Living Water Worship Centre

Sunday Morning Service - Thou Shalt have no other gods besides me

Sermon Summary: “Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Besides Me”

 

1. God Must Be First—Always

The sermon opens with Exodus 20, where God establishes the first commandment: nothing is allowed to come before Him. This command is foundational because when God is not first, every other area of life eventually becomes disordered. Even temporary distractions or misplaced priorities can function as false gods if they take precedence over God.

2. Idolatry Is Often Subtle

Modern idolatry is rarely statues or images—it is anything that competes for God’s place. Satan works primarily as a deceiver, making good or neutral things seem more important than God. Careers, relationships, possessions, comfort, and personal ambitions can quietly move ahead of God, especially during seasons of pressure or busyness.

3. Jesus Demands Supreme Loyalty

Jesus reinforces this command in the New Testament, teaching that no relationship or pursuit—even family—can outrank devotion to Him. Loving anyone or anything more than Christ disqualifies true discipleship. This does not diminish human love, but properly orders it under a supreme love for God.

4. Counting the Cost of Discipleship

Following Jesus requires intentional commitment. He warns that disciples must count the cost, understanding that faith involves sacrifice, endurance, and perseverance. Those who begin without resolve often fall away when pressure, ridicule, or difficulty arises.

5. A Disciple Is Permanently Committed

The sermon explains that a disciple is not someone who tries Christianity, but someone who has made a decisive act with permanent results. True disciples are “glued,” “fused,” and fully attached to Christ and His teachings, refusing to live a divided life or allow compromise.

6. Spiritual Danger of Becoming Sluggish

Scripture warns against becoming spiritually sluggish—not sinful rebellion, but spiritual laziness. When diligence fades, prayer weakens, Scripture becomes neglected, and God gradually loses first place. Faithfulness requires intentional effort and consistency.

7. God Rewards Undivided Hearts

Psalm 84 highlights the blessing of those whose strength is in the Lord and whose hearts are set on the journey with Him. God withholds no good thing from those who remain upright, coupled, and fully devoted. A day in God’s presence is better than anything the world offers.

8. Trusting God With the Impossible

The sermon concludes with the challenge of the “Impossibility List”—placing before God needs that only He can accomplish. This practice reinforces trust, keeps God first, and builds faith as believers watch Him answer prayers over time.

9. Final Call

Believers are urged to examine their lives, realign priorities, and recommit to placing God first in every area. When hope seems lost, God proves Himself faithful. True discipleship begins and continues with this resolve: no other gods—only Him.

Sunday Morning Service - Who Hi-jacked Christmas

Sermon Summary: “Who Hijacked Christmas?”

 

1. Christians Reclaimed Christmas

The sermon explains that Christmas was not stolen from Christianity—Christians intentionally reclaimed it. Long before Christ, pagan cultures celebrated the winter solstice with fleshly festivals. Believers stepped into that moment and redirected the season to focus on God sending His Son. Rather than abandoning the season, the church redeemed it for truth.

2. The Birth Matters Because the Resurrection Matters

While the resurrection is the greatest event in history, the birth had to happen first. Christmas is celebrated not because of a date on the calendar, but because without the birth there is no cross, no empty tomb, and no salvation. Celebrating Christ’s birth honors the beginning of God’s redemptive plan.

3. Defending the Virgin Birth

A central emphasis of the sermon is the virgin birth. Jesus was not merely born—He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This supernatural conception is essential to Christianity. If Jesus is not born of a virgin, He is not the Son of God and Christianity becomes just another religion. The church historically elevated Christmas to defend this truth when it came under attack.

4. Jesus Is the Good Shepherd and God’s Gift

Through John 10 and the illustration of the candy cane, the sermon teaches that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep. The red represents His blood, the white His purity, and the shepherd’s staff His care and protection. Jesus came to give abundant life and eternal life.

5. Celebration Is Biblical

Just as Israel celebrated God’s miracles (such as Hanukkah), believers are encouraged to celebrate God’s greatest miracle—Jesus Christ. Celebration does not equal compromise. Giving gifts reflects God’s nature, because God loved and gave first. Materialism is a heart issue, not a Christmas issue.

6. The Unseen Became Seen

The sermon highlights that Christmas marks the moment when the unseen God became visible. Jesus stepped into human history, walked in our shoes, suffered, and redeemed humanity. His coming proves God did not abandon a fallen world but entered it to save it.

