Basic Training Bible Ministries

2025 Isaiah 38

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on October 16, 2026

Is it ever too late for a second chance?

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Is it ever too late for a second chance? Nan taught this lesson to the Ladies Bible study group currently going through the Book of Jonah. In this insightful Bible study on Jonah 3:1–5, we explore what happens when the word of the Lord comes to Jonah a second time—and how God’s grace extends to each of us when we fall short. From the story of Jonah to the restoration of Peter in the Gospels, this message unpacks how God works through our failures, refines our hearts, and offers new beginnings. Key Topics Covered in This Teaching: The Word Comes a Second Time: How God offers second chances to those who turn back to Him. Understanding God's Will: Exploring God's perfect, permissive, and prevailing will in our lives. Peter & Jonah: Parallel lessons on fickle love versus Christ's loyal, steadfast love. No One Is Beyond Hope: Why even the hardest hearts can be transformed by God's grace. Location, Labor, & Love: Aligning your geography, your spiritual gifts, and your heart's motive with God's purpose.

Lesson 5: Christ the Suffering Servant Revealed (Isaiah 53)

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Gospel in Isaiah 53 teaches that the suffering servant is God’s Son, whose willing bruising on the cross satisfies divine justice as propitiation, securing redemption for all humanity. By trusting Christ’s sacrificial death, believers become new creations, spiritual offspring of the holy seed, joint heirs with Christ who receive the promised inheritance and the spoils of His victory according to their faithfulness.

Lesson 4: From Adam’s Death to Christ’s Life (Romans 8)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Christ bears our griefs and sorrows as a substitutionary sacrifice, paying the penalty for sin and securing spiritual restoration, not guaranteed physical health. The cross fulfills eight divine purposes—punitive, substitutionary, redemptive, propitiatory, reconciling, unlimited, efficacious, and revelatory—while Jesus remains silent before false accusations, fulfills prophecy of being cut off, and demonstrates that a simple confession, as the repentant thief shows, secures salvation.

Lesson 3: Christ’s Humiliation and Exaltation (Isaiah 53)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Messiah fulfills the humble, despised tender plant of Isaiah 53:1-3, willingly becoming a servant and slave to the point of death, and through that obedient suffering is exalted above every name so that every knee bows. He is the promised branch of Jesse, uniting the prophetic vision of Isaiah 11:1 with the Nazareth-Netzer fulfillment and the Christlike humility described in Philippians 2:5-9.

Lesson 2: Christ the Suffering Servant Redeems Adam (Isaiah 53)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Gospel in Isaiah 53 declares that the Messiah, the suffering servant, bears the sins of many through substitutionary atonement, accomplishing past redemption, present justification, and future reconciliation that satisfies the Father and secures peace with God. Christ now serves as believers' advocate, intercessor, strong helper, ever-present friend, and the source of wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, with the cross illustrated as a timeline of redemption, propitiation, justified standing, and ongoing reconciliation.

Lesson 1: Feet of the Good‑News Messenger (Isaiah 52)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000

True devotion to Christ is demonstrated by a transformed life that offers faithful service, rooted in gratitude for His atoning sacrifice (Isaiah 53, Isaiah 52, Romans 10:14-15). Believers awaken each morning to worship, keep their conduct clean, and proclaim the good news with unified watchmen, recognizing hidden suffering and responding with compassionate love.

2025 Isaiah 37

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on September 11, 2026

2026 James Special - Draw near to God

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

On the occasion of BTBM board member Gloria Bassett passing, Gene taught and interesting lesson in James 4.

2025 Isaiah 36

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on August 28, 2026

2025 Isaiah 35

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on August 21, 2026

2025 Isaiah 34

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on August 14, 2026

2025 Isaiah 33

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on August 7, 2026

2025 Isaiah 32

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on July 31, 2026

2026 Let Freedom Ring 9

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Are we enjoying our liberty, or are we gradually becoming slaves to the world around us? In this powerful keynote address from the "Let Freedom Ring 2026" Bible Conference, Gene Cunningham, founder of Basic Training Bible Ministries, delivers a hard-hitting message on the true meaning of freedom—both spiritual and civil. Drawing parallels between America's current struggles and historical moments of courage, Gene challenges the body of Christ to shake off spiritual lethargy and stand fast in the liberty won by Jesus Christ. Key Takeaways & Content Summary: The "Time to Fight" (Historical Context): Exploring historical records from The Founders Bible, Gene shares the iconic story of Pastor Peter Muhlenberg, who in January 1776 shed his clerical robes in the pulpit to reveal a military uniform, rallying 300 men to defend their liberties. The Danger of the "American Dream": Gene corrects our modern perspective on freedom, warning that the traditional American Dream has transformed into a spiritual nightmare of materialism, collection, and self-absorption—trapping us in a "yoke of bondage". Galatians 5:1 & The True Liberator: True freedom is comprehensive and doesn't depend on a government or constitution. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate purchase price on the cross to deliver us from slavery to sin and Satan. We must stand our ground collectively, as a team. Ephesians 6 & The Reality of Spiritual Warfare: Analyzing the Armor of God, Gene highlights our greatest collective failure: a lack of active, constant prayer. He emphasizes that the church's decline directly mirrors the nation’s decline, and our victory will not be won by politicians, but by a praying church.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 8

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt completely unqualified to do what God has called you to do? In this powerful and raw sermon, speaker Matt Becker tackles the universal struggle of identity, unworthiness, and what it truly means to lead a life of obedience. Diving into Revelation, Second Corinthians, First Kings, and Deuteronomy, Matt reminds us that none of us are inherently "worthy" or "qualified" on our own—and that is exactly the point. True leadership and impact don't come from our own education, status, or background; they come from a posture of complete surrender and allowing Jesus Christ to work through us. When we stop trying to dictate our own paths and instead submit to God's ultimate authority, our lives begin to give off a "sweet aroma" that draws others closer to the gospel. Whether you are trying to lead your family, make a difference in your local community, or break free from the noise and captivity of the world, this message will challenge your heart posture and inspire you to step out in bold faith. It’s time to stop hiding in our comfort zones and start letting the character of God reflect through our everyday actions. Key Takeaways from this Sermon: The "Ripple Effect" of Faith: Changing a nation or community doesn’t happen overnight—it starts directly with your personal relationship with Jesus, filtering into your marriage, your children, your workplace, and outward. The Fragrance of Christ: Understanding 2nd Corinthians 2:14 and how our daily obedience determines whether we are putting off an aroma of life and hope, or an aroma of spiritual stagnation. The Wisdom of Solomon: Why admitting "I don't know what I'm doing" before God is the exact humility required for Him to pour out true discernment and abundance in your life. Reflecting God's Character: A deep breakdown of how we can reflect God's sovereignty, righteousness, love, and immutability in the midst of a chaotic world. It’s time to stop asking "Who am I?" in insecurity, and start asking "Who is God?" in absolute confidence.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 7

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to win back the most critical battlefield in existence—the one happening inside your own mind? In this challenging, raw, and deeply provocative message, Pastor Daniel Zanich delivers a powerful wake-up call to the modern Church. While many assume the fight for freedom is waged on political stages or historical battlegrounds, Pastor Daniel reveals that the real revolution is happening in a place the enemy desperately wants to keep hidden: your mind and your soul. If you want to see a true transformation in your life, your family, and your nation, it won't happen by rushing in with physical weapons or loud protests—it requires a strategy of aggressive spiritual patrol, ambush, and absolute honesty before God. Drawing heavily from 2 Corinthians 10, this sermon breaks down the strategic "Siege of Fort Phroneo"—the Greek concept of how we set our minds. Pastor Daniel exposes how the enemy secretly fortifies strongholds in the back streets of our thoughts, using lies, doubt, and past pain to trap us in a cycle of slavery to sin and misery. True life, true liberty, and the genuine byproduct of happiness can only be reclaimed when we choose to actively destroy these mental strongholds rather than politely walling them off. Discover what it truly means to take every thought captive, embrace your real identity in Christ, and step up as the king or queen of your own mind. It's time to stop letting your thoughts enslave you and start enforcing the freedom that Jesus already paid for. Watch, engage, and join the battle to take back your mind today! Key Moments & Takeaways The Real Revolution: Why the ultimate battle isn't against external crowns or governments, but a street-by-street fight for the human soul. The Secret Name of God: How coming to understand God's deeply personal faithfulness to you unlocks your ability to wage war effectively. The Siege of Fort Phroneo: A tactical breakdown of 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 and how to dismantle the fortified lies in your head. Living as an Embassy: How ordering your home, your family, and your personal life well establishes a beacon of the Kingdom on Earth. The Mirror of the Word: Exposing how the enemy tries to twist Scripture to keep you focused on your fallen nature instead of your new creation in Christ.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 6

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

What if the greatest threat to a nation's freedom isn’t a weak economy, political division, or a foreign enemy—but simply forgetting the God who established it in the first place? On the historic 250th anniversary of the United States, Pastor Faisal John delivers an urgent, fiery, and deeply moving message live from the Clover Cliff Ranch. Sharing his raw, firsthand testimony as a Pakistani immigrant who deeply sacrificed to become a U.S. citizen, Pastor Faisal brings an eye-opening perspective on what true religious freedom means—and why we must fiercely protect it, not by protesting in the streets, but by warring on our knees before the throne of God. In this powerful message, he challenges believers and nations alike to stop drifting into pride and comfort, outlining the Three Altars Every Nation Must Build to survive and find true revival: The Altar of Remembrance: Cultivating intentional, deep gratitude for God's history-shaping faithfulness, answered prayers, and foundational blessings. The Altar of Return: Rejecting lukewarm Christianity, trading our love for entertainment for a pursuit of holiness, and accepting God's loving invitation to repent and return home. The Altar of Rebuilding: Recommitting our lives as living sacrifices, preserving a culture of godly character, and boldly passing the truth of the Gospel down to the next generation. Pastor Faisal also shares a gripping, unforgettable illustration tracing down the "strongest thing in the world"—passing from iron, fire, and mountains, to mankind and death itself—culminating in the world-changing reality that Jesus Christ utterly crushed the power of the grave at Calvary. Stop looking to Washington, political cycles, or economic shifts to save us. If America is to write its next great chapter, it won't start in the White House; it will start in the House of God. Watch, reflect, and share this essential wake-up call for the global Church! Key Moments & Takeaways The Price of Freedom: A stunning perspective on American liberty from someone born in a land filled with spiritual and physical oppression. The Power of Prayer: Why the greatest historical revolutions always begin on our knees, not on the streets. Footmen vs. Horsemen: A deep dive into Jeremiah 12:5 and how to build spiritual stamina before the true trials arrive. The Ultimate Victor: A masterful breakdown of why death is completely powerless against the resurrection life of Jesus Christ.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 5

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

What if you are actually a "five-talent" believer, but fear has caused you to bury the massive inheritance God gave you in the dirt? Blair Buselli delievers a gripping, raw, and deeply challenging message delivered on our nation's 250th anniversary. He shifts the spotlight away from political frustration and shines it directly onto the personal responsibility of the Church, posing a critical question: How can we become "five-talent" people for the Kingdom of God instead of leaving the heavy lifting to the opposite side? Too often, Christians falsely label themselves as one- or two-talent people out of a sense of "arrogant humility". The true biblical weight of a "talent"—which equates to roughly ten years of wages—reveals the staggering value of what God has entrusted to us. Through a deep dive into Matthew 13 and Matthew 25, Blair explains why the Master expects us to take bold risks for the gospel rather than playing it safe out of fear. Every single believer living in freedom today is fundamentally a five-talent person because of the generations of profound sacrifice that paved the way before us. The message then shifts into an emotional and profound look at Exodus 2, highlighting the story of Jochebed and Moses. Jochebed only had an estimated four years to nurse and disciple Moses before handing him over to Pharaoh's house, yet those four foundational years anchored his identity and faith for the next 36 years. Blair contrasts this with modern parents who get 18 years, only to watch their kids abandon their faith in six months of college. Sharing a deeply moving personal story about his own 5-year-old son's fierce, protective instincts to "rescue other children," the speaker illustrates just how impressionable and mission-minded young children truly are when given intentional, godly attention. Ultimately, this video acts as an urgent wake-up call to stop burying our talents. Drawing on John Maxwell's principle that "events motivate people, but processes change people," viewers are challenged to move past fleeting inspiration and establish real, concrete processes of discipleship in their homes, marriages, and churches. Key Takeaways: The True Value of a Talent: A biblical talent isn't a small coin; it represents roughly ten years of wages, proving that God has placed an immense investment in your life. Taking Holy Risks: The Master in Matthew 25 is grieved by the servant who buried his talent out of fear; God expects His people to leverage what they have to expand His Kingdom. The Four-Year Window: Jochebed's intentional discipleship of Moses in his earliest years outlasted her presence, demonstrating the unmatched power of early childhood spiritual training. Processes vs. Events: Relying on church events for brief inspiration is not enough; the cultural tide will only turn when we build lasting systems of mentorship and intentional disciple-making.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 4

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Did you know that Israel spent its 250th anniversary in absolute chaos and defeat because just one generation failed to pass on their faith? In this timely message celebrating our nation's 250th anniversary, we dive deep into the true blueprint for liberty. Drawing powerful parallels between modern times and ancient Israel, this sermon explores the profound purpose behind the freedom we have been granted in Jesus Christ. True freedom is never meant to be an opportunity for self-indulgence; rather, it is a sacred trust given so that we might serve and love one another in deed and truth. By examining three pivotal generations in the Old Testament, we are forced to confront a sobering reality: freedom is highly precarious and always exactly one generation away from crumbling. When fathers and church leaders neglect their responsibility to disciple the next generation, society quickly plunges into dark eras where every man simply does what is right in his own eyes. Through a verse-by-verse study of Hebrews 3–4 and 1 John 3–5, Joel LeBret unpacks what it looks like to live out an active, abiding relationship with Christ. It challenges believers to reject the deceitfulness of sin, seize the spiritual opportunities available exclusively "today," and view obedience not as a burdensome checklist, but as a genuine expression of love. Key Takeaways: The Purpose of Liberty: True Christian freedom, as outlined in Galatians, is intentionally designed to express itself through faith working through love and mutual service. The Caution of the Wilderness: A look at the tragic generation that witnessed God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt but was banned from entering His rest due to persistent grumbling, disobedience, and unbelief. The Cost of Neglecting Discipleship: How the generation following Joshua left uncompromised spiritual strongholds and failed to communicate God’s ways to their children, leading directly to the oppressive era of the Judges. The Urgency of "Today": Why Hebrews repeatedly stresses the word "today" as a daily command to encourage one another, protect our hearts from hardening, and rest securely in Christ’s finished work. Keeping the Sacred Trust: Tying biblical obedience to Benjamin Franklin’s famous constitutional warning—"A republic, if you can keep it"—and realizing that our freedoms can only be sustained by a moral people committed to God's principles. Watch now to learn how returning to a simple posture of trusting and obeying can bring radical transformation to your home, your workplace, and our wider communities.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 3

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to stop waiting on Washington and start looking in the mirror to heal our nation? Building directly on the foundations of personal responsibility established earlier in the conference by Christopher and Jesse, this powerful presentation delivers an urgent wake-up call to the modern church. The message is clear and uncompromising: God is not waiting on Congress to fix our country—He is waiting on His people. Speaking on the historic 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Pastor Doug Wray reminds us of a revolutionary principle that set America apart from every other nation in history: our rights do not come from the government, they come directly from our Creator. Because liberty is a sacred gift from God, it cannot endure without virtue, morality, and individual self-discipline. When we trade our liberty for a false sense of temporary security, or when we remain silent in the face of corruption, we pave the way for tyranny to take hold. True restoration cannot be legislated. It begins when the body of Christ stops blaming politicians, stops outsourcing the spiritual upbringing of their children, and takes absolute ownership of their own faith. By examining the warnings of our Founding Fathers and the timeless truths of Scripture, this sermon outlines a definitive, three-part spiritual prescription to move the church from cultural complacency into active, bold transformation. Key Takeaways: God is Not Waiting on Congress: True morality and spirituality can never be legislated; national healing will only occur when the church steps up and embraces its divine responsibility. The True Purpose of Government: Reflecting on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the speaker emphasizes that because rights are God-given, the government's primary role is to preserve and protect freedom, not create it. The Danger of Silence and Cultural Decay: Highlighting insights from Thomas Jefferson and Samuel Adams, the message warns that tyranny gains a foothold whenever people of good conscience remain silent and let their integrity erode. Reclaiming the Home and Discipleship: True discipleship is a 168-hour-a-week commitment that starts within marriages and families; parents must stop outsourcing their biblical duties to a 30-minute Sunday school lesson. A Three-Part Prescription for the Church: Believers are challenged to heal their land by making a declaration of absolute dependence on God, repenting to realign their thinking with Scripture, and living with bold evangelism and intentional mentorship. Watch now to discover what it means to stop merely cheering for liberty and start actively standing for righteousness.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 2

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Are you willing to look in the mirror and ask what role you’ve played in the crumbling walls of our nation? Building directly on the cultural and political foundations established in the previous message, this convicting sermon shifts the focus from an overarching national perspective down to the level of individual accountability. The core message of this presentation can be summarized in two words repeated for ultimate emphasis: personal responsibility. Drawing from the opening chapters of Nehemiah, we look at a profound biblical example of leadership and repentance. When Nehemiah heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates were burned with fire, he didn't just point fingers at outside political forces. Instead, he wept, fasted, prayed, and openly confessed his own sins alongside the sins of his family and his nation. We live in a time where societal walls—from the definition of marriage to our broken education systems—are visibly crumbling around us. But true restoration doesn't start with passing the buck or blaming the culture. Transformation begins when God's people stop operating out of fear, comfort, and cowardice, and instead align their lives, marriages, and homes with the perfect architecture of God's Word. Key Takeaways: The Foundation of All Governance: A nation is built on communities, which are built on families, which are built on marriages, which are rooted strictly in God's baseline design for man and woman. The Nehemiah Model of Confession: True restoration always begins with the foundation of earnest, bold prayer and an acknowledgment of our own personal failings before the throne of grace. Rejecting the Culture of Outsourcing: A direct challenge to fathers to reclaim their biblical mandate from Ephesians to actively train up their children rather than delegating that spiritual responsibility away to the world. Stopping the Blame Game: Exposing our natural human tendency—stretching all the way back to Adam and Eve—to blame our spouses or circumstances instead of owning our mistakes. Titus 2 Everyday Mentorship: An encouraging reminder that spiritual leadership is not reserved solely for pastors behind pulpits; every single older man and woman has decades of valuable wisdom to pass down to the next generation. Watch now to discover how returning to the "Ancient Words" of Scripture can heal our broken dynamics and give us the blueprint to stand firm in our spheres of influence.

2026 Let Freedom Ring 1

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000

What does it truly mean to live out the Great Commission in every area of life—including the political sphere? In this timely message celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, we dive deep into the biblical principles that guide our interaction with our communities, states, and nation. The central thesis is clear: widespread faithfulness and effectiveness in Christian evangelism and discipleship will naturally produce committed, competent disciples of Christ who impact every single aspect of life, including politics. We trace this calling back to the "Dominion Mandate" in Genesis 1, where God authorized humanity to cultivate, build, and master the earth to create a God-honoring culture. While human sin fractured our capacity to do this perfectly, the Great Commission in Matthew 28 commands the Church to make disciples of all nations, teaching believers to obey everything Christ commanded—not just in private, but in every nook and cranny of life. As citizens of Christ's coming Kingdom who simultaneously hold earthly citizenship, the scriptures lay out clear guidelines for how we should interact with our current social and political context. Key Takeaways:The Power of Prayer: We are biblically mandated to pray for our leaders so that we may lead peaceful, quiet, and godly lives. Submission to Legitimate Authority: Drawing from 1 Peter 2, we examine our duty to be subject to authority structures, noting that in the American context, the Constitution (the law) holds the supreme "kingly" position (Lex Rex). Understanding Government Boundaries: We unpack the biblical limitations of human government, recognizing that a ruler's authority is limited to the scope delegated to them by God. Seeking the Nation's Welfare: True, rightly ordered patriotism is not idolatry; it is an act of love for our neighbor grounded in stewardship and justice. Join us as we explore historical insights from America's founding era and learn how to live as faithful, bold ambassadors of Jesus Christ right where God has placed us.

Romans 15 — Bearing Weakness, Unity, and the God of Hope: Carrying Others' Weaknesses Through the Cross (Romans 15:1-32)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Believers bear the weaknesses of those lacking strength, pleasing neighbors for edification and embracing one another as Christ has accepted us, while sharing the confident hope of the God of hope who fills us with joy and peace. Unity in the mind of Christ leads the mature church to admonish, give generously, and proclaim the gospel where Christ is not yet named.

Romans 15 moves from doctrine to discipleship: bear the weaknesses of others, accept one another, and live for the glory of God. This message explores perseverance, encouragement (the Paraclete), unity in the mind of Christ, and the church’s role in missions and mutual care. Practical sections on marriage, local ministry, and how prayer/support share in missionary fruit. Includes historical missionary examples and application prompts for church life.

Romans 10 — The Gospel Is Near: Confession and Faith Bring Salvation (Romans 10:1-21)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

True righteousness comes solely through faith in Christ, not by keeping the law, and salvation is secured when one believes God raised Jesus from the dead and confesses Him as Lord. The gospel must be heard to produce faith, so every believer is called to proclaim it while praying for missionaries, because creation, conscience, and God's persistent grace leave no one without excuse.

Romans 10 explains how salvation is accessible — “the word is near you” — and why preaching, sending, and hearing are essential. This teaching highlights the difference between zeal and knowledge, the role of confession and belief, and the shared responsibility of the church (sending team + going team). Practical encouragement for evangelism, prayer support, and everyday witness. Includes real-life examples and reflection prompts for personal outreach.

Romans 5 — Four Blessings of Justification: Cross and Reconciliation (Romans 5:1-21)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Justification by faith secures peace with God, ending humanity's legal enmity with the holy Judge, and grants believers free, continual access to God's throne for bold prayer. It also guarantees a confident hope of future glory that endures through present tribulation, and it brings the indwelling Holy Spirit who pours God's love into believers' hearts.

Paul’s theology becomes personal in Romans 5. In this session we unpack four blessings of justification: peace with God, bold access to the throne, the hope of glory, and the indwelling love of the Holy Spirit. Expect clear definitions, pastoral stories, and practical application for rejoicing in salvation. Ideal for personal devotion or group discussion — includes Scripture references and reflection prompts. Key takeaways: peace with God; access to God’s throne; hope that endures trials; the Holy Spirit’s poured-out love.

2025 Isaiah 31

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that mankind must choose between God's comfort through faith in Christ or His judgment. He explains Christ's preparation for the crucifixion (Isaiah 50:4-9) and the three phases of salvation. The message emphasizes the need to be doers of the word (James 1:22) and describes the future restoration of the earth in the Millennial Kingdom (Isaiah 51:1).

Jeremiah 6 Explained

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

In Jeremiah chapter 6, you’ll discover: 1) Jeremiah’s painful calling as the weeping prophet 2) The coming Babylonian invasion and its prophetic parallels 3) The danger of hardened hearts and spiritual deafness 4) False prophets who cry “Peace, peace” when there is no peace 5) God’s call to stand at the crossroads and choose the good way 6) How Christians today can walk in the Spirit, redeem the time, and live with eternal purpose Jeremiah chapter 6 is a wake-up call for individuals, churches, and nations. It urges us to examine our walk, return to Scripture, and live with conviction, courage, and hope.

Hebrews Chapter 6 Explained

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Hebrews 6 begins by urging believers to move beyond the “elementary principles of Christ” and press on toward spiritual maturity. These foundational doctrines include repentance from dead works, faith toward God, various baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. The call to “go on to maturity” is presented as something God Himself must carry believers into, not something achieved by human effort. The passage stresses that spiritual growth requires leaving behind reliance on old religious systems and allowing the Spirit to lead. The chapter then presents a sobering warning. It describes believers who have already been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, experienced the goodness of God’s Word, and glimpsed the powers of the age to come. Yet some have “fallen away” by returning to obsolete religious practices—particularly temple rituals and sacrifices that symbolically deny the finished work of Christ. As long as they persist in these actions, restoration to repentance is “impossible,” not because God is unwilling, but because they continue in behaviors that contradict the gospel. The imagery of land producing either useful crops or thorns illustrates that unfruitful works will be burned, echoing the idea that a believer may be saved “yet so as through fire.” Despite the warning, the chapter turns to encouragement. God sees the love and service His people show, and He is faithful to reward it. Believers are urged to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit God’s promises, with Abraham offered as the prime example. God confirmed His promise to Abraham with an oath, demonstrating the unchangeable nature of His purpose. This gives believers strong consolation and a secure hope—an “anchor of the soul”—that reaches into the very presence of God, where Jesus has entered as the eternal High Priest.

2025 Isaiah 30

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the contrast between burdensome idols and the delivering nature of God (Isaiah 46:1-7). He discusses the fall of Babylon as a warning against pride and defines justification as the imputation of Christ's righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). The message also distinguishes between national and spiritual Israel while identifying the Trinity within the text (Isaiah 48:16).

Wrap-up: Christ-Centered Mind Amid Suffering (Philippians 1)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The sanctified mind is a Christ-centered, cross-focused mindset that views every circumstance as a gospel opportunity, embraces self-emptying obedience, and finds contentment independent of circumstance while fixing hope on the future crown. Trials become granted grace that produce spiritual riches, and true sacrificial service mirrors Epaphroditus’ willingness to risk life for Christ’s work.

Gene taught a summary follow-up of The Sanctified Mind Series in Tucson, AZ at Tucson Bible Church on June 7th, 2026.

2025 Isaiah 29

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that fulfilled prophecy proves the Bible's divine inspiration and guarantees future promises, including the restoration of Israel. He discusses the sovereignty of God as the potter and the literal redemption of creation (Isaiah 45:1-8, 45:21-23). The message also defines expiation as the complete removal of sins from God's sight (Isaiah 53).

Lesson 6: Guarding the Heart with Godly Peace (Philippians 4)

Sun, 31 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A sanctified mind is secured through unity in Christ, not uniform agreement, and is sustained by continual prayer, thanksgiving, and the command to be anxious for nothing, which yields God’s peace that guards the heart and mind (Philippians 4:4-7). By fixing thoughts on what is true, noble, pure, and lovely, believers cultivate contentment independent of circumstances, trusting God’s provision and the strength of Christ (Philippians 4:8-9, Romans 5:1).

Lesson 5: Counting All as Loss for Christ (Philippians 3)

Sat, 30 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A sanctified mind produces a supernatural joy that empowers believers to confront adversity, while a crown-centered spiritual mindset generates five truths that reject fleshly confidence, limitless cost, wasted time, competition, and earthly priorities in favor of eternity. True circumcision of the heart, received righteousness by faith, relentless prayer, and pressing forward toward resurrection define the singular focus of the Christian life (Philippians 1; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 2:28-29).

Lesson 4: Working Out Salvation Through Surrender (Philippians 2)

Sat, 30 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The sanctified mind rests on Christ’s perfect obedience through suffering, which fulfills prophetic Scripture and secures each soul’s destiny (Psalm 69, Isaiah 53, Philippians 2). Believers share in His honor by joyfully embracing God’s sovereign plan, working out salvation with fear and trembling, and surrendering to the Spirit’s empowering work, while Scripture interprets itself through cross-reference.

Lesson 3: Mind and Glory (Philippians 2)

Sat, 30 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The sanctified mind is a dynamic system of thinking and attitude that must be unified in Christ, forming the foundation for gospel-centered living (Philippians 2). It progresses through five mind-states—humble, sacrificial, enlightened, compassionate, and death-defying—each producing humility, self-emptying service, and a shared purpose that enables believers to endure suffering as a grace-gift and advance the gospel together (Philippians 1:27-30; John 13).

Lesson 2: Imprisonment's Unexpected Gospel Expansion (Philippians 1)

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The sanctified mind trusts that God can turn false accusations and imprisonment into gospel advancement, and that bold confidence in Christ spreads contagious courage among believers (Philippians 1:14-26, 2 Corinthians 11:23-33). Suffering for Christ validates testimony, calls believers to live as heavenly citizens, and unites the church in one spirit to demonstrate salvation to persecutors (Philippians 1:27).

Lesson 1: Allowing Christ's Mind in Suffering (Philippians 1)

Fri, 29 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The mind of Christ is the sanctified mindset that humbles itself to the cross, enabling lasting joy and victorious living (Philippians 1-4). It progresses through four distinct phases—single-focused on Christ, servant humility, forward-looking spiritual ambition, and confident future hope—each rooted in the conviction that Christ controls history and that a godly mindset determines triumph over circumstance.

Parables and Promises 7

Sun, 17 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Beatitudes define a disciple's character while Kingdom parables define their conduct (Matthew 5:1-12). He explains that believers must cast the gospel net to others and serve as priests, ambassadors, and encouragers (Matthew 13:47-51). True spiritual growth leads to an awareness of one's inadequacy and a need for continuous growth (Hebrews 3:7-19).

Parables and Promises 6

Sun, 17 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the connection between the Beatitudes and kingdom parables as stages of spiritual development to conform believers to the image of Christ (Matthew 5:1-12). He discusses the importance of inner transformation, showing mercy, and maintaining purity of heart. The message also describes the believer's role as salt, light, and ambassadors for Christ (Matthew 5:13).

Parables and Promises 5

Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that hungering for righteousness is a desperate craving for the positional and practical righteousness found in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:6). He explains that the Kingdom of God acts like leaven, infiltrating the world through believers (Matthew 13:33). He urges the church to move beyond comfort and utilize their new creation identity to spread the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Parables and Promises 4

Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that meekness is the restraint of power and inward humility rather than weakness (Matthew 5:5). He teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven grows from a small seed of faith into a source of security for the world (Matthew 13:31). Believers achieve spiritual impact through availability and humility, allowing God to work through them to overcome insurmountable tasks (Romans 5:1-5).

Parables and Promises 3

Sat, 16 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that the Beatitudes are progressive building blocks for spiritual development and describes the believer's role in priesthood and ambassadorship. He uses the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares to illustrate the coexistence of believers and unbelievers until final judgment. The message emphasizes the obligation to evangelize the lost, as no one is beyond God's reach.

Parables and Promises 2

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that humility and a poverty of spirit are necessary to be the good soil that receives God's Word (Matthew 13:18-23). He distinguishes between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven while emphasizing the missionary obligation to bear spiritual fruit. Believers act as stewards of grace who will account for their gifts at the judgment seat of Christ.

Parables and Promises 1

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches a parallel study between the Beatitudes and the kingdom of heaven parables, comparing spiritual character to outward mission. He explains that poverty of spirit is the essential starting point for spiritual growth and total dependence on God's grace (Matthew 5:1-10). True hearing of the Word requires an active response resulting in obedience and life change.

The Captive Mind - Part 2

Sun, 10 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how to achieve a secure mind by relying on faith in Christ rather than carnal achievements (Philippians 3:7-11). He describes the Christian life as a race toward an eternal reward and a progression toward spiritual maturity (Philippians 3:12-16). Believers find stability and peace by focusing on God and practicing the Word (Romans 8:6).

2025 Isaiah 28

Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham contrasts Israel's persistent idolatry with God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises of redemption. He explains spiritual regeneration through the New Covenant and warns that hardening one's heart against truth can lead to a point of no return. He also identifies modern extraterrestrial narratives as demonic deceptions preparing the world for the Antichrist.

Introduction to the Captive Mind

Sun, 03 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene taught Introduction to the Captive Mind at Westside Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ on 3 May. 2026.

2025 Isaiah 27

Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how Jesus Christ serves as the Servant who establishes a new covenant and brings restoration. He contrasts the judgment of idolaters with God's covenant faithfulness to Israel and argues for the deity of Christ by linking titles in Isaiah to Revelation (Isaiah 42:5-9, 43:1-7, 44:6).

Encounter 5

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches the difference between vertical and horizontal grace, explaining how believers put off the old nature to be conformed to Christ. She discusses eradicating bitterness and using the tongue to build others up through forgiveness and humility (Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:22-32). The message encourages applying God's grace to release burdens of past failure (Colossians 2:13).

Encounter 4

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that Christian service is motivated by gratitude for grace rather than obligation. She explains that believers serve as priests, ambassadors, and ministers to others, relying on the Holy Spirit rather than self-strength (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). Every member of the Body of Christ is valuable, as God often uses the unqualified to ensure He receives all the glory (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Encounter 3

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that suffering often serves as the vehicle through which God reveals His glory and perfects His power in human frailty (2 Corinthians 12:9). She explains that earthly afflictions are momentary compared to eternal glory and that God uses delays and trials to refine faith and heal the soul (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, John 11:1-44).

Encounter 2

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham explains the balance of grace and truth through the encounter between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). She teaches believers to prioritize soul health through spiritual disciplines and inner beauty. The message also describes how divine discipline reflects God's love and leads the believer back to holiness (Ephesians 4:1).

Encounter 1

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that Jesus is the source of lavish grace, which opens the heart before truth can be shared. She explains how divine appointments and justification by faith provide peace with God and royal adoption (John 4:1-42, Romans 5:1-5, Ephesians 2:8-9). Believers are encouraged to share this Gospel regardless of their perceived qualifications.

2025 Isaiah 26

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that the Messiah is God's elect servant who brings justice to the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:1-4). He teaches that human election and spiritual blessings occur only in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). The message also discusses the deity of Christ and the role of free will in accepting God's invitation to salvation.

Battle for the Mind - Session 7

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that spiritual success requires walking in the spirit to cast down strongholds based on earthly logic (2 Corinthians 10:1-6). He explains a process of tearing down these strongholds and renewing the mind to align with one's identity in Christ (Romans 12:1-2). Believers must replace worldly self-evaluation with obedience and decisive action against spiritual disobedience.

Battle for the Mind - Session 6

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how God uses weakness to prevent pride and ensure His grace is perfected in the believer (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He describes spiritual maturity as a learned process and outlines a five-fold commitment to flee sin and pursue righteousness (1 Timothy 6:6-12). The message also discusses taking thoughts captive to serve God's purpose (Philippians 4:11-13).

Battle for the Mind - Session 5

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that the spiritual battle takes place in the mind, requiring believers to take every thought captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). He outlines the three deliverances of Jesus and the three primary ministries of the believer. Using the life of Paul, he emphasizes the sufficiency of God through endurance and the process of dying to live (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).

Battle for the Mind - Session 4

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that spiritual victory requires unity and teamwork rather than standing alone (Ephesians 6:10-18). He explains that true power comes from the Holy Spirit and that God demonstrates His strength through human weakness (Judges 6:12). Believers must support one another and remain under the Spirit's control to withstand attack.

Battle for the Mind - Session 3

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that spiritual victory depends on the direction of one's thinking and obedience to Christ. He explains that believers must first develop a private walk of faith and intimacy with God to destroy strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). This process involves rejecting worldly thinking to walk in the Spirit and in step with God (Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:8).

Battle for the Mind - Session 2

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that believers engage in a spiritual war that requires dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than human intellect (2 Corinthians 10:3). He uses theological mathematics to describe spiritual concepts and analyzes Satan's consistent tactics regarding lust and pride (1 John 2:15-17). Victory comes from walking in the Spirit to overcome human limitations (Luke 4:1-14).

Battle for the Mind - Session 1

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that spiritual victory requires winning the battle for the mind using weapons mighty in God rather than carnal means (2 Corinthians 10:1-6). He explains how believers act as ambassadors in the ministry of reconciliation to lead others to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). The message emphasizes maintaining mental alertness and a debt of love to share the gospel (Romans 1:16).

2025 Isaiah 25

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the nature of the Messiah as the Ruler, Creator, and Shepherd King. He contrasts the majesty of God with the futility of idolatry and discusses how biblical waiting involves weaving promises with faith. The teaching also describes a future worldwide renovation of the earth during the millennial kingdom (John 10:11, Psalm 23, Psalm 24).

Lesson 8: Trusting God’s Promise of Resurrection (Job 13)

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Faith rests on a heartfelt gratitude for the forgiveness already received, ordering devotion to God's Word above all else, and affirming Jesus as the Christ, Son of God, and source of resurrection. When darkness draws us deeper into fellowship, we fall at His feet, surrender, and trust His faithful character, securing His presence through earnest prayer and enduring works.

This class was taught in Australia as an addition to "When God Hides His Face."

Lesson 7: Divine Discipline Through Complacent Hearts (Job 13)

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

God hides His face to test and refine faith, placing believers under His mighty hand so that His nearness is felt even when His glory is unseen; divine discipline removes obstacles, calls for repentance, and purifies faith, leading to white raiment and spiritual sight for those who seek Him now rather than later (Exodus 33; Song of Solomon 5; Revelation 3:14-21).

Gene gave this lesson to a church in Austrailia.

2025 Isaiah 24

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Old Testament tragedies serve as examples for modern believers. He explains how King Hezekiah faced tests of faith and how the Rabshakeh used deception and mockery to undermine Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:1-10). The message describes how divine intervention demonstrated God's sovereignty over the Assyrian army (Isaiah 37:14).

