Living Water Worship Centre

LWWC - Joshua - Session 6

Theme: Covenant Renewal and the Danger of Compromise

Pastor Matthew continued the Joshua series, focusing on Joshua chapters 9 and 10—the story of the Gibeonite deception and Israel’s response. The message explored how deception, presumption, and failure to seek God’s direction lead to spiritual compromise, but also how God’s mercy and power still prevail through covenant faithfulness.

1. The Gibeonite Deception (Joshua 9)

• After the miraculous victories at Jericho and Ai, news spread throughout Canaan about Israel’s power under God’s command.
• While other kings prepared for war, the Gibeonites chose deception: they disguised themselves as distant travelers, wearing old clothes and carrying moldy bread to make Israel believe they came from far away.

“The devil doesn’t always come at you head-on. Sometimes he comes dressed as something harmless, familiar, or even friendly.”

• Israel’s leaders failed to consult the Lord before making a covenant with them.

“They examined the evidence but didn’t pray. That’s where the failure happened.”

Lesson:

“Not everything that looks right is right. When you stop seeking God’s counsel, you open yourself up to deception.”

2. The Power and Permanence of Covenant

• Once the truth was revealed—that the Gibeonites were local inhabitants—Israel wanted to destroy them, but Joshua refused, because they had sworn an oath before the Lord.

“You don’t break covenant just because it’s inconvenient. When you give your word before God, He expects you to honor it.”

• Joshua made the Gibeonites servants in the house of God, cutting wood and drawing water for the altar.

“Even in discipline, God gives a place of grace. The Gibeonites ended up serving in the temple—better to be a servant in God’s house than a warrior outside of it.”

Application:

• Keep your word, integrity matters.
• God honors covenant even when we fail to discern perfectly.
• His mercy can redeem our mistakes and bring them into His purpose.

3. Spiritual Warning — The Cost of Presumption

Pastor reminded that Israel’s misstep came not from rebellion but assumption:

“They assumed they knew what to do because it looked obvious. But assumption is the enemy of revelation.”

He linked this to modern believers:

• People presume God’s approval because of success or blessing.
• Churches presume direction because of tradition.

“We don’t pray about things anymore because we think we already know the answer. That’s dangerous ground.”

4. Joshua 10 — When the Enemy Attacks Your Covenant

• Five Amorite kings formed an alliance to destroy Gibeon for aligning with Israel.
• The Gibeonites cried out to Joshua for help—and Joshua honored the covenant, marching all night from Gilgal to defend them.

“When you make covenant before God, He’ll expect you to keep it even when it costs you sleep, comfort, or convenience.”

• God honored Joshua’s obedience with supernatural victory:
  • The enemy was thrown into confusion.
  • Large hailstones fell from heaven, killing more than the sword.
  • The sun stood still over Gibeon as Joshua prayed for extended daylight.

“When you honor covenant, God honors you. Heaven will move time itself to fulfill His word through a faithful servant.”

5. The Sun Stands Still — God’s Power in Partnership

• Pastor emphasized that God didn’t act until Joshua spoke in faith:

“The miracle didn’t happen until Joshua opened his mouth. Faith is voice-activated.”

• This battle revealed divine partnership—God works through people who trust His covenant and speak His promises.

“God didn’t tell Joshua to pray for the sun to stand still—he just believed big enough to ask. That’s faith that moves creation.”

Application:

• Don’t wait for the perfect conditions to believe in miracles.
• When you walk in covenant obedience, heaven backs your faith.

6. God Finishes What He Starts

• Joshua captured the five kings and had them brought before Israel.
• He instructed his commanders to place their feet on the necks of the defeated kings.

“That’s a picture of what Christ does through us. He lets us stand in His victory.”

• Pastor tied this to Romans 16:20:

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

Spiritual Principle:

“God gives you victory not just to end a battle—but to establish dominion. When you stand in covenant authority, the enemy is beneath your feet.”

7. Closing Reflections

• Never stop seeking God’s direction, even after victories.
• Keep covenant—your word matters to heaven.
• Faith speaks boldly—God moves through the believing voice.
• Victory comes through obedience, not shortcuts.
• Don’t mistake mercy for approval—learn from Gibeon’s deception but walk in Joshua’s faith.

Bro. Matthew concluded with a call to vigilance and worship:

“We’re living in days of deception. Don’t trust what looks right—trust what God says.
Stay prayed up, stay in the Word, and you’ll see the sun stand still in your life too.”

Sunday Morning Service - The War

Theme: The War for Souls — Understanding the Battle Between God and Satan

Pastor Matthew preached from Isaiah 53, Ephesians 6, and Romans 8, unfolding the reality of the spiritual war between God and Satan that began in heaven and now continues on earth for the souls of men. The sermon traced the war’s origin, its impact on humanity, and the believer’s call to stand and fight through Christ’s victory.

1. The Origin of the War

• Pastor began by explaining from Hebrew tradition that Lucifer’s rebellion may have occurred after Adam was created, not before.
• When God gave Adam dominion over the earth, Lucifer resented being subject to a being made in God’s image and likeness.

“Lucifer didn’t like that he had to come under Adam’s authority if he came to earth. That’s why he rebelled.”

• The war began in heaven and extended to humanity when Satan deceived Adam and Eve in the garden.
• Humanity retained God’s image but lost His likeness — becoming earthly instead of heavenly.
• The goal of the Christian life, Pastor said, is to regain the likeness of God through Christ.

“Your goal isn’t to be the best preacher, singer, or worker — your goal is to be like Him.”