7. Stand for Christ in Every Season

Believers are called to stand boldly for Jesus—not just at Christmas, but in every moment of life. The world is imperfect, but Christians are light in darkness, using every opportunity to point others to Christ rather than withdrawing from culture.

8. The Greatest Gift Still Offered

The message concludes by reminding listeners that Jesus is still healing, delivering, restoring, and saving. He is the Anointed One who sets captives free. Christmas ultimately declares that God sent His Son as a ransom, offering forgiveness, healing, and eternal life to all who believe.

 

 

This sermon explains that Christians did not lose Christmas—they redeemed it. While many cultures celebrated pagan festivals around the winter solstice, believers intentionally reclaimed the season to celebrate the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ. Though Jesus was likely not born in December, the timing does not diminish the meaning. The focus is on why we celebrate, not the calendar date.

The message emphasizes that the birth of Jesus is essential, because without the birth there could be no death, resurrection, or salvation. Christmas matters because it defends the virgin birth, which confirms Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, distinct from every other religious leader. If the virgin birth is denied, Christianity collapses into just another religion.

Using Scripture from Isaiah, Luke, and John, the sermon highlights Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Anointed One (Messiah), and God’s help sent into the world. His supernatural conception, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection reveal that the unseen God became seen in human form.

The sermon challenges believers not to abandon Christmas because of materialism or cultural misuse. A fallen world will always distort good things, but that does not negate truth. Instead, Christians are called to stand up in every moment—holidays, workplaces, families, and culture—to proclaim Christ.

The message closes with a call to endurance and bold faith, urging believers to let God heal their wounds, stop focusing on imperfections, and consistently testify that Jesus is the Son of God, born of a virgin, crucified, resurrected, and still saving today. Christmas is not about traditions—it is about celebrating God’s greatest gift to humanity.

LWWC - Joshua - Session 10

Sermon Summary – Joshua Session 10

This sermon centers on endurance, faithfulness, and staying fully committed to God’s calling, using Caleb as the primary example of a believer who refused to quit despite time, opposition, and hardship. 

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1. Salvation and Endurance Matter Most

The message opens by reminding believers that nothing is more important than salvation, and that true faith is proven by endurance over time. The mark of a genuine believer is not perfection, but perseverance—continuing in faith until the end.

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2. Caleb: Faith That Outlasts Time

Caleb stands as a model of unwavering faith. Though 85 years old, he still trusts God’s promise made 45 years earlier. He does not ask for comfort or ease but boldly requests the mountain still occupied by giants, declaring that God is able.

• Faith means believing God’s Word over what the eyes can see.

• Caleb’s strength came from obedience and trust, not age or circumstances.

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3. Courage to Believe What God Can Do

Joshua and Caleb were willing to say what God can do, not what He can’t do. The sermon challenges believers to resist a faith that limits God and instead trust His power to heal, deliver, and save—just as He always has.

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4. Blessing Passes Through Generations

Faithfulness does not end with one person—it impacts generations. Caleb’s obedience brought blessing to his descendants. Likewise, believers today are setting the spiritual direction of future generations by staying committed to the journey.

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5. The Danger of Compromise and Sluggishness

As Israel settles into blessing, some tribes fail to fully drive out their enemies. This partial obedience leads to compromise, spiritual sluggishness, and influence from ungodly relationships.

• God does not remove what we choose to tolerate.

• Compromise gives the enemy access and influence.

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6. The Importance of Being “In Place”

God’s protection and provision are tied to obedience and staying where He places us. Leaving God’s will—even for seemingly wise reasons—brings loss, as illustrated through biblical examples like Naomi’s family and Abraham’s detour into Egypt.

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7. Set Your Heart on the Journey

The sermon closes with Psalm 84:5:

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.”

Believers are called to be all in—committed to the journey regardless of hardship, offense, or opposition. Those who refuse to be denied by fear, difficulty, or distraction will inherit the promises of God.

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Key Theme

Faithfulness over time brings inheritance, influence, and generational blessing. Set your heart on the journey and refuse to quit.

Sunday Morning Service - Fearing the Almighty

This sermon teaches the biblical balance between the love of God and the fear of God, showing that both are essential for a healthy, obedient Christian life. Using the story of “Philip,” the message illustrates how many believers unknowingly create a personal theology—embracing God’s love while neglecting proper fear—resulting in compromised obedience and ongoing struggle with sin.