Lesson 6: Rejoicing in the Sufferings of Christ (Psalms 69)

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

God’s hidden face in suffering refines believers, drawing them into the fellowship of Christ’s own trials and securing their future reward (1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 4:12; Psalm 22). Though trials seem endless, the divine attributes of sovereignty, justice, and love remain active, assuring that the humble are heard, the unjust will be judged, and ultimate vindication awaits the faithful.

Lesson 5: From Doubt to Faith After Resurrection (Mark 16)

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

God’s hidden face serves as a refining fire, turning every trial into the incorruptible inheritance promised to believers; only those who endure in faithful fellowship and heart-purity receive the blessed outcome (1 Peter 1). Spiritual blindness or hardened hearts block the revelation of Christ’s resurrection, so childlike belief—not intellectual assent—is required to experience the promised, undefiled reward.

Lesson 3: Choosing Eternal Reward Over Earthly Riches (Job 13)

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When God hides His face, believers must examine hidden sin, trust His wisdom and promises, and obey to unlock His Word and will, knowing that all things work together for good and His glory is revealed after He passes by. Humbling under His hand removes the covering, and like Moses, each act of faith moves the believer from fear to divine fulfillment (Romans 8:28; Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 119:11).

Ladies Class: God Lifts the Lowly to Glory (1 Samuel 1)

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

God’s blessing, not personal lack, safeguards the heart from the deep-rooted bitterness that defiles individuals and communities; when weakness and distress arise, wholehearted prayer turns that frailty into divine strength, as Hannah’s vow and the birth of Samuel demonstrate God’s timely answer and the overturning of human status. Periods of waiting and testing thus shape believers into channels of blessing.

Lesson 4: Wrestling with the Lord of Power (Genesis 32)

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

True manhood is defined by meek submission to God's authority and strength expressed through tough decisions, accountability, and sacrificial service; when God appears hidden, believers must reject blaming Him, avoid the sin He exposes, and refuse worldly comforts that foster division. Wrestling with God confronts the self, resulting in a name change that marks humility and divine transformation, as imperfect, self-centered people are woven into God's perfect plan.

Lesson 2: Imputed Righteousness Through Faith (Romans 4)

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

True faith rests on a humble posture that secures spiritual priorities, wise decisions, and godly actions, producing blessed outcomes even when God seems hidden. Abraham’s unconditional covenant—expressed in five "I will" promises—demonstrates that righteousness is imputed by faith, not earned, and that Christ’s love is the law that energizes believers to live rightly.

Lesson 1: Testing Faith Through Spiritual Warfare (Job 9:32-33)

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When God hides His face, He is intentionally prompting a deeper seeking that leads the earnest to find Him; true spiritual health requires daily confession, walking in the light, doing eternal work, and resting in Christ, while genuine repentance renews the mind and Christ alone mediates the gap between God and humanity (1 John 1:9, Matthew 7:7-8, Job).

Out of Weakness 5

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that believers can boldly approach God in weakness because mercy and grace provide the necessary resources for effectiveness (Hebrews 10:19-25). He explains that spiritual stability requires a balance of faith, hope, and love to support the ministries of priesthood, ambassadorship, and service (1 Peter 2:5-9). True faith is a response to God's Word and includes submitting to His will (Hebrews 11:11).

Out of Weakness 4

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that true spiritual strength is found in weakness, which directs the believer to rely on God rather than self. He describes how the triad of faith, hope, and love stabilizes believers against deception and spiritual failure (Romans 5:1-5). The message also teaches that walking in the Spirit is the only way to overcome the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:1-6).

Out of Weakness 3

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how faith, hope, and love serve as critical components of spiritual armor and maturity. He outlines how these virtues sustain believers through trials and guide their conduct within the body of Christ (Romans 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 13:13). The message describes the progression from faith to a living reality of unconditional love that persists into eternity (1 John 4:8).

Out of Weakness 2

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that God is the ultimate source of strength and that faith relies on God's faithfulness rather than human effort (Hebrews 11:1, 11:6). He warns that victory can lead to vulnerability and that legalism separates believers from fellowship with Christ. Spiritual recovery occurs through the synergy of faith, hope, and love (Galatians 6:7).

Out of Weakness 1

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God empowers individuals out of weakness rather than human effort (Hebrews 11:1). He explains how surrendering frailty allows God to replace it with His own power through the grace triad of faith, hope, and love (2 Corinthians 12:7). This process brings the essence of God into the physical world to produce visible evidence of His work (1 John 4:16).

2025 Isaiah 23

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's faithfulness is shown through a cycle of judgment and restoration. He warns against relying on human alliances and describes a future righteous kingdom where the Messiah heals human infirmity and the natural world (Isaiah 32:16, 33:15-17). The message emphasizes the reliability of biblical prophecy and the importance of spiritual endurance.

2025 Isaiah 22

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that national strength depends on spiritual devotion rather than political leadership, using Isaiah 30 to warn against arrogance and unbelief. He explains the cycle of spiritual decline and the necessity of maturity to avoid a hardened heart (Isaiah 30:1-5, Ephesians 4:17, Galatians 6:7).

2025 Isaiah 21

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how God uses trials to refine believers and remove spiritual chaff (Isaiah 28:25-29). He discusses the necessity of true repentance and the danger of superficial religion (Isaiah 29:1-8). The message outlines a path to spiritual recovery through submission to God and perseverance in faith (Isaiah 29:9-24).

2Kings 2 - Changing Ministries - Unchanging Truth

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that while ministerial personalities and methods change, the truth of God's Word remains unchanging (2 Kings 2:1-15). He explains how Elisha's faithfulness prepared him for ministry and illustrates the believer's call to be salt in a polluted world (2 Kings 2:16-18). The message also outlines the fourfold provision and commands regarding the Holy Spirit.

2025 Isaiah 20

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham contrasts the temporary crown of pride with the eternal cornerstone of life in Jesus Christ (Isaiah 28:16). He explains how God uses discipline to bring individuals to fruitfulness and describes the relationship between righteousness and justice (Psalm 89:14). The message also addresses the judgment of those who reject God's clear teaching (Isaiah 28:11-13).

2025 Isaiah 19

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that salvation is a free gift of grace received through faith alone, resulting in a new spiritual birth and eternal security (Ephesians 2:8-9). He describes the gospel as a divine exchange where Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer. The message also distinguishes the Day of the Lord from the Day of Christ (Isaiah 27:1).

The Faithfulness of God (and Rapture hint) in Isaiah

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

We are studying the Book of Isaiah. What I hope I can impress on you is God's faithfulness and see some things in chapter 26 that I think are relevant to the time in which we live. Isaiah 26:19. See if this reminds you of any other passage you may have read. "Your dead shall live together with my dead body." Sounds like 1st Corinthians 15; sounds like 1st Thessalonians 4 sounds like John 14. What did Jesus say? "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in me. In My father's house are many mansions. I'm going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again." That's a promise. "... So that where I am, you may be also." He's preparing a place for us right now. We'll look at what Isaiah says. "Together with my dead body. They will rise awake and sing. You who dwell in the dust. For your dew is like to dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Isaiah 26:20 "Come, my people, enter into your chambers, shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment until the indignation is passed." What is the indignation? The indignation, of course, is the tribulation judgments. I call your attention to the little word "until" it's very important. In relation to the history of Israel. There are three "until's" in the Bible that have been given only to the nation of Israel. 1) Matthew 23:39. "You will not see me until you say, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 2) Luke 21:24 "Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 3) Romans 11:25, "I would not have you ignorant," Paul says, "that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." What is the fullness of the Gentiles? What is the coming in? Well, the fullness of the Gentiles refers to the harvest of the Gentile church. And the coming in, I believe, coincides with the invitation here come and hide yourself, for a little while. Isaiah 26:21, "For the Lord is coming out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain." You and I have a bright future. Our world is not. The future for this world is grim. God is faithful. Ten areas God is faithful to you and I: 1) He is faithful to forgive our sins. First John 1:9. Thank God for that one. It's not just once for all. It's as often as we come and confess. 2) God is faithful to keep us safe. 2nd Timothy 2:13 "Even if we're unfaithful, as Paul says, "He remains faithful." 3) God is faithful to deliver us through our temptations. 1st Corinthians 10:13. 4) God is faithful to keep his promises to us. Hebrews 10:23. 5) God is faithful to us in times of suffering. 1st Peter 4:19 6) God is faithful in fulfilling his plan for us. This, of course, requires our cooperation. 1st Thessalonians 5:24 7) God is faithful to strengthen us in times of trial. 2nd Thessalonians 3:3 8) God is faithful as a partner to us in our union with Christ. 1st Corinthians 1:9. 9) Jesus Christ is a faithful and merciful high priest to us. Hebrews 2:17. 10) Last but not least, Jesus Christ is the synonym for faithfulness. Revelation 19:11, "I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse. I can't wait. When we come back with him, we're going to be riding on white horses. Don't worry if you've never ridden. There will be riding classes during the tribulation, but. My friend, if I've done nothing for you today, that planted in your mind, and I hope that it's burned there indelibly. When you're struggling, when you're hurting, when you're overburdened, when your soul is aching. When you're lonely. When the world looks dark. When you can do nothing but cry. When you can't even lift up your head and look up. I want you to remember God is faithful. He always has been. He always will be. Trust him because he can only prove that faithfulness as you and I come to him with simple, childlike faith. Don't let the devil lie to you about who you are. Let God tell you who you are in Christ, and it'll make all the difference in the world.

Lesson 7: The God Who Is Gracious and Merciful (Jonah 4)

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God’s mercy extends to every person, even those we deem enemies, and He delights when they repent, as shown in Nineveh’s turn and the compassion of Jesus (Luke 10:25-37, Luke 15:11-32). True religion combines teaching with compassionate action, empowered by the Holy Spirit to meet multitudes’ needs, while trials remain within the limits He sets (James 1).

Lesson 6: God's Compassion and Israel's Vine and Branches (John 15)

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God’s compassion for the lost compels every believer, regardless of ability, to become His messenger, requiring personal availability for His mission; believers who abide in Christ, the true vine, bear fruit, while those who do not are cast away and face judgment. Divine discipline, including pruning, is a gracious process that increases fruitfulness, and those regenerated in Christ possess eternal security despite possible withering or judgment for unfruitfulness.

Lesson 5: Comfort over Compassion: Nineveh Believes (Jonah 3)

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God’s gracious response to genuine repentance grants peace, and He judges the heart by the works it produces, prompting divine relenting (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 17:10). True revival springs from humble, repentant believers whose fasting and prayer embody the Beatitudes, while creation—through the plant, worm, and wind—exposes Jonah’s self-comfort and points to Christ’s ultimate shelter for all peoples.

Lesson 4: Grace, Mercy, and Repentance in Nineveh (Jonah 3)

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

True repentance begins with remembering God's mercy, leading believers to humble submission, resistance to the devil, and a purified heart that returns to Him for restoration (Jonah 3). Grace and mercy together sustain leaders, while God's irrevocable gifts call every believer to fulfill three ministries—priesthood, ambassadorship, and fellowship—driven by Christ's love and the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5, Hebrews 10).

Lesson 3: Short Accounts and Restored Fellowship (Jonah 2)

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

True confession acknowledges God's sovereign control over circumstances, placing believers under Christ's finished atonement and unlocking divine deliverance (Jonah 2). Disobedience intensifies spiritual discipline, moving from rebuke to chastening and ultimately death for the unrepentant, while the believer's three-fold ministry—catalyst to Israel, Christ-model for the church, and witness to the lost—requires the right place, task, and motivation.

Lesson 2: Divine Discipline Through Reluctant Obedience (Jonah 1)

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Divine discipline is an expression of God’s love that progresses from rebuke to chastening to scourging, and it must never be despised; believers are called to shed personal sins and burdens so they can run the race of faith with endurance, recognizing that fleeing God’s command, as Jonah did, invites corrective exposure that leads to genuine repentance and a greater influence for Christ than personal righteousness.

Lesson 1: Leadership Responsibility in Jonah’s Storm (Jonah 1)

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God’s personal will for a believer comprises where to be, what to do, and why to do it, and Jonah’s ambivalent heart—accepting truth yet fleeing obedience—exposes the peril of double-mindedness that invites divine discipline through external storms. Until the fish’s belly, Jonah fails all three components of God’s will, illustrating how disobedience to God’s word provokes corrective circumstances that awaken repentance and obedience.

The Titus 2 Woman

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that the Titus 2 woman is to live a life of integrity and virtue, teaching younger women to love and obey their husbands, and to cultivate inner beauty through submission to God's Word.

2025 Isaiah 18

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the kingdom age begins with a wedding feast, where Christ is the bridegroom and the church is the bride, and that death will be abolished, with the Lord wiping away tears from all faces.

Back to Basics - Session 7

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that the church is a group victory, not individual victory, and its purpose is to provoke Israel to jealousy, leading to their repentance and salvation. He also discusses the rapture, the church age, and God's plan for Israel, emphasizing that God has not given up on Israel and they will be saved when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

Back to Basics - Session 6

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the church must return to its biblical roots to effectively function in these perilous times, emphasizing the importance of teaching God's word, fellowship, commitment, and evangelism.

Back to Basics - Session 5

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Holy Spirit works in amazing ways, not only in personal lives but also in history, and that He is at work in the lives of believers and unbelievers. He explains how the Spirit of God works through His Word, in the heart of an unbeliever, and through believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit, leading them to faith in Christ. He also discusses the five eternal works of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life and their three ministries.

Back to Basics - Session 4

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that suffering is an inescapable part of life, resulting from sin and our own choices, but can also lead to an eternal reward and a victor's stand. He explains how God allows suffering to deal with our arrogance and bring us to a place of humility and dependence on Him. He also emphasizes the importance of responding to suffering with a humble attitude and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Back to Basics - Session 3

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is a battle that requires effort and sacrifice, but God is faithful to forgive, keep, and fulfill His promises, and that we live in a spiritual conflict with unseen angelic beings.

Back to Basics - Session 2

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the word of God is the source of eternal life and spiritual growth, and that our response to it determines our eternal reward. He emphasizes the limitations of humanity and the importance of repentance, and explains the five works of the Spirit of God in relation to God's Word. He also highlights the significance of the Bible as the mind of Christ.

Back to Basics - Session 1

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that our faith must be built on the foundation of the cross of Christ, and that understanding the basics of the Bible and God's nature is essential for a relationship with Him.

2025 Isaiah 17

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the significance of Isaiah 17 in the context of God's judgment on the world, the everlasting covenant, and the gospel message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

Is God Done with Israel?

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that God has not cast away His people, citing the example of Paul, an Israelite and descendant of Abraham, and the election of God, which is a sovereign choice to save some and not others.

2025 Isaiah 16

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's sovereign judgment on the Gentile nations is a major theme in Isaiah 15-35, and that this judgment is accompanied by opportunities for repentance and ultimately leads to salvation.

2025 Isaiah 15

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the judgment against Babylon in Isaiah 13, a near and far fulfillment that involves supernatural forces and spiritual judgment, ultimately leading to the final fall of Lucifer and the devil's complete defeat.

2025 Isaiah 14

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the significance of the book of Isaiah, the Gospel of the Old Testament, and its prophecy about Jesus Christ. He explores the themes of sin, redemption, and the knowledge of the Lord, which will transform the world and bring people to God. He also discusses the judgments of the Bema, the sheep and goat nations, and the great white throne.

2025 Isaiah 13

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God uses nations and leaders to accomplish His will, often without their knowledge or consent, and that pride and idolatry can lead to downfall, while humility is the key to blessing.

2025 Isaiah 12

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how God's justice demands accountability for the truth we know, and how rebellion against Him leads to discipline, destruction, and ultimately, the downfall of a nation. He examines the downward spiral of sin and the importance of repentance and humility.

Abiding Session 3

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that abiding in Christ is essential for a victorious Christian life, resulting in fruit and spiritual maturity. He explains the five disciplines for abiding in Christ, including washing, eating, walking, working, and resting, and emphasizes the importance of faith, love, and obedience in this process.

Abiding Session 2

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is about walking in Christ, receiving and embracing Him, and allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work in our lives. He explains that abounding is an active choice to overflow after God has done everything for us, and that it's about serving others and living a life that reflects Christ. This is revealed as we follow Jesus Christ and walk in good works.

Abiding Session 1

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that abiding in Jesus is a moment-by-moment decision to focus on maintaining fellowship with Him, and that believers must identify themselves as true branches in Christ to experience the Christian life as a living reality.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Part 3

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Rapture is a time of great joy and celebration, and the church will be beautified and made ready for the wedding feast, as described in Jesus' wedding language, with the church as the bride and God as the groom.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Part 2

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, and 2 Thessalonians 2, and that the Church is the restrainer that holds back the Antichrist, and its removal is necessary for the Antichrist to be revealed.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Part 1

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the doctrine of the pre-tribulation rapture, a crucial event where believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and how it is supported by key passages in Scripture.

2025 Isaiah 11

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is a journey from the cross to the crown, and that faith is a key aspect of this journey, with different stages of spiritual growth represented by five Hebrew words for faith.

2025 Isaiah 10

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that believers must conquer fear with faith, trusting God in the midst of danger and injustice, and that Jesus Christ is the source of eternal life and salvation, with those who reject Him falling over Him and being broken.

2025 Isaiah 9

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's judgment and salvation are intertwined, and that faith or unbelief are the two options for humanity, as seen in the prophecy of Isaiah 8, which foretells the destruction of the northern kingdom and Syria, and highlights God's working through small things.

Lesson 6: Turning Failure into Divine Victory (Haggai 2)

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God’s covenantal purpose demands that believers reorder their priorities, placing His work above personal concerns and actively contributing to the collective rebuilding of His nation (Hag 1:1-6; Hag 2:15-20; Heb 12:25-28). Faithful service transforms the defeated into victorious instruments, securing both temporal blessings and eternal reward as He repeatedly affirms His "I will" promises.

Lesson 5: Consider Your Heritage and Fellowship (Haggai 2)

Sat, 31 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God’s sovereign timing appoints the laying of the temple foundation as the decisive moment when Israel’s period of judgment ends and divine blessing begins, marking the completion of the seventy-year discipline and the full payment of the nation’s debt (Haggai 2:15-19, Jeremiah 52, Acts 17:24-27). Believers are called to redeem the present age by living wisely, pursuing peace, and responding to the accepted time of salvation now (Romans 12:18, Mark 1:15).

Lesson 4: Small Beginnings and Clean Vessels (Haggai 2)

Sat, 31 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

God commands every nation to seek the ultimate desire of Christ, whose fullness satisfies every heart, and He works through the seemingly insignificant to fulfill His purposes (Haggai 2:1-9). Believers are called to steward all spiritual blessings, pursue true holiness through complete surrender, and experience the three washings of salvation, confession, and walking in the light (Matthew 25:14-29, 1 Corinthians 12).

Lesson 3: The Glory of the Latter House (Haggai 2:1-9)

Sat, 31 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Obedient faith, sparked by hearing God’s Word, moves God’s purposes forward through humble, ordered action; when hearts respond, His presence affirms the work and fuels the rebuilding of His temple as the ultimate sign of divine restoration. True transformation arises when individuals are personally delivered to doctrine, and Christ’s love compels believers to seek Him, securing spiritual riches and peace.

Lesson 2: Consider Your Ways and Build (Haggai 1)

Sat, 31 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Obedience to God's voice summons His presence and the reverent fear that yields wisdom and national restoration (Romans 12:1-2). Every believer, sealed by the Holy Spirit, receives gifts for specific work, and faithful men arise from God's unwavering faithfulness, trusting and applying His Word to reproduce believers. Precise divine timing makes the present moment the appointed hour for obedience and blessing (Mark 13:34).

Lesson 1: Prioritizing God's Work Over Comfort (Haggai 1)

Fri, 30 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

National restoration begins with correct priorities; God rebukes a people who neglect His temple for personal comforts, demanding that worship and obedience precede prosperity. A regenerated heart produces humble, God-centered priorities that build upon Christ’s foundation, leading to wise decisions, good actions, and divine blessing rather than curse (Haggai 1:1-4, Ezra 1:1-4, Matthew 6:33).

2025 Isaiah 8

Fri, 16 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God always offers grace before judgment, and that faith is the key to receiving protection and security from Him. He explains that the call to faith is crucial, and that we must turn to God in faith every day to navigate the uncertainty and instability of our lives. This message emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's redemption and the living power of His word.

Haggai Overview 2025: Greater Glory Through the Little One (Haggai 2)

Wed, 14 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

True priority lies in examining our ways and setting our hearts on God's work, for misplaced priorities produce spiritual poverty (Haggai 1:1-6). Obediently bringing wood to rebuild the temple secures divine presence, blessing, and a future glory surpassing Solomon's house, while genuine holiness stems from a clean heart rather than external rites (Haggai 2:5). God chooses modest gifts and people to fulfill His grand purposes, promising abundant blessings from the foundation onward.

This lesson is edited and originally given on 14 May 2025 as part of the "Builders for Eternity" series at Living Truth Prescott.

2025 Isaiah 7

Fri, 09 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how Isaiah's ministry was marked by the hardening of the people's hearts, and how this phenomenon continues in the church age, with believers not exempt from judicial hardening.

2025 Isaiah 6

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that the book of Isaiah is a key to understanding the entire Bible, with its theme of salvation and the Savior, and that the vision of God in Isaiah 6 is a call to repentance and a reminder of God's holiness and glory.

2025 PA - Session 7

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that strong leadership and a willingness to take action are crucial in determining a country's strength and prosperity, and that the actions of individuals have a lasting impact on history and future generations.

2025 PA - Session 6

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's heritage is a trust to be passed on to future generations, and that we must identify with the sins of our community to truly repent. He explains how the law is a tutor to lead us to Christ and how we can respond to the hardships in our lives with the right attitude.

2025 PA - Session 5

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how the Lord Jesus' invitation to come to Him and drink during the Feast of Tabernacles was a time of great impact in the lives of the people, and how true righteousness is humble and not judgmental, unlike some biblical figures.

2025 PA - Session 4

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that greed and selfishness can lead to a curse, but that a life of fear of God and generosity can bring a blessing. He explains how Nehemiah's response to the problems in Jerusalem is a model for revival and spiritual leadership.

2025 PA - Session 3

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life involves daily disciplines and spiritual vigilance in the face of spiritual attacks, and that true service to God involves taking on the yoke of Christ and doing His work.

2025 PA - Session 2

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how God's providence is at work in our lives, from divine timing and provision to personal experience, and how believers must respond to both the call to salvation and the call to service to be effective in their service.

2025 PA - Session 1

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the restoration of a nation requires a work to be done and a war to be fought, and that God's sovereignty works through human sovereignty, requiring individuals to work in concert with God's will.

2025 Isaiah 5

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's vineyard, Israel, failed to produce good grapes, instead yielding wild grapes representing idolatry, and that believers must produce fruit to abide in Christ, facing judgment if they do not.

2025 Isaiah 4

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the book of Isaiah is a message of national redemption, judgment, and the glory of the coming Redeemer, with the invitation to walk in the light of the Lord and the warning to sever oneself from those who are not following God.

2025 Isaiah 3

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's nature is characterized by sovereignty, righteousness, and love, and that His people must wash themselves, make themselves clean, and put away evil deeds to be cleansed and sanctified.

2025 Isaiah 2

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene taught this in the Friday night Bible study.

2025 Isaiah 1

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the book of Isaiah is a call to action, a charge, and a challenge to apply the truth of God's Word in our lives, and that it contains over 40 prophecies of Jesus' first coming and over 80 prophecies of his second coming.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 9

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian walk is a supernatural life that requires supernatural understanding and power, given by the Holy Spirit, and emphasizes the importance of making wise decisions and living a balanced Christian life, reflecting Jesus Christ in our daily choices.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 8

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God is fair and just in His dealings with all people, holding them accountable for the light they have, and that He uses trials to multiply and feed the hungry souls of others.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 7

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God molds us into what He wants us to be, especially in ministry, through trials that empty our soul from selfishness and teach us to rely on His grace, and that trials are necessary for our spiritual growth and development of character.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 6

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God is a loving and compassionate Father who desires our richest blessings, and that effective communication with Him involves glorifying His name and doing His will, as modeled in the Lord's Prayer.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 5

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's relationship with us is like the story of the prodigal son, showing His forgiveness when we stray, and warns against the root of bitterness that is pride, which can cause trouble in life.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 4

Sat, 08 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is built on three pillars: faith in Jesus Christ, hope of his coming, and love for the Father day by day, serving him. He explains how salvation brings forgiveness of sins and the application of Jesus' righteousness, making believers heirs of eternal life and God's blessings. Divine discipline is an expression of God's love, aiming to bring believers back to Him.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 3

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Holy Spirit is essential to our Christian life, baptizing us into union with Christ, producing the life of Christ in us, and giving us spiritual gifts to fulfill God's ministry for us.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 2

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the significance of the judgment seat of Christ, where believers are judged for the deeds done in their bodies, and the motive behind those deeds. He also discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in conviction and the guarantee of eternal salvation through sealing. The message explores the five works of the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.

2025 Asia Bible College Class 1

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple and can be understood by anyone, and that the love of God is the motivator for the grace of God, which is a free gift that cannot be earned or deserved.

Orienting to Time Session 2

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that a rightly oriented life requires understanding the relationship between the past, present, and future, and warns against being hardened by sin and failing to enter God's rest.

Orienting to Time Session 1

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that living in the present moment is crucial, as we must number our days to present them to God, and that the grace of God is sufficient for all our needs, not just forgiveness but also strength to grow in grace and truth.

The Doctrine of Canonicity - Part 4

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the doctrine of canonicity, which is crucial for understanding the Bible and its authority. He explores the development of the King James Bible from early sources, the different approaches to interpreting scriptures, and the challenges faced by early translators such as John Wycliffe and William Tyndale.

The Doctrine of Canonicity - Part 3

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the doctrine of canonicity, highlighting the miracle of the written Word and its preservation through the ages. He explores the significance of the village of Jabez and its connection to the scribes, as well as the faithfulness of the Rechabites and their role in the coming of Jesus Christ.

Wonder, Treasure, Ponder

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Nan covers three words which characterize the responses both the shepherds and Mary had regarding the birth of our Savior.

The Doctrine of Canonicity - Part 2

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the doctrine of canonicity, emphasizing the Bible's authority, power, and life-changing ability. He highlights the Bible's inherent power to direct, support, and comfort believers, as well as its role in equipping us for our mission field and containing hidden mysteries.

The Doctrine of Canonicity - Part 1

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the doctrine of canonicity, which is about understanding how the Bible came down to us and how we can be assured it's inspired by God and its ancient writings are accurate.

The Unchanging Mission of the Believer

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the mission of believers is to reconcile people to God through the gospel, motivated by the love of Christ, and to carry a message of Christ's love to those who have not yet received it.

Are you a friend of God? — Session 6

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that believers must be diligent in their spiritual lives, exercising faith and self-discipline to avoid a barren and unfruitful life, and to receive the rewards of the crown of self-discipline, joy, life, righteousness, and glory.

Are you a friend of God? — Session 5

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that being a friend of God is not an achievement for the great, but rather something that can be experienced by anyone, regardless of their past or current circumstances, and that it requires spiritual maturity, love, and brotherly kindness.

Are you a friend of God? — Ladies Session

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that Jesus is a friend who crosses cultural borders, corrects and instructs us, and brings us comfort in our suffering, and that our relationship with Him is not dependent on our circumstances but on His character.

Are you a friend of God? — Session 4

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is not boring, but requires the right attitude and timing, and that God allows trials for His glory, requiring obedience and worship. He also emphasizes the importance of responding to God's call with a willing heart and making decisions that deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Are you a friend of God? — Session 3

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that being a friend of God requires a willingness to receive redemption and restoration, and that God's timing is essential in this process. He uses the story of Ruth to illustrate the law of redemption, the importance of waiting on God, and the value of God's grace available to everyone. The church should be a welcoming place for sinners, just like Jesus was.

Are you a friend of God? — Session 2

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that being a friend of God requires diligence, virtue, and waiting on God, as illustrated in the book of Ruth, which portrays the Gentiles embracing Jesus Christ while Israel rejects Him.

Are you a friend of God? — Session 1

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that being a friend of God requires obedience to His commandments and abiding in Christ, emphasizing the importance of keeping God's commandments and the role of the Spirit in our lives.

Lesson 25: The Rapture Pre‑Tribulation and Final Reward (Daniel 12:1-13)

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The end-time period brings unprecedented trouble for Israel, during which Michael and his angels defend the nation, and all whose names are written in the Book of Life are resurrected—some to everlasting life, others to everlasting contempt. Resurrection occurs in four distinct phases across dispensations, culminating in the final resurrection after the Millennial Kingdom, with believers receiving varying degrees of glory.

Lesson 7: Keeping Your Eyes on God (1 Kings 19)

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Effective prayer flows from the righteousness and fellowship of a believer, whose weakness invites divine strength and power (1 Kings 19; 2 Cor 12:9). True discipleship demands total sacrifice and a relentless love that compels recruitment of others into Christ’s kingdom, measuring the church’s strength by souls won and each believer’s role as an ambassador of reconciliation (Phil 3).

Lesson 6: Confession Clears the Way to Fellowship (1 Kings 18)

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Confession and mutual forgiveness remove barriers, allowing the Spirit-empowered prayer of the righteous to move God’s judgment and restoration as seen in Elijah’s drought and rain prayers (James 5:16-17; 1 Kings 18:36-37; Hebrews 4:16). Believers must gather in obedient unity, rebuild communal worship, and wait for God’s appointed timing, trusting that bold, Spirit-filled petitions bring divine response.

Lesson 5: The Five Circles of Faith and Virtue (2 Peter 1)

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Faith rests on diligent inner motivation that converts knowledge of God into participation in the divine nature, allowing believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit after a clean vessel is achieved through confession and forgiveness. This filling enables the reception of God's Word without distortion, producing self-control, perseverance, godliness, and love, and propels growth especially in valley seasons as believers move through the five circles of faith.

Lesson 4: Praying to Know and Do the Will of God (1 Kings 17)

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Prayer unlocks both divine enlightenment and the enablement to live out the Word, as believers clear locked rooms in their souls for Christ to dwell permanently. Justification declares us righteous, granting bold access to God's throne, while sanctification positions us before Him and progressively conforms us to Christ's image; love for Christ fuels our lives and draws sinners, and divine commands require immediate obedience to witness provision.

Lesson 3: Preparing the Heart for Simple Prayer (James 1)

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A clear conscience before God is the foundation of confident, effective prayer; when believers obey His commandments and love one another, their petitions align with His will and bear fruit. True disciples become doers of the Word, resting in divine power rather than self-strength, and embody the seven elements of the Lord's Prayer, experiencing liberty from guilt, shame, and condemnation.

Lesson 2: Pray in Obedience to the Will of God (1 Kings 17)

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God equips each believer as a private hero, calling them to unique purposes that align with His grand agenda; prayer that seeks only personal needs is weak, while prayer that seeks His empowerment activates the dynamic power (dunamis), working power (energeo), authority (kratos), and displayed strength (ischos) needed for spiritual battle. Obedient response to revealed will—geographic, operational, and motivational—triggers supernatural provision, followed by testing that refines faith for further acts of God’s power.

Lesson 1: Rest, Dance, and Pray Amid Wickedness (1 Kings 17)

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The prayer of a righteous person, energized by the Holy Spirit, operates with divine authority when it aligns with God's revealed will, requiring faith, humility, and an objective view of circumstances. Elijah’s earnest, Scripture-grounded petitions and the eight practical commands in Psalm 37 illustrate how fervent, Spirit-led prayer can influence natural events, bring healing, and overcome wickedness.

Lesson 24: Antichrist Prophecy and Jewish Betrayal (Daniel 11:1-45)

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s prophetic timeline in Daniel 11 spans roughly 2,500 years, showing that the “king of the north” and “king of the south” are successive dynasties whose centuries-long conflicts culminate in the ultimate Antichrist, who will repeat Antiochus IV’s abomination of desolation and usher the final tribulation “time of wrath,” refining the faithful into eternal treasure. (Daniel 11, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13)

Lesson 23: Praying with the Armor of God (Daniel 10:1-21)

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s people must stand vigilant against deception, trusting the faithful promises of the Heavenly Father even amid wars, famines, pestilence, and earthquakes. Daniel’s third-year vision of Cyrus reveals an appointed time of great conflict, prompting fasting, prayer, and reliance on the armor of God, while holy angels—especially guardian angels—minister and record every choice in the heavenly Scripture of Truth.

Lesson 22: Abraham’s Faith and Divine Appearances (Daniel 10:1-21)

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Persistent, continual prayer is required because spiritual forces can delay answers, as demonstrated when the angel Michael wrestles the prince of Persia for three weeks while Daniel fasts and mourns (Daniel 10; Daniel 12; Luke 18). True friendship with God is a status granted by Him, proven by faith that works, and is lived out through obedience to His command to love one another (James 2; Romans 4; Genesis 15).

Lesson 21: Understanding Daniel’s 70‑Week Prophetic Timeline (Daniel 9:20-27)

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9 constitutes a literal 490-year timetable that culminates in Christ’s first coming, crucifixion, and resurrection, and then points to a future seven-year tribulation when the Antichrist will break a covenant, halt temple sacrifices, and enact the abomination of desolation, confirming that God’s promises to Israel will be fulfilled at His second coming (Daniel 9:24-27, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 19).

Lesson 20: Confessional Prayer and the 70-Year Sabbath (Daniel 9:1-27)

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

True intercession is a two-fold prayer of confession and petition that acknowledges personal and national sin, rests on covenant promises, and aligns with Scripture, thereby opening the way for divine mercy and restoration (Daniel 9; Jeremiah 29; Leviticus 26). Such prayer, offered with humility and obedience, qualifies believers as friends of God and activates angelic warfare behind the scenes.

Lesson 19: The Church Age as Biblical Intercalation (Daniel 8:1-27)

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s redemptive timeline reveals a hidden church age mystery between the first and second advent, culminating in the dispensation of the fullness of times that ends at the rapture. Daniel’s shift between languages marks the transition from Gentile domination to Israel’s prophetic future, while the little horn’s dual fulfillment points from Antiochus IV to the end-times Antichrist, whose final persecution triggers the Lamb’s wedding feast.

Lesson 18: Antichrist’s Three‑and‑a‑Half Year Dominion (Daniel 7)

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Divine authority rests in the title “Son of Man,” which proclaims Christ as the God-Man who will receive everlasting dominion and an indestructible kingdom. As the slain Lamb, He alone opens the sealed scroll, initiating the fulfillment of God’s eternal kingdom while sovereignly weaving human freedom and evil choices into His redemptive plan, culminating in the Antichrist’s final rebellion and the saints’ triumph.

Lesson 17: Judgment and Righteousness (Daniel 7:1-28)

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s sovereign authority is revealed through the four beasts and the Ancient of Days, displaying His righteousness, justice, love, and immutable truth, while His holiness—symbolized by the white garment and fiery throne—enables Him to judge perfectly. All humanity stands condemned, yet the Holy Spirit convicts each person, and Christ’s universal invitation offers forgiveness, rest, and salvation to every soul.

Lesson 16: Day of Christ vs Day of the Lord (Daniel 7:1-7)

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The four beasts of Daniel 7 represent the successive world empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, while the little horn—described with eyes like a man and pompous speech—identifies the Antichrist who will rise in the tribulation, exalt himself above every god, and enter the temple to demand worship. The Church’s indwelling Holy Spirit restrains this lawless one until the rapture, after which the “day of Christ” initiates the final thousand-seven-year “day of the Lord” culminating in God’s eternal throne and kingdom.

Lesson 15: Promises (Daniel 6:1-28)

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God sovereignly directs history, and Daniel models unwavering, courageous faith through a lifetime of trials, maintaining purity, prayer, and trust from youth to old age. His disciplined communion with God fuels spiritual strength, while obedient obedience—even amid persecution—yields victory and prepares believers for future testing, confirming that faithful works empowered by the Spirit receive eternal reward at Christ’s judgment seat.

A Nation Doomed for Destruction: Divine Hand Writes Babylon’s Judgment (Daniel 5:1-31)

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God sovereignly appoints nations and their leaders, so that a kingdom built on the Lord God of Israel—manifested in Jesus Christ—alone endures; all other foundations lead to inevitable destruction. The fall of Babylon, revealed through the writing on the wall, demonstrates that human strength is futile apart from divine will, and that pride invites judgment while humility receives grace.

Gene Cunningham taught at Westside Bible Church in Glendale, AZ from Daniel Chapter 5 "A Nation Doomed for Destruction."

Lesson 14: Resting in Faith Amid Trials (Daniel 6:1-28)

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Bold, unwavering faith in God delivers the believer, as Daniel’s trust in the living, immutable God brings divine rescue from the lion’s den despite an unjust decree. True faith rests on God and His Word, not personal effort, and is strengthened through confession, Scripture immersion, and the Holy Spirit’s intercession, confirming that God works signs and wonders for those who continually devote themselves to Him.

