When the Israelites entered the promised land, the first thing they did was circumcise the next generation. They marked them as part of the chosen people of God. Pastor Bill reminds us today that when we believe and enter the kingdom, we also have the first step! Our first step, one that marks us as one of God's chosen people, is to be baptized. We follow Christ and obey his command when we are baptized! God has so much more in store for us and each step of obedience we take opens up more life.

Grandma and Grandpa have a great story of faith. So do Mom and Dad! But in order to know God, we need to experience him for ourselves. Pastor Bill tells us about God making a way for the Israelites to once again cross the water on dry ground. This was their parents' story as they left Egypt but these people weren't there. In order to conquer the promised land, they needed to know God's might and power for themselves. And nothing has changed—each generation must have a fresh encounter with God.

What does it take to please God? Is it mighty works? Eloquent speeches? Pastor Bill tells us that Rahab got into this chapter of Hebrews—the one that lists people who pleased God—and she got in by faith. All it takes to please our God is a heart filled with faith. God is calling you to live a life of faith today. There are giants and armies to conquer. There is water to walk on. And he's beckoning you to join the adventure simply by trusting him. He's the one who conquers our giants as we walk with him.

“Don't be anxious for anything.” That doesn't leave a lot of room to be fearful and anxious about this life! Pastor Bill said it's not more complicated than that! It's that simple. Do Not Fear. The world is full of fearful things, but we don't have to be afraid of a single one of them. Not one. There is only one thing that can strangle the life out of the gospel and that is anxiety. Our fear cripples the good news. Don't let anything stand in your way today. You serve a mighty God and in him, there is no fear!

When you look at your life, would you say it's “abundant”? Is it full and abundant? Is it less than that? God gave you access to the abundant life when you accepted Jesus and entered into the kingdom of God. Pastor Bill will show us today how the Israelites did at claiming their promised land. They never did quite claim it all! We tend to do the same thing—we settle for less than what God wants to give us. We get comfortable and apathetic or fearful instead of continuing to lay hold of the fullness of life.

The whole of the gospel is contained in today's message. Cooperate with the work of the Spirit in your life, you get a bonus at the end! Want to know what the bonus is? Read the book all the way to the end and you'll see what amazing marvelous wonderful things God has in store for you! Pastor Bill tells us the plan: you get salvation by a gift, and you enter into the work to get the job done with the help and power of the Spirit working through you, and when you're faithful to the end? I'll give you a reward!

Pastor Bill makes the call today, will you answer it? Get saved! Let's find the last person to get saved. Let's go to every person until we find the last one so that we can all go home to the New Jerusalem where we will live eternally with Christ and in the presence of God! And until that happens, let's keep sharing the good news with everyone we can because that's why we're here. That's why the church exists, to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a broken and dying world. The time is now!

You do the same! Hang on to Jesus until he takes you home. Be faithful until death. Pastor Bill tells us the truth today—nobody wants to feel the pain of this life, but we are all called to be faithful to God through the pain and to death itself! Have you seen someone come to the end of their life and remain faithful in every moment? Maybe your mom or dad or a grandparent. They were faithful to the end and left a legacy of faith behind them! Your faithfulness will leave one too. You do the same!

Do you get as excited as Pastor Bill? In the New Jerusalem, there is the tree of life. We haven't seen this tree since the beginning in the garden—the one we were kicked out of! But in this garden, we get to eat of the fruit and have life! And its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Imagine that flowing to every broken nation on earth. Who knew there was such good news in the book of Revelation! If that excites you and you want to learn more, come along for the ride and hear what other great news awaits!

Don't listen to the devil. Don't worry about the darkness. Say “yes” to the love of God. Because he wants your heart. Give him your heart today. Ignore the devil, look past the darkness. Become part of the light of the world and bring joy to the heart of God! Pastor Bill reminds us that God wants our love but he won't force us. He gives us the choice! But we only have life on earth to choose and that life is fleeting. The sooner you give your life to him the sooner you will find true, abundant life!