2. Jesus: The Warrior Who Fought for Us (Isaiah 53)

Reading from Isaiah 53, Pastor described the suffering of Christ as the battle for our redemption.

“He went to war — and He was wounded, bruised, and pierced for us.”

• Every wound Jesus took was a war wound, proof of victory through sacrifice.
• “By His stripes we are healed” means that the war Jesus fought reconciled us to God — our peace (shalom) restored.
• Pastor explained shalom as “the cessation of againstness” — the end of hostility between God and man.

“When I say ‘Shalom,’ I’m saying everything’s right between me and you, and between me and God.”

• The war Jesus fought was not symbolic — it was a real, violent confrontation for our souls.

“He went to war for us, and He won. Now He’s enlisted us in that same war.”

3. The Nature of Our Battle (Ephesians 6:10–18)

• Pastor reminded the congregation that we are still in the middle of the war — a spiritual one.
• We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness.
• Satan’s primary weapon is deception — “He caused me to forget” (the Hebrew meaning of beguiled).

“Temptation works when we forget — just for a moment — the consequences, our love for God, and who we are.”

• The solution: Put on the full armor of God — truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word.
• Pastor emphasized the danger of modern distractions:

“We’ve got a league for everything, a device for everything, but few remember the war we’re in. Don’t get lulled to sleep.”

Key call:

“You belong to God before you belong to anybody. Drop what you’re doing when He calls. You owe Him that.”

4. The Mind — The Battlefield (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)

• The war begins in the mind.

“That’s where Satan got Eve — he distorted her thinking before she took the fruit.”

• The enemy still works through arguments, imaginations, and lies that exalt themselves against God’s truth.
• Pastor warned that many people are angry at God because Satan deceived them into believing God failed or took something from them.

“The devil’s best work is making people mad at God — blaming Him for what sin caused.”

• Believers must bring every thought into captivity to Christ and refuse carnal conflicts with others.

“The war isn’t in here (the church) — it’s out there. Don’t fight one another. Prefer one another.”

5. The Call to Spiritual Endurance (2 Timothy 2:3–4)

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

• Pastor explained that soldiers suffer wounds, hunger, frostbite, and exhaustion — yet stay committed to the mission.
• Likewise, Christians must endure hardship without getting entangled in worldly distractions.

“If you’ve got too much going on to spend time with God, you’ve got too much going on.”

• Our goal is not comfort, but to please Him who enlisted us.

6. Victory Assured (Romans 8:18–39)

• The war may be fierce, but the outcome is already settled.
• Jesus’ death and resurrection guarantee victory for those who remain faithful.

“The game’s fixed. If we die, we go straight to be with the Lord.”

• Creation itself is groaning for redemption, waiting for the full restoration of God’s sons.
• The Holy Spirit helps us in battle — interceding when we don’t know how to pray.

“When you pray ‘Thy will be done,’ you’re asking God to realign lives, rescue souls, and tear down sin. That’s warfare prayer.”

• Nothing can separate believers from God’s love:
  • Not tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, or death.
  • “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

7. The War’s End — The Crushing of the Serpent

• Pastor closed with the prophetic image of David placing Goliath’s head on Golgotha, “the place of the skull.”

“David was declaring to the world that another is coming to this hill — One who will crush the serpent’s head and set you free.”

• The victory Jesus won at the cross fulfilled that prophecy:

“He went to war for us, and now we fight under His banner until the final victory.”

Core Message

• The war began in heaven but now rages on earth for the souls of men.
• Jesus fought and won at Calvary — His wounds are our peace.
• We are enlisted soldiers called to fight with faith, prayer, and perseverance.
• Nothing can separate us from the love of God — the victory is already ours.

Thursday Bible Study - Zechariah - Session 6

Theme: Restoration, Repentance, and Prophecy — God’s Zeal for Zion and His Sovereign Plan

Pastor Matthew continued the study in Zechariah chapters 8–9, emphasizing God’s zealous love for Jerusalem, His plan to restore His people, and the prophetic revelation of Jesus’ triumphal entry hundreds of years before it happened. The message blended historical restoration, end-time prophecy, and personal spiritual application about obedience, repentance, and loving truth.

1. The Context of Zechariah’s Message

• Zechariah ministered to the returning exiles who were rebuilding the temple and city after Babylonian captivity.
• His message: Repent and rebuild, learning from the failures of their fathers who disobeyed God.

“The reason Jerusalem was run over and the walls were down was because their fathers decided not to obey God.”

• Pastor warned that disobedience in one generation damages the next, but also offered hope:

“The Lord will restore everything the cankerworm has eaten… You can start over today because His mercies are new every morning.”

2. God’s Zealous Love and Protective Jealousy (Zechariah 8:1–3)

• God declares: “I am zealous for Zion with great zeal.”
• Pastor explained the difference between sinful jealousy (possessive, fearful) and God’s holy jealousy (protective, loving).
• He illustrated this with a story of a discerning wife’s protective instinct — likening God’s jealousy to the kind that protects, not controls.

Application: God’s jealousy is a shield of love, not suspicion. He guards His people as a husband guards his bride.

3. God’s Promise of Restoration and Peace

• Zechariah’s vision shows old men and women in the streets and children playing again — symbols of renewed peace.
• Pastor noted that this prophecy has a dual fulfillment:

1. Immediate — Israel’s physical return and rebuilding under Nehemiah and Zechariah.
2. Future — The millennial kingdom, when Christ reigns and Jerusalem is finally at peace.

“There’s coming a day when Jerusalem will never be moved again. They’ll suffer, but they’re there to stay.”

