Israel was successful. By God’s power, they conquered their foes in Canaan. The young nation then enjoyed in the glory of God and indulged itself in the luxurious Promise Land that flowed with milk and honey. They faithfully served the LORD. In Joshua 24:31 it says, “Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the LORD which He had done for Israel.” But their faithfulness didn’t last; they forgot God. The book of Judges provides a terrible snapshot for Israel. One of the problems was that Israel left an opening for the devil. In Judges 1:28, it says, “It came about when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they did not drive them out completely.” The enemy was not driven out. With time, a defection of heart occurred. In Judges 2:10-13, it reads, “All the generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals, and they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the LORD to anger. So they forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.” This was the beginning of a cycle that was repeated in Judges: a cycle of rebellion, retribution, repentance, rescue and rest. In the periods of the rescue, God raised up deliverers to lead Israel: judges. The first was Othniel, Judges 3:7-11. Yet Israel continued to repeat the same mistakes. Why? They forgot God – and forgetting leads to failure! The book of Judges says a lot about Israel’s on and off relationship with God; it shows people leaving God and returning – and may raise questions about us. Judges is a grotesque book in that it demonstrates how awful sin really is. It also reveals a lot about Satan. We quickly see Satan is a relentless adversary. He pursued Israel. He will pursue us as well, 1 Peter 5:8. Let’s consider what other observations we can learn. Satan works to make men forget God. During the days of Joshua, the people had a close union with God, but they couldn’t rely on the past to secure the present. They forgot. It’s easy to focus on the past. But we must ask, “Where am I now?” Not, did I seek Him then, but do I seek Him now? In the days of Jeremiah, the people also forgot God, Jeremiah 2:32. The scripture says, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.” Backsliders often seem unaware they have fallen away – another scheme of Satan. Israel was slow to discover their failure; they were surprised God was against them. Have we fallen into the same trap, James 4:2-4? We must examine our faith, 2 Corinthians 13:5. Israel failed to examine themselves. While God may not be completely removed from our minds, we can forget Him by ceasing to rely upon Him, include Him, consider Him, and render acts of service to Him. We can forget Him by failing to honor Him through loving obedience; we forget our sense of indebtedness. People leave God after they’ve first forgotten God! Failure’s end is worse than we imagine. In Judges 3:8, it says, “Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hands of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathiam eight years.” That name means, “Cushan of two-fold wickedness.” He was double bad! His name described his reputation as an oppressor and a ruthless warlord. Israel engaged in idolatry and so God them a savage and barbaric heathen king to rule over them. Why did they wait 8-years to repent? Why do we wait so long to change? The end is worse than we can imagine. Don’t wait to turn back to God. God makes a way back. Satan wants us to think that we can’t return to God. That’s a lie. We can! God provides a way back. Israel acknowledged their sin. God provided a deliverer through Judges. They were delivered by God’s mercy and power. Recovery and change began with the people when they cried out to the LORD, Judges 3:9. They repented and sought the LORD. Jesus is our deliverer, Romans 5:8. He can and will continue to deliver us, 1 John 1:8-10. Is it time to return to Him?

Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given His people. Through prayer we bring our worries, fears, hopes, and needs before the Creator of the universe. Yet sometimes I wonder if we unknowingly approach prayer with the roles reversed. We may not say it out loud, but sometimes our prayers can become little more than a list of things we want God to do for us. We tell Him what problem needs fixing, what door needs opening, what blessing needs providing, and what outcome we expect. Without realizing it, we can begin to think of prayer as a way of directing God rather than submitting ourselves to Him. It is as though God exists to serve our needs. Of course, no faithful Christian would consciously say that. Yet our attitude in prayer can sometimes reveal that we have the relationship backward. God is not our servant. He is our King. When we pray, we are not standing over God giving instructions. We are kneeling before the throne of heaven. That perspective changes everything. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Before any requests are made, there is submission. Before daily bread, before forgiveness, before deliverance, there is an acknowledgment that God’s will is greater than our own. Jesus Himself demonstrated this attitude in the Garden of Gethsemane. Knowing the suffering that lay ahead, He prayed, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). If anyone had the right to ask for relief, it was Jesus. Yet even His prayer was offered in complete submission to the Father’s will. The apostles taught the same mindset. Paul instructed Christians, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Notice that Paul calls them requests. A request is not a demand. A request recognizes the authority of the one being asked. This does not mean God is distant or uncaring. Quite the opposite. Scripture invites us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. We are encouraged to pray boldly and confidently. But confidence should never be confused with entitlement. A citizen may confidently approach a good king. A child may confidently approach a loving father. Yet neither has the authority to demand that their wishes be granted. The same is true in prayer. We may ask. We should ask. God wants His children to bring their needs before Him. But every request should be offered with the understanding that He is wiser than we are, sees more than we see, and knows what is ultimately best. When we pray, we submit ourselves to God and recognize that we are kneeling before the King. We may make requests of Him, but we do so in full submission to His will. Whether He grants those requests is His decision, not ours. Perhaps our prayers would be transformed if we remembered that simple truth. Prayer is not about getting God to follow our agenda. It is about placing ourselves before His throne and trusting Him enough to say: “Your will be done.”

There are moments in life when doing the right thing seems to make life harder instead of easier. That was true for the prophet Jeremiah. He was faithful to God, yet he still suffered greatly because of it. In Jeremiah 19–20, we get a glimpse into the heart of a weary servant of God. The same challenge existed in the churches of Galatia. Paul told the saints in Galatians 6:9-10 not to grow weary in doing good. Why would he say that? Because serving God can become exhausting. Restoring those caught in sin can be tiring. Refuting false teachers can drain us. Helping others sometimes creates tension and frustration. Faithful living always comes with a personal cost. Discouragement can slowly creep in. Yet Paul kept serving. He loved the brethren even when he was weary. His example was Jesus Christ. Loving God with all our heart is not merely knowing the right thing to do, but also having the endurance to keep doing it when life gets hard. When we look at Jesus, we see someone who truly understood weariness. His workload was heavy. He became physically tired. His soul was deeply grieved. There were frustrating moments with the apostles. He dealt with misunderstandings, weak faith, petty disputes, and enormous pressure. Yet there is a key distinction: Jesus felt weary, but He never quit doing good. At the well in John 4, Jesus was tired, but He still spoke to the Samaritan woman and brought many people to God. In Gethsemane, His soul was deeply troubled, but He still went to the cross. Tired, but not done. Jesus also never grew weary praying for His people. Despite the flaws and failures of the apostles, He continued investing in them because He saw the bigger picture. He understood the eternal mission of God. The apostles learned this same mindset after the resurrection. Suffering no longer stopped them because their perspective changed. Paul endured hardship because he focused on eternity rather than temporary pain. His identity in Christ became bigger than his suffering. The same must be true for us. If our purpose is only about ourselves, we will not last. We must align our thinking with the mind of Christ. When we truly comprehend the love of God, our perspective changes. Imagine what a congregation can become when people refuse to grow weary in well-doing. Souls will be saved. Visitors will not go unnoticed. Struggling Christians will be restored. Young people will not feel invisible. There will be plenty of willing teachers that will help to avoid burnout. The church will be built up through truth, encouragement, and spiritual maturity. A marathon runner does not quit at mile twenty because they see the finish line ahead. The same is true spiritually. God sees your labor. Don’t grow weary. Keep going. The harvest is coming.

