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< Back Guardrails Pt. 7: Camouflage Pastor Nate Brosher Apr 13, 2025 2Corinthians 11:12-15 NLT - 12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. 1. Operating in a Disguise. Camouflage · an outward semblance that misrepresents the true nature of something · the act of concealing the identity of something by modifying its appearance. 2Corinthians 11:15 NLT - 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve. Righteousness – ( dikaiosynē) The condition acceptable to God, integrity, virtue and purity of life. Matthew 7:15-20 NLT - 15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. 2. Are we in love with the World? 1John 2:15-17 ESV - 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. Are we in love with the world or the things this world can bring us? Colossians 3:1-4 ESV - 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 3. Change your clothes. Matthew 6:31-34 ESV - 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Jesus said, “your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Luke 12:2-3 ESV - 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. Previous Next

< Back Sacrificial Living Pt. 2: My Sacrifice Pastor Nate Brosher Jan 19, 2025 “In a secular world where “me” is God and everyone else is a means to more of “me,” who wants to serve others? In a techy world where “selfies” are currency and “likes” are gold, and where academic achievement, sporting achievement, money, fame, media celebrity status, and the latest cool fashion logos have iconic status, who really cares about living sacrificially? Who really cares whether I care? What even is sacrificial living?– Author, Shona Murray Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT - 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 1. Greatest Sacrifice Mark 16:15 : "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" Matthew 28:19-20 : "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Matthew 24:14 : "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations" ■ We have all been called to be a witness “Sacrificial living is motivated by a love for God and gratitude for salvation, not by legalism.” – Author, Shona Murray. Matthew 6:31-33 NLT - 31 "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. ■ A sacrificed heart is driven by the concern to meet others’ needs, because Christ met our need. 2. What are we doing? 1Corinthians 6:12-14, 19-20 NLT – 12 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. 13 You say, "Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food." (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can't say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. 14 And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead. ... 19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So, you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:15 NLT Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! David Livingstone – (1813-1873) Scottish Missionary.– “God send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours.” Robert Morrison – (1782-1834) First Protestant Missionary in China. - “When you get to heaven, will you look back on this earth and regret how much treasure you laid up here instead of sending it on ahead to heaven?” ■ Sacrificial living is love-motivated, not law-motivated. Matthew 6:1-4 NLT - 1 "Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don't do as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Previous Next

< Back The Importance of Fasting Pastor Nate Brosher Jan 11, 2024 The Importance of Fasting Matthew 17:14-21 NKJV 14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling to Him and saying, 15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." 17 Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" 20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." The disciples asked; “Why couldn’t we cast it out?" And his response was “because of your unbelief” faithlessness! The statutory definition of corruption is a dishonest, fraudulent, or even criminal act of an individual or organization, using entrusted authority or power to make a personal gain or other unethical or illegal benefits. Act 8:9 NLT A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Acts 8:18-19 NLT 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 "Let me have this power, too," he exclaimed, "so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!" Many Greek manuscripts have left out verse 21 in Matthew because it closely resembles Mark 9:29 so it has been believed to be added because it wasn’t in the original text of Matthew. Mark 9:28-29 NKJV 28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" 29 So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." Fasting releases God's supernatural power. It is a tool we can use when there is opposition to God's will. Satan would like nothing better than to cause division, discouragement, defeat, depression, and doubt among us. United prayer and fasting has always been used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy! St. Augustine said, “Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one's flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, [and] scatters the clouds of concupiscence.” (strong desires/sinful lust) Matthew 6:16-18 NLT 16 "And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Jesus assumes that His followers will fast. Notice, that it's “ when ” not “ if .” Fasting is an essential part of the Christian life, and Jesus understands that the absence of fasting will make us spiritually feeble. For God to honor our fasting, we must be seeking to please the Lord and not ourselves. If we want our fasting to honor God, we must prioritize personal righteousness and ministry to others. Prioritizing personal righteousness means uprooting sin while also seeking a solution from God. In its deeper spiritual meaning, righteousness is the quality of being right in the eyes of God, including character (nature), conscience (attitude), conduct (action), and command (word). Righteousness is, therefore, based upon God's standard because He is the ultimate Lawgiver. Isaiah 33:22 NLT For the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save us. Previous Next

< Back Journey Through James Pt. 1 Pastor Nate Brosher Feb 15, 2024 James 1:1-4 NLT 1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the "twelve tribes"--Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 1. Slave – Bond Servant to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Doulos – devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests, one who worships and submits to God. James makes a paradox statement: “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” Faith that is tested will allow our endurance to grow. “For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:5-8 NLT 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 2. Faith in God alone. "When you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.” James says, “Our loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” KJV – “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways!” James said, a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Revelation 3:15-16 NLT 15 "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! We must be steadfast, unmovable in our faith and walk with God. James 1:12-15 NLT 12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 3. Be Patient! Temptation will rise frequently. We must recognize that “temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. Then these desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” James is telling us here, that we can’t let our desires entice us to make wrong and emotional decisions! James 1:16-18 NLT So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. Previous Next

