Wednesday Evening August 26, 2026

The sermon examines the destruction of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6 to illustrate the principle that believers must focus on faithful obedience to God's word rather than worrying about results. It highlights how God's specific instructions led to the city's fall due to its idolatry and immorality, serving as a type for future divine judgment. Listen along as Brother Rhein contrasts the trapped inhabitants of Jericho with the open invitation of salvation through Jesus Christ, emphasizing that while judgment is certain for the wicked, deliverance is available to all who believe. By referencing Rahab's salvation and the eventual rebuilding of the city, the message underscores the temporary nature of earthly judgments versus the eternal reality of Christ's return. Ultimately, the text urges Christians to remain steadfast in their witness, leaving the outcomes to God.

The message addresses the urgent need for sexual purity in a culture saturated with immorality, grounding its argument in 1 Thessalonians 4. It defines sanctification as God's explicit will for believers to abstain from sexual sin and emphasizes that this standard is not achievable through human effort alone but requires reliance on the Holy Spirit. The speaker highlights the destructive consequences of sexual impurity on individuals and communities, warning against the illusion that grace removes all earthly repercussions for unrepentant sin. Practical steps for maintaining purity are outlined, including setting strict boundaries, filling the mind with godly thoughts, and establishing accountability within brotherhood. Ultimately, the message calls men to pursue a deep relationship with God as the foundation for overcoming temptation and living a holy life.

The sermon distinguishes between the completed inspiration of Scripture and the ongoing ministry of illumination by the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes that while God authored the Bible, believers must pray for spiritual insight to truly comprehend its truths. Drawing from Psalm 119 and 1 Corinthians 2, the text argues that natural intellect alone cannot grasp divine revelation without the Spirit's work. The preacher urges the audience to approach Scripture with humility and prayer, seeking the Spirit's guidance to apply God's Word effectively to their lives.

How precious the Epistle of James was to the early Jewish believers in their situation. Rejecting pseudonymity, or some kind two stage authorship, the writer can be identified as James, the Lord's brother, as he testifies himself to be "a bondslave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ," (1:1). The primary readers were those who were part of the first New Testament diaspora, scattered throughout Palestine from Jerusalem because of the persecution initiated by Saul of Tarsus who became the Apostle Paul, (Acts 8:1-4). The Epistle is full of practical teaching for the Christians, rich or poor, who formed a mercantile group and an agricultural group. The author is calling for not simply some kind of orthodox belief in God but real faith evidenced in practical works. The believers must guard their speech, seek wisdom and guidance from God, being "doers of the word."

In Part 7 of the Revelation Unraveled series, Pastor Byron Chesney examines Christ's message to the church at Pergamos in Revelation 2:12–17. Although this church remained faithful to the name of Christ while living in a stronghold of spiritual darkness, it had begun tolerating false doctrine and sinful compromise within its fellowship. This message warns that a church can stand against persecution from the outside while being weakened by compromise on the inside, and calls believers to hold fast the faith, reject error, and repent whenever God's Word exposes sin.

The Song of Solomon is often misunderstood, ignored, or distorted. Yet it is part of the inspired, sufficient, and authoritative Word of God. This poetic book celebrates God's good design for love, marriage, covenant faithfulness, and delight within marriage. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins introduces the Song of Solomon and considers how it belongs alongside Proverbs and Ecclesiastes as wisdom literature. Proverbs gives wisdom for daily living. Ecclesiastes exposes the limits of life under the sun. The Song of Solomon celebrates covenant love and delight rightly ordered under God. Dave explains why believers should read this book reverently and wisely, recognizing its rich poetry and symbolic language without pressing every detail literally. The Song of Solomon presents marriage as faithful, exclusive, joyful, and covenantal. It calls Christians to value God's design in a world marked by confusion about love, intimacy, and marriage. While the book is first about human covenant love, it also points beyond itself to God's covenant faithfulness and to Christ, the Bridegroom who loves His people perfectly and sacrificially. For more from Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

Drawing from John 2:10, the sermon illustrates how God consistently reserves the best blessings for His people, much like the good wine kept until last at the wedding in Cana. The preacher contrasts the shadows and promises of the Old Testament with the superior reality found in Christ, emphasizing that redemption is not merely a past event but an ongoing experience where Jesus becomes sweeter over time. Through trials and providence, believers gain a deeper appreciation for God's sovereignty and patience, allowing them to rest in His guidance even amidst life's difficulties. The message encourages Christians to anticipate future glory, where communion with Christ will be perfect and conformity to His image complete. Ultimately, the text calls for joyful expectation of both present spiritual growth and eternal fulfillment.

Pastor Mark Hogan teaches on the second petition of the Lord's Prayer, "Your kingdom come," explaining that while God's universal kingdom of power (Daniel 4) is the foundation, this petition ultimately asks for the consummated kingdom of glory--the new creation promised in Isaiah 65–66 and Revelation 21–22. He shows from Matthew 5:20, 7:21, 8:11, 25:34, and 26:29 that the kingdom is a future reality, yet also present now through Christ's inaugurated kingship (Matthew 13, 6:33, 28:20). He distinguishes between the kingdom of grace (Christ's mediatorial rule over the church today) and the kingdom of glory (the final consummation). Using the Heidelberg Catechism, he outlines four facets: (1) Christ ruling in believers by Word and Spirit, (2) preserving and increasing the church through gospel advance, (3) destroying Satan's kingdom and all wicked counsels, and (4) hastening the full perfection of God's kingdom. He applies this by urging dependence on God's power (Psalm 127, 90), praying for personal sanctification (1 Thess 5:23), praying for the success of the Great Commission (Matt 9:38, Rom 10:1), praying against the devil's works (1 John 3:8), and praying for Christ's return and judgment (Rev 22:20). He concludes with the Westminster Shorter Catechism: we pray that Satan's kingdom be destroyed, the kingdom of grace advanced, and the kingdom of glory hastened.

The next figure mentioned in the rapid-fire list of Old Testament heroes of the faith, in Hebrews 11:32, is Barak. Like Gideon, Barak did not heroically jump at the opportunity to deliver God's people, though he was told that God would be with him. Instead, the prophetess Deborah had to promise that her presence would be with him in battle. And because Barak's faith was weak, God would show that He would have to use an unassuming woman, Jael, to finish the job with a striking blow, so to speak. But again, in the end God would demonstrate that just because one has been granted faith, He alone will finish the work He began in us.