Woodland Hills Church of Christ

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Woodland Hills Church of Christ episodes

December 23, 2024 Prepping to Teach
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Prepping to Teach : Key Dates to Remember , Genealogy of the Patriarchs
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52 min
December 22, 2024 The Parables of Jesus – Lesson 12
Bible Classes / Speaker:Chad Brock
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44 min
December 19, 2024 2 Samuel Chapter 14
Bible Classes / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
2 Samuel 13 : 23 – 39
2 Samuel 14 : 1 – 33
2 Samuel 15 : 1 – 12
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46 min
December 16, 2024Overcoming Sexual Entanglements
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Overcoming Emotional and Sexual Entanglements
Introduction: This lesson is a followup to our Wednesday evening study on the sins of David and Amnon in 2 Samuel. Sexual sins and idolatry, which is usually a companion to sexual sins, are the most talked about and warned against sins in scripture.
The Danger of Emotional and Sexual Entanglements
Proverbs 2:16-19 “…none who go into her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.”
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
The Corinthians argument: food for the stomach and the stomach for food – and the same is true with the body and sexual immorality.
Paul’s argument is, no, not only is the body for the Lord, but something entirely different happens in sexual immorality as opposed to just eating food.
First, your body is a member of Christ and you cannot take a member of Christ and connect it to a prostitute (immoral woman/man).
Second, in joining with a prostitute, a person becomes “one flesh” with her. That is not saying they are married, but that “joining” with her is more than just a physical or biological incident. There are strong mental connections being made and it is a violation of oneness with the Lord. In other words, even if a person didn’t have a wife, this is still adultery against the Lord.
Third, this sin is unique in that it is a sin against one’s own body. In other words, one’s body is violated. There are mental and physiological changes that take place that are very damaging and unlike other sins.
Fourth, sexual immorality in any form does not glorify God and our bodies are to be used only to glorify God.
Building a Wall or Always Vulnerable?
When you are most vulnerable: God and his word are not your number 1 love.
The key to overcoming any sin and lust is finding that what God has to offer tastes so much better and is so much more fulfilling. Whether you are single or married, this is the key!
Ephesians 3:16-19 “…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” When knowing God is not what “lights your eyes” and “fills your emptiness,” you are vulnerable to all types of sin, especially sexual sins. Why sexual sins? Because through those sins Satan promises to provide intimacy that satisfies desires to be loved and needed.
If you are married, the second most powerful defense against “wandering eyes,” lustful thoughts and desires, and acting out immorally, is a passionate marriage. Maintaining a strong romantic relationship means dedicating 15 hours a week in time alone with each other. Couples who disregard this rule lose that “loving feeling” and develop destructive marital habits.
The above two principles keeps our passions directed on a godly path and does more to insulate us and enable us to overcome lustful temptations. These are the weapons God has given us to conquer! Just telling yourself that “I’d never do such a thing,” is naive! If King David did it, a man after God’s own heart, any of us can under the right circumstances.
One more defense: giving in to sexual sin, whether through pornography or otherwise, will not “satisfy” desires, it will feed and multiply the desires.
The Road to Immorality Is a Process
When we Christians discuss sexual immorality, we tend to think of outsiders, people who do not live by a strong faith in God and following the whims of their consciences. Again, that is naive thinking. Just like it was naive for Peter to think he would never deny the Lord, so it is for any of us to think we would never commit this sin regardless of whether you are a preaching, elder, or committed Christian.
Consider a few principles:
People do not lead moral lives one day and have an affair the next. Though it may appear that way, it is actually a process that goes through stages that are not always obvious, which makes it seem like “it was just a one-night stand” or brief misstep. Impossible, impossible!
For example, it is fair to ask, “What was going on in David’s life that led up to him committing adultery with Bathsheba?”
The first thing that comes to mind is, why was he “collecting wives?” What is going on in his mind that causes him to not be satisfied with one woman? It may be difficult to get an exact count, but he collected over twenty wives and concubines.
Second, as has often been noted, David did not go out to battle as was common for kings to do. But what should we learn about David from that? I would suggest he has become restless and bored. He has had success after success after success. Instead of staying the course and finding his fulfillment in God or calling one of his wives to be with him, he falls into a moment of weakness in which he is looking for something new to bring fulfillment to his life. And when that happens, Satan is glad to provide and answer!
The Process
Those “innocent” thoughts:
Ephesians 4:17–24 alludes to what is going on in our minds at least 10 times.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”
Satan quickly and easily borrows illicit thoughts and sins we have committed in the past to incorporate them into a present temptation. They begin without sensing much danger. Our minds can tend to ask questions about couples we see or know. A woman can think, “I wonder what it would be like to be married to him? His wife is so lucky.” Or a man can think, “She is just so beautiful and so nice. It would be amazing to be married to her.”
Whether daydreaming about someone we have no right to or seeing it played out in movies, these thoughts generate pathways in our minds so that Satan has an advantage and puts us in a situation where there is opportunity.