When David walked into the Valley of Elah to face Goliath, the Bible tells us that he selected “five smooth stones” from the brook (1 Samuel 17:40). Have you ever wondered why? David only needed one. A single stone struck Goliath in the forehead and dropped the giant where he stood. The battle was over before David ever reached for a second stone. So why five? Was David expecting to miss? Did he think it might take multiple stones to bring down a giant? Was he simply being cautious? The Bible never tells us. But Scripture does provide another interesting possibility to consider. Years later, we learn that Goliath was not the only giant associated with Gath. In 2 Samuel 21 and 1 Chronicles 20, we read of four additional giants who were eventually defeated by David’s mighty men. Ishbi-benob was killed by Abishai. (2 Samuel 21:15-17) Saph was killed by Sibbecai. (2 Samuel 21:18 & 1 Chronicles 20:4) Lahmi, the brother of Goliath, was killed by Elhanan. (2 Samuel 21:19 & 1 Chronicles 20:5) Another giant, a man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, was killed by Jonathan, David’s nephew. (2 Samuel 21:20-21 & 1 Chronicles 20:6) Together with Goliath, that makes five giants who fell by the hand of David and his servants. Now, the Bible never says David picked up five stones because there were five giants. But it does make me wonder. What if Goliath had not walked onto the battlefield alone? What if all five giants had stepped forward that day? What if the shepherd boy had found himself facing not one giant, but five? David was ready. Not because he trusted in five stones. Not because he trusted in his sling. David trusted in the Lord. Yet his faith did not prevent him from preparing. Sometimes we act as though faith and preparation are opposites. As though trusting God means walking into life’s battles empty-handed. David shows us something different. He had complete confidence that God would deliver him, yet he still gathered five stones. He prepared for more than he expected to face. The lesson is simple. Trust God completely. Depend on Him fully. Believe that victory belongs to the Lord. But don’t use faith as an excuse to neglect preparation. Study before the test. Train before the competition. Save before the emergency. Learn before the opportunity arrives. David trusted God with the outcome, but he prepared for whatever might come over the hill. Perhaps we should do the same.

In Mark 4:35-41, we find our Savior Jesus with His apostles. He told them that they were going to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. But in the process, a storm arose. It was bad. To make matters worse, Jesus was asleep. His apostles were worried and fearful that they would perish. They woke Jesus up and then something amazing happened. Jesus rebuked the wind and said, “Hush, be still.” Immediately, the sea became perfectly calm. Then He rebuked His apostles. What an amazing story isn’t it? It got me thinking about my life. How amazing would it be if Jesus was physically here and could instantly calm the storms in our lives? The storms of doubt, anxiety, worry, chaos, the challenges that make us feel like we are perishing. Wouldn’t it be great if we could go to Him and say, “Help” and then He immediately says to our problems, “Hush, be still?” Jesus is not here physically. He’s reigning in heaven. However, there’s good news. We can turn to Him in prayer. He is with us and He is able to calm the storms that often make us feel like we’re perishing. He can bring calmness and peace in our lives. Do you believe that to be true? In 2 Thessalonians 3:16, it reads, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all.” Jesus is our Lord. He’s the Lord of peace. Therefore, we should and are able to experience great peace in our lives. In fact, Paul says in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We can have peace in circumstance because we have obeyed the gospel of peace. In Romans 10:15 in the King James Version it says, And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!’” The saints in Thessalonica could have peace in every circumstance because they had obeyed the gospel of peace, 1 Thessalonians 1:5,9. True peace begins with having peace with God, Romans 5:1. We can have peace in every circumstance when we trust what God says. This is easy to read, but sometimes hard to do. It’s hard to believe this (for some) when the storms of life begin to batter us like those waves did with the apostles. It’s hard when it feels like your marriage is crumpling, when we get the cancer diagnosis, or informed we no longer have a job. Yet our peace resides not in everything being perfect in our lives, but rather in the perfect one: Jesus! This is how we can live daily and not worry, Matthew 6:33-34. What a blessing to know we can have peace in every circumstance. Whatever you’re experiencing, know that through God the peace and strength He provides through His grace and mercy is beyond our comprehension. Let’s trust in Him!

