8 10 83 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8a6918038a7c5bf7d1119cf4658b1324.jpg 9e964fd9086750f0fd34b5e3248e3a64 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/510a47dbdb94d5abaae9b8c3329b4acd.mp4 46963b4354e097459a3525b77c265370 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound THE CONCLUSION Ecclesiastes 12:13 The ground is shifting beneath our feet — and most of us can feel it. Not long ago, I came across a video by Tony Robbins titled: 'No One Is Ready for What's Coming.' He wasn't talking about a storm or a recession. He was talking about artificial intelligence — technology accelerating so fast that entire industries are being rebuilt overnight. But here's what struck me: you don't have to follow the tech world to feel what he was describing. You already feel it. In your gut. In your conversations. In the quiet moments when you wonder — “what is coming next?” Because one of the deepest human needs is certainty. We need to know: Will things be okay? Will I be okay? Can I trust what's ahead? So before we go any further, I want to ask you one question — and I want you to sit with it: In a world that never stops changing, where do you place your anchor? Arguments change. Opinions shift. Headlines rotate every 24 hours. But experience anchors. 'A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.' Most of us in this room have experienced the faithfulness of God firsthand. We have walked through loss, financial strain, sickness, disappointment, and unanswered questions. As my mentor Eddie would say, 'I have been through this before. I have seen this situation before.' And still — through it all — God carried us. Still, God sustained us. Still, God was present with us. Maybe a better way to say it in 2026 is this: “what is unchanging should never be held hostage to things that are always subject to change.” As Matthew Kelly reminds us, “What is unchanging allows us to make sense of change.' When you lose what is unchanging, everything feels unstable.” That’s why the book of Ecclesiastes is so powerful. Solomon examined everything. Pleasure. Wisdom. Achievement. Wealth. Status. Productivity. Philosophy. He chased every possible answer …and after all the searching, after all the experimenting, after all the analyzing… He arrives at one final conclusion: “Here is the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” When all is said and done… That’s it. That’s the anchor. When you know the foundation, there is no panic. No frantic scrambling. No desperation to keep up. Because when all is said and done… Fear God. Keep His commandments. Paul said (Acts 20:24): “But I am not worried about this. (none of these things move me) I do not think of my life as worth much, but I do want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do. My work is to preach the Good News of God’s loving-favor. Live aligned. Now let’s be clear: “Fear God” does not mean terror. It means reverence. It means recognizing that there is something higher than: Technology. Politics. Culture. Economics. …even higher than Your emotions. It means aligning your life under God’s authority. It means: God defines what is good. God defines what is true. God defines what matters. And here’s the comfort: God is not surprised by this generation. He is not scrambling. He is not reacting. He is not intimidated by A.I. He is not anxious about the future. And if you are rooted in Him… You don’t have to be, either. Sometimes when our world is spinning… …We don’t need more information. We need stillness. Psalms 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Be still. Not passive. Not disengaged. Still. • Still enough to remember who is in control. Still enough to remember who you belong to. Still enough to remember what actually matters. We all know the classic hymn: Softly and Tenderly “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling… Ye who are weary…” And I think that’s the word for many today. Not rebellious. Not faithless. Just weary. Weary of noise. Weary of all the outrage. Weary of constant updates. Weary of trying to predict the future. And into that weariness, Solomon says: “After everything has been examined… Here is the conclusion. Fear God. Keep His commandments.” That is enough. Empires have risen and fallen. Technology has evolved. Generations have shifted. But this foundation has not moved. Reverence for God. Obedience to His ways. Alignment with His truth. That foundation has outlasted every empire in history. It will outlast this cultural moment. It will outlast your fears. It will outlast your questions. When everything else feels uncertain… This is certain. When all is said and done… Fear God. Keep His commandments. In Matt 22: Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Jesus said, “Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.” When you get off course in life – when the foundations are shifting… Be Still and Know. …and Listen Isaiah 30:21: You will hear his voice behind you. When you turn off the path, to the right or to the left, it will say, ‘This is the right way. Walk in it.’ Maybe things have fallen apart for you at this time… and maybe it has not even been your own doing GOD can Restore You right in front of the people who "broke" you Jentezen Franklin: When we walk through a fiery furnace, go through a severe trial in our home or marriage, our family, the devil wants you to look like and smell like that trial the rest of your life. Sorrow, went through a divorce, shame,guilt. But when you start… worshiping and (receiving) the word. …you start worshiping Jesus …you know what he'll do? He'll restore your trust. He'll restore your faith. He'll restore your soul. “Trust and Obey” Psalm 27:13: I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Hope. Believe. Trust. Let’s close - not with intensity… but with grounding. Let’s pray together. Father, In a world that is constantly changing, we thank You that You do not change. When the pace accelerates and the future feels uncertain, anchor us. When the noise grows louder, quiet our souls. Teach us what it means to truly fear You — not in terror, but in reverence. Align our hearts under Your authority. Stabilize our minds in Your truth. Strengthen our obedience. When we are weary, call us softly and tenderly back to You. When we are anxious, remind us Who is on the throne. Let what is unchanging in You steady what feels unstable in us. Help us stand calmly at the crossroads, without panic, without hurry, without fear. And when all is said and done, may our lives be rooted in this conclusion: We feared You. We kept Your commands. We walked with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Conclusion 最后的结论 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/01/2026 Description An account of the resource Ecc 12:13: Here is the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” 传道书 12:13: 这些事都已听见了，总意就是敬畏神，谨守他的诫命，这是人所当尽的本分。(page 1101) Acts 20:24: 'But I am not worried about this. None of these things move me. I do not think of my life as worth much, but I do want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do — to preach the Good News of God's loving favor.' 使徒行传 20:24: 我却不以性命为念，也不看为宝贵，只要行完我的路程，成就我从主耶稣所领受的职事，证明神恩惠的福音。 (page 1804) Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God." 诗篇 46:10: 你们要休息，要知道我是神！ (page 926) Isaiah 30:21: You will hear His voice behind you. When you turn off the path, to the right or to the left, it will say, This is the right way. Walk in it. 以赛亚书 30:21: 你或向左或向右，你必听见后边有声音说：“这是正路，要行在其间。 (page 1160) Psalm 27: 13,14: I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. 诗篇 27:13,14: 我还是相信，在活人之地，我可以看见耶和华的恩惠。 你要等候耶和华，要刚强，要坚定你的心，要等候耶和华 Matt 4:22:37-39: And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 马太福音 22:37-39: 耶稣回答说：“‘你要全心、全情、全意爱主——你的上帝’， 这是第一条也是最重要的诫命。 第二条也相似，就是‘要爱邻如己’。(page 1600) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/22f4e59843a1c2054ee5105addf402be.jpg cef41b01bfc6846cd8c8a04bb42f0009 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/6bc521f6dd05e94a393a5aa7225104b0.mp4 443a323e13e40963b84dcfd497fe83b6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Restoration Isaiah 40:28–31 Have you ever gotten off to a good start on something — only to find yourself quickly back to the very place you thought you had left behind? Have you ever felt disappointed in your own spiritual growth? Maybe you've found yourself thinking, 'I just can't seem to get beyond myself.' If that resonates with you today, you are not alone — and you are in the right place. Truth: we need each other to stay on course in our walk with the Lord. And isn't that exactly what the Church is all about? Christ is the Head. We are the Body. And together, we are a church with a mission — a mission to bring restoration to our community, to our city, to our nation, and to the world. restoration: a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition But it starts here, among us, as we first experience God's restoration in our own lives. By God's hand, we experience His power of restoration — in our Faith, in our Relationships, in our Bodies, in our Minds, in our Finances, and in our Vision — as He reveals His will through His written Word and through our openhearted pursuit of His presence every single day. We’ve spoken often about 'Good Things' — on how God wants to satisfy our desires with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles. MSG: 'Those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired. They walk and don't lag behind.' That sounds like exactly what we need. But let's be honest about where many of us actually are right now. I heard a prophetic word from the Lord that said this: many people do not even realize the extent of the battle they have been going through. There is a deep, pervasive weariness among God's people. An