Scripture reveals that love for God is proven through obedience, and obedience is strengthened by a proper fear of the Lord. The fear of God is not terror or avoidance, but a deep reverence, respect for His authority, and awareness of consequences. Proverbs and Psalms show that fearing God brings life, wisdom, protection from evil, confidence, and spiritual safety.

Jesus Himself taught that God alone is to be feared, because He holds ultimate authority over both soul and body. The sermon explains that fear and love are not opposites but work together—love motivates relationship, while fear establishes boundaries that protect believers from sin and spiritual harm.

The message warns that a lack of the fear of God in the modern church has led to moral looseness and self-made theology. True spiritual growth requires humility, willingness to change, and submission to God’s authority. God’s boundaries are an expression of His love, designed to keep His children safe.

The sermon concludes with a call to self-examination, repentance, and renewed obedience—urging believers to live within God’s loving boundaries, guided by both His love and a proper fear of the Almighty.

Thursday Bible Study - Zechariah - Session 8

Sermon Summary – Zechariah Session 8

This message teaches that God disciplines His people redemptively, warns of the danger of persistent rebellion, and points powerfully to Christ as the true Shepherd and the ultimate hope for Israel and the nations

20251211 - Thursday Bible Study…

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1. God’s Discipline Is Redemptive, Not Cruel

The study opens with Zechariah 11, explaining that God disciplines those He loves. Discipline is not condemnation but a loving attempt to restore hearts that have wandered. When correction is ignored repeatedly, however, judgment eventually becomes unavoidable.

• God always provides warnings and opportunities to repent before judgment comes.

• Discipline is meant to bring humility and dependence on God.

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2. A Shepherd Who Loves vs. Worthless Shepherds

Zechariah contrasts the Good Shepherd with selfish, corrupt shepherds who abuse and neglect the flock.

• Israel’s leaders exploited their own people and felt no guilt.

• When God’s people reject faithful leadership, they are left with leaders who reflect their rebellion.

This serves as a warning for both nations and individuals.

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3. Prophecy of Christ’s Rejection

The passage prophetically points to Jesus:

• The 30 pieces of silver represent the price paid for betraying the Good Shepherd.

• The money being thrown to the potter points to Christ’s rejection and death, yet also reveals His mercy—He redeems even the broken and discarded.

• Jesus willingly laid down His life; no one took it from Him.

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4. God Can Redeem the Worst Situations

Personal testimony illustrates how God can use severe hardship to bring repentance and salvation.

• God does not cause sin, but He can redeem the consequences of it.

• No life is beyond restoration—God specializes in turning ashes into beauty.

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5. Jerusalem at the Center of God’s End-Time Plan

Zechariah chapters 12–14 focus on Jerusalem, which remains the focal point of God’s prophetic purposes.

• Nations that oppose Jerusalem will ultimately face judgment.

• God promises final deliverance and restoration for Israel.

• The Messiah will return, stand on the Mount of Olives, and reign as King over all the earth.

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6. Israel’s Future Repentance and Cleansing

Israel will one day look upon the One they pierced and mourn in repentance.

• God will pour out grace and supplication.

• A fountain of cleansing will be opened for sin and uncleanness.

• This mirrors the spiritual process of repentance and restoration seen in individual believers today.

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7. Refinement Leads to Restoration

Though judgment is severe, God preserves a refined remnant.

• Trials refine faith like fire refines gold.

• God declares, “They are My people,” and they respond, “The Lord is my God.”

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8. The Coming Kingdom

The sermon concludes with the hope of Christ’s reign:

• Jesus will be King over all the earth.

• Jerusalem will dwell securely.

• Holiness will define everyday life.

• God’s glory will fill the world.

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Key Theme

God disciplines to redeem, judges to restore, and reigns to bring ultimate peace. The Good Shepherd lays down His life so His people can live—and one day, He will reign openly as King.

LWWC - Joshua - Session 9

Sermon Summary – Joshua Session 9

This message teaches that God’s people are heirs of a greater inheritance, and that earthly possessions are temporary compared to what God gives through relationship with Him.

1. The Division of the Promised Land

Joshua 13 describes Israel dividing the land after years of warfare. Some tribes receive territory, while the tribe of Levi receives no land. Instead, God Himself is their inheritance. This becomes the central spiritual lesson of the sermon.

