Our Fortress | Pastor Chris | 12.3.23

Our Fortress 

Exegesis of Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph they served as gatekeepers at the tabernacle of the Lord (Chronicles 9:19)

The Psalm is divided into three sections, each one proclaiming God as a refuge and a  stronghold, and each is separated by a pause, or Selah.

Important word:

Fortress

Fortress - a castle or stronghold, a place of defense and protection against large-scale attacks.

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

1. As the first section begins, we are reminded of God’s abundant and immediate help, even though all nature is in opposition to us.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

1. The second stanza depicts the river of God’s presence and the temple of the Lord though the nations rage, and ends with a promise of victory.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.

6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

1. The final section calls us to see the mighty works of God. These works are presented as desolations — the ruins of the nations who oppose Him.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Who is singing this psalm and what is the context.  

The Sons of Korah who were Israelites. 

Isreal is a tiny country that in west Asia that is:

bordered by Lebanon to the north, 

by Syria to the northeast, 

by Jordan to the east, 

by the Red Sea to the south, 

by Egypt to the southwest, 

the Mediterranean Sea to the west, 

the Palestinian West Bank along the east 

the Palestinian Gaza Strip along the southwest.

There were more than 80 wars/conflicts in the Mesopotamian period when the writers would have been alive.
Against the: Amalekites, Canaanites, Amorites, Midianites, Jericho, Ai, Perizzites, Moabites, Philistines.  etc…  Etc…..

https://constantlyreforming.wordpress.com/every-battle-in-the-bible/

In the modern geopolitical landscape there have been approximately 16 wars, one which is ongoing. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Israel

Isreal is home to the most contested city in the world Jerusalem, and remains one of the most war plagued countries on the planet.

The first war:

After its official globally recognized establishment in 1948 every bordering country (6) attacked  Isreal at once.

The war lasted 6 days and when it was over Isreal had more territory than it started with. 

Currently: 

October 7th 2023 Hamas terrorists led attack on Israel was a series of coordinated incursions to massacre Israeli civilians.

The people who wrote this passage are a people who know war.

They know death they know destruction. 

They know hard times.

Continually!

What is Gods response?

Who do they know God to be in times of intense difficulty?

refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear

Even though there are natural disasters all around

There is a city of God 

That can never be moved!

It can never be shaken

Although the armies of the nations rage 

He speaks…..

The earth melts

The Lord of hosts is with us!

“Be still, and know that I am God.

The god of Jacob is our Fortress

God is the same yesterday today and forevermore!

He says:

  I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”

Here is why this is so encouraging for the believer……

Because like Isreal we are besieged on every side.

All of Gods people live in the midst of enemy territory. 

John 15:18-20

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

1 John 2:15

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

James 4:4

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

We are besieged!

There are external difficulties like wars and inflation

Then there are interpersonal difficulties like betrayals, difficulty in relationships, etc

And there is the difficulty of us! Our fleshly desires that are contrary to God’s

Who is God in the midsts of those times of difficulty?

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.

Although trouble is at your door

You will be still because 

Because God is your fortress!

You can run to and be safe!

Here’s how he does it:

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, (come watch him work)
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.

GOD IS A GOD OF WAR AND HE WARS ON BEHALH OF HIS PEOPLE.

Sabbath Mindset | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 11.26.23

SABBATH MINDSET

SABBATH PRINCIPLE

A Day

Exo 28:8-11

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

A Year

Lev 25:1-4

And the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, ² “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord. ³ Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; ⁴ but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. ⁵ What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land

A Season

Lev 25:8-12

And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years. ⁹ Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. ¹⁰ And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. ¹¹ That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. ¹² For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field

SABBATH MINDSET

Sabbat- means to stop.

Sabbath was a Time To:

Stop

Trust God

Rest (From Striving)

Reflect and Celebrate

Grow in Faith

Lev 25:20-22

And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?” ²¹ Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years. ²² And you shall sow in the eighth year and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.

Sabbath was always at the Beginning.

