The sermon establishes the arrival of God's Kingdom through Jesus Christ, framing repentance and faith as the only appropriate response to His reign. By tracing prophetic threads from Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah, and Malachi, it demonstrates that John the Baptist prepared the way for the Messiah who fulfills ancient promises of judgment and salvation. The text highlights Jesus' baptism and temptation not merely as moral examples but as the pivotal acts where He assumes humanity's burden to perfectly obey God and establish His covenant. This theological foundation shifts the focus from general religious observance to a direct submission to the authority of the Son. Consequently, believers are called to acknowledge this fulfilled time by turning from sin and trusting in the Gospel of the Kingdom.

"Biblical Manhood" examines God's design for men—calling them to reject passivity, embrace responsibility, exercise courage, and lead with conviction. True manhood is defined not by culture, but by faithful submission to God's Word. Have you recently decided to follow Jesus? Take your next step with Jesus: https://cbcgb.co.uk ⛪ ABOUT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCHES: We believe that our Calvary Baptist Churches are a movement for all people to know God, Reaching Others, Building Lives, Honouring God and Make a Difference. 🤝 Support this ministry and help us reach more people with the Gospel: https://cbcgb.co.uk/give/ STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 Website: https://cbcgb.co.uk/ 🌐 Website: https://bjstagner.com 👍 Facebook: / Calvary Baptist Church-Cynon Valley 👍 Facebook: / Cardiff-Calvary Baptist Church 📸 Instagram: / @cibc_cynonvalley 📸 Instagram: / @calvary_cardiff 🎥 YouTube: / @calvarybaptistchurchesofGB

How does the Lord answer Habakkuk's concerns? Habakkuk 1:5–11 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must remember God Himself, when we consider His providence. This devotional explores the theme of divine providence through Habakkuk's encounter with God regarding the rise of the Chaldeans. Pastor emphasizes that God's ways are beyond human scrutiny, requiring believers to cultivate humility rather than judgment. By examining the wickedness of the Babylonians, the text illustrates how God sovereignly uses even evil nations to accomplish His purposes for discipline and justice. The message encourages trusting in God's character and wisdom despite present hardships, pointing to the cross as the ultimate proof of His goodness. Ultimately, the devotional calls for a posture of faithful submission and confidence in God's control over all circumstances.

This sermon addresses the sin of arrogant self-reliance by examining James chapter four, specifically the error of planning life without acknowledging God's sovereignty. The preacher argues that presuming control over time, location, and future outcomes constitutes practical atheism, as it excludes the Creator from daily decisions and business dealings. By referencing Proverbs 16 and the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12, the message highlights human frailty and the certainty that only God knows tomorrow. The central call is to adopt a posture of humility by consistently invoking 'if the Lord wills' in all plans, thereby submitting personal desires to divine direction. Ultimately, trusting God with one's future brings spiritual peace and aligns daily actions with His righteous purposes. What does James 4:13–17 teach about making plans? Is planning for the future wrong? Why does James condemn the businessman in James 4? What is the real sin in James 4:13? What does "If the Lord wills" actually mean? Should Christians literally say "Lord willing" all the time? Is saying "Lord willing" just a religious phrase? How do I know if my plans honor God? What does it mean to submit your plans to God? What is practical atheism? Can Christians live as though God doesn't exist? What does it mean that life is a vapor? Why does James compare life to a mist? How should the brevity of life change my priorities? Who really controls tomorrow? How does pride affect our plans? What is the sin of presumption? What is self-reliance according to James? How does pride lead us away from God? What areas of life should be submitted to God? Is business a spiritual matter? Is work spiritual?

Postmodernism did not stay in the university. It moved into the pulpit. When absolute truth is rejected, Scripture is no longer treated as the final authority. Instead, it becomes one perspective among many. Every doctrine becomes negotiable, biblical certainty is viewed with suspicion, and deconstruction replaces submission to God's Word. When the church loses confidence in absolute truth, it eventually loses the gospel. Learn more in Dave Jenkins' book, *The War of the Worldviews*: Servants of Grace: https://servantsofgrace.org/product/war-of-worldviews-book/ Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fB7rK2

The devotion challenges listeners to consider the eternal significance of their response to Jesus Christ's identity. It highlights Jesus' numerous self-revelations as the source of life and truth, contrasting these divine claims with mere human opinions. The message emphasizes that rejecting Jesus' true nature leads to spiritual death and future judgment. True life is found only through humble submission to His person and work rather than viewing Him as a simple moral teacher. Ultimately, every individual must decide whether to bow to Christ's authority or face the consequences of rejection.

The sermon explores the profound significance of names as acts of authority and identity, tracing their biblical importance from Genesis to Revelation. Using Jacob's wrestling match in Genesis 32 as a primary example, it illustrates that true transformation requires honest self-confession before God. The message contrasts forced name changes with the divine gift of a new identity found in Christ, emphasizing that salvation involves submitting to the name above every name. It assures believers that their past sins are removed and their names are securely written in the Book of Life. What is more, we are given a new name, that we don't know yet, on a white stone and one day when we stand before him Jesus Christ will acknowledge us before His father and angles calling us our new name! Ultimately, we need to abandon our old, sinful identities and embrace the new life offered through Jesus Christ.

This interactive teaching examines King Nebuchadnezzar's journey from arrogant pride to humble submission through the events of Daniel chapter four. The teacher contrasts the king's indirect acknowledgments of God in earlier chapters with his direct praise after experiencing divine judgment for his self-exaltation. Central to the message is the theological truth that God sovereignly rules over human kingdoms and humbles those who walk in arrogance. The text emphasizes that genuine repentance requires active righteousness and mercy toward others, rather than mere verbal apology. Ultimately, the sermon illustrates how God's corrective discipline serves as a merciful invitation to recognize His eternal dominion and restore right relationship with Him.

In this sermon from 1 Peter 2, Matt Sikes explains how Christians should respond when they suffer unjustly under earthly authority. Peter originally addresses servants living under Roman slavery, commanding them to submit not only to good and gentle masters, but also to those who are unjust and crooked. The sermon presents three central truths: the call to submission, the motivation for submission, and the power for submission. Christians submit with reverence for God, remembering that their freedom in Christ does not depend upon their earthly circumstances. When believers do good and suffer unjustly, their endurance is gracious in God's sight, and they can trust that the Judge of all the earth sees their suffering and will reward faithfulness. This passage ultimately points to Jesus Christ, who suffered without sinning, reviling, threatening, or seeking revenge. Christ is not merely our example—He is the source of our salvation and obedience. He bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds, His people have been eternally healed and returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.