4. The Nations and Israel — God’s Sovereign Control

• Pastor described how world events align with biblical prophecy: nations turning against Israel, yet unable to uproot her.
• He cautioned that the stage is being set for the end-times conflict when “all nations come against Jerusalem.”

“They’re not leaving. Russia’s not pushing them out. Muslims aren’t. America won’t compromise them out. They belong to God.”

• He reminded the congregation that God owns every nation:

“Israel belongs to God. So does Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, America, and China. The earth is the Lord’s.”

Key Point: The rise and fall of nations are under divine authority; human plans collapse, but God’s purposes stand forever (Psalm 2).

5. God’s Call to Integrity and Truth (Zechariah 8:16–17)

• The Lord calls His people to:
  • Speak truth to neighbors.
  • Give just judgment.
  • Avoid evil and deceit.
• Pastor explained that while we are no longer “under the law,” the Ten Commandments remain, summed up in Jesus’ two greatest commandments:

“Love the Lord your God… and love your neighbor as yourself.”

• He warned against loving lies and gossip, urging believers to love truth even when it hurts:

“Love truth when it punches you in the face. It’s your protector.”

6. The Value of Correction and Loving Truth

• Pastor reminded that truth both encourages and rebukes:
  • “One day truth pats you on the back, saying, ‘Keep going.’
    The next day it slaps you on the shoulder and says, ‘Stop being foolish.’
    We need both.”
• Truth guards against deception — echoing Paul’s warning that in the last days, God will send strong delusion to those who reject truth (2 Thess. 2:11–12).

Application:

“Don’t just love truth when it makes you feel good — love it when it corrects you. That’s what keeps you safe.”

7. Restoration of Joy and the Future Kingdom (Zechariah 8:19–23)

• God promised that Israel’s fasts of mourning would become feasts of joy.
• People from many nations would say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
• Pastor noted this points to both:
  • Israel’s national revival, and
  • The global acknowledgment of God’s presence among His people.

He reminded the church that God reveals Himself to all nations and that no one is beyond His reach, citing:

“The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:11)

8. God’s Sovereignty in Judgment and Mercy (Zechariah 9)

• Pastor transitioned into Zechariah 9, noting it shifts from restoration to prophecy and divine judgment.
• The Lord declares He will judge the surrounding nations (Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, Ashkelon, Philistia), showing He alone controls history.

“Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. If He tells you to store up, do it. If not, don’t worry — just obey Him.”

9. Prophecy of the Messiah — The Triumphal Entry (Zechariah 9:9–10)

• One of Scripture’s clearest messianic prophecies:

“Behold, your King is coming to you… lowly and riding on a donkey.”

• Pastor showed how this prophecy was fulfilled exactly in Luke 19:28–40, 500 years later, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt.
• He explained Jesus’ deity through this miracle:
  • He knew where the donkey was before the disciples arrived.
  • The unbroken colt didn’t resist because its Creator was riding it.

“You don’t buck the one who made you.”

Key Revelation:
Even creation recognizes the Creator. When the Pharisees told Jesus to silence His followers, He replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

10. Closing Reflections — God’s Ownership and Faithfulness

• Everything in creation belongs to God and returns to Him.
• All life flows from Him — human, animal, or natural — and He sustains it all.
• Pastor closed personally, thanking the congregation for prayers during his recovery from hip pain, testifying how God used the trial to draw him closer:

“If you’ll just talk to God and open your life to Him, He’ll use it. He knows how to do things right.”

He reflected on Jacob’s limp and said, like the patriarch, “God weakened my strength in the way” to prepare him for the next phase of ministry.

Core Message

• God’s jealousy is protective — His love guards His people.
• Love truth, even when it hurts.
• Israel’s restoration and Christ’s reign are certain.
• God’s Word is precise — prophecy always fulfills perfectly.
• Every trial, every delay, every pain can be used by God for transformation.

 

LWWC - Joshua - Session 5

Theme: From Defeat to Victory — Obedience, Judgment, and God’s Longsuffering

Pastor Matthew continued his series on the book of Joshua, focusing on chapter 8, where Israel returned to face Ai—the place of their previous defeat. The sermon unfolded three key themes: restoration through obedience, understanding God’s justice, and the call to overcome through repentance and faithfulness.

1. Returning to the Place of Defeat

• After Israel’s failure at Ai (caused by Achan’s sin), God instructed Joshua to go back:

“Do not be afraid nor dismayed. Take all the people of war with you… I have given into your hand the king of Ai.” (Joshua 8:1)

• Pastor explained that God often sends us back to the place of defeat — not to relive shame, but to redeem it through obedience.
  • “When you go back in the power of Christ and the Word of the Lord, you can’t lose.”
• God gave new instructions: this time, the spoils of Ai would belong to Israel. The principle:

“The first fruits belong to God; the rest He blesses for you.”

Lesson: God is fair and faithful — He doesn’t take to deprive but to teach trust and honor.

2. The Strategy of Obedience

Joshua followed God’s detailed battle plan:

• Set an ambush behind Ai while Joshua and the main army pretended to retreat.
• Once the enemy was drawn out, the ambush rose, took the city, and set it on fire.
• When the enemy looked back and saw the smoke, Israel turned and struck them down (v. 19–22).

Pastor emphasized how God is a God of detail:

“If we would listen long enough, God would tell us exactly what to do. But we’ve become a drive-thru culture—no patience, no waiting.”

Application: Faith follows God’s word precisely. Victory is not random — it comes through listening, waiting, and acting on divine instruction.