2. God Owns Everything

The pastor emphasizes that no one truly owns land or possessions—everything belongs to God. Israel’s inheritance is a foreshadowing of a greater, eternal inheritance promised to believers.

3. A Warning Against Living for This World

Many believers, especially in prosperous cultures, are tempted to build their lives around comfort, security, and material success. The sermon warns against “building tents and pitching altars,” instead of pitching tents and building altars—investing more in eternity than in temporary things.

4. Believers Are Kings and Priests

Connecting Joshua to Revelation, the pastor explains that believers today are like the Levites:

• We may not receive everything we want on earth

• But God Himself is our inheritance

• Through Christ, we are made kings and priests who will reign with Him

This shifts the focus from what we gain now to who we are becoming.

5. Suffering Has Purpose

Battles, opposition, and hardship are part of the journey. Being in a fight does not mean failure—it means engagement. God uses suffering to prepare believers for eternal responsibility.

6. More Than Conquerors

Through Christ’s sacrifice, believers are declared “more than conquerors.” Jesus fought the battle we could never win, and we now share in His victory, inheritance, and future reign.

7. Final Encouragement

• This world is not our home

• God is shaping eternal sons and daughters

• Our calling is endurance, faith, and obedience

• If God is for us, nothing can separate us from His love

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Key Theme:

God has not shortchanged His people—He has given us Himself. Our inheritance is eternal, and our victory is already secured in Christ.

Sunday Morning Service - The Power of Unity

Main Theme:
True unity is powerful — whether for good or evil — but only unity built on obedience to God’s Word can stand. Using Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel) and John 17 (Jesus’ prayer for believers), Pastor Matthew taught that prideful unity seeks to glorify man, while holy unity glorifies God. The sermon called believers to become “one” with God, within themselves, and with one another, through humility and obedience.

1. Man’s Pride and the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9)

• Humanity once shared one language and one goal — to build a city and tower “whose top is in the heavens.”
• This unity was not righteous; it was rooted in pride and self-exaltation.

“Let us make a name for ourselves.” — the cry of human arrogance.

• Pastor explained that Nimrod led this effort, motivated by defiance against God’s authority and fear of another flood.
  • Historian Josephus wrote that Nimrod’s goal was to build a tower taller than any future flood could reach.
• Humanity still acts the same way today — building monuments, chasing power, and seeking fame — revealing that “man’s heart hasn’t changed.”

Lesson:

“You can build something big without God — but it won’t last.”

2. God’s Response — Confusion and Division

• God “came down” to see what man had built — emphasizing His sovereignty:

“They tried to build up, but He had to come down to see it.”

• The Lord noted their unity:

“Nothing they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

• Unity, even for evil, is powerful. So God confused their language to protect mankind from greater rebellion.
• This was not destruction, but mercy through disruption — scattering people before sin could multiply unchecked.

“The only thing that reached heaven from Babel was their sin.”

3. Two Kinds of Unity

Pastor contrasted two types of unity:

1. Worldly unity – Prideful, self-glorifying, built on rebellion (Babel).
2. Godly unity – Humble, self-denying, built on obedience (Christ).

“It’s powerful to be unified, even for the wrong reason — but it’s holy when you’re unified for the right one.”

• He warned that even evil movements gain momentum through unity, while the Church often loses ground because of division.
• The greatest form of unity begins with God Himself — aligning our will with His.

“You’ll never be unified with people until you’re first unified with God.”

4. Humility and the Example of Abraham

• Abraham’s humility contrasted Babel’s pride:
  • He let Lot choose the better land, trusting God’s promise instead of striving for position.

“Abraham pitched his tent and built his altar — Lot pitched his tent and lost everything.”

• God told Abraham, “I will make your name great.”
  • The key difference: Abraham waited on God to exalt him; Babel tried to exalt itself.
• Pastor connected this to Jesus’ humility — who sought the Father’s glory, not His own.

“Jesus didn’t look for fame; He looked for the Father’s confirmation.”

5. Jesus’ Prayer for Unity (John 17:1–14)

• In John 17, Jesus prayed that His followers would be one as He and the Father are one.
• Unity is rooted in shared obedience and shared glory — not shared opinion.

“If we don’t care who gets the credit, we’ll stay unified.”

• Jesus’ request:
  • “Glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You.”
  • “Keep them through Your name that they may be one as We are one.”
• Pastor emphasized that Jesus prayed not for the world, but for those who belong to God — the Church that would reach the world through unity and truth.

