Our confident expectation is on Jesus’ promised return. Yet it is essential to have a realistic hope, understanding the delay and difficulty we must endure, as we wait for His return. Jesus is lovingly clear about what to expect in the “end times” leading to His return and how we can prepare ourselves. This message will answer many questions about the “end times”, the rapture, and the return of Jesus. And more, will help you answer for yourself: are you ready?
Call His Name Immanuel
“They shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” – Matthew 1:23
The Word became flesh, Jesus became a human being, so that He could be “God with you”. He bore your sin in His body so He could remove every barrier between you and Him and restore relationship. He conquered death so that you could live with Him forever. He sits at the Father’s right hand so that He can live inside of you by the Spirit of God. This is how much He loves you and longs to be with you. He is Immanuel. He is “God with you”. This is His name. This is who He is for you.
You are not alone. You are never alone. Not matter how you feel or what you are facing, God has not left you. He is always Immanuel. When you put your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit united your spirit with Jesus. He dwells in you and you dwell in Him. You are connected, intertwined; you are one with Him.
He is Immanuel in the fire. He is Immanuel in the flood. He is Immanuel in the wilderness. He is Immanuel in the lion’s den. He is Immanuel in the storm. He is your Ever-Present Help in time of need. He is your Comforter. He is your Eternal Refuge. He sees you; He knows you; He hears your cry; He is with you in the dust, wiping tears, giving you grace. He’s Immanuel in the hospital. He is Immanuel at the office. He is Immanuel when you’re alone. He is Immanuel when you have nothing left in you.
People are not ever-present; they are not all-knowing. Only God is. People don’t have perfect, unfailing love. Only God does
We often want and even expect people to be ever-present, there for us whenever we need them; we imagine them to be all knowing, seeing what is going on inside of us, knowing how we are feeling and what we need. We long for them to be our comfort. But people are just like you and me: they have their own needs, and they are limited. People are not ever-present; they are not all-knowing. Only God is. People don’t have perfect, unfailing love. Only God does. God has blessed us with family and friends as a gift from Himself. They have something to offer us. But where people do their little part, God–-only God—can do His big part. When we mix this up, we find ourselves disappointed or offended. I encourage you to let go of any offense and disappointment. Forgive and release them to God. And now, step into the comfort of His presence.
When we limit God to our abilities, our circumstances, or other’s presence we miss out on the comfort and life-changing power of His presence. Faith is living by a different Kingdom, a heavenly reality that is bigger than your circumstances, unlimited in resources. We are children of a good Father, citizens of heaven, heirs of a vast inheritance in Christ. We have access to everything in God’s Kingdom.
This is how Jesus, the Son of God, was able to sleep in a storm and calm it. In Mark 4, Jesus was in a small fishing boat on the sea of Galilee with His disciples and a great wind and rain storm unexpectedly swept over the sea (something common for that geography). The storm was so intense, the boat was filling with water and began to sink. The disciples were freaking out, trying their best to save Jesus. But Jesus wasn’t worried one bit. The situation was life-threatening and yet Jesus was asleep.
He was resting in the promises of God, He was abiding in His Father’s love, He was secure in His identity as a Son, He was sure of God’s faithfulness, He was convinced of His assignment and authority. These realities don’t remove the reality of a storm. The things of the kingdom are super-natural, above and beyond the natural order. When we live by faith, we are not limited to or by the natural realm but are able to overcome according to the higher reality of the Kingdom.
Faith interprets the circumstances differently, through a Kingdom lens.
The disciples saw a storm with their eyes, calculated the threat based on their experience, and concluded death was imminent. But faith interprets the circumstances differently, through a Kingdom lens. Jesus saw the same storm, knew the same threat, but His conclusion was different because of His faith. He interpreted the storm through a lens of the Kingdom. He saw God above the storm. He saw God’s protection. He saw God’s plan for His life. He saw His authority. This is why He could both sleep and speak. Often difficult circumstances and frightening emotions rob us of our sleep and our speech. But follow Jesus’ example. You can rest and sleep because God loves you. And you can rise up and speak to that storm to be quiet and stop because you have the name of Jesus!
Just like Jesus, you are a beloved child of God. Just like Jesus, you have an assignment, and you have authority in His name. Just like Jesus, you are not alone. God is with you.
Trust in the name of Immanuel. See that God is with you even in the storm. That He is the Fourth Man in the fire; that He is the one shutting the mouth of the lion; that He is the one holding back the flood, parting the sea, and making a way. Interpret the storm through a Kingdom lens. Walk by faith and not by sight. Call on His name.
You may feel alone, but God says He is always with you.
It may look like defeat, but God says He will go before you and fight for you.
It may look like lack, but God says He is your Shepherd and that you will not lack.
You may have failed, but God says His calling on your life is irrevocable and that if you confess He forgives every sin.
