Essentials: Signs of the Times

Notes: Essentials: Signs of the Times
September 18, 2014
Pastor Jeff Lasseigne 
Harvest OC
Ezekiel 37

Pastor Jeff is here talking about how great worship was tonight. How that is just a small taste if to what is to come when we are in Heaven in front of God.

Jeff is talking about a story of timing and when others are on the same page with you.

Eschatology is the study of the last days in Bible times. Studying the future. 

Jeff believes we are living in the last part of the last days.

The count down started at Pentecost in Acts 2.

He is speaking about the rapture of the church and what follows after that.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV
[3] Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

Jeff is talking about how he flew into Denver and was following the signs to get around. That the Bible has lots of signs if you can carefully follow them.

When the Bible talks about the signs of the times, it is in general speaking about the signs indicating the second coming of Christ. 

There are over 300 references in the New Testament talking about the second coming. The Old Testament has over 1500 references.

5 Signs we are in the last days.

1. The Regathering of Israel

Israel was reestablished in May 14, 1948.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 NKJV
[1] The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. [2] Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. [3] And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." [4] Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! [5] Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. [6] I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."'" [7] So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. [8] Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. [9] Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'" [10] So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. [11] Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' [12] Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. [13] Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. [14] I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"

Like Daniel, Ezekiel was a captive of Nebuchadnezzar.

When Israel was reestablished that was the biggest event and most prophesied event in all the Bible.

Over 40% of all Jews in the world live in Israel now.

Mark Hitchcock wrote that we are the generation that has a front row seat that sees this prophecy happen.

The Bible says that the Jewish people would not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Zechariah 12:10 NKJV
[10] "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.

The Bible says that when the tribulation begins there will be 144,000 Jews that will be saved at that point and will go into the world and proclaim the word of God.

Revelation 7:3-4 NKJV
[3] saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." [4] And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

Ephesians 1:13 NKJV
[13] In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

More Jews will be saved then 144,000 according to Revelation.

Revelation 7:8 NKJV
[8] of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV
[7] And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, [8] but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. [9] So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:13-17 NKJV
[13] Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. [14] But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. [15] So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. [16] But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. [17] And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

That passage speaks of satan attacking the Jewish people.

During the Great Tribulation, the rest of the Jews will recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

Jeff says this conversion was probably accurately described as Saul was converted to Paul.

Acts 9:3-9 NKJV
[3] As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. [4] Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" [5] And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." [6] So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." [7] And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. [8] Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. [9] And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Jeff says it is no coincidence that Israel
Is in the news almost everyday.

2. The Growing Apostasy

1 Timothy 4:1-3 NKJV
[1] Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, [2] speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, [3] forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

 Paul is warning us about these things. That in the last days many people will be turning from their faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NKJV
[1] For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. [2] But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

Apostasy is the walking away of "professing believers" from the church. These are people walking away from their religion, these are not true believers.

1 John 2:19 NKJV
[19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

The opposite of belief is is not just unbelief, it's false belief!

Many people today claim to follow Christ, but many only hope that God is following them.

3. Middle East Peace

We don't have peace there yet. Many nations are engaged in trying to get peace there. 

Their will be a false pseudo peace that will come from the devil.

4. The Reunited Roman Empire

Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 speak of this.

Babylon, Meto-Persia, Greece and The Roman Empire.

Revelation 13:1 NKJV
[1] Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name.

These ten horns will be ten nations.

Revelation 17:15-16 NKJV
[15] Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. [16] And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Daniel 9:26 NKJV
[26] "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

The Anti-Christ will be from the new Roman Empire.

Jeff says all of the big groups of countries like the G8 or NATO will form the G10 for the antichrist.

5. Growing Globalization 

All the systems that are linking the world together. Internet, travel, and how the world is shrinking through technology.

The things we take for granted today are not all bad things.

Jeff said he read that only 20% of transactions are done in cash now.

Jeff is saying that globalist tell us that if we are all interconnected as economies then we will have less ripple effects in a down turned economy.

The antichrist will use globalization as his tool to unite and take over the world.