Lesson:

“Unity doesn’t mean sameness — it means shared purpose: glorifying God.”

6. The Anatomy of Unity — Spirit, Soul, and Body

• Every believer must first be unified within themselves:
  • Spirit (where the Holy Spirit dwells).
  • Soul (mind, will, emotions).
  • Body (the vessel of action).
• Without spiritual renewal, the soul leads — driven by emotion, intellect, and will.
• The Holy Spirit must rule the soul to align the believer with God’s will.

“You’ll never be unified outwardly until you’re unified inwardly.”

• Pastor described how old thought patterns (like “grooved paths” in the brain) must be renewed by the Word.

“You’ve got to cut new paths in your mind — let the Holy Spirit groove His will into your thinking.”

7. Godly Unity in Practice

• Starts in the home: Division between husbands and wives hinders prayer.
• Spreads to the Church: True revival requires believers who care more about obedience than credit.
• Extends to the nation: Real healing begins when unity is built around God’s Word, not politics or culture.

“Our rallying point is not religion, denomination, or last name — it’s the Word of God.”

8. Call to Action and Prayer

Pastor closed with a call for repentance and restoration of unity:

• Individuals: Be reconciled to God through Christ.
• Marriages: Break division; walk as one.
• Churches: Give glory to God alone.
• Nations: Return to truth and righteousness.

“The devil divides Christians, but unites evil causes. We must reverse that.”

Core Message

• Unity is powerful — even when used wrongly.
• Godly unity begins with humility, obedience, and surrender.
• Pride builds towers; faith builds altars.
• To be one with others, first be one with God.
• The Church’s greatest strength is not its size or sound — it’s its unity in the Spirit and truth.

Guest Speaker - Dewayne Payton

Main Theme:
Faith is proven through obedience. Dewayne Payton’s message focused on Noah’s faithfulness and obedience in building the ark — even when he had never seen rain. The sermon emphasized trusting God’s Word above logic, walking in His will regardless of circumstance, and leading others (especially family) to salvation through consistent faith.

1. Introduction and Context

Dewayne opened with prayer, thanking God for His Word and for the congregation’s hunger to grow.
He returned to Genesis 6–8, reviewing Noah’s story as an example of unwavering faith and obedience in a corrupt world.

“Noah was faithful in all that God commanded him — can we say the same?”

2. The Call of Noah and the Power of Obedience (Genesis 6:11–22)

• The world was corrupt and filled with violence, yet God chose Noah because of his righteousness and obedience.
• God gave specific instructions for building the ark — exact measurements, placement of the door and window, and even how to seal it with pitch.
• Dewayne noted that every command had a reason — even when Noah didn’t understand it.

“Faith doesn’t question — it builds. Noah didn’t argue with God; he just obeyed.”

Key Point:
Believing in God is not the same as believing God.

“It’s one thing to believe in Him; it’s another to take Him at His word.”

3. The Test of Waiting and Believing

• Noah believed God’s warning about a flood, even though rain had never fallen before.
• God gave 120 years before judgment — time for obedience, preparation, and patience.
• Dewayne reminded that God often asks believers to wait:
  • Noah waited seven days in the ark before the rain started — a test of faith.
  • Waiting reveals whether we still believe after obedience.

“When God gives you a word, the devil will try to show you the opposite — to test if you really believe God.”

4. God’s Control Over Creation and Salvation

• Dewayne illustrated how animals came to Noah by divine instinct, comparing it to migration patterns of geese, whales, and turtles.
• The lesson: if God can guide animals, He can direct your path.

“It’s never the animals that are the problem — it’s us.”

• God told Noah, “Come into the ark,” implying His presence was already inside. Salvation is being with God in the place of safety.

5. The Door of Salvation

• Genesis 7:16 — “And the Lord shut him in.”
• Dewayne highlighted this as symbolic of God’s control over salvation:
  • Noah didn’t close the door; God did.
  • “It’s not our place to decide who’s too far gone — only God shuts the door.”
• Once God shuts the door, judgment begins — a parallel to the coming judgment of the world.

“Today is the day of salvation. Once the door closes, it’s closed.”

6. The Flood as Judgment and Picture of the Rapture

• The flood waters lifted the ark above judgment — a prophetic symbol of the church’s rapture.
  • Noah waited seven days (one shabua, or period of seven), just as believers will be with Christ for seven years before returning with Him.

