Transforming Truth (audio)

There can be no biblical study on the end of the age without some concentrated emphasis on the man known as the Antichrist. This individual may already be living among us and making his way toward power. The Bible is not vague about identifying what type of man this will be, how he will rise to power, who will be controlling him, and what he will do once he has secured global authority and rule. As modern Christians keep a watchful eye on present global governments, religious trends across the planet, and what is occurring in Israel as we approach the end of days, we are able to see that many things are presently converging which will serve to set the stage for the arising of the Antichrist. While we have no doubts concerning his ultimate destiny, we should all be sobered and prepared for what he will unleash once he comes into power. Jesus Christ will decidedly defeat and destroy him, but before that occurs, he will bring unprecedented trouble to this planet.

It’s the elephant in the room: sometimes Christians’ breakthrough doesn’t arrive when we want or in the way we had hoped. Sometimes all the faith in the world doesn’t make it happen. Sometimes, that thing we were convinced would happen in six months doesn’t happen in six years…or more. What is God doing when He clearly isn’t doing what we had hoped He would do? Why would He delay our breakthrough? Most of us have wondered this at some point, and ancient account from the life of Moses helps us understand what might be occurring behind the scenes when we thought God would move like a cheetah and He seems to have chosen to move like a turtle.

Jesus taught much about the time right before He would return to planet earth to establish His coming Kingdom. One of the clearest marks of His teachings (and of the writings of the Apostles) reveals the emphasis that vast amounts of people will simply (and dangerously) be unprepared when He returns. Sadly, there will be no second chances for these people. Even more sadly, many of these people will seemingly be close to the Kingdom…but not actually in the Kingdom. In the parable of the lanterns and the oil - also known as the parable of the Foolish Virgins - Jesus speaks with urgency about not putting off becoming prepared for His return. The lack of oil in the lamps provides a symbolic picture of one aspect that is of particular importance for us as we approach the return of Christ. What might be represented by a lantern with no oil? What is the warning we need to discern and heed as we prepare for Jesus to return to earth?

One of the clearest appointments mentioned in scripture is the day of reckoning which all Christians have with King Jesus. Individually, one by one, every child of God will stand before the gracious, merciful and kind King who will then evaluate the eternal worth of the lives which we live don earth. Jesus promises reward for all who lived for him. Interestingly, while salvation is equal and free, rewards are not. Salvation is freely given through faith in Christ, but rewards are all earned. How we are living for Christ during this present life actually merits or forfeits eternal reward. This is incredible motivation for all Jesus-followers to live proactively for eternal things with pure, spiritual motivations. This message places before us that moment when we stand before the One who loves us most, and we then find out how much our lives mattered for his glory.

Most Christians think of salvation as a singular event which occurred for them at some point in their past when they repented of their sin and placed their faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for them upon the cross. This is where they experienced His forgiveness and were brought into the family of God by God’s grace. This is a valid way of viewing the moment of salvation, yet many do not understand that this was merely the beginning of them being saved. That event describes the moment of their justification, but did you know that there are two more components of what the bible describes as the salvation of a human soul? In this message, we will learn more about all three components that take place for the believer along the spectrum of salvation. We begin with justification; we continue in sanctification, and we conclude with glorification. All three of these elements comprise the full redemption of the sinner as God brings them into the fullness and finality of the salvation bought for them by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Wandering from God is no small thing. Drifting away from Him is a scary thought. Running from God is even worse. There is something about the tendency in a Christian to allow distance between himself and God that should sober us up. It can happen at times without us even noticing it. We awake one day to discover we have lost our joy, our peace, and our sense of identity and purpose which we once enjoyed in Jesus. God is actually much more concerned about this type of thing than we are. That is why He sometimes works in purposed and painful ways to bring us back to Him in nearness, trust and obedience. This message highlights such a time in the life of King David. In a different place, David would write, “It was good for me to be afflicted. Before eI was afflicted, I went astray.” May those who receive this message awaken before the affliction arrives. May they return before God’s hand strongly brings them home. May they listen to His voice so that they do not experience His tightening grip. Now is the time to consider if there is distance between us and the One who loves us the most.

The vast majority of Christians live with an eager expectation of Jesus Christ returning to earth. This is our blessed hope. This event will begin the vindication of His holy name. Yet, Christians hold to different views concerning how and when the return of our King will take place. Many believe that Jesus will return and rapture the Church before the beginning of the Tribulation period. Because of this, they do not live with much concern about what happens during the awful time period decried as the Tribulation. This message shares a deep concern that those who believe in a pre-trib rapture are not Biblically informed. Where does the Bible teach a secret catching away of the Church that prevents the elect from the reign of the Antichrist? Practically speaking, if the pre-trib rapture theory is not true, is it reasonable to be concerned that many are not prepared to endure the unparalleled difficulties that belong to the Tribulation which are recorded in Scripture? This message presents a biblical framework for a post-Triublaitonal rapture, and is filled with practical exhortations for believers at the end of the age to prepare for the trouble to come. In the end, we must remember the all-sufficient grace of God who knows how to preserve His people in times of warfare.

Human beings are awe-factories. We are hardwired to give our worship to something. Realistically, the vast majority of people give their awe to things that are not worth it. We worship beauty, pleasure, money and fame. Sometimes we make idle of good things like family, a work ethic, disciplines and serving. When we get still and quiet in heart-searching seasons, however, we rediscover that what we are really hungering for is the presence and glory of God. It is true that we cannot be satisfied until we find our satisfaction in Him. This is our highest hunger: the presence and glory of God. This message harnesses the words and actions of Moses to help us reconnect with our own desire to know God at the deepest level. By now we know that nothing less will satisfy our highest hunger.

There are just some things that only a mother can understand. Carrying a baby, birthing that child and then doing her best to raise the one entrusted to her is a never-ending labor of love and letting go. A snapshot story of one woman and her son from an ancient book of the Bible reveals the rich yet challenging realities of motherhood. The roller coaster ride of emotion as a mother is called to lay her heart’s longing - and later her heart’s breaking - at the feet of God captures our attention. In the end, her story reveals her to be a woman of relentless trust and authentic emotion. In her story, we uncover the stories of countless other women who are also called Mom.

Sometimes, the Lord releases a right-now prophetic word from the eternally-true written Word. This message from Amos 9 is the public release of a private prophetic word Jeff received on March 3, 2022. As Holy Spirit opened Jeff’s spiritual eyes to what He is offering His people in this season, Jeff discerned quickly that this word was given to be shared with anyone who would receive it. Those committed to a Word and Spirit representation of Christianity will be receiving a new, fresh release of Kingdom wine that will shift and accelerate normal seasons of ministry harvests. This is not a word for years down the road - this is already happening.