After a brief greeting, Paul immediately soars into a great paean of praise—one long sentence, impossible to fully analyze, in which each successive thought crowds in on the one before. As he contemplates the position and possessions of every believer, he reveals the point of the church’s existence: restoration of Creation’s purpose..

After describing the Kingdom of God and its many facets, Matthew relates an incident of rejection in the ministry of Jesus. The mystery here is the determination to be offended by Jesus despite the clear acknowledgement of His wisdom and power. Turns out, unbelief is not from lack of information, but rather refusal of accountability.

The Kingdom of God is broader than any individual church, but the marks of the Kingdom ought to be reflected in the visible traits of the local church. The mystery of God’s Kingdom on earth is revealed openly in the church. As Jesus here illustrates the Kingdom, we must ask: Do these characteristics describe Evergreen?

Why does evil exist? Why does God allow evil to continue? Is evil evidence for atheism? What is the future of evil? What is our role in the battle? These questions are among the most difficult issues of life. Jesus answers this human dilemma with His divine perspective.

The habitation of the gods has been a fascination in almost every culture throughout human history. The prophet Isaiah stands tall with a revelation that would have stunned his hearers and all who had come before him—God lives in a most extraordinary place. He dwells among humble men who honor His Word.

The Servant has already been presented as the ideal prophet conscious of a worldwide mission from God. His complete dedication and trust gives assurance of His final success. But until now, Isaiah has hidden the news that the Servant’s activity would be interrupted by death. A dreadful puzzle this—why must the Servant suffer, bleed, and die alone?!

The Servant’s mission appears, at first glance, to lack any real hope of success. He was charged to reach the entire world; he was overwhelmingly rejected by men; he suffered horribly and finally died. Yet the nations will be stunned and kings will be speechless at His ultimate accomplishments. God will reward the Servant with eternal honor and glory!

Our perspective changes when we learn to set our eyes on Jesus and to learn who He is according to‬ ‭ Scripture. The challenge is to keep our focus on Him in a generation that is fighting a never-ending battle‬ ‭ against distractions. If we lose sight of our Savior, we will grow discouraged and lose heart. But to find peace in‬‭ the battle, we must fix our eyes on the King and relentlessly pursue His presence.‬

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Many Christians struggle to find meaningful change in their lives. They work themselves to the bone but never seem to achieve the rest or “easy yoke” that Jesus promised. What if God intended for our lives to look differently than we think? What if He has given us the answer to our problems but we have believed a lie? If we are to truly live the crucified life, maybe it is simpler than we thought.

Ultimately, prayer is motivated by a yearning for eternity, a pull toward a time when God will make all things right and righteous. As this longing for another place moves in us from subconscious to awareness, prayer has greater power since it increasingly aligns with God’s eternal will and purpose.