All of this information should be turned into applications.

Jeff is giving 5 take always,

1. Stay biblical.

Be balanced in the word and watch what is going on.

2. Pay attention

Jeff believes most of us, the current generation, are going to experience the rapture of the church.

3. Live obediently 

The Bible says to live expectantly and obediently. 

Live for this day and that day of return.

4. Reject worldliness

The world is passing away.

There is plenty of us to love in this world. Our family and friends to love. It is the things of the world for us to reject.

5. Share Faithfully

The gospel is still our commission and no time has been as important as now.

Don't forget that someone shared the Gospel with me, and I am thankful for that.

God's clock is ticking away. It never speeds up or slows down, just keeps ticking closer to the end.

We are past the looking for the signs part, we should be listening for the trumpets!

Are you ready for the return of Christ?

Winning with the Hand You're Dealt

Notes: WINNING WITH THE HAND YOU’RE DEALT

Rick Warren

Saddleback Church 

September 14, 2014

When people are hurting, they need simple truth. Not simplistic truth. You need to say more than Jesus is the answer. Yes, Jesus is the answer, but why He is the answer is what you need to let them know.

It's not just enough to say pray and go to church. We are all complex people and need to know why we are to pray and go to church.

Psalm 139:14 NLT—Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

To have a relationship with Jesus every facet of our lives needs to be looked at and we are all very complex.

Eccl 7:18 NLT—Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.

If you are going to be who God wants you to be then you need to deal with every part of your life. 

There are 5 factors in your life that identify who you are.

Pastor Rick tells us to remember the parable of the talents: Matt 25:29 NLT—To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Pastor Rick says we are not going to be judged for what we don’t have and don’t know. But God will judge you on what you did with what you were given.

None of us have the same talents and will be judged different.

Rick asked how many people in the audience played poker? (He made a joke noticing that he was in the company of many sinners.) He says in 5 card stud you are only playing the 5 cards you are dealt. This message is about the hand you were dealt.

Rick says the Bible tells us 4 things about this hand we were dealt.

1. The Bible says nothing is perfect on this planet except Gods word.

Two imperfect people can not make a perfect relationship. If you expect things to be perfect on earth, then you expect Heaven on earth and that is not happening.

2. Jesus was sent to save us
3. One day you will give an account to God for the hand you were dealt in life
4. The Bible tells us how to win the game with the hand we are dealt.

There are factors that make you who you are.

1. My Chemistry Influences my Identity
1. This is all the chemicals that make you and your body.
1. Some for example are hypersensitive to pain, that is the way they are born.
2. Some were born with very low energy and some with very high energy.
2. This can create emotion and physical problems.
1. It all can effect us.
1. He is talking about oxytocin, how it effects people.
1. They discovered how oxytocin is the chemical that bonds a mother to a nursing baby.
2. They discovered it is what is happening when you make love.
1. That is a chemical that bonds us together.

No flaw in me is shameful or sinful!

It is just the way we are wired, it is part of who we are and it is the chemistry in our body. Your genes have flaws in them that make you unique.

Your flaws are a part of your custom design. Paul calls his, “thorn in his flesh”. 

Gal 4:13 NLT—Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News.

The Galatians are happy for what ever the thorn in the flesh of Paul's was because they got to hear the good news and they learned about Heaven.