Gen 1:5

God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

Gen 1:8; 1:13; 1:10; 1:23; 1:31

A PORTRAIT OF THE SABBATH MINDSET

Jesus is Our Jubilee

Luke 4:18-19 AMP

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity],  19 To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me." - John 14:1

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on." - Luke 12:22

"And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" - Luke 12:25

"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." - John 5:24

"Have faith in God." - Mark 11:22

"Do not be afraid; only believe." - Mark 5:36

"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." - Mark 9:23

"Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer." - Revelation 2:10

"According to your faith let it be to you." - Matthew 9:29

"Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" - Matthew 8:26

"Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?" - Luke 24:38

"And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." - Matthew 21:22

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.'" - Matthew 14:27

"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do." - Luke 12:4

"But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:30

"But He said to them, 'It is I; do not be afraid.'" - John 6:20

"And He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?'" - Mark 4:40

WHAT SHALL WE DO

Start Everything with a Sabbath

Mark 2:27-28

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.

Sabbath Often

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth

Keep your mind on Him

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You

A Thankful Heart | Pastor Chris | 11.19.23

A Thankful Heart

Lessons from the Ten Lepers

What does biblical gratitude look like?

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

Luke 17:11-19

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

1. The Ten:

In Luke 17:12-13, we see ten lepers who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 

These men, afflicted with a devastating and isolating disease, recognized their desperate need for healing.

There are multiple ways we identify with the Lepers, but first and foremost is the doctrine of original sin.

Ephesians 2:1,2

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked.

Ephesians 2:4-6

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

We have been saved and healed from things that have ailed us, like the ten lepers.

2. Will you obey:

Jesus responds to the lepers' cry with simple instructions:

Luke 17:14.

“Go and show yourselves to the priests.”

They all obeyed Jesus. 

They did what it took to get the blessing/healing.

3. Answered prayer:

As the lepers went on their way, they were cleansed, 

Luke 17:15-16,

"Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks."

4. Where did you go?:

Jesus, noting the absence of the other nine, asks, 

(Luke 17:17)

"Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”.

5. The real gift:

Jesus concludes the encounter with the healed man, saying, 

(Luke 17:19) 

"Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well”.

The Greek, σέσωκέν, sesōken, can mean saved or made well. 

The Greek keyword for saved in Luke 7:50 and Mark 5:34 is σέσωκέν, which comes from σῴζω, sōzō described as:

• to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

• to save a suffering one (from perishing)

• to save in the technical biblical sense

• to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment

• to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance.

Syriac:

 ‘aḥyaṯeḵ(y) - saved, it also suggests “given to life” or “restored to life”.

This is the same root used in Genesis 2:7 “and the man became a living being,”

The Leper came looking for healing and got heaven.

He came for a remedy and got righteousness. 

He came looking to be clean and got Christ in him the hope of glory.

There are a lot of people who will do what It takes to be blessed by God but as soon as they get it they run. 

Are you after the healing or the healer?!?!?!?

Im not just thankful because I have nice clothes

Im not just thankful because I have a house

Im not just thankful because I have a beautiful family 

Im not just thankful because my finances are ok

Im not just thankful because of my good looks

I am thankful because 

Colosians 2:13 

When I was dead in my sin Chris made me alive with him, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us.

Colosians 2:13 

13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.c

Firm Foundation: The Answers | Pastor Chris Searcy | 10am

Firm Foundation

The Answers

Previously:

Faithless age

- Declining faith

Information age

- Prevalence of doctrines and different faiths

The Need

- Reason 1. It is making its way into the church

- Reason 2. Its In your home

The Answer

Ephesians 1:17

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the

Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

Ephesians 1:18-20

18 having the eyes of your hearts

enlightened, that you may know what is the

hope to which he has called you, what

are the riches of his glorious inheritance in

the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable

greatness of his power toward us who

believe, according to the working of his great

might 20 that he worked in Christ when he

raised him from the dead and seated him at

his right hand in the heavenly places,

That we would know:

How the story ends

That we are his reward

That our God is omnipotent

The Answers

The Nicene Creed, also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is a statement of the

orthodox faith of the early Christian church in opposition to certain heresies.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father

Through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation,

He came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

2

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the

dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and

glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of

sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Common Questions:

1) The Bible has mistakes / was created by men recently.

The Bible is in fact the most reliable and accurate book of antiquity (the ancient past). It is

textually accurate due to the number of manuscripts and the dating of those manuscripts. 

The first complete copies of single New Testament books appear around 200AD, and the

earliest complete copy of the New Testament, the Codex Sinaiticus (re)discovered in 1844,

dates to the 4th century (325 AD years after Jesus’ death.)