Lesson 13: Divine Judgment on Proud Kings (Daniel 5:1-31)

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Divine judgment swiftly follows the profaning of holy vessels and the prideful reliance on military might, revealing that God's timing is perfect and his verdict unavoidable. When He intervenes, the hand that writes on the wall makes judgment unmistakable, and only those enlightened by the Spirit can discern its meaning, while true prophetic ministry seeks no reward.

Lesson 12: The Mind's Role in Righteous Salvation (Daniel 4:1-37)

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s Word alone determines true interpretation, and it reveals that Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 4) warns of inevitable judgment that is averted only through repentance and humility before the Most High. Humanity inherits Adam’s sin, so Christ’s imputed righteousness is the sole basis for forgiveness, and humility restores blessing while pride guarantees divine humbling.

Lesson 11: One True Interpretation Through Hermeneutics (Daniel 4:1-37)

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 12:00:00 +0000

True humility arises when pride is broken and the sovereign El Elyon is recognized as the sole source of authority, requiring divine revelation by grace for any knowledge of God. Regenerated believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, experience vertical communion and can discern spiritual truth, while angelic watchers execute God’s decrees over nations and individuals, confirming His control of history.

2nd Thessalonians Lesson 3

Wed, 29 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's faithfulness is a foundation for believers, delivering them from trials, forgiving their sins, and fulfilling His plan for them, and that believers are to live a life of work and self-sufficiency, separating from disorderly behavior.

2nd Thessalonians Lesson 2

Tue, 28 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the importance of understanding the correct timing of the rapture and the day of the Lord, correcting false teaching that the day of Christ has already come. He teaches that the falling away must occur first, paving the way for the Antichrist's revelation, and that the Holy Spirit's restraining ministry will be removed when the church is raptured.

2nd Thessalonians Lesson 1

Tue, 28 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how to effectively teach and preach the gospel, emphasizing the importance of context, repetition, and pointing to Jesus Christ. He also explores the Thessalonians' suffering and its purpose, as well as Paul's prayers for their growth and glorification.

Parable Principles 7

Sun, 26 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how God's love story with humanity is woven throughout the Bible, using wedding terminology to describe His relationship with believers. He teaches that being prepared for the Lord's return is crucial, as seen in the parable of the ten virgins, and warns against a false appearance of righteousness.

Parable Principles 6

Sun, 26 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the parable of the vineyard reveals four great truths about God's relationship with humanity, including God's gracious and loving care, human freedom, human accountability, and the long-suffering love of God.

Clothed with Christ

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that we are clothed with Christ's righteousness at the moment of salvation and that we should daily dress ourselves in robes of righteousness to please God, not ourselves, and put on a heart of compassion and kindness.

Parable Principles 5

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that true discipleship involves an estimate of the value, joy, and certainty of accountability, and that God has a plan for each individual's life, including a geographic, operational, and motivational will.

Parable Principles 4

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus' parables are designed to lead to a conclusion and a conviction, and that faith in Jesus Christ requires the death of one's self-will and the sacrifice of pride.

Parable Principles 3

Sat, 25 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus' parables, such as the wedding feast in Luke, are meant to be understood within their historical and cultural context, and warn against the destructive force of pride that ruins lives, marriages, and families.

Parable Principles 2

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains that the parables of Jesus reveal the condition of the heart and the transformation required for the kingdom of God. He shows how the parables expose the hardness of the Pharisees' hearts and Jesus' desire to bring them to repentance, emphasizing the importance of humility, surrender, and building on the rock of Jesus Christ.

Parable Principles 1

Fri, 24 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that parables are kingdom parables that reveal God's power and glory in the natural world, and that they demand a decision from the listener, forcing them to make a choice.

Lesson 10: Prayer (Daniel 3:26-30)

Fri, 17 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Divine promotion often comes through persecution, where God delivers His faithful, displays His power to the nations, and elevates the humble (Daniel 6; Isaiah 43:2-3; Psalm 37). True trust, expressed by the Hebrew verb rechats, leads believers to serve confidently, recalling God’s promises, exercising patience, and inheriting the earth as they endure and are exalted.

Lesson 9: Evil (Daniel 3)

Fri, 10 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Envy drives the persecution of God's people, and when combined with arrogance it produces false accusations that aim to strip believers of truth and spiritual influence (Daniel 3, Romans 9, James 3). Deliverance rests solely on God's power, not human authority, and believers respond calmly, declaring their devotion while trusting that God will secure eternal salvation even through suffering. God’s long-suffering patience ultimately leads the hardest-hearted to repentance.

Principles of Ministry 4

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that effective ministry involves honoring the faithful, recognizing and rewarding hard work, and fighting the good fight of faith by putting on the armor of God and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Principles of Ministry 3

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the principles of ministry, emphasizing that understanding the work of Christ on the cross is key to understanding the Bible and that godliness is Christ living in us, a process of spiritual growth that requires effort and practice from the moment of salvation.

Principles of Ministry 2

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that effective ministry is built on a foundation of diligent and daily study of God's Word, and that prayer is a crucial aspect of ministry, requiring a righteous life and a heart that seeks to obey God's commands.

Principles of Ministry 1

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is impossible to live in one's own strength, and that the Holy Spirit's power is necessary for living a life that honors God. He explains the importance of having a receptive heart to receive God's Word, and the role of Satan in hindering people from hearing and understanding God's Word. He also emphasizes the need for faithful ministers to prepare their hearts to seek God's Word and teach it to others.

Thanksgiving - 1st Thessalonians 1

Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the importance of thanksgiving in the Christian life, using 1 Thessalonians 1 as a model, highlighting the church's work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope, and connecting these virtues to the three aspects of the Christian life: faith, hope, and love.

Lesson 8: Choosing Humility Over Arrogance (Daniel 3:1-30)

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God uses the oppression of tyrannical rulers to bring faithful believers to civil disobedience against false idols, revealing that arrogance—rooted in pride—is the fundamental sin that must be broken by divine humiliation to produce true humility and faith (Daniel 3:1-7, Isaiah 14:12-15, James 4:7-10). He reaches every soul through creation, conscience, and the Spirit’s preaching, so salvation does not require a miraculous dream, and worship of images remains prohibited while respectful bowing to human authority is permissible.

For the entire audio lesson click "Listen." For a video vignette of this lesson click "Watch"

Lesson 7: From the Church Age to the Millennial Kingdom (Daniel 2)

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s eternal kingdom, established by the stone cut without hands, will overthrow the succession of metal-symbolized empires and the final iron-and-clay confederation, ushering a millennial reign that culminates in the great white throne judgment and the creation of a new heaven and earth. Believers experience the unique grace of the church age, called to humility, repentance, and universal salvation (Daniel 2:34; Daniel 2:36-44; 2 Peter 3).

For the entire audio lesson click "Listen." For a video vignette of this lesson click "Watch"

Lesson 6: God’s Times and Seasons: The Church Age (Daniel 2:17-30)

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God entrusts faithful believers with wisdom and stewardship that expands as they grow in spiritual understanding, revealing both chronos and kairos ages and guiding them to influence others for redemption (Daniel 1, Daniel 4, Ephesians 1:10). Neglect of this trust results in loss, while faithful stewardship brings greater responsibility and reward, as Christ’s Light exposes hidden sins and deepens reliance on divine grace.

The audio is the full lesson. The video is a distillation and vignette illustrating the audio.

Lesson 5: God’s Desire to Save the Lost (Daniel 2:1-16)

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s nature as a loving Redeemer who provides salvation through Christ is revealed alongside a world cursed by sin and human hearts alienated from Him, requiring divine reconciliation. Trusting God’s promises, as Daniel did, demonstrates that only God can disclose divine mysteries and that creation, conscience, and Scripture leave humanity without excuse (Daniel 2; Job 19; 1 Timothy 2).

The video provided covers an extract of the audio lesson.

Lesson 4: Evil Shortens Life, Obedience Extends It (Daniel 1:14-21)

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Faith rests on obedient obedience to God despite circumstances, producing divine favor and lasting impact for Christ (Daniel 1:14-20, Jeremiah 29:13, John 4:23-24). When believers internalize Scripture through the Holy Spirit, they worship in spirit and truth, receive wisdom, promotion, and physical blessings, and become instruments of providential history beyond their awareness.

Lesson 3: Humility and Spiritual Baptism Foundations (Daniel 1:9-16)

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s sovereign plan unfolds through Christ’s control of history while honoring human freedom, and believers access divine power by obeying His Word, praying, and worshiping in spirit and truth. Humble, principled civil disobedience—exemplified by Daniel’s request for vegetables—leads to wise decisions, divine blessing, and the fulfillment of God’s conditional promises, whereas arrogance brings curse.

The video available is an extraction of the original full audio lesson.

Lesson 2: Moses' Warning and National Cycles (Daniel 1:1-21)

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s power resides in His Word, and the name of God reveals His character and will, not a magical formula; the book of Daniel, written in Hebrew and Aramaic, splits into Daniel’s life events and prophetic visions, showing that true Old-Testament righteousness is a living dependence on God rather than mere external obedience. Accurate interpretation demands the science of hermeneutics, the reliability of early manuscripts, and categorical assimilation of terms like baptism, so that each passage is understood as its original audience would have.

The video available is an extraction of the original full audio lesson.

Lesson 1: Choosing Faith Over Babylonian Influence (Daniel 1:1-8)

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

God’s sovereign purpose unfolds through Daniel, revealing that steadfast faith amid hostile cultures equips believers for future prophetic events and the second coming of Christ. The narrative of Daniel and his friends demonstrates that divine permission over affliction and a hedge of protection enable believers to be more than conquerors, even when nations vanish from history. (Daniel 1, Daniel 3, Daniel 7)

The video is an extraction of the original full audio lesson.

The Victorious Power of Love

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the love of God is the greatest of the three virtues, the foundation of the entire plan of God for the human race, and the key to a victorious life, overcoming fear, and bearing fruit.

What Does Christmas Mean?

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

What is Christmas all about? Gene was asked to address a group of friends and family while visiting in Austrailia during Christmas season 2023.

Christmas: The Confirmation of Prophecy

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how the prophecies of the Old Testament were fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, demonstrating God's omniscience and sovereignty over all of history. He highlights the specific and detailed nature of Bible prophecies, including the prophecy of Jesus' birth and divine nature. He also emphasizes the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the greatest gift one can give.

2023 ID Esprit de Corps 4

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God is our anchor in imperfect and messy times, and that building team spirit and community is essential for local churches and families, as seen in the story of Philemon.

2023 ID Esprit de Corps 3

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how faith, hope, and love are interconnected in Paul's theology and how spiritual growth is hindered by sin and division, while being spiritually minded leads to life and peace.

2023 ID Esprit de Corps 2

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that believers share a spiritual unity in Christ, with equal provisions and opportunities, and that practical unity is essential for spiritual growth and impact. He explains that living like the Gentiles and a vacuum of knowledge of God's Word can lead to spiritual deterioration and alienation from God. The solution is to learn Christ, put off the old man, and put on the new man, created in righteousness and holiness.

2023 ID Esprit de Corps 1

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that unity is the foundation of the body of Christ and that humility produces gratitude, leading to transformation as the word of God is taught and received in humble faith.

Carnality and Spirituality

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that carnality and spirituality are opposing forces, with carnality being a focus on self-interest and desires, and spirituality being a mind set on God's things, leading to life and peace.

2023 AZ James 5

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Bible emphasizes the importance of prayer, patience, and trust in God's mercy and compassion, as seen in James 5, and that believers must be in fellowship with God and filled with the Holy Spirit to have effective prayer.

2023 AZ Ladies Psalm 131

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that our heart is the center of our life and God cares deeply about it, and we should have a conversation with God about its condition, not just confessing sin but also agreeing with God about our heart's state.

2023 AZ James 4

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that we are living in prophetic times and emphasizes the importance of being delivered from the things that James presents in his book, which can only be found through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the word of God.

2023 AZ James 3

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that good works are not just about doing good things, but about doing them motivated by the Spirit of God, and that wisdom is Christ, personified in human experience and human existence.

2023 AZ James 2

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the importance of living out faith in practical ways, emphasizing the need to treat everyone with love and respect, and highlighting the consequences of faith without works.

2023 AZ James 1

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that true spiritual maturity is achieved through daily deliverance from sin and carnality, and that trials are a refining and purifying process to bring believers back into fellowship and faithfulness.

Lesson 19: Scriptural Proof of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The doctrine affirms that Christ’s first coming fulfills Old Testament prophecy while His second coming follows the tribulation, and that the church age is an intercalated period between Israel’s covenant and the millennial kingdom. Consequently, the church will be raptured before the seven-year tribulation, meeting the Lord in the air, a reality confirmed by the absence of the church in Revelation 6-19.

Many people are not able to distinguish between the Rapture and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Tragically many pastors are not able to distinguish between the prophecies that relate to the second coming and the prophecies that relate to His return for His church. Many people don't even know that there is a distinction between those two things. And so, we're going to look at that and we look at the tribulation and we look at the anguish, the sorrow, the suffering, the misery. Do we have to go through all that? That's why I want to cover what I would like to cover.

Lesson 18: Imputed Righteousness and Eternal Sealing (Revelation 22:1-21)

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Eternal life is a permanent, unearned gift secured at conversion, not dependent on future conduct, because Christ’s righteousness—His perfect obedience, not merely His death—is imputed to believers and sealed by the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing inseparable fellowship with God. At that moment believers are transferred into the new creation, receiving resurrection life, heavenly position with Christ, and everlasting dominion, while any alteration of Revelation’s words incurs divine judgment.

Lesson 17: The New Jerusalem: Believers as Precious Treasure (Revelation 22:1-21)

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God continually makes all things new, culminating in the perfect cube of the New Jerusalem—12,000 furlongs on each side with walls 144 cubits thick—where the twelve gates bear Israel’s tribal names and the twelve foundations bear the apostles’ names, uniting Old and New Testament saints as the bride of the Lamb. The city reflects divine perfection, the high priest’s breastplate, and believers as priceless pearls, while no temple, sun, or moon is needed because the Holy Spirit dwells in the people and God Himself is the light.

Lesson 8: Building Faith Through Scripture and Prayer (Jude 1)

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Believers contend earnestly for the faith, following Jude's five-point field order that defines the situation, mission, execution, logistics, and command of spiritual warfare. They are to remember God's word, build up their faith, pray in the Spirit’s power, stay in God's love, show compassion to doubters, and rescue the vulnerable, trusting that God stabilizes them, keeps them from stumbling, and presents them faultless before His glory.

Lesson 7: Contending for Faith Through Apostolic Memory (Jude 1)

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Faith rests on a vigorous, athletic contending for the truth, requiring believers to remember God's Word, build themselves up, pray in the Spirit's power, stay in God's love, watch for Christ's return, show compassion to doubters, and rescue the vulnerable with reverent urgency. This battle demands a Christ-centered foundation, honest confession that empties sin, and obedience to Christ's commandments so that the Holy Spirit can fill and fruitfully sustain believers (Jude 3-4, 1 Corinthians 3:11, John 15:4-10).

Lesson 6: Cain’s Way: False Teachers Exposed (Jude 1)

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

True faith contends against teachers who embody Cain's rebellion, Balaam's profit-driven error, and Korah's insurrection, exposing them as hidden rocks, empty clouds, fruitless trees, raging waves, and fading stars that threaten the church. Enoch’s prophecy warns that the Lord returns with countless saints to judge the ungodly, urging believers to guard their hearts with self-less prayer and sacrifice.

Lesson 5: Three Patterns of Evil and Divine Counterparts (Jude 1)

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Faith rests on the finished work of Christ, not on human performance or hidden knowledge, and believers contend for the faith by anchoring in Scripture, walking faithfully, and serving when opportunity arises (Jude 1:5-17). True humility, Spirit-led generosity, and vigilance against outwardly righteous yet corrupt teachers define authentic Christian living, while Israel's national restoration was fulfilled in 1948.

Lesson 4: Fallen Angels, Giants, and the Flood (Jude 1)

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Divine judgment follows unbelief among believers just as it did for Israel, and spiritual defeat arises when focus shifts to external battles while sin hardens the heart. The rebellion of fallen angels, Israel's unbelief, and Sodom’s immorality reveal a single deceptive influence that produces hidden sin, idolatry, and sexual immorality, demanding continual eschatological prayer and open living before God.

Lesson 3: Identifying Deceptive False Teachers (Jude 1)

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Faith rests on contending earnestly for the truth of Christ’s life, death, burial, and resurrection, which multiplies mercy, peace, and love as believers empty themselves and are filled with the Holy Spirit. The common salvation of all believers includes the five works of the Spirit—baptism, regeneration, indwelling, the holy of holies within, and sealing—producing spiritual maturity through confession, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godly love.

Lesson 2: Our Righteousness as Christ’s Wedding Gift (Jude 1)

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Calling establishes a spiritual relationship with God, granting believers infinite riches for eternal investment and a divinely appointed purpose, while election requires a free-will response to God's invitation, distinguishing those who voluntarily respond. The wedding feast parable illustrates that universal invitation demands a proper response, symbolized by the wedding garment, and biblical marriage imagery frames the gospel as God’s hero, the maiden, the villain, and the bridegroom’s union.

Lesson 1: Called, Loved, and Kept (Jude 1)

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Spiritual warfare demands self-knowledge, awareness of the enemy, and intimate knowledge of God, urging believers to earnestly contend for the once-for-all delivered faith. Words must be interpreted in their historical, cultural, and linguistic context, revealing that “save” in James denotes deliverance from error and weakness, while Jude’s bondservant identity shows that a name’s meaning is lived out, not merely titled. The threefold progression—called, sanctified, preserved—demonstrates God’s purpose to multiply mercy, peace, and love in believers’ lives.

Lesson 16: Church Absence During Tribulation (Revelation 21:1-27)

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The doctrine of dispensations frames Revelation 21 as the consummate renovation of the present creation, not a brand-new cosmos, and parallels believers’ new-creation identity in Christ with the future renewed heaven and earth. The rapture initiates the church’s royal priesthood, delivering the saints from divine wrath and positioning them to inherit the renewed creation and the personal presence of God.

Lesson 15: Four Phases of the First Resurrection (Revelation 20)

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Christ reigns literally for a thousand-year millennium during which Satan is bound in the bottomless pit, preventing deception of the nations. The first resurrection raises all faithful believers to reign with Him, exempt from the second death, while a second resurrection of the unjust follows the millennium and culminates in the great white throne judgment, after which Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are cast into the lake of fire.

Lesson 14: Preparing the Bride Through Grace (Revelation 19:1-21)

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Christ's triumphant return on a white horse inaugurates the marriage supper of the Lamb, where the redeemed bride, clothed in grace-granted fine linen, joins Him as heavenly warriors; the judgment of Babylon and the casting of the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire confirm that worship belongs to God alone, whose righteousness and justice meet at the cross.

Lesson 13: The Fall of the Great Harlot (Revelation 17:1-18)

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God judges the worldwide Babylonian system—its religious harlot and political beast—as a single entity that opposes Christ, with its seven-headed empire and ten horned kings destined to turn on the harlot and destroy her in a single hour. Believers are commanded to separate from this idolatrous, oppressive structure before its double judgment fulfills divine purpose, while four waves of tribulation evangelism proclaim the coming kingdom.

Lesson 12: God’s Faithful Plan and Our Conformity (Revelation 15:1-8)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The seven golden bowls represent the final outpouring of God’s unchanging wrath, confirming believers’ security and hope as He judges the earth before Christ’s return. Victorious saints worship Him in the opened heavenly temple, where the ark of the testimony reveals Christ’s humanity and deity, and the faithful high priest provides the propitiation that grants access to divine grace.

Lesson 11: Heroes and Persecution in the Tribulation (Revelation 13:1-18)

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The beast of Revelation 13 forms an unholy trinity—Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet—who will counterfeit Christ’s authority, perform deceptive miracles, and impose a false seal on humanity. The Antichrist’s miraculous healing of a mortal wound will present a counterfeit resurrection, while the false prophet animates an image of the beast, compelling worship under death threat, and the mark of the beast will separate the saved from the damned.

2023 PA Youth Gene Session 4

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Spirit of God can bring enthusiasm and motivation through the Word of God, and that faithfulness is the key to receiving a crown, which is a reward for living for Him.

2023 PA Youth Gene Session 3

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on July 27, 2023

2023 PA Youth Gene Session 2

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Christians must hold fast to what they have, their crown of righteousness, and stand firm in their faith, just like John Harper who gave his life to preach the gospel, to prevent others from taking it from them.

2023 PA Youth Gene Session 1

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is a battle against our own old self, and that perseverance in trials is crucial to receiving the crown of life. He emphasizes the importance of studying God's Word and trusting in His plan to bless us, both now and in the future.

Lesson 10: Understanding Revelation 12's Tribulation Context (Revelation 12:1-17)

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God’s sovereign control over the tribulation is the central truth of Revelation 12, where the woman clothed with the sun, moon, and twelve stars symbolizes Israel and her birth pains fulfill the promise of the seed that will crush the serpent. Satan, the fiery red dragon, experiences four distinct falls, while the saints secure victory through the blood of the Lamb, the testimony of Revelation, and a willingness to die for Christ (Revelation 12:1-6; Revelation 12:7-9; Genesis 3:15).

Lesson 9: Heaven’s Victory and Earth’s Woe (Revelation 11:1-19)

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The seventh trumpet declares that the kingdoms of this world now belong to the Lord, opening the heavenly temple and revealing the ark of the covenant, while Revelation’s study keeps believers vigilant, fuels evangelism, and reminds them that Christ’s victorious return is secured at the cross. Spiritual warfare moves through distinct stages from Lucifer’s rebellion to the final triumph of Christ, urging constant watchfulness.

Lesson 8: Believer's Invincibility Until Mission Complete (Revelation 10:1-11)

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God’s glory and judgment converge in the second interlude of Revelation, where the mighty angel stands over sea and land, holding the little book that contains the title deed of creation; eating it yields sweet truth and bitter confrontation. The two witnesses, empowered to testify, die, lie for three and a half days, then ascend, revealing the believer’s body as the holy of holies and marking the 42-month tribulation period.

Ruth in the Book of Philippians

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that single-minded devotion to God, demonstrated by Ruth's willingness to leave her home and family, is a key characteristic of a life lived for Christ, as seen in the Apostle Paul's example in Philippians 3:7-10.

The Romance of Redemption 5

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that we have lost our inheritance due to sin, but Jesus Christ is our only redeemer who can restore it to us. He explains how accepting Jesus as our redeemer brings us into his family and how our inheritance will be restored when he returns.

The Romance of Redemption 4

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the union of the believer with Jesus Christ is beautifully illustrated in the story of Ruth, where she chooses to accept the kinsman redeemer, Boaz, and finds true rest of soul in God's presence.

The Romance of Redemption 3

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on June 10, 2023

The Romance of Redemption 2

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith is a response to God's declared truth, and that God's faithfulness leads to blessings in our lives, as seen in the story of Ruth. He explains how our attitudes, priorities, decisions, and actions determine the direction of our lives, and how God's faithfulness is demonstrated in various aspects of our lives, including salvation, deliverance, and provision.

The Romance of Redemption 1

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how God's ways are different from His works, and how knowing His ways is essential for a life of faithfulness and blessing. He teaches that divine discipline is a key aspect of God's love, and that it is always right and just, even when it's difficult to understand.

The Transformed Life - Session6

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that a transformed life requires daily discipline and cooperation with God, and that the mercies of God guarantee a welcome back when we return to Him. He emphasizes the importance of renewing the mind through feeding on God's Word and surrendering to Him. The Bible is a mirror that reveals our true nature, reflecting Jesus Christ.

2023 June Pakistan Report

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Faisal John teaches that transformation is possible for anyone, regardless of their circumstances, as seen in the story of Zacchaeus, who was mocked but found new life in Jesus. He shares about his experiences smuggling Bibles into Pakistan and conducting conferences to teach the basics of Christianity, resulting in a growing church and increasing percentage of Christians in the country.

The Transformed Life - Session5

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is a partnership in the plan of God with the Lord Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of cooperation with God as a teamwork effort. He explains that predestination and election are not about salvation, but about what God has destined for those who believe, involving a process of selection and rejection for the purpose of inclusion.

The Transformed Life - Session4

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the transformed life requires a desire to do God's will and humility under His mighty hand, and that it's a process of sanctification that begins when we trust Christ as our Savior and the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us.

The Transformed Life - Session3

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that living a transformed life involves making oneself available to the Spirit and relying on His power and guidance, which is essential for overcoming the flesh and its opposition to the Spirit.

The Transformed Life - Session2

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's plan is unique and individual, and to understand it, we must first do His will, which involves acknowledging our helplessness and hope in Jesus. He explains that the gospel is about Jesus Christ, and its good news is especially for the sinner, not just the saint, and that faith is the means to live by, but often found difficult and left untried.

The Transformed Life - Session1

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the transformed life is a daily process that involves disciplines such as washing, eating, walking, working, and resting, and is not just about avoiding sin but being cleansed from sin through Jesus Christ.

Lesson 7: Revelation and Tribulation (Revelation 9:1-12)

Fri, 26 May 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God’s judgment in Revelation 9 unleashes the first woe as a fallen star, identified as Satan, receives the key to the abyss and releases scorpion-sting locusts that torment humanity for five months, yet those sealed by the Holy Spirit are protected from the pain. The seal safeguards the 144,000 believers, demonstrating divine preservation amid divine wrath.

Lesson 5: Title Deed to Everything (Revelation 5)

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The sealed scroll in Revelation is the title deed of all creation, written on both sides and opened only by the Lamb, who alone can break its seven seals and fulfill the cross’s victory. Believers’ prayers rise as golden incense before the throne, confirming their royal priesthood and future reign with Christ as kings and priests (Revelation 5:1-14; Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 13:15).

Who is worthy of owning everything? Who is worthy of claiming the title deed to the earth? Jesus Christ, of course. Revelation 5:1 starts, “I saw in the right hand of Him the sat on the throne.” After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Psalm 110:1, where was Jesus seated? “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” So, the Lord Jesus is going to have to go very far to receive this from the Father, because He's right there. “In the right hand of Him who sat on the throne, a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” What is the significance of being written inside and on the back? It was typical of a title deed in the ancient world that it would be written front and back and then it would be sealed. To break the seal, back then, you had to be the person to whom the deed was given. And so, in Revelation 5:2, John says, “I saw a strong angel proclaiming, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals? no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it. “ Of all the great heroes none is worthy? Moses? "No one on the earth or under the Earth." None of all the greats of history are worthy to open this title deed. While weeping John reports in Revelation 5:5 that “One of the elders said to him, 'Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed.' When did Jesus prevail? Obviously, on the cross was Christ’s victory. “He has prevailed to open the scroll and to lose is seven seals. "And I looked,” John says in Revelation 5:6, “and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb.” Jesus, The Lamb of God, is standing “as though it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes.” Once again, symbolism is being used; the "horn" is a symbol of strength, power, and authority. And the eyes, intelligence. “which are the seven spirits of God set out in the earth. And he came and he took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne when he had taken the scroll. The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints.” Did you know that every prayer you pray is on record? In Revelation 5:9,” they sang a new song.” These are the elders and those who are withthem. I include us in that group. “You are worthy to take the scroll and open a seal for You were slain. You have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue.” And notice in Revelation 5:10, “you have made us kings and priests.” These are Church age believers. No Old Testament believer was King Priest. 1st Peter 2:9 says, “we are a royal priesthood.” Are any believers in the tribulation going to be royal priests? No. Church age only. That's one of the privileges we have that no one of any other time of history had.Revelation 5:10 concludes, “…and we shall reign on the earth.“ One day each one of us will have responsibilities in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 5:11 says, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 saying with a loud voice say, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” So, the first chorus church is singing. Now the second chorus of angels starts in Revelation 5:13, “and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and as are in the sea and all that are in them. I heard saying blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne under the Lamb forever and ever.” There is a day coming when every created thing will be singing praises to Jesus Christ. In fact, the Old Testament tells us that when the kingdom begins, the mountains and the hills and the trees and the rivers will begin to sing. You might think that this is just imagery. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the Pharisees rebuked his disciples, to stop speaking messianic prophecy. Jesus replied, “I tell you of these keep silent the rocks of the earth would cry out. I can't wait to see all creation, just joining in and singing, “blessing and honor and glory and power to Him who sits on the throne in the land forever and ever. Revelation 5:14, ends the chapter, “The four living creatures said, ‘Amen!” and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped Him, who lives forever and ever.” That is the last beautiful picture that you're going to see until Chapter 20.

Lesson 4: Heavenly Worship and Christ’s Symbolic Creatures (Revelation 4:1-11)

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The throne room of God is accessed through the open heavenly door inaugurated by Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, where the twenty-four elders—representing the redeemed church—sit clothed in Christ’s righteousness and crowned for victory. Before the throne, seven lamps display the full sevenfold Spirit, while the four living creatures embody Christ’s kingly authority, sacrificial service, humanity, and divine majesty.

Revelation 4:1 says, “After these things, I looked and behold the door standing open in heaven.” Very interesting that “standing open” is in the perfect tense, an indication that that door was opened at some point in the past and it's still open. I would take the point of opening as the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, and the now opened the door, is for us to enter into the presence of God. When Jesus said, “it is finished” in John 19:30, His work on the cross was done. The penalty for sin was paid. The way into heaven was open. It won't be closed until time is done. So, the door was opened, and John says, “the first voice that I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me.” The trumpet takes us back to chapter one saying, “Come up here.” Remember the passage in First Thessalonians Chapter 4, “for the Lord will descend with a shout.” What do you think your shout is going to be? I think it's going to be, “Come up here.” “Come up here and I will show you things which much must take place.” Again, we have the phrase “after this” or better translated, “After these things.” Revelation 4:2-3 says, “Immediately,” John says, “I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne said in heaven. And one who sat on the throne and he who sat there was like a Jasper and sardius.” Jasper is clear and sardius is red. So what John sees is an image sitting on the throne, but he doesn't see the clear outlines face characteristics. In Revelation 4:3 he says, “and there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald. What is the rainbow remind us of? Remember at the flood it was a promise of peace. So, I would take this as a symbol of peace. A rainbow around the throne and “an appearance like an emerald” is very interesting. From verse three on, what we're actually seeing is something very similar to what Daniel saw in Daniel 7:4-13. You remember he saw “the Ancient of Day” sitting on the throne, being approached by “one like the son of man.” So very, very similar. And again, the connections between Revelation and the Old Testament are everywhere. Revelation 4:4 says, “Around the throne, where 24 thrones and on the thrones, I saw 24 elders sitting clothed with white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads.” There are lots of arguments about who are the 24 elders. A lot of people think they're angels. I'm convinced they're not because of what we see in the context of the text. I think the 24 elders probably represent the church and probably we could look at them as maybe some of the great ones that come out of the church age, maybe the ones who excelled during the church age, but they represent the church as a whole. 24 elders sitting and they've got “white robes,” of course, white robes, picture of the righteousness of Christ. They had” crowns of gold on their head.” We know in the New Testament there are five different crowns promised to the overcomer, namely, those who overcome are promised a reward at the judgment seat of Christ. As our lives are evaluated by the Lord Jesus Christ, there are those that are going to receive the reward of a crown. By the way, the word “crown” “Stephanos” – “the Victor's crown.” So, this again relates back to the overcomer. Revelation 4:5 says, “From the throne proceeded lightning and thunder, rings and voices.” Wouldn't you like to know what they said? In Revelation 10:3-4 John says the thunder spoke again and as he was going to write down as a part of this book what the thunder said, he was told not to write. Isn’t it interesting? I don't know about you, but I've heard sermons on what the seven thunders said. The truth is, we don't know. God didn't tell us. We might be better off for not knowing. We were not allowed to know at this point. Verse 5 continues, “Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.” Why the seven spirits of God? Isaiah 11:1 says, “There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” It is interesting that the Lord Jesus Christ is referred to both as “the root” and the offspring of David. As God, He is “the root of David,” as man, He's the offspring. So we have the deity and humanity of Christ pictured. Isaiah 11:2 says, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom, and understanding, the spirit of counsel, and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” I think all of these are simply expressing the character of the Holy Spirit. So I take this to be the seven spirits of God. Revelation 4:6 says, “Before the Throne, there was a sea of glass like crystal.” What does that mean? I don't know. Obviously, it would imply purity. Later in the book, the sea is used as a picture of the nations. The multitudes of the nations could represent the multitudes of those who have been purified standing before the Lord. That would be the closest that I could give you. The verse continues, “sea of glass, like crystal in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” Very interesting. Revelation 4:7 says, “The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like a calf. The third living creature had the face of a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.” If you go back to Ezekiel chapter one these same creatures are not described in the same way, but they are described as a lion, a calf, a man and an eagle. Why is that? Well, one suggestion that's been presented, these four represent the story of the life of Christ. If you think about it, a gospel of Matthew presents Christ our King of Israel, symbol as lion Jesus -- the lion of the tribe of Judah. The Gospel of Mark presents Him as the calf, or Ox, a symbol of what is servant. It's interesting that the key word of the Gospel of Mark is immediately. It's a word that was specifically used of an obedient servant. It's translated “straightaway,” or “immediately” in the Gospel of Mark. Luke, of course, places emphasis on the humanity of Christ. Luke is a very human gospel, and it deals a lot with his interactions with the down and out people. And then, of course, the eagle Flying Eagle, a picture of the Gospel of John, The Deity of Christ. Revelation 4:7 says, “The four living creatures, each having six wings were full of eyes around and within.” The emphasis on eyes, I believe, has to do with divine intelligence or supernatural intelligence. What do our eyes through our eyes tell us? That's how we gather information. Revelation 4:8 says, “They do not rest day or night saying, Holy, holy, holy.” Where have we met these before? Is it Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, holy, holy.” Why three times? It's this Father, Son, Holy Spirit. “Holy, holy, Holy Lord, God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Who’s that? Jesus Christ. Revelation 4:9-10 says, “Whenever the living creatures gave glory and honor, and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him, who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever and casts their crowns before the throne.” I’ve run into a lot of believers who say I'm not interested in eternal rewards. I don't care whether I get a crown or not. I'll just be happy to be there. We need to understand that winning the Crown is not for us. It's not to our credit. It's for His glory. Every one of us can win eternal rewards. He offers us the opportunity to live lives of faith and obedience so that we are, as he said in Matthew 6:20, laying up treasure in heaven. And what's the value of all that? All of it is going to speak to the glory of Christ. It's in honor of what He's done for us. It's a way of expressing, if you will, our gratitude for his sacrifice and our great salvation. So, they cast their crowns before the throne. Revelation 4:11 says, “You are worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created.” Now, bear in mind Who's sitting on the throne of God. The Father. Right? We're about to see the Lord Jesus come into the picture. So, God, the Father is sitting on the throne. And to God the Father, Glory, “honor and power for You created all things.” This is Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Right? What does John tell us in John 1:1? “In the beginning was the word. And the word was with God. And the word was God.” And then down in verse three, “all things were made by Him. And without Him was not anything made. It was made. So, who created” the Father or the Son? The answer is “yes!” They work together, right? In Proverbs 30, the question is asked “What is God's name? Do you know it? And what is his Son's name?” That's a very interesting question. You must wonder how many ancient Hebrews pondered on that and wondered, “What does this mean”? And of course, if they pondered long enough and searched the Old Testament scriptures enough, they would know.

Lesson 7: Pre‑Tribulation Rapture and Final Judgment (Revelation 21)

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God sovereignly controls history, and the present age is the birth-pangs stage before the church’s pre-tribulation rapture, the tribulation, Christ’s judgment-return, a literal thousand-year reign, a final satanic revolt, and the great white-throne judgment that evaluates the unsaved’s deeds before the lake of fire. Afterward God creates a new heaven and earth where the New Jerusalem dwells eternally, with a river of life, the tree of life bearing monthly fruit, and ongoing cycles of time.

Lesson 6: Misunderstanding the Wedding Feast Parable (Matthew 25)

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God judges the unreconciled in outer darkness, while the Lamb's Book of Life records only those who have believed; the living are listed in the Book of Life until death separates them from Christ. Every person stands accountable before God through creation, conscience, and Scripture, yet believers already share Christ's heavenly seat, a present reality distinct from any future judgment after the rapture.

Lesson 5: Four Waves of Tribulation Evangelism (Revelation 20)

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Christ’s atoning work on the cross secures redemption, justification, and the imputation of His righteousness, guaranteeing God’s satisfaction and reconciliation. After the rapture, the tribulation ushers the sealing of 144,000 Jewish believers, waves of gospel proclamation, Christ’s second coming, Satan’s binding, and the millennial reign where resurrected saints co-reign with Him, free from sin, disease, and death, until the final judgment.

Lesson 4: Distinguishing Rapture From Second Coming (Revelation 19)

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God's wrath, inseparably linked to His love, is poured out on the cross where Christ bore it for sin, and it will be fully manifested at Christ's second coming with cosmic signs and the visible appearance of the Son of Man, when angels gather the elect from the four winds and final judgment separates those who have accepted or rejected the gospel. Believers are called to intercede, represent Christ, and serve with spiritual gifts, while the Lord's Prayer models continual, sincere prayer that includes forgiving others as a condition for receiving God's forgiveness.