2. My Connections Influence my Identity
1. This is relationships (especially your early years relationships)
1. Studies show that how you see yourself is largely determined how the most important people in your early life saw you.
1. That is why it is so important that you know how Jesus feels about you at a very young age.
1. Jesus says to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbors as yourself.
1. If you don’t understand that then you are lacking meaning
2. If we are all imperfect then we all have imperfect relationships.
3. Sin disconnects us from God and it disconnects us from one another.
1. Just like Adam and Eve in the Garden.
1. God told them not to do just one thing, yet they did it. 
1. Adam handled it like a man, Adam blamed his wife….haha
1. Adam blamed Eve, and we have been that way ever since.
1. Accusing and excusing
1. We hide our faults and hurl at others
2. They felt disconnected from God and then they disconnected from each other.
1. We have hidden and covered up our vulnerabilities ever since.
1. The more disconnected I am the more fearful I become. 
1. Disconnection causes fear.
4. We crave connections but we fear the vulnerability
3. My Circumstances Influence my Identity
1. These are the things that happened to you and around you.
1. None of these things are in your control
1. Your are a product of the traumas and troubles in your life
1. Pain, troubles, abuse, rejection, failures, crisis, catastrophe are all factors of who you are.
4. My Consciousness Influences my Identity
1. This is how you talk to yourself, how you think about you.
1. Rick says how people have thought that John 17 is strange, how God is talking to Himself. Rick says we all do that all the time, we are doing it right now.
1. There is never a time in your life you are not talking to yourself.
1. Rick says if you talked to your friends the way you talk to yourself then you would have no friends. We are our own toughest critics.
2. We lie to ourselves all the time
1. Jer 17:9 NLT—“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
2. This influences our identity, we hear what people say and then we say it to ourselves. Our habitual thoughts are our identity.
1. Prov 23:7 NKJV—For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
2. What you think about you is the way it is, if it is true or not.
3. Prov 4:23 NCV—Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.
1. If you want your life to go into a different direction then you have to send your thoughts in a different direction.
1. When you think a thought, it does not have to be true to hurt you. You just have to believe it.
1. If someone says you will never amount to anything and you believe it, then you will not amount to anything.
1. If you think if long enough you will believe it.
2. Our fears are self fulling.
2. Job 3:25 NLT—What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.
1. This is self fulfilling prophecy.
3. Feeling are not facts.
1. Just feeling something does not mean it is true
2. Feelings lie all the time.
5. My Choices Influences my Identity.
1. The Bible says we are created in the image of God.
1. We have the choice to chose because we are made in God’s image.
1. God has choices and so do we.
2. The freedom of choice is our greatest blessing and our greatest curse.
3. Angels don’t have a choice, neither do animals or anything else, but we do.

The good news about your Choice Card you were dealt is that it is the Wild Card. It can change all the other cards.

We didn’t choose our chemistry, or our bodies, or my circumstances but I can choose how I respond to them.

I don’t choose everything that goes on around me.

I am "response able” that means I am responsible for what I choose.

We can change our destiny with our choices.

There are 5 winning choices we can make with the hand we are dealt.

1. I can choose to get healthier as a winning choice.
1. No matter where you are right now, you can be healthier.
1. We can choose to make the better decisions.
1. We can choose to make the most with our bodies.

Ps 119:73 NLT—You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

The pain is in my brain!

The pain actually may start in another part of your body, but it sends signals to your brain.

Improving the controllable things reduces the impact of the uncontrollable things in your life.

You will never be an inch taller, but you can be in better shape.

2. I can choose to deepen my relationships as a winning choice.
1. We can strengthen healthy relationships.
2. We can end unhealthy relationships.

The fear of rejection prevents connections.

Pastor Rick speaks of marriage. Many tell themselves that they can never get married, or no one wants to marry them. Those are all feelings, not facts.

Awkward won’t kill me!

1John 4:18 NIV—There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

There is no fear in love!

Why is there no fear in love? Love takes the focus off of me and puts it on someone else. 

We are worried about how we look to everyone else, but it doesn’t matter. Other people aren’t thinking about you because they are too busy thinking about themselves.

Self-centerdeness says what is everyone else thinking about me.

Love walks into a room and thinks who in here needs a little help. 

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, humility is thinking of yourself less often. Thinking about others needs, perfect love cast out all fear.

F.E.A.R. - False Evidence Appearing Real

There is only one way to get rid of fear, to do the thing that you fear the most. Fear does not respond to emotion, fear responds to action.

Fear is always worse than the reality.

1Cor 14:1a NLT—Let love be your highest goal!

You are not allowed to not love!

That means risking connections, it means stepping out. If you try to love someone and they reject your love, then redirect your love. Billions of people need your love right now. 

