God Will Go Before You - Nathan Rages

The language / imagery of God "going before" His people is found in: Exodus 13:21-22, 23:23, 32:34, Deut. 1:30-33, 9:3, 31:3-8, and John 10:2-4.  This truth implies five aspects of God:

1. God’s knowledge: He knows everything about our future.  

2. God’s plans: He has good plans for all His people.

3. God’s providence: He is arranging all future details.

4. God’s guidance: He shows us where to go.

5. God’s protection:  He is defeating our enemies.

Points of application:

1. Rest peacefully in God. 

2. Be fully obedient today.

3. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Who Must Keep Your Soul Safe: Christ, You, or Both? - Nathan Rages

In the concluding verses of his letter (1John 5:18-21), the Apostle John shows who is responsible for the safety of our souls:

1. Christ keeps us safe from the Evil One.  

v18 "We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him." (See also Lk 22:31-32, Jn 6:39,10:27-29,17:11,12,15, Phil 1:6, 1Thess 5:23-24, 2Tim 1:12, 4:18)

2. We must keep ourselves from idolatry.  

v21 "Little children, guard yourselves from idols." (See also Mk 12:30, Prov 4:23, 1Tim 5:22, Jas 1:27, Jude 21, 1Joh 2:5,3:33, 2Tim 4:7)

How to Pray Confidently - Nathan Rages

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death."  1John 5:14-17

1. Pray confidently.  

2. Pray according to God’s will.

     (a) Plead Bible promises.

     (b) Imitate Bible prayers.

     (c) Look for Providence.

     (d) Cultivate godly desires.

     (e) Follow the Spirit’s guidance.

3. Pray appropriately for sinning brethren.

Your Invitation to Christ's Feast - Richard Hamilton

This sermon explores Jesus' parable of the feast in Luke 14:16-24, considering these five points:  

1.  The invitation.

2.  The excuses.

3.  The inclusion.

4.  The exclusion.

5.  The conclusion.

True Life in the Son - Nathan Rages

"And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life."  1John 5:11-13

Four questions about True Life:

1. Where is it found?  Exclusively in God’s Son.

2. How long does it last?  For eternity.  

3. How do you obtain it?  Receive God’s gift by faith.

4. Can you be certain you possess it?  Absolutely! 

Believing God's Testimony from the Water, Blood and Spirit - Nathan Rages

"This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement." 1John 5:6-8

How to Overcome the World - Nathan Rages

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  1John 5:4-5

1. The necessity of overcoming the world.

2. The prerequisite for overcoming the world: 

     having been born of God.

3. The weapon for overcoming the world: 

     exercising Christ-centered faith.

4. The promises given to overcomers.