Which was 1697 years & 10 months ago

There are over 5,000 complete Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, 10,000 Latin, and

9,300 other languages/dialects with some of the earliest copies dating to 120 AD.  Complete

New Testaments could be compiled with even the direct quoting of early church fathers.

The Bible has proven to be more historically and archaeologically accurate than any

other ancient book.

It also is divinely inspired

According to research by Chris Harrison and Pastor Christoph Römhild,

There are 63,779 cross references in total.

3

The bar graph that runs along the bottom represents all of the chapters in the Bible, starting with

Genesis 1 on the left.

Books alternate in color between light and dark gray, with the first book of the Old and New

Testaments in white. The length of each bar denotes the number of verses in that chapter

Cross references are conceptual links between verses, connecting locations, people, phrases,

etc. found in different parts of the Bible.

Play telephone game

The reason this is impossible is because the Bible is a collection of sixty-six books composed

and compiled over 2,000 years by 40 authors on 3 continents.

It is the divinely inspired word of God!

2) What about all those different translations.

Translations do not in fact make the Bible or Christianity inaccurate. We have some of the most

literal translations of the Bible in the English language that are consistent and accurate with

regard to the original language/manuscripts through the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

and the English Standard Version (ESV).

Remember the Codex Sinaiticus: we can cross reference that to the translations we have today

for accuracy.

3) Hell is just not reasonable.

This objection has its roots in the over-estimation of man and the under-estimation of God. It

takes a philosophical worldview that man is essentially good and God forgives everyone.

Consequently, not upholding any justice at all. 

Because who draws the line and where do you draw it? And wouldn’t that make you your own

God if you got to decide when you were righteous or not?

Genesis 1 God created us in paradise.

We sinned and from that sin/disobedience to God all atrocities flow.

How can paradise be perfect if imperfect people reside in its walls?

God provided a way for us to become righteous again however, some refuse to choose his path.

Revelation 21:8

"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually

immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with

fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 25:46

"And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” -

4) What about all those hypocrites in the church.

Praise God there are hypocrites in the church!

4

Otherwise the church would be empty!

Romans 3:23-24 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace

through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Clarification:

It depends on your definition of hypocrite:

If you mean christians fall into sin that’s all of us.

but if you mean people who are purposefully, continually doing evil unrepentantly that is

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who

does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did

we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works

in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers

of lawlessness.’

We are sinners that are saved by grace alone in Christ alone through faith alone for His glory

alone. 

So many people use that word to describe normal christians who fall like we all do but repent

and continue this walk.

5) Science and evolution has disproved God.

Evidential science proves there is a God, by the complexity and amazing nature around us.

Scientists used to think that space was eternal.

But in 1929 astronomer Edwin Hubble (Hubble telescope) affirmed he saw galaxies expanding

outward.

If they are expanding they must have a beginning.

Albert Einstein in 1931 visited the Mt. Wilson Observatory,

peered through the telescope, and then, “I now see the necessity of a beginning.”

Decades after, in 1965, two U.S. scientists detected the remnants of the initial burst of energy of

the creation event typically called the “Big Bang.”

Arno Penzias, later declared, “The best data we have [about the Big Bang] are exactly what I

would have predicted had I nothing to go on but the first five books of Moses, the Psalms and

the Bible as a whole”

(“Clues to Universe Origin Expected,” The New York Times, March 12, 1978, p. 1).

5

The big bang is how astronomers explain the way the universe began. It is the idea that the

universe began as just a single point, then expanded and stretched to grow as large as it is right

now—and it is still stretching!

Genesis :1,3

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,”

and there was light.

Also the fact that we see precise values needed to establish and sustain a universe capable of

producing life. 

6) Only one way to God, what about all those other religions.

The exclusivity of Christ is a tough thing to swallow for unbelievers in our “tolerance-driven”

culture.

5 Major religions:

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.

Three of the 5 are Abrahamic religions;

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize Abraham as their first prophet. They largely vary

on the person of Christ among other things and hence make completely different claims about

salvation.

Today, at least 3.8 billion people are followers of Abrahamic religions, equaling more than 50%

of the worlds population

The Hindu religion:

A Hindu views the entire universe as Gods and everything in the universe as God. Hindus

believe that each person is intrinsically divine and the purpose of life is to seek and realise the

divinity within all of us. The Hindu belief is totally non-exclusive and accepts all other faiths and

religious paths.

