The Open Word (Audio)

When we read the headlines or tune into the daily news, we might be tempted to become discouraged. Nations squabble with other nations just as the neighbor down the street disputes with another neighbor down the street. In today’s message, Pastor David encourages us to keep an eternal perspective. Though earthly governments are corrupt and evil people do sometimes prevail, God is sovereign over it all and His good plan cannot be thwarted. Therefore, we can endure all things because of the hope that Christ has set before us.

The United States is a nation that believes in the individual rights of its citizens. Therefore, when the Bible teaches on submission to God and earthly authority, it can make us bristle uncomfortably. In today’s message, Pastor David teaches us that Christians are called to a life of submission to Christ in all humility. Jesus is our King and our Lord, and we must obey and submit to His absolute authority in our lives. The good news is that as we submit to the Lord forsaking our rights and our will, we gain abundant life and blessing.

The United States is a nation that believes in the individual rights of its citizens. Therefore, when the Bible teaches on submission to God and earthly authority, it can make us bristle uncomfortably. In today’s message, Pastor David teaches us that Christians are called to a life of submission to Christ in all humility. Jesus is our King and our Lord, and we must obey and submit to His absolute authority in our lives. The good news is that as we submit to the Lord forsaking our rights and our will, we gain abundant life and blessing.

The moment we are born again, we gain eternal citizenship in heaven. In today’s message, Pastor David reminds us that we are sojourners here on earth. We are pilgrims passing through. This reality should greatly impact the way that we live our lives. Pastor David also points out that because this world is not our home, we are strangers in a foreign land. Because we claim Christ, we will experience persecution and hardship. However, because heaven is our home, we can endure all things through Christ who strengthens us.

The moment we are born again, we gain eternal citizenship in heaven. In today’s message, Pastor David reminds us that we are sojourners here on earth. We are pilgrims passing through. This reality should greatly impact the way that we live our lives. Pastor David also points out that because this world is not our home, we are strangers in a foreign land. Because we claim Christ, we will experience persecution and hardship. However, because heaven is our home, we can endure all things through Christ who strengthens us.

In 1 Peter chapter 2, the Apostle writes that we, the Church, are a chosen people. Christians are a royal priesthood chosen to be in God’s family before the foundation of the world. In today’s message, Pastor David teaches us that because the Gentile church has been grafted into the family of God, we enjoy great spiritual blessings. However, with those blessings comes great responsibility. The Church is called to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world and to glorify God through its love and good works.

In 1 Peter chapter 2, the Apostle writes that we, the Church, are a chosen people. Christians are a royal priesthood chosen to be in God’s family before the foundation of the world. In today’s message, Pastor David teaches us that because the Gentile church has been grafted into the family of God, we enjoy great spiritual blessings. However, with those blessings comes great responsibility. The Church is called to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world and to glorify God through its love and good works.

Scripture admonishes Christians to be living sacrifices to God. In other words, all of our hopes, dreams, and aspirations should belong to the Lord. We have to die to our wishes, wants, and desires so that we might be useable in God’s Kingdom. In today’s message, Pastor David points out that we must continually work to put to death our old self and its selfish desires. In fact, sometimes the sacrificial life is a moment by moment enterprise. Therefore, we must be diligent to continually surrender ourselves to Jesus’s will.

Scripture admonishes Christians to be living sacrifices to God. In other words, all of our hopes, dreams, and aspirations should belong to the Lord. We have to die to our wishes, wants, and desires so that we might be useable in God’s Kingdom. In today’s message, Pastor David points out that we must continually work to put to death our old self and its selfish desires. In fact, sometimes the sacrificial life is a moment by moment enterprise. Therefore, we must be diligent to continually surrender ourselves to Jesus’s will.

Any mason knows that the cornerstone of a building is absolutely pivotal to its foundation. The Word of God says that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of the Christian faith. Without Christ, the entire church collapses. In today’s message, Pastor David teaches us that though the Pharisees and Sadducees worked hard in their religious rituals to appease God in their own strength, because they rejected the Chief Cornerstone, they stood condemned and outside the Kingdom of God.