
• Application: Why are you here at college? Do you expect God to give you things (career, spouse, life) in exchange for your time and religious obligations? Or do you worship Him because He's worthy?

The Blood That Cries Out

• Cain lured Abel to the field and killed him—the first murder in the Bible
• When God asked "Where is Abel?" Cain lied ("I don't know") and responded with sarcasm ("Am I my brother's keeper?")
• The biblical answer to "Am I my brother's keeper?" is a resounding yes—we are to care for one another
• God's strange statement: "The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground"
• This reveals that when lifeblood is shed and injustice happens, it is deafening to God—He hears it
• God is fair and moved by injustice
• The curse intensified: in Eden, toil came; now Cain is cursed from the ground itself as a farmer
• Cain's ironic plea: he fears murderers when he himself is a murderer—sin makes us irrational
• Despite Cain being a monster and murderer deserving severe punishment, God showed him grace by putting a mark on him for protection
• God is on the side of sinners (not for their sin) and extends grace even to monsters

The Better Word

• Jesus is the hero of the story, and like Abel, He is a faithful shepherd who was innocent yet killed
• Abel's blood cried out "Avenge me!"—calling for justice to be made right
• Hebrews 12:24 says Jesus' "sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel"
• When Abel died, his blood worsened the curse; when Jesus died, His blood overturned the curse
• Jesus' blood cries out "Forgive them!"—this is why He's the hero
• As Jesus was being murdered, He said "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing"
• God doesn't lose His sense of justice, but He is also gracious, merciful, loving, and long-suffering
• Jesus offers salvation to all and forgives murderers—Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, was a murderer whom Jesus forgave

Conclusion

The gospel is a story with a beautiful beginning, an awful conflict with the serpent and the sin nature within, but ultimately a hero who saves the day. As teachers and advocates of the gospel, believers must tell people about the blood that speaks—what Jesus' blood says for them. His blood speaks the word of forgiveness that we all need, the resolution we long for, bringing peace and restoration to God.

Dr. Brent Belford speaks from 1 Corinthians 1 on how God uses weak people for His gospel and His glory. He looks at what God does with weak people and why God does it the way He does. He encourages the students to consider their calling and gives examples from Scripture of weak and unlikely people that God used for His gospel.

Scripture Texts

1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-4; 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Main Points or Ideas

What God Does with Weak People (verses 26-28)

• Paul calls the Corinthians to consider the nature of their own calling—to look at themselves honestly
• Seven descriptions of the Corinthian believers: not many wise according to worldly standards, not many mighty, not many noble, God chose the foolish, the weak, the low and despised, and "things that are not" (worse than the have-nots—they're the "are nots" or "were nots")
• They were so little valued that they barely counted as individuals—they existed but were regarded as if they did not exist
• God delights to use weak people

Paul's Personal Testimony of Weakness

• Paul's preaching in Corinth: "I was with you in weakness, fear, and much trembling" (1 Corinthians 2:3)
• He did not use lofty speech or wisdom
• Some Corinthians said his "bodily presence is weak and his speech is of no account" (2 Corinthians 10:10)
• Second-century description: Paul was short, bald, with crooked legs, a unibrow, and a hooked nose—not a picture of strength

David's Selection as King

• God rejected Saul and chose David, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse
• Samuel looked at David's older brothers first, thinking they would be chosen based on appearance
• God said: "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7)
• God selected and empowered the least obvious choice

Encouragement for the Weak

• God does not need gifted, noble, powerful, or intelligent people
• He needs weak people, lowly people, willing people, surrendered people that He can empower for His glory
• God chose the foolish to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong, and the nothings to nullify the things that are

Why God Does It This Way (verses 29-31)

To Silence Human Beings (verse 29)

• "So that no human being might boast in the presence of God"
• God's ultimate purpose in using weak vessels is that all flesh would be silenced before Him
• If anything good comes from a misfit, everyone will know the power belongs to God, not the person
• Personal testimony: At age 17, the speaker surrendered to pastoral ministry at camp, but the next day his youth pastor predicted he would be a used car salesman (not a pastor like his two friends)—yet God had a different plan so that if good things happened, everyone would know the power was God's

So That Silenced People Might Boast in Jesus (verses 30-31)

• "Because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption"
• God opened our eyes to see the wisdom and power of the cross
• Through Christ we receive gifts of righteousness, sanctification (holiness), and redemption (freedom from slavery to sin)
• God does this "so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord'" (quoting Jeremiah 9)
• Illustration: A 90-pound man holding an elephant gun—no one asks how he did it; the strength lies entirely in the weapon
• The strength lies entirely in the gospel of Jesus Christ, not in the messenger

Conclusion

God doesn't need the naturally strong because the power of God is in the gospel of His Son Jesus. Believers should commit to do whatever God asks in their weakness so they can make much of Jesus, knowing that weak people with a powerful gospel bring glory to God alone.

