The Danger of Worldly Desires

Where do you place your trust?
Where is your security?
What has your undivided attention?
Where does God fit in your life?
Real questions for real people who will spend eternity in heaven or eternity in hell.

Rev.17

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 
2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk." 
3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 
5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations." 
6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 
7 But the angel said to me, "Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 
10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 
11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 
12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 
13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." 
15 And the angel said to me, "The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 
16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 
17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 
18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth." 

Rev.18

1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. 
2 And he called out with a mighty voice, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. 
3 For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living." 
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; 
5 for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 
6 Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. 
7 As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, 'I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.' 
8 For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her." 
9 And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. 
10 They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come." 
11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, 
12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 
13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. 
14 "The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!" 
15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, 
16 "Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! 
17 For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste."And all ship masters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 
18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?" 
19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 
20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!" 
21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 
22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 
23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery. 
24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth." 

What is going on?

An attractive woman who symbolizes worldly seduction...

A symbol of infidelity, idolatry, and immorality.

Sitting on a beast who symbolizes worldly persecution.

Seven heads symbolizing seven mountains and seven kings.

The woman is devoured by the beast.

According to the purpose of God.

The woman disappears from the earth.

As a result of the judgement of God.

What does this mean?

What we learn about this world...

This world is full of deceptive attractions, sensual pleasures, and material possessions.

This world promises satisfaction, the hope of security, encourages an insatiable lust for power and the subtle lure of pride.

This world is headed to a definite conclusion.

This world will be destroyed completely, suddenly, and eternally.

What we learn about sin and Satan...

Sin is self destructive and eventually damning!

Satan is a destroyer who knows he is inevitably doomed.

What we learn about Jesus...

By His overcoming grace, He calls us to be saved!

With His overcoming power, He calls us to be faithful! 

What we learn about our lives...

Love for the world and love for God cannot coexist!

Love for the world pushes out love for God!

Love for God pushes out love for the world!

Every one of us has a choice...

We can love the things of this world.

Our pleasures will always be fleeting!

Our destiny will be hell!

We can love the God of this world...

Our pleasure will be unfading!

Our security will always be in heaven! 

Thanks Pastor David!!

Faith in Christ alone!!

Phil. 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--

Faith in Christ shown to the world!!

James 2:14-26

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 

16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! 

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 

22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. 

24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 

25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 

Dear Jesus, This message is at the core of our failure to obey Your word. Teach us to know the difference in the true blessings of food, shelter and clothing and chasing after the things this world offers that distract us from loving You! Help us to keep our heart trained on You and our mission to share the gospel with the perishing souls in this world! Amen.

For the Lord is our Judge

Is.33:22 
For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us.

James 4:12 

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?

Acts 17:30-31

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 

31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." 

Messiah, King, Judge, Redeemer, these are are just a few of the names which belong to the Christ! He is merciful but He will judge our rebellion! We are here to preach the truth of the gospel!

2 Timothy 4:1-4

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 

4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Sweet Jesus, help us teach, help us to walk the straight and narrow, help us to show compassion and yes Lord, help us to be bold in speaking the gospel to the lost! Amen

The Living Cornerstone

To the lost souls who are searching!

Eph.2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone

Isaiah 28:16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

Isaiah 42:1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--

Christ is the chief cornerstone of the church! The cornerstone makes the building secure so it will stand. Christ alone is our security! We will not stand without Christ! He is our redeemer! He is our coming King! He will bring justice to the nations! Christ is the covenant of grace! Faith in Him alone brings salvation, peace, joy, hope, comfort and eternal happiness! This is God's plan, that through His Son, we might have eternal life!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This gift was not free! Christ gave His life in your place! There is no other way, no other religion, no works you can do, no good life you can lead, and salvation can not be bought with money. The fee was a sacrificial lamb, spotless, worthy and willingly obedient to the Father! What will you say to Him when you see him face to face?

Lord, the gospel is amazing! Open hearts to receive it! Amen

How Do We Worship God in His Wrath

The book of Revelation gives unshakable hope because Christ has conquered all! Revelation is an uncovering of apocalyptic visions that God revealed to John. It is written both as a warning to sinners who will not repent and an encouragement to the saints that they will receive justice for their persecution. The number seven is used fifty two times relating to seven letters, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven visions, and seven bowls. Symbolically the number seven means completeness. Our view of ourselves must be humble, knowing that we deserve God's wrath. Our view of God must be high for He alone is worthy!! God is infinitely worthy of eternal worship!!

Rev.15

1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. 
2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire--and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 
3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 
4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." 
5 After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 
6 and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 
7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 
8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

Rev.16

1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." 
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 
5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, "Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!" 
7 And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" 
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 
9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 
11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. 
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 
13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 
14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 
15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") 
16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 
18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 
19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 
20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 
21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. 

