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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes

January 13, 2025 Satan Bound, Saints Reign 1000 Years
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Brent Kercheville
Revelation 20:1-10
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48 min
January 12, 2025 The Fruit of the Spirit – Lesson 2
Bible Classes / Speaker:Chad Brock
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44 min
January 09, 2025 2 Samuel Chapters 16, 17
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
2 Samuel Chapters 16, 17
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46 min
January 06, 2025Revelation 19: The Victory of King Jesus
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Victory of King Jesus!
Revelation 19
Introduction: When I try to conceive of what God has done in his creation of both the heavenly and earthly realm, I am only left with the words of David in Psalm 8, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
It seems that God first created a heavenly realm with ten thousand times ten thousand heavenly beings. But this heavenly creation was in preparation for his crowning glory, the creation of the material realm and that of humanity.
Is that an unimaginable, foreign idea to you? Is it nearly beyond your ability to comprehend? To which of the angels did he say he had “crowned them with glory and honor and put all things under their feet?” To which of the angels did he ever say, “he gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor…”? (Ephesians 5:26)
That is where we are in Revelation 19. Note the words of verses 6-9! “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready…” The words are the culmination of “hallelujahs” that are being shouted from those in heaven to those on the earth.
The Call to Praise God (1-10)
Verse 1: There first the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven. We were introduced to this multitude in 7:9. They were those who had come through the great tribulation, had their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb, and were now before the throne of God.
Verse 3: “Once more” this multitude in heaven shouted, “Hallelujah.”
Verse 4: Now those around the throne, that we saw in the very beginning of John’s vision, fell down and worshiped God saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”
Verse 5: Then there is a call from the throne to all of God’s servants both small and great, to praise God.
“Hallelujah” is a combination of Hebrew and Greek transliterated into English, which means “praise Yahweh” or “praise the Lord.” Therefore, from the multitude who had been redeemed and now reside in heaven, to those before the throne, to God’s servants still on the earth, everyone is giving praise and honor to God.
Now notice the reasons God is praised and should continue to be praised:
“He has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality [NET: “sexual immorality” NIV: “adulteries”]. The Greek for “corrupted” is also translated “destroy” (11:18), as in “the destroyers of the earth.” We need to see this immorality for what it really is, that which destroys and corrupts God’s creation. It takes away peace and joy and destroys lives. The wicked of the earth mourned over the judgment of the prostitute, but the righteous shout hallelujah, praise God. We are given relief by the true and just judgments of the Lord.
“Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.” This is praise to God because her destruction is complete and permanent and a everlasting sign to all nations who follow her immorality.
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” It is not that the Lord was not reigning before this, but his conquering of the great prostitute signals that the prophecy of Psalm 2 and the reigning of the Son of God has now been proven in spite of the conspiracy of the rulers of the earth to overthrow God’s Messiah.
Finally, “Hallelujah, rejoice and exult and give him glory because the marriage of the Lamb has come.” This is God’s end goal. Everything Satan has done was to defeat God’s plan for the moment he would present us to himself in splendor. Hallelujah! Glory be to God!
Do you also notice that the the Bride’s wedding garment, has been granted by God and is the righteous deeds of the saints? Every bride has always had strong motivation to be stunningly beautiful on her wedding day. Will we be any different?
Verse 10: Suddenly John appears in the scene. He is so overwhelmed by what he has seen that he falls down and worships the angel who has been delivering the message. But the angel immediately rebuked him. Angels are “fellow servants.” The only one to be worshiped is God and the Lamb. This is appropriate considering warnings of idolatry throughout the vision.
Let’s stop and make sure we understand why there is such an emphasis on praising God.
We saw it at the beginning of the vision and now we are seeing it at the end. Praising God should be what goes on every day by every Christian. The reason and purpose of praise is not artificial. It is not simple singing a song that says, “Praise him.”
True praise comes naturally and spontaneously out of what we enjoy and what we value. If we do not praise, we admit we have found little value. Do we realize that the number one reason we come together is because we want to enjoy God together? We sing because we are so moved by what he has and is doing for us, we must sing about his goodness. It is the reason we pray, the reason we study together, and the reason we must share it with others. It is simply too good to keep quiet. And those who do not participate and find other things of more value, obviously do not give much value to what the Lord has done!
The Warrior–King’s Final Judgment of the Beast & False Prophet
There is no doubt that the one riding on the white horse is the Christ. He is called “faithful and true” and he judges in righteousness and makes war with the enemies of the earth. His picture is similar to the scene of chapter one, but in this case his clothing is dipped (sprinkled, ASV) in blood.