You can not say I am not going to love because I got hurt once.

Eph 3:17 NCV—I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 

3. I can choose to trust God as a winning choice.
1. No matter what happens, I can trust God.
2. Regardless of what happens.

Rom 8:27-Rom 8:29 NKJV—Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

The Message of Romans 8:27-29 says “God knows us far better than we know ourselves…That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what He was doing from the very beginning….”

God decided from the beginning to shape the lives of the ones that love Him to be more like Jesus.

Ps 34:1 TLB—I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. 

That will give you the confidence that no one else has.

When the world can hit you with their best shot and you can praise the Lord, that will make you an amazing person. It is an identity you can not get anywhere else.

I am a product of my past but I am not a prisoner of it.

I can be different!

4. I can choose what I think about as a winning choice.
1. Others can not tell me what to think about.

Shame, guilt, anger and embarrassment are stored in one part of your brain. You can not make them go away but you can overwrite them. You think a thought a thousand times, it creates a rut. Some have a grand canyon of depression in their mind. In the 20th century it was thought that the adult brain could not be changed. But, there was a Noble Prize winner that showed you can change the brain, it is elastic, not concrete.

You can change!

Pastor Rick says jokingly that it is just great that science caught up to the Bible. 

Rom 12:2 NLT—Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Let God transform the way you think. Change your brain, change your life. Garbage in puts garbage out

Feed your brain with truth!

When the truth of Gods word is, less than the negative and sinful thoughts of life, are in your brain that is called depression.

You must feed your brain with God’s word, go to church, read the Bible, speak with friends, meditate on God’s word. Every time you feed yourself more of the positive, the depression goes away. As you feed it more, that creates happiness and that is a choice.

Phil 4:8 NLT—And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Pastor Rick says that scripture does not sound like it is talking about television, to emphasize his point, he said 50 Shades of Gray may be popular but it is pornography, its poison and you shouldn’t fill your mind with it.

You don’t watch junk TV, skip some movies and there is a lot you shouldn’t read.

Surround yourself with good memories reminding yourself of who you are and what you are.

Combining a beautiful memory with the Word of God is a beautiful thing.

5. I can choose Jesus as my Savior as a winning choice.
1. Rick says let Jesus be your savior everyday, not just the difference between Heaven and hell.

I need Jesus to save me from myself, my defects, my memories, my circumstances, my pressures, my trauma, my troubles.

Jesus can put on your helmet of Salvation.

Jesus don’t just save me from sin, save me from myself.

2Cor 5:17 TLB—When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!

It is like being born again, it is a whole new identity.

If you are waiting on God, then God is waiting on you!

When you choose to get healthier, you choose risking healthy connections, you choose to trust God, you choose to change the way you think, and you choose God as your savior then God will give you a winning hand!

What Jesus Taught About Anger, Hatred, and Lust

Notes: What Jesus Taught About Anger, Hatred, and Lust 
Harvest OC
September 14, 2014
Pastor Greg's Sunday morning
Matthew 5

Pastor Greg is talking about ISIS and Muslim terrorism. Says how we mainly learned about jihad on 9/11. Obama recently said we will destroy ISIS. What does Jesus say about all of this. Read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to learn

Matthew 5:1-2 NKJV
[1] And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. [2] Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

Pastor Greg says it is harder to live by the Sermon on the Mount then the Ten Commandments. It deals with matters of the heart. You have to see that your heart is morally bankrupt before God.

Matthew 5:21-30 NKJV
[21] "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' [22] But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. [23] Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. [25] Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. [26] Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. [27] "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Pastor Greg's says he told us it is hard.

Sin deceives me that the actual sin you did was alright.

Jesus deals now with three areas of sin that are very widespread in our culture: anger, hatred, and lust.

Anger is murder in the heart. Lust is adultery in the heart.

Matthew 5:22 NKJV
[22] But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

There is a time to be angry, and you can be. You are just not suppose to throw gasoline on the fire of anger.

