There is in all of us a weakness. We tend to forget and often take for granted all the blessing we enjoy. We are a blessed people. We are blessed to enjoy the freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy. In our text, Israel had been on a long journey. It was not difficult because of the terrain, but because of themselves. They had made it much more complicated than it had to be. Because of their stubbornness and rebellion, their journey had lasted forty years. The entire book of Deuteronomy was a recounting of their forty-year journey. God reminded His people that when their lives were blessed, to remember the source of that blessing. Multiple times throughout the book, Moses urges them to remember or not to forget. God wanted them to remember that they had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. He wanted them to remember from where they had come. When we remember where we come from, it has a way of keeping us humble. Too many of us have forgotten from where God brought us. Some have forgotten the fear of being lost or the pain and suffering of sin. God wants to remind us that what intimidates us, does not intimidate Him. He can save by many or by few. Look beyond our current situation and know that God is in control. God tells his people all the ways He had led them. Every twist and turn that brought us to where we are has been required to get us where God needs us to be. That winding road leads to a better place. No matter how long the journey, it will be worth it. We do not like the twists and turns or the ups and downs, but God has a purpose in all of it. In chapter 8, God reminds them that he is the source of their wealth and increase. That is counter to what our world tells us. Our society promotes the self-made man, but God made all of us. The truth is, everything we have is because of the blessings of God. People do not realize that they will spend their entire life trying to achieve the impossible. In chapter 32, God says to remember the days of old and to consider the years of many generations. Our culture caters to young people, but the truth is that we need to cherish the generations that have come before us. We need the voice and experience of our elders. Moses reminds the children of Israel that they had seen miracles and wonders in their wandering. If we forget the miracles we have seen, we become disconnected from the power of God. Moses admonished them not to forget the covenant. What and who we worship matters. Most of us know whom we worship, but some struggle with the what. That connection to God is more important than any other relationship we have in life. God is the source of every success and blessing in our lives, and we must not forget that.

There is in all of us a weakness. We tend to forget and often take for granted all the blessing we enjoy. We are a blessed people. We are blessed to enjoy the freedoms that we, as Americans, enjoy. In our text, Israel had been on a long journey. It was not difficult because of the terrain, but because of themselves. They had made it much more complicated than it had to be. Because of their stubbornness and rebellion, their journey had lasted forty years. The entire book of Deuteronomy was a recounting of their forty-year journey. God reminded His people that when their lives were blessed, to remember the source of that blessing. Multiple times throughout the book, Moses urges them to remember or not to forget. God wanted them to remember that they had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. He wanted them to remember from where they had come. When we remember where we come from, it has a way of keeping us humble. Too many of us have forgotten from where God brought us. Some have forgotten the fear of being lost or the pain and suffering of sin. God wants to remind us that what intimidates us, does not intimidate Him. He can save by many or by few. Look beyond our current situation and know that God is in control. God tells his people all the ways He had led them. Every twist and turn that brought us to where we are has been required to get us where God needs us to be. That winding road leads to a better place. No matter how long the journey, it will be worth it. We do not like the twists and turns or the ups and downs, but God has a purpose in all of it. In chapter 8, God reminds them that he is the source of their wealth and increase. That is counter to what our world tells us. Our society promotes the self-made man, but God made all of us. The truth is, everything we have is because of the blessings of God. People do not realize that they will spend their entire life trying to achieve the impossible. In chapter 32, God says to remember the days of old and to consider the years of many generations. Our culture caters to young people, but the truth is that we need to cherish the generations that have come before us. We need the voice and experience of our elders. Moses reminds the children of Israel that they had seen miracles and wonders in their wandering. If we forget the miracles we have seen, we become disconnected from the power of God. Moses admonished them not to forget the covenant. What and who we worship matters. Most of us know whom we worship, but some struggle with the what. That connection to God is more important than any other relationship we have in life. God is the source of every success and blessing in our lives, and we must not forget that.

Tonight Greater Life Church honors our 2019 high school and college graduates. Kodi Jenkins, Elizabeth Diaz, Kale Jacks, Elijah Wimberly, and Carson Minton are all moving into a new phase in life after completing college or high school studies. Youth Pastor, Ethan Barger offers advice to the graduates drawn from his own experiences to help prepare the graduates for what lies ahead.

Tonight Greater Life Church honors our 2019 high school and college graduates. Kodi Jenkins, Elizabeth Diaz, Kale Jacks, Elijah Wimberly, and Carson Minton are all moving into a new phase in life after completing college or high school studies. Youth Pastor, Ethan Barger offers advice to the graduates drawn from his own experiences to help prepare the graduates for what lies ahead.

Today’s text is often taken out of context. It can be misused if it is not properly understood. We must be careful not to suggest things that are not here. Jesus speaks here (and in other places in Matthew) that what we bind on earth will also be bound in heaven and what we loose will be loosed also in heaven. In our text, God grants us the power of decision. There is something available to us, or something that is withheld to us. The decisions we make determine what is withheld and what is available. He gives us the opportunity to literally access heaven and open an eternal realm based on what we bind or what we loose. The key is in our hand. What we access or what we do not access is up to us. By our choices, we decide what we give over to God and what we withhold from Him. Jesus conveys a privilege to each of us. How many times have we tied God’s hands by our decisions? By our decisions, we either bind or loose God. We have joy, peace, blessing, and favor available to us. What are we binding? What are we loosing? It is your choice.