exhaustion that goes beyond tired bones — it reaches into the soul. And here is what Scripture confirms in Isaiah 40:30 — 'Even young people grow tired and become weary, and young men will stumble and fall.' Even at our very best, our natural strength gives out when we try to fight spiritual battles with physical power. We were never designed to carry this weight alone. When we stay weary and disconnected from God's restoring power, something subtle but dangerous happens — we lose our focus. Q: If we focus on what we fear, what are we attracting into our lives? Professional racers know that we unconsciously steer in the direction of our focus. So with their lives on the line, they train themselves to turn their eyes away from the wall and fix them on the open track. 'Where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.' “FOCUS on where you want to go – not on what you fear.” This is true in the spirit as well. When we fix our eyes on our failures, our shame, our nation's downward spiral — that's the direction we drift. The enemy wants us to believe there is no way back. But God (your Creator) has a different word for us today. What 'wall' have you been focusing on that may be pulling you off course? What would it look like to shift your gaze back toward Jesus instead? ( ) Here is the truth that changes everything: there is a time of restoration coming — and by faith, it is already here. A Divine Shift. A True Breakthrough. Isaiah 40:29 declares: 'God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.' And Isaiah 40:31 TPT: 'But those who wait for Yahweh's grace will experience divine strength.' Grace. Divine Strength. Soaring like eagles. Does that sound good to you? But restoration requires that we turn our gaze in the right direction. Hebrews 12:2 gives us our clear instruction: 'Fixing our eyes on Jesus.' Not on the wall. Not on the failure. Not on the weariness. On Jesus. (seek HIM) Acts 3:19 tells us: 'You must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord's presence.' Repentance is about redirecting. It's adjusting our mindset, turning our focus, and running back to the One who restores. Joseph Prince: 'When you see Jesus in His grace, He sees you in your faith.' The invitation from the Lord Himself is simply this: 'Run to Me — and keep running to Me.' ( “rewarder of those…”) Zechariah 10:6 seals it with this promise: 'I will restore them because I have compassion on them.' So what does this restoration actually give us? Romans 3:21–24 paints a breathtaking picture: 'But now, independently of the law, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One... It is God's righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in Him receive that gift... Yet through His powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away His righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!' His gift cascades over us. That is restoration. And Romans 6:22–23 reminds us of the contrast: 'But now, as God's loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin... you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life! For sin's meager wages is death, but God's lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.' …And when we stumble? Proverbs 24:16 assures us: 'The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.' Restoration is not a one-time event — it is a continual, compassionate work of God in your life. Restoration begins the moment we recognize we cannot do this work ourselves. The ancient Orthodox Church has practiced a simple but powerful prayer for centuries — one version goes: 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.' That is where it starts. Not with striving. Not with willpower. With surrender & faith. Here is how we walk in restoration practically: First — Fix your eyes. Turn your focus away from the wall and onto the open road. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Second — Remember the battle belongs to the Lord. You were not meant to fight spiritual battles in your own strength. As we wait upon Him, we position ourselves to receive His divine strength. Third — Stay in community. We need each other. The Body of Christ is not optional. We keep each other to stay on course. Fourth — Receive His grace daily. His mercies are new every morning. The times of refreshing are not just coming — by faith, they are here. Receive them. We usually start out strong. But for one reason or another, we can grow weary through the process. Life wears us down. Battles drain us. And sometimes we drift further than we ever intended. But here is the word of the Lord for you today: the biggest need in America is also the biggest need for every one of us — Restoration. True restoration. The kind that only God can provide. Not self-improvement. Not a new strategy. True change — the kind that is difficult, even impossible, in our own strength — comes only through Jesus. Through His Divine Mercy. His Divine Compassion. His all-sufficient grace. 