Lesson 3: Tribulation and Rapture (Revelation 6)

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The unshakable person and work of Christ forms the eternal foundation of every believer, securing salvation while the Bema seat evaluates each work by fire, rewarding Spirit-empowered service and consuming self-promoting deeds. End-time believers must endure tribulation, flee the abomination of desolation, and remain united in the local church as the seals unveil escalating judgments culminating in Christ’s return.

Lesson 2: Day of Christ vs Day of the Lord (Revelation 4)

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The imminent rapture is the divine opening of heaven’s door, ushering believers to the Father’s presence as the first New Testament promise of Christ’s return (John 14:1-4). It occurs before the thousand-seven-year Day of the Lord, when the Holy Spirit-indwelt church, the restrainer of lawlessness, is taken, allowing Israel’s prophetic timeline to unfold.

Lesson 1: Israel and the Church Age (Matthew 24)

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

God’s redemptive plan centers on the cross, where righteousness is satisfied, justice is executed, and love grants eternal life; believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, uniting the Father, Son, and Spirit within each royal priest-ambassador who sits with Christ in the heavenly places and intercedes for the nation, while guarding against deception and fear in the dispensation of grace (Revelation 1; Matthew 24; John 13-17).

The Perpetual Passover

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Did you know the Passover is perpetual? 1st Corinthians 5:7-8 says, “Therefore, purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened for indeed Christ. Our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with a level of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” Paul is using Passover as an example of three great spiritual realities: 1) The first of those is salvation by grace through faith. He says, “Since you are truly unleavened for indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrifice for us.” And it's very interesting here that despite the many sins that plagued the Corinthian church, Paul reminds them that in Christ they have been made pure. If you go on into the sixth chapter, he cites many sins that were prominent at the time. And he says, “and such were some of you. Even though some had fallen back into those sins.” He says, “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were clean through Christ.” So he reminds them that they are indeed “unleavened.” 2) The second great truth is cleansing from sin or cleansing from carnality. “Purge out the old leaven.” We are not to celebrate with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness.” And here I think he deals with some of those reactions that happen when sins occur in a church, namely, either boasting, or hostility and judgment. There is cleansing available for you and I on a moment by moment, daily basis. 3) The third great truth that he wanted to remind them of is that you and I have the immeasurable opportunity to live in daily fellowship with God, to live in fellowship with God day by day, moment by moment.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 7

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian warrior's life is a pathway from the cross to the crown, and it's crucial to use time wisely to accomplish God's plan, hastening the coming of the day of God through holy conduct and ministry.

Not by Works of Righteousness We have Done

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Titus 3:4-7 gives the Gospel, one of three times in the book's three chapters. The details of God's provision of Eternal Life are amazing!

Cling and Bring

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that clinging to Jesus is essential for spiritual growth and bringing others to Him. She explains that Jesus' teachings in John 6 challenge our priorities and understanding of spiritual life, and that making a moment-by-moment decision to stay close to Him is crucial. This message explores the importance of serving Jesus and following Him, as seen in various biblical accounts.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 6

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian warrior's calling is defined by faith, spiritual maturity, and serving others, and that they must be diligent to add virtue, knowledge, and self-control to their faith to resist false teaching and live in the present, tied to both the past and the future.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 5

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is a long-distance race, and the question is, how will we finish our race? He warns that false teachers promise believers liberty, but are slaves of corruption, and that believers who fall into sin after coming to faith will go deeper still.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 4

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian warrior must be aware of the dangers of false teachers and corrupt leaders, and must be able to distinguish between true and false teachings in order to avoid judgment and remain faithful to God.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 3

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian warrior mentality is one of humble service and self-sacrifice, and that spiritual growth is a process of adding virtues to our faith, with the ultimate goal of an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 2

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian Warrior must understand the importance of Christ in their life, make a choice to receive or reject Him, and maintain daily disciplines to grow in their faith. This journey of growth requires strong inner motivation, perseverance, and a humble attitude, with a focus on applying God's Word to their life.

The Christian Warrior - Lesson 1

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian warrior has a calling defined by Jesus, which involves combat against the enemy and a coronation into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit.

Lesson 6: Tribulation and Rapture (Revelation 6:1-17)

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The tribulation begins with Revelation chapter 6, marking the final era of judgment after the church age; the four horsemen represent Antichrist’s conquest, war, famine, and Death, while the martyrs await the full number of the faithful. The rapture precedes this period, separating the church from the coming day of the Lord, and believers are sealed as new creations in Christ.

Titus Chapter 3

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the gospel summaries in the book of Titus, highlighting the central role of the cross of Christ in systematic theology and the importance of good works as the fruit of the Spirit.

Titus Chapter 2

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the gospel summary in Titus chapter 2 is about living soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Titus Chapter 1

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the foundational principles of the gospel and its relationship to biblical doctrine, emphasizing the importance of character and behavior in leadership, and the ongoing mercy of God in believers' lives.

Lesson 3: The Sealed Scroll and Divine Authority (Revelation 5)

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The heavenly vision of Revelation 4-5 reveals that the open door in heaven, secured by Christ’s finished work, grants permanent access to God’s presence, where the twenty-four elders—representing the redeemed church—worship the Lamb, the only One worthy to open the sealed scroll. The four living creatures display Christ’s fourfold ministry, while the seven spirits and angels continually minister to believers, and all creation joins in eternal praise.

Persecution -- Session 3

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that true freedom and boldness in the Christian life come from understanding our identity and purpose in Christ, and that we are called to draw near to God with a true heart, holding fast to our confession of hope without wavering, and imitating Christ in our daily lives.

Persecution -- Session 2

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that persecution is coming and Christians must prepare for it, and that hope is a living, present reality that guides our daily lives, not just a future expectation, and that we should glorify in tribulation, knowing it produces perseverance and character.

Persecution -- Session 1

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the church must be a witness to the world, a warrior society, and a watchman, and that individual members must be actively participating in a group of believers to fulfill the Great Commission.

The First and Last Christmas

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the significance of Christmas as a celebration of Jesus Christ's birth, and how it relates to the ultimate celebration of the marriage supper of the Lamb and the establishment of the kingdom.

Given at Westside Bible Church, Sunday 18 December, 2022

What does Jabez' Prayer have to do with Jesus' birth?

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

We rightly love the Christmas Story. We know that God arranged the whole scene, but few know the connection to Jabez’ prayer. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were terrified. But the angels said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” The phrase, “living out in the fields” is the word, “Agrueleo,” and is only used in this place in the New Testament. An active participle, it indicates that this was their habitual practice. In other words, they always lived in the fields. That was their home. These shepherds were the shepherds that raised the lambs that were sacrificed in the temple. But again, why was their permanent residence in the field? Even to this day, if you go to Israel and the guides will lead you to the area outside of Bethlehem, and it's called the Shepherds Fields. Why were they there? In Genesis 35:19-21, after Rachel died and Jacob buried her, he traveled a little bit further and he pitched his tent in beyond the Tower of Eder.Why is that important? Because “Eder” means the flock, and it's actually picked up later in a prophecy in Micah 4:8, which says, “O Tower of the Flock, the stronghold of the Daughter of Zion to you, shall it come (or to you he shall come.)” And this, of course, connects with Luke Chapter 8, because as we read later on, Jewish tradition made this tower Jesus’ birthplace this long before Christ came into the world. Who built this tower? We don't know. But going all the way back now to the time of Abraham, 2000 years before Christ a tower was erected, Jewish rabbis said it’d be the site where the Messiah would come. Jerome, in the fourth century saw in this tower the foreshadowing of the announcement of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ to the shepherds, the ones that kept living in the fields. Today it answers to a place called Khirbet Sara, which is called “The Ruin of the Sheepfold.” It's very interesting that archeologists have gone to this place, and they have found all kinds of Christian artifacts showing that early on this was a place of worship. 1st Chronicles 4:9 reads, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother called him Jabez saying, because ‘I bore him in pain.’” Kind of a rough name to give to a kid because it basically means he causes pain. “Jabez called on the God of Israel.” Now this is a noble, honorable man, according to Scripture, and he prays “that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, that you would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” Basically, he prays “I don't want to live up to my name.” We have to understand that in Hebrew thought the name your parents gave you was actually the name God already had planned for you before you were born, and it described your character. We see that playing out a lot in Scripture, in the names that were given to people. Jabez did not want to live up to his name. He did not want to be a source of pain. And then it says, “and so God granted him what he requested.” He requested God's blessing for enlarged territory. Jabez was not praying for literal territory when he prayed that God would enlarge his territory or enlarge his holdings. He was an honorable man. He was a noble man. He was thinking in spiritual terms. Which would you rather have? A big ranch or eternal impact? What would you rather have? Would you rather have holdings in this world? Or would you rather have impact in history and reward and eternity? Jabez was praying for something much, much bigger, than what most people think of. How do we know that God answered this prayer? And why in the world will this relate to the shepherds in the field? Well, if you just slide over to 1st Chronicles 2:54-55 which says, “54 The sons of Salma were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half of the Manahethites, and the Zorites. And the families of the scribes who dwelt at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Suchathites. These were the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.” you know, the Kennites were not Jews. They came from Moses, father-in-law, Jethro, who came from Hamath, the father of the House of Recab. Now, I know you think that we've already lost the trail, but we're just closing in on it. The Tower of Eder, which stood just outside the village that later is called Bethlehem, was the former site of a village of Jabez. Jabez’ Prayer began by a village being named for him near the Tower of Eder. And who were the Kennites? Not Jews, but people who later actually married into the Levitival priesthood. Notice the important words here. They were scribes who dwelt at Jabez. The job of the scribe was to copy the scriptures, to study the Scriptures and to teach the Scriptures. The beginning of the answer to Jabez prayer was a group of people, not even Jews, but proselytes, who came in because of faith, and they became the leading Bible scholars of their time. It tells us at the end of the verse as well that they were of the House of Recab. 1500 years later, in Jeremiah 35, we see more of the Recabites. Jeremiah wanted to use these people as an example to the children of Israel of what faithfulness should look like. Jeremiah is told, “bring them into the House of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.” So, Jeremiah said, I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah. The son of “who and who....” “His brothers and all his sons, the whole house of the Rechabites. I brought them into the House of the Lord, into the chamber of the Sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah.” They really get into the genealogies here. “A man of God, which was by the chamber of the Princes above the chamber,” and so on and so forth. Verse five says, “I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabite bowls full of wine and cups, and I said, ‘Drink wine.’” Jeremiah's doing what God commanded him to do. “But they said, we will drink no wine for Jonadab, the son of Rechab.” Once again, keep in mind the link back to First Chronicles. “Our father commanded us saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons forever.’” That was not the only requirement he placed on them, however. Verse seven says, “You shall not build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard, nor have any of these. All your days you shall dwell in tents that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.” The Rechabites through all their generations, became shepherds and lived in tents. And as we come down to Jeremiah's commendation of these people, he says in verse 16, “Surely the sons of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them. But this people, meaning Israel, God says, has not obeyed me. Therefore, thus says the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel. Behold, I will bring on Judah, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, all the doom that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them, but they have not heard. I have called to them, but they have not answered. And Jeremiah said to the House of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord God of hosts the God of Israel, because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father and kept all his precepts have done according to all that he commanded you. Therefore, thus, as the Lord God of host the God of Israel, Jonadab, the Son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before me forever. Can you connect this unique group of people who took a vow that they would always remain nomads and shepherds who were linked to the village that once stood slightly outside of Bethlehem, all the way down to the shepherds that ultimately stood before the Lord. According to this promise. “He will not like a man to stand before me.” By the way, the phrase stand before me has a priestly connotation. My conviction is that these shepherds were living in the same place they had always lived, lived in the same way they had always lived, were doing the same things they had always done, continued to remain students of God's word. Obviously. And they were the first ones that were invited to meet the Savior as he entered the world. That's pretty amazing. But it's not as amazing as what happened and what they witnessed. You know, Paul captures the first Christmas in a way this the simple story can't. We love the story in its simplicity, its oriental beauty, and it's so amazingly beautiful, but it doesn't come close to capturing what that little child represented. When Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind being you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to cling to or a thing to grasped. But He made Himself of no reputation and came in the form of a man and being found in existence as a man. He humbled Himself even further unto death. Even the death of the cross.” That all began right here. That was that huge step that our Savior took from his throne in heaven down into this world full of sin, sorrow and suffering. For what? To live a life of rejection. A life misunderstood. A life of slander and maligning. And ultimately, to go to the cross. For you and I. to pay the penalty for our sins, and not just for ours. But as John tells us, “for the sins of the entire world.” We should stand as we do today, preparing to celebrate Christmas with the reverence, amazement, humility. Our souls should be struck with the beauty, but also the grandeur and the greatness of everything that our Savior has done for us.

A Hero, a Maiden, and a Dragon

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

“In every great story (or in every great romance,) there are three things: a hero, a maiden, and a dragon.” G.K. Chesterton. The Maiden In Luke 1:26-29, Mary has had an appearance of an angel that calls himself Gabriel and tells her that she is highly favored and so on and so forth. For more on this scene watch the video “Blessed are you among women.” So, Mary is standing there dumbfounded, terrified, and in her mind she's thinking about scripture. She is beginning to add up the facts of scripture. What is interesting is that later in the chapter, “The Song of Mary” contains 15 references to Old Testament scriptures. Off the top of her head, she sings a song composed of 15 Old Testament texts. Anybody want to try that? This woman was a scholar of scripture, which tells me since she likely was not pushed to learn the law, she was searching on her own. She loved the word of God. So now we have the announcement of the Hero’s birth in Luke 1:30-33. The Angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.” This command is given us more than all others in Scripture. Why is that? Because we're creatures of fear. You know why we're creatures of fear. I don't know if you're fearful about what's going on around the world, but there are, you know, sometimes fearful things that we begin to see. Faith conquers fear. God intends faith to overcome. And you say, why are we creatures of fear? Because we were born into a sinful race. You know, we're told in Hebrews 2:14-15 that Satan is the one who holds the power of fear over humans. Christ came to deliver us from fear. And so Gabriel repeats the message that God so often gives us. Gabriel next says, “You have found favor with God.” The first time that occurs is about Noah in Genesis 6:8. “The whole world was corrupt, and the Lord looked and saw that the world had corrupted its way before Him, but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Would you like to find favor with God? You know how you find favor? You look for it in the right place. It's right here in Scripture. As we open His word, we find that Jesus Christ is manifest before us. John 1:14 says, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Grace and Truth. We have to be full of Truth if we want to get the Grace. She found favor (Grace) in the sight of God. The Hero Gabriel then says, “Behold, you conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus.” It might interest you to know that Jesus in the Hebrew is Yeshua which means, “The salvation of Jehovah.” Yeshua, where does Yeshua first occur in the Old Testament? Did you know that Whenever you read, “The Salvation of the Lord” in the Old Testament you're reading the name in Hebrew, “Yeshua?” First time it occurs in Genesis 49:18 where Jacob is giving prophecies concerning his sons. He comes to the son Dan and says he is like a serpent that bites the heels of the horse and causes the rider to fall a serpent. The very next thing Jacob says is, “Oh Lord, I have waited for Yeshua,” Isn’t that precious? Yeshua is next used again and Exodus 14:13 immediately after the Passover. Moses and the children of Israel have come out of Egypt. They finally got to a place where the armies of the Egyptians are behind them, mountains are on both sides and the Red Sea is in front of them. The people begin to panic. What does Moses say? “Stand still and you will see Yeshua.” I find that to be absolutely amazing, especially when just the night before they took the blood of the lamb and struck the door post and the lintel. What do you think that blood made on the door? It made a cross. Isn’t it amazing. So, there's three things that Gabriel says this Son is going to have: 1) the House of David, 2) the throne of his father, David; 3) He's going to reign over His. Once again, Mary is a student of scripture. Mary is sharp, and she hears three things: a house, a throne, and a kingdom. 2nd Samuel 7:12 says, “When your days are fulfilled, you rest with your fathers, (speaking here, of David) and I will set up your seed after you who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.” Now notice, particularly verse 13, “He shall build a house for My name. I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” You see it? A house, a throne, a kingdom. There is no doubt in my mind that Mary was able to put that together. The next section, Luke 1:34-38 starts when Mary now asks a question, “How can these things be?” How is it going to be accomplished? “Since I am a virgin.” The angel answered. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called a Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age. And she who was said to be unable to conceive, is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail. I am Lord’s servant, Mary answered, May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. When Mary asked the question, “How can these things be?” It sounds very much like the questions Zacharias asked in Luke 1:18. Zacharias said, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, an old man, and my wife has advanced in years.” The angel rebuked him because of Zacharias unbelief.” Mary's question sounds very much the same, but you see, God knows the heart. God knows the secrets of the heart. And Mary's question here simply has to do with her virginity. “I do not know a man.” And so the angel basically explains that the entire God-head will to go to work as a team and you're going to have a child.. “The Holy Spirit,” he says, “will come upon you and the power of the Highest.” The Most High God is El Elyon of the Old Testament, Then “that Holy One” who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” And so the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit meet together. Gabriel gives to Mary further comfort. “Elizabeth, your relative, has conceived a son in her old age and is now in the sixth month for her who was called baron, for with God, nothing shall be impossible.” Did you ever stop to think that the amazing, miraculous work that God did in Mary is really in essence, what He does in every person that comes to Christ. Because at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ. He, in the person of His Holy Spirit, takes up personal residence within us. The very fact that you have the Spirit of God dwelling within you says that you have the Godhead within you. Because if you go back to Romans 8:9-11, where Paul says, “if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he has none of his,” he refers to the Holy Spirit three ways. Gabriel said to Mary, “the Lord is with you.” But you know what? The Lord wasn't with her, even in the sense that He is with us. God's work in your life is a miraculous work. Paul understood this, and Paul staked his entire life on it when he wrote to the Galatians and he said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live; yet not I.” Here's the thing. Empty yourself. He'll fill you with the spirit. “Christ lives in me.” How? How is that possible? He said, “The life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” That's the secret. And it's simple. But simple doesn't mean easy. Sometimes simple can be very, very hard. It's very interesting that on one occasion, Jesus disciples, astounded at a statement that He made, said, “Who then can be saved?” You remember what He said? “With men, it's impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” You can check that out in Matthew 19:26. The last we see of Mary here before she departs from the stage, she makes two statements. “Behold a maid servant of the Lord.” And “Let it be according to your Word.” These two statements show us two things about Mary: 1) her availability, and 1) her willingness. Do you think Mary had an inkling of the cost? Do you think she might have realized that this is going to involve some pain? She recognized, for example, that people were not going to understand her situation. Here she is, a young woman who shows up pregnant inviting some shame and disgrace. She likely knew her pregnancy would create some problems for Joseph, as it did. If we look back at the story in Matthew 1:18-20, he was wrestling with in his soul. Apparently, Mary didn't tell Joseph about Gabriel’s visit. And so, we see in Matthew he is wrestling because it says when Mary was “found to be with child.” How do you find somebody to be with child? They start showing, right? She is obviously pregnant, and she is unmarried. “Let it be to me.” I wonder how many of us would be able to say that if the Lord put in front of us the greatest privilege that anyone could ever have with some of the greatest suffering and anguish that you could ever go through? Could we say, “Let it be to me, according to your word.” Do you know what she does here? She said the same thing her Son would say 33 years later in the Garden of Gethsemane. She was going through her own Gethsemane. “All those who journey sooner or late, Must pass beyond the garden gate; Must kneel alone in anguish there, and wrestle with some deep despair. God pity those who only pray, “Let this cup pass,” Who cannot say, “Not mine, but thine,” Who do not see, the purpose of Gethsemane.” We all have our Gethsemane to go through. But we can always say, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary couldn't have anticipated what was going to be told to her in Luke 2:35, when Simeon meets her and says, “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.” Now we're talking the cross and her eventually watching her Son die in anguish. She also couldn't have figured that 33 years later, as Jesus is contending with the Pharisees, they would take the question of His birth and throw it in His face and say, “We were not born of fornication” (John 8:41), suggesting, of course, that He probably was. The Dragon So far we’ve seen only a part of the romance of redemption. Moving forward 2000 plus years from the scene with Gabriel, document in Revelation Chapter 12 is the big picture. The woman depicted there with the 12 stars over her head and the moon at her feet represents Israel as we know from the dreams of Joseph. Who represents Israel? “Blessed are you among women.” Particularly the women of Israel. The dragon in Revelation 12 waits for the baby to be born. Here we have Herod and the slaughter of infants. Mary could not have known the phenomenal spiritual cosmic conflict in which she was a small player. Of course, the chapter also anticipates events taking place in the tribulation period. By the way, the stage of the world has been set for the tribulation. That’s where we are right now, my friends. Time is short. Revelation 12:9-10 says, “Then I heard a loud voice saying, in heaven now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of His Christ have come for the Accuser of our brethren who accused them before our God. Day night has been cast down.” How many times you think this week the devil brought your name up to God? You know, when he accuses us, when we give him a reason to accuse us, you know, when else he accuses us, when we're blameless. He especially loves to accuse the blameless. Remember, Job? I think it was Peter that said in 1st Peter 5:8, “The devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” We do not know what tomorrow holds. We do not know what the next year is going to bring. We do not know what challenges we may face. But we do know one thing. God only accepts victory. The battle is fought to be won. Revelation 12:11 says “They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives, even unto death.” There are three things here. The blood of the lamb refers to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Word of the testimony I take not to be my personal testimony, but the word to which I testify, namely, Word of God. Here's the challenge. What was it Mary said? “Let it be to me according to your word.” “They love not their lives, even unto death.” How can we not love our own life? Only by loving Christ more? And that's a daily decision and a daily challenge. And I pray that each one of us might have verse 11 said of us in the end. Paul said in 1st Corinthians 7:29-30, “This I say, brethren, the time is short.” “Those who weep will be as though they did not weep. And those who rejoice as though they do not rejoice.” What is he saying here? He simply saying that there are seasons in life, times of joy and times of mourning. In either case, you can take it on the authority of the Word of God that He works all things together for good. Be assured. Be comforted. After the dark comes the dawn. There is light coming. There is joy coming. There is comfort coming. We at Basic Training Bible Ministries are challenged to be more like Mary and have decided “not just to hear, but to do.” Hopefully you are encouraged in this way by these truths as well. Merry Christmas BTBM Staff

Lesson 2: Balaam’s Corruption and Modern Idolatry (Revelation 2)

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

God’s dispensation shifts from the Old Testament law to the New Testament covenant, and Matthew 24 outlines a sequential end-time timeline that moves from birth-pangs through the tribulation, the great tribulation, and Christ’s return, where unbelievers are removed as in Noah’s days. The seven churches are judged on love, perseverance, purity, and repentance, with crowns granted at belief and overcomers becoming pillars in God’s temple.

Lesson 1: Mercies, Resurrection, and the Seven Spirits (Revelation 1)

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Revelation reveals Jesus Christ as the author of human history, unveiling the divine plan from John’s exile to the millennial kingdom. Written around AD 96 to the seven churches, it presents prophetic visions through symbolic signs interpreted with the whole of Scripture, showing Christ as the faithful witness, ruler, and judge, and calling believers to a royal priesthood serving as ambassadors of reconciliation.

The Gifts of the Magi

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It's Christmas time again—the time when we commemorate the birth of our Lord with celebration and the giving of gifts. Matthew 2 gives us the account of the Magi that visited Jesus as a baby; opened up their treasures and gave him the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The Magi, or wise men, came from the east. The east, at the time of Christ, was Media, Persia, Babylonia, and Assyria. They followed the directional star until it stopped in Jerusalem. There was something very unique and special about this star because the wise man called it His star. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they inquired at the court of Herod, “Where is he who is born king of the Jews?” Herod did not know. So, he gathered together the religious leaders of the day and asked them “the question.” They answered with a prophecy from Micah 5, stating that out of Bethlehem would come the Ruler and Shepherd of Israel. Now as the Magi departed for Bethlehem, the star once again appeared to lead them to the house of the Christ Child. There are many misconceptions about the Magi. They were not present at the Nativity. They arrived sometime later when Joseph, Mary, and their son Jesus have now moved into a home in Bethlehem. We always picture three Magi, but that number is not given in Scripture. There could have been a large entourage of them pulling up to the house on their camels. But what we do know for certain is that they came bearing the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for Baby Jesus. Before the Magi presented gifts, they fell and worshiped the Christ Child. These are wise, wealthy, and important men. Yet they could not remain standing in the presence of Jesus Christ. Instead, they fell down. They prostrated themselves at the feet of this baby in total adoration and worship. The first gift these men gave the Christ Child was their heart. And we, like the Jews of old, are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, all of our soul, and all of our might. Jesus died on the cross not to redeem our body—our body is temporary; our body will pass. Jesus died on the cross to redeem our eternal soul—our heart. And when we give Jesus all of our heart, it is a precious gift in His sight. Wouldn't it have been amazing to be a part of that journey: to follow the star, to arrive at the house, to behold the Young King, to fall down and worship Him, to give the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We aren't able, like the wise men, to bow before the cradle of Jesus. But we can, in a spiritual sense, bow before His throne and present to Him the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Before we look at the significance of these gifts, I want you to understand that the gifts the Magi gave were quite valuable. If you and I were living in that day, we may not have been able to afford the price of these gifts. But the gifts we now present to Jesus are of a spiritual nature. And by His grace, we have been given all spiritual blessings and riches in Christ Jesus. We can only afford to give back these gifts because of the spiritual riches that Christ first gave to us. The first gift the Magi gave Jesus was gold. Gold is the metal of kings. When the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, she presented him with a large amount of gold. Gold is mentioned 385 times in the Bible as an emblem of wealth and an emblem of royalty. In the giving of gold, the Magi recognized Jesus as King. They believed Him to be the God King, the King of all Kings, the King of the Universe, a child, but a King. Revelation 19:16, “And on His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’”. How can we, like the Magi, present our King Jesus with the precious gift of gold? By facing the various trials of our life in faith. 1 Peter 1:6–7, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now, for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Just as gold is refined by fire, our faith is refined and purified by the trials of life. We don't like those trials, but they prove our faith and proven faith is more precious than gold to our Lord. In these verses tell us it is necessary to go through trials and it is necessary to be distressed in this life. The word for distress means to grieve and heaviness, to be thrown into sorrow. Can you relate to these words? Trial testing, grief, heaviness, sorrow? I have been through times of heaviness and deep sorrow in my life. And during these times I felt the most distant from God. And during these times, I have felt the most intimate with God. What drew the line between distance and intimacy? My faith. When I balked at the trial—represented it, my heart was hard and distant from the Lord. When I surrendered to the trial in faith, my heart softened and my relationship with the Lord became very intimate. We know His presence best in times of trial. Isaiah 48:10, “I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Proverbs 17:3, “The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.” A purified heart is like gold, a precious gift to our Lord. The next gift the wise men presented from their treasures was frankincense. This, too, is a highly prized and valuable gift. Frankincense is an aromatic gum resin scraped from the bark of trees native to the Middle East and Africa. When frankincense is burned, it creates a strong aroma, and it's associated with the priesthood. Frankincense was burned at the altar of incense in the tabernacle as a picture of Jesus Christ, the sweet-smelling aroma of God. The location of the altar of incense within the tabernacle is significant. It was placed right in front of the veil that separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies—the Holy of Holies being the abiding place of God's glory. In the giving of frankincense, the Magi recognized Jesus as High Priest. And Jesus Christ is our High Priest and the only mediator between God and man. As our faithful High Priest, Jesus daily sits at God's throne making intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25, “Hence also He is able to save in every way those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” When Jesus died on the cross, the veil separating the holy place from the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom, signifying we now have free entrance to the throne of God's grace. As our High Priest, Christ welcomes us to come boldly before Him in prayer. Hebrews 4:14–16, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” In Jesus, we have a faithful high priest who totally understands our weaknesses, our tests and trials, our pains and problems. And He has thrown open the doors of God's throne to us. So how can we, like the Magi, present Jesus, our High Priest, with the aromatic gift of frankincense? By bowing before him with a prayerful heart. The connection between prayer and incense—frankincense—is found in Psalm 141:2, “Let my prayer be set before you as incense. The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Revelation also speaks of the prayers of the saints as incense before God's throne. Revelation 5:8 “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” The altar of incense in eternity is the lifting up of our prayers and time. Every single prayer that we pray in time is there in eternity, burning as a sweet-smelling aroma to God. How precious is a single prayer to Him. In the tabernacle, the altar of incense was before the veil. In eternity, the altar of incense is before the throne. In the church age, the altar of incense is in our heart. The altar of incense in the tabernacle was to burn continually. And what does Paul tell us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17? “Pray without ceasing.” Keep the altar of incense in your soul burning day and night. A prayerful heart is like incense—a precious gift to our Lord. The third and last gift the wise men pulled from their treasure chest was the gift of myrrh. Myrrh is also a fragrant spice from the sap of a tree. It has been used over the centuries for many different things, but in the time of Jesus, it was most often used for embalming the dead. Myrrh gave off its greatest scent when it was crushed. John 19:39–40, “And Nicodemus came also, who had first come to Him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 100 pounds weight.” And so, they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. In the giving of the myrrh, the wise men recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. They recognized Him as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Jesus was born to die. When we were born into this world. no one gifted us with myrrh. I'm quite sure we were given the usual baby gifts—blankets, sleepers, diapers, and rattles because no one thought that we were born to die. But when, at the age of 17, I put my faith in Jesus Christ, I was reborn. I was born from above. I was born of God. And in my spiritual birth, I was born to die. And so were you. How can we, like the Magi, present our Lord and Savior with the gift of myrrh? By bowing before Him with a sacrificial heart. Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life, for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” In my years of living on this earth as a child of God, He has blessed me with the honor of meeting many sacrificial hearts. We have served with Wycliffe translators in Papua New Guinea—a husband and wife that devoted their lives to reaching a remote language group with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were dropped into a primitive village, in their mid-twenties, with six months’ supply of food, a radio, and a fire for lost souls burning in their heart. Because of their lifelong sacrifice, there are now thousands of believers in that remote people group. We have been in underground churches in China, Burma, and Vietnam, where pastors and believers sacrifice their safety for the privilege of meeting together, where they have been imprisoned or are willing to be imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel. We have met men and women that carry their body, the scars of persecution-- these are sacrificial hearts. Sacrifice comes in large life, defining packages like these. But also, in small incremental packages. It may be sacrificing a peaceful evening to help a friend in need, to answer that phone call at the most inconvenient time to counsel or comfort someone that needs it. The issue is not to compare one believer's sacrifice with another's. The issue is to be willing, in our walk with Christ, to sacrifice in the way that He asks us to sacrifice. Your cross as your cross, and my cross is my cross. And that will look different for each of us. It would have been such a glorious experience to live in the days of the Magi—to follow the star to a humble home in Bethlehem, to enter with the wise men and bow before Baby Jesus, to worship him and present Him with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But how much more glorious to come before Him now with the spiritual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—a purified heart of gold, a prayerful heart of incense, a sacrificial heart of myrrh, all by his grace and all for His glory. Christina Rossetti said it like this, What can I offer, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring him a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. But what can I give him? I give him my heart. We wish you all a very merry Christmas as you bow before the throne of Jesus, and love, praise and adoration. Merry Christmas to you all.

"Blessed are you among women"

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0000

You might not believe it, but Luke Chapter One is one of the most theologically, doctrinally, and prophetically packed passages anywhere in Scripture. To thoroughly exegete it would involve going from book to book, passage to passage, and cross-referencing. This video covers just Luke 1:26-30, where the Virgin Mary meets Gabriel. Subsequent videos will cover more of Mary’s response to Gabriel’s news, that she was selected to bear the Messiah, Jesus Christ. There is detail here that should edify and challenge us in our faith. First, the name Gabriel, means “Hero of God. It's very interesting that in Luke 1:19, Gabriel says of himself that he stands in the presence of God. This leads a lot of students and scholars to believe Gabriel may be one of the four angels that surround the throne in Revelation Chapter four. But one thing we do know, whether we're looking at Gabriel, whether we're looking at Michael, all the angels reflect God. Their job, their task, their purpose for existence is to reflect God in different ways. Michael is a warrior angel. Gabriel is a teaching and an encourager and exhorter. Note that whenever Gabriel appears, he appears as a man. And when Gabriel appears, the only thing he delivers is information about the coming of the Messiah. We only have three people in the Bible to which Gabriel appears. There may have been more, but he's not named otherwise. He appears to Daniel in Daniel, Chapters 8 to 12 where Daniel stands there listening, and Gabriel is basically teaching and explaining (and in some cases giving visions) of the Messiah. And then, of course, he appears to Zacharias in Luke 1:11-20, where he revealed the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. Why is that important? Because John the Baptist is the forerunner of the Messiah. And then of course, shortly afterward, Gabriel appeared to Mary, who would be the virgin mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Luke 1:26 says “that Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.” That's very important. This is the town in which Mary lived. It's significant because it fulfills a prophecy that you might have pondered or maybe wrestled over. You'll remember in Matthew 2:23, when Jesus’ family comes back from Egypt, it says that Joseph led them to Nazareth. “He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called the Nazarene.” There are no real passages that say, “he shall be called a Nazarene.” You'll search in vain. You can't find it. And yet Matthew said that this was a fulfillment of the “prophets,” plural. You'll probably remember that there are several passages in the Old Testament that refer to the Messiah as “the branch” (Isaiah 4:2, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 33:15, Zachariah 3:8, and Zachariah 6:12.) The word branch in Hebrew is “Netzar,” is the root of Nazareth. Is it amazing? God named a town just so a prophecy could be fulfilled concerning the Lord Jesus Christ Our passage in Luke goes on to tell us that “Mary was betrothed to Joseph of the House of David.” This is going to become significant, but I'm going to save that for the next video. Suffice that it is the fulfillment of a prophecy. “Mary” is derived from the Hebrew name “Miriam,” which goes all the way back to the sister of Moses. It's very interesting that Miriam is probably derived from the Egyptian “Meri,” which means “beloved.” Isn’t that appropriate? In Luke 1:28, Gabriel identifies the character of Mary using three phrases. These should be a challenge to us. First though, many scholars have suggested that probably every generation of young women in Israel dreamed that possibly, maybe they would be the one who bears the long-awaited Messiah. Well, here of course, it came down to Mary. And I think Gabriel explains something about why she was chosen. He says that she was highly favored. Now favor, of course, refers to Grace. And we'll see that in a moment. She was highly favored or highly great, highly blessed. This shows me that she was living in intimate association with the grace of God. Her life was enveloped in grace. How does that happen? This fellowship and Grace are available to every one of us. The Apostle Paul amplifies this when he says in Romans Chapter 5, “grace upon grace” and “much more grace.” Much more than what? Much more than anything you've known up to this point. There's more grace available. How do we get it? Well, it's very simple. In 1st Peter 5:5, Peter said, “God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Also, Jesus began his public teaching ministry with the Beatitudes, and he began with the statement “Blessed,” or you could say “Grace.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The word for “poor” here in the Greek language conveys a person is so poor, so destitute, so helpless that when people walked by, they would just spit on them. They were what you would call the dregs of the earth. God gives grace to we who realize how poor we really are in comparison to our God Luke 1:28 continues, “The Lord is with you.” This indicates that Mary was living by faith. You must realize that Mary is likely just 14 or 15 years old, the typical marriage age in her time. How spiritually deep could she be? Let’s not deify Mary, which is idolatry, but let’s give her a rightful place, because she was a very magnificent young woman. She was living in fellowship with God, living in the sphere of grace. Gabriel said, “blessed are you among women,” indicating that she represented the ideal woman. Notice he did not say “above other women,” but, “among women.” Mary represented one half of humans. Immediately our mind goes to Genesis 3:15 where the first promise of the Messiah that tells us essential that “the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.” Now in Luke 1:29, Mary responds within herself in two ways. She was “troubled,” and she “considered.” First, the word “troubled” is actually an intensified verb, which literally means “terrified.” You know, there's an interesting reaction that you will find in everyone in the Bible when the invisible, unseen realm intersects with the human realm. They're terrified. If you want to see a vision of angels or the Lord, prepare yourself to be terrified, because the spiritual realm is something that we're not qualified or capable of taking in. Second, I love this word “consider” which in the Greek is the word “logizomai.” It's a mathematical term. What a magnificent young woman! What kind of facts do you think she's adding up here? She's had an appearance of an angel that calls himself Gabriel who tells her that she is highly favored and she's standing there dumbfounded, terrified, and she's in her mind casting about with what? Scripture! She's beginning to add up the facts she knows of scripture. Being a young Jewish woman, you know, there wasn't a lot of training. A young man, on the other hand, was trained in the law. Before a young man’s bar mitzvah, he got some intensive training, but not so much a young woman. Something interesting, however, is revealed in the Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-55). There are 15 direct references and allusions to Old Testament scriptures. Off the top of her head, she begins to sing a song composed of fifteen Old Testament texts. Anybody here want to try that? We might get John 3:16 and a couple of others. Mary was obviously a scholar of scripture, and likely, because she was not pushed into knowing the law like a boy would be, she was probably searching on her own. To me this means she loved the word of God!