The Hindu faith is centred around reincarnation; the belief that when someone dies, the soul is

reborn as a different form.

The Buddhist religion:

Follows the teachings of Buddha or the awakened one. A man who grew up rich realized there

was suffering in life so he gave them up and became a monk to escape suffering and

established the Noble Eightfold Path, that is supposed to help you reach Nirvana. Nirvana is the

supreme state of letting go of desires and suffering.

They do not believe that people should look to gods to save them but rather people should work

out their own paths.

There is no reward or punishment at the time of death. They believe the spirit continues after

death and may be reborn. Death can be an opportunity for liberation from the cycle of life, death

and rebirth.

Life sucks and then you die…….

6

The 3 Abrahamic religions believe they are talking to the same God, but believe very

differently about the person of Jesus and thus the Gospel.

The Jewish understanding of Abraham is drawn from the book of Genesis, Chapters 11:26 to

25:18.

Judaism originated with the biblical patriarch Abraham (approx 1800BC)

Believe Jesus was a heretic.

So they are still awaiting their messiah.

Muslim religion began around 600 AD

Believe one man’s revelation Muhammed. Who believed was revealed to him orally by the angel

Gabriel. He then after fleeing from persecution returned raised an army and crusaded and

spread through most of the Arabian peninsula. The message spread through warfare and Trade.

Christianity Began 1st century AD

Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets.

7) What about all those wars started by Christians.

The key to this questions is again…do not base Christianity on the basis of the actions of some

of the presumed followers of the faith that are acting contradictory to what the Bible states.

Matthew 5:10 ESV“ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into

prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until

death, and I will give you the crown of life.

8) Christianity was spread by the power-hungry people.

Yes, the apostles who were all poor, made no money, had absolutely no power, were oppressed

by Rome in the world and the religious elite in Israel, and all died martyrs deaths were all power-

hungry people who spread Christianity throughout the known land.

Matthew 16:24-25

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,

and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever

loses his life for My sake will find it.

Acts 21:13

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready

not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

9)  If God was really all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, why is there pain and

sickness and death?

This again shows a misunderstanding of God and an over-estimation of man.  It is our fault that

there is pain and sickness and death.  It is our sin that has brought about these consequences,

not God.

7

We have free will and choose to do evil with that free will.

Revelation 3:20

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will

come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

All objections are rooted in a person wanting to divert the issue away from the true source, which is themselves.  They are all smoke to cover up the sin

and pride that the sinner loves.  The Bible says that a person must repent and put their trust in Jesus to be saved.

Eph 5:24-25: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave

Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the

word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle

or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.  29 For no one ever

hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.  32

This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 4:11-13: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some

evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the edifying of the body of Christ, until

we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect

man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

FIRM FOUNDATION! The Antidote | Pastor Chris Searcy

FIRM FOUNDATION!

The Antidote

Ephesians 1:18-19

Ephesians 1:15-17

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all

God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I

keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the

Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

Previously:

1. Faithless age

Pew projects that in 2070, Christians will likely make up less than half the US population.

50 years ago that number was 90%

Isaiah 43:21

21 the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

2. Information Age

Prevalence of doctrines and different faiths.

3. The Need

Reason 1. It is making its way into the church.

Reason 2. Its In your home.

Ephesians 4

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God………

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and

there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful

scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the

mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 

4. The Answer

Ephesians 1:17

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the

Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

The Antidote:

CONTEXT:

The city of Ephesus is located in modern day Turkey. hosted around 250,000 residents

Ephesus was known as a city of size, wealth, and power. The major economies of the city were

rooted in trade and idol worship.

The temple of Artemis, located in the heart of the city, was prized as one of the seven wonders

of the ancient world.

The church at Ephesus was established 15-20 years after the death of Jesus Christ. 

Paul planted the church. And wrote them letters which are called Ephesians

Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians while he was in prison in Rome. 

BOOK BREAKDOWN:

Ephesians chapter 1-3 Paul is presenting the gospel story, and in 4-6 Paul is telling them how

the gospel story informs us on how we should all live out our lives.

Ephesians 1:16-20

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our

Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the

knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the

hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the

saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who

believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised

him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

What is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation?:

The “wisdom” is a better understanding of the doctrines of God, and the “revelation” is a clearer

picture of the divine character and will.

We can not understand it on our own.