Chaplain George Youstra walks through the example of Abraham and Isaac and God’s provision of the ram. Youstra gives examples from his own life of how God provided for him and how God also used him to be the “ram in the thicket” for others. He asks the students if they are willing to meet the needs of others and share the gospel with them.

Scripture Texts

Genesis 22:1-13; Romans 12:1

Main Points or Ideas

God's Provision - The Ram in the Thicket

• Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac but told his servants "we will come back"—demonstrating faith that God would provide
• When Abraham raised the knife, God stopped him and provided a ram caught in the thicket as a substitute sacrifice
• The ram represents God's provision for Abraham's family and the continuation of God's promises
• Personal testimony: After helping Ellen Jordan (a widow identifying her husband's body in San Antonio), God spoke about provision—if He could bring a chaplain from Tampa and a widow from Oklahoma together at the right moment, He could provide for the speaker's family after military retirement
• That encounter became the confirmation needed to retire from the Air Force, trusting God's provision

Being a Shofar - Sharing God's Message

• The ram's horn (shofar) was used throughout Scripture for significant purposes: giving the Mosaic Law, battle of Jericho, Gideon's victory, calling to war, anointing kings, setting feasts, praising God, calling to repentance, declaring God's glory
• As rams in the thicket, believers are called to be shofars—trumpets blowing God's message
• Questions to consider: Who are you supposed to share the gospel with? Who needs to hear a warning about godless eternity? Who among your classmates is struggling or living on the edge?
• Every speaking opportunity should include the gospel because you never know how the Holy Spirit is working in someone's life
• Challenge: Present your bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), willing to be God's mouthpiece

Meeting Physical Needs - Using Every Part

• Every part of the ram was used: skin for tents, clothes, and shoes; fur for warmth; meat for food; fat for lamp oil
• Just as the ram provided comprehensively, believers should meet various needs in their communities
• Examples of provision: helping clothe others, feeding the hungry, visiting hospice patients, meeting financial needs of struggling classmates, encouraging those with sick family members
• Personal testimony: After betrayal, wife's broken arm, father's death (June), and mother's death (September) in 2025, Christians from around the country became rams in the thicket for the Youstra family through financial support when parents' promised retirement support disappeared
• Challenge: Get your eyes off yourself and pour yourself into other people—this is one of the most important things you will ever do

Conclusion

Like the ram in the thicket had no choice but to be sacrificed for Abraham's need, those who wear the uniform or serve in ministry have no choice but to sacrifice for others. The call is to become a generation of rams in the thicket, providing for the special needs of a lost and dying world through sharing the gospel and meeting physical needs in the community.

Dr. Steve Petit shares how shame works and how it can be overcome. He states the reality that shame is stubborn, going back to the Fall of Man in Genesis 3, where it exposed sin and doubt of God’s character. Petit then shares that shame is despised. He shares that it is a painful experience, and that even Jesus despised it, as Hebrews 12 describes.

Scripture Texts

Genesis 2:25; Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51; Isaiah 61:7

Main Points or Ideas

1. Shame Discovered

• The first human emotion revealed in Scripture is the absence of shame—Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed (Genesis 2:25)
• Shame fundamentally means being exposed or uncovered, followed by humiliation and dishonor
• Shame entered through the serpent's tactics: creating doubt about God's goodness and denying God's truth
• Satan portrayed God as a narcissist who only cares about Himself, leading Eve to feel ashamed for trusting God
• When Adam and Eve's eyes were opened, they experienced shame awakening and did what we all do—they ran and hid
• Shame is being seen in your failure, exposed in your weakness, uncovered in your sin, unprotected by dignity, unable to hide
• Shame is not merely psychological but spiritual, a direct result of sin