< Back Heroes of the Faith Pt. 9: The Message in the Meltdown Pastor Nate Brosher Oct 5, 2025 Daniel 3:4-6 NLT - 4 Then a herald shouted out, "People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king's command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar's gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 1. Compromised Behavior Exodus 20:3-5 NLT - 3 "You must not have any other god but me. 4 "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected--even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. How often are we tempted to compromise our beliefs or stance daily? Daniel 3:14-21 NLT - 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn't, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." 19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 2. Bound by Strongholds Strongholds can manifest as deeply ingrained patterns of sin and false belief. Fear 2Timothy 1:7 NKJV - 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Pride Proverbs 16:18 ESV - 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Unforgiveness Ephesians 4:32 ESV - 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Gossip and Slander Proverbs 16:28 NLT: "A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends". Deceptive Thinking 1Timothy 4:1 NLT - 1 Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. Daniel 3:22-25 NLT - 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. 24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?" "Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did," they replied. 25 "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound , walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!" Previous Next

< Back The Romans Journey Pt. 13: Submission Pastor Nate Brosher Jun 4, 2025 Romans 13:1-5 NLT - 1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. 4 The authorities are God's servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God's servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. 5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 1. Are we truly submitting? Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV - 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Ephesians 5:25-28, 33 ESV - 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ... 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Some things we have no problem submitting to. Daniel 2:20-21 ESV - 20 "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Act 5:29 ESV - 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. Charles Spurgeon: “When the choice is between obeying God or man, choose to obey God. However, most of what government requires us to do does not violate the law of God. Therefore, we have a responsibility in most cases to obey God by obeying man!” Luke 9:26 NLT - 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. Romans 13:6-10 NLT - 6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. 8 Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These--and other such commandments--are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law. 2. Are we being good stewards? “Give to everyone what you owe them.” Verse 8, “Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law and love your neighbor as yourself.” Romans 13:10-14 NLT - 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law. 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. “Remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes and put on the shining armor of right living.” Previous Next

< Back Sabbath Series Pt. 1: The War Chase Radford Jan 16, 2025 *All Scripture is from ESV unless noted otherwise. Genesis 1:31–2:3 (NRSV; condensed) God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. ... And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested... So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. That's where sabbath began via God's eternal decree of a day of stopping and celebrating Him and the life He created for us. Word Study: Sabbath The Hebrew word(s) translated to sabbath literally means to stop, to cease (labor), to rest, to celebrate — which the Greek word is a transliteration of and carries the same definition. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Word Study: Flesh Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This is what John Piper calls "the sweetest invitiation." It's also a call to examine the burdens and yokes we have allowed to be placed on us, or placed on ourselves. “Jesus is not glorified or seen as beautiful or desirable if his followers are exhausted and stressed and worn out in the exact same way of the world — he's just not. […] A restful spirit is spiritual warfare in a culture of exhaustion. And so we have to learn how to live in the rhythm of rest. We do this by examining the yoke on our life.” — Jon Tyson I want to focus on these three gods of our age, what I believe are the three most prominent sources of yokes in our day: Accomplishment Accumulation Amusement. Accomplishment Accomplishment, like anything, can be distorted into a burdensome yoke that leads people away from the presence of God, and becomes a form of worship to the god of self. GotQuestions.org writes: "The god of self arises in us when we think we know better than God. We disagree with His Word and elevate our own opinion above His... The god of self is very much active within the church today. Self-help, self-esteem, self-love, and self-fulfillment are topics once left to secular psychologists. Now they are regular themes in mainline Christianity. The awesome, holy God described in Scripture as a “consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29) and who will “smite the nations with the sword of His mouth” (Revelation 19:15) is considered important only inasmuch as He validates our worth or makes us feel good about ourselves. The god of self will gladly worship a God of love but resists learning about His other qualities because those will dethrone self." Accumulation We aren't as a society only obsessed with ourselves. We are obsessed with our networks , our money and our stuff . Matt. 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt. 6:2-4 "...when you give to the needy , sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." [rewards; treasures in heaven] 2 Cor. 8:1-5 "We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints — 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us ." Amusement In 1985, Neil Postman wrote a groundbreaking polemic titled, Amusing Ourselves to Death . It's about the corrosive effects of television and couldn't ring more true 40 years later. A Call to Consecration + Rest in Christ Accomplishment, accumulation, and amusement satisfy the flesh but leave the soul empty, leading to what John Piper calls a "malaise of the soul." These false gods, often elevated as sacred even by believers, become strongholds that hinder a consecrated life set apart for God's glory. True worship belongs to God, not to the idols of work, entertainment, or possessions — a truth Jesus addressed when teaching us the Lord's prayer , to hallow God’s name above all. Our Father, who is in Heaven, Let Your name be hallowed to us. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done, Here as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us and we forgive others. Do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from all evil. Yours is the Kingdom, all power and glory. Amen. Practice the Way: Sabbath https://www.practicingtheway.org/sabbath Previous Next