If you had to describe Jesus in one word… what would it be? Maybe loving. Maybe gracious. Maybe merciful. Those would all be true. But in Revelation chapter 1, John gives us a picture of Jesus that might lead us to a different word. Majestic. Overwhelming. Powerful. John describes Jesus with eyes like a flame of fire, a voice like the roar of many waters, and a face shining like the sun in full strength. The moment is so intense that John falls at His feet as though dead. This is not a casual encounter. This is Jesus in full authority, full glory, and undeniable power. And it naturally leads us to ask—why start the book this way? The answer becomes clearer when we remember who this message was written to. Revelation was sent to real churches in Asia Minor—Christians facing pressure, persecution, and uncertainty. They were living in a world where Rome appeared to hold all the power, where evil often seemed to be winning, and where following Christ came with real cost. In that environment, they didn’t just need comfort—they needed confidence. So what do they need to see first? Not just that Jesus is loving. Not just that He is kind. They need to see that He is in control. In the vision, Jesus is standing among the lampstands—which represent the churches. That means He is not distant. He is not unaware. He is not absent. He is with them. That changes everything. Because the message of chapter 1 is simple: No matter how chaotic things look…No matter how strong the opposition seems…No matter how small or vulnerable the church may feel…Jesus is powerful—and He is standing with His people. That’s not just a message for them. That’s a message for us. When life feels unstable…When faith feels challenged…When the world feels like it’s moving further and further away from God…We don’t need to reinvent Jesus into something more comfortable. We need to see Him as He truly is. Not just gentle—but glorious. Not just kind—but commanding. Not just present—but reigning. So maybe we ask the question again: If you had to describe Jesus in one word… what would it be? After Revelation 1, one answer becomes very clear: Powerful.

“I did not die. I did not go to heaven. When I made the claims, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough…” Those are the words of Alex Malarkey. A few years ago, Alex and his father wrote a book entitled, “The boy who came back from heaven.” The book has sold more than 1 million copies. But it was all a lie! Alex was right when he said, ‘The Bible is enough.’ But do you believe that to be true? Have you ever allowed yourself to believe the false claims people make? If so, you need to know ‘The Bible is enough.’ In 1 John, the apostle emphasized to the saints that the words they had received from the apostles was enough. They were to oppose claims others were making about having special knowledge of Jesus. John the apostle used the word “know” repeatedly throughout the book. They needed to know they had the truth. If John and other apostles were alive today, what do you think they would say regarding these stories about people making claims of special knowledge and experiences? They would say… Trust our words because we saw Jesus alive. The apostles were inspired eyewitnesses of His life, death, and resurrection, 1 John 1:1-4. John emphasized how they carefully ‘looked’ at or analyzed Jesus after He rose from grave, John 20:24-29. They proclaimed His resurrection and confirmed their words with miracles, Mark 16:19-20. They recorded what they saw so we could believe, 1 John 1:3-4; John 20:30-31. It was the Spirit who guided them in all truth, John 14:26, 16:12-13. This is why we can trust their words. But the question is, will we? If John were here, he would say to us, “Ignore what you’re hearing from these people who make the claim they saw Jesus. We were with Jesus. He sent us out so you could believe without seeing, John 20:28-29. For those who may be indifferent to the words of the apostles, consider a couple of things. Jesus demands that we believe the apostles words, John 17:20. If we don’t, we can’t have fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 1 John 1:3-4. To reject their words is to reject God! If the apostles were here, they would say, “Who will you believe?” The inspired, miracle performing apostles, or people who make invalidated claims that can never be proven true?” The Bible is enough. What you received from us is sufficient. John reminded the saints that the apostles had delivered God’s truth to them. John warned the saints of teachers who would try to deceive them by making claims that they had some special knowledge that they were lacking, 1 John 2:18-20. He described them as “antichrists” which simply means “against the anointed One.” They denied Jesus as the anointed one of God, 1 John 2:22-23. This was contrary to the apostles message, Acts 2:36. Yet what the saints had received was the truth, 1 John 2:21. What they had was sufficient. What we have received is sufficient when it comes to all things pertaining to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1:3-4. Those who don’t teach our words are in error. John told the disciples to test the teaching of men, 1 John 4:1-6. The words John used in verse 6 show us that the Holy Spirit’s plan was for all men to listen to the words of the apostles. Those who do know God will have a relationship with Him and the apostles. Those who don’t will not know God. This is why John was adamant that a distinction be made regarding truth and error. But do we believe the words of John? Do we properly respect the apostles words? We should. If people did that, one wouldn’t have to worry about being deceived. There are deceivers in the world. Therefore, we must know God’s word. The Bible is enough, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3. Heaven is for real! The Bible says a lot about it. To make heaven our home one day, we must trust that God’s word is sufficient for us.