Is.45:22-23

22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 
23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'

Ps.46:10 
10"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Deut.32:3-4

3 For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! 
4 "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he



God is sovereign over all, must be feared by all, and glorified above all.
God is holy in all His attributes, righteous in all His ways, and loving toward all His creation.

Man has denounced the sovereignty of God, disregarded the fear of God, defamed the glory of God, dishonored the holiness of God, despised the righteousness of God and denied the love of God. Man is infinitely deserving of God's eternal wrath! We are guilty!

The hope of the Gospel.
What God has done at the Cross:
Expressed His wrath toward sin.
Endured His wrath against sin.
Enabled salvation for sinners.
A message for those who do not follow Christ:
Sinners, repent and receive the mercy of God before it's too late.

A message to those who do follow Christ:
Walk in purity.
Witness with urgency.
Worship with sincerity.

Wrath mandates holiness:
God's love without wrath would be indifferent.
God's justice without wrath would be ineffective.
God's love, justice and wrath together are indescribable!

Lord God Almighty maker of heaven and earth, how we adore You, we praise You for You alone are worthy. May the truth of Your word go out across the nations and give hope to the lost! Bless this teaching from Pastor David and let it turn many hearts to You. Amen

The Guarantee

Eph.1:13-14

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

You want a guarantee of life eternal through Christ? Here it is, in the inspired word of God handed down through the ages! If you have heard the gospel, excepted it to be true, asked Christ to cover you with His blood, repented from sin, know that salvation is a gift and it can not be earned, that Christ alone saves, then, you shall be saved! I only repeat what is in the holy Scriptures! I have no power or authority except what Christ has imparted to me. I have been appointed to take the gospel to the nations. It is my desire to teach the gospel to all who will receive it along with the hope that Christ brings to the lost.

Eph.1:17-23

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a 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,

21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.



As I teach this gospel of mercy for us all, I pray for God to reveal the truth which leads to great joy in all trials, that through our Creator and the precious gift of His Son, we might have peace that passes all human understanding!!

Lord, may the ones You will choose see the glory of who You are, place their trust in Christ alone for salvation and be assured through Your written word that You reign! Amen

Every Knee Shall Bow

Romans 14:8-12

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 

9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 

11 for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." 

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Phil.2:6-11

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You will see God!
You will bow before Him!
There will be no choice, as you now have, to worship Christ or deny Christ!
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess Christ is Lord!
There is a time appointed for every man, woman and child to die and face God!
I know of no one who has lived forever!
Are you prepared for eternity?

Heb.9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment

Christ died for you and me! There is no other way to be reconciled to God except through the blood of Christ.

Heb.9:22-26

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 

23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 

24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 

25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 

26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross! Praise God, what a gift!
Don't enter eternity without the assurance of Christ crucified. He paid your debt, except it through faith and be redeemed!

Lord God, help the blind eye to see and the deaf ear to hear the glory that only You can give! Amen

And The End Will Come

Read Revelation chapters 8-11!

The book of Revelation is a book written about God's plan for people of all nations who are living in this particular time, in the future, when all the final prophecies of the OT will be fulfilled. It is a book of terror and judgement for those who are in rebellion against God, salvation, and mercy for those who repent and bow to Christ as Lord and Savior. While this book was written about the future, it definitely is beneficial to us who are living now. It goes into great detail about the judgement that awaits those who deny God and follow their own path of sinful rebellion leading to destruction.

Rev.8:13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!" 

This book was given by God for a warning of physical judgement across creation and personal judgement for idolatry and immorality. This book gives a call for action to the church to proclaim the gospel to the nations. We are to fervently pray for God's kingdom to come and fearlessly proclaim the gospel to all. Our battle is fierce, the demons want to destroy us but our prayers are effective! Our prayers go up and God's mercy comes down. We do not fear because our God is faithful! God is showing His power over the gods of this world. He will vindicate His people amid opposition in this world! He extends His mercy to sinners around the world! He upholds His justice amid sin in this world!


Rev.11:18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."

Our lives are secure, our suffering expected, out task prophetic, our message clear, our light unquenchable, our souls untouchable, our power invisible, our death temporary, and our resurrection sure.

Our mission will be completed, our God will be glorified, and the world will behold His majesty! His judgement will be final! His servants will be rewarded! His enemies will be destroyed! We will be welcomed by His great mercy!

Rev.11:15-17

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." 

16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 

17 saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

Lord God in heaven, thank You for the truth of Your word. What a blessing to have a pastor who proclaims the gospel in all it's glory! Blessings on him! Lord, as we strive to follow You forgive us when we fail. Help us stand for the truth of Your word and teach the world how to glorify You alone! Amen