“Judgment came, but the righteous were lifted up. That’s what God will do for His church.”

7. Lessons in God’s Sovereignty and Human Limits

• Dewayne taught that even during chaos, God was in full control:
  • He started and stopped the rain.
  • He set boundaries for the flood.
  • He sustained Noah and the animals — possibly even through hibernation.

“When you’re in God’s will, you’re never in danger. When you step out, that’s when trouble comes.”

He used a simple illustration: a stick figure walking on God’s path is safe even in storms, but danger comes when we wander into our own way.

8. The Raven and the Dove (Genesis 8:6–12)

• The raven represents the flesh — feeding on death and corruption.
• The dove represents the Spirit — finding no rest in the world, returning to Noah.

“There’s no rest for the believer in this world. Rest only comes when you’re in Christ.”

• The dove’s return with an olive leaf signified peace and restoration — God’s renewal of the earth and reconciliation with mankind.

9. Worship and Sacrifice After Deliverance

• Noah’s first act upon leaving the ark was worship — he built an altar and sacrificed clean animals.
• Dewayne noted how costly this was — there were only seven pairs of clean animals.

“True worship costs something. If it doesn’t cost you, it’s not an offering — it’s convenience.”

• God responded with mercy, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood and sealing His promise with a rainbow — a symbol of grace that the church must reclaim.

“It’s time for the church to take back the rainbow. It belongs to God.”

10. The Call to Faithful Witness

• Just as Noah’s obedience saved his family, believers today are called to lead others to Christ.

“Noah built an ark for 120 years to save his family. What are we willing to do to save ours?”

• We no longer build wooden arks — we build spiritual ones through evangelism, prayer, and witness.
• The closing call was urgent:
  • Judgment is coming again, but through Christ, we escape wrath.
  • “All we have to do is believe — thank God we don’t have to build an ark.”

Core Message

• Faith that obeys God is faith that saves.
• Believe not just in God — believe God.
• Stay in His will; it’s the only safe place in the storm.
• True worship costs something.
• Tell others — the door of grace is open, but one day it will shut.

Sunday Morning Service - Never Surrender Hope

Main Theme:
Hope in Christ is not wishful thinking — it is a confident certainty rooted in the person and promises of Jesus. Pastor Matthew taught that when our hope is centered in Christ, our joy remains steady, and when joy remains, strength endures. The message called believers to anchor hope solely in Jesus, not in people, possessions, or circumstances.

1. The Foundation of Hope

• Opening with 1 Timothy 1:1 — “Jesus Christ, our hope.”
  • The Greek word elpis means hope as a sure expectation, not uncertainty.
  • The verb form elpo means to expect confidently — always used with “in” or “on.”
• Pastor explained that English hope has a question mark (“I hope it won’t rain”), but biblical hope has no question mark because it rests in Jesus’ finished work.

“When your hope is in and on Jesus Christ, there’s no question mark — because He’s already overcome death, hell, and the grave.”

Lesson:
If our hope is placed in people, success, government, or even ourselves, disappointment is inevitable. Only hope in Christ sustains true joy and strength.

2. The Connection Between Hope, Joy, and Strength

• Quoting Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
  • Joy is sustained when hope is rightly placed.
  • When hope shifts to unstable things, joy fades and strength follows.

“If you see someone without joy, you’re seeing someone who’s lost strength — because their hope has drifted.”

3. Misplaced Hope and the Trap of Blame

• Pastor warned that misplaced hope gives others power to manipulate our emotions:

“If my hope is in someone else, then how they act determines how I feel. That’s bondage.”

• Believers must stop blaming others for disappointment and instead reaffirm God’s sovereignty.

“Either God is in control of your life, or that person is — but not both.”

Insight:
Hope in Christ frees us from emotional control by people or circumstances.

4. The Certainty of God’s Promises

Using Hebrews 11, Pastor explained that biblical hope is assurance in things unseen.

• The patriarchs “saw the promises afar off” and believed even when they hadn’t yet received them.
• Their hope without a question mark made them strangers and pilgrims on earth, focused on a heavenly city.

“Abraham built his altars and pitched his tents — not the other way around.
We’re in danger today of building our tents and pitching our altars.”

Application:
Believers must reorient life around eternity, not temporary comfort or possessions.