3. Renewal of Covenant

After Ai was destroyed, Joshua built an altar at Mount Ebal, offered burnt and peace offerings, and read all the words of the Law before the people (Joshua 8:30–35).
This marked a spiritual renewal — a recommitment after failure.

Pastor’s takeaway:

“They renewed their covenant because someone thought it was okay to steal from God. Never steal from God — He owns everything.”

He reminded that God’s ownership and our stewardship are central to understanding His commands.

4. God’s Justice and Longsuffering

The message turned theological as Pastor explored why God ordered the destruction of Ai:

• God owns everything and has all knowledge.
• When judgment comes, it’s because a people or person has exhausted God’s grace.
• Using Genesis 15:16, he explained that the Amorites’ “iniquity was not yet full” — God’s patience always precedes judgment.

He compared this to modern examples:

“God knew when Saddam Hussein’s time was up. When a man’s cruelty or sin reaches its limit, God says, ‘That’s enough.’”

Scriptural anchors:

• 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
• Romans 1 – How rejecting truth and embracing sin leads to delusion and depravity.
• Revelation 2:18–29 – The church of Thyatira and “Jezebel,” who was given time to repent of immorality.

Core Message:

“When judgment comes, it’s never sudden — it’s the result of mercy refused.”

5. Sexual Immorality and Idolatry — The Downfall of Nations

Pastor linked Israel’s ancient idolatry to modern culture:

• Sexual immorality causes more destruction than drugs and alcohol combined.
• Every society that normalizes it must invent idols to justify sin.
• The last straw before national judgment is not immorality itself but idolatry — worshiping false gods that excuse disobedience.

“If I’m going to live against God’s Word and refuse to repent, I’ll find a god that makes me feel okay about it.”

He warned that America faces similar danger:

“The nations that forget God will be turned into hell.”

6. Mercy, Repentance, and Overcoming

Despite these warnings, Pastor underscored that God still offers mercy:

• Even Jezebel was given time to repent — showing the depth of God’s compassion.
• “No one is as long-suffering as God. When judgment finally comes, it’s because He’s exhausted Himself trying to reach us.”
• Quoting 1 John 1:9, he assured:

“If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you.”

He then linked this to Jesus’ message to the seven churches in Revelation:

“To him who overcomes…” (Greek: nikao / neo — to gain victory).

• The word is the root of “Nike,” meaning to prevail — symbolizing the believer’s call to overcome through repentance and obedience.

Application:
Set yourself up to succeed spiritually — not to fail.

“The strongest Christians aren’t the ones who can endure anything; they’re the ones who know their weaknesses and guard against them.”

He gave practical examples:

• The man freed from alcoholism who changed his route to avoid temptation.
• The believer who moved his computer into the living room to avoid secret sin.

“Don’t set yourself up to fail — paristano means to ‘position yourself to succeed.’”

7. Closing Prayer and Reflection

Pastor closed by reminding:

• God’s mercy is real, but so is judgment.
• We must renew covenant, walk in holiness, and guard our hearts.
• “Be kind to yourself, be honest before God, and stay the course.”

He led the congregation in the Lord’s Prayer, ending with worship and thanksgiving for God’s mercy and truth.

Core Message

God is long-suffering but just.
He gives space to repent, but not forever.
Victory follows obedience, repentance, and humility.
Set yourself up to succeed — abide in His Word and overcome.

Sunday Morning Service - Abiding

 

Theme: “Abide in Me” — Living in Continuous Union with Christ

Pastor Matthew’s sermon centered on John 15:1–8, where Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His followers as the branches. The message explored what it means to truly abide — to live in continual fellowship, obedience, and dependence on Christ rather than drifting in and out of relationship with Him.

1. Opening Challenge — The Call to Be the Church in Battle

Pastor began by reminding the congregation that church is not a comfort zone but a place of kingdom warfare:

“If you just come here to feel better, you’re in the wrong spot. But if you come here to do warfare and be part of the kingdom of God, you’re in the right spot.”

He announced upcoming baptisms as outward signs of abiding faith, underscoring that commitment to Christ must be continuous, not seasonal.

2. The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1–8)

• Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.”
• God’s desire is not attendance or numbers, but fruit — the visible results of spiritual life.
• “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes.” Pastor noted pruning can feel painful, but it’s how God refines us for greater fruitfulness.

Greek Word Study:
The word abide comes from the Greek meno — meaning to dwell, continue, tarry, or remain.

“Nothing in that definition says you can run in and out on the Lord. Abiding isn’t convenience — it’s commitment.”

3. Abiding Produces Fruit and Eternal Impact

Without the vine, branches can do nothing. Pastor warned that even successful lives apart from Christ accomplish nothing eternal:

“If you’re a father or mother not walking with God, you may give your kids everything this world offers — but you’re doing nothing eternal in their lives.”

He contrasted earthly inheritance with spiritual legacy, reminding parents of David’s last desire:

“When David died, he didn’t talk about his possessions — he said, ‘I want to see you on the other side.’”

4. The Power of Abiding Faith

Pastor shared a personal story from his time working in the coal mines.
While working with a coworker who had backslidden, an equipment alarm malfunctioned. Pastor quoted John 15:7, declaring:

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.”

He prayed over the system, and despite the electrical connection being physically broken, the alarm set successfully — a miraculous sign that led his coworker to repent on the spot.

“That wasn’t just setting an alarm — that was God showing a man He still loved him and was calling him home.”

5. The Secret of Strength — Dwelling in His Presence (Psalm 91)

Linking John 15 with Psalm 91, Pastor explained that abiding is dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, living under the shadow of His protection.