< Back House of Prayer Pt. 3: Stand Your Ground Pastor Nate Brosher Jul 20, 2025 Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT - 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 1. Be Strong in the Lord! “Be strong in the Lord and in HIS mighty power. Put on all of God's armor.” How do we embrace a mindset of complete dependency on Christ? Ephesians 6:13-18 NLT - 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Put on EVERY piece of God’s armor. 2. Stay Alert! 1Peter 5:8-9 NLT - 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. We must always be watching out! A lion’s roar can reach up to 114 decibels and be heard up to 5 miles. Isaiah 54:17 ESV - 17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD." 2Corinthians 1:20-22 ESV - 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. We must stand our ground when we pray! Previous Next

< Back We Are Family: Jeopardy Pastor Nate Brosher Dec 10, 2023 We Are Family Series: Jeopardy Job 1:6-21 NLT 6 One day the members of the heavenly court* came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan,* came with them. 7 “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” 8 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” 9 Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. 10 You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! 11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. 13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.” 20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” * 1:6a Hebrew the sons of God . * 1:6b Hebrew and the satan ; similarly throughout this chapter. Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Job 1:6–21. 1. What’s your response to adversity? How we respond to adversity is a depiction of what is truly on the inside of us. Job 1:22 NLT In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. Psalm 34:1 NKJV I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. Will we still bless the Lord at all times when we are faced with major challenges? Job 2:3-9 NLT 3 Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.” 4 Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. 5 But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” 6 “All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” 7 So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot. 8 Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” a. What do we do when our body is afflicted? b. Will we still bless the Lord at all times? Psalm 34:19 KJV 19 Many [are] the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Eliphaz – Bildad – Zophar Negativity – False Accusations Your attitude changes when you are surrounded by people that don’t benefit you. 3. He always shows up right on HIS time. John 9:1-3 NLT As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. " Romans 8:28-33 NLT 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. A. God Rebuked Job for questioning his all power. Job 40:4-5 NLT 4 "I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. 5 I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say." Job 42:5-6 NLT 5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. 6 I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance." B. When God steps in, remember he works all things for his GOOD! John 8:34-36 NKJV 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, [but] a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed ." Previous Next

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< Back Preparation: There’s Nothing! Pastor Nate Brosher Mar 31, 2024 ​ John 19:1-6, 15-20, 28-30, 32-34, 36-37 NLT 1 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 "Hail! King of the Jews!" they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. 4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, "I am going to bring him out to you now but understand clearly that I find him not guilty." 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, "Look, here is the man!" 6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" "Take him yourselves and crucify him," Pilate said. "I find him not guilty." ... 15 "Away with him," they yelled. "Away with him! Crucify him!" "What? Crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the leading priests shouted back. 16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified. So, they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, [Golgotha]). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. ... 28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, "I am thirsty."29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. ... 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. ... 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," 37 and "They will look on the one they pierced." 1. The Journey Flogging/Scourging was used as a Roman art of punishment. Flagellum - consisted of three separate thongs, each ending in a set of two lead balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals. The Crown – Believed to have come from the jujube tree. Thorns would have been 2-3”. The Cross – was estimated to be 2 meters wide and 3 meters long at the weight of 165lbs. The Walk – 2/5 of a mile over 600 yards (6 football fields). The Nails – 6 to 8” long into the wrist and foot. Crucifixion – difficulty breathing, constrained blood circulation, organ failure and asphyxiation. 2. The Finale: “It is FINISHED!” Matthew 27:51 NLT At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, Jesus came to fulfil the law. What was finished? There’s NOTHING that can prevent us from receiving eternal life. Previous Next

Sermon Notes Mar 31, 2024 Preparation: There’s Nothing! Read More Mar 24, 2024 Preparation: Make Way for the King Read More Mar 20, 2024 Journey Through James Pt. 4: Mountains Read More Mar 17, 2024 Preparation: Equip the Body Read More Mar 13, 2024 Journey Through James Pt. 3: Selfish Ambition Read More Mar 10, 2024 Preparation: Preparing the Way Read More Mar 7, 2024 Introduction to Life Groups Read More Mar 3, 2024 Love Matters: Toxic Love Read More Feb 28, 2024 Journey Through James Pt. 2 Read More Feb 25, 2024 Love Matters: The Love of Money Read More Feb 18, 2024 Love Matters: Love Your God Read More Feb 15, 2024 Journey Through James Pt. 1 Read More Feb 11, 2024 Love Matters: Unfailing Love Read More Feb 8, 2024 Romans 12: Character Read More Feb 4, 2024 Distractions: Vision Driven Read More Feb 1, 2024 Distractions: The Decision Read More Jan 28, 2024 Distractions: Overcoming Fear Read More Jan 25, 2024 Romans 12: Use Your Gifts Read More Jan 21, 2024 Distractions: Are You Not Entertained?! Read More Jan 18, 2024 Romans 12: Evaluation Read More