Every game should begin with a plan. Sometimes the game plan doesn’t work, so the coach must make changes to win the game. Every coach works to win until the game is over. Success in the game has a sound associated. A home run, a long pass reception, or a goal scored in soccer generates a loud cheer from the crowd. How much more should the people of God lift a shout of victory for a God that helps us to triumph in His name? We need more than a sound. We need more than a goal or a point scored. We need a game plan to win. He stands undefeated. If we are losing, it is because we do not show up prepared. The Bible talks about the armor of God, but do we actually use it? The tools God gives us do not good if we do not pick them up and use them. It is not enough to want to win. We must have a plan and be skilled with the tools we have to be victorious.

Every game should begin with a plan. Sometimes the game plan doesn’t work, so the coach must make changes to win the game. Every coach works to win until the game is over. Success in the game has a sound associated. A home run, a long pass reception, or a goal scored in soccer generates a loud cheer from the crowd. How much more should the people of God lift a shout of victory for a God that helps us to triumph in His name? We need more than a sound. We need more than a goal or a point scored. We need a game plan to win. He stands undefeated. If we are losing, it is because we do not show up prepared. The Bible talks about the armor of God, but do we actually use it? The tools God gives us do not good if we do not pick them up and use them. It is not enough to want to win. We must have a plan and be skilled with the tools we have to be victorious.

Brother Long teaches from the story of the Shunammite woman. After her child passed, this woman was on a mission to find the man of God. Both her husband and Elisha’s servant asked if she is well. She said it is well, but the truth was all was not well. She needed to get to the man of God who could help her. Too often, we find ourselves in situations like this. Like this woman, we must respond to It Is Well while striving to get to the one who can make it well.

Brother Long teaches from the story of the Shunammite woman. After her child passed, this woman was on a mission to find the man of God. Both her husband and Elisha’s servant asked if she is well. She said it is well, but the truth was all was not well. She needed to get to the man of God who could help her. Too often, we find ourselves in situations like this. Like this woman, we must respond to It Is Well while striving to get to the one who can make it well.

Brother Long teaches from the story of the Shunammite woman. After her child passed, this woman was on a mission to find the man of God. Both her husband and Elisha’s servant asked if she is well. She said it is well, but the truth was all was not well. She needed to get to the man of God who could help her. Too often, we find ourselves in situations like this. Like this woman, we must respond to It Is Well while striving to get to the one who can make it well.

The book of Peter was written for people living in desperate times and provided them with advice on how to survive those times. It is an epistle of hope. As children of God, we have hope in this life and, more importantly, in the next. All that happens to us is for a divine purpose. Our text begins by describing an audience that was scattered across the continent. Then, as now, we live in a time where people are scattered, not across a region, but across society and ideologies. Peter was writing to a suffering people. God’s people in this new testament church suffered great persecution at the hands of Emperor Nero. In this context, Peter does not try to pump them up with words of encouragement but focuses on what really matters. Instead of telling them what was wrong, he encouraged them with all that was right. He lifted their eyes from the problems on earth, directing them to heaven's joy and reward. Whatever the world does to us is not the final act. God has the last word.

The book of Peter was written for people living in desperate times and provided them with advice on how to survive those times. It is an epistle of hope. As children of God, we have hope in this life and, more importantly, in the next. All that happens to us is for a divine purpose. Our text begins by describing an audience that was scattered across the continent. Then, as now, we live in a time where people are scattered, not across a region, but across society and ideologies. Peter was writing to a suffering people. God’s people in this new testament church suffered great persecution at the hands of Emperor Nero. In this context, Peter does not try to pump them up with words of encouragement but focuses on what really matters. Instead of telling them what was wrong, he encouraged them with all that was right. He lifted their eyes from the problems on earth, directing them to heaven's joy and reward. Whatever the world does to us is not the final act. God has the last word.

The book of Peter was written for people living in desperate times and provided them with advice on how to survive those times. It is an epistle of hope. As children of God, we have hope in this life and, more importantly, in the next. All that happens to us is for a divine purpose. Our text begins by describing an audience that was scattered across the continent. Then, as now, we live in a time where people are scattered, not across a region, but across society and ideologies. Peter was writing to a suffering people. God’s people in this new testament church suffered great persecution at the hands of Emperor Nero. In this context, Peter does not try to pump them up with words of encouragement but focuses on what really matters. Instead of telling them what was wrong, he encouraged them with all that was right. He lifted their eyes from the problems on earth, directing them to heaven's joy and reward. Whatever the world does to us is not the final act. God has the last word.

Life's circumstances and situations weigh on us. We know where to go when life gets complicated. Our text is about the healing of the ten lepers. We all remember the story that Jesus healed them and sent them on their way. Nine of the ten healed men walked away, and only one returned to give thanks. Looking closer at the text, we see that is not how it happened. The Bible says that these ten men called to Jesus from afar off. They were lepers, so they had to keep their distance. The Bible says they lifted their voice to ask for help. Jesus didn’t heal them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. The healing didn’t happen until they obeyed and began to go on their way. Jesus did not heal them immediately. He told them to go to the priest, but nothing had changed as far as they could see. They asked for healing, and Jesus told them to leave. They had to have the faith to turn and walk away. Before the miracle, they had to obey. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Something happened as they went. There is a difference between walking away doubting and walking away in faith. The road of obedience and faith can often be lonely.

Life's circumstances and situations weigh on us. We know where to go when life gets complicated. Our text is about the healing of the ten lepers. We all remember the story that Jesus healed them and sent them on their way. Nine of the ten healed men walked away, and only one returned to give thanks. Looking closer at the text, we see that is not how it happened. The Bible says that these ten men called to Jesus from afar off. They were lepers, so they had to keep their distance. The Bible says they lifted their voice to ask for help. Jesus didn’t heal them. He told them to go show themselves to the priest. The healing didn’t happen until they obeyed and began to go on their way. Jesus did not heal them immediately. He told them to go to the priest, but nothing had changed as far as they could see. They asked for healing, and Jesus told them to leave. They had to have the faith to turn and walk away. Before the miracle, they had to obey. The Bible says, “And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” Something happened as they went. There is a difference between walking away doubting and walking away in faith. The road of obedience and faith can often be lonely.