“Some people just want to date Jesus — visit Him when it’s convenient. But we’re called to marry Him, to take Him home, to walk with Him every day.”

True abiding keeps believers under divine covering:

“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”

6. Warnings Against Neglect

Pastor identified two of Scripture’s most sobering warnings:

1. Judges 16:20 — “The Spirit of the Lord departed from Samson, and he knew it not.”
2. Luke 19:44 — “You did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

These verses illustrate the danger of taking God’s presence for granted.

“The most terrifying thing isn’t hellfire — it’s that the Spirit could walk out of your life and you wouldn’t even notice.”

He urged believers not to become so busy or distracted that their priorities drift from God:

“If you’ve got too much going on to spend time with God, you’ve got too much going on.”

7. Three Voices in Psalm 91

Pastor unpacked Psalm 91 as a conversation between three voices:

• The author (Moses or David) declaring, “He is my refuge.”
• The witness, telling another believer, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place…”
• God Himself, responding: “Because he has set his love upon Me, I will deliver him.”

He emphasized that effective witnesses live what they preach:

“This ‘my’ has convinced the ‘your’ to make his God their God — that’s powerful witnessing.”

8. The Eternal View — God Outside of Time

Using an illustration of a parade, Pastor explained that God sees the entire timeline of history at once:

“You and I are standing on the street watching one float at a time. God sees the whole parade — beginning to end.”

Because God knows the end from the beginning, believers can trust Him and call things that are not as though they were, provided they are abiding in His Word.

9. Closing Appeal — Abide and Be Rescued

Pastor closed by inviting unbelievers and prodigals to come home:

“If you’re trapped in sin, God saw your condition and sent His Son to rescue you. He didn’t bargain — He paid it all.”

He urged believers to realign their priorities and renew their commitment to abide daily, not occasionally:

“You should have decided yesterday that you weren’t quitting today.”

Communion and baptisms followed as symbols of continual abiding in Christ.

Core Message

“Abide in Me.”
Stay connected, remain faithful, dwell daily, and continue in His presence.
Without abiding, there is no fruit; without the vine, there is no life.

20251030 - Thursday Bible Study - Zechariah - Session 5

Theme: Judgment, Obedience, and the Centrality of God

Pastor Matthew’s study covered Zechariah chapters 6–7, drawing parallels between Zechariah’s visions, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and God’s eternal plan through Christ. The lesson highlighted how obedience, humility, and keeping God at the center are essential for both spiritual and national restoration.

1. Context and Background

Zechariah ministered during the time when Israelites were returning from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple and the walls of Jerusalem.

• Nehemiah oversaw the wall; Zechariah encouraged the people spiritually.
• The prophet’s visions often had dual meaning—addressing the present rebuilding work while also pointing forward to the coming Messiah and end-time judgment.

2. Vision of the Four Chariots — Zechariah 6:1-8

• Zechariah saw four chariots coming from between two mountains of bronze, symbolizing God’s judgment.
• The red, black, white, and dappled horses represent divine forces sent throughout the earth—similar to the four horsemen in Revelation 6.
• Pastor Matthew explained the parallels:
  • Red horse – war and conflict
  • Black horse – famine and economic imbalance
  • White horse – deception (often representing the Antichrist’s early false peace)
  • Pale horse – death and destruction
• The vision shows that God rules over all nations, directing both natural and spiritual forces to fulfill His plans.

Application:
Every believer will face judgment—not for salvation, which is secured in Christ—but for stewardship and obedience. “Think of judgment not as punishment,” Pastor said, “but as whether we’ve disappointed the One who’s given us everything.”

3. Spiritual Reality: The Host of Heaven

• Zechariah’s vision reveals an unseen world—“the spirits of heaven”—at work on God’s behalf.
• Pastor connected this to Jacob’s vision at Mahanaim (“two hosts”) and Jesus’ words about angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
• Believers are surrounded by heavenly hosts and benefit from their ministry, but only “in Christ”—our access point between heaven and earth.

4. The Crowning of Joshua the High Priest — Zechariah 6:9-15

• God commands the making of an elaborate crown to be set on Joshua the high priest, symbolizing restoration.
• Joshua foreshadows Christ, the true High Priest, called “the Branch”, who will build the spiritual temple of the Lord and reign as both King and Priest.
• Pastor explained that this prefigures Jesus as the eternal priest “after the order of Melchizedek,” whose covenant was established before the foundation of the world.

Core truth:

“As long as God stays at the center, everything else—children, crops, work—will be blessed.
But when people place themselves in the center, things fall apart.”

5. Obedience as the Condition for Blessing

Zechariah 6:15 ends with a key phrase:

“This shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Pastor emphasized that:

• God’s promises are certain, but our participation in them depends on obedience.
• Failure doesn’t cancel grace—repentance restores relationship.
• David was contrasted with Saul: both sinned, but David repented, while Saul disregarded God’s word and lost his kingdom.
• Willful disobedience—knowing God’s command and ignoring it—invites discipline and loss.

6. Practical Lessons — Zechariah 7

By Chapter 7, the teaching turned practical:

• People asked if they should continue fasting as before.
• God responded: “Did you fast for Me—or for yourselves?”
  • Their rituals had become hollow habits.
  • God desires obedience and sincerity over religious performance.
• Pastor quoted Samuel’s reminder:

“To obey is better than sacrifice.”

7. The Heart of True Religion

Zechariah 7:9–10 commands:

“Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion,
do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
the alien or the poor,
and let none of you plan evil against his brother.”