Emotional involvement
A person who is naive or immature can mistakenly feel “safe” as long as nothing physical is going on. But that misses the point that something sexual is going on long before anything physical is happening. Therefore, opposite sexes must adhere to certain restrictions:
Behave in such a way that if you must at times be alone with the opposite sex, maintain a “professional distance” and always be aware of any “vibe” that is going on between you.
Do not have long conversations, especially on a regular basis, other than what is necessary.
Never have conversations about intimate matters.
Never become a “counselor” to a married person of the opposite sex.
Never complain about your spouse to the opposite sex.
Complimenting the opposite sex must be restricted to hair or clothing, but never on how physically good looking they are.
If you feel “electricity” with the opposite sex, never express it. Instead, keep your distance. Flee; runaway.
Never be flirty or tease in a sensual way.
Never think you can be “close friends” of the opposite sex.
If you grow close emotionally with the opposite sex, the next step becomes easy – an “innocent” kiss or hug can become deadly.
An Innocent Kiss Becomes Deadly
“Oh, we just got a little carried away. It will never happen again,” each person says to themselves. “Sorry, that was stupid,” one of them embarrassingly comments. But the line has been crossed, and it does happen again, and again.
Then come the lies and the coverup. Soon there are planned meetings and rationalizations about how each other spouse is not providing what each needs in a relationship.
The only way out!
These two should have never gotten this far, but they ignored the little warnings in the back of their head because it felt so good to be around someone who was so caring and attentive.
Couples who get this far often think they can “backtrack” by stopping the physical relationship and going back to just friends. Impossible. The friendship has been ruined. The only course to take now is complete separation. There can never again being any more contact. If it means quitting your job, moving out of state, or moving to a different church. No more phone calls; no more anything! Distance and repentance is the only solution. Oh but that is so difficult for a couple who has gone this far.
Conclusion: Do not be deceived about how deep into corruption a person’s mind has gone when he or she commits this sin!
A person who has an affair takes a magic carpet ride that is different than anything he or she has ever experienced. Proverbs 9:27 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”
This leads to a period of “ambivalence,” where he or she does not want to give up their spouse because of the consequences of losing their whole family, but neither do they want to give up the super-charged pleasure they have enjoyed with the illicit affair.
Even if the person completely repents, there is a long period time that goes by before they are able to rid themselves of the thoughts and desires of what they had.
And if a person who is caught in such a relationship responds with, “I’m sorry, I just got caught up in the moment. I’m really sorry. Now can we put this behind us and get on with our marriage?” That person is deceived and has not understood the gravity of his or her sin. That is a King Saul repentance.
Berry Kercheville
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52 min
December 15, 2024 The Parables of Jesus – Lesson 11
Bible Classes / Speaker:Jared Partain
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46 min
December 15, 2024 Proper Attitudes for Deacon Selection
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Chip Porter
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27 min
December 12, 2024 2 Samuel Chapter 13
Bible Classes / Speaker:Michael Lindsey
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44 min
December 09, 2024 Orderly Worship
Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
1 Corinthians 14: 26-40
1 Timothy 2:8-15
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56 min
December 08, 2024 The Parables of Jesus – Lesson 10
Bible Classes / Speaker:Chad Brock
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46 min
December 08, 2024Revelation 18: Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon The Great
New Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville
Fallen, Fallen is Babylon the Great
Revelation 18
Introduction: If there is any chapter to which we Americans should relate, it would be this one. The United States has repeatedly been compared to the Roman Empire, not only for its power, but for its dangerous slide into corruption.
This chapter shouts a warning to all such nations who give themselves to the fulfillment of earthly lusts. Psalm 2:10-12, “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth, Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Too often we think of a nation and rulers only in terms of their politics. But the Lord gives a clear message: respect for the King of kings is the key to success. Before all else, these governments and rulers serve at the mercy of Jesus who rules all. That is the ultimate message.
The chapter is divided into four sections:
Vs. 1-3 Another angel’s mighty voice
Vs. 4-8 Another voice from heaven
Vs. 9-19 The lament over Babylon
Vs. 20-24 A mighty angel casts Babylon into her tomb
The Angel with the Mighty Voice (1-3)
17:18 has already identified the harlot-Babylon as the Roman Empire. She is the symbol of lust and seduction, filled with every kind of wickedness.
In 18:2 Her judgment is pronounced and the result of her wickedness is described. This comes from Isaiah 21:9, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.”
1 Corinthians 10:19-20, Paul explains the seriousness of idolatry: “What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.” Demons are the originator and supporters of idolatry. All the lusts humans pursue and to which they sacrifice themselves are urged by what Paul calls the “elemental spirits.” To call Rome the dwelling place for demons and every unclean and detestable beast indicates empire was filled with everything that was demonic.