Ephesians 4:26 NKJV
[26] "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

1 John 3:15 NKJV
[15] Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 John 2:9 NKJV
[9] He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

The word hate, means to habitually despise.

Many times anger is rooted in envy. Hatred towards other peoples good fortune. They have done and got you what you wanted.

"Envy shoots at another and wounds itself." –Thomas Fuller

The only person hurt by your envy is you.

Matthew 5:22 NKJV
[22] But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

Rocka - has no midterm day equivalent.

Matthew 5:28 NKJV
[28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

"Looking" at others with lust is the continual act of staring in this verse. What David did staring at Bathsheba is a good example of "looking" with lust.

Bathsheba played a part in this by bathing in public like she did. So women or girls should not dress in a fashion to want me to lust after them.

David looked and then he took dramatic action.

You are to guide your mind!

Do not put yourself in that position, look away.

Job 31:1 NKJV
[1] "I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?

2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV
[5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

How do we fix it:
Matthew 5:29 NKJV
[29] If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Jesus is not being literal, His point is to make sure you give up what ever is necessary to keep from falling further into that sin.

If it is porn on the internet, then don't have a computer in your house. If it is alcohol, then don't go to sports bars.

Take action to guard yourself.

Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
[1] Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Matthew 5:38-45 NKJV
[38] "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' [39] But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. [40] If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. [41] And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. [42] Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. [43] "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [44] But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Those are all very hard commandments, these are very high standards.

Leo Tolstoy wrote that he didn't believe Christians should be in the military. Tolstoy was wrong.

The Sermon on the Mount was not given to govern a society.

Matthew 5:38 NKJV
[38] "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

Deuteronomy 19:20 NKJV
[20] And those who remain shall hear and fear, and hereafter they shall not again commit such evil among you.

Criminals don't love good and hate evil, no body loves good and hates evil, that is a matter of the heart.

Romans 13:1-3 NKJV
[1] Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. [2] Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. [3] For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Obey the law, you don't have to agree with it. If the law try's to stop Gods word, then there is a problem.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV
[3] You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

God has established human government to administer justice.

God would never choose a dishonorable profession as an illustration for His people.

Luke 22:36-38 NKJV
[36] Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. [37] For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end." [38] So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."

A Christian can defend himself.

The Sermon on the Mount are rules for evangelizing. You need to go the extra mile, and tell others about Jesus.

A slap in the face was an insult back in those days. Like someone flipping you off when your are driving. So turning the other cheek would be to not retaliate with an insult.

We have all been cheated or wronged, we should not be a doormat.

Matthew 5:44 NKJV
[44] But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

"The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend." –Abraham Lincoln

When you believe in and follow Jesus, you will have enemies!

Hatred will bring your prayer life to a halt. Hatred is unconfessed sin.

Greg talked about Corrie ten Boom
Author - Cornelia "Corrie" ten Boom was a Dutch Christian who, along with her father and other family members, helped many Jews escape the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and was imprisoned for it. She wrote the book "The Hiding Place."

Corrie, could not forgive the Nazi, but when she did pray for that, she did forgive them.

When you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free. You set yourself free!

Jesus himself forgave. Jesus called Judas friend even as he came to get Him arrested.

We need forgiveness and need to extend that forgiveness to others.

Essentials: The Church is Not About Me, it's about We

Notes: Essentials: The Church is Not About Me, it's about We
Pastor Adam Eaton
Harvest OC
September 11, 2014
Acts 2

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Today is 9/11 - Pastor Greg is talking about what today means to us. He thinks we as Christians need to fight fire with fire. He says to evangelize to the Muslims in our community. We are in a free country and can speak to them about it.

Next Thursday Don Stewart will be here with Pastor Greg speaking about Bible prophecy.

Pastor Adam is talking about taking the Jr. High group river rafting. How they had to jump in the river and float. Ethan jumped in and decided to float past where they were suppose to. Adam freaked out and thought the worst case scenario was going to happen. Pastor Adam said he was completely worried and freaked out.