Pastor expanded:

• When in doubt—have mercy, because “you’re going to need it too.”
• God’s longsuffering exceeds anything we could show others.
• Examples included the conversion of an abortion doctor and Joyce Meyer forgiving and caring for her abusive father—proof of the gospel’s transforming power.
• True love does not ignore truth: “You don’t have to compromise truth to love people; real love tells the truth.”

8. The Danger of Refusal

Israel’s ancestors “stopped their ears” and “made their hearts like flint”, rejecting God’s word.

• Pastor warned that when people repeatedly ignore God, He eventually allows them to experience the consequences of their choices.
• Cross-references included Proverbs 1:20–33 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12, showing how those who reject truth can fall into strong delusion.
• He cautioned America to heed this warning:

“Our greatest danger isn’t military or economic—it’s turning our backs on God and Israel.”

9. Closing Reflection

• God’s mercy and truth work together.
• The goal is not religious performance but a surrendered, obedient life centered on God.
• The nation of Israel was restored through obedience; the same principle governs believers and nations today.
• Pastor closed in prayer, thanking God for His Word and declaring:

“We love truth—even when it rebukes or corrects us—because the Spirit and the Word agree.”

Core Takeaways

• Judgment is real, but so is grace.
• God must remain the center—life flourishes when we revolve around Him.
• Obedience outweighs ritual.
• Mercy triumphs over judgment.
• Truth without love is harsh; love without truth is hollow.
• A nation or believer that hardens its heart toward God risks losing His blessing.

LWWC - Joshua - Session 4

Theme: Obedience, Trust, and Consecration — Lessons from Jericho and Ai

Pastor Matthew continued his teaching series in the Book of Joshua, focusing on chapters 6 and 7—the fall of Jericho and the sin of Achan. The message contrasts the victory that comes through obedience with the defeat that follows disobedience.

1. The Battle of Jericho — Obedience Brings Victory

Text: Joshua 6

• God commanded Joshua and the Israelites to march around Jericho once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day, with seven priests blowing seven rams’ horns before the Ark of the Covenant.
• Though God could have destroyed Jericho instantly, He required faithful obedience—teaching Israel to trust His word above their understanding.
• The people were instructed to remain completely silent until the final trumpet blast—a picture of disciplined obedience and dependence on God’s timing.
• On the seventh day, after the final trumpet blast, the people shouted, and the walls of Jericho collapsed—a miraculous victory marking the Israelites’ first conquest in the Promised Land.

Key Lesson:

Faith requires obedience even when instructions make no sense. The Israelites’ victory came not by strength but by submission to God’s word.

2. The Principle of First fruits — The Tithe of Jericho

• Jericho represented the first fruits of the Promised Land; all spoils from the city were devoted to God as holy and untouchable.
• Joshua reminded the people that everything belongs to God, and the first portion of increase is His (Proverbs 3:9–10).
• This first conquest was to be fully dedicated to the Lord, symbolizing that everything that follows is blessed when the first portion is consecrated.
• God instructed that silver, gold, and bronze be placed in His treasury—no individual was to take from it.

Application:

The first belongs to God—whether it’s time, talent, or treasure. Giving back to Him is not about pressure, but about trust and honor.

3. The Fall at Ai — Disobedience Brings Defeat

Text: Joshua 7

• A man named Achan from the tribe of Judah secretly took a Babylonian garment, silver, and gold from Jericho, violating God’s command.
• Because of this hidden sin, Israel was defeated at Ai, losing 36 men.
• Joshua fell before God in despair, questioning why the defeat happened, but God told him plainly:

“Get up! Israel has sinned... They have stolen, deceived, and put it among their own stuff.”

• The nation’s defeat was not due to lack of skill but due to sin in the camp. Until the accursed thing was removed, they could not stand before their enemies.

Key Principle:

Even private disobedience can bring corporate consequence. God’s presence and power dwell with purity and obedience.

4. The Judgment of Achan

• Achan confessed that he coveted and stole the forbidden items.
• He and his household were brought to the Valley of Achor (“trouble”) and were executed—serving as a solemn reminder that sin contaminates the whole body.
• The judgment restored Israel’s standing before God and removed the curse from the camp.

Spiritual Lesson:

We must remove the “accursed things”—anything that dishonors God or competes with Him for first place in our lives.

5. The Call to Generosity and Trust

Pastor Matthew used the story of Achan to teach about honoring God with our resources:

• Tithing and giving predate the Law—first modeled by Abraham and Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18–20).
• Malachi 3:8–10 calls believers to “bring all the tithes into the storehouse” and test God’s promise to open the windows of heaven.
• Luke 11:42 shows Jesus affirmed tithing while calling believers to practice it with justice and love.
• Hebrews 7:5–9 demonstrates that giving honors God across generations, as Levi was blessed through Abraham’s obedience.

He emphasized that giving is not about compulsion, but about faith and partnership with God’s purpose.

“You’ll trust Him with your eternal salvation—why not trust Him with your finances?”

Illustration:
He shared a testimony of a man who began tithing in hardship and later prospered abundantly, learning firsthand that God honors faithfulness.

6. Spiritual and National Lessons

• The defeat at Ai mirrors spiritual decline in modern times—a warning for America: great power and knowledge cannot replace obedience to God.
• Pastor urged believers to sanctify themselves and remove what is cursed—anything that keeps them from God’s favor.
• He reminded that sin, disobedience, or misplaced loyalty (even cultural compromise) brings spiritual defeat, but repentance restores God’s presence.

7. Closing Application

• Check with God in everything—even after victory. Success can easily lead to complacency.
• Consecrate your life—make sure God is first in your time, finances, priorities, and heart.
• Trust God’s Word, not your feelings. Faith grows when obedience is consistent.
• Remember that obedience brings blessing, while disobedience brings loss and distance from God.