2. Shame Despised

• We all despise shame and hide things not because we don't know what we did, but because we don't want anyone else to know
• People carry shame from many sources: sin, failures (family, career, moral, marital, financial), abuse (verbal, physical, sexual), addictions, not being enough, sickness or weakness
• God despises shame even more than we do—Jesus "despised the shame" of the cross (Hebrews 12:2)
• Jesus experienced shame from birth to death: born under scandal and in poverty, raised in despised Nazareth, rejected by His people, disbelieved by His brothers, labeled insane and demon-possessed, homeless and dependent on others
• In His arrest: betrayed, denied, abandoned, spit upon, slapped, beaten, publicly mocked
• In His crucifixion: stripped naked, hung on a tree (under God's judgment), mocked by all, forsaken by the Father
• Christ counted shame as nothing because of the joy set before Him—the joy of bringing redeemed sinners with Him into glory
• Jesus came to bear our shame, remove our shame, redeem our shame, and give us His glory

3. Shame Defeated

• Peter's experience: denied Jesus three times with curse words, then Jesus looked at him and Peter was crushed with guilt and broken by shame

Recognize the presence of shame in your life - Shame grips you when you don't want anyone to find out; guilt says "I did something wrong" but shame says "I am bad"—shame attacks your identity

Confess the shame if it's related to sin - Not all shame comes from sin, but when it does, confession is the door to freedom; shame says hide from God, but grace says run to God (1 John 1:9 promises both forgiveness and cleansing)

Immerse yourself in your true identity - Satan is the accuser who attacks identity, but Jesus is the advocate who bore and buried your shame; replace shame's lies with gospel truth: shame says you're naked (God says He's clothed you), shame says you're bad (God says no condemnation), shame says you're dirty (God says you're washed and justified), shame says you're a failure (God says He'll give you a double portion)

Live in gospel community - Shame thrives in silence but dies in the light; confess your faults to someone (pastor, counselor, friend) for healing through transparency

Conclusion

Jesus restored Peter after his denial by asking three times "Do you love me?" and commissioning him to "feed my sheep." Jesus doesn't just forgive us but rewrites our story, turning cowards into preachers and broken people into bold witnesses. We don't overcome shame with our own strength but rise because Jesus has conquered our shame, and once redeemed, that shame becomes part of our testimony where God's grace shines brightly.

Dr. Jason Ormiston shares from Acts 19 how the gospel created new beginnings in the city of Ephesus. He encourages the students to know and share in God’s Work. He shares that God desires them to know His Word, engage in what they have been called to, understand the role of the Holy Spirit, and to understand the unity of the church.

Scripture Text

Acts 19:1-7

Main Points or Ideas

Understand Scripture

• Paul found disciples in Ephesus who were following "the way" but didn't fully understand it
• These twelve disciples of John the Baptist had incomplete knowledge, similar to Apollos in Acts 18
• "The way" refers to the path of salvation through Jesus Christ, referenced throughout the Old Testament (Isaiah 35:8-9) and fulfilled in Jesus who said "I am the way, the truth, and the life"
• Understanding Scripture accurately is essential to recognizing where God is at work

Engage in Your Calling

• Paul went to Ephesus because he understood his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles
• His missionary journeys were directly impacted by his understanding of Scripture and God's promises in Isaiah
• Paul moved in concentric circles (like Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost) as he reached different regions
• On his third journey, Paul focused on strengthening and encouraging disciples, understanding the importance of discipleship
• God has a group of people for us to find in every location—He is never not at work

Understand the Role of the Holy Spirit

• The twelve disciples had not even heard of the Holy Spirit, showing that people can be sincere but incomplete in their understanding
• The Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son
• He is the comforter, counselor, advocate, teacher, and witness
• He convicts of sin, indwells believers, produces fruit, guides, and intercedes
• Believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit at the point of conversion
• We grieve the Holy Spirit when we: (1) use Him to excuse our sinfulness, (2) pit Him against Scripture, or (3) suggest He is jealous of our focus on Christ
• The Spirit always points us to Jesus and works through Scripture to direct our steps
• The laying on of hands and speaking in tongues were apostolic signs for that unique time in history
• Tongues refers to speaking in languages unknown to the speaker but understood by recipients (Acts 2)

Embrace the Unity of the Church

• The twelve disciples represent the completion of God's work to all people groups
• Acts 2:4 - Jews; Acts 8:14-17 - Samaritans; Acts 10 - Gentiles; Acts 19 - Old Testament saints who needed to understand Jesus better
• There is no place where the gospel cannot be understood and accepted

Conclusion

God is the God of new beginnings who calls believers to rejoice in new chapters of life, yield to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and take advantage of opportunities to boldly proclaim truth. When facing two good options, choose the harder path where you will see God work most intimately and powerfully.

