Many Christians struggle with the concept of death due to a wrong and low view of heaven. Paul's statement in Philippians 1:21, 'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,' challenges our cultural fear of death. Heaven isn't about sitting on clouds playing harps; it's about being with Christ and participating in His reign. In the new heaven and earth, God will dwell with His people, eliminating tears, death, mourning, and pain. For believers, death becomes victory rather than an enemy, transforming how we live today by magnifying Christ, counting everything as loss compared to knowing Him, and sharing His hope with others.

In this sermon, Trey breaks down Galatians 2:15-21, focusing on the church verse Galatians 2:20. He explains that Paul wrote this letter to rebuke the Galatians who had turned away from the true gospel to follow false teachings. The central message is that no one can be justified by following the law; we are justified through faith in Christ alone. Trey clarifies that justification means being made right with God, which happens not through our works or religious practices, but through faith in what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT AS IT RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Mental health is a battlefield where spiritual warfare takes place, with our minds constantly under attack from worldly influences. The Bible shows numerous examples of people struggling with their mental wellbeing, from Elijah's depression to David's anguish in the Psalms. While it's okay to acknowledge our struggles, we aren't meant to remain in them. True healing comes through a combination of practical tools like therapy or medication, spiritual disciplines, and community support. By taking every thought captive, drawing near to God, and reaching out to others, we can find restoration and freedom in Christ.

Evil and suffering exist in our world not because God created them, but as a byproduct of human free will. The Bible never promises a life without hardship—in fact, Jesus explicitly warned we would face tribulation. God allows suffering because without freedom to choose, true love couldn't exist. Our pain has divine purpose: to shape us into Christ's image and equip us to minister to others. Whatever darkness we face, God works all things together for good, using our stories of redemption to bring hope to a broken world.

There is a hidden spiritual war around us with a real enemy working against our relationship with God. Satan has limited power - he can influence and oppress believers but cannot possess them, as Christians belong to God. The enemy attacks at strategic times: before we step into our calling, when we're at our weakest, or at our spiritual peak. His tactics include attacking our identity, deception, and distraction. We can defend ourselves through knowing Scripture, prayer, community support, and invoking Jesus' name. By identifying and closing 'open doors' like unforgiveness or sin, we can strengthen our spiritual defenses and fulfill God's purpose for our lives.

When life's unexpected storms hit, doubt often follows, causing us to question God's presence and care. These doubts arise from unexpected hardships and God's apparent silence during our struggles. To overcome doubt, we must remember God's past faithfulness in our lives, recognize His unlimited power over all creation, and understand that true faith doesn't mean an absence of doubt but moving forward despite it. The key is to bring our doubts, questions, and struggles directly to Jesus, just as countless people did in the Gospels, trusting that He can transform our doubt into deeper faith.

Deconstruction is causing millions to abandon their faith, with 40 million people having left the church in the last 25 years. While healthy deconstruction examines beliefs to find biblical truth, unhealthy deconstruction dismantles faith to justify walking away. Social media platforms amplify anti-faith voices, particularly affecting young Christians with limited biblical knowledge. The root problem is biblical illiteracy and watered-down teaching. The solution lies in knowing Scripture, being prepared to answer questions, creating strong discipleship, and maintaining community connections.

The battle between flesh and spirit creates an internal war in every believer, where our desires can pull us away from God. Paul identifies three main categories of lures that entice us: freedom from accountability, pride and autonomy, and sexual immorality. To overcome these desires, we must crucify them by starving them to death—changing what we feed our minds through our routines, media consumption, and relationships. Though we struggle with worldly desires, God desires relationship with us and has provided a way of escape through Jesus Christ.

In our always-on culture, we're constantly exhausted, which prevents us from excelling in spiritual disciplines. Sabbath rest isn't just a suggestion—it's a moral commandment from God, designed as a gift of mercy and grace. We were created to work from our rest, not for our rest. Sabbath reminds us of our freedom in Christ and teaches us to rely on God's provision. To practice Sabbath today, choose and protect a day of rest, recognizing that refusing to rest demonstrates a lack of faith in God's control over our lives.

Division within the church acts like an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks itself from within. This division manifests through hypocrisy and judgmentalism, creating barriers that prevent believers from growing in faith and outsiders from coming to God. While church hurt is real and valid, holding onto unforgiveness only poisons ourselves. The path to healing begins with forgiveness and recognizing that Jesus Christ alone is the answer to overcoming division, allowing us to become part of a unified church that truly reflects Christ to the world.