Pastor Adam is now talking about, what if everyone felt that way about the church. That we need to get everyone out of the river before they forget killed in the rapids.

Three reasons why the church exist.

1. To Exalt God
Ephesians 1:12 NKJV
[12] that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

At all times we are worshiping God. Worship is not just singing songs to God. 

It is what is most important to you.

It's not if you worship, it's who or what are you worshipping.

We praise God for pulling us out if the deadly river.

2. To edify the saints
Colossians 1:28-29 NKJV
[28] Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. [29] To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

We are to be mature in the word.

We are to build and help one another.

3. Evangelize the wold
Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV
[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

This is our job! 

This is what we are here for.

This is the Great Commission

Matthew 24:13 NKJV
[13] But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:14 NKJV
[14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

It's saying when the great commission has been fulfilled, then Jesus will come back.

What does the church look like;

Acts 2:42-47 NKJV
[42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. [44] Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. [46] So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

The early church had the attitude that we must get back too. It's not about me, it's about we.

We as Americans don't like when people tell us what to do. 

Children don't have to be taught the word "mine"

We have brought this individualism into the church. We have made it about me, and not about us.

We absolutely need a personal relationship with Christ.

There is major power in the church when it is all about we. 

We need Bible teaching, we need each other. He Holy Spirit guides us alone, but others can help teach us the true meaning.

Me thinking, let's people think that personal sin, is not affecting others. That hurts others, not just you.

1 Corinthians 5:6 NKJV
[6] Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Us together moving forward, how do we get there.

1. Commitment to the local church.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV
[24] And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, [25] not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Motivate one another!

Like a little brother can irritate you into doing something.

Don't stop going to church.

Be a part of what God is doing all the time. Not just when it is convenient.

2. We need Gospel-centered community.

We need to understand that we are all in this together.

We need small group community. Access and a voice in our lives.

3. Loyalty to the local church
Acts 2:42 NKJV
[42] And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The early church was seeing it through till the end. They were willing to do these things.

They didn't ditch or leave because of small things.

Too many people church hop....always looking for the right church for "me"

Be loyal to the church and the people in the church.

The people sitting next to you are the ones that will be there when the bottom drops out on you.

Pastor Adam said about 5 years ago, his ex-wife divorced him. It was the church that was there for him. 

9/11 was a horrible day for everyone, it was also a day the church shined for all the people.

Christian community is an amazing thing. Not just your church, but the global church. We have Christ in common.

This Christian community is hard work. We are with people that at best, annoy us a little. We have to get past that.

We can complain about everything, music, sound, smell, each other, looks, it's all an excuse to complain.

Here is what matters; Christ has saved us and we are called to go and help save others.

We are here to help pull each other out of that river that leads to death and destruction.

Even when people treat that river like a lazy river, and they are floating right down it. They need to be saved too!

Will you help try to save them all?

Ordinary Men And A Great God

Notes: Ordinary Men And A Great God
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 — 7:00 p.m.
2 Samuel 23:8-17

Guest Speaker: Pastor Tom Hughes

Watched Message online at Harvest

Pastor Tom says we are going to be looking at ordinary men that work mightily for the Lord.

Pastor Tom was showing a really old Porsche and a new Porsche and was saying a long time and a really lot of hard work was put in to make the new Porsche what it is today.

He said God takes ordinary men or wrecks or men and do marvelous things in our lives. We have to be willing to surrender to Him first.

We are going to look at three of them in this study. These men are known as “the three”, this passage is encouraging and enlightening.

2 Samuel 23:8-17 (NKJV)

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth[a] the Tachmonite, chief among the captains.[b] He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo,[c] the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory. 13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

David was nothing without his mighty men and they were nothing without him.

If you studied the life of David then you would recall, that his men came to him even 5 years before he was king. That was for over 40 years that they came for him. They came to him when he was powerful and when he was hiding.

When they were disappointed, disillusioned, depressed for all these things.

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to Him and were radiant,

And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,

And saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34 was written when he was in the caves of Adullam.

These men were loyal to David and he was loyal to his men.