Dr. David Anderson, president of Maranatha Baptist University, spoke on loving your neighbor with a Christlike love. He retells the story of the Good Samaritan, stating this as Jesus’ opportunity to reach the young lawyer with God’s Word, sharing the application of the greatest commandments being to love God and love people. Dr. Anderson shows that the young lawyer understood Jesus and equated loving God and loving others with a selfless and merciful kind of love.

Scripture Texts

Luke 8:4-21; Luke 10:25-42

Main Points or Ideas

The Lawyer's Question and Jesus' Response (verses 25-28)

• A lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, attempting to trick Jesus
• Jesus redirects the question back to the lawyer, who correctly answers: love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself
• Jesus affirms this answer and says "this do, and thou shalt live"
• This is not works salvation but demonstrates that true faith produces works—faith without works is dead
• Only those indwelt by the Spirit can truly love their neighbor with God's love

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (verses 29-37)

• When the lawyer asks "who is my neighbor?" Jesus tells the parable
• A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho is robbed, beaten, and left half dead
• A priest passes by without helping, demonstrating he does not truly love God
• A Levite also passes by, showing the same lack of genuine faith
• A Samaritan (unlikely hero in this Jewish context) stops to help with compassion, taking significant risk and going above and beyond to care for the wounded man
• The Samaritan demonstrates what it means to truly love your neighbor—interrupting your life, going out of your way, and sacrificing your own resources
• Jesus commands: "Go, and do thou likewise"

Martha and Mary (verses 38-42)

• Jesus visits Martha and Mary's home
• Martha busily serves while Mary sits at Jesus' feet listening to His word
• Martha becomes frustrated that Mary isn't helping and asks Jesus to tell her sister to serve
• Jesus gently corrects Martha: she is careful (self-promoting) and troubled about many things
• Mary has chosen "that good part" by prioritizing time with Jesus and His Word
• The lesson: loving God must come first before loving your neighbor
• Service done without first loving God comes from a wrong heart and won't be done rightly

Conclusion

Believers must love God first by spending time in His Word and sitting at His feet, and then love their neighbor sacrificially and abundantly as an outgrowth of that relationship. Getting this order reversed leads to service that is self-promoting rather than God-honouring.

Dr. Paul Hartog encourages the students to be unified as believers to Christ. He states that all enmity is abolished, a new body is formed through grace, and that as the church, there is equal access to God.

Scripture Text

Ephesians 2:13-18

Main Points or Ideas

• Through Christ, an Old Enmity Is Abolished - "But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." The Gentiles were once christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless, and godless—without Christ, without commonality, without covenant, without hope, and without God. They were atheists who did not know the one true personal God. But the transition from far off to near is brought about through the blood of Christ. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, but with the shedding of blood there is reconciliation of sinners. Christ "has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of partition," abolishing the enmity. The upright post of the cross represents reconciliation with God (vertical fellowship), while the horizontal crossbar represents fellowship with one another. Our most important identity is our unity in Christ as renewed and regenerated human beings.
• Through Christ, a New Body Is Formed - The middle wall that separated Jews and Gentiles was the Mosaic Law. Christ abolished "in his flesh the enmity, that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances." This is strong language—the law itself was the enmity. Christ neutralized the negative effects of the law by doing away with the law. The Torah still reveals God's character, but the law was a tutor to bring us to Christ, and Christ was the end (goal or completion) of the law. We are no longer under the Mosaic Law but under grace. The framework of moral obligation flows from the grace stewardship of the law of Christ rather than from the Law of Moses. The law of Christ is written on our hearts internally by the Spirit, empowering and motivating us internally to do what's right—this is the fruit of the Spirit. From the two (Jews and Gentiles), Christ has created "one new man," a new corporate entity that did not previously exist. This is a new creation, something brand new that transcends the old categories. The church is new—it is not found in the Old Testament. The foundation of this new entity is the apostles and New Testament prophets, which could not happen until Jesus ascended and sent the Spirit at Pentecost. Grace connects us not only to God in Christ but also to each other.
• Through Christ, Equal Access Is Granted - Christ "came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." Here we see implicit Trinitarianism—through Christ, we have access by one Spirit to the Father. Within the Trinity there is no discord, strife, conflict, or hostility, and the Trinitarian God has brought us into that perfection of love as agents of reconciliation. The word "access" brings to mind the ancient Near Eastern throne room, like when Esther appeared before King Xerxes and he extended his royal scepter, granting her access. Through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, we have access to the throne room of God based upon the eternal relationship between the Son and the Father. Both Jews and Gentiles have been granted equal access to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Conclusion