5. Abraham: Hoping Against Hope (Romans 4:16–21)

• Abraham believed God’s promise for a son despite being 100 years old and Sarah’s womb barren.
• His hope wasn’t natural optimism but supernatural confidence in God’s word.

“He hoped against hope — natural hope said it’s impossible, but divine hope said, ‘God cannot lie.’”

• Pastor reminded that God’s blessings are gifts of grace, not rewards for performance.

“You can’t earn it. Everything from God is a gift — received by faith, not achieved by merit.”

6. Staying Coupled to God

• The Hebrew term for “upright” (Psalm 84) means “to stay coupled.”
• Pastor illustrated with train cars:
  • A shiny new car and a rusty old one both reach the destination if they stay coupled to the engine.

“Some of you have dents and rust from life’s battles — but if you stay coupled to Jesus, you’ll reach the destination.”

Encouragement:
Even when believers fall, they must “fall forward.” God forgives failure and restores hope.

7. Hope Through Hard Times (Jeremiah 29:10–13)

• In exile, God promised Israel restoration after 70 years.
• Jeremiah believed enough to buy land in a desolate place, trusting God’s word when it looked foolish.

“You must decide whether to believe what God said — or what you see.”

• Pastor compared linear human logic to “block logic”:
  • Human logic says, “If A, then B.”
  • God’s truth says, “If God said it, it’s true — regardless of what A or B looks like.”

8. Prisoners of Hope and the Example of Job (Zechariah 9:12)

• “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope… I will restore double.”
• Job embodied this: even in suffering, he declared,

“Though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I shall see God.”

• Because Job kept his hope, God restored him double in every area.

“We don’t like hard times — but God uses them to prove our hope is real.”

9. Hold Fast Your Confidence (Hebrews 3:6; 10:19–23)

• True boldness before God is not emotional force but confidence in Christ’s finished work.
• “Hold fast the confession of your hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
• Confidence (Greek tharseo) comes from cheer — meaning God deposits courage and strength when we abide with Him.

“If you’re not spending time in His presence, you’re missing those divine deposits of courage that keep your hope alive.”

Key Point:
Our boldness comes from knowing God’s heart toward us — not our performance.

“I don’t go to God because I’ve been good; I go because He’s been good.”

10. The Heart of God and True Boldness

• Pastor illustrated how believers often approach God differently depending on how they “performed” that week.
  • On good weeks, we feel bold; on bad weeks, we hide.

“That’s Pharisee thinking — you made it about you instead of Him.”

• God’s heart toward His children never changes.

“He’s the Father who hugs the son when he strikes out, not just when he hits a home run.”

11. Final Call: Never Surrender Hope

• Our hope must be in and on Christ alone — not in ourselves or others.
• When hope stays fixed on Jesus:
  • Joy is maintained.
  • Strength is renewed.
  • Faith endures through hardship.

“Don’t ever surrender your hope. If it’s in Christ, it will win — it always bears out.”

The service closed with an altar call to:

• Surrender misplaced hopes.
• Renew confidence in Christ.
• Come home if distant from God.

Core Message

• Jesus Christ is our hope — not a supplement to it.
• Hope without a question mark produces joy, and joy gives strength.
• Stay “coupled” to Christ; even when you fall, get up and keep moving.
• Confidence before God comes from His heart toward you, not your record.
• Never surrender hope — because in Christ, victory is certain.

LWWC - Joshua - Session 8

As Israel’s conquest of the land concludes in Joshua 11–12, God calls His people to remember His victories, obey His commands, and never forget the source of their blessings. Pastor Matthew used the closing of Joshua’s battles to challenge believers to stay humble, thankful, and faithful — not just at Thanksgiving, but every day of life.

1. Opening and Thanksgiving Reflection

Pastor began with a prayer of gratitude, urging believers to reflect on the blessings of life and freedom.

“May we not get complacent or presumptuous — all we have is today, and that day is a gift from God.”
He reminded the congregation that none of us are promised tomorrow, and that gratitude should guard our hearts from pride and forgetfulness.

2. Joshua’s Obedience and God’s Commands (Joshua 11:12–23)

• Joshua followed exactly what God commanded Moses, leaving “nothing undone of all the Lord had commanded.”
• Pastor emphasized that faithfulness means following God’s Word, not reinventing it.

“You don’t get to become a Christian and play by your own rules — God doesn’t need your ideas.”

• Many want to hear God’s voice but won’t read His Word; yet Scripture itself is the contract between Christ the Groom and His Bride, the Church.