Ben grew up around faith. Christianity wasn’t new to him — it was woven into his family. Church was consistent. Scripture was familiar. But faith still required a choice. Ben shares how addictions in his family forced him to confront a hard question: Who am I going to be? He had to decide whether he would repeat what he had seen or live differently. His story is steady and sincere — a reminder that even when faith is part of your heritage, obedience is still personal. Listen to Ben's story below!

In 2017 while preaching in Southeast Texas, I was reminded about the great love and generosity of God’s people! Our congregation had been hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. At least 30 members lost their homes. Despite the devastation all was not lost. God’s people reached out from all around the country to assist. Money was given from individuals and churches. Christians travelled from around the country to help us to rebuild. Brethren at our congregation sacrificed time, energy, and money to help the saints. Sometimes people ask, “Why do I need to be a part of a local congregation? Why can’t I just do Christianity by myself?” What I witnessed in 2017 was a strong reminder of why. Christians need one another. There were many Christians who were hurt because of the storm. Not physically, but rather emotionally and mentally. Members were weary and discouraged. The church became a place of comfort and encouragement for them. We sang, prayed, cried, and rebuilt houses together. That’s how it’s supposed to be. Brethren helped those who were weak and fainthearted, 1 Thessalonians 5:14. Our elders tended to the flock both physically and spiritually. In Acts 2, we see when and where the church was established. We also see what the church is. The church isn’t brick and mortar, it’s not a fancy auditorium, but rather people who have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light through obedience to the gospel, 1 Peter 2:9; Acts 2:38. The church that Jesus established is not to be an afterthought, Matthew 16:18. Those in the body of Christ serve Christ as King! It’s hard to imagine what 2017 would have been like without the church. When we say “unchurched” we are referring to those who do not generally attend or are part of a congregation. These individuals don’t have much interest being a part of a local congregation. Barna Group said this concerning the unchurched in a 2014 article: “Today’s unchurched are much less likely to come from a church background than ever before. Furthermore, unchurched people today have different expectations of church involvement from those of previous decades. These changes are the result of shifting personal attitudes as well as significant changes in the broader cultural landscape. In other words, in spite of our “Christian” self-descriptions, more than one-third of America’s adults are essentially secular in belief and practice. If nothing else, this helps explain why America has experienced a surge in unchurched people—and presages a continuing rise in this population.” https://www.barna.com/research/five-trends-among-the-unchurched/. Reaching the unchurched is not rocket science! The Bible gives us the answers. Casual Contact In the book “The Patient Ferment of the Early Church” author Alan Kreider spoke about how the early church grew after the first century. He said, “How then did the church grow? Scholars have seen the church’s growth as coming about in innumerable ways through the translocal networks of family and profession in which most people participated. Masters interacted with slaves; residents met neighbors; and above all believers networked with relatives and work colleagues. In all these relationships, ‘affective bonds’ were formed.” Someone may read this and ask, “Is it really that simple? Yes, it really is that simple! Consider the stories of Lydia and the Philippian Jailer, Acts 16:13, 25-34. Many families came to Christ in the first century through casual contact. My son is taking Jiu Jitsu. A man from out of town recently visited the gym to sign up for classes. We had a casual conversation. He eventually shared