Many Christians are dealing with great obstacles in their lives. It may be a job loss, a stressful marriage, a sick loved one, or a child struggling with faith. But no matter how bleak things may look, God is in the midst of the lives of those who love him and put their trust in him.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).&
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Circumstance-based Christianity rises and falls on hope in this world. Yet, when our world is shaken and the things in it, we can be shaken, too. Carter Conlon reminds us in this sermon to look up and have a vision beyond the circumstances around us.
“You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do … You learned Christ …and were taught in him … to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life … and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17, 20-24).
God is not mocking his children when he promises, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). And he is not lying when he promises, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry … The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15, 17).
Like Moses, when battles come, our first instinct should be to turn to God.
Believers must work constantly not to lose sight of God's work in our lives and will for our communities and world. In this week's sermon, Pastor Carter Conlon shares how believers can defend their minds and spirits against daily erosion and spiritual blindness. He encourages us to constantly remind ourselves of God's promises and past work so that we can remain aware of God's presence around us.