Application:
God reveals Himself through His Word. If you want direction, open the Book before asking for new revelation.

3. God’s Sovereignty and Human Accountability

Pastor addressed the difficult truth of divine judgment:

• God hardened the hearts of nations that continually rejected Him.
• He compared this to Pharaoh’s hardened heart — a consequence of repeated rebellion.

“The most fearful verse in the Bible is not in Revelation — it’s where it says, ‘The Spirit of the Lord left Samson, and he knew it not.’”

• The warning: don’t resist God so long that conviction disappears. The most terrifying state is when the Holy Spirit withdraws and a person no longer feels remorse.

Lesson:

“Conviction is a gift — if you can sin without feeling it, something’s wrong.”

4. The Nature of Sin and Boundaries of Love

• Pastor explained that God sets boundaries because He loves us, just as parents set boundaries for their children.
• From the Garden of Eden onward, sin began when man doubted God’s goodness and believed He was holding out on them.

“The devil convinced Eve that God was keeping her from something better — that’s the same lie today.”

• Every sin still begins with mistrust of God’s intentions.

5. Remembering God’s Victories (Joshua 12)

• God listed all 31 kings Israel defeated — not to glorify Joshua, but to remind the people of every battle God had already won.

“When you’re in a new fight, remember how many victories God has already given you.”

• Pastor urged believers to stop panicking in new trials:

“You’ve already watched God feed you, heal you, and deliver you. Don’t fall apart now — the same God is still fighting for you.”

• Forgetting past victories leads to unbelief, which Scripture calls evil, not immaturity.

6. Deuteronomy 8 — The Call to Remember

Pastor turned to Deuteronomy 8 to explain why God told Israel to remember:

• God humbled them in the wilderness to test their hearts, provide manna, and teach them dependence on His Word.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”

• Their clothes never wore out; their feet never swelled — a sign of constant divine provision.

He connected this to modern blessings:

“No nation has been as blessed as Israel — except America.
But we’re in danger of forgetting who made it that way.”

7. The Danger of Forgetfulness and Prosperity

• When life gets comfortable — full houses, steady income, security — people forget God.
• He quoted Habakkuk, rebuking Israel for caring for their own houses while neglecting God’s.

“You’ll live better on 90% honoring God than 100% stealing from Him.”

• Forgetting God leads to pride, and pride leads to destruction.

Key Reminder:

“When you’re full, don’t forget who filled your table.”

8. God’s Discipline and the Training of Faith

• Pastor compared spiritual growth to training in a weight room — hardships strengthen believers for future battles.

“God’s taking you into His gym to build your endurance. He’s preparing you for the fourth quarter.”

• Trials are not punishments but preparation, teaching us dependence and perseverance.

9. The Next Generation and God’s Trustworthiness

• Parents cannot shield children from every hardship.

“You can’t fight all their battles — God’s using those struggles to build them.”

• He warned against over-sheltering and fear-driven parenting:

“Trust God’s plan for your children. He’s a better protector than you.”

• Like Jochebed with Moses, sometimes faith means letting go and trusting God’s purpose.

10. The Source of Blessing and True Prosperity

• God alone gives the power to get wealth — to establish His covenant, not to glorify ourselves.

“If God doesn’t open the door, you won’t get anything done. It’s His power that gives you ability.”

• Pastor cautioned against idolatry of money, possessions, or success — anything that displaces God’s primacy.

11. Final Exhortation — Do Not Forget the Lord

• Forgetfulness leads to destruction:

“If you forget the Lord and follow other gods, you shall surely perish.”

• False gods are powerless — Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius remain in the grave, but Jesus is risen.

“Until someone else rises from the dead, I’m sticking with the One who did.”

• The graves will one day burst open as the final testimony of Christ’s power, proving again that He is who He says He is.

12. Closing Challenge and Prayer

• Stop running your own life; it only leads to exhaustion and emptiness.
• Surrender daily and thank God for every battle already won.

“When the next battle comes, don’t tell God how big your problem is — tell your problem how big your God is.”

• The service ended with the Lord’s Prayer, sealing the message in gratitude and worship.

Core Message

• Remember what God has already done.
• Obey His Word — partial obedience is disobedience.
• Be thankful in every season.
• Don’t forget the Lord who gives life, strength, and blessing.
• Trust God with your future, your children, and your battles — He never fails.