If Christmas is pagan, should Christians be involved?

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Should Christians get involved in supporting or celebrating Christmas? Have you ever heard that argument? Why in the world would Christians want to get involved in something that was really a "pagan holiday," that we the Church co-opted? So for those critics, I have three points. Number one: Do you give your kids birthday gifts? You celebrate your kids birthdays, why not celebrate the birth of the Savior? If we're not going to do it now, when would you decide to do it? That would be a question. Secondly, in 1st Corinthians 9:22, Paul says, "I became all things to all men, that by all means I may win some." I can't think of a time, and I doubt that you could think of a time in the year when there is more focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. Once a year, the world is confronted with the reality of His coming. And I think that's great! So the point is in Matthew 16:18,where Jesus said, "On this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The idea is not that we are holding out against the world. The idea is that we are assaulting a world and they cannot overwhelm us. They cannot withstand the assault of the Church. The very fact that you and I are here, 2000 years after the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, is evidence of that. The world has done everything it can to squash the message, destroy the Word, and intimidate believers. Yet, all around the world today there are those who are singing praise, spreading the Word and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, if we co-opt or take over Christmas, that's what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to seize the gates of the enemy. This is why we're here and why this season is so important.

"Pray for The Peace of Jerusalem" -- Mission Forgotten

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

We have a few brief hours to embrace an aspect of our mission that I think we've largely forgotten, namely, praying for the peace of Jerusalem. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Jerusalem will never have peace until they recognize the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Some we can reach now, in which case they become a member of the Church. Some will not believe until it's the last hope in a very, very dark, and painful world after the rapture of the Church. Let's make sure that we have uttered a prayer for that nation. They are surrounded by enemies. They are facing from a human point of view, certain annihilation. You know, Henry Kissinger said in ten years there will be no nation of Israel. That's the best joke I've heard in a long, long time. They will never be driven out. So how can you know? I'm asked this question all the time. How can you know? How can you know that they won't be driven out and scattered again and things that go on for a thousand years? Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is they're there to stay. The bad news is you don't have another thousand years. We'd like to think that we do. But we are are at the conclusion of our short paragraph in history. Check out Isaiah 11:11. The prophet foresaw that there would be two dispersions and two returns, and “after the second time” God will re-gather them and then will return. And, folks, it has happened! And He's coming. Israel is not going to be driven out, but it's going to be painful in the extreme. A third of those who survive into that time are going to believe (Zechariah 13:8). We have a mission mandate, and that mandate is to all the nations of the world. But I do believe that there is a specific focus of that mandate and that that aspect of the mandate is with special attention to the children of Israel. Israel is a burning passion in the heart of the impossible and should be to you and me. You remember that Paul in Colossians 1:24 that it was his pleasure “to suffer on their behalf because he was filling up that which was lacking in the sufferings of Christ.” Paul saw very clearly that it was his responsibility as a member of the Body of Christ to continue what His Lord had begun, what Christ came to do. That's what Paul was here for, and what Christ died for. That was what Paul was willing to die for and therefore to carry on Christ’s ministry. And Paul, in Romans 10:1, we see how he makes this a little bit more specific. “ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” You know, my friends, the Bible commands us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” comes from Psalm 122. What does it mean to pray for the peace of Jerusalem? When you and I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, there will be no peace in Jerusalem until Jerusalem and Israel receives the prince of peace. And therefore, we pray for the opening of their eyes. Have you ever thought that a prayer that you utter today could impact the soul of someone who will live in the next dispensation? A thousand years before Christ, David prayed for us in the Psalm 102. This is similar to when Paul says, “My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” Don't you think, Paul, being doctrinally accurate and having the mystery of a new creation revealed to him would just say, “Who cares about them?” And “we're done with them.” “We've moved on to new ground.” A thousand years before Christ came, there was someone praying for you. David, by the way, often praise as an expression of the trials of Messiah when He would come. I like the way Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it. He said, “When you read the prayers of David, you are reading the prayers of Messiah, because the prayers that David prayed, Messiah prayed when he was here.” Interesting thought, isn't it? Psalm 102 is picturing the whole history of the nation of Israel, which is summarized in brief in Revelation Chapter 12, which tells us that “the woman will conceive and bear a child,” and because of that child that she brings, she “will be driven into the wilderness.” The hatred against the nation of Israel that existed in David's day and the hatred that existed against Israel in the time of Nazi Germany, and that exists today comes from the same source. It's satanic in origin because Satan still knows that God's plan for those people is not done. And so Satan stalks to the woman who is in travail. Psalm 102 says in part, “But you all Lord shall endure forever, And the remembrance of your name to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion for the time to savor her. Yes, the time that was set has come.” What time is he talking about? Jesus Christ’s Second Advent, right? The Psalmist continues, “Your glory for the Lord shall build up Zion. He shall appear in His glory. He will regard the prayer of the afflicted. He will not despise their prayer.” Did you get the message that he just said this that is promised is going to happen? “He will not despise their prayer.” Now, get this, because here is the kicker in Psalm 102:18, “This will be written for a generation to come. There are people yet to be created, may praise the Lord.” Do you see the church there? He's not just talking about the next generation of Jews. He's not just talking about another generation. He's talking about a new people. Generation is often used for race that are race yet to come of people yet to be created. I believe that David here anticipated, and maybe because of something He saw in the writing of Moses, Moses knew there was more to be revealed, but he knew that it was not for the children of Israel, it was for someone else. David knew that the things he wrote would be an encouragement and a strength to a people who did not yet exist. He didn't know who they were. He didn't know what they would be called. The idea of church never entered his mind. The concept of being in Christ was beyond his ability to comprehend. Although I would say that of all the prophets of the Old Testament, no one came as close to church age truth as did David in the Psalms. The Psalms are timeless and express the prayers of Christ. I would even be willing to bet that the Lord Jesus Christ had the entire Psalms memorized and uttered each of them at their proper place throughout the time of his pilgrimage on this earth may be continues to pray them. Who knows? He intercedes in our behalf. If David had a concern for a people that would not yet be created, how much concern can you and I have for a people who preceded us? If the last are going to be first, how great will they be? Paul asked the question in Romans 11 If their casting off is the salvation of the world, what will their reception be but a resurrection from the dead? It's going to be something amazing. Pray for the opening of their eyes. Our nation is no longer a friend to Israel as we have been. But somewhere there has to be a people that will not only pray for that nation and speak out for that nation, but if necessary, shelter that nation. Those Christians who fought in the resistance for the sake of the Jewish people, they did what the church is supposed to do. And through their dedication and devotion, many, many people of the Jewish nation have come to Christ. Many people will yet come to Christ. How many will come to Christ because you played your part? Let's pray that you and I can play the part through our prayers. Stand up for them, be their advocate, be their defender, and above all, be their intercessor. It will make a difference. The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. See the previous video “I will bless those who bless you – Mission Forgotten” for more detail.

Session 5 When Not to Meditate, and Why

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that meditation is not always necessary, and in fact, can be counterproductive when facing persecution. He explains that Jesus instructs his followers to rely on the Spirit of God to speak through them, rather than meditating beforehand on what to say. This message emphasizes the importance of trusting God in the midst of uncertainty.

Esther - Ladies Idaho 2022

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that God's sovereignty and providence are evident in the book of Esther, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, and that our attitudes and actions have consequences in our lives.

Session 4 Meditation Regarding Our Gift and Ministry

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that meditation is essential for spiritual growth and understanding, and that every believer has a ministry of prayer, teaching, and service. He explains that believers are called to be faithful priests and ambassadors, motivated by the love of Christ, and that we should identify our spiritual gift by serving in the local church. He also highlights the five daily disciplines of the Christian life.

Session 3 Meditation on Biblical Spirituality

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that meditation is a crucial aspect of spiritual growth, balancing knowing and doing, and emphasizes the importance of thinking on true, noble, and virtuous things to cultivate a single-minded and servant-minded attitude.

Session 2 Meditation on Ourselves in Light of Salvation

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that believers have a heavenly perspective when they die, seeing the heavenly Jerusalem and the presence of God, and that meditation is essential to reflect on their relationship with God and their identity in Christ.

Session 1 Meditation on the Savior and Our Salvation

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that meditation is essential in the Christian life, filling the mind with God's Word and focusing on Jesus Christ, who is the mediator between God and men. He explains how meditation can deliver us from spiritual inertia and open our soul to the grace provisions of God, giving us hope and transforming our thinking, motivation, and goals.

"I will bless those who bless you" -- Mission Forgotten

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This video and the previous two describe the context and reason for "the blessed hope," the rapture of the Church. We have a few brief hours now before the rapture to embrace a divine mission, the “charter” of the church, if you will, that we've largely forgotten. That is the Christian’s responsibility to Israel. If we’ve believed in Jesus Christ, 1st Peter 2:5-9 tells us that we are “a royal priesthood.” Why are we a royal priesthood? Because the high priest is a King, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is also the “King of Righteousness and the “King of Peace,” and the true Melchizedek. The Church is a priesthood chosen for a specific purpose under true Melchizedek. To start, we learn in the Book of Genesis that God called a man who would be the head of two races. Abraham would be the father of many nations, but really the head of two spiritual races. Abraham would have a “seed,” of which Paul tells us in Galatians 3:16 speaks of Christ. But that seed would be “more in number than the stars of the heavens and the sand of the seashore.” A “heavenly people” anticipated the church, and an “earthly people” anticipated the nation of Israel (and those who “enter into her fold,” including Gentiles of every other nation.) The “seed” would be heavenly and earthly, and ultimately it would all be one. As Jesus said in John 10:16, “one flock, one Shepherd,” yet distinct and unique, but brought together as one. In Genesis Chapter 14, there’s a story of nations hostile to Israel who come into the land. Abraham, of course, is living as a nomad. Five armies come into the land under Chedorlaomer, and they sweep through the land. And as they're snatching up captives, they take Lot and his family. Abraham hears about it. Genesis 14:13 says “One who had escaped came and told Abraham the Hebrew.” The word “Hebrew” means “the one who crosses the river.” And from Abraham comes a new Hebrew nation. He dwelt, “by the trees of Mamre,” which means “the teacher.” Abraham was staying at the trees of the teacher. Who's the teacher? Well, that is left for us to discover. Genesis 14:14-18 says, “Now when Abraham heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his 318 trained servants, ... and he divided his forces against them by night, and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. ... he brought back all the goods, and he brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. And the King of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is the King's Valley,) After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the Kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek, King of Salem brought out bread and wine ...” Isn't it interesting? 4000 years ago, a man steps on the scene to refocus Abraham, to deliver him from distraction, to deliver him from temptation. And he uses the same elements that Jesus used with the disciples in the upper room. Genesis 14:18 says Melchizedek "brought out bread and wine; He was the priest of the most high God, And he blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abraham of God, most high possessor of heaven on Earth, and blessed be God, most high, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’” Melchizedek blessed Abraham. What did God say in Genesis 12:3? “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you.” And Melchizedek, who, I believe was Abram's mentor, the teacher who taught at the Oaks of Mamre, blessed Abraham. In Hebrews 5:1, we meet Melchizedek again: “For every high priest” not talking now about a general priesthood, but the High Priest, “is taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God.” High priests do have the role of standing between God and man, but the primary role of any priest is intercession. Genesis 5:3-6 says, “Because of this, he is required as for the people, so also for himself to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself. But he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.” Now, the crux is verse five. “So also, Christ did not glorify himself to become a high priest, but it was He who said to Him, ‘You are my son today. I have begotten you.’” We know from the Psalms that this was spoken to Jesus Christ after the resurrection. “This day I have begotten you. And he also says in another place, you are a priest forever.” This is a quote from Psalm 110:4. Jesus Christ became the High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek on His resurrection to form a priesthood of a new order. This new order did not follow the Levitical priesthood. It was not of the lineage of the Levitical priesthood, and had a completely different purpose. The priesthood of the order of Melchizedek, takes its cue from that shadowy, mysterious figure, who comes on the scene in Genesis 14. At at a critical time in the beginning of the history of the Hebrew people, Melchizedek brings focus and devotion and dedication. Let's look at Hebrews Chapter seven. Hebrews 7:1 says, “This Melchizedek King of Salem, priest of the most high God who met Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated king of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, meaning king of peace without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God.” This is not saying that he didn't have a mother and a father or a human earthly line. It simply means that because the Scripture shrouds him in mystery, we don't know where he came from, nor know his lineage. “He has been made like the Son of God” by virtue of how he's presented. He is not the Son of God. Hebrews 7:4-7 continues, “Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed, those who are the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law that is from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham, but he whose genealogy is not derived from them, that is not of the Leviticus order, receive tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the better.” What was it God, said to Abraham, again? "He who blesses you I will bless and he who curses you, I will curse." And the author of Hebrews says, "the lesser is blessed by the greater. Here mortal man receives ties, but there he receives them, of whom it is written that he lives. And even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, or he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.” Seven principles of the Melchizedek priesthood (from Hebrews Chapter 7) The priesthood is to bless the nation of Israel. You and I are not called to be their judge. We are called to be a priesthood standing in their behalf. We are to minister to them righteousness and peace. Here's our evangelistic outreach to the Jewish people. There are many ministries that are totally devoted to the evangelism of the Jewish people. All ministries should be devoted to some degree to the evangelism of the Jewish people. We are to be conformed to the character of Christ “made like the Son of God.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This priesthood is a royal and an eternal priesthood. In other words, it comes from the lineage of the King, but not through the lineage of Israel. And it lasts forever. That's your priesthood. “He remains a priest perpetually.” There is no end to this ministry. What are you and I going to be doing throughout the ages world without end? We're going to be functioning as a priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, ministering to them and to all who have come into their full faith. Our priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, receives the spoils of victory as a tithe. There's a victory coming that is much greater than the victory Abraham had. There's a victory coming that is going to involve the entire world. It's going to be a tiny remnant of a shattered nation that is going to conquer the earth and they're going to win their victory because we'll be playing our part. The priesthood of Melchizedek is not of Jewish lineage. Notice verse six, “whose genealogy is not derived from them, received tithes from Abraham.” The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek is superior. Verse seven says, “Beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the better." You have the word "better." "Better" is a key word in the Book of Hebrews, and it means that which is superior by comparison. Hebrews 11:1 starts, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for in the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us that, “Without faith it is impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” And then Hebrews begins a roster of those who, through Old Testament times and generations of Old Testament believers, sought God, beginning back before Abraham. It's a lineage of faith and interesting to ask the question, “Why did he include the people he included, and why did he leave out the people he left out?” Notice what he says, starting in Hebrews 11:33, “Who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtain promises, stop the mouths of lions, quench the violence of fire, escape the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong.” This is the key to whom the writer of Hebrews chose to list. Hebrews 11:39 says, “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.” Do you remember 1st Peter 1:10-12, where Peter reports that the prophets were perplexed because they saw that something was coming? Both "sufferings" and “glories.” How does this fit? Old Testament believers thought, “what kind of a time can this be?" Old Testament writer could not put it all together.” 1st Peter 1:12 answers, “But it was revealed to them that what they were ministering was not to themselves, but to us.” They didn't even know who we were. “A people that are not a nation of people yet to be created," but a people who one day are going to read their story and be made strong because of it and accomplish something because of it. A people who are “grafted in” so that “the root,” Israel, doesn't die. So that the root survives. So that the Olive Tree finally blossoms again and bears fruit. Look at Hebrews 11:40. “God, having provided something better for us, better again, superior.” Why did He do that? “So that they should not be made perfect without us.” So that they would not fulfill the plan of God for them as a nation without the help of the Church. So that God's plan for them could not be fulfilled until He created a new people, a nation that could “provoke them to jealousy,” a nation that could be an example to them. A nation that they would be able to look back like you and I look back at Hebrews 11 and the roster of 2000 years. They will look back at a roster of 2000 years, and they're going to read the stories of John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, and D.L. Moody. Future Israelis are going to hear about Church Saints, great and small. They're going to be affected even by you and I. They’re going to say, "how great were those people? How great was the love that they had for us?" They're going to know, once their eyes are opened at the rapture of the Church, and they see their foolish leadership sign a seven-year covenant, and those 144,000 evangelists get sealed, that the time of the tribulation period starts. And seven years later, preserved through horrible, unimaginable circumstances, they are going to meet Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives. They are going to be gathered there waiting when He comes back. And guess who else going to meet them there? Us. We have a few brief hours to embrace this aspect of our mission. I think we've largely forgotten about our responsibilities to Israel and these yet-future people. Three Corrective Actions to Take Intercede on behalf of Israel. That's the greatest and the strongest thing you can do. Don't just pray for the nation now. Don't just pray that they will be delivered from their enemies. Now think ahead. Look ahead into the story and lodge prayers before the throne of God that are going to get answered. Then you pray for the 144,000. You pray that God might use you to start something, to send out a ripple that's going to have an impact on them. A book that you send a prayer that you pray. A witness that you give, you never know. Stand up for Israel. Stand up for them in the arena of world opinion. Stand up in the arena of your sphere of influence. Don't hold your tongue when people bad-mouth Israel. Shelter the Jews. The day may come that you'll have to shelter them. Anti-Semitism is sweeping the world again. Isn't it interesting hostility of a kind that we haven't seen since Nazi Germany is now in Germany, France, Britain, America? I would wrap all of this up under one phrase, “Don't let the blessed hope lose its blessing for you.” It's a blessed hope for a reason. And that is that we have fulfilled our mission and that God is now going to be able to bring the children of Israel to the knowledge of Him.

Until the Fullness of the Gentiles has Come In

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This video is a follow-up to the previous “Rapture of the Church: Goodness and Severity.” These two videos, along with the next, discuss a little-studied rapture passage found in Romans 11:11 through Romans 12:2. References to the rapture are pictured for us by the Apostle Paul in the ancient practice of grafting olive trees, primarily to increase fruit-bearing. The olive tree pictured, of course, is Israel, while the wild olive branch is the church (“gentiles”). As the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul refers to “they” and “them” as the Jews, and “you” and “we” as the church, comprised mostly of Gentiles. While it’s sad that the church at large has turned it’s back on the Jews, and distorted scripture to justify it, we believers still have this mission and will be evaluated by the Lord as to our involvement in related fruit-bearing. In fact, the Apostle predicts that the church will be “cut off,” and that the “natural branches” will be grafted back in. This is a clear reference to the restart of Israel, a God-initiated modern event, the rapture of the church, and the “saving” of children of Israel during the Tribulation period. Romans 11:23-24 starts with the grafting analogy, “For if you [gentile believer, church believer] were cut out of the olive tree, which is wild by nature and were grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?” The practice that they had in those days was to graft a sliver from a cultivated olive tree it into a wild olive tree that the wild olive tree might produce fruit. That's the normal way of doing it. However, it goes against logic to graft a wild olive branch into a cultivated olive tree. But you must ask yourself the question, “What is the purpose of ingrafting? Why even do it?” To bring fruit from a tree that's not producing! Dwell on that for a moment. Moses anticipated what was coming. In Deuteronomy 32:21 he said in essence, “I'm going to take a people who are not even a nation.” David also predicted the in Psalm 102, that God would “create a people that doesn’t exist” yet. Paul goes on to apply these prophesies to the church. In fact, he states quite emphatically in Romans 11, that the role of the church in relation to the nation of Israel is to “provoke them to jealousy.” The word jealousy Paul uses is really “zealousness.” Remember, earlier in Romans 10, Paul reports that his “heart was poured out for the children of Israel because they had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” Where are they going to get the knowledge? Tribulation saints are going to get the knowledge from the Apostle Paul’s epistles and from the ministry of the church Question: What must happen for Israel to be grafted back in? Answer: We must be cut off. This is the pre-tribulation Rapture of the church. It’s the only perspective that makes any sense Biblically. Romans 11:25 says, “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant.” Most churches today are ignorant. Church goers are like kids lost in the city who have no idea where they are nor where they’re going. We can't see the signs, even though they're all around us. Let's not be ignorant. Paul says, “I do not desire that you be ignorant of this mystery.” We've seen “mystery” again and again: in 1st Corinthians 15, 1st Thessalonians 5, and 2nd Thessalonians 2. “Mystery” refers Church Age Doctrine specifically that which was revealed to the Apostle Paul. Paul says, “I do not want you to be ignorant this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion.” That's the arrogance and attitude of superiority and condescension to the nation of Israel. “Lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until…” Here’s the key word, “until.” How long will the nation of Israel be blind? Why are they blind? The reason for the blindness is listed in 2nd Corinthians 3. Paul talks about the veil and in the reading of the law, covering their eyes. He states that, “the veil remains even to this present hour. But when they turn to Christ, the veil is taken away.” That's been true of Jews throughout the entire duration of church history. Suddenly, however, and almost instantaneously, with the opening of the eyes of 144,000 Jewish evangelists following the rapture of the church, the veil will be lifted. “Blindness in part” now, because, some Jews have come to Christ. Yes, it's a wonderful thing when you see a person that comes out of the people of Israel come into the church. But you know what? Once they come into the church, the fact that they're out of Israel, doesn't make them a superior Christian. They're simply a member of the church. Remember that part of the mystery is that we are one body now -- “neither Jew or Gentile, male or female.” Remember that “blindness, in part has happened to Israel “until” the rapture of the church. This is “the fullness of the Gentiles,” as it says in Romans 11:25. And when “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in,” when the harvest of the Gentiles has come in, Jewish blindness is going to be removed. Romans 11:26 continues, “And so all Israel will be saved as it is written, the deliverer will come out of Zion.” This quotes a Second Advent prophecy. “And he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob, for this is my covenant them.” God keeps His covenants! “…when I take away their sins. Now notice carefully. Verse 28 says, “Concerning the Gospel, they are enemies, for your sake.” There are many among the Jews who hate us. And this is amazing because their economy depends largely on tourism that is fueled by Christian pilgrims going to Israel. And they love the crowds, the groups. When you go there, you see the tour busses, you see this and that church, this, and that ministry. Most Jews love that, but they hate your faith. If you want to see some hostility, ask a Jewish person why the most famous Jew that ever walked the planet is disregarded by the nation of Israel. Try to tell them that the Messiah that they rejected is the Messiah that's coming back. Paul captures what was true then and now, “they are enemies against you for the gospel’s sake,” because as a people, they continue to reject him. That's their problem, their hang up. But I want you to notice what Paul says here, “concerning the gospel, they are enemies, for your sake, but concerning the election, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.” Could I suggest something to you? The term “election” is never used for salvation in the Bible election. “Election” is always to a purpose. God chooses for a purpose. And Jew are the elect for a purpose -- to give the world a Bible and a Redeemer. The preponderance of the “elect” references in scripture are about the nation of Israel. We church age believers are elect for only one reason, and that is because we were grafted in to serve a purpose for them, the children of Israel. “Concerning the election,” namely, the choice of God for that nation, “they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.” When the church stops loving the nation of Israel because of what God did through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the others, we've lost our sense of direction. We are adrift spiritually. The next verse that we like to quote all the time about ourselves. Romans 11:29 says, “But the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” That’s true of us, but only by application. The context tells us Paul's talking about the nation of Israel. He continues in Romans 11:30, “For as you were once disobedient to God and yet now have obtained mercy through their disobedience.” Look at this word “mercy.” Is Paul making a point? In verse 31, “Even so, these Israel have now been disobedient that through the mercy shown to you, they may obtain mercy for God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” And then Paul goes into a doxology as if he is just so overwhelmed with his thoughts. And he says, “Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out. For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has become His counselor or who was first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to Him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever and ever, amen.” Take out the chapter division and read the next two verses. Paul concludes, “I beseech you [Church] therefore, by the mercies of God.” What did we see last in Romans 11? Mercy. Mercy. Mercy. “I beg you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your body as a living sacrifice, wholly unacceptable under God, which is your reasonable service of worship, and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect?” What is the perfect will of God that He's just told us about? A ministry of the Church to Israel -- a ministry that will ultimately see them restored. This is a ministry that the church, for the most part, for 2000 years has failed in. Martin Luther was a magnificent giant, a man of tremendous spiritual stature, but he was anti-Semitic to the core. Luther hated the Jews. He wrote that they should be annihilated. In fact, when Hitler quoted Martin Luther to get the churches of Germany to support him in the annihilation of the Jew. Churches either went along actively or passively. The Church at large today is doing the same thing. Our world hates the Jew. What do you think Paul's talking about when he says, “Do not be conformed to this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind?” And then he goes immediately into spiritual gifts in ministry. Every believer has a spiritual gift. Every believer has a ministry with a two-pronged focus -- the great commission to the world at large and particularly a ministry to the children of Israel. It is a shame and a disgrace that when the world has persecuted the Jews, we as a church have not played the role that we should have played. We should have been a shield to them. There are wonderful exceptions, but they are so few and far between. The Ten Booms of history, risked their lives and ultimately paid by being sent to prison camps for hiding, protecting, feeding, clothing Jews. Similarly, during the tribulation period there will be believing Gentiles who will literally lay their lives on the line for the Jewish people. And that, by the way, is another reason why the rapture cannot come at the second advent. It must come before the tribulation, because when Jesus comes at His second advent, He is going to separate the nations. And how does He separate them? What does He call them? He calls them sheep and goats. And the goats are unbelievers, and the sheep are believers. But what does He say to those who are sheep, those who have come through this terrible, terrible time of tribulation? He says, “I was hungry. You fed me. I was naked. You clothed me. I was in prison. You visited me.” And what are they doing that He says this to them? They are doing something the church has failed to do, and that is they're laying their lives on the line for the nation of Israel. Can you begin to see that, you can't just rip “the Blessed Hope” out of its historical context. You can't divorce it from where we've come. You can't take this branch called “the church” and just break it off the tree and say, “Forget the tree, forget the roots.” You and I need to be transformed. And our transformation is not only so that I can reach a world in need of Christ, but so that I can stand up as a proponent of a people who have been hated and despised since the day they were born in their father, Abraham. Could I just throw this out as a last thought? One day you're going to walk the streets of Jerusalem. Whether the Jerusalem of the Earth or the New Jerusalem. You are going to walk the streets and you're going to meet Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Boaz, Ruth, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, etc. You're going to meet them. Do you know that? They're going to know your history. They're going to know whether we, the church, did our job. They're going to know whether we been the shield for Israel that we should have been. I don't want to have to hang my head in their presence. I want my “blessed hope” to truly be a blessed hope.

The Rapture -- Goodness and Severity from God

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the often-overlooked prophecy of the rapture of the church in Romans 11, and how the church's role is to provoke Israel to jealousy, not replace them. He emphasizes the church's debt to Israel for the Bible and the gospel, and the importance of continuing in God's goodness and recognizing its roots in Israel.

Victim or Victor? Session 7

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that objectivity is crucial in life and relationships, allowing us to separate ourselves from situations and focus on facts rather than emotions. He illustrates this through biblical characters and historical figures, highlighting the contrast between those who remain objective and those who let subjectivity take over.

Victim or Victor? Session 6

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that our response to temptation and testing can determine whether we become victims or victors in our faith, and that gratitude is a key evidence of spiritual maturity.

Battle for the Soul (Ladies Class)

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that the story of humanity is one of victory, with God as the victor, and Satan as the enemy, and that we have a victor on our side, Jesus Christ, who shares his holiness, position, glory, and purpose with us.

Nan taught the ladies in Arizona at the annual conference "The Battle for the Soul"

Victim or Victor? Session 5

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that our identity as victors in Christ is not determined by our past failures, but by our commitment to God's Word and our loyalty to Him. He explores the contrast between wisdom and foolishness, and the importance of taking personal responsibility for our actions, as seen in the example of Abigail's response to her husband's sin.

Victim or Victor? Session 4

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that winning the inner spiritual battle is crucial before facing external challenges, using the life of David as an example. He explains how David's victories were not just against physical enemies, but also against his own fears, doubts, and the attempts to undermine his faith and loyalty. He highlights the importance of loyalty and unity in the church, contrasting it with duplicity and fickle love.

Victim or Victor? Session 3

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that character is crucial in the Christian life, and that evaluating oneself against God's standards is essential for success. He explains how courage and confidence are key to overcoming adversity, and how the story of David is a preview of Jesus Christ's role as the great shepherd.

Victim or Victor? Session 2

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the key to being a victor in life is to cultivate humility and trust in God, rather than relying on one's own understanding. He explains that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance, and that humility is not about self-beating, but about standing before God with reverence. He uses the life of David as a model of great character and a key to understanding God's will.

Victim or Victor? Session 1

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that as believers, we have the position of being victors through Christ, but our practice often reveals whether we truly reflect this position. He explores the key differences between victors and victims, and the eight qualities of Christ's character that we must cultivate to live as victors.

The Hands of God

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Does God really have hands? No. God, is Spirit. This is an anthropomorphism, a big word. That just means we ascribe human qualities to God in order to better understand Him. You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their hands. You can tell if the person is young or old, male or female. You can tell if they have an office job or if they do manual labor. The hands of a surgeon look different from the hands of a mechanic. In John 1:1, it says, "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we be held His glory, glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." The hands of Jesus, show us His humanity as He entered public ministry. They became the hands of a miracle worker. Hands that turned water into wine, open the ears of the death and the eyes of the blind healed the sick, the lame, and the lepers. The hands of Jesus show us His deity. And though His hands were the hands of deity, they were also the hands of a humble servant. Hands that welcomed the little children, said the hungry and humbly wash the feet of His disciples. "Jesus came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." In the garden of Gethsemani, His hands were first hands of prayer until the betrayer arrived, bringing the soldiers with them. His hands did not resist, but lay idle by His side as he was unjustly arrested, beaten and scorched. Finally, heavy nails were driven into the hands of God at the crucifixion, holding Him to a cross that he did not deserve to pay for sins that He did not commit. The hands of the Savior, the hands of Messiah, are hands that now reach out to us with the offer of life abundant, free and eternal. As we turn to Jesus Christ in faith, trusting Him for our salvation, we enter into a relationship with our Lord and we come under the care of His almighty hands. This is a relationship that can never be broken because no one and no thing can snatch us out of His mighty grip. Isaiah 64:8 and Psalm 92:4 says "We should sing with joy at the work of His hands, hands of faithfulness. "Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the sun of her womb? Even those may forget, but I will not forget. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands. Your name. My name inscribed on the palms of God's hands." Isaiah 49:15-16. His hands are hands of help, the hands of a caregiver. "Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that it cannot save. Neither is his ear so dull that it cannot hear." Isaiah 59:1. "Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him because he cares for you." 1st Peter 5:6. His hands are. Hands of friendship. Hands of fellowship. "The steps of a man are established by the Lord and he delights in his way when He falls. He shall not be hurled headlong because the Lord is the one who holds His hand." Psalm 37:23-24. His hands are hands of protection, though I walk in the midst of trouble. You will revive me. You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. And your right hand will save me. Psalm 138 seven. In the shadow of his hand, he has hidden me. And he has also made me a select arrow. He has hidden me in his quiver. Isaiah 49:2. This indicates that each one of us are an arrow kept hidden in the quiver of God. Until the time that His skillful hand draws us into His bow to send us out to impact a time and a place ordained by Him, ordained for His glory and His aim is sure. In other verses, the Bible calls the hands of God mighty valiant, righteous, strong, holy, glorious and good. And understanding these qualities should cause us to shout with David the words of Psalm 31, "As for me, I trust in you, a Lord. I say, you are my God. My times are in your hands." And we do live in perilous times. What a comfort to know that our times are in the mighty glorious and good hands of God. These are the hands of God that worked invisibly behind the scenes in the days of Esther. And these are the hands that work invisibly behind the scenes in your life and my life today, long ago, centuries ago. Today, the hand of God is working in your life to write your story, the part your life is to play in his wonderful plan. That story can only be written in time. But the glory of that story will last for all of eternity. Commit your life, therefore, into the mighty hands of God.

Hebrews Lesson 23

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith is the power to live in an evil world in a genuine and beneficial way, and that it's not just about believing, but about trusting in the faithfulness of God, which leads to spiritual maturity and a significant impact on history.

How are the Dead Raised Up?

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

1st Corinthians 15:35-45 documents what kind of resurrection bodies believers in Jesus will have; what it’ll be like. 1st Corinthians 15:35-38 says, “Someone will say,’ How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?’ Oh, foolish one. What you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not know that body that shall be. But mere grain, perhaps wheat or some other grain that God gives of the body as He pleases and to each seed its own body.” You plant a little grain of corn, and a great stock of corn grows out of it. The stock of corn doesn't look at all like the grain. The resurrection body will not look at all like the body you have. Thank God for that! But it will be of the same element. It'll be the same body resurrected. The body of Christ as the disciples saw it and the body of Christ as they saw it in the transformation glory on the mount of Transfiguration, it was the same body, but it was majestically and magnificently different. That's the point of Paul's making. Your resurrection body is going to be a vast improvement over the one you now inhabit, Paul says. 1st Corinthians 15:39 continues, “All flesh is not the same flesh. There is a kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another fish, and another birds.” Paul is simply trying to illustrate to the Corinthians (who did not believe in the resurrection) that there are different forms a body can take. 1st Corinthians 15:40 states, “There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, but the glory of the celestial is one. The glory of the terrestrial is another.” So, you have the visual glory of the mountains, the glory of the pines, the glory of the rivers. You also have the glory of the sun, the moon and the stars. Paul continues in 1st Corinthians 15:41-42, “There is one glory of the sun, another of the moon, another of the stars. For one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead…” Do you know what Paul is saying here? There will be a distinction between your resurrection body and someone else's body. That’s because your resurrection body is going to reflect the glory that you laid hold of in your life on earth. Another person’s resurrection body is going to reflect the glory that they laid all that in their life. Daniel tells us this in Daniel 12:3, Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” While some stars are really bright, other stars are very faint. Some believers are going to have a reflected glory of Christ in eternity. That is going to be magnificent. They're going to be luminous. Other believers who did very little with their lives, they're going to look like a faint star way off in the distance. Every believer will be able to be evaluated visually as to how they lived for Christ in their life. For example, you’ll look down the street and see a blazing light and say, “There comes the apostle, Paul!” Conversely, looking down the street you see another and say, “There's a there's a light coming. I can hardly see it. It looks like a flashlight that the battery's running out. You’ll say, here comes Gene. He says in 1st Corinthians 15:42, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is shown in corruption. It is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory.” We talk often about the dignity of death. There is no dignity in death. Death is a curse. Death is an ugly thing. We put dead bodies in beautiful caskets so that we see only the beautiful casket, not the decomposing body. There is nothing dignified or beautiful about death. Death, frankly, stinks! Thank God He has something greater for us than death! He has given eternal resurrection! 1st Corinthians 15:44-45 says, “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. It is raised a spiritual body because there is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. So it is really the first man. Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” Aren't you glad that you can step out of Adam into Christ? Note: This video contains clips copied from the LUMO Jesus Film Project

Habakkuk Session 8

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith means trusting God, even when we don't understand, and that God's plan to judge a nation may not be what we expect. He explains how Habakkuk's journey through the book is a model for understanding God's ways and how we can live in the moment-by-moment Sabbath, resting in God's promises, provision, and finished work.

Habakkuk Session 7

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith is not about seeing, but about believing in a God who is greater than the visible world. He illustrates this through the lives of Moses and Habakkuk, who chose to suffer affliction with God's people rather than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. This message emphasizes the importance of humility and obedience in being used by God.

Habakkuk Session 6

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that hypocrisy in spiritual leaders is a major woe in the Bible, and that those who teach will be held to a higher account, emphasizing the importance of living out one's faith and being open to correction.

Habakkuk Session 5

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God's judgment is imminent on America due to its increasing hostility towards Him, and that the only way to deliver the nation from judgment is through a mass awakening and revival.

Habakkuk Session 4

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith is a spiritual journey to a destination, with a goal and target of entering the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He explains that faith has different stages, including waiting on the Lord and enduring faith, and that it must have a working object, Almighty God. He also emphasizes the importance of the law of sowing and reaping and the sovereignty of God and man.

