In this powerful exploration of God's truth, we're challenged to consider the impact of Scripture on our faith. The message centers on 2 Timothy 3, revealing the spiritual warfare surrounding truth in our world. We're reminded that there's a constant battle against God's word, waged by the devil, the world, and our own flesh. But there's hope! By submitting to God's truth, we can experience a transformed character, perseverance through suffering, and ultimately, salvation through faith in Jesus. This isn't just about believing; it's about allowing God's word to master us, being doers of the word, and finding Jesus in all of Scripture. As we navigate this journey, we're encouraged to trust that God speaks through His word, humble ourselves before it, and let it equip us for every good work. This message invites us to deepen our relationship with Jesus, recognizing Him as the source of everything we need.
Are we truly praying with expectation and persistence? This powerful message challenges us to examine our prayer life and relationship with God. Drawing from the story of Moses on Mount Sinai, we're reminded that waiting on God's answer requires patience and faith. The Israelites' impatience led them to idolatry after just 47 days, while we often give up much sooner. We're encouraged to pray boldly, avoiding the tendency to 'scale down' our prayers out of fear of disappointment. The teaching emphasizes that the purpose of prayer isn't just to get what we want, but to align ourselves to receive more of God. As we deepen our relationship with Him, our desires naturally align with His will. This perspective shift can transform our approach to unanswered prayers, helping us trust in God's timing and purposes, even when His answer is 'no' or 'wait'.
In our journey of faith, we're often confronted with the challenge of navigating relationships, particularly dating, in a God-honoring way. This message delves deep into Ephesians 4 and 5, reminding us that our primary focus should be on developing godly character rather than fixating on external qualities. We're encouraged to 'put off our old self' and embrace the new, growing in Christ-like attributes. The story of Ruth and Boaz is beautifully woven in, illustrating how God can work through our relationships when we approach them with integrity and purpose. As we reflect on this, we're challenged to examine our own hearts: Are we becoming the kind of person we hope to date? Are we allowing God to heal our past traumas and shape our character? This message isn't just about finding a partner; it's about becoming more like Christ in all our relationships.
In our exploration of trauma and forgiveness we're reminded that our journey through pain is not just a personal struggle, but a spiritual one. The story of Hagar in Genesis beautifully illustrates how God sees us in our darkest moments. Even when Hagar felt abandoned and mistreated, God met her in the wilderness, offering comfort and a promise. This powerful narrative teaches us that we are never truly alone in our suffering. God is 'El Roi' - the God who sees. As we grapple with our own traumas, we're called to remember that healing often involves facing our pain, not avoiding it. The process may be difficult, but it's through this journey that we can experience God's presence most profoundly. Just as Hagar received a covenant blessing amidst her distress, we too can find unexpected grace in our struggles. This message challenges us to look for God's hand in our lives, even when circumstances seem bleakest, and to trust in His redemptive power.
Are we living in the end times? This thought-provoking message challenges our understanding of the 'last days' and the book of Revelation. We learn that the end times began with Christ's resurrection and ascension, and we've been living in them for nearly 2,000 years. The key isn't to pinpoint exact timelines or modern-day figures, but to focus on the central revelation: Jesus Christ. Through a powerful analysis of Revelation 5, we see Jesus as both the Lion of Judah and the slain Lamb, worthy to open the scroll. This imagery reminds us that Christ's victory came through sacrifice, not worldly power. As we navigate our faith journey, we're called to keep our eyes on Jesus, spread the gospel, and be ready for His return - whether it's tomorrow or a thousand years from now. This message encourages us to engage with Scripture thoughtfully, avoiding sensationalism, and instead focusing on the transformative power of the gospel in our lives and world.
As Pastor Wes wraps up our Faith @ Work series he dives into the powerful exploration of patience, we delve into the timeless story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. This narrative serves as a profound reminder that God's timing is perfect, even when our circumstances seem dire. Joseph's journey from favored son to slave to prisoner to ruler beautifully illustrates how God can use our setbacks as setups for His greater purpose. We're challenged to consider: How is God using our current work or situation to build our patience? The message emphasizes that while we often focus on what we can accomplish, God is more concerned with who we're becoming. In our fast-paced world that values instant gratification, we're encouraged to embrace the slow, transformative work of character development. This teaching invites us to trust in God's sovereign plan, even when we can't see the bigger picture, reminding us that our ultimate calling is to know Christ, become like Him, and make Him known in our world.
In our exploration of faith and work, we're reminded that our careers, while important, are ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of God's plan. This echoes the wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, where we're told that everything under the sun is vanity. However, this doesn't mean we should neglect our work. Instead, we're called to work as if working for the Lord, not for human masters, as stated in Colossians 3:23. This perspective shift transforms our daily grind into an act of worship and service. We're challenged to prioritize our lives in this order: faith, family, friends, and then work. By doing so, we align ourselves with God's desires and find true fulfillment. As we navigate our professional lives, let's remember that our ultimate purpose is not career success, but rather to honor God and serve others through our work.
In this powerful exploration of faith at work, we're reminded of the urgency and importance of sharing God's love with our coworkers. The parable of Lazarus and the rich man from Luke 16 serves as a stark reminder of the eternal consequences of our earthly choices. As we imagine ourselves in Lazarus' shoes, we're comforted by the promise of heavenly reward for those who trust in God. Yet, when we consider the rich man's fate, we're challenged to look at our own workplace relationships with fresh eyes. Who among our colleagues might be spiritually 'rich' in this world but headed for eternal separation from God? This sobering realization ignites a passion within us to become witnesses for Christ, not out of duty, but out of genuine love and concern for those around us.
Ruben Vanderwalt, worship coordinator intern, explores the concept of servant-leadership within the broader Christian journey. Vanderwalt emphasises that virtues like servant-leadership shouldn't be viewed in isolation but as part of one's overall relationship with Jesus. The speaker highlights six aspects crucial for spiritual growth and incorporating faith into work, school and life including recognising truth, repentance, a servant's heart, obedience, fellowship, and persevering through difficulty. The message underscores that a relationship with Christ transforms perspective, urging listeners to embrace the adventure of faith and approach service with love and dedication, recognising God's constant presence through life's challenges.
This podcast episode from Ebenezer College and Career Podcast in Saskatoon discusses the interplay between faith, work, and individual skills. Claire Durand explores the distinctions between learned skills, natural abilities, and spiritual gifts, using biblical passages (Matthew 28:18-20 and 1 Corinthians 12) to illustrate how these attributes contribute to one's calling. The episode encourages listeners to reflect on their own strengths and how these align with their work, using prayer and self-reflection to discern God's purpose.
n this episode of Faith @ Work, Brandon Bellows discusses the Christian concept of "calling," exploring its biblical basis and practical application to work life. Brondon then defines a calling as a God-given identity or purpose, illustrating this with various biblical examples, including calls to salvation, new names, specific tasks, and ministry roles. The episode then explores why discerning God's calling for one's work is crucial, highlighting its significance in a large portion of one's life and in avoiding a fragmented faith. Finally, several practical questions are provided to aid listeners in identifying their own calling within their work or career.
Kicking off our new series Faith @ Work with Pastor Wes Hodgson! Get ready to connect your faith to your 9-to-5 like never before. Don't miss it!
Pastor Wes wraps up our Ezra series
Ezra 10
Erza 8
Ezra 9
Ezra 6
Ezra 5
Ezra 4
Ezra 3