'God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care. But those who wait for Yahweh's grace will experience divine strength.' — Isaiah 40:29, 31 (TPT) Are you ready for a mighty new move of God's Spirit? A time like you have never experienced before? Then fix your eyes. Turn toward the open road. Run to Him — and keep running to Him. The restoration you've been waiting for is not far away. By His grace, it begins today. Consider: Maybe what you have been holding on to is holding you back. Release. Restore. It is in the releasing – the letting go – that we can be restored 1 Peter 5:6,7: If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. Let’s pray together. Heavenly Father, We come to You today as people who need Your strength. Some of us are weary in body. Some are weary in mind. And some are weary deep in our souls. Forgive us for the times we have tried to carry life in our own strength instead of waiting on You. Today we turn our eyes back to Jesus. Restore our faith. Restore our joy. Restore our strength. Teach us to wait upon You until our strength is renewed — until we rise again like eagles. Holy Spirit, bring times of refreshing from Your presence. We receive Your grace. We receive Your mercy. And by faith we declare that restoration begins today. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Restoration 恢复 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/08/2026 Description An account of the resource Isaiah 40:29–31: God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care. But those who wait for Yahweh's grace will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up. 以赛亚书 40:29-31: 疲乏的，他赐能力；软弱的，他加力量。 就是少年人也要疲乏困倦，强壮的也必全然跌倒， 但那等候耶和华的，必重新得力。他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。(page 1177) Heb 12:1b,2a: let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 希伯来书 12:1b,2a:…我们就要放下一切重担，摆脱容易缠累我们的罪，以坚忍的心奔跑我们前面的赛程， 定睛仰望为我们的信心创始成终的耶稣。(page 1954) Zechariah 10:6: "I will restore them because I have compassion on them." 撒迦利亚书 10:6: ...他们必好像从未被我抛弃一样， 因为我是他们的上帝耶和华，我必应允他们的祷告。(page 1545) Acts 3:19: "You must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord's presence." 使徒行传 3:19: 所以，你们应当悔改，应当回转，使你们的罪孽被抹去 (page 1768) 1 Peter 5:6,7: If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, he will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in his hands. Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you. 彼得前书 5:6,7: 所以你们要在上帝大能的手下谦卑，时候到了，祂必擢升你们。 你们要把一切忧虑卸给上帝，因为祂眷顾你们。 (page 1971) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/21c2c9fcdf2fe479dde3c329c06e5341.jpg cd83232f5d5e67e1a697e0f560f375e0 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/d350125c622ed8016484d0faa329a1de.mp4 5d1d785251eef2976dd06e9977066b40 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Enough for ALL Matthew 15:29–39 Have you ever felt left out? There is something beautiful about the way the Kingdom of God works. Jesus said (Matt 4:17) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” “You must change your hearts—for the kingdom of Heaven has arrived.” In the kingdoms of this world, people are often sorted and categorized. Some people qualify. Others are disqualified. Some people are welcomed.Others are pushed aside. But when we look at Jesus, we see something very different. We see Kingdom distribution. Not scarcity. Not favoritism. Not spiritual elitism. Overflowing generosity. In Matthew 15 we see a remarkable moment where Jesus feeds over four thousand people. But before the bread is multiplied… before the baskets are filled… …we notice something deeper. The passage tells us something extraordinary. For three days these people had been with Jesus. Three days! Listening. Watching. Following. …And now they are hungry. Jesus says, “They have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.” These are not perfect people. These are not religious professionals. These are simply regular people who came to Jesus. And that is the KEY. Jesus once said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I Am your oasis.” Notice the word ALL. Not the strong. Not the successful. Not the spiritually impressive. ALL. All who are weary. All who are burdened. All who are hungry. The Kingdom of God begins with an invitation: Come. And in today’s passage, everyone (all) who came received something from Jesus. May this message today prepare your heart for not only an abundance of provision… but also an abundance of Grace… Mercy… and God’s Loving Care over all parts of your life From today’s historic event (Matt 15) we see four powerful truths about the Heart of God. 1. Healing Flows at the Feet of Jesus Matthew 15:30: “They laid them at Jesus’ feet, and he healed them.” People brought the blind. The lame. The crippled. …and they laid them at the feet of Jesus. And the Holy Scripture says: “He healed them.” Not a few. Not the most deserving. But all who