Habakkuk Session 3

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that trusting God and living by faith is crucial in times of uncertainty, as seen in Habakkuk's spiritual journey and growth through reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

The Voice of the Archangel

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The Apostle Paul wrote 1st Thessalonians for the purpose of comforting them, because they (like many Christians today) misunderstand about those who have died in Christ (see 1st Thessalonians 4:13 and 4:18). Paul refers to the “dead in Christ” (1st Thessalonians 4:16) also as “those who sleep in Jesus” (see 1st Thessalonians 4:14). Somehow the Thessalonians had the impression that these people (dead in Christ) were missing out so Paul writes to comfort them. 1st Thessalonians 4:13 says, “Regarding those who have fallen sleep, lest you sorrow, as those who have no hope.” Comfort to believers always comes from a very real and certain “hope.” When the Bible talks about “hope,” it never uses hope in an uncertain way. Modern English is different. We say, “I hope tomorrow is a nice day.” That doesn't give us any certainty. That's just an empty hope. When the Bible talks about “hope,” it means an absolute rock-solid foundation for confidence and assurance. Paul says that we have hope. The key to taking advantage of the plan of God in hope, here in 1st Thessalonians 4:14, is “…if we believe that Jesus died and rose again.” Saving faith and Biblical faith is in a Person and a Work. The Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. And His work is the cross. So “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we have a confidence that God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” When He comes, they (“those who sleep in Jesus) will come. 1st Thessalonians 4:15 continues, “For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, we will by no means proceed those who are asleep.” In other words, we will not enter into the heavenly state before them. We don't have an advantage by being alive when Christ comes. As a matter of fact, He's going to show us that they're the ones who have the advantage. We tend to look at this in a backward fashion. As Christians, regarding believers who have died, we say “what a tragedy;” this perhaps referring to a young man or a young woman who die at the age of 17 or 18. We bemoan that they never had the opportunity to live. However, the Christian perspective could be that dying is a marvelous thing. The fact that they are now in the presence of the Lord, they no longer have an opportunity to mess up. The dead in Christ don't have all of the faults and flaws and failures that we tend to stack up in our lifetime. And so, we're do not have an advantage over them. 1st Thessalonians 4:16, describes the rapture of the church. It says, “The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first, and we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them to meet the in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” So here's the scenario. Some believers are going to be living on the Earth and many will have died. Someday, “the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout.” What that shout will be we’re not told, but in Revelation 4:1, John, hears is a shout, “Come up here!” and that shout comes with a voice like a trumpet. As well, 1st Thessalonians 4:16 says that the shout is accompanied by “…the voice of the Archangel.” The Archangel is Michael. And Michael is significant at the rapture of the church because he's the commander of the armies in heaven for a particular purpose. What is that particular purpose? The defense of Israel. Isn’t it interesting that when the Lord calls the Church out of this earth, that Michael is on hand? It’s because of his particular role in the defense of true Israel. That's significant. Revelation 22:20-21 says, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be with you all. Amen.”

Habakkuk Session 2

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that effective and fervent prayer requires perseverance, harmony with other believers, honesty with God, love and compassion for others, confession of sin, and persistence, while sin hinders its effectiveness and obedience to God's Word is a key to its success.

Habakkuk Session 1

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that God judges a nation when they turn away from Him and His righteousness, and that His plan is not limited to one nation, but is a plan for the world, encompassing all nations and people.

The Dead in Christ Rise First

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In 1st Thessalonians 4:13, the first thing we need to determine who is "the sleeper." 1Th 4:13 says, "I don't want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep." Who are they? Dead believers in Christ. The term "in Christ" is important. Church age believers who have died. The verse says that, "...we should not be concerned..." because notice 1st Thessalonians 4:14, "God will bring with Him with Christ those who sleep in Jesus." So this tells us that when the Lord Jesus Christ comes for His church, who's coming with Him? Those believers who have departed this life and gone into His presence. Remember what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 5? "Absent from the body face to face with the Lord." When you close your eyes in death, you open your eyes in heaven. We grieve for those who have died. If they're believers, they're rejoicing. They're not weeping. They have made it into their eternal reward. 1st Thessalonians 4:15 says, "For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord that we who are alive and remain will until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who sleep. The dead in Christ "precede" those alive. We're not going to go ahead of them. We're not going to leave them behind. 1st Thessalonians 4:16 says, "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." How can the believers who have died both be coming with Him and rising from the ground at the same time? The body comes up from the tomb. The spirit comes down with the Lord and is reunited with the body.1st Thessalonians 4:16 continues, "Then we who are alive and remain, shall be caught up." The Greek for this word is "harpazo" and the Latin is "raptus" from which we get the English "rapture." All three words have the same meaning: "to be snatched, to be seized by force, to be picked up bodily and carried away." There are at least three biblical uses and illustrations of the rapture of the church: 1) Philip Acts 8:39, 2) Paul 2Co 12:1-4, 3) Jesus Christ Rev 12:5. An intriguing example of the rapture, though it doesn't use the word "harpazo" is found in Revelation 4:1 that is the Apostle John in Revelation when he hears a voice. "It was a voice of Him who spoke to me that sounded like a trumpet. And He said, 'Come up here.'" And that's the last mention of the church in the Book of Revelation until chapter 19, because the rest of it has to do with the tribulation, and then the church is not on earth. Note: This video contains artwork from a DVD created by Pat Marvenko Smith at RevelationIllustrated.com.

Each in His Own Order

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In 1st Corinthians 15:17-19, the apostle Paul picks up on a previous thread saying, "If Christ is not risen, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Also, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, where of all men the most to be pitied?" 1st Corinthians 15:20 starts with a conjunction of contrast -- "But." In contrast to being the most pitiable, in contrast to having hope only in this life. "But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." He says in verse 22 four, "As in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." God only divides the human race into two people during this current age -- you're either in Christ or you're in Adam. 1st Corinthians 15:23 is critical. He's talking about resurrection -- the resurrection of Christ, first and foremost. But then he's also talking about the resurrection of the dead, including people all the way backin the Old Testament. God has a plan for the resurrection of every believer, from every age, from every dispensation, all the way through history. But His plan is orderly, so he says in 1Co 15:23, "But each in his own order." The word "order" in Greek is "tagma" which means to be in rank. Each in his own ranks. It pictures the formation of an army, according to battalions or according to platoons, or however you're going to break it down. Jesus Christ is first. Though there were people that were raised from the dead before His resurrection, that was resuscitation. 1Co 15:23 says, "Christ, the first fruits, afterwards, those who were Christ at His coming." His coming has two phases: 1) the rapture -- for us, 2) the 2nd advent -- for Old Testament and tribulation saints. 1st Corintians 15:23 continues, "then comes the end when He delivers the Kingdom to the Father." At the end of the kingdom age or Millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ on this earth, there has to be a resurrection. Because you have believers who are being born, people who are being born on the earth for a thousand years. The Bible tells us that an infant will die at the age of 100. People are going to enter into the kingdom from the tribulation, and live all the way through the kingdom. They're going to be people in the kingdom still in a flesh and blood body and there has to be a resurrection for them. The final resurrection comes at the end when Christ takes the kingdom and delivers the kingdom to His father. What Paul has given us in a couple of verses is an overview of resurrection. In order each in his ranks, and it fits perfectly with a dispensation approach to Scripture.

We Shall All Be Changed

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

When we read of our blessed hope and the glorious appearing, or we read in first Thessalonians four, we say, When? How? Why? What? Why is God going to do this? And when will it come in the scheme of things? And we'll only understand that if we read the Apostle Paul. He's the only one who knew. Peter didn't know it. James didn't know it. Barnabas didn't know it. God gave it the apostle of a new people -- a new creation. Only Paul tells us that “the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel, the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. And we who are alive and remain [who are in Christ], will be caught up together with and to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” The church age will end right on schedule. And I want to show you from 1st Corinthians 15, the longest text in the Bible on the resurrection. If you want to understand resurrection, it's a good text to get into starting in 1Co 15:50 “This I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” Now, this is interesting because remember, Paul is arguing for a bodily resurrection, and yet he says, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” 1st Corinthians 15:50 continues, “Neither does corruption, inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery.” How can you define “mystery?” It is the revelation that God gave to the Apostle Paul regarding the church. No one before Paul knew the mystery. Not even the apostles and the prophets of his time did not fully comprehend. God chose to give this revelation a mystery, never revealed all the way through history until Paul came on the scene. God chose Paul to be the prototype of the church age believer, so that we could be instructed in who we are, what our provisions are, why we are here, what is the goal going forward, and to understand the age in which we live -- the church age. The church age is for the church, and the church age is for church age truth. Paul says, “I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. Who's “we?” -- The Church. Those who are in Christ. 1st Corinthians 15 continues, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.” Those who are dead are going to be raised and we who are alive are going to be changed. Sounds like another passage Paul wrote, doesn't it? 1st Thessalonians Chapter Four is consistent in his teaching. “For this corruptible must put on end corruption and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible is put on in corruption and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh, death. Where is your sting? Oh, Hades. Where is your victory? The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” What does Paul tell us? An accurate understanding of the Rapture of the Church will give you stability and strength for life in a troubled world. This is a very, very valuable teaching. We not only have to know how the church started. We must know how the church ends. Because it's a proper understanding of the working of God and a trust in his faithfulness to do what He said He will do that gives us the ability to plant our feet in a world that is shifting and shaking. And when the wind and the waves of life are raging and we can stand secure and we can stand in the peace that we have in Christ because we know who we are, we know where we've come from, we know where we're going.

The Glorious Appearing

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Titus 2:11-13 says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," The Old Testament prophets did not "see" the Church Age but longed to. They predicted both comings of the Lord, but did not distinquish the present age. Grace did appear to them in that they still had to believe the yet future Messiah would save them. They had predicted Jesus Christ arrival from Genesis 3:15 through Micah 5:2. They predicted His ministry and even death as The Lamb, but also His return The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. New Testament passages progressively tell us more. Jesus Christ, as Paul wrote in Titus 2:13, is not only "our great God and Savior," but that He is "our blessed hope" and have will gloriously appear to get us. 1st Thessalonians 4:17 Maranatha!

Hebrews Lesson 22

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith is the visible evidence of the invisible God and gives substance to our hopes, with the word of God being the working object of faith. He illustrates this through the lives of Abel and Enoch, who demonstrated faith through their offerings and obedience. This message explores the foundation of faith in the theological position of Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews.

Hebrews Lesson 21

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that faith is the foundation of the Christian life, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God's promises and provision, even in difficult circumstances, and living by faith to draw near to God and stir up love and good works.

The Marriage of The Lamb has Come!

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Note: Thanks to The LUMO Project, The American Bible Society and Revelation Production (www.revelationillustrated.com) for their videos which are used and water-marked as such in this posting. In the Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22), the wedding hall was filled with guests. Who are "guests?" They are friends of the groom, invited or "called" by the King (see our previous video for detail), but guests may or may not have received wedding garments by the King. What does it take to be given wedding clothes by the King? Righteous imputed by faith in Christ. This video answers the questions: 1) Is the man without wedding clothes a believer in Christ. He is thrown into the outer darkness when seen without wedding garments, but 2) "How did an unbeliever get into the wedding feast in the first place? When Jesus tells this parable, we've seen he is in the final week of His Life. He is about to be crucified. He has already pronounced curses on the nation ("Woes" of Matthew 23). We go to John 13, where Jesus identifies the invited "guest" at His early wedding feast (Jewish weddings of the time feasted all day, but the Bride and Groom did not come until later.) In the upper room early wedding known as Jesus' last supper, Judas is identified as the one who would betray Him, but also as an unbeliever just like in the other parables referring to most of the Chief Preists, Scribes, and Pharisees. Was it possible for an unbeliever to be at the early feast? Absolutely. Not the Bride (11 disciples), but Judas, the one who had every advantage and opportunity but rejected Christ and "had no wedding garment," so went out into darkness. Did Judas later "weep, wail, and knash his teeth?" Absolutely, then he hung himself! We next go to Revelation Chapter 19, where the Marriage of the Lamb is envisioned by the Apostle John. John, of course, has a front-row seat into the wedding feats of The Lamb, Jesus. How motivating it is to realize the servants, "both small and great (Rev 19:5) will be there! We belivers in Jesus (His person and work on the cross) are the bride! Revelation 19:7-8 says that, "His wife [we] has made herself ready" and to us it is "granted to be arrayed in fine linen" which are our "righteous acts of the saints." How much are you adding to the bride of the Lamb? Rev 19:9 shows that "those who are called" to the marriage supper of the Lamb" are not the bride, but guests. In summary, in Matthew's parables, Jesus is distinguishing believers verses unbelievers. This can be reviewed in the follwing videos: Matthew 8: Story of the Centurion https://youtu.be/z4bRvKwW5pg Matthew 21: Parable of the Vinedressers https://youtu.be/mmoXJhD19ho Matthew 22: Parable of the Wedding Feast https://youtu.be/-wpICzvKs6o Matthew 24: Parable of the Wise and Evil Servants (or Talents) https://youtu.be/9VxRPxXRDmk Matthew 25: Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins https://youtu.be/XSR2ITjyKx8 The "Outer Darkness" in Matthew 25:30 is actually explained in Matthew 25:41 as "everlasting fire" and in Matthew 25:46 as "everlasting punishment." Verse 46 also says that we believers, with imputed righteousness from our belief in Jesus, will go "into eternal life." All believers are "righteous." This is our assurance and security "in Christ." Maranatha!

Hebrews Lesson 20

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the process of sanctification and the duality of the believer's nature. He discusses how the Holy Spirit enables spiritual growth and victory over the sinful nature, contrasting this with the limitations of the Law of Moses (Romans 8:1-4, Hebrews 11). He also argues for Paul's authorship of Hebrews based on recurring themes of living by faith.

Where's the Bride?

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

We have shown in previous videos, that when Jesus talks about throwing people into “the outer darkness,” He’s making a contrast between the fate of those without faith versus verses those with faith. This video examines Matthew 22:1-14, the Parable of the Wedding Feast. Who’s the King? Who’s the son? Why is the bride missing? Who are those that eventually come to the feast? In Matthew 22:1, Jesus is still talking to the chief priests and scribes and Pharisees, from Chapter 21. Were these guys, believers, or unbelievers? Unbelievers. He starts His parable, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son. Who is the king? It's God, the Father. Who is the Son? Jesus Christ? Who is the bride? The church. The bride but isn’t even mentioned here, because the bride isn't around yet. Matthew 22:3 continues, “He set out his servants to call those who were invited,” Another way of translating the word “invited” is “called.” They were called. "... they were not willing to come.” This sounds like Matthew 23:37, where Jesus says in part, “How often I would have gathered you together, …but you were not willing.” The king is very patient. It says, “Again, he sent out other servants saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen, my fatted cattle are killed and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” The word “dinner” here means “breakfast” or “brunch.” This is important. This is not the wedding feast yet. Why not? The bride hasn't showed up. In the ancient world, the bride groom would only come and get the bride only when everything was ready (to include the feast). The anxious bride would run to meet the bridegroom with her trousseau or her hope chest. They would go to the place prepared, to the wedding feast. Meanwhile, the guests are showing up through the day and taken in and there was food for you. Jesus continues with the parable, “But they made light of it and they went their ways, one to his farm and another to his business. The rest seized his servants and treated them spitefully and killed them.” Matthew 22:7 says, “When the king heard about it, he was furious. He sent out his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned up their city.” What happened to Jerusalem? God sent an army to destroy the city. Verse eight continues, “Then he said to his servants, The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.” Note, the Centurion from Chapter 8, because of his unworthiness, turns to faith, and the others don't. In the parable, the king says, “They were not worthy, therefore go into the highways.” This means the side roads, the gravel paths. “…as many as you find invite to the wedding.” These are not the normal guests that you would pick. Jesus uses this analogy because, in the mind of the Jewish people, the Gentiles, as one rabbi said, “are fit only to ignite the flames of hell.” Jesus pictures a people who are blind, crippled, and deaf to shock his audience. The parable says, “The servants went out on the highways, and they gathered together, all whom they found both bad and good.” This is bad and good in human estimation not God’s. God knows that all of us are bad and that there's only one thing that makes us good. And that's Christ. “The wedding hall was filled with guests.” Is the guest and the bride the same thing? Some preach this that way. Here's the controversy. “When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who didn't have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” According to the custom of the day, it was the king's responsibility to provide the guests with a wedding garment. What does the wedding garment picture? Imputed righteousness. We'll explain in the next video. It says, “The man was speechless. So the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot and take him away and cast him into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” Here, “the outer darkness, the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth” refers to the same thing as with the four other Matthew passages. Matthew 24:14 ends the parable, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Who are “called?” All. Who are chosen? Only those who respond to the call. When God the Father chose Christ the Son to go to the cross for sinful man; He automatically chose all who would be in Christ (Ephesians 1:4). All who would believe.

The Outer Darkness Controversy - Part Three

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The outer darkness controversy argues that unfaithful believers are either kicked out of heaven, or are not allowed near the King (Jesus, Son of God) in the Kingdom. This is the third video addressing this topic. Please go to the “Jesus’ Roadmap” Playlist in the channel and review the first two parts is you’ve not seen them yet. Matthew 25:30, and an example, contains this phrase and is a problem passage for some. Good Biblical interpretation method insists and looking at how Jesus, as documented in Matthew, provides contrasts in His parables. Covered previously, in Matthew 8, with Jesus’ use of “outer darkness” there, Jesus makes a distinction between believer and unbeliever. We know this because the parallel passage in Luke 12:46, uses the phrase “unbelievers.” Realizing other parables in Matthew using “outer darkness” may present the same issue, in this video, we look closely at Matthew 21:33. Here, it says, “There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard.” Hopefully this sounds familiar. Jesus continues telling the parable, “He said a hedge around it and he dug a wine press in it.” The minute Jesus started this teaching, most Jews would’ve realized he was adapting Isaiah Five story elements; they should have known it well. Jesus continues, “He dug a wine press and built a tower, and he leased it to vinedressers, and he went to a far country.” Jesus often used a familiar framework, but changed something within the parable, and so he changes here, the vine dressers taking care of the vineyard. He went into a foreign country. It says, “When the time came, he sent his servants to the vine dressers that they might receive its fruit. The vine dressers took a servant and killed one stone another. He sent other servants more than the first. They did likewise to them.” Who are the servants here? The Old Testament prophets. He's talking to Israel. And He sent the prophets to them. In Matthew 21:37, it says, “At last he sent his son, and they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ And they caught him. They cast him out of the vineyard, and they killed him.” Isn’t that what they did to Jesus? It is very easy for us to understand, of course, who He's talking about here. Jesus wraps up with a question to His audience, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those vine dresses?” Jesus let them interpret His parable and guess what? They got it right. “They said to him, he will destroy those wicked men miserably and leases vineyard to other vine dressers who will render to him the fruits in their season. Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures?’ The stone, which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” The conclusion is in Matthew 21:43 which says, “Therefore, I say to you, The Kingdom of Heaven will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” Who is that nation? The church – “a people who are no people?” You will remember that Moses, in Deuteronomy 32, told Israel this was going to happen. In summary, Moses said, “You are a wicked and a stiff neck people, and you are going to continue to rebel until God is going to scatter you among all the nations of the Earth. And He will call those who are no nation to provoke you to jealousy.” In Matthew 21:44 Jesus says, “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken. Whoever on whom ever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” What is the difference between being “broken” and “being ground to powder?” I would simply say that the someone that is broken, is humbled over the person and the work of Christ, and someone that's “ground into powder” is an unbeliever that is going to be utterly judged. Would you agree? Matthew 21:45 is revealing. It says, “When the chief priest in the Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.” It's not too hard to figure out who he's talking to, is it. So, is the contrast in this parable between faithful believers and unfaithful believers? No. We’ve demonstrated the contrast in Matthew eight between faithful and unfaithful believers? Here, the theme of this parable is also between believing and unbelieving people. Yes, this Matthew 21 parable has elements of faithfulness and fruitfulness, but that is not the point that Jesus is driving when talking to the Pharisees who rejected Him.

The Outer Darkness Controversy - Part Two

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

There is a controversy around the term “outer darkness” which Jesus teaches in parables. It is crucial to view these parables considering the timeframe in which they were given. These parables are addressed to Israel—not the Church, which was not yet in existence. Specifically, they are aimed at Israel during the Tribulation period. That is not to say we cannot find applications which are valuable, but application is not the same as interpretation. Inaccurate interpretation will inevitably lead to flawed applications. To illustrate pitfalls of misinterpreting what Jesus means by the “outer darkness,” Matthew 25:30, the parable of the talents, says, “cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Is the unprofitable servant a believer or an unbeliever? To answer this question, we look at the trend of Jesus teaching starting in Matthew Chapter Eight. You remember the Centurion story? In Matthew 8:7, the Centurion said, “I am not worthy.” Here is one of the hallmarks of faith, which is humility. “I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. Only speak the word.” So, there is a trust in the authority of the Lord's word and the power of His word. And then, of course, there is authority orientation. The Centurion continues, “I am a man under authority. And I have soldiers under me….” And with this. Jesus responds by “marveling.” We only see two times in the Gospels that Jesus “marveled.” One is here at the faith of a Gentile centurion, and the other time is when He marvels at the unbelief of the Jews. So, Jesus marvels and says, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. And I say to you that many will come from the East and the West and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Why are they coming from the East and West? Remember, the Bible is always Jerusalem and Israel centered, so, East in the West refers to Gentiles, not Jews. Jesus continues the parable, “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness.” Does this sound familiar? “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”Some say that we must take “the sons of the kingdom” here as referring to believers because “sons of the kingdom” is also used by Jesus telling a parable about a field and a man sowing good seed in his field and an enemy came and sowed tares. So, that thinking says, because the Son of Man (Jesus) is the Sower, and He sowed “good seed”, they are the sons of the kingdom. We have to believe that they are believers, right? But who is He talking to? He's talking to Jews. And He's talking to Jews from their culture which was based on the Old Testament. They all knew that Isaiah the Prophet, 700 years before Jesus came into the world, anticipated this parable. Isaiah 5:1 says, “Now let me sing to my well beloved, the song of my beloved regarding his vineyard, my well beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and he cleared it out, cleared out its stones, and he planted it with what is the choicest vine.” Would you say that's a good seed? I would say that's good seed. Isaiah continues, “He built a tower in its midst as he also made a wine press in it, and he expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.” Isaiah 5:3 says, “Now oh, inhabitants of Jerusalem and Men of Judah, judge, please between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” The argument about the good seed falls to the ground, don't you think? Is Jesus distinguishing between great faith and little faith, or is He distinguishing between faith and unbelief? The centurion had “great faith” and Jesus marveled at that, but the issue is not "great" but "faith." Would you say then that in the picture of those coming from the East and the West, that they are believers? What kind of believers? Gentile believers. Who are those who are being cast into outer darkness? The sons of the kingdom. Remember the parable of the virgins? “Virgin” is God’s nomenclature for the whole nation of Israel in the Old Testament. Also, “My servant” is used of Israel in the Old Testament. Though they are by right Sons of the Kingdom, they are actually unbelieving Sons of the Kingdom. As Paul points out in Romans nine, it's because of their unbelief. Unbelieving Jews are going to be cast into outer darkness.

The Outer Darkness Controversy -- Part One

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000

There is a controversy regarding what “outer darkness” means in Matthew. I suggest you first watch ”The Bridegroom is Coming” to lay the ground work for this video. While Matthew 8, 22, and 25, use the term “outer darkness” seemingly to refer to unfaithfulness to the Lord, this is not the correct interpretation in these parables. It is crucial to view these parables considering the timeframe and context in which they were given. These parables are addressed to Israel—not the Church, which was not yet in existence. Specifically, they are aimed at Israel during the Tribulation period. That is not to say we cannot find applications which are valuable, but application is not the same as interpretation. Inaccurate interpretation will inevitably lead to flawed applications.Matthew 25:14-30 contains what is known as “The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant” or “Parable of the Talents.” It starts, “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man traveling to a foreign country who called his own servants and delivers his goods to them.” Israel called “My servant”, many times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 41:8, Isaiah 44:1-2, Isaiah 44:21, Isaiah 49:3, Jeremiah 2:14). The entire nation is referred to as “my servant.” So, in Matthew 25:14, “...to each one, according to his ability.” If you read Mark 13:34, a parallel passage, it says “to each his own work.” God has given to you, and I work. We have been given a work to accomplish, and we can only accomplish that work as we live by faith. Is continues, “Immediately, he went on a journey. Then he who received the five talents, went and traded with them and made another five talents.” Now, each of these servants understood that the reason that they were being given this trust was that they might multiply it. That's understood. Your job is to multiply by the interest and trade on the interest of your master. The parable continues, “Likewise, he who would receive two gained two more. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hit his Lord's money.” Let me just make an application from this to you and me. Each of us has been given a spiritual gift or gifts. Each of us has been given that gift to trade with, to serve who it is, to multiply. Don't bury your gift. So, "After a long time," it says in 25:19, "the Lord of the servants came and settled accounts." Get this in your mind. There's an accounting coming. Jesus Christ is going to settle accounts with you. Don't ever let that slip from your mind.The parable continues, and you likely know that the faithful servants receive similar rewards for using what their lord gave them.In Matthew 25:24, however, describes the servant who received one talent. It says, “Then he who had received one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not shown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.” By the way, is that how God is? That's not our God. He's compassionate. He's gracious. He's merciful. In Matthew 25:25, he says, “I was afraid. And I went and I hid your talent in the ground. Look, here you have what is yours.” Matthew 25:26, “But his Lord answered and said to him, You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not shown, and gather where I've not scattered.” In other words, “that's the way you see me, so that's the way I'm going to deal with you.” In verse 27 his Lord continues, “Therefore, you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I would have received back my money with interest.” At least there would have been some return. Therefore, he says in Matthew 25:28, “Take the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from him who does not have even what he has, will be taken away.” Matthew 25:30 says, “and cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Question, is the unprofitable servant a believer or an unbeliever? Watch the next in this sub-series in "Jesus' Roadmap" playlist to find out.

The Bridegroom is Coming!

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In Matthew 25:1 “Then” is our keyword. Then when? Then after the second coming of Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:1 says, “Then the kingdom of Heaven shall be like unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” Now, what distinguishes the bridegroom? He's one getting married, and he has a bride. Okay, keep that in mind. It continues, “Five of them were wise and five were foolish.” What is the beginning of wisdom? The fear of the Lord. How do we translate the fear of the Lord into one word? Faith. “ Those who are foolish took their lamps and they took no oil. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” We know that oil is a picture of something in Scripture. What is oil? A picture of the Holy Spirit. The parable continues, “While the bridegroom was delayed. They all slumbered.” The problem here is not that they slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard. Behold, the bridegroom is coming.” This is all according to the ancient Jewish customs of marriage. They never told the bridal company, nor friends when the bridegroom would come because they never knew what time the bridegroom chose or when he would come. The friends of the bridegroom would be waiting. What we would call the best man and his company were waiting. The bride was in her home waiting. She never knew when he was going to come because it was to be a surprise, because there is an element that is included in surprise. And so the bride herself is sleeping and when he comes and the friend of the bridegroom shouts. She runs out with her hope chest. This is where the idea came from. She would have her things packed in readiness, and when the bridegroom came, the shout was given. She would run out to meet him. Can you see here the parallel to the rapture of the church? And they would go to a place prepared where she would then adorn herself. Sound like Revelation, right? “It was given to be adorned.” You remember? And then she and the bridegroom would come to the place of the wedding feast. The parable continues, “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.” They all slept. They all arose. And they all trimmed their lamps. Matthew 25:8 says, “And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.’ The wise answer and said ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you.’” “They say, ‘Rather, go to those who sell and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy the bridegroom came those who were ready went in with him to the wedding.’ The door was shut afterwards. The other virgins came also a saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I don't know you.’” When Jesus Christ, a picture of The Bridegroom here, says, “I know you not.” That means He never knew you. You were never one of His. You are not a believer. We're talking here about unbelievers. Jesus is illustrating the danger of His return to those who never had the oil, of the anointing of the Spirit of God. The parable ends with, “Watch therefore, for, you know, either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” What is the first step to watching for His coming? You got to believe in Jesus! Jesus is talking here to his disciples. But there were always others that were gathered around Him. Therefore, he knew that this was going to be recorded and passed down through the ages. Jesus, by the way, never spoke only to those in his presence. Everything we have recorded; He spoke with the knowledge as omniscient God that it would be recorded for posterity. So the question would be ask how then can we refer to unbelievers as virgins? I'm not going to give you the number of times, but get yourself a good, strong concordance and go look at it and find out how many times the nation of Israel was referred to as a virgin. You find the phrase “the virgin daughter of Jerusalem.” That was a very common way in the prophets of referring to the Jewish people. So the virgin here is used by the wise of believers, AND the foolish of unbelievers. And once again, Matthew 24 and 25 is written to the Jewish nation. Jesus is speaking to the Jews. This is Jesus’ final message to the Jewish nation. The five foolish virgins are not unfaithful believers, but UNBELIEVERS – Jews that rejected Him.

"When Jesus heard it, He marveled..."

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Matthew Chapter Eight contains one of my favorite stories. “When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him...” To be a centurion, you had to be a commander proven on the battlefield. This man is a warrior and a Roman gentile. “A centurion came to Him pleading with Him, saying, Lord, my servant is lying at home, paralyzed and dreadfully tormented.” How many military commanders in the ancient world in Rome, which had 60 million slaves could care less about their servant? Most servant masters would’ve just killed him and acquired another one. That was the typical attitude in those days. There's something different about this man. His faith was working through love. Don't ever forget it. Faith doesn't work through fear. Faith works through love. If you want to serve the Lord, you develop a love for Him through His word and through letting His love come into you through his word. Do that and you won't have to wonder if you are doing enough for the Lord. You’ll just live your life in gratitude, and you'll serve Him just fine. “Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ The centurion answered and said, ‘Lord’.” That tells us something right there. He continues, “I am not worthy that you should enter my roof.” I'm not worthy. Most of us in those days, if we went to the Man that the whole nation was talking about -- the miracle worker, the preacher that moved multitudes -- and he said, “I will come.” You're thinking, “I hope the wife has the house clean. I hope she's got something that we can feed Him. You’d think, “Won’t my neighbors be impressed when I come down the street with the Prophet from Nazareth.” Right? This centurion is so humble and lets us have an insight into his thinking. The centurion said, “Only speak a word and my servant will be healed.” Do you think this centurion believed in the power of the Word of God? Do you think that you and I can go to the Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit as we address our prayers to the Father and say, “Lord, I have this problem. I've got a financial problem. I've got a health problem. All you must do is speak the word, and it's gone.” And if you pray that prayer and it's not gone, and the Lord didn't speak the word, are you willing to accept that? Because if you're not, you're not humble you and you're not living by faith. Most Christians believe that God can do everything they want him to do. To some he's Santa Claus or a miracle worker or a magician. The centurion lets us in on something else. He said, “I am also a man under authority.” Notice that he doesn't say I am a man “in authority.” What a difference to have someone, who is in the hierarchy of the Roman Empire, who has many, many levels of authority over him and many under him, but his focus is the authority over him. The centurion is authority oriented. By his understanding of the Lord, the centurion saw a correlation to authority within the Roman military and authority under the God of heaven. He continued, “I am a man under authority having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go’ and he goes and to another, ‘Come’ and he comes.’” So why do those under him obey him? Not because of who he is or because of his authority, but because of the authority above him. “And I say to my servant, do this. And he does it. When Jesus heard it, He marveled and said to those who followed, ‘Assured I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.’” Imagine today that if you and I began to live by the faith this centurion had. He didn't know nearly as much as most of you know. We could say it's not how much you know, it's WHO you know. Right? Most of the great heroes of the Bible knew so much less than you know, and they had enough faith to work mighty, mighty works. Joseph, for example, went down to Egypt. His brothers hated him. They tried to kill him. They sold him into slavery. He moves into the house of Potter. He's falsely accused. He ends up in prison. He keeps trusting and finally ends up in a position second to the prime minister of Egypt. Then when he delivers his family and his brothers, when Jacob dies and they're afraid he's going to take revenge, he responds, “You intended to me for evil. But God intended it for good.” He had faith like this, a faith that says, “God is in control, and I trust Him.”

Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The parable of the faithful and evil servants in Matthew 24:45-51 often cause theological problems, because it is commonly mis-interpreted and mis-applied to the church. Matthew 24:45-51 says, “Who then is a faithful and why servant whom his master made ruler over his household to give them food and do season. Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing assuredly I say to you he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, My master is delaying his coming and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him at an hour that he is not aware of and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” There are people who teach that this applies to the church. Some teach that if you as a believer, are not ready and not busy doing the Lord's service, you are not only going to be “cut in two”, but you will be given your portion with the hypocrites” and you will be “weeping and wailing and gnashing your teeth.” This is false. Can we find application of what we're seeing here in Matthew 24? Of course. See 1st John 2:28-29. We don't want to turn application into interpretation. The evil servant says “the master delays his coming. He beats his fellow servants. He eats and drinks with the drunkards. The master comes at a day that he's not looking, an hour he is not aware of, cuts him into and appoints him his portion with the hypocrites.” People who believe the false teaching on this passage say you, as a believer, have lived a hypocritical life and hypocrites are going to receive a portion of weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth. There's just one problem. The Scripture cannot contradict itself. Luke 12:42 begins, “and the Lord said, ‘Who then is that faithful and why? A steward whom His Master will make ruler over his household to give them their portion of food in due season. Blessed is that servant whom is master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler.” This is the same story in Matthew 24. “But if that servant says in his heart, My master delays his coming, he begins to beat the maids, servants and servants and maid servants, and we eat and drink and be drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him at an hour when he is not aware and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” This is not talking about believers, and it is certainly not talking about the church. He's talking about unbelievers. How is it possible that both the why is servant the faithful servant and the evil servant are called servants of God? Is it possible for an unbeliever to be called a servant of God? In the Old Testament the entire nation of Israel is many time referred to as servant of God, or “My Servant Israel”. Paul's interpretation in Romans 9:1-5 explains. Paul expresses in these verses his own attitude, God's desire as expressed by Christ in Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem. Jerusalem. How often I would have gathered you together, but you would not.” The breaking heart and the tears of the Lord in Matthew 23 is that breaking heart and the tears of Paul in Romans 9. There are two terms that are used for Jesus Christ throughout the Old Testament as the coming Messiah that are also applied to the nation of Israel – “servant” and “son.” All of those in the nation of Israel were given the privileges that Paul speaks of in verses Romans 9:4-5. What did the name Israel mean? “A prince having power with God and man.” Israel was the name change of Jacob. The entire nation of Israel received many blessing, but rejected Jesus, their Messiah. All of these Israelite treasures, all of these riches were pointing forward to the greatest treasure of all, the coming of the Son of God in the flesh of a Jew. And when they rejected Him. They lost it all because you can't have the blessings without the source of the blessing. You can't have the gifts without the giver. Paul goes on to Romans chapters nine, ten and eleven to show us that because of their rejection of their savior -- like Pharaoh, who hardened his heart and was destroyed --the nation of Israel had hardened their heart. And because of their own belief, they would be destroyed and therefore they would suffer the fate of their unbelief. They would receive their portion with the unbelievers.

"...they were eating and drinking..."

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Matthew 24:37 says, "But as the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the son of man. For as in the days before the flood they were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage." Let me ask you a question. What is wrong with those activities? This is not self-indulgence. They were eating. They were drinking. They were marrying. What's wrong with that? Now, the point here is not how nasty they were, although no doubt they're going to be nasty. In the days before the flood they were really nasty people, but Jesus is making a point here. It is not how sinful they were, but how deluded they were to think that everything was going to go on as it always had. Peter said in 2nd Peter chapter 3, "...scoffers are going to come with their scoffing, saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming forever since the fathers fell asleep? All things continue as they were until this present time.'" The people in Noah's time thought time was going to go on forever, and it was not. And then what happened? "...until the day that Noah entered the ark." By the way, who closed the door? God closed the door. God sealed the family in. That's a picture of us being placed in Christ and sealed in Christ. When judgment falls on the earth, we rise up above the judgment. This is another analogy of the rapture of the church.Matthew 24:39. "And they did not know." Could they have known? They should have known. Noah was preaching for 120 years and they did not know "until the flood came and took them all away. So also will be the coming of the son of man." Let me ask you a question in Matthew 24:39 who got taken away? Unbelievers. What does "took away" mean? They died in the flood. Read the parables and ask yourself how how if at all they can be applied to the church. They cannot be applied to the church. Matthew 24:40 says, "then two men will be in the field. One will be taken and the other left." Taken in the rapture? And the other one is left? That's not what Jesus is teaching. "Two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken, and the other left." And these are taught as if they refer to the Rapture. But remember, Jesus is not talking to the church. In Matthew 24 and 25, He's talking to Israel. And "the taken" is based on those that were "taken" at the flood, and that were "taken away" in judgment. The ones who are taken here in Matthew 24:40-41 are unbelievers at the end of the tribulation period when Jesus Christ returns with the armies of Heaven. They are taken away in judgment They are removed from the Earth. They are killed in the Battle of Armageddon. Matthew 24:42 says, "Watch. Therefore, for you do not know when our Lord is coming." In other words, be vigilant. Be alert. "...Know this that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come he would have watched and not allowed. His house could be broken." If you knew that tonight at 2:30 in the morning a thief was going to attack your house, what would you do? You wouldn't go to sleep. You'd be armed and ready, and you'd be waiting for him. You maybe even leave the front door unlocked. What is the point? The point is, you "don't know the hour" and therefore you have to watch all the time. Be vigilant. Matthew 24:44 says, "Therefore, you also be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour when you are not expecting." How do you get ready if you were living in this time; how do you get ready? Number one, you better "believe" (Acts 16:31) that's the first thing. You better make sure that you are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ. And then number two, you make sure that you're in the Word and in the will of God doing what he's called you (2Pe 3:18). Do stay alert. Stay vigilant. You're looking and you're waiting.

"When you see all these things..."