Core Takeaway

Faith obeys when it doesn’t understand.
Victory requires consecration.
Disobedience endangers everyone.
God’s power flows through purity, obedience, and trust.

Sunday Morning Service - Denis Kozlov - Benefits of the Gospel

Introduction and Background

Denis Kozlov, originally from Russia and now an American citizen, shared his testimony of God’s calling to plant a church in Florida. He reflected on his friendship with Pastor Matthew and how their connection was rooted in spiritual discernment rather than analysis—trusting the flow of the Holy Spirit. He encouraged believers to live where the Spirit of the Lord flows, not just where logic leads.

Main Theme: The Benefits of the Gospel (from Galatians)

Kozlov’s sermon was based on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. He emphasized that the gospel of grace and law-based religion are mutually exclusive—they cannot coexist. The Galatians had begun their faith in the freedom of grace but drifted back into legalism. Kozlov highlighted that Christians must resist the temptation to “bargain” or earn favor from God; grace is a pure gift that cannot be mixed with self-righteousness.

Four Benefits of the Gospel

Kozlov identified four key benefits believers receive through the gospel:

1. Justified

• We are forgiven and declared righteous before God as though we have never sinned.
• Justification is not based on works or law-keeping, but solely on faith in Jesus Christ.
• Christ became a curse for us, taking on our sin so we could live in the freedom of His righteousness.
• Kozlov used the illustration of his U.S. citizenship—his new passport changed his status permanently; likewise, believers now approach heaven with full acceptance.

2. Adopted

• We are legally adopted as children of God, no longer slaves or outsiders.
• God has made us heirs with Christ—fully legitimate and loved.
• Kozlov reminded the congregation that even when we feel distant, adoption is not based on emotion but on divine truth.
• He quoted Galatians 4:4–7 to show that God sent His Son to redeem us and make us part of His family.

3. Indwelled

• The Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Sonship—lives within every believer.
• This Spirit enables us to cry “Abba, Father,” expressing a deep, trusting intimacy with God.
• Kozlov shared moving personal stories illustrating how God became a true Father to him after growing up without one.
  • As a child, he was lifted onto a man’s lap to “drive” a car—God later used that memory to show how He gives us dignity and guidance.
  • As a young man, when praying about marriage, God taught him responsibility by asking, “You tell me,” shaping him into a mature believer.

4. Empowered

• The gospel empowers us to walk by the Spirit, not just experience emotional highs in worship.
• Kozlov compared the Christian walk to an inchworm—we move forward when our head (faith) and our feet (action) stay connected.
• Many believers receive inspiration but never act on it; faith must lead to daily obedience and small steps of faith.
• The true fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—comes only through the Spirit’s life within us, not through human effort.

Closing Message

Kozlov concluded with Galatians 2:20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

He encouraged believers to:

• Live rooted in Christ’s love and grace.
• Stop trying to earn God’s favor.
• Recognize that the Christian life is not self-effort but Christ in us, the hope of glory.

He summarized the benefits once more:

• Justified – Heaven is open to you.
• Adopted – You are a legitimate child of God.
• Indwelled – You carry the Spirit of God within you.
• Empowered – You can live and act by the Spirit every day.

Pastor Matthew’s Closing Exhortation

Pastor Matthew concluded by emphasizing the power of overcoming:

• Denis’ life testified that anyone can rise above hardship—fatherlessness, poverty, or pain.
• Many believers live burdened by past wounds, but Christ calls us to overcome.
• “Stop feeling sorry for yourself,” he urged. “You can be an overcomer through the Word of God.”
• The altar was opened for prayer, inviting those ready to leave behind defeat and step into new life through Christ.

Core Message

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about striving—it’s about receiving.
You are justified, adopted, indwelled, and empowered.
Live as a child of grace, not a slave of the law.
And let your life become a testimony that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

 

Sunday Morning Service - Bringing in the Harvest

“He weakened my strength in the way.” – Psalm

 

Life’s Waves and God’s Sovereignty

Referencing Psalm 42:7, “Deep calls unto deep,” he explains that it portrays wave after wave of life’s challenges, not mystical depths. Sometimes, trouble comes in relentless succession — one wave after another — yet God uses even pain, sickness, and discomfort to shape us.

We often blame the devil, but sometimes it’s the Lord doing deep work in us.

He reminds the congregation that when we gave our lives to Christ, we surrendered the right to run our own lives.

“We said, ‘You get to call the shots.’ ”

 

Psalm 84 – Dwelling in God’s Presence

The message centers on Psalm 84, portraying the believer’s longing for God’s house and presence amid a fallen world.

• “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts.”
• Believers must live in the world but not of it, finding their refuge not in wealth, approval, or comfort — but in God’s presence.
• Even the sparrow finds a home near His altar — showing that everyone, humble or lowly, is welcome in His presence.

The pastor urges believers to maintain a “secret place” — a daily sanctuary of prayer and fellowship with God.

We need His manifest presence, not just His omnipresence.

 

Strength in the Pilgrimage

Psalm 84:5 – “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.”

• True strength comes from the Lord, not self.
• The Christian life is a pilgrimage, requiring perseverance and endurance — “a journey, not a sprint.”
• Like Noah, Abraham, and Jesus, we must walk faithfully even when the outcome seems far away.

“Decide yesterday that you’re not going to quit today.”

 

The Valley of Baka – Digging Wells

Psalm 84:6 describes the Valley of Baka, a place of weeping, decay, and death.