were brought to Him. This is still the posture of the Kingdom. Healing begins at the feet of Jesus. When we stop trying to fix ourselves. When we stop pretending we have it all together. When we simply come. And lay it down. 2. The Kingdom Is Received, Not Earned Matthew 15:35 “Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground.” Notice something interesting... Before the miracle happens, Jesus tells the people to sit down. They were not working for the food. They were not earning the miracle. They were simply receiving. This is one of the hardest truths for religious people to understand. The Kingdom is not something we achieve. It is something we receive. Grace is not a paycheck. Grace is a gift. KEY: Our God is supernatural, and you can’t calculate His goodness. You can’t quantify His blessings, His increase, His favor. There are things He has already planned for you that are out of the ordinary. That’s why the Scripture says to “trust Him with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.” Back to Matt 15: God already knew what would be needed and when. It was not a surprise there would be hungry people. 3. Gratitude Unlocks Kingdom Multiplication Matt 15:36 “Then he took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks.” Before the miracle… Jesus gave thanks. There were only seven loaves. A small supply. But Jesus gave thanks. John 11:41: (when Jesus raised Lazarus) “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me…” Scripture says, “In everything give thanks.” Gratitude shifts our focus. Instead of seeing what is missing… We begin to see what God is multiplying. 4. In the Kingdom There Is Enough Matthew 15:37 “They all ate and were satisfied.” Not partially fed. Not rationed. The scripture says: Everyone was full. The Kingdom of God is not built on scarcity. It is built on abundance. uh-oh… “Is this a prosperity message?” God’s Word tell us Everyone was fed. Everyone was satisfied. Jesus did not discriminate. No one was turned away. ..and it was more than enough for ALL This is the Heart of our God. The Super-Abundance of Grace The Apostle Paul later explains this same principle in Romans 5:20 “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” One translation says: “Where sin abounded, grace super-abounded.” Grace is not just equal to our failure. Grace is greater. Grace is stronger. Grace is deeper. Phillips translated it: “Thank God his grace is wider and deeper still!” And Paul continues in Romans 5:17 “Those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ.” Notice that phrase: abundance of grace. Not “barely enough” grace. Not just sufficient grace. But overflowing grace. In your own life – have you received that abundance of grace? That grace you need to pick back up and start again – or maybe just to keep going? A new season is here for you. So stop Letting Your Past Be Your Identity This is where many people struggle. They truly believe their past defines them. Their trauma. Their failures. Their mistakes. But the Kingdom says something different. Stop allowing your past trauma to be your identity. Stop allowing your worst moment to become your name. Your story does not end with failure. Your story continues with grace. And grace always has the final word. So the message of this passage is simple. Come. Come weary. Come hungry. Come burdened. Come broken. Come tired. Come exactly as you are. Matt 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” And when you come to Jesus… You will find healing. You will find rest. You will find provision. You will find grace that is greater than anything you have carried. “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” Because in the Kingdom of God… There is always enough. John 1:16: And from the overflow of his fullness we received grace heaped upon more grace! Closing Prayer Lord Jesus, Today we thank You for Your compassion. Thank You that Your Kingdom is not built on exclusion, but on invitation. You call the weary. You welcome the burdened. You feed the hungry. Help us come to You with open hearts. Teach us to lay our burdens at Your feet. Remind us that our past does not define us—Your grace does. Fill our lives with gratitude for all that You provide. And help us live in the abundance of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. All who are thirsty All who are weak Come to the fountain Dip your heart in the stream of life Let the pain and the sorrow Be washed away In the waves of His mercy As deep cries out to deep (We sing) “Come Lord Jesus come. Come Lord Jesus come.” Holy Spirit come Holy Spirit come Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Enough for All 恩典使众人得饱足 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/15/2026 Description An account of the resource Matthew 15:29-38: Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 马太福音 15:29-38: 耶稣离开那地方，来到靠近加利利的海边，就上山坐下。 有许多人到他那里，带着瘸子、瞎子、哑巴、有残疾的和好些别的病人，都放在他脚前，他就治好了他们。 