The strongest eyes are useless when a person is in total darkness. The natural man has no

spiritual sight. His eyes do not perceive Jesus’ power and beauty.

1 Corinthians 2:12-14

12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that

we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words

taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with

Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from

the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are

discerned only through the Spirit.

Satan’s most common attack is the opposite of this by releasing accusation and deception to

confuse our hearts.

Paul added three specific prayers that flow out of encounter:

Ephesians 1:18-19

18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he

has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the

immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his

great might 

The hope to which he has called you. (How the story ends)

The invitation goes out to everyone:

“Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).

The call is the call to faith!

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

“Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”

 (2 Tim. 1:9), God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,

but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all

eternity.”

Thus as Christians, we should be filled with hope because we know that God has called us to

salvation. (In the present and eternity)

The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Us as his reward)

It refers to the inheritance that God has in His people. In other words, we are God’s possession,

purchased by the blood of Christ.

Deuteronomy 32:9 says, “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His

inheritance.”

Psalm 33:12 proclaims, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has

chosen for His own inheritance.”

Ephesians 5:27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or

wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

And his incomparably great power for us who believe. (His unmatched power and glory)

Ephesians 1:19-21

“in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ,

when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far

above all rule and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but

also in the one to come.”

What does this help us do?

Endure

The preaching team in Ephesus was legendarily deep. Paul, Apollos, Timothy, and John all

pastored the church in different seasons.

In the end, Jesus pointed out that they lost their first love (Revelation 2:1-7)

If we are looking for a feeling. Or a dream or just an encounter then we won’t be deeply rooted.

The spirit of wisdom and revelation teaches us:

How the story ends

That we are his reward

That our God is omnipotent

Not For You | Bishop Kyle Searcy | 10.29.23

NOT FOR YOU

I. The Historical Roots of Halloween

Halloween finds its origins in pagan practices, specifically the Celtic festival of

Samhain. Though modern celebrations may seem detached from these origins, the

spiritual world doesn't operate on the same linear timeline as we do. Connections

and doors, once opened, may remain so.

1. Samhain: Halloween's deepest roots are in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain

(pronounced "SAH-win"), which marked the end of the harvest season and the

beginning of winter. It was believed that on the night of October 31st, the veil

between the living and the spirit world was at its thinnest, allowing spirits and

fairies to cross over into the world of the living. During Samhain, the Celts would

light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off these spirits.

 marked the end of the harvest season

 Belief thin veil allowing spirits to cross over

 Celts light fires and wear costumes to ward off the spirits

2. Roman Influence: As the Romans expanded their empire, they began to

assimilate various Celtic customs. Two Roman festivals became intertwined with

Samhain: Feralia, a day in late October to commemorate the passing of the dead,

and a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The apple, a

symbol for Pomona, might be the origin of the Halloween tradition of bobbing

for apples.

 Romans adopted Celtic Customs and mixed them

 Feralia a day to commemorate passing of the dead

 Pamona Roman goddess of fruit trees

 Christian Influence:

 Spread of Christianity into Celtic lands by the 9th century.

 November 1st designated by Pope Gregory III as All Saints' Day.

 October 31st became All Hallows' Eve, later shortened to Halloween.

II. ALL HALLOWS EVE/DAY

All Hallows' Eve is the evening before All Hallows' Day, also known as All Saints' Day.

The term "hallow" is an old word for "saint," and "eve" refers to the night before.

Hence, All Hallows' Eve means the evening before the day of all the saints. This day

is celebrated on October 31st and is more commonly known today as Halloween.

Historically, All Hallows' Eve marked the beginning of a three-day observance

dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the

departed faithful. This three-day period is sometimes referred to as Allhallowtide,

consisting of:

1. All Hallows' Eve (October 31st) - Halloween

2. All Saints' Day (November 1st) - A Christian holiday commemorating all saints,

known and unknown.

3. All Souls' Day (November 2nd) - A day to pray for the souls of the dead,

especially those in purgatory.

a. Attending Mass or Church Services: The most fundamental way of observing

All Saints' Day for many Christians is by attending church services. Specific

readings, hymns, and prayers focused on the saints are typically included.

b. Lighting Candles: In many cultures, candles are lit in memory of the saints.