Today’s text is often taken out of context. It can be misused if it is not properly understood. We must be careful not to suggest things that are not here. Jesus speaks here (and in other places in Matthew) that what we bind on earth will also be bound in heaven and what we loose will be loosed also in heaven. In our text, God grants us the power of decision. There is something available to us, or something that is withheld to us. The decisions we make determine what is withheld and what is available. He gives us the opportunity to literally access heaven and open an eternal realm based on what we bind or what we loose. The key is in our hand. What we access or what we do not access is up to us. By our choices, we decide what we give over to God and what we withhold from Him. Jesus conveys a privilege to each of us. How many times have we tied God’s hands by our decisions? By our decisions, we either bind or loose God. We have joy, peace, blessing, and favor available to us. What are we binding? What are we loosing? It is your choice.

Life is full of surprises. Things happen in life. Sometimes things happen for a reason, but sometimes, things just happen. Life is a test. It has a way of taking us down paths and roads that we did not anticipate. Often God does this to test our character and to see if we will obey His commands. We know that our text was written by David. We do not know when it was written We do know that David had been the victim of a wrong. Perhaps it was written when David was running for his life from Saul. Maybe it was when his own son was trying to undermine his leadership and ultimately trying to kill him. David did not deserve what was happening to him, but it was happening anyway, and this Psalm is a glimpse into that experience. David was trying to pass along some wisdom in this Psalm. Simply put, David is telling us that even when life has done us wrong, we must maintain our character. David was determined, in the face of all that was happening to him, to trust in God.

The sting of unjust treatment is difficult, but we cannot let that sting determine who we are. Sometimes we have to live through these things to build our character.

Life is full of surprises. Things happen in life. Sometimes things happen for a reason, but sometimes, things just happen. Life is a test. It has a way of taking us down paths and roads that we did not anticipate. Often God does this to test our character and to see if we will obey His commands. We know that our text was written by David. We do not know when it was written We do know that David had been the victim of a wrong. Perhaps it was written when David was running for his life from Saul. Maybe it was when his own son was trying to undermine his leadership and ultimately trying to kill him. David did not deserve what was happening to him, but it was happening anyway, and this Psalm is a glimpse into that experience. David was trying to pass along some wisdom in this Psalm. Simply put, David is telling us that even when life has done us wrong, we must maintain our character. David was determined, in the face of all that was happening to him, to trust in God.

The sting of unjust treatment is difficult, but we cannot let that sting determine who we are. Sometimes we have to live through these things to build our character.

In the 1940s the DC Comics line was dominated by superpower-endowed male characters. At the urging of his wife, Charles Moulton set out to create a new superhero, one who would conquer not with fists or firepower, but with love. The result was the character we now know as Wonder Woman. But long before Charles Moulton's creation, there was a wonder woman identified in scripture.

Our text describes two kinds of women. The book of Revelation describes both of the women as women of wonder. The word in Greek describes a thing that is unique. These women were wonders for different reasons. One for all the right reasons, and the other for all the wrong. One had all the outward appearance of value, but inside she is empty and void. Her beauty is contrived. She is showy and dresses to impress. She looked good, but looks are deceiving. Her beauty concealed something deceitful and dark. All her outward appearance is required to hide what she truly is. This is the world that the world projects and holds as the standard. She has the best that the world can present, but nothing of what Heaven has.

The true wonder woman is described in Revelation 17. The influences in her life are from a heavenly perspective. She is the only woman to survive the chaotic end of the world described elsewhere in Revelation. Her character has a heavenly touch. Her beauty does not come from what she wears or puts on, but from God. It is more important to have a touch of heaven than a touch of gold. It is more important to be clothed in a beauty that is in covenant with God.

Revelation describes two women of wonder, but only one is The True Wonder Woman.

In the 1940s the DC Comics line was dominated by superpower-endowed male characters. At the urging of his wife, Charles Moulton set out to create a new superhero, one who would conquer not with fists or firepower, but with love. The result was the character we now know as Wonder Woman. But long before Charles Moulton's creation, there was a wonder woman identified in scripture.

Our text describes two kinds of women. The book of Revelation describes both of the women as women of wonder. The word in Greek describes a thing that is unique. These women were wonders for different reasons. One for all the right reasons, and the other for all the wrong. One had all the outward appearance of value, but inside she is empty and void. Her beauty is contrived. She is showy and dresses to impress. She looked good, but looks are deceiving. Her beauty concealed something deceitful and dark. All her outward appearance is required to hide what she truly is. This is the world that the world projects and holds as the standard. She has the best that the world can present, but nothing of what Heaven has.

The true wonder woman is described in Revelation 17. The influences in her life are from a heavenly perspective. She is the only woman to survive the chaotic end of the world described elsewhere in Revelation. Her character has a heavenly touch. Her beauty does not come from what she wears or puts on, but from God. It is more important to have a touch of heaven than a touch of gold. It is more important to be clothed in a beauty that is in covenant with God.

Revelation describes two women of wonder, but only one is The True Wonder Woman.