The armies of heaven are also following him on white horses. The idea of white horses is a picture of victory. Then out of the mouth of the King is a sharp sword which he uses to strike down the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. This again has been a repeated picture of Psalm 2 and the battle of God and his Christ against the rulers and nations who refused to submit to God’s king.
Verse 15: Notice the picture of our King treading the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God with the name on his robe: “King of kings and Lord of lords.” This picture is borrowed from Isaiah 63:1-6 when the Lord returned from the defeat of Edom (who represented the rebel kings/nations of the earth.
Verse 17: Then John saw an angel standing in the sun and calling all the birds flying overhead to “Come, gather for the great supper of God to eat the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, free and slave, both small and great.” This is obviously a picture of vultures gathering to clean up the kill. Note that everyone from kings to slaves are being consumed by these birds. The picture comes from Ezekiel 39:17-21.
Verse 19: The beast and the kings of the earth gather in one last effort to conquer the Lamb. But we are not even told of the battle. Instead, the two allies of Satan, the beast and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire – utter, final destruction – and all the rest are killed with their bodies left to be gorged upon by the birds.
With the beast and false prophet now thrown into the lake of fire, there is only one enemy left: the dragon!
Conclusion: All that God has done since before time began has led up to this moment. Are we living in such a way that we reflect the worth and value of what the Lord has done to make us his bride?
Berry Kercheville
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38 min
January 05, 2025 The Fruit of the Spirit – Lesson 1
Bible Classes / Speaker:Chad Brock
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43 min
January 05, 2025Galatians 5:19-26 How Does The Spirit Produce Fruit?
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
How Does the Spirit Bear Fruit?
Galatians 5:19-26
Introduction: For most of us Galatians 5:19-23 is a stand-alone text. We tend to simply use it as an independent admonition against following a sinful lifestyle. Further, taken as a stand-alone text typically causes us to think primarily in terms of getting better at each of the individual parts of the fruit. But this text has a context, and it is important to understand that context. If we don’t understand Paul’s purpose in the text and how if fits into letter, we will not get the message that he intended. Therefore, this lesson will help us prepare for our study of the fruit of the Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit in Context
As most of us are aware of, there is an obvious contrast between the words of verse 19 and that of verse 22. There are works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit.
There are two contrasting words. “Works” and “fruit” are not the same. Works is something we do. Fruit is a metaphor from the picture of what a tree does when properly cared for. The tree is what actually produces the fruit. It is not a “work” as in look what I produced.
In the same way, “flesh” and “Spirit” are truly opposites. Flesh implies what is done by the strength and ingenuity of human mind and body. Spirit represents what only God can do. It is beyond human ability or human thought. Flesh represents that which leads to death. What is done by the Spirit represents that which leads to life. The flesh results in bondage. The Spirit results in freedom.
Galatians 4:21-31 helps us see this contrast of flesh and Spirit.
22: Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman.
23: The son of the slave woman was born according to the flesh. The son of the free woman was born through promise.
24-27: The two women and their sons represent two contrasting covenants.
The one of the flesh represents Mt. Sinai and the Law of Moses. This also represents slavery because of the curse of the Law for anyone who does not abide by all things written therein.
The one born of the free woman represents the Jerusalem above, the true heavenly Jerusalem. Those born of the heavenly Jerusalem are free. The curse of the Law, the curse of sin and death cannot touch them.
28: “Now you brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.” The emphasis is on like Isaac. Isaac was not born from natural procreation. He was born from the power of God giving life from above.
29: Notice the contrast between the one born of the flesh and the one born according to the Spirit. Therefore, please recognize that Paul is setting up a connection with our text and the phrases, “works of the flesh…fruit of the Spirit.”
30: Just as Sarah said to Abraham, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
31: We are not children of the slave but of the free woman. That is, if we are not children of the slave, we are not children of the flesh. And if we are not children of the flesh, we do not live as children of the flesh and we do not live in slavery. Instead, we are children of the free woman, therefore of the Spirit, and if of the free and of the Spirit, we live by the power of life from above and not of the flesh!
Now go back to 4:24. Notice the words, “these women are two covenants.” Please do not be simplistic here and think merely of “the law of Moses” and the “law of Christ.” No, these are two different covenants. Each covenant has a unique and different basis upon which it was made. One was by law and one was by promise. The promise had nothing to do with the Law and the Law had nothing to do with the promise. You either follow a “law covenant” or you follow a “promise covenant.” You either follow the “flesh” or you follow the “Spirit.” If you follow the Spirit, you can obey the law and live. If you follow the flesh you cannot obey the law, and you will die.
5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free…”
5:4-5 Notice again the contrast. If you follow the “law covenant” you will lose grace. But if you follow the Spirit by faith, you will eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
The Effect of Following the Flesh and Not the Spirit
Galatians 5:13-18 I have always thought Paul made an odd transition from not following the law and circumcision to a church “biting and devouring one another” and then the followup warning of the “works of the flesh.” It didn’t make sense until I understood that the two covenants result in two different ways of serving God and seeking salvation.