Some people also light candles for deceased loved ones, linking All Saints'

Day with the commemoration of the faithfully departed.

c. Visiting Graves: Especially in Catholic and some Anglican traditions, it's

customary for people to visit the graves of deceased loved ones, leaving

flowers and lighting candles. While this practice is more closely associated

with All Souls' Day (November 2nd), it often begins on All Saints' Day in many

cultures.

d. Special Prayers: Prayers are offered to saints as intercessors, asking for their

guidance and protection. There might also be prayers thanking God for the

witness of the saints.

e. Fasting and Feasting: In some Christian traditions, people fast during the eve

of All Saints' (i.e., on Halloween) and then feast on All Saints' Day itself.

f. Processions: In certain places, processions are held where people march,

sing hymns, and carry images or relics of saints.

g. Ringing Church Bells: In some cultures, church bells are rung in

remembrance of the dead.

h. Art and Iconography: Churches and homes may be decorated with images,

icons, or statues of saints. These serve as visual reminders of the holy lives

that the saints led and their special status in the Christian tradition.

i. Special Liturgical Colors: In many Christian denominations, white is the

liturgical color for All Saints' Day, symbolizing purity, holiness, and victory

over death.

j. Folk Traditions: As with many religious holidays, various folk customs have

become associated with All Saints' Day in different cultures. For instance, in

some parts of Europe, children go door-to-door on All Saints' Day (rather

than Halloween) to ask for food or money in exchange for prayers for the

dead.

DUE TO COMMERCIALISM AND AN A NEVER-ENDING STRATEGY OF SATAN TO

DECEIVE AND ATTRACT WORSHIP IT HAS MORPHED INTO WHAT IT IS NOW

III. Biblical Warnings Against Witchcraft and the Occult

The Bible warns us consistently about engaging with the spiritual world outside the

boundaries God has set.

1. Exodus 22:18: "You shall not permit a sorceress to live."

2. Leviticus 19:26: "You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice

divination or soothsaying."

3. Leviticus 20:6: "And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to

prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him

off from his people."

4. Leviticus 20:27: "A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar

spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their

blood shall be upon them."

5. 1 Samuel 15:23: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as

iniquity and idolatry."

6. 2 Kings 21:6: King Manasseh "made his son pass through the fire, practiced

soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much

evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger."

7. Isaiah 8:19: "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and

wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God?"

8. Acts 19:18-20: “And many who had believed came confessing and telling their

deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books

together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of

them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20  So the word of the Lord

grew mightily and prevailed.”

9. Deuteronomy 18:10-12: "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns

his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells

fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a

necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is

an abomination to the Lord."

10. Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,

uncleanness, lewdness, 20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,

outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21  envy, murders,

drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also

told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the

kingdom of God.

IV. WHY GLORIFY SATAN OR HIS AGENTS

1. Eve in the Garden of Eden - In Genesis 3, Satan (in the form of a serpent) tempts Eve

to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, leading to the Fall of Man.

2. Job - In the Book of Job, Satan challenges Job's faithfulness to God and, with God's

permission, brings great suffering upon him, taking away his wealth, health, and

children.

3. Judas Iscariot - In the New Testament, particularly in Luke 22:3-4 and John 13:27, it is

mentioned that Satan entered Judas, leading him to betray Jesus.

4. The Woman with the Spirit of Infirmity - In Luke 13:11-16, Jesus heals a woman who

had been crippled for eighteen years. He indicates that she has been bound by Satan.

5. The Man with the Legion of Demons - In Mark 5:1-20 and Luke 8:26-39, Jesus

encounters a man possessed by a "legion" of demons. After a confrontation, Jesus

allows the demons to enter a herd of pigs, which then rush into the sea and drown.

6. The Boy with an Unclean Spirit - In Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-43, Jesus heals a boy

possessed by a spirit that has rendered him mute and often throws him into fire or

water.

7. The Thief – In John 10:10 he is the theif that only comes to steal kill and destroy.

8. His End is in the Lake

Rev 20:10

  The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the

beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever

and ever.

Matthew 25:41

  “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into

the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

V. YOUR AUTHORITY IS WHY YOU CAN’T PLAY WITH THIS

.

Gen 1:28

  Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the

earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the

air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

Subdue – Subjugate, Violate

Ps 115:14-16

May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children. 15 May you be

blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 16 The heaven, even the heavens,

are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.

Psalm 8:4-6

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5

For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him

with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your

hands; You have put all things under his feet.