with me how he’s been struggling with alcoholism for several years. I shared some Bible passages with him. We exchanged numbers and we’re looking to study the Bible together. This is the idea of casual contact. We have these opportunities everyday and everywhere. So, what are we to do when these casual contact opportunities arise? First, we must care enough to see them. Sometimes Christians can care more about politics and a person’s political party affiliation instead of their soul. Second, we must open our eyes daily to see these doors of opportunities, John 4:35. Third, we must open our mouths. This is what Philip did In Acts 8. Philip asked the Eunuch a question: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Eunuch responded positively. He would later be converted. It’s not shocking to see statistics showing the most effective way of reaching the unchurched is by personally inviting people to worship services. A simple invitation will go a long way. Remember how Philip replied to Nathanael in John 1:46: “Can any good thing come out Nazareth? Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’” So, what can we say when opportunities arise through casual contact? Here a few suggestions. “I would love for you to come with me to worship this Sunday. Are you interested?” “My congregation is having a special study on strengthening our marriages. Do you have any interest in studying with us?” “How can I pray for you today?” “Our congregation has been such a blessing to us with the support and love we’ve received.” Do you worship anywhere? Paul opened his eyes and mouth while in Athens, Acts 17. Some began to sneer. Others said they would hear him again. And a few joined him and believed. This is what will happen today. Some will mock when we share with them the gospel. Others will say maybe. Some will say, “I must obey.” But how will we know unless we open our mouths? Fourth, we must open our Bibles, Romans 10:17. We must teach people God’s word. They need to learn the gospel. Most people have a misunderstanding about Christ and His church. Therefore, we must show them what Christ has to say about His church. People need to learn how the church is not made up of perfect people, but rather people saved by the blood of Jesus striving to grow in the faith, Ephesians 4:11-16. People need to understand how the church in the first Century was one heart and one soul, Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32. People need to see how the body of Christ is designed to help build up and to correct when necessary (Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 5:5), all for the purpose of giving glory to God and for His people to be with Him in heaven. Be Different In the book, “The Patient Ferment of the Early Church” author Alan Kreider says: “The most reliable means of communicating the attractiveness of the faith to others and enticing them to investigate things further was the Christians’ character, bearing, and behavior. The habitus of the individual Christian was crucial.’” We know this to be true from God’s word, 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Peter 2:11-14. There’s no room for us to be Christian-ish. By that I mean saying we follow Jesus and yet live like everyone else. That’s not submitting to our King. We are to be holy because God is Holy, 1 Peter 1:16. Make worship a priority Chick Fil A and Hobby Lobby stand out because they are closed on Sundays. Are we standing out to others by worshiping with the saints on Sundays, Hebrews 10:25? When our children’s coaches, family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues see us making worship a priority, it will make them curious. Make visitors comfortable When visitors do arrive, we must welcome and assist them. It may be their first and last visit. Simple things like acknowledging them, informing them of what the worship services will look like, sitting with them, making sure they have a Bible, and showing them around the building will go a long way. Can we reach the “unchurched”? Yes! With prayer, patience, and being persistent. The gospel still has the power to save souls.