It may feel like you are lost, but God says He will always lead you into victory.
It may look like everything is against us, but God says He is for you and will answer every prayer.
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If you live in the Saint Louis area, we would love for you to join us at Expansion Church any weekend at one of our campuses. We pray you find the right community of Christ-followers for you wherever you live.
*All scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise stated. Emphasizes are mine.
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Key to Abraham
As we continue in our series out of Genesis, the book of beginnings, we journey with Abraham to see see how God transformed him and how God can restart our faith and transform us too.
I love how real and how raw Abraham was. I love how God worked through his imperfections. And despite Abraham’s flaws, there was something that set him apart; something that moved the heart of God, attracted favor, and released the miraculous.
What was it!? What is the key to Abraham’s life? As you listen to this message may you see how you can imitate Abraham and position yourself for deeper friendship with God and supernatural intervention from Him in your life.
Enjoy!
Transformation of Abraham
What do you do when your phone starts glitching or your computer freezes? RESTART!
Sometimes our device get overloaded or the power runs down or a code messes a program up and it just needs a reboot. Sometimes we glitch and need a reboot too–we get weary, loose our way, start believing lies.
Genesis, the book of beginnings, is not only about creation; it is about God’s original intent, about real people learning to walk with the real God in genuine faith. The Lord has been teaching me about faith and walking with Him through this raw book of beginnings. I have been inspired by the messiness of Genesis and the beauty of God’s intervention. Through this book, God is calling us back to the beginning; He is restarting our faith and walk with Him.
This audio message is about the transformation of Abraham. I had never seen this before: how God took Abraham from being a person of compromise to a person of complete surrender, from hesitant fear to unwavering faith.
I hope the journey of Abraham and the journey I have been on will bless you as you listen to these messages about God’s transformation in the lives of people like Abraham, Sarah, Judah, and Joseph. I hope you will see how God can RESTART your faith and draw you deeper into walking with Him in intimate friendship that radically transforms your life and those around you.
Enjoy!
Dignity
When you don’t know who you are, the enemy can lie to you. When you don’t know what you have, the enemy can steal from you. In this series of messages, God has been speaking to us about our inheritance-what we have in Christ as His blood bought children. We need to know who we are and what we have in Christ so we can walk in confidence into all God has for us.
In this message, we explore our inheritance of financial dignity. Though this truth entails more than finances, there is a dignity we have as children of God who have promises from God. That dignity can free us from the easy traps of envy and fear and empower us to be extravagant givers, wise investors, and content enjoyers of life.
Enjoy!
Kingdom Prayers
Through James 5:16-17, the Lord teaches us how to pray prayers that get results. Many people think prayer is a like a coin toss or a roll of the dice. “You never know what God will do”, I hear many people say. But that is not what Jesus taught or modeled. Its time we learn to pray Kingdom prayers and see Kingdom results.
If you don’t know what is yours in Christ, you won’t approach God with confidence and perseverance. You can only appropriate what you recognize. Discover who you are in Christ and what is available to you through Him; ditch wimpy prayers and pick up your weapons.
Enjoy!
The Gift Of Hope
This Christmas, Jesus wants to give you a present: the gift of His presence. Jesus is a giver! And on His birthday, He wants to refresh you, fill you, heal you, restore you. In this first message in our series, “Christmas Presence”, we will receive the gift of Hope in Christ.
This hope is not an idea, a wish, or a maybe, but a sure, steadfast confidence that will strengthen you and reinvigorate your motivation and energy. Human optimism will fail, fleshly strength will run out, this world will disappoint, but you can have hope because of His promise. Listen and receive the gift of hope.
Enjoy!
Place On Top – Part 2
The Lord has a precious word for you; a word that will encourage you. He wants to lift you up. And the place God wants to take you to, you can’t get there on your own. You need the Lord to lift you up. Be encouraged as the Lord invites you into a deeper walk with Him.
Enjoy!
Renew Me
Did you know your heart thinks? Did you know faith reasons? Our perspective can either limit or release our potential in Christ. His word is true, His promises sure, His power available but our mind needs to be renewed in order to realize His will in our lives. In the next message in “The Heart of the Matter” series, let God get to the heart of the matter in your life, transforming, healing, freeing you from the inside out by renewing your mind. Let God teach you to reason in faith and experience His supernatural power.
Enjoy!
Total Maker Over
Jesus doesn’t do half-way; He doesn’t do band-aid repairs. Jesus does total make overs, full redemptions, complete restorations.
In this new series, “The Heart of The Matter”, we discover how vital our heart is to our whole life and how Jesus has cured our heart by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can live from a place of victory rather than defeat. In Christ, we are no longer in the red; we are in the black.
Get to the heart of the matter and learn to walk in victory by establishing the truth of the gospel in your heart.
Enjoy!
Pastor David Turner 