There are two examples of this that we can use as a reminder:
Luke 18:9-13
Just look at how Jesus begins the parable: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” Isn’t that interesting? There is a relationship between how a person views their salvation and the way they treat others. That is exactly what was going on with the Galatian brethren.
Jesus illustrates this view of the means of salvation and contempt for others by the prayer of the Pharisee. Notice that he boasts about his accomplishments, says absolutely nothing about his sins, and demeans a tax collector who is seeking mercy from God.
You have heard of “identity politics” (a person is favored based on race, skin color, or even sexual orientation). This is “identity religion.” The Pharisee has favored himself before God by virtue signaling based a chosen few outward works that communicate how he is so much more special than others.
Now put these two people, the Pharisee and the tax collector in the same church. What will be the result?
Luke 7:36-51 You know this text. Consider:
The Pharisee thinks he owes God very little and has little appreciation for God’s forgiveness. He sees his salvation on the basis of being a Jew faithful to the law. And note the connection between that view and how he sees the sinful woman. He is disgusted by her presence. He doesn’t care how moved she is by Jesus, how sorry she is for her sins, and how thankful she is for her forgiveness.
The result is that he loves little – that is, he loves little both of God and his fellow man. Now, put these two in the same church. What do you have?
Now back to Galatians 5. Look at verses 15, 20, and 26. Now do you see what is going on among the Galatians? These “troublers” are saying, “I’m circumcised. I am connected to Abraham by birth. I keep the feast days. I observe the Sabbath. I eat clean foods!” That is my standing before God!!
Lest we misunderstand: Paul is not condemning the keeping of God’s laws and he certainly is not condemning God’s command that we be careful to obey God’s commands (Ezekiel 36:27). He is condemning the idea that we think our assurance of salvation is based our obedience and good works (in spite of our sins) instead of in the mercy and grace given by what Christ has done.
Philippians 3:9, “…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith…”
5:16-18
16: “If you walk by the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Really? Why won’t you gratify the desires of the flesh if you are walking by the Spirit?
17 answers: “…the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Paul explains to us in Romans 7 that what a godly person wants to do is serve God. The frustration is, if you are living in the flesh, under law you cannot please God. Your tendency is to be “conceited, provoking and envying” (26) because you rely on your superiority based on accomplishments.
18 is the remedy: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” If you are led by the Spirit, you recognize your standing with God is based on what he has done, not on what you have done. This causes you to see others with humility, love and compassion. You even view them as having more value than yourself (Phil. 2:3).
Here then is the ultimate question. Have you ever considered in amazement how many times you have heard of churches splitting, or at the very least just having members who get disgruntled and leave. Maybe you have even experienced it firsthand. You know, it is those words in verse 20: “enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy.”
If you grew up in a church where dissensions and strife were a regular part of the church’s culture, where people were not gentle, patient, and loving toward one another, it is a result of justification based on the flesh, that is, a law system just like the Jews, instead of “living by the Spirit and keeping in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25-26).
Conclusion
In other words, the problem with justification by law/works is that it lacks the inner experience of the love and mercy of God and therefore is unable to transfer that same love and mercy to both God and man. If you have not experienced the love of God like the sinful woman and like the tax collector, you cannot love God or your brother and sister as you should!
So, how does the Spirit bear fruit in your life? You don’t bear the fruit, the Spirit does. That doesn’t mean you are inactive. It means that you do just what you would do to a fruit tree. You water it, fertilize it, trim it, weed around it, protect it from pests. Spiritually speaking, you nurture your knowledge of God so that you grow to love him for what he has done for you by the Spirit. With that, you will not “try” to be more loving and more patient, etc., you will become that person so that “you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Therefore, as we study the various parts of the fruit of the Spirit, remember, it is one thing to identify what true love is, but you will not be able to attain it by the flesh. You grow your tree in what God has done, and the Spirit will produce the fruit in you!
Berry Kercheville
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40 min
January 02, 2025 2 Samuel Chapter 15
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
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44 min
December 29, 2024 Reflection, Looking Back and Looking Forward
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Chad Brock

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23 min
December 29, 2024 The Parables of Jesus – Lesson 13
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14
The Blind Man, Fruit Tree, & Builders – Luke 6:37-49
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44 min
December 26, 2024 Matthew 1 – The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Bible Classes / Speaker:Evan Shields The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,a]">[a] 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,b]">[b] 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos,c]">[c] and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,d]">[d] and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
The Birth of Jesus Christ
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christe]">[e] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothedf]">[f] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
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42 min