The Reality of Sin in Our Lives As Christians, we know the problem of sin. In Romans 3:23, Paul wrote, “…For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This truth is the very reason Jesus came to earth, as highlighted in John 1:29. It explains why the world is in such a mess, as noted in 1 Timothy 2:13-14. Understanding sin helps us recognize our true enemy: Satan, as mentioned in 1 John 3:8. He constantly seeks to lead us into sin through various temptations! Satan attempted to get Jesus to sin while He was in the wilderness, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. His tactics have not changed since the beginning in the Garden of Eden. He tries to tempt us through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, as stated in 1 John 2:15-17. However, Satan was unable to defeat Jesus! Jesus responded with a powerful “It is written…” to counter the temptations used by the Deceiver. Even when Satan twisted Scripture to entice Jesus, He knew how to properly handle the Word of God and defeated that tactic as well. Eventually, the devil left Jesus, as noted in Matthew 4:11. But this was not the last time he would attack. Luke’s account (4:13) reminds us, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.” This reminder shows us that it is indeed possible to resist temptation. The Devil will seek to destroy us at opportune moments. He is not our friend and never will be. He opposes God and hates us! The Spiritual Battle We Face We are in a war—a spiritual war that we can win. But first, we must recognize this reality. In 1 Peter 2:11, it reads, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.” We should view every day as a spiritual battle. This isn’t meant to discourage us; it’s a reminder. Each day, we must choose to pick up our cross and follow Jesus. Saying each morning, “I will pick up my cross and follow Jesus,” serves as a great reminder, along with prayer and scripture reading. We can face each day with confidence—not in our own strength, but in God’s. As 1 John 5:4 states, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” Yet, there are times when we fail and sin against God. We are called to be holy as God is holy, according to 1 Peter 1:13-15. Remembering who we are called to be is a powerful way to resist temptation. Another effective strategy is to seriously consider and study sin. When we do, we will find it much easier to resist temptation. The Devil hates us and desires to destroy us through sinning against God! Let’s explore a few passages to help us understand this better. Sin is Fighting Against Us 1 Peter 2:11 reminds us, “Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.” I mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth our attention again. Paul spoke about the same thing in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 and Ephesians 6:10-13. Understanding what we’re up against and how horrific sin is will empower us to resist temptation. Sin is Trying to Kill Us Since the beginning, when Adam and Eve sinned, death was the result, as stated in Genesis 2:17. The wages of sin is death, as noted in Romans 6:23. The lie Satan continues to tell is the same one he told Eve in the Garden: “You surely will NOT die!” We see the consequences of sin in James 1:14-15. This serves as a stark reminder that sin is not a game and should be avoided at all costs. Sin is Insulting to God Hebrews 10:29-31 emphasizes that sin is insulting to God. The Devil truly hates us and seeks to lead us into sin against God. Satan wants us to grieve the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:30. There is never a good reason to sin. The Path to Resistance Let us resist the temptations that come our way, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:13. It is possible through the strength of God. We must remember that we are not alone in this battle. God equips us with the tools we need to stand firm against temptation. Building a Strong Foundation To strengthen our resistance against sin, we must build a solid foundation in our faith. This includes regular prayer, studying the Bible, and engaging with our faith community. These practices not only help us grow spiritually but also provide support when we face challenges. The Importance of Accountability Having accountability in our spiritual journey is crucial. Sharing our struggles with trusted friends or mentors can provide encouragement and guidance. They can help remind us of our commitment to holiness and support us in our efforts to resist temptation. Embracing Grace and Forgiveness We must also embrace the grace and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. When we stumble, it’s essential to remember that God’s love is unwavering. We can always return to Him, seek forgiveness, and strive to do better. This understanding helps us to move forward without being weighed down by guilt. Conclusion: A Journey Worth Taking In conclusion, the journey of resisting sin is not easy, but it is worth taking. By recognizing the reality of sin, understanding its consequences, and relying on God’s strength, we can navigate our spiritual battles with confidence. Remember, we are not alone in this fight. Together, we can support one another and grow in our faith, deepening our spiritual journey. Let’s commit to resisting temptation and living a life that honors God. After all, our faith is our victory!

Nelson didn’t grow up far from faith. Church was consistent. The Bible was read at home. Prayer was normal. The foundation was there. But knowing the truth and living it aren’t the same thing. In this episode of Real People. Real Faith., Nelson shares how he spent years intentionally avoiding Scripture — not because he doubted it, but because he knew what it would require. Reading it would bring conviction. Conviction would mean repentance. And repentance would mean change. His story is honest and thoughtful — a reminder that sometimes the hardest step isn’t believing, but surrendering. Watch Nelson’s full story below.

Jenny grew up with a religious background, but over time she realized her beliefs didn’t feel as grounded as she wanted them to be. She knew the words. She knew the routine. But she wanted something deeper — something solid. Jenny shares how she began examining what she believed and why, and how that search led her to a stronger, more confident foundation in Christ. Watch Jenny’s full story below.