We can be discouraged and beaten down, but if we haven’t let God come up to bat then how can we know if we have lost. 

God will be victorious, you just have to put Him in the game.

God takes ordinary things and does extraordinary work with them. It takes time, hard work and you have to be in the right hands.

Men can fight against all odds 

(2 Samuel 23:8-17 (NKJV)

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth[a] the Tachmonite, chief among the captains.[b] He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time.)

Is it possible for one man to kill 800 men? One of David’s men did.

It also says Jashobeam killed 300 Philistines at one time (11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time.)

How could they defeat such enormous numbers of men at one time? We don’t know exactly, the Bible doesn’t tell us. Pastor Tom says concludes that it is by the strength of the Lord.

In American history it is documented that small groups of 4 to 5 men have killed 50 to 300 men.

2 Kings 19: 35 Then it happened that night that the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men rose early in the morning, behold, all of them were dead.

One Angel killed 185,000 men, we don’t know how. God did it for them.

If you have a problem, you get on your knees and pray to God. You have to lay out your request to God. You give God your ordinary life and He can do extraordinary things.

These men submitted to God and great things were done. It is true for them and it is true for us.

John 5: 6-9 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

The answer is simple to problems, give Jesus a chance to get involved in your situations. The hard part is submitting to Jesus so that He can take over.

Victory against overwhelming odds. 

Making a difference 

(2 Samuel 23: 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo,[c] the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder.

1 Chronicles 27:4 (NKJV) 4 Over the division of the second month was Dodai[a] an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand.) 

Eleazar means “God has helped”. The people had retreated but Eleazar stayed and fought with David. When they had one, the other men came back to plunder.

Victory in the face of utter exhaustion.

1 Chronicles 11 (NKJV)

12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

The Lord gave them a victory, retreat is not an option for God’s people.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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.

Eleazar had no armor for his back, so it was more dangerous to retreat and turn around. 

Like us Christians, we can not turn and go back. What would we go back to? 

Remember where you were before you came to Christ, so why would you go back to it?

If you are discouraged or beaten down, do not go back!

Standing Alone

(2 Samuel 23:11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.)

Shammah was all alone fighting, the Lord brought victory to him.

Sometimes you choose your battles. Sometimes your battles choose you.

David chose Shammah as one of his 3 mighty men.

Pastor Tom believes that Shammah knew if he retreated then he would just have to fight the Philistines later anyhow.

Sooner or later you’ve got to join the battle. Why not here? Why not now?

Are you in the battle? Are you pressing forward for the kingdom of Christ?

Pastor Tom is talking about all the effort we put into getting “stuff”. All that stuff ends up going to others or to the trash. Why build up treasure here?

Focus on the spiritual battle and build up your treasures in Heaven.

Pastor Tom is talking about how there is all kinds of sin. We are sinners in a world of sinners and we all die. We all can only be saved by God’s grace.

When we get saved, we can not turn our backs on others. We all need to be saved and we need to help with the kingdom of God. We are to be light in a dark world.

God sends us to dark places, that is a good thing. God is using us to share the Light! Get out of your box and be a light!

Always go forward, the enemy of our souls is not nice but we can not retreat.

Courage: He took his stand in the middle of the field.

Faithfulness: He defended it

Are you involved in the spiritual fight?

Nothing a pastor needs more than a church that says lets go forward, we are in the fight together.

 

A Genuine Sacrifice

(2 Samuel 23:13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.)

These three men risked their lives for David, then David poured the water out as a sacrifice to the Lord.

All things go back to sacrifices for the Lord. We should all think back to the sacrifice that Jesus did for us.

A Person Who Protects His Mind

Notes: A Person Who Protects His Mind
Raul Ries
9/9/2014

Next week we will start in the book of Matthew and go chapter by chapter. He suggest reading it before we come next week.

What are we thinking about?

The mind controls the good and the evil.

When we come to Christ, we are to reckon the old man to be dead. 

We are to be in the word, in prayer, in churches of fellowship.