It is critical that we see beyond a simplistic statement of sinful things and recognize the gods of wickedness that are present. The idols of America are obvious; they are not hidden. If demons in the first century were behind the promotion of sensual idolatry of lewd temple worship, those same demons are certainly what is behind sensuality portrayed in our television and media. Is the addiction to these 21st century temple gods any different than the offerings to the temple gods that were in every city of the Roman Empire?
Therefore, Babylon’s fall strips away her luxurious facade and reveals the skeletons of her evil. Listen again to Paul’s words describing idolatry: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!” (Romans 1:24-25). From those words, can you tell any difference from then until now? Nothing has changed.
Vs. 3: Notice the words at the end of the verse: luxurious living. “Luxurious” is not just wealth, but carries the idea of sensuality. After all, idolatry is the creation of gods that represent the desires of the human will. The nations readily joined Rome’s wickedness by using it to grow their wealth. As Hailey states, “Such connections and associations are seen all over the world today as men seek to gain wealth by immoral, avaricious, and unscrupulous means…Internal corruption of a nation is expressed in pornographic movies, magazines, and lewd entertainment, which prey on the depravity of human beings. Prostitution, gambling, and narcotics make up only a portion of the world of corrupt, anti-God, destructive forces, which thrive on lust.”
Another Voice from Heaven, (4-8)
“Come out from her lest you share in her plagues…”
John does not say this voice is from an angel, making us wonder, is this the voice of God? God has certainly given this warning before. If you share in her sins, you will also share in her plagues! Paul said, “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them” (Ephesians 5:5–7) Paul is talking to Christians! Be not deceived! We cannot enter the kingdom of Christ without coming out from the midst of the present age.
Paul added to this in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers…Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?…Therefore, go out from their midst and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing…” Paul is not commanding to stay away from unbelievers, but to not be influenced by them and partner in their sins.
“Her sins are heaped as high as heaven” Any doubt that these idolatrous sins in America has reached as high as heaven? God remembers these iniquities and does not forget them. Note God’s promised punishments:
“Repay double for her deeds” – God will balance the scales, rendering justice.
“As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her like measure of torment and mourning.” That has always been the problem with mankind. God gives wonderful gifts to bless us, and it is used to glorify ourselves instead of God.
“I sit as queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.” What arrogance! All the great nations said them same: Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, all said that they could not fall and boasted their superiority. Indeed, so has our country. Thus, note God’s words: “For this reason her plagues will come in a single day.” That is, it will be sudden, just like all judgments do. But notice what is coming: “death and mourning and famine.” It isn’t necessarily the attack of another country, it is just a nation so corrupted it rots from the inside out.
The Lament Over Babylon (9-19)
Notice the effect that fall of Rome has on the rest of the world. All the nations had depended on her and gotten their wealth by participating in her sensuous idolatry, glorifying her instead of God. Thus, when Rome fell, all their source of food and luxury was taken away.
I read a book years ago warning America and the world what happens when we live on debt and the economy finally crumples under its own weight. The author’s statement was, “When America sneezes, the world gets pneumonia.” Indeed, the world depends on our luxury. But will we depend on and glorify God?
Verses 11-19 Notice all the people who are now affected! How quickly the tables have turned. All of those merchants and those who enjoyed the delicacies had no idea how quickly their economy could crumble. The same is true with us. We just go to the store, and it is there – anything we desire, ready made, it is there!
A Mighty Angel Casting Babylon into Her Tomb
First, look at 21-23. Like a great millstone, Babylon is cast into the sea. It is thrown down “with violence.” No more joy and laughter in this great city. No more sounds of music. No more merchants from which to buy your luxuries.
Verse 24: And when the autopsy is done, “there is found in her the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.”
Look again at verse 24. You may have noticed something odd. Rome is blamed for all who have been slain on earth? No, in this case we see the importance of Rome being compared to Babylon. Babylon was called the mother of harlots. She is not the only harlot. She was the original and she has produced so many more. Babylon is the world city God promised to destroy in Isaiah 24. That world city still exists in all nations who follow her sensuous idolatry. Rome fell, but the world city has not yet been fully judged!
Therefore, as we have pointed out previously, this great letter from Jesus to the churches includes us. The final judgment of Babylon the great is still to come, and we need to open our eyes, living soberly and righteously. Come out from her midst lest you share in her plagues!
Verse 20: “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints…” That may seem hard and harsh. How could we rejoice over the fall of our country? We need to think differently. If our country or any country turns away from God, practicing its immorality, giving glory to itself as it feeds its lusts, and then even persecutes those who live for God and will not support their wicked culture, that’s when we will rejoice over its fall!
Conclusion: What should we do about this? Neither Paul or Peter or John told Christians to respond by moaning and mourning about the condition of the worldly culture around us. No, as Paul said while he was imprisoned in Rome:
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:2–6). That is our answer to Babylon!
Berry Kercheville
The post Revelation 18: Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon The Great appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.
35 min