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In Matthew 24:32 Jesus turns to parables. Why? To illuminate and illustrate His prophecy stated before. In Matthew 24:32, Jesus says, “Now learned this parable from the fig tree.” The fig tree has a definite article. And what fig tree is he talking about? Jesus is making THAT fig tree is the symbol of Israel, a specific fig tree. Matthew 21:18 says, “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry and seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on the leaves and He said to it, ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’ And immediately the fig tree withered away and when the disciples saw that, they marveled, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither away so soon?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done.” Israel the fig tree He's talking about in Matthew 24 is the fig tree he cursed in Matthew 21. That's why He says, “Learn a parable from the fig tree.” They still have this in their mind. It was only two days previous. They learned a parable from that cursed fig tree because it represents the nation of Israel when its branches become tender and puts forth leaves. You know that summer is near Jesus saw this fig tree and it had leaves on it, did it not? Fig trees put forth the fruit before the leaves so when the leaves are visible, there should be fruit on it. When Jesus came to the nation of Israel, they had the appearance of having fruit but there was no fruit. In Matthew 23, He had just cursed them (eight “woes”), had he not? He cursed them because there was no fruit, because their religion and ritual and activity and careful observance of the law, there was no fruit. So Jesus says, learn a parable from the fig tree. "When you see all these things, you know that summer is near.” All what things? Everything He's been talking about earlier in Matthew 24,. What is the summer? Summer is the kingdom. The kingdom is near. Have you and I seen “all these things” yet? Many of them are still future. The Rapture is still future. Tribulation still a future. Abomination is still a future. Great tribulation and everything else is still future. But one day there's going to be a group of people who are going to see those things happening and they're going to know if they're well instructed. When they see antichrist sign a covenant for seven years, they're going to know they have seven years till the Lord returns. There's not going to be any question. You and I have no idea when Christ is going to return. They're going to know. Matthew 24:34 says, “Assuredly I say to you, this generation will by no means pass until all these things are fulfilled.” Because the fig tree is symbolic of the nation of Israel, with the appearance of the nation of Israel, our generation is not going to pass until all these things are fulfilled. He's saying this generation is not going to pass. By interpretation it's the generation that sees all these things happening. We're not there yet. But by application, we do see one the fig tree blossoming. Right? When you see these things, you know that His coming is near. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.” The Word of God is going to be fulfilled he says. “But of that day, and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my father only.” In another passage, He says, not even the son of man.” Why would Jesus, as God in the flesh, not know when that day He will return? The answer is in Philippians 2:6-8, where it says that “He emptied Himself…” In the Greek this means to voluntarily lay aside certain privileges. Jesus Christ voluntarily laid aside the exercise of certain of His attributes or of it. He didn't lay aside his duty. He simply laid aside the use of certain of His divine attributes for a time in order to make Himself subject to the same uncertainties and difficulties that we are subject to. He did everything he could to make himself as much like you and I as He could without sin. Hebrews 4:15 says, “He was tempted in all points as we are, yet, without sin.”

Jesus' Second Coming

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Revelation 19 shows a picture of what Jesus Christ's return will be like. Revelation 19:11 says, Then I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire.” What do you think that signifies? Anger. “Wrath on his head were many crowns…” Absolute authority. “And he had a name written that no one knew except himself. He was close with a robe dipped in blood.” Whose blood? His own. “His name is called the Word of God and the armies in Heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword that He should strike the nations. He himself shall rule them with a rod of iron. And he himself treads the wine press of the fierceness and the wrath of Almighty God. And He has on his robe and on his thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords” This is the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we will come with Him. Why on the thigh? The thigh in Scripture is a symbol of power. If you remember when Samson struck the thousand Philistines, he “smote them hip and thigh.” It's a symbol of power. So here we have our Lord's return, what we call the second advent. Is it right to refer to the Rapture as phase one and the Second Coming as phase two of Jesus coming? Yes. They both refer to His coming. It's just his coming for different groups, which becomes important when we get into the parables.

"Then..."

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

To answer the disciples questions regardining when the end-times would happen and what would be the sign of His coming, Jesus answers with four time markers beginning in Matthew 24:9. These markers will bracket the tribulation period, and provide light and hope to believers in Jesus Christ during this unparalleled hardship and suffering.

Gain Grace?

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Lewis Sperry Chafer in his systematic theology tells us that there are three essential factors that relate to the grace of God. Three things about the grace of God that we need to keep in mind. And these are very important. Number one, You cannot gain the grace of God through merit You cannot gain it through merit neither before or after your salvation. See, a lot of people want to do this little trick: We'll put the cross here as the point of salvation, and they'll say, If you want to enter salvation, you have to work. Paul says, "No!" Romans 4:3-4 makes it very clear. We were saved by faith without work. Ephesians 2:8-9 says the same thing. We are saved by grace. You cannot be saved by works (this is just another word for merit.) "Look what I've done." You cannot gain the grace of God by merit. But some come along and say, "Well... "...you don't have to work for your salvation," "...but you better work to keep it." It's the same thing. It's the same thing. If you don't work, you're going to lose it. Then it's not a gift, is it? What is God, an "Indian Giver?" When he said, "He who believes in me shall never perish..." He had the fine print like, you know, used car salesmen have? "Buy this car. It's a great car." "And for one down payment, you can drive it for a year..." "...without making a payment. Unless you happen to breathe, eat..." "...drink, sleep..." (the fine print there.) "...And then we charge you $10,000." Right? Who would turn the Lord Jesus Christ into a used car salesman? So you cannot gain the grace of God by merit. Now get ready, because here's point number two. You cannot lose the grace of God by demerit. The you can't lose it by demerit. Someone came up and said, "But what if we deny Jesus?" Well, we have an example of that, don't we? A guy named Peter. By the way, wasn't he the leader of the Apostles? By the way? Didn't he not only denied the word, he denied Him three times? And by the way, not only did he deny Him three times... he cursed and swore, "I never knew Him!" And when you swore in those days, you didn't say, "Hell, no!" When you swore in those days, you took an oath on the God of heaven. Imagine saying, "I swear by the God of Heaven..." "...that I don't know who He is." That's about as bad as it gets. And when Jesus told him, "You're going to deny Me three times tonight," what was the very next thing He said? "Let not your heart be troubled..." "You believe in God, believe also in Me." And when God gives grace to you, He is not going to give it to you because you are good, and He's not going to take it away from you because you're bad. God loves you with an infinite love. And when you trust in His Son as your Savior, He loves you like He loves His own Son, Jesus Christ. So you cannot gain the grace of God through merit. You cannot lose the grace of God by demerit. And you can only receive the grace of God by faith. What is faith? Because see, now people are trying to redefine faith. Faith is "belief," is it not? "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. He didn't jump through hoops. He didn't turn cartwheels. He didn't do anything spectacular. God told him something and he said, I believe it. I believe it. How simple is faith? I'll tell you how simple it is, Jesus said. "Except you become as little children," "...you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." Because I'll tell you something I've learned. I've had five kids and ten grandkids. I never had a one of them when I showed them a picture for the first time of an elephant, and I said, "There is an elephant." They don't look at it and say, "No, that's a giraffe!" They never saw an elephant before in their life, and they can hardly talk. And they go "Melefunt". Yeah, that's an elephant. And you know what? The next day, the next week, I show on the picture and I say, What's that? They say, "melefunt." They believe it. They just believe it, right? Like a little child. That's how we need to become. Faith is so simple.

Rapture before the Antichrist is "Revealed"?

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Note seven reasons the Rapture occurs before His “revelation” to the world (2 Thess. 2:1–8): 1. Because the coming of Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him is cause for comfort from all fear, vv.1–2. 2. The “departure” (better rendering of “falling away”) or Rapture, must precede Antichrist’s coming, v. 3. 3. Antichrist will stand in the rebuilt temple (v. 4), which will not be built until after the Church is gone. 4. Paul refers them back to what he has already taught them about the Rapture, v. 5, see 1 Thess. 4:13–18. 5. The “restrainer” (vv. 6–7) can only be the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church. When the Church is removed, the restraining power departs also. 6. Only “then” (remember, a key word in the Olivet Discourse) will “the lawless one” be revealed, v. 8. This verse accords with Revelation 13, the coming of Antichrist and the false prophet. 7. These points all agree with Paul’s statement in Rom. 11:25 that “blindness in part has happened to Israel until [time limitation] the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [i.e., the Rapture of the Church].” Note: Regarding the word “revealed” (2 Thess. 2:3, 8) two words are used: apokalupto and epiphaneia. Concerning the first, “the word is very significant, not only as marking the ‘superhuman’ character of the one spoken of, but as placing it in mocking counterpart to the revelation of the Lord Jesus Himself” (Milligan). And concerning the second, “the word usually has some idea of striking splendor and was often used by the Greeks of a glorious manifestation of the gods” (Morris). Both of the above quotes are found in The Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, pp. 608, 609, by Rienecker and Rogers.

Has the Tribulation Started?

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

What is an abomination? It's something profane and unholy. But when Antichrist comes on the scene, when he starts finding ways to torment and torture and persecute people on this earth, it will be the most horrible time in history. Desolation is that which essentially destroys. 2nd Thessalonians Chapter Two wraps up the abomination of desolation from a church age perspective. Why is this important? I hope it will comfort you because that's why Paul wrote it. 2nd Thessalonians 2:1 says, “Now brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him…” What do you think he's talking about? It can only be one thing. There's only one time when Jesus is coming for us and only one time when He's going to gather us to Himself. It's the rapture of the church! We know that Paul is comforting us, and he's comforting us on the basis of the rapture of the church. And he says the reason for this is “…so that we will not be soon shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by letter.” This tells us that there were many deceivers in Paul's day, and there were preachers who lied, “I'm sent from Paul.” There were letters that were sent that were signed with the signature, deceiving as if this is from the Apostle Paul or whatever “…as though the Day of Christ has come.” Now, we have a little bit of a textual problem here because some translations say “Day of Christ”; Some translations say “The Day of the Lord.” What is the difference? They're not the same. “The Day of the Lord” is the Old Testament designation for the Tribulation period. In the Old Testament, the the “Day of the Lord” refers to the Tribulation and the Kingdom Age that follows. The “Day of Christ” is a reference to the rapture of the Church. Some New Testament Greek manuscripts have the “the Day of the Lord”. The point is, in either case, the idea the Apostle Paul is conveying is that “we missed it and we're here.” Have you ever heard someone teach that we're in the Tribulation now? They're teaching it all over the place. Paul says, “Let me comfort you; if they tell you this, they're wrong. Why? Because your comfort is the coming of the Lord and our gathering together with Him. And if the Lord hasn't come and we haven't been gathered to Him, it's not here yet.” 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 says, “Let no one deceive you. That day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition…” Now the phrase “the falling away” is a term that's used 15 times in the New Testament. Ten of those occurrences are translated “departure.” I think “falling away” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3 should be “departure.” “That Day will not come unless the departure comes first.” This word has a definite article. The articular use here is pointing to what Paul has already spoken of, which is “the coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him.” So don't be worried because “that Day,” the day you've been told you're already in, “will not come unless the departure comes first.” And I believe “the departure” here is referring to the rapture of the church, not “the falling away of the church” which is declared in other passages. I don't think that's the point here. If we look at it this way, Paul is saying “that Day will not come unless the departure comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of predation.” The point is the rapture takes place first, and after that, the man of sin is revealed. I don't think you and I will ever know who the Antichrist is. He may be on the scene, but we don't know who he is. All of that's preliminary because what I want to really get us to is what follows. 2nd Thessalonians 2:4 says, “who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped so that He sits as God in the Temple of God, showing himself that He is God.” Does that line up with what Daniel told us about the “abomination of desolation?” Absolutely. 2nd Thessalonians 2:5 says, “Do you not remember that when I was with you, I told you these things. Now you know what is restraining him.” May I suggest to you that if you translate verse three as “falling away” and not “departure,” you don't know “what is restraining him [the Antichrist].” Paul's whole point to these Thessalonian believers is that there are reasons that they should not be deceived into ever thinking they're in the tribulation period.

Will Judas be Revived as the Antichrist?

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Daniel 11:36 deals with the Abomination of Desolation. It says, “Then the king will do according to his own will. He will exalt and magnify himself above every God. He shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished.” Always remember the tribulation period is a time of God’s wrath. Paul warned of the wrath that was coming on the unbelieving nation of Israel. That wrath spoken of in Daniel 11:36 was fulfilled first in 70 A.D. and the destruction of the nation, and then it’ll be completed during the tribulation period. So, God’s wrath is going to be accomplished “for what has been determined shall be determined.” Daniel 11:37 says, “He shall regard neither the God of his father's,” which tells me that if he comes out of Islam, he will be different than Islam, and “…he will not regard any God.” Why? It's hard to regard any God when you think you are God! You'll notice that it says, “…He will magnify himself above them all.” What was Satan's basis of rebellion? Isaiah 14:14 shows us what Satan, and therefore, the antichrist will say, “I shall make myself like God.” Why do you suppose the Antichrist is called “a prince” in Daniel chapter nine and a “king” in Daniel chapter eleven? At Mid Tribulation point he is in dwelt by Satan as Judas was. As a matter of fact, there are some very interesting parallels between Judas and Antichrist. They're both called the “son of perdition.” The Antichrist is called “…him who was…” and “him who is not…” and “…him who is to come…” When Judas died, the Bible says, “he went to his own place.” So, is it possible that Judas may be revived? Maybe I wouldn't argue the point, but there are some very strange connections between the two Daniel 12:11 says, “From the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away…” Remember, they're going to rebuild the temple. Jewish sacrifices are going to be re-implemented. Do you get excited when you hear about the temple being rebuilt? It is a sign that Christ is coming; that's a good thing. But the fact that the Jews are going to rebuild the temple is a bad thing. They're violating the entire book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews told them that all that sacrifice has passed away, the veil has been ripped from top to bottom. The temple ultimately was destroyed (in 70 AD). The sacrifices have ceased because they were all fulfilled in Christ, but unbelieving Jews keep going back to the old covenant. During the tribulation, the sacrifices for unbelieving Jews are going to be reinstituted in Jerusalem and at the mid tribulation point, when Antichrist walks into the temple, he will demand that sacrifices stop. Daniel 12:11 continues “…from the time that the sacrifices are taken away and the abomination of desolation…” The antichrist has set up probably an image of himself in there. “Shall be 1290 days” why 1290 and not 1260 (3 ½ years)? There's an extra 30 days here. Is there going to be a clean-up program? The Earth is going to be a slaughterhouse during God’s wrath and antichrist rule. From the time of the second Advent (Christ’s return to rule and reign), there's going to be at least a 30-day period of basically restoring the earth. Though you might think 30 days is quick time to restore the mess that's going to be here, because the Lord made the universe in seven days, He can surely clean it up in 30. That some of these things were simply not told. With prophecy always keep this in mind. There's always a missing piece. So like a puzzle with a missing piece, it's always hard to put it together. And the missing piece doesn't fall into place until the right time. Which should tell us something. Don't be too dogmatic that you know everything about prophecy because things are going to happen different than you think.

The Gospel Must First Be Preached to All the Nations

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

There are four waves of world-wide evangelism during the tribulation. Rev 7:1-8 says, “After these things, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth. The wings should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree…” In other words, they're withholding judgment. “…Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having to kill the living God. And he cried with a loud voice. To the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea or the trees until we have seen all the servants have our God on their foreheads’. And I heard the number of those who were sealed. 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. There are from the tribes of Israel….” And then he gives in verses five through eight, a list of 12,000 from each of these tribes. So what see here after the rapture of the church takes place. How many believers are taken in the Rapture? All. How many believers are left on the earth? None. None for a moment of time. God opens the eyes of 144,000 Jewish evangelists, which begins the first wave of evangelism. They're not the only ones who are saved. They're the ones who begin evangelism throughout the world. These are the ones who are provoked They're provoked by what they have seen that the Gentiles did. That should have been their privilege. The second wave you'll notice Rev 7:9 says, “After these things, I looked and behold a great multitude that no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues standing before the throne, before the Lord clothed with white robes and with palm branches in their hands, crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne unto the Lamb.’” Who are these people? Converts of the 144,000 to all these people are not only going to believe, but they're also going to be leading other people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then we go to Revelation Chapter 11. We have the third wave of evangelism. These are the two witnesses. I take them to be Moses and Elijah. Revelation 11:3 says, I will give power to my two witnesses. “…and they will prophesy for 1260 days.” How long is that? Three and a half years. When does their ministry begin? Mid-tribulation. What else is going on at that time? The abomination of desolation and so they're going to have their ministry. They're going to be killed for a short period of time and they're going to be raised up. The final wave of evangelism is in Revelation 13:6 which says, “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.” There are going to be four waves of evangelism that will completely circle the earth in the tribulation period.

The Abomination of Desolation

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Matthew 24 covers the Tribulation period of seven years. Verse 14 says, “This Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.” The Church is never going to reach the whole world for Christ. But in seven years, a bunch of Jewish evangelists are going to do what we haven't done in 2000 years. Do you think they were provoked by us to get in gear and get involved? I think so. The Gospel of the Kingdom is going to be preached in all the world. Why does he say the gospel? The Kingdom? Because what's going to be the emphasis of the gospel in the tribulation period? The King and the kingdom are coming right and it's going to be preached as a witness to all nations. “And then the end will come.” Have we seen that word before? Verse 13, verse 3, verse 6 all refer to the end of the age of Israel. Matthew 24:15 says, “Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet standing in the holy place…” No Jew would misunderstand this because the holy place with the holy of holies in the temple parentheses, Matthew adds this little note, “Whoever reads, let him understand.” Then verse 16 says, “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” Here's where we are in a period of time -- the Tribulation -- that begins. Jesus gives us the outline to the whole thing. What about this abomination of desolation? Let's focus in on the “abomination of desolation” from Daniel Chapter Nine. Most of you will know that this is in the section dealing with the 70 weeks of Daniel starting in Daniel 9:24. “70 weeks”, the word weeks is “Heptane”, meaning sevens. Say, how do we know what sevens they are? We find out by comparing Scripture with Scripture. And we know that is talking about 70 weeks of seven years; in other words, 490 years. “70 weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation, for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.” All of those things must be finished by the end of the 490 years. Which brings us to what event the return of Jesus Christ. We know they're for and understand what did, what did Matthew just say? “He who reads, let him understand know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem…” (this happened, by the way, under Artaxerxes in 445 B.C.) “…until Messiah the Prince,” that is, until the coming of Jesus Christ. How many weeks altogether? 69. How many weeks are left? What one if one week is left? Why is it left? Because it's the final seven years of the tribulation period, right. After 483 years of Jewish history, “Messiah shall be cut off…” (the cross) “…but not for himself.” Who's he cut off for? You and I. This where we need to get a little bit careful. Who's “the prince who is to come?” We call him Antichrist. The people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary who destroyed the city and the sanctuary in 70 A.D. Rome. “And the end of it shall be with a flood till the end of the war. Desolations are determined.” Will you say that we've been seeing Desolations thus far in Matthew 24? I think so. There's a phenomenal book called “The Coming Prince” by Sir Robert Robertson. If you want all of the details that I'm leaving out here, get the book. Daniel 9:27 says, “He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week (3 ½ years) he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering on the wing of abominations.” Why did Jesus tell everybody to run? Because the abominations are going to bring desolation “…on the wing of abomination shall be one who makes desolate.”, in other words, scorched earth policy against the Jews. “Even until the consummation” – literally “the end.” We're talking about the same end here. Matthew 24:13 “he who endures to the end shall be saved.” “Until the end (or the consummation)” which is determined is on the “desolator”. In other words, his come-uppance will come.

The Power of Perseverance (Part Two)

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that perseverance is the key to realizing God's sovereignty in our lives, developed through trials and the sustaining power in persecution, and is the outward expression of faith, hope, and love.

The Power of Perseverance (Part One)

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The Power of Perseverance (Part One) 1) Perseverance is the price of victory. In the spiritual war, you and I are engaged in a spiritual war and victory. In that spiritual war, as far as our personal lives is concerned, is going to require perseverance. Revelation 3:10. “Because you have kept my command to persevere. I will keep you from the hour of trial, which will come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.” This is not talking about the Rapture in that passage. How do I know he's not talking about the Rapture in that passage? Because if he's talking about the Rapture in that passage and you don't persevere, you don't go, which is a false teaching. What is he talking about? The hour of trial he's talking about is not to Israel. The hour of trial he's talking about is to the church and may I suggest, we are in it. if you want to be delivered in this hour of trial, you are going to have to persevere and Rev 3:10. 2) Perseverance is greater than either patience or endurance. Perseverance is greater than either patience or endurance. Whether you look at it in the Greek language or look at it in the English language, patience primarily denotes a mental stamina. In other words, I'm willing to tolerate this. I'll put up with this last patience. We are patient with those who try our patience. Endurance denotes more of a physical perspective. I'm under pain, but I'm going to bear it. What is the difference between perseverance, patience and endurance? The answer is this perseverance not only bears up but perseveres toward a clear goal. There is a goal out there that you are pushing toward. You'll remember, Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14. “It's not as if I have already attained. Neither am I already made perfect. But this one thing I do forgetting the things that are behind and looking forward to what's ahead. I press on to the goal for the prize of the high calling that I have in Christ.” He had a goal in mind. It was not just I'll put up with this It was not just I can take the pain. It's there's a purpose in this and I am driving for the purpose. That is a big, big difference. Perseverance focuses on purpose. 3) Perseverance is a key ingredient of Christian character. Perseverance is a key ingredient of Christian character and can only be developed through trials. There's only one way to get perseverance, and that is to suffer. Paul says in Romans 5:3-4 “Not only this, but we glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character produces hope.” A good question for us today would be can we really glory in our tribulations? 4) Only genuine spiritual growth can develop true perseverance. only true spiritual growth. Yeah, it takes affliction on the outside, but it takes spiritual growth on the inside. You remember the passage in 2nd Peter 1:5, when he says, “for this very reason, bringing in all diligence, add to your faith, virtue and true virtue, knowledge and a knowledge, self-control, and a self-control, perseverance and a perseverance, godliness…” You ought to be conformed to Christ. Therefore, Paul says, “If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him (2 Pet 2:12).” 5) The Greatest Arena for displaying perseverance is prayer What is the greatest arena for displaying perseverance? What is the greatest place that you will ever display? Your perseverance, your suffering, or your fear, where you're at You're ready for it. You're in prayer. Oh, no. You may not always be suffering. You are always to be praying. You may not always be under trial. You ought always to be praying every day. 24 hours, however, minutes and many minutes and seconds. You have all those opportunities to be praying. You'll touch the world with prayer. Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. Make sure you're in the spirit. Being watchful to this and with all perseverance and supplication for the saints….”

Shall be Delivered

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

We have to deal with Matthew 24:13 “He who ‘perseveres’ (I prefer that word) to the end (that is the end of the tribulation period) shall be delivered.” What is “saved” referring to? Well, Jesus talks about it in Matthew 24:22, “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved.” If we took the word “saved” in verse 22 as eternal salvation, then eternal salvation depends on the days being shorter. That's not what it's saying. It is using the word save the same way you and I would use the word saved, and that is to be delivered from the terrors that are ravaging the earth; that is to be physically delivered. So “he who perseveres to the end will be delivered.” You ask, “what about the poor people who die as martyrs?” Wouldn't you say they persevered to the end? Wouldn't you say that they will be delivered? The question then is “delivered from what?” They'll be delivered from failure and loss when they stand before the Lord. Daniel gives us a little foretaste of what it's going to be like for believers in the tribulation period. He says in Daniel 11:32, “those who do wickedly against the covenant (that is against the Mosaic Covenant, the old covenant) he (Antichrist) shall corrupt with flattery. You know, with some people flattery will get you anything Politicians know this. That's why they are, for the most part, a pack of liars They'll tell you anything you want to hear so that they get elected There are a few that are good, but many have been corrupted. Notice that he shall corrupt with flattery It's been said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We've seen it happen again and again and again. “But the people who know there are God shall be strong” They're going to have supernatural power and “they are going to carry out great exploits.” I believe that some of the things that are going to happen in the tribulation period are going to be absolutely astounding. I believe that there will be a return of supernatural activity like the world has not seen in some time. Particularly those of us in the Western world “And those are the people who understand, shall instruct many.” That should be happening now. These verses should be a portrait of you and me. We should be the people who truly know our God, not just knowing about it, knowing Him personally. We should be the ones who have supernatural strengths and carry out great exploits. And we should be instructing many Yet for many days, they shall fall by sword and flame by captivity and plundering how many days and how many and how many for certain? 1260. Now, when they fall in other words, when they fall under the weight of the attack, the persecution, they “shall be aided with a little help” -- Because with God a little is always enough. When they fall they will be given a little help. “Many shall join with them by intrigue.” In other words, there will always be deceivers. Don't trust everyone simply because they have a nice smile. Don't trust someone just because they have good words. Daniel 11:35 says “Some of those of understanding shall fall” to refine them, to purge them, and to make them pure until the time of the end. “He who endures to the end shall be saved because it is still for the appointed time.” In other words, what Daniel is saying is that some are going to fall and they're going to die and some are going to fall and they'll be given a little help and they will be carried through to the end In other words, they will persevere till the end and they will be delivered. They're going to make it through to the end. In other words, they are going to persevere in the faith.

He Who Endures to the End

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This message, especially as recorded in Matthew, is very precise in its presentation. Jesus is giving us a very clear, detailed account of how history will unfold prior to His Second Coming. The Tribulation is the time Jeremiah called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). A. The Tribulation (first half—3 ½ years), Matthew 24:9–14 • Persecution and martyrdom (see Luke 21:13–19) • Betrayal and hatred • Many false prophets arise • Lawlessness and love-lessness • He who endures to the end will be delivered from: 1. deception, vv. 4, 11 2. fear, v. 6 3. spiritual failure, v. 12 4. wrath, death, v. 22. • Great waves of evangelism (see Mark 13:9–10; Luke 21:13–15)

But Why a "Tribulation"?

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It is my conviction, from simply taking Scripture literally, that the Rapture of the Church occurs at this point, between Matthew 24, verses 8 and 9 (see 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11; 2 Thess. 2:1–8; esp. Rev. 4:1). Jesus does not deal with it here, because the Church is still an unrevealed “mystery” (see Eph. 3:1–10). There are many today who reject the teaching of the Rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13–18), because they think it is a “cowardly” hope of weak Christians to escape the Tribulation. In light of the past 2,000 years of church history, this is a foolish notion. It has been the portion of believers throughout world history to suffer affliction and severe persecution, even to horrible torture and execution. The Church has surely paid her dues. Furthermore, we do not know what trials await us, even in the times of increasing birth-pangs ahead. This message, especially as recorded in Matthew, is very precise in its presentation. Jesus is giving us a very clear, detailed account of how history will unfold prior to His Second Coming. The Tribulation is the time Jeremiah called, “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7). Note seven reasons the Rapture occurs before His “revelation” to the world (2 Thess. 2:1–8): 1. Because the coming of Jesus Christ and our gathering to Him is cause for comfort from all fear, vv.1–2. 2. The “departure” (better rendering of “falling away”) or Rapture, must precede Antichrist’s coming, v. 3. 3. Antichrist will stand in the rebuilt temple (v. 4), which will not be built until after the Church is gone. 4. Paul refers them back to what he has already taught them about the Rapture, v. 5, see 1 Thess. 4:13–18. 5. The “restrainer” (vv. 6–7) can only be the Holy Spirit indwelling the Church. When the Church is removed, the restraining power departs also. 6. Only “then” (remember, a key word in the Olivet Discourse) will “the lawless one” be revealed, v. 8. This verse accords with Revelation 13, the coming of Antichrist and the false prophet. 7. These points all agree with Paul’s statement in Rom. 11:25 that “blindness in part has happened to Israel until [time limitation] the fullness of the Gentiles has come in [i.e., the Rapture of the Church].”

The Beginning of Sorrows (Birthpangs)

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

This section deals with what the New Testament calls the “last days” (Heb. 1:2), which covers the time from Jesus’ ascension to the Rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13–18). It is very clear from this section that the Rapture of the Church is not some “way of escape from suffering” as some present it. The whole history of the Church is one of affliction and persecution. This is, in fact, the normal Christian experience (2 Tim. 3:12). It is worth noticing that Matt. 24:4–8 covers the same historical time frame as Revelation 1–3. However, since Jesus is addressing Israel here, the “signs” of the times are the main focus. Revelation 1–3, written to the Church, focuses on conditions existing within the Church body and a call to continued spiritual purification. A. The Two Great Dangers, Matthew 24:4–6 The first great danger to believers is deception. The devil is a deceiver (John 8:44), and this is his greatest weapon against us. Just as he deceived Eve in the Garden, he seeks to deceive each one of us (Gen. 3:1–8; 1 Tim. 2:14; 2 Cor. 11:3). This deception comes from “false christs and false prophets” (Matt. 24:11, 24, see 1 Tim. 4:1–2). The second great danger is fear. Remember that fear and faith cannot live together (see Luke 21:34–38). B. Increasing Birth Pangs (Historical Trends), Matthew 24:7–8 It is my conviction, from simply taking Scripture literally, that the Rapture of the Church occurs at this point, between Matthew 24, verses 8 and 9 (see 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11; 2 Thess. 2:1–8; esp. Rev. 4:1). Jesus does not deal with it here, because the Church is still an unrevealed “mystery” (see Eph. 3:1–10). There are many today who reject the teaching of the Rapture of the Church (1 Thess. 4:13–18), because they think it is a “cowardly” hope of weak Christians to escape the Tribulation. In light of the past 2,000 years of church history, this is a foolish notion. It has been the portion of believers throughout world history to suffer affliction and severe persecution, even to horrible torture and execution. The Church has surely paid her dues. Furthermore, we do not know what trials await us, even in the times of increasing birth-pangs ahead.

Three Questions

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

As always, it is crucial to get the contextual setting. Jesus “departed from the temple” (Matt. 24:1). But this follows His most terrible message to Israel in Matthew 23, in which He announces eight “woes” to the nation for their rejection of Him. He concludes this message with the warning, “You shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’” (Matt. 23:39). Jesus never entered the Temple again. This departure was a fulfillment of the vision of Ezekiel (Ezek. 10:18–19), where he saw the “glory of the LORD” depart from the temple. The disciples’ comment on the buildings of the Temple (Matt. 24:1) results in Jesus’ prophecy of its ultimate destruction. This, in turn, causes the disciples to ask three questions. These questions are vital to all that follows. Jesus’ response is a prophetic overview of future history. Jesus’ Prophecy of the Temple, Matthew 24:1–2 Although this prophecy certainly anticipates the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D. (dealt with in Luke 21:20–24), we know that not “every stone” of the Temple was thrown down at this time. The very existence of the western or “wailing” wall is proof of this. Jesus had in mind the total destruction that would precede His Second Coming (Rev. 16:17–21). The Questions of the Disciples, Matthew 24:3 The three questions are related, yet they address separate issues: 1. “When will these things be?” This question has to do with time. The question is answered in the Tribulation portion of the message (Matt. 24:9–28). 2. “What will be the sign of your coming?” This specifically relates to the Second Coming of Christ (Matt. 24:29–31). This does not refer to the Rapture, which is at this time part of the unrevealed “mystery” of the Church Age (Eph. 3:1–10). 3. The final question has to do with “the end of the age,” which I take to mean the “Age of Israel” since the disciples did not yet know about the Church Age. We now know that the Age of Israel has been interrupted by the Church Age (an intercalation). The final seven years of the Age of Israel is the Tribulation period, also known as Daniel’s 70th week (Dan. 9:24–27), which is divided into two portions of “1,260 days,” or “42 months,” or “three and a half years” (see Dan. 12:7; Rev. 12:6, 14; 13:5).

Hebrews Lesson 19

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the blood of Christ cleanses the conscience from dead works, allowing believers to serve the living God, and that Christ's sacrifice brings perfect peace and security, as well as eternal redemption and inheritance.

This and That

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

I have never personally watched a dead person come to life, but I have watched multitudes that were dead in their trespasses and since enter resurrection life; That's even a greater miracle. In Ephesians two, Paul says, "And you, he made alive who were dead in trespasses." The tragedy about a person who is dead is that they don't know they're dead; our world is dead and doesn't know it. At the foot of the cross, that's where we were :dead in our trespasses." Since we realize our deadness and we realize our separation from God, we look away from the sin and we look up and the top of the cross is pointing us to the Savior Jesus Christ. It's what he has done when He went to that cross to give us eternal life. And so, Paul says, "you were dead, but he made you alive. You were dead and trespasses and sin in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to prince of the power of the air; the spirit, that now works in the sons of disobedience." This, of course, the spiritual kingdom of Satan. "Among whom we also," Paul, includes now the Jewish believers with the Gentiles, "...once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And were by nature, the children of wrath, just as others." But here's the great conjunction of contrast. The greatest contrast in all of history. It's like when we look at the Cross and we think of how the Cross separates human history. Jesus Christ came into this world and split history in two. And every time we write a date or every time we see a date like on a coin, it's reminding us Christ invaded human history. "But God," he says, "who is rich and mercy verse for because of His great love with which he loved us." Notice he loved us even when we were dead in our trespass and sins. He loved us even when we were walking, according to the course of this world -- when we were under the power of the dominion of Satan. Paul says in Romans 5:8, "Even when we were enemies, Christ died for us." "...because of His great love, which he loved us, though we were dead in our trespasses..." I ask you to notice again the three things. 1) he made us alive together with Christ. And then that parenthetical phrase "By grace, you have been saved." 2) "He raised us up together." 3) "He made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus." What is salvation? The salvation Christ purchased for us? What are we talking about? We're talking about those three things that God has done for us through the Person of Christ. Paul wraps these three marvelous things together in the idea of salvation. And then he says in Ephesians 5:7 "that in the ages to come, He may show the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Throughout all the ages and eons of eternity, we're going to see more and more and more of His grace. Then he says, "For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God." Here's two words I want you to hang on to for just a moment, and they'll make more sense to you. What is salvation here? Here's the first word. It's "THIS." What do I mean by "this?" Those three things I pointed out in verses five and six. What is salvation? It is "this:" 1) raised up with Christ. It's sharing his resurrection power. 2) seated with Him on the throne in heaven. And "this" is "that." "That" points to Ephesians 2:8. What is "this?" It's "that," namely, "by grace you've been saved through faith and that not of ourselves." See the little word "that?" "That (salvation)" is the summary of those three things, "...is not of ourselves, it is a (free) gift of God." My friends, a gift can only be received.

3:16

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

You know, for me it was I had a deep, deep conviction of being a sinner. I grew up in a Methodist church. We went to church every Sunday. I had all the pins, you know, for going a year without missing a Sunday. And I came away with only one understanding, but it was a good one because it was part of the building blocks that led me to faith, and that was "sinners go to hell." Of course, I thought good people go to heaven. Sinners go to hell. And I knew which I was. There was no question in my mind. The part I was wrong about was there aren't any good people who go to heaven. But still, that deep conviction lasted with me from the age of five to the age of fifteen. I was terrified of death. Whenever I heard of a person dying or a funeral, I was terrified because I knew one day I'm going to die. To give you an idea, I remember at the age of seven we went camping and my dad had built a bonfire and I stood looking at the bonfire at the sticks that were burning. And the thought that went through my mind was, I wish that I could have just been made a stick instead of a human because that stick is going to burn up, and it'll be over. But I'm going to burn forever in hell. I had very strong conviction of that. Well, that worked on me for ten years. In those ten years I just proved it more and more every year. No hope for me. I know where I'm going. And then finally a guy came to me and we met and shared with me John 3:16. And to be honest, I didn't understand it at all. But he said, "Memorize this verse." And I did. And I met up with him two or three weeks later and he said, "Did you memorize verse?" I said, "Yeah, I could quote it. John. John 3:16 "God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." I went through it didn't mean anything to me. Well, he thought I had become a believer. I didn't understand what the verse meant.

Hebrews Lesson 18

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on July 1, 2022

Profile of a Model Church

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the characteristics of a model church, highlighting the importance of genuine love for Christ and fellow believers, spiritual equilibrium, and a hunger for the Word of God. He examines the profiles of several churches in the New Testament, including Corinth, Ephesus, Thessalonica, and the church in Hebrews 10, to illustrate the qualities of a faithful local church.

Given on 26 June 2022, Gene taught this lesson to Westside Bible Church during their time of picking a new Pastor.

Hebrews Lesson 17

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the new covenant is a superior and unconditional promise based on God's faithfulness and Christ's finished work, providing a personal relationship with God, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and once-for-all cleansing from sin.