It was said: The church today is a 1000 mikes long but only 3 feet deep. 

Church is not like a movie theater, it is a place to develop. 

The word of God cleanses our minds and hearts. You have to put on the whole armor of God, the mind is the helmet.

God took Ezekiel's wife from him. In 722 BC, Syria took Judah. 

God used an evil nation to come and chasten the people of Israel. Could America be being chastened by our own government today?

In Babylon people were in captivity for 70 years.

Daniel was around in these times. 

Ezekiel 8:1-2 NKJV
[1] And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there. [2] Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire-from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.


This was the appearance of God, no one has seen the front side of God.

Ezekiel 8:3 NKJV
[3] He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy.

When he was taken to the temple, he saw jealousy.

God was with them, God warned them, God moved away, then God left them.

God took Ezekiel into the peoples minds.

Ezekiel 8:5 NKJV
[5] Then He said to me, "Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north." So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

Jealousy was a god to the people those days. Today many people now to jealousy as a god.

Could it be possible today that we could have a nation invade us? Iran, Turkey, Russia, those country's don't fear us like they were in the past.

Like in the 7th century, Islam is trying to take the world over again today. Like how Revelation 13 describes.

Muslims all around the world are trying to take over. Raul says he sees this more and more each day. Like Ezekiel 39 describes.

Raul is talking about how 9 jets are currently missing.

Ezekiel 8:6 NKJV
[6] Furthermore He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations."

The house of Israel would be the church, such as Christians are today.

Raul says he counsels a lot of people and he really gets to see how sick people are inside the church today. 

Ezekiel 8:7 NKJV
[7] So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.

God is going to take him into the minds of the people.

Ezekiel 8:9-10 NKJV
[9] And He said to me, "Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there." [10] So I went in and saw, and there-every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls.

Everywhere he looked he saw how polluted and damaged all of these peoples minds are.

Raul hears what people are watching and doing in their own homes and says that is what is what is going in in their minds.

So God can dwell in your home, or mind, it needs to be clean.

Ezekiel 8:11 NKJV
[11] And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up.

This is the pastors, saying prayers. Like the incense the prayers were going no where.

Ezekiel 8:12 NKJV
[12] Then He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'"

In the light of Jesus in your life, that can affect and add the light into other's lives. You need to have a place for God to have that light showing from your life.

If we stumble people as Christians we are held more accountable. The more we have the more we are responsible for.

The Holy Spirit convicts us, if we don't listen then the Holy Spirit will chasten. Like spanking your child for walking into a street, it is so they remember not to do it again.

Like in Revelation 20, God will not hold us accountable for every sin, but for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. That sin will get you thrown into the lake of fire.

Raul admits when he reads about Heaven, or the end of Revelation he doesn't clearly understand it. 

God is everywhere, people have to worship God in spirit and in truth. God sees, He hears and then he touches our lives.

Ezekiel 8:13-14 NKJV
[13] And He said to me, "Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing." [14] So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the LORD's house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.

Tammuz, is a person in the Old Testament, she was the god of fertility. Babies were sacrificed to this false gods. Raul speaks of abortions and how many of them have taken place today.

Ezekiel 8:15-16 NKJV
[15] Then He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these." [16] So He brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house; and there, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east.

The priest were worshipping the sun, not God.

Ezekiel 8:17 NKJV
[17] And He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.

A cult was doing that with branches in their noses.

Ezekiel 8:18 NKJV
[18] Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them."

Maybe there in no response in America by God to the church because of these same things. Individuals are having prayers answered but the church is not getting a revival or prayers answered as God helps individuals.

The word of God is what keeps us moving as individual Christians. Imagine what we could do to the darkness, if as a whole church we stayed in God's word.

You need to pray to God so that He can speak to your heart.

If you spend time in the word of God every morning, when you have trials throughout the day, God will be there for you.

When you raise your hands to God during worship time, that is a small sign of surrender to God.

God does not have to continue to speak to us, we must pray that He continues too.

Keep your eyes and ears on Jesus!