Three applications:

1. With whom am I at odds and how can I encourage reconciliation and shalom?
2. Do I see myself as united with my fellow believers for a greater purpose in a single body—a purpose greater than my preferences, desires, or activities?
3. Do I take advantage of my access, enjoying the privilege of prayer and reveling in my Trinitarian access to the Father?

J.D. Enosh addresses the security believers have in an uncertain world as the people of God who are always under the protection of the Most High. The shadow of God is not an occasional place but a constant, abiding place—it is to dwellers, not visitors, that the Lord promises protection.

Scripture Texts

Psalm 91:1-8; Isaiah 32:2; Song of Solomon 2:3; Psalm 63:7; Isaiah 49:2; Isaiah 51:16; Psalm 91:9-16

Main Points or Ideas

• The Shadow of a Great Rock in a Weary Land - Isaiah 32:2 describes a man as a hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. This shadow shows when we first meet the Lord as a refuge in the time of troubles, especially when we are lost in sin and the wrath and judgment of God abides upon us. The Lord is our covering for sin—He took God's wrath for our sin, became sin for us, and bore the punishment in our place. Jesus is a complete covering; we must abide there and not venture forth to answer for ourselves. Satan accuses us before God's throne day and night, but Jesus our advocate says He does not remember our sins anymore.
• The Shadow of a Tree - Song of Solomon 2:3 pictures sitting under His shadow with great delight, with His fruit sweet to our taste. This shadow refers to the believer once he has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ—a rest of joy and contentment that Jesus is our all in all. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart, and the joy of the Lord becomes our strength.
• The Shadow of His Wings - Psalm 63:7 speaks of rejoicing in the shadow of God's wings. This is our trust in depression and trouble, pictured as little birds in their nest under the shadow of their mother's wing. When we are sick and depressed, worried about our future, our children and family, or when Satan's temptations are upon us, we run to God and hide near His heart beneath His wing. J.D. Enosh shares testimony of violent persecution in India in 1983 while screening the Jesus film—they were attacked, dragged to a temple, and forced to worship idols, but refused. As they fled the village, stones were thrown at them, yet the Lord protected them and none of the stones struck them. Despite many attacks and imprisonments, they continued preaching the gospel, and wherever they faced severe persecution, they were able to plant churches.
• Under the Shadow of His Hand - Isaiah 49:2 and 51:16 speak of being hidden in the shadow of God's hand. This passage refers to Jesus Christ being hidden in the hands of the Father to be used by God. We are also His servants to be used by Him to speak His word. Everyone who speaks a word for Jesus Christ can share in this verse—those who preach, teach, and do outreach are in the shadow of God's hand. Satan cannot touch a hair on our head until God gives permission, and even then, He will be with us and give us special grace to endure persecution.
• Blessings for Those Who Dwell in His Shadow - Psalm 91:9-16 promises that no evil shall befall those who dwell in the shadow of the Lord, no plague shall come near their dwelling, God's angels will be given charge over them to keep them in all their ways, they will have power over Satan and his demons, God will deliver and lift them up, He will answer their prayers and be with them in trouble, and He will give them long life and show them His salvation.

Conclusion

God will protect and keep believers under His wings when they dedicate themselves and go into the mission field. God has brought each person with a definite purpose and wants to use their lives mightily. The message concludes with a request for prayer and for mission teams to come to India so they can have passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.