1. The Three Ways Your Authority is Manifest

a. Agreement

b. Words

c. Prayer

1 Tim 4:1-2

Look at 1 Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times

some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and

doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own

conscience seared with a hot iron.”

VI. AS BELIEVERS WE DEAL WITH DEVILS INSTEAD OF ENTERTAINING THEM

1. We resist them.

James 4:7: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from

you."

2. We give them no place.

Ephesians 4:27: "... nor give place to the devil."

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring

lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that

the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

3. We subject them to us.

Luke 10:17-20

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to

us in Your name.” 18  And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all

the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20  Nevertheless do

not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your

names are written in heaven.”

4. We cast them out.

Mark 16:15-17

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be

condemned. 17  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will

cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.

VII. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO BE DIFFERENT

Matthew 5:13

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be

seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot

by men.

Eph 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose

them. 12  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in

secret.

FIRM FOUNDATION: What’s at Stake | Pastor Chris Searcy | 10.22.23

FIRM FOUNDATION!

What’s at Stake!

DESIRING A SPIRIT OF REVELATION - EPH. 1:17

Ephesians 1:15-17

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all

God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I

keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the

Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

As we get closer to the end of this age we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation more than

ever before.

1. Faithless age

Pew projects that in 2070, Christians will likely make up less than half the US population.

50 years ago that number was 90%

We are entering the faithless age

Here’s the problem with that statement……

the human species was created to worship.

Isaiah 43:7

7 everyone who is called by my name,

    whom I created for my glory,

    whom I formed and made.”

Isaiah 43:21

21 the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.

We don’t stop worshipping we just change who we worship.

Satan Tempts Jesus - Matthew 4:1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And

when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the

tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become

bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word

that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said

to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the

kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if

You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship

the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

- If the devil can’t take your faith he’ll try to change who you worship. -

2. Information Age

“The Information Age is the idea that access to and the control of information is the defining

characteristic of this current era in human civilization.” Linda Tucci, Industry Editor -- CIO

- Approximately 328.77 million terabytes of data are created each day

For context 500 movies = one Terabyte.

Which equals 164,385,000,000 billion movies per day. As a data equivalent

- By 2025 that's believed to increase to 463 exabytes of data, which is an increase of 1,000,000

times that of today.

Now among all of that content there is a prevalence of doctrines and different faiths.

On a scale never seen before people are questioning the validity of our faith, and coming up

with their own.

Paganism is on the rise:

“Why paganism and witchcraft are making a comeback” - NBC News

"Could neo-paganism be the new ‘religion’ of America?” - Big Think

“The pagan boom – why young people are turning to non-traditional religions” - Dazed

The pagan population in the us has grown by 341% in 6 years.

According to a Trinity College survey from 2008 and a pew research study from 2014

If that percentage growth continues that number would have surpassed 6,615,000 3 years ago,

and be at 9 million now.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their

own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching

ears want to hear.

4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me.

Colossians 1:15

[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (preeminent in rank Psalm

89:27). For by him all things were created…

3. The Need

There are 2 reasons why the attacks on the legitimacy of Christ and the legitimacy and

inherency of scripture is the most pressing issue facing the globe right now.

Reason 1. It is making its way into the church.

Reason 2. Its In your home.

Reason 1.

As believers we are to pray for Unity in Christ!

Ephesians 4:11-15

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and

teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built

up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and

become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here

and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their

deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in

every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 

We have to be on one accord in the Gospel and in the inherency of its pages, holding Jesus

Christ the risen savior as he is found in these pages.

WE MUST PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AND WE CAN NOT ABIDE THOSE WHO DISTORT ITS

TEACHINGS.

Reason 2.

Its in your house!

ALL other ministry is SECONDARY.

To stewarding Godly homes, and offspring.

4. The Answer

What is our response……

The spirit of wisdom and revelation be given to us.

The “wisdom” is a better understanding of the doctrines of God, and the “revelation” is a clearer

picture of the divine character and will.

ITS TIME TO GROW UP!

We are at war!

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of

God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle

against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic

powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly

places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the

evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of

truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having

put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of

faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet

of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the

Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance,

making supplication for all the saints,

We can’t share it if we don’t understand it.

That’s why we need the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

What are the things that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation teach us:

Ephesians 1:18-19

The hope to which he has called you. (How the story ends)

The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (Us as his reward)

And his incomparably great power for us who believe. (His unmatched power and glory)