Jesus' Roadmap for the Future

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The Olivet Discourse is one of the three major discourses (sermons) of Jesus. They include: 1. The Sermon on the Mount/Galilee Discourse (Matthew 5–7) 2. The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25; Mark 13; Luke 21 3. The Upper Room Discourse (John 13–17) Each of these messages is aimed at a specific period of history, which we call a dispensation. They lay out God’s dispensational plan, like a road map, from the time of the crucifixion to the end of time. The Sermon on the Mount was directed to the generation in which Jesus lived and was His platform as King—if Israel would receive Him. Obviously, they rejected Him as their King. However, this will be the basis of Jesus’ administration during the 1,000-year Kingdom Age (Millennium). Then, the Olivet Discourse was aimed at the consequences of Israel’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah, and anticipated the destruction of the nation (70 A.D.) and the final Tribulation period. Remember that the Church Age is an intercalation—meaning an insertion, like a parenthesis, into the Age of Israel. This means that with the Rapture of the Church, the Tribulation picks up where 70 A.D. leaves off. This is why the Church Age is called a “mystery” (Rom. 11:25; 16:25; Eph. 3:1–13; Col. 1:26–27), which is a graduate course to “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places” (Eph. 3:10). Finally, the Upper Room Discourse was directed toward the Church Age, which began at Pentecost and would continue to the Rapture (1 Thess. 4:13–18). The uniqueness of this Age is summarized by Paul’s phrase “in Christ,” and all of the elements involved in what we call “positional truth”—our total union with Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit in us, which occurs nowhere else in history. With the removal of the Body of Christ, the Church, Israel would again become the focus of God’s working on this Earth (Romans 9–11; Revelation 6–19).

Expedient

Sat, 18 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

The focus shifts to the Pharisees in John 11:46 John 11:45 tells us, "Many of the Jews that came to Mary and had seen the things Jesus did believed in Him." Wonderful result, but the Pharisees don’t take it that way. John 11:46 say, "But some of them walked away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered and said, 'What shall we do for this man works many signs’.” You might remember in John chapter three, Nicodemus came to Jesus saying, "No man can do the signs you do unless God sent him." They didn't see it that way. John 11:48 says, "Everyone is going to believe in Him." In effect they are saying "We can't let that happen." Why? Because it would deprive them of their power, their prestige, and their wealth. "If everyone believes in Him," they said, "the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. And one of them Caiaphas being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all. Neither do you consider that it's expedient for us that one man should die for the people. Not that the whole nation should perish." An evil man with evil designs saying evil things. Do we really believe that the Lord is in control? When we look at the leadership of this country? When we look at the criminals that want to rule over us, do we really believe that God is still on the throne? Do we believe that He has a plan and a purpose for everything that happens? Do we really trust that God works all things together for good? Do we really believe as Joseph said, "you intended it against me for evil, but God intended it for good?" We need to lighten up and we need to trust God. John 11:53 says, "Then from that day on, they plotted to put him to death. Therefore, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country, near the wilderness to a city called Ephraim, and He remained there with His disciples." Do you know why he did that? Because He may wake, but He's never late. He had an appointment. His appointment came on Passover, the day the Jewish nation would reject their Messiah, and put Him on a cross and in the eyes of God, cease to exist as a nation. God would begin working with a new entity called the Church -- the Body of Christ. Soon to be the Bride of Christ. Not having rejected the nation of Israel, but having grafted the church into Israel to breathe life into her, to give her time to be brought back to that saving faith with which they had rejected. One day, as a nation, they will all respond to that faith. "Now both chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize Him." We learn going on into the next chapter that they also plotted to kill Lazarus. And the reason they wanted to kill Lazarus and to kill Jesus is because this sign, this resuscitation. This miracle, this sign was so great. It produced such a hatred, such a violent reaction. The Jesus doom was sure from the standpoint of these people. Wouldn't it have been better if He just hadn't done it? I mean if He hadn't done this and hadn't done so many other signs, they might let Him live? Wouldn't that have been a good thing? Absolutely not. From the moment of His birth, through the duration of His life, He had his eyes fixed on the goal. The goal was the cross. The reason the cross was the goal was you and I. Has it ever struck you that when they scourged Him, they did it so brutally -- far more brutally than they would do any other prisoner -- It's the reason He could not carry His own cross. The world has no place for Christ. The world has no love for Christ. If Jesus Christ came back today, you know what they do it crucify Him again. But He has a place in your heart. He has a place in our lives. My friends, everything we have moves back to the cross. Could I also suggest that everything done at the cross relates to where you are right now? We may not know all we ought to know Martha certainly did not. We may not be completely surrendered, as we ought to be. With all her surrender even Mary was not. But we can trust in our brokenness and our frailty. We can increase our faith and our trust and our dependance on Him. Jesus Christ -- Glorified. Jesus Christ -- Resurrected. Jesus Christ -- Coming Again. The next time you ask, "Why?" Those are your answers – that God may be glorified and that we may believe.

WHAT?

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In John 11:28, the focus shifts from Martha to Mary. "When she said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary, her sister, saying," "The teacher has come and is calling for you." It's very interesting to methat Jesus was always identified to Mary as "the Teacher." And one of the reasons for that is every time she came to Him,she was at His feet listening. "As soon as she heard that, she rose quickly and came to him, and Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. The Jews were there with her in the house, comforting her when they saw Mary Rose up quickly and went out. They followed her saying, 'she is going to the tomb to weep there'." Then when Mary came where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell down at His feet."Could I suggest to you that a lot of us are like Martha impressed with what we know but lacking in surrender?Others of us are like Mary and we have all the surrender in the world, but we lack the knowledge. It takes both of them plus something else -- a hunger for God's word. "...she fell down at His feet..." We see her at His feet in Luke Chapter Seven, Luke Chapter Ten (at the end of the chapter), and again in John Chapter Twelve. I don't know if you noticed this, but every time we see Mary in the Bible, she's at His feet. Isn't that amazing? A person with a surrendered heart.What does she say to Him? "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." I almost think Martha and Mary must have talked this over. How many times might they have said to each otherin those four days, "if the Lord had come; if only the Lord would have come; if only He had been here, what a difference He could make." And we say the same thing in our own lives when we question "Why?" Could I recommend that you not use that word when things are difficult? Because God's not going to give you an answer. "Why did God allow this?" "Why did God permit this?" "Why didn't God do this?" He's not going to answer you. You might remember there was a guy in the Bible who askedwhy for a long time his name was Job. God didn't answer him. Even when the Lord spoke to him out of the stormat the end of the book, He didn't answer his question. Why?I'd like to recommend that we start thinking about asking a different question. "What?" "What would You have me to do?" "Not my will, Thy will be done." "What would You have me to do in this situation that I'm inas a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ, surrounded with angelic protection everywhere that I go, knowing that I am in Christ and He is in me,knowing that in Your perfect plan, nothing can touch me, but by Your permission... What would you have me to do with what I'm facing today?" It makes things a lot different.Jesus doesn't carry on a conversation with Mary. It says, "When he saw her weeping and the Jews that came with her weeping, He groaned in spirit and was troubled. And He said, 'Where have you laid him?' And they said, 'Lord, come and see'." Then comes some people's favorite verse -- easy to memorize -- "Jesus wept." Why do you think He wept? He wasn't weeping for Lazarus. He knew He was going to raise him from the dead. Is He weeping because of compassion for the people, for what they're going through? Maybe. We know that He had boundless compassion. The next couple of verses, give me a little bit different opinion."Then the Jews said, 'See how He loved him?' They look at him, He's weeping. "See how he loved him?" Oh, He must have loved Lazarus so much. "...And some of them said, 'Could not this man who opened the eyes of the blind even have kept this man from dying?" "Jesus groaned in Himself." Twice we're told that "He groaned." Once we're told that "He was troubled,"and, once we're told that "He wept." The word for groaning is a very interesting word. It means to "snort with anger," and I never heard that before. If you want the long version "embrimaomai" is the Greek word meaning "to snort with anger or frustration." The word "troubled" means "to be agitated." Now, why would the Lord Jesus snort with anger and be agitated? Could I suggest to you that maybe He wept because of their unbelief. No one here is saying, "You're in charge." No one here is saying, "Not our will; Your will be done." Not anyone here is saying, "God has a plan for each and every one of us. God had a plan for Lazarus."Do we think about these things when we go through difficulties? "What would you have me to do?" I would suggest that maybe sometimes our lives, our doubts and our unbelief may cause Him to groan.

UGH!

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Sometimes our doubts and our unbelief may cause Him (God) to groan. John 11:38, "Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone leaning against it. And Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?’ Do you see the difference here between our faith then, at the moment of salvation, and our faith now -- the need for faith in what we're going through? Once you and I take that step out of time and into eternity and we enter the Lord's presence, do you know what you're going to be singing about and praising the Lord for the most? Your trials, your tests, your difficulties. Why? Because they humble us. They break our pride. They bring us to our knees. We cry tears that are cleansing, tears as they wash away all our self-centeredness, and our self-indulgence, and our preoccupation with the things of this life. Suddenly, we find ourselves cleansed and purified. The next time you are down, the next time you're in difficulty, the next time you're asking God, “WHY, WHY, WHY?" If you would believe, “you would see the glory of God." Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ And he who had died came out," Interestingly, "bound hand and foot with grave clothes. His face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Lose him and let him go'." What can we learn from Lazarus? First, Lazarus was not a happy man. I want you to think about that. Mary and Martha and others who loved him got what they wanted. Lazarus didn't. Where was Lazarus? Well, we know from Scripture that Lazarus was in a place called Abraham's Bosom. Old Testament Saints went to Abraham's Bosom somewhere in the Earth. Remember, there was a chasm between the place called Torments -- what we call Hell, and Abraham's Bosom. Old Testament Saints went to Abraham's Bosom, waiting for the moment when the cross would be a completed act, when Jesus would say, "It Is Finished!" when He would rise from the dead to usher them into the presence of the Father. You'll remember that he said to the thief on the cross, "Today you'll be with Me in paradise." Guess who else was there? The other Lazarus from Luke Chapter 16, the beggar who died and was in Abraham's Bosom. Abraham's Bosom, also called Paradise, is where those saints went. Jesus went to them after His crucifixion, emptied that place and took it into the third heaven. Paradise is no longer in this earth. How do we know that? In Second Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul says that he was lifted to the third heaven. To what? Paradise. Now it's there (in heaven). And everyone that was there is now in the presence of the Lord. Lazarus was in Paradise, just like Samuel was in Paradise. If you go back and read the story of Saul when he went to the Witch at Endor at the end of the book of First Samuel, you'll remember that the witch was trying to call up a familiar spirit, but who came up instead? Samuel. you remember what Samuel said to Solomon? "Why have you disturbed my rest?" He was not a happy man. I suggest to you that Lazarus was not a happy man. That's one thing we can learn from it. But there's something else we can learn from him. And that is, he's alive again, right? Jesus calls Lazarus, who comes out of the grave, and he comes out bound hand and foot. In those days, they wrapped the body. Can you practically think of how he could get out of that tomb? Jesus had to tell people, "Turn him loose!" Could I suggest that we might have some Lazarus' among us? People who are alive -- people given life by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they're still bound -- living but bound -- living, but not at liberty -- not set free. I find it interesting that Jesus told others to turn him loose. That's the task that He's given every one of us. We all have a part to play in liberating those who have come to Christ, liberating them from old habits, liberating them from old attitudes, old ideas. All of us come into the family of God carrying a lot of baggage. The whole goal of our Christian life as we grow in grace and truth and as we study His word and fellowship together, is that we be FREE, that we be liberated! What a marvelous task.

Hebrews Lesson 16

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the new covenant is a superior and eternal arrangement, founded on the finished work of Christ, and that it has become obsolete, replacing the old covenant. He explains that the new covenant is an unconditional covenant, dependent on God's faithfulness and Christ's work, and that it was prophesied in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. He also highlights the contrast between the old and new covenants, illustrating the superiority of the new covenant.

I know, I know

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In John 11:17, the focus changes from the disciples to Martha. "So when Jesus came,He found that he had already been in the tomb for four days." If Jesus was 20 miles from Bethany,if it would have taken one day moving rapidly to get there; He could have been here. You remember He delayed two; days He could have been there much earlier. He chose not to for something really wonderful that was about to happen. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord if you had been here,my brother would not have died'.” I wonder how many times we said something like that. Martha blames the Lord for not coming. She knew where He was. She had to know to send someone to go get Him. She knew that it was a one-day journey for the messenger to go to Him, a one-day journey for Him to come back. In two days, He could have been there. Lazarus has been dead for four days. "Lord, if you had been here but you weren't." That's the implication. "My brother would not have died." Secondly, she is very impressed with what she knows. You notice twice? In verse 22, "Even now,I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." That's an amazing statement of faith. "I know." In verse 24, Martha said, "I know thathe will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Are both of those statements true? Absolutely. Martha has knowledge, but she lacks submission; that affects many of us. Don't let yourself get full of knowledge but lack surrender. One of the greatest statements of the Gospel of John, "Jesus said to her, I am." That should have sat it right there. You know that in the Gospel of John, there are eight signs of Jesus (the last one being the resurrection). In the Gospel of John, there are eight "I am" sayings as well. "I am" being the equivalent of the Old Testament Jehovah -- "I AM that I AM." "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." As living believers all of us know and have loved ones who are believers who have died. “Those who live and believe in Him will never die.” Did you know that you'll never die? You'll never die. Now, a child of God closes their eyes in this life, the body stops functioning, but their eyes openin the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. They never taste or experience death. You will never know what it means to die. That which we fear so much, dread so much, do everything that we can to escape and evade… if we understood what happens the moment after we close our eyes, every single one of us would be prayingfor the Lord to call us home today. How do I know that? I know that because the Apostle Paul had a revelation whether he was lifted in reality or just a vision. In Second Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul went into the third heaven. He saw and heard things he was not allowed to repeat. He came back and said, "For me to live is Christ, to die is gain." Remember when he wrote to the Philippians? And he said, "I'm between a rock and a hard place...." I'm using the Cunningham revised version. "...Having the desire rather to depart and be with the Lord, but to remain here is better for you." We say, "Oh, poor so-and-so could be my father,my mother, other relatives, you know, they've gone on." Would you bring them back if you could? Sometimes we would, wouldn't we? Jesus is about to bring somebody back. Get ready for that one! Knowing that our Lord is the resurrectionand the life is a marvelous thing. But do we really understand what it means in our day to day life? Jesus ends by asking Martha, who said, "I know,I know. Yeah, I know, I know, I know." "Do you believe this?" Could I ask you, do you believe this? Because if you really believe it and if you really understand it, the implications of it in the test the trials, the sorrows, the heartbreaks,the difficulties, even our failures, it changes everything! 00:24:45:02 - 00:24:49:10 The life that we have in Christ is not just eternal life. Someday it is resurrection life here and now. It's already begun. The moment we trusted Christ, we became a new creationand as a new creation, having received resurrection life knowing that we can never die,knowing that death is the door that leads home. Verse 27, "She said to him, 'Yes, Lord, I believe that, you are the Christ,the Son of God who is to come into the world'." Do you believe that? Does it make a difference in your life?

Why -- Part One

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Why doesn't God answer our cries for help, deliverance, and healing? Ever ask that question? Why does He sometimes lead us into situations of difficulty and danger? Why does our knowledge of Scripture and our knowledge of the promises that he's given us seem inadequate? Why does God seem to ignore our grief, our sorrow, and our pain? Why does He choose to deliver some but not all? Some He heals. Some He doesn't. And finally, why does He allow evil man to prevail over his children? These six questions are answered in John Chapter Eleven. They're answered with an ultimate answer, the primary answer. And then there's a secondary answer that goes along with it. And we're going to look at these as we go through this chapter, but do hope that you walk away strengthened, encouraged, and nourished. The focus of the first six verses is the Lord Jesus Himself. John 11:1 says, “A certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary, and her sister, Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore, the sister sent to him saying, Lord, behold, He whom you love is sick. When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not of the death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Jesus gives us the ultimate answer to all the questions in verse four when He says, “This is for the glory of God.” I want you to think about your problems, your difficulties, your anxieties, whether personal or national. And I want you to consider that what's happening is for the glory of God. God permit things to happen in our lives that are not good. God allows people to do things in this world that are not good, that are evil. But we need to understand that He is working in and through all those things for an ultimate purpose. Salvation comes only by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and only in Him alone. Especially if you've been left behind, learn about "The Simplicity of In John 11:7-16 we see the focus shift to the disciples, and it says, “then after this He said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again.” This presents a problem for the disciples. “The disciples said to him, Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone you, and you're going there again?” Are you going to walk right into danger? “And Jesus answered and said, ‘Are there not 12 hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, He does not stumble because He sees the light of this world.’ Have you ever stopped and thought that when you stumble over what's happening in your life, maybe you're not walking in the light? The secondary answer is here: “I am glad, for your sakes, I was not there, that you may believe.” Could I ask you a question? Do you think the disciples were already believers I think they were already believers? Of course, they were. They had already believed in Jesus Christ. They had already believed that He was the Messiah. They believe that He was the one that was promised. Jesus basically tells them that what's happening is for their benefit. “That you may believe.” Could I suggest to you that though you're a believer, you need to keep on believing. We need to keep learning and we need to keep growing because salvation faith is not living faith. You trusted Christ at that point where you saw him as the savior of your soul, the savior of the world. You trusted in him. You believed in him. Unfortunately, too many believers think that's all it takes. But that's not going to carry you through life. You're going to have to keep believing and keep believing and constantly be growing. Why does God lead us into a difficult and dangerous situation? The solution for you and I, the solution for the doubts the fears, the anxieties of the disciples (who have now pretty much resigned themselves to go die with Jesus), are all answered by His word, His plan, and His purpose for our life.

Condemned by Choice

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24) In this story (John 5), the Jewish leaders are persecuting Jesus for healing a crippled man (vv. 16–23). They hated Him first of all because he had healed the man on the Sabbath (vv. 1–15). These religious hypocrites cared nothing for the man who had suffered thirty-eight years of infirmity. All they cared for was the subjection of the people to their arbitrary rules and regulations. Sounds like some of our churches today, doesn’t it? But secondly, they hated Him because He claimed equality with God (vv. 17–18). He spent some time speaking to them of His sympathy and union with the Father’s desire to save men from death and judgment and bring them into life. He concluded by saying that to receive the Son was to receive the Father, and to reject the Son was also to reject the Father (v. 23). All of this leads to the conclusion in our key verse (v. 24), declaring that people’s response to Jesus is a matter of life and death, not just here and now, but eternally. Sin demands judgment from a holy God, and the only way to escape that judgment is by Jesus Christ bearing our judgment for us. That He has already done for the whole world. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their sins to them …for He [God the Father] made Him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21) But God will not impose deliverance on any man; each must choose to receive Christ in faith or to reject Him and face the final judgment (vv. 25–27). It will be Jesus Christ, the One who died for our sins, who will be the advocate and justifier of all who believe in Him, and He will be the judge of all who reject Him in unbelief. In vv. 28–29, Jesus speaks of the resurrection unto life and the resurrection unto judgment. The determining factor, He says, is between “those who have done good … and those who have done evil.” A misreading of His meaning leads many to conclude that good deeds are what save us. Let us look into what Jesus considered a good work: “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” (John 6:28–29) The work here is not the act of believing, which is apart from works (Rom. 4:5; Eph. 2:9), but rather is done by “Him whom He sent.” Jesus Christ came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of mankind. In order to emphasize that this was the only work required, and that it was God—not man—who accomplished it, He then followed up with two amazing promises: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) “All that the Father give Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37)

Hebrews Lesson 15

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus Christ is the high priest who has entered into the Holy of Holies, making Him our suitable high priest who is holy, harmless, and undefiled. He explains that the new covenant is better than the old, and our salvation is secure because Christ lives and intercedes for us. He emphasizes the superiority of Christ's priesthood and the oath God made with His own Son.

Life, Love, L:ight

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

John 3:16, He explained that God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, into the world out of His love for all mankind. His promise is that whoever believes in Him would not perish in judgment but would have everlasting life. Then (John 3:17-19), He declares that He (Jesus) did not come into the world to judge us, but rather to save us. All who believe will be saved (delivered from judgment), but those who reject Him will be judged. Their judgment is not for their sins, which Jesus Christ paid for, but for their rejection of Christ, who is the only way to eternal life. This was because to reject the light that Christ brought into the world, and love darkness instead, brought self-condemnation. In Jesus Christ are found the light that leads to God, the love that comes from God, and the life that is God’s life—eternal life.

Never, Never

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

“Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13–14 There is a spiritual thirst in the soul of every human being. We try desperately to fill it with all the things of this world, but are never satisfied. Only Jesus Christ the Savior can satisfy that thirst. And that free gift of living water can only be received by simple, child-like faith. No thirsty child would reject a cup of cool water. Yet so many in their pride and hardness of heart turn their backs on the Lord Jesus. His Identity First, in John 6:35, Jesus began with the words, “I Am.” To the Jews, familiar with Exodus 3:14, this was a clear declaration of the deity of Jesus (see vv. 48, 51). He uses this formula repeatedly in the Gospel of John. Consider these statements: 1. “I Am He” (John 4:26). 2. “I Am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48, 51). 3. “I Am the light of the world” (John 8:12). 4. “I Am the door” (John 10:7). 5. “I Am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). 6. “I Am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). 7. “I Am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). 8. “I Am the true vine” (John 15:1). 9. “I Am a king” (John 18:37). His Promise Second, when Jesus says, “shall never hunger … never thirst” (v. 35), and “I will by no means cast out” (v. 37), He is using a formula in the original Greek language—a double negative—that means “Never ever!” It is the strongest possible way to state an absolute negative. Consider these examples of things Jesus says can absolutely never happen to those who believe in Him: 1. Those who believe in Him “will never thirst” (John 4:14; 6:35b). This means to thirst for everlasting life, for they cannot lose it. 2. Those who believe in Him “shall never hunger” (John 6:35a). 3. All who come to Him in faith He will “by no means cast out” (John 6:37). 4. Those who keep His word “shall never see death … shall never taste death” (John 8:51–52). 5. Those who believe in Him are His sheep, and “they shall never perish” (John 10:28). 6. Whoever believes in Him “shall never die” (John 11:26). These seven statements (two under point four) are absolute assurances that simple child-like faith in Jesus Christ, at any point in time, results in eternal life, which can never be lost. The One and Only Condition Third and finally, the condition for claiming the promises of Jesus and entering into everlasting life is always the same, by believing in Him. This is driven home by being stated 98 times in this Gospel and is declared by John himself to be the thrust of the whole book. “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30–31

Hebrews Lesson 14

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains how Jesus Christ's current role at the right hand of God is crucial for understanding our faith and actions, and how the priesthood of Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical priesthood, requiring a change in the law from 'if you then I will' to 'if you believe then you have eternal life'.

Should Not Perish

Mon, 30 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In the beginning of John Chapter three, we find that Jesus is in a nighttime interview with a very prominent and a very important man by the name of Nicodemus. It starts out in John 3:1 saying “there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.” So, a very prominent guy here coming to the Lord Jesus by night, it says, "this man came to Jesus by night," and he says, “Rabbi”. There were three ways that you could approach a religious teacher at that time. You could call him Rob. We would say, Rab, the first part of the word Rabbi -- Rab, and that was a term of high respect. If you want to step up one level, then you say, Rabbi and that's the term that he uses for the Lord Jesus. And then there's the highest level, and that is Rob only. And so, he gives Jesus quite a distinction. At least he thinks starting out saying, “we know that you're a teacher, come from God for no one can do what the signs”. See what Nicodemus is focused on? He is focused on what Jesus' works tell us about Him. Nicodemus says, "No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him," and Jesus cuts him off. Jesus answered and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” You see, Jesus didn't have time for chit chat. He went straight to the issue. Essentially, Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, "you are highly regarded and highly respected; you're considered a theologian and 'the teacher of Israel.'" In other words, Nicodemus was considered the most scholarly, educated, famous teacher in the entire land. And Jesus is saying, “you’re not even born again”. Nicodemus responded to Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old can enter a second time into his mother's womb?” Nicodemus is confused. He asks, "How a man can be born when he's old." He can't get beyond the physical condition or a second time into his mother's womb. And Jesus replies, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus is thinking in physical terms. Jesus is trying to get him into spiritual terms. And the water is referring to physical birth. Spirit,) of course, this referring to regeneration or what we call being born again. Jesus continues, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the spirit of spirit.” Jesus is still contrasting the natural with the spiritual and eternal, and He says, “Do not marvel when I said, you must be born again.” Now he uses another physical illustration with a spiritual meaning. “The wind blows where it wishes you hear the sound, but you can't tell where it comes from or where it's going. So is everyone who is born of the spirit. Nicodemus again confused says, “how can these things be?” Jesus admonishes Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel and you don't know these things?” With these words, Jesus charges Nicodemus effectively, "You are the elite, most renowned, most honored, most recognized teacher of Israel. And you don't even know the most fundamental, basic thing about the spiritual life." Jesus now uses an illustration that Nicodemus should have been very familiar with. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so much, the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. Whoever believes in him should not perish. The story here in comes from Numbers 21:14-15, where the children of Israel did what the children of Israel always did: complain, moan, and whine to God. So God sent fiery serpents among them and they were getting bitten and dying. And they came to Moses and confessed their sin. And they said, “Pray to God that He'll deliver us.” And Moses commands them to make a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole. Anyone looks at it will live, and if some don't want to look at it, they're going to die,” right? 1500 years before Christ, this was a picture of His crucifixion. Those serpents that were killing the people were symbolized by the serpent on the pole. Your sins and my sins that have been killing us. Our sins were symbolized when Jesus Christ became sin for us. The scripture says, "God made Him become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God." How? By faith in Him. So, it's in that context that Jesus now says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world,that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life." It's so simple.

A Faithful Shepherd - Part 2

Sun, 29 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that a faithful shepherd's ministry is built on the power of God's word, not on programs or methods, and that their character is demonstrated through actions and behavior, such as serving others freely and being willing to die for them.

A Faithful Shepherd - Part 1

Sun, 29 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on May 29, 2022

Believe

Sat, 28 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

When considering the Gospel of John, you may as well start at the first place that you probably would think of, and that is in John Chapter three. John chapter three is often referred to as the most loved gospel text, the best-known gospel text around the world. You know, I've traveled in somewhere over 50 or 60 countries, and I can tell you an interesting thing. No matter where we go, no matter we're in a big city someplace or whether we're in a remote village. Here's an interesting thing that you may not know. The verses that are most popular over here are the same ones that are popular over there. Verses that everyone all over appreciate and rely on are the same: Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20, Proverbs 3:5-6. Everywhere we go, those same verses are the verses that people know and love. John 3:16, of course, is also known throughout the world. The tragedy is that so few take the time to really understand and believe it. Most people can quote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Did you know that the word “believe” is used almost 100 times in the Gospel of John? There are 98 times where the answer to "how to have eternal life" is given, and it's given in one word, "BELIEVE." This is the word. It means to trust. The power is not in how strong your faith is. People say, I just don't have strong enough faith. It's not how strong your faith is. It's how strong the object of your faith is. If your faith is in Jesus Christ, who is omnipotent God your faith is strong enough. And it's in that context that Jesus now says, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. You know why this verse is so loved? I'll bet you can even guess the most loved Psalm. Anybody know the Psalm that is loved around the world more than any other? Psalm 23. It's a no brainer. What about the greatest parable? There's a parable that is loved, known, and loved all over the world. You can guess, it's "The Prodigal Son." So why Psalm 23? Why The Prodigal Son? Why John 3:16? Because they're all something a little child can understand, right? They're so simple. And they reach the little child that is in us.

These are Written

Sun, 22 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

John's gospel was written with the primary purpose of leading people into a saving knowledge of Jesus and through faith, introducing them into the family of God. But he tells us here in John Chapter 20 why he wrote what he wrote in this book, and it's built around a word that we're going to see in verse 29. This is where Thomas, of course, meets with the Risen Lord, and he realizes that he's been raised from the dead, and Jesus tells him to reach his hand and touch His wounds and recognize that it's him. And Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord, and my God, declaring both the humanity and the deity of Jesus Christ. And Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed is those who have not seen and yet have believed. And that includes every one of us here tonight. It tells me that we have a blessing that none of those who traveled with him will ever have. We often think if only we could have been there, if we could have observed the miracles, if we could have heard the teaching how great our faith would have been, how much more strengthened it would have been, because we've never seen that Jesus is telling Thomas that there's a blessing for those who have never seen that he and the other apostles would never know. Then he says in verse 30, “Truly, Jesus did many other signs.” I want you to notice the word sign because that is a favorite word of John's gospel. There are three different words you can use for miracles one of the words is a word that is often translated wonder, and it talks about the effect of the miracle on the people. They're astounded, they're amazed, they're excited. They're standing in awe of what has happened. That's one of the words that is used. Another word that is often used is just the word miracle, and it speaks about some magnificent work. It talks more about the effect of it. For example, a blind man who's given sight or the dead raised from the grave. And it is speaking more of the effect and the power of the miracle. And then we have the word sign. The word sign is John's favorite word for the works of Jesus Christ. And the reason he uses it is because a sign tells you something about the person who does the work. It's not so much about its effect on the people or the change that it makes in someone's life. It's about the person who performs the work. It's a sign. It has a spiritual meaning and a spiritual lesson behind it. So truly, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book. Verse 31 says, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ Son of God. And that believing you may have life in His name.” John's Gospel is an evangelistic gospel.

Jesus' Last Words - 7

Sat, 07 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus' seven sayings on the cross reveal God's love, including forgiveness, salvation, and provision, and that the finished work of Christ is the culmination of God's plan from before creation.

Jesus' Last Words - 6

Sat, 07 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus' last words on the cross are a source of hope and comfort for believers, and that understanding their significance is crucial for a deeper relationship with God.

Jesus' Last Words - 5

Sat, 07 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus' last words on the cross reveal His humanity and deity, and that His death was a result of His humility and willingness to bear the curse of God for our sin.

Jesus' Last Words - 4

Sat, 07 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Jesus' last words on the cross reveal His love and commitment to those around Him, including His mother and His disciples, and that these relationships are a model for our own love for one another.

Hebrews Lesson 13

Fri, 06 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that self-examination and constant attention to God's Word are crucial for spiritual health, and that God's promise to Abraham is an absolute statement of fact, confirmed by His oath, and that we have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us in Christ.

Jesus' Last Words - 3

Fri, 06 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that even the smallest amount of faith can lead to eternal life and accomplish great things, as demonstrated by the thief on the cross who was saved despite his limited knowledge of Jesus. This message explores the significance of Jesus' last words on the cross and the power of God's grace to forgive and save. The effectiveness of even the simplest witness is also highlighted.

Jesus' Last Words - 2

Fri, 06 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on May 6, 2022

Jesus' Last Words - 1

Thu, 05 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the significance of Jesus' last words on the cross, known as the seven sayings of Christ, which are alluded to in Psalm 22 and reveal God's holiness and the destructive effects of sin.

Seven Sayings of Love from the Cross

Mon, 02 May 2022 12:00:00 +0000

All seven of Jesus’ last words on the cross are anticipated in some 22. It's quite interesting when Jesus cried out on the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was pointing us to read that Psalm. And if you go to Psalm 22, you can see that while the exact statements of these seven sayings are not in the Psalm, you find the elements behind the things that Jesus stated. So, the first statement was a plea for forgiveness in Luke 23:34. You'll remember Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.” And it's important to recognize that each one of these sayings is an expression of the love of God. God has a love for all us sinners. And that was expressed by Jesus in his first saying on the cross. The second saying on the cross is in Luke 23:43 is the promise of salvation. It's very interesting that right after He asked the Father to forgive, He promises eternal life to the thief on the cross Jesus told the thief, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” And this expresses the love of God to those who come to Him in humble faith. The third statement we found in John 19:25-27, and this was the provision of love when Jesus looked down and saw Mary and John standing at the foot of the cross. He said, “Woman, behold your son.” And to John, he said, “Behold your mother.” And here we see the love of God for family. And He was providing for His mother. What an amazing provision this was for the disciple, John. The fourth saying we find in Matthew 27:46 and this is the perplexity of abandonment. And you'll remember Jesus screamed out here the first verse of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And here we see that the love of God is costly. We say that the love of God for mankind cost everything. It cost the Father His Son. It costs Christ, the judgment on the cross. So, the Father and the Holy Spirit turned away from Him while He was bearing our sin. And that's why He cried out twice. In the fifth saying, we see the plea for water in John 19:28. Jesus said, “I thirst.” I believe that this plea goes way beyond just simple need for water or human thirst. I believe it expresses thirst, number one, to be restored to fellowship with the Father. I believe that it also expresses thirst to see men and women come to a saving knowledge of Him to enter the family of God. He asked for a drink and what did they give Him? Vinegar. And you'll remember that in that passage there in John 19:28, it says that “Jesus, knowing that all things had been fulfilled in order, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said I thirst”. So, the whole while Jesus was on the cross, He was meditating on the Scriptures. So, all of this was a fulfillment of scripture. That brings us to the proclamation of victory in John 19:30 is probably the best known of the sayings. And of course, we would say the most important when Jesus said, “It is finished.” He used the Greek word tetelestai, from which means “to be fulfilled or completed.” But the interesting thing about tetelestai in that form, the perfect tense, means the debt was paid in the past with the result that the results go on forever. So, the debt is paid. The consequences, the result goes on forever. When you had a bill in the ancient Roman world and you paid that bill off, they would write across the bill the word tetelestai. He paid the debt for our sin and accomplished our salvation. The work of salvation was done. And I want you to think about something very special here. The work of your and my salvation was finished before Jesus died physically. What did it take for Christ to purchase eternal life for us? It was His spiritual death being separated from the Father and the Spirit. And once that had been accomplished, and Jesus had been judged for the sins of the world, it was finished.His physical death was not something forced on Him or imposed on Him. It was something that He did Himself. He laid His life down. And that leads us to the last statement of Jesus. Luke 23:46 says, “And when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands. I commit My spirit.” This is a presentation of trust. Where did Jesus commit His spirit? “Into Thy hands.” You know something interesting? That's exactly where He has committed your soul and mine as well. And what He told the disciples in John Chapter ten, after He said, “I am the good Shepherd and I lay down My life for the sheep,” He said, “My Father is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”

Hebrews Lesson 12

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that believers can fall into deep sin and lose their inheritance and rewards by living in sin, and that it's impossible to restore someone to repentance while they continue in sin.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 8

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the events leading up to the Antichrist's revelation, including the removal of the restrainer and the tribulation period, and emphasizes the importance of living in anticipation of the rapture and examining oneself before participating in the Lord's table.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 7

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the difference between the day of Christ and the day of the Lord, highlighting the church's rapture and the tribulation period. He also discusses persecution as a sign of God's judgment and the importance of inner peace in the Christian life. Deception is identified as the greatest danger to the believer, with the Antichrist's revelation restrained by the rapture.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 6

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the events leading up to the rapture of the church, including the fullness of the Gentiles, the restraining power of the Holy Spirit, and the role of Satan and the Antichrist.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 5

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the rapture of the church is a day of deliverance from the coming wrath, a day of eternal reward, and a day of resurrection and reunion, where believers will be reunited with Christ and receive their glorified bodies.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 4

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the importance of sanctification, the process of spiritual growth and conformity to Christ's character, and how it is the will of God for our lives. He also explores the difference between the day of Christ and the day of the Lord, and how they relate to the church-age believers and the nation of Israel.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 3

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that living a life of holiness is a radical transformation that requires ongoing spiritual growth and purification, and that faith, hope, and love are essential qualities for a Christian.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 2

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that motive and attitude are crucial in ministry, and that the Holy Spirit can work through anyone with the right heart, as seen in the examples of Paul's ministry and the Thessalonians' faithful discipleship.

What Day are You Looking For? Session 1

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the day we are looking for is the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that it is crucial to understand the distinction between the rapture of the church and the day of the Lord.

Session 6 - Toughen up! Hebrews 12

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint, and that believers must toughen up and run with endurance the race set before them, enduring discipline from God as a sign of love for spiritual growth.

The Privilege of the Priesthood

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Nancy Cunningham teaches that as royal priests, we have the privilege of serving God and proclaiming the excellencies of Jesus Christ, and our purpose is to present ourselves as living and holy sacrifices, acceptable to God. She explains how we can use the principle of confession daily, just as we need to bathe physically, and God will forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are also called to be a light shining in an evil and dark generation, manifesting the knowledge of Him in every place.

Session 5 - Speak up! Hebrews 10

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that Christ's high priesthood is the central theme in Hebrews 10, emphasizing the security of salvation and the sufficiency of Jesus' sacrifice to pay the debt for sin.

Session 4 - Grow up! (contd.) Hebrews 6

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Message from Gene Cunningham on April 2, 2022

Session 3 - Grow up. Hebrews 5 and 6

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that spiritual growth and maturity are essential for believers, warning against spiritual infancy and encouraging them to move beyond the basics of their faith to develop the ability to explain Scripture and make disciples.

Session 2 - Wake Up! Hebrews 3 and 4

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that neglecting God's Word can have devastating consequences, and that believers must take action to win the victory in their lives, rather than just waiting for rest. He explains the importance of faith rest and coming boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace in times of need.

Session 1 - Listen up! Hebrews 2

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham teaches that the book of Hebrews emphasizes the importance of listening to God's word and being anchored in it, lest we drift away, and that faith is a childlike function and the one requirement for salvation.

Hebrews Lesson 11

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Gene Cunningham explains the importance of spiritual maturity and the dangers of falling away from the faith, emphasizing the need for genuine confession and repentance. He teaches that the book of Hebrews is written to believers, not professors, and that the author is challenging readers to move on from basic principles to spiritual maturity.

Stand in the Gap - Session 7