• Spiritually, it represents the world’s brokenness.
• Believers are called to dig wells — to bring life, truth, and hope where there is despair.
• Each Christian has a circle of influence (family, workplace, community) where God expects them to “dig wells” for others.

He contrasts Absalom, who built a monument to himself, with Jacob, who dug a well.

“The statue is gone; the well still flows.”

The challenge: be an effective well-digger whose influence blesses others long after you’re gone.

 

From Strength to Strength

Psalm 84:7 – “They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”

• This phrase means believers become an army within themselves because God dwells in them.
• Strength increases through intimacy with God, not worldly alliance.
• Avoid letting worldly media and negativity shape your mind — renew your thoughts in God’s Word.

Illustrations include:

• A soldier in WWII saved by a spider’s web God used for protection.
• A survivor of the Titanic quoting Psalm 91 as God delivered him.
  These show that God’s care extends to the smallest details for those who trust Him.
•  
• Staying Coupled with the Lord

Psalm 84:11 – “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
The pastor explains that “uprightly” in Hebrew (tāmîm) means “to stay coupled” — like train cars joined together.

• We don’t have to be perfect; we just have to stay connected to God.
• Whether rusty or shiny, the only train cars that move are the ones still coupled.

“If you’ll stay coupled with Me, I won’t withhold any good thing from you.”

 

The Final Call – Dig Wells, Stay Coupled, Trust God

Believers are called to:

• Remain coupled to God through every trial.
• Commit to the pilgrimage — no turning back.
• Dig wells in dry, dying places.
• Trust God through both good and hard seasons.

“Once you dig a well in Christ, it will always have water in it.”

The sermon closes with an altar call to:

• Renew one’s commitment to Christ’s work,
• Receive strength to influence others, and
• Begin or restore a relationship with Jesus.

Key Theme:

God is calling His people to intimacy, endurance, and influence — to stay coupled, keep digging wells, and bring living water into a dying world.

 

Thursday Bible Study - Zechariah - Session 4

Primary Text: Zechariah 5
Supporting Texts: Revelation 2, Revelation 17, 1 Corinthians 6, Galatians 5
Theme: God’s judgment against wickedness and deception; the prophetic parallels between Zechariah and Revelation.

---

1. Opening Context

• Zechariah 5 is closely related to the Book of Revelation, sharing themes of end-time judgment and spiritual deception.

• The speaker emphasizes discernment in “the last days,” praying for the church to recognize truth and avoid deception, citing Jesus’ warning that even the elect could be deceived.

---

2. Review of Chapter 4

• Zechariah’s vision of two olive trees—interpreted as the two anointed ones (Moses and Elijah).

• Discussion compares the ministries of Elijah and Moses in Revelation’s two witnesses, rejecting the idea that Enoch must die before the end.

• Enoch is seen as a type of the raptured church, while Moses and Elijah represent the two witnesses.

---

3. The Flying Scroll – Zechariah 5:1–4

• The scroll symbolizes a curse over the earth, exposing lies and theft.

• It mirrors New Testament warnings about rejecting truth and living deceitfully.

• The speaker cites 1 Corinthians 6 and Galatians 5 to describe unrighteous behaviors—thievery, fornication, drunkenness, sorcery (pharmakeia / drug use)—that prevent inheritance of God’s kingdom.

• Modern parallels: moral decay, the drug epidemic, and society’s normalization of sin.

• God’s curse enters the house of the liar and thief, consuming it—illustrating divine justice.

---

4. The Woman in the Basket – Zechariah 5:5–11

• A woman sitting in a basket symbolizes wickedness personified.

• The lead cover restrains her until she is carried to Shinar (Babylon)—a prophetic image of wickedness being centralized and prepared for the final system of evil.

• The vision points to Babylon as the spiritual center of rebellion against God, ultimately reflected in Revelation.

---

5. Jezebel and the Spirit of Seduction – Revelation 2:18–29

• Comparison to the Church of Thyatira, where “Jezebel” seduced believers into immorality and idolatry.

• Jezebel represents the spirit of manipulation and compromise within the church.

• God, in mercy, still offers her repentance—underscoring divine patience even toward those who corrupt the church.

• The greatest national sin is not just immorality but idolatry—replacing God with false worship or self-gratification.

---

6. The Great Harlot – Revelation 17

• The woman in Zechariah 5 reappears symbolically as the great harlot, Babylon, who corrupts the nations and rides the beast.

• She represents the world system of deception, materialism, false religion, and rebellion against God.

• Her adornments (gold, purple, pearls) signify the seductive beauty of sin.

• The nations are “drunk with her fornication,” echoing humanity’s addiction to pleasure and rebellion.

• Eventually, the kings of the earth turn against her—symbolizing the collapse of worldly evil under divine judgment.

• Despite the horror, Christ—the Lamb—overcomes all, as Lord of lords and King of kings.

---

7. Key Warnings and Applications

• Wickedness is real and organized. It will be judged in God’s time.

• Discernment is vital. The church must stay rooted in Scripture to recognize deception.

• Repentance remains open. God extends mercy even to those deep in sin.

• Our allegiance matters. Being “married to the Lord” requires purity and faithfulness, avoiding seduction by the world.

• Final accountability. Every believer will stand before God—motivation to live in holiness and love.

---

8. Closing Exhortation

• The end is near; the systems of evil are aligning (“the two storks have flown in the basket of wickedness”).

• Believers must remain faithful, loving God’s Word and reaching the lost.

• The session ends in prayer for steadfastness, gratitude, and daily surrender to God’s will.