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?
Living in Light of Eternity // Hope in Hard Times
Eternity matters! Our hope of eternal glory strengthens and motivates us to live for Jesus. This message will fill you with joy.
Take Back Your Heart // Hope in Hard Times
A look at the hope we have in Christ and how that hope shapes how we live each day for Him. In this message we see how to take back our heart by finding our story in God’s story.
For more content follow @pastordavidturner and @expansionchurchnorthwest
#hope#bible#galatians6#perseverance#waitonthelord#isaiah40#thekingdomofgod#godsstory#gospel#jesuschrist
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.
Want to start a relationship Jesus Christ? Learn more.
Looking for a home church?
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.
Follow me on social media for more messages and devotionals
https://www.youtube.com/@pastordavidturner
HOW YOU BEGIN MATTERS
Have you ever heard the phrase, “We got off on the wrong foot”? Have you ever felt this way? Maybe you made the wrong impression, used the wrong tone in an argument, or got stuck in a bad habit. We use this phrase because HOW YOU BEGIN MATTERS.
Your starting point, your foundation, your first move, your source matters. How you begin shapes the rest of your day or your year; shapes the rest of the conversation, relationship, or experience; shapes subsequent actions and decisions. Cause and effect. Like dominoes, how we start something ripples, or even avalanches into the future.
Let me give you some examples of how you begin matters:
If I begin my day in God’s presence, I am more at rest, calm. I can mentally process the long sequences of urgent tasks before me. But if I do not spend time soaking in God’s love, I am more likely to be agitated, overwhelmed, irritable. I’ll work hard, but not as efficient and without peace. The domino effect is either increasing joy or increasing anxiety. This can affect our co-workers, customers, family, and so on.
If I begin a relationship with thankfulness, I am more likely to be kind in my words, let little things go, and focus on the importance of the person and our connection. The domino effect is either increasing tension or increasing intimacy. If I begin conversation with humility, it is more likely to move towards healthy conflict resolution. But if I begin with an accusatory tone or harsh words, it is more likely to produce defensiveness in the other person and increasing unresolved conflict.
In most cultures, you can’t begin business or negotiations without first building trust through conversation. I know my wife loves to partner in ministry with me but only if we are emotionally connected first. I think God is the same: He desires relationship first, so that the work of ministry flows from intimacy with Him.
HOW YOU BEGIN MATTERS. Don’t let your day get away from you. Don’t let you year get away from you. Don’t let that relationship get away from you. Don’t start off on the wrong foot. Start off on the right foot. Learn how to begin each day, each season, each year, each relationship, each conversation.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23
Hear is the good news: the scriptures say that God’s mercies are new every morning. There are a few things I relish about this truth:
First, that the mercies come from God – a good, loving Father who is for us and not against us. They are HIS mercies flowing from HIS unfailing love. This is proven by how He gave His only Son so we could be forgiven and reconciled to Him by trusting in Jesus (John 3:16).
Second, that there are many, many mercies. It doesn’t say one mercy, but many, never ending. There is no allowance or cap on His mercy. He is a rich and generous God—that is a great combination!
And third, that these many mercies from God are new every morning. Even if I used up a lot of mercies the day before, there is a fresh batch of abundant mercies again the next day, and the next, and the next. He is the God of redemption and restoration. He is unfailing in His faithful love towards His children. So even if you started on the wrong foot or have been hobbling around on the wrong foot for some time, there are new mercies waiting for you from God today (or tomorrow, if you are a procrastinator).
ALWAYS start in God’s mercies. Pause each morning to thank God and listen to His word. Orient yourself in truth. Ground yourself in His presence. Focus on the Kingdom. Then live from that place throughout your day. When you begin in the loving delight of God, the rest of your day can flow in rest. Pause before you enter conversations and reorient yourself in thankfulness and forgiveness. Receive God’s mercy and dish it out. If He is richly generous, be richly generous. If there is abundance of new mercies for you, let those mercies overflow to others. As you do this, healing, reconciliation, and deeper intimacy with God and others can flow through your relationships in 2024.
How can you start on the right foot in 2024? For our church, we sense God saying, “MORE GRACE”. He wants to teach us to live by increasing dependence on His Spirit. He wants us to live and serve from a place of abiding in Christ. We are going to learn how to receive and align with God’s grace and see that flow to every area of our lives with the abundant blessing of God. We are praying every wall in your heart will be torn down and you will be empowered to receive the fullness of God’s grace for you. We are praying you learn to live from the right source—in Christ.
Want to invite Jesus into your life? Learn more.
Looking for a home church?
If you live in the Saint Louis area, we would love for you to join us any weekend at one of our campuses. You can also check us out online. We pray you find the right community of Christ-followers for you wherever you live.
A Friend of God: Collaboration
“They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.”
Revelation 15:3
The Book of Revelation
There is a lot going on in the book of Revelation because there is a lot going on in heaven. The book, which details the coming of Jesus and the events leading to His return and eternal reign, is centered around visions of heaven. In Revelation 4-5 the Apostle John is taken to heaven. He has the awesome privilege of seeing the glory of God and hearing worship around His throne. He is also invited to see and hear specific plans for the future of the world. He may be the first and only real time traveler! (more on that later).
After John enters the throne room of God, He is shown a series of visions about the future of the world. Everything is happening primarily in the spirit-realm and then manifesting secondarily on the earth. Scrolls and trumpets in the heavenly realm; famines, earthquakes, and such in the natural realm. We won’t comment now about the timing and fulfillment of these things. Some have happened, some are happening, and some will happen soon (see Revelation 1:19). It is all real—though the nature of the spiritual realm can seem strange to us.
Revelation 15 – Song of Moses & the Song of the Lamb
Then we get to Revelation 15. The final judgements are about to be poured out on the earth. But first, a song! John is observing a moment after much judgement on the earth and before Jesus’ return. It is an “in-between pause. As human history draws near its conclusion, heaven takes a breathe. It is an intensely beautiful moment in heaven–and we get a glimpse! In this moment, worship begins again and this time it’s the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the [b]saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Here is what strikes me as odd: why is it called the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb? Clearly, the text is saying they wrote this song: It is Moses’ song and it is the Lamb’s song. So, I looked back in the Old Testament to find songs Moses wrote. There is a song in Exodus 14 after the Red Sea drowned the Egyptian army and became the highway of deliverance for Israel. But the words of Revelation 15 are not found in that song. Then there is a song he wrote in Psalm 90. Again, not in any way related to the song of Revelation 15.
Revelation 15 has to be a new song written by Moses. But He is not the only one who wrote it. It is also written by Jesus. Brace yourself. They collaborated! It’s their song which they co-wrote together. It is a masterpiece of their friendship. Can you see it? Jesus and Moses hanging out in eternity, collaborating on a new song. A special song to be song in honor of God before the conclusion of human history and Jesus’ return to restore the world. All of heaven starts singing their song. John witnesses the debut, the single release of this song.
Theological side note. Did you know Jesus loves His Father more than anyone and is the chief worshipper leader of all of heaven? Check out Hebrews 2:11-12 referencing Psalm 22. Jesus is God. We need a much deeper, dynamic understanding of the triune relationship of God. Father loves and honors His Son more than anyone else and wants us all to do the same (John 5:20-23). It should not surprise us that Jesus is worshipping His Father and writing a worship song with Moses. Rather, this is likely the most magnificent realization I have had in a long time; this truth has drawn me deeper into my friendship with Jesus and it can do the same for you.
Collaboration with Jesus
Jesus wants friendship with you. He wants to collaborate with you. This is the deep yearning of His heart: a friend, a partner, a bride. For Jesus, ministry is not something we do for Him but with Him. The various gifts He has given to you, the creative potential resident within you, was deposited by His choice. He gave you something that you might make something with Him for others. What masterpiece of your friendship will you make with Jesus? What does Jesus want to do with you? Lean into your friendship with God, seek Him, and ask. When you get intimately close to God, you can’t help but become confident in your calling and full of courage to walk it out in love. What if that song you are called to create, or that business you are called to start, or that bible study you are called to write is something Jesus wants to collaborate with on you as an overflow of your intimate friendship with Him? Exit burn out; enter rest. Exit fear; enter confidence. Exit striving; enter joy.
The truth is that ministry is primarily worship to Him and friendship with Him. We serve others and share our gifts to be a blessing. But we also hide, compare, covet, judge. We are so caught up seeking applause or fearing rejection that we have forgotten why we were created. You were made for Jesus, designed for His presence, and fashioned for His glory. You will be free when you collaborate with Jesus. Only then will others truly be blessed because the masterpiece will be pure. How beautiful is that song of Moses and the Lamb, because it is their masterpiece of friendship offered in worship to God. Neither vying for control, ownership, or royalties. Our Master and Savior is a servant. He shares. He includes. He is the Vine and we are the branches. And Moses, God’s friend, wrote this song with Jesus and for His Father. He wasn’t looking for glory, but offering Himself as a servant of God. Let’s do the same.
Moved By Compassion
Jesus was led by the Spirit, but He was also moved with compassion. Everything He did was in the power of the Spirit and done by faith; and everything He did was motivated, compelled, moved by a deep compassion for people.
As you listen to this message, you will discover how much God loves you and how He is moved with compassion towards you. And the example of Jesus will impact you to walk as He walked and be moved with compassion towards people.
Enjoy!
Search Me
Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter and He does it with a very simple, three letter word: “WHY“.
Jesus is not only the Savior of our heart; He is also the Lord of our heart and He wants to lead us to wholeness, freedom, and life. The Lord’s discipleship method often involves piercing questions that cut to the heart of the matter in our lives for our good.
In this message, part 2 in “The Heart of The Matter” series, you will learn how to let the Lord Search you and find out why it is so vital to our growth.
The Lord corrects those He loves. So if we resist His correction, we are truly resisting His love. Let’s not reject God’s love; let’s open our heart to His love.
I pray this blesses you. Enjoy!
A Life Changing Prayer Life Part 3
We are learning to pray like Jesus. It is God’s will to answer our prayers; we need to pray in line with God’s will.
In the other messages we learned to open our mouths and pray, in the secret place, the will of God with boldness, faith and expectation; with pure motives and a humble heart.
In this message we learn to pray in the Spirit with thankfulness. We cannot live like Christ with His Spirit nor can we pray or minister like Him without the Spirit.
I pray the Lord gives you insight and takes your prayer life to a deeper place, because when we change our prayer life, God’s power will change our life.
Enjoy!
A Life Changing Prayer Life-Part 1
Want Jesus’ results? Then pray like Jesus prayed. Jesus’ disciples saw the power and grace on Jesus and His ministry and heard the way He prayed. They saw the connection and, recorded in Luke 11:1-2, they asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray.”
In this series, Jesus is teaching us to pray like He prays. If we change our prayer life, it will change our life. If we pray like Jesus, we will experience Jesus’ results in our lives. Let Jesus revolutionize your prayer life.
In this first message, we will see how important it is to open our mouths, refusing to let the enemy silence us, and pray God’s will with expectation that God will do exactly what He promised to do.
Enjoy!
Pastor David Turner 