甚至众人都稀奇，因为看见哑巴说话、残疾的痊愈、瘸子行走、瞎子看见，他们就归荣耀给以色列的神。 耶稣叫门徒来，说：“我怜悯这众人，因为他们同我在这里已经三天，也没有吃的了。我不愿意叫他们饿着回去，恐怕在路上困乏。” 门徒说：“我们在这野地，哪里有这么多的饼叫这许多人吃饱呢？” 耶稣说：“你们有多少饼？”他们说：“有七个，还有几条小鱼。” 他就吩咐众人坐在地上， 拿着这七个饼和几条鱼，祝谢了，掰开，递给门徒，门徒又递给众人。 众人都吃，并且吃饱了，收拾剩下的零碎，装满了七个筐子。 吃的人，除了妇女孩子，共有四千。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/74ab11946b80757d84b899e0cf24c3d0.jpg a9d53f44b591e0924d854662d0816da3 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/cb1558adcf8a641b368d682222424ea4.mp4 c913b15be000eff6420e9d242b528e21 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Delight: When Obedience Becomes Desire You ever notice... there are things in your life you say you want to change... but somehow... you keep going back? You told yourself this year would be different. You made the list. You set the alarm. You downloaded the app. Maybe you even told somebody — which made it feel more real. And for a few days... maybe even a few weeks... it worked. And then... you fell right back into the same pattern. And we usually say the same thing every time: "I just need more discipline." "I just need more motivation." "I just need to try harder." But what if that's not the problem? What if the issue isn't your willpower... but your delight? Because here's what I've noticed — you don't have to motivate people to do what they love. Nobody has to remind you to check your phone. Nobody has to hold you accountable to eat your favorite meal. You just... do it. Because you want to. So what if the real question isn't "How do I do better?" — but "How do I want better?" Psalm 40:8 — David says it like this: "I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart." Not "I force myself." Not "I white-knuckle it." Not "I tolerate it." He said — “I delight.” That's where we're going today. What's in Your Heart Matters "What's in your wallet?" The idea was simple: what you carry with you determines what's available to you. Proverbs 4:23 says something far more important: "Above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. From there flows the wellspring of life." Let me say it plainly: the results you are currently getting... are flowing directly from what is in your heart right now. So if something isn't changing in your life... it's not random. It's not bad luck. It's revealing something deeper. Here's a truth that might sting a little — habits are not about willpower. If they were, most people would already have the life they want. Habits are about emotional association. What you link pain to... and what you link pleasure to. If you link pain to discipline... you will avoid it. If you link pleasure to comfort... you will stay stuck. Let me be honest with you — and with myself. I may not like being lazy. But there is something in me that still enjoys sitting in the big chair... watching videos... doing nothing. At some level... I like it. And that's why change feels so hard. Because you don't fall back just because you're weak. You fall back because something in you still finds pleasure in the old pattern. The old habit isn't just a bad decision — it's a desire. And you can't out-discipline a desire. That's why James 4:3 says: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives." In other words — we say we want change... but part of us still wants the old life. We want the results of discipline without the discomfort of it. We want transformation without transition. And God, in His wisdom, goes straight to the root. He doesn't just want to change your behavior. He wants to change what you want. James 1:25 says: "Whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do." Here's what's powerful about that verse: it's not just about actions. It's about identity. Because habits are not just things you do — they are emotional patterns. And emotional patterns, over time, create a sense of who you are. You may be making better confessions about your life. You may be saying the right things. But does your nervous system believe it? Does your gut believe it? Does the part of you that wakes up at 2am believe it? Here's the part most people miss: when real change begins... it feels awkward. It feels forced. It feels uncomfortable. And we think — "Something must be wrong. This doesn't feel natural." But that discomfort is not your enemy. That discomfort is the sound of the old you losing its grip. You are interrupting an old identity. You are stepping out of a pattern that your mind and body have practiced for years — maybe decades. Of course it feels strange. New always feels strange at first. Think about it — the first time you drove a car, it felt unnatural. Now you do it without thinking. The first time you spoke in front of people, your hands shook. Now it's second nature. Transformation works the same way. 2 Cor 5:17 says: "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!" Mark Hankins puts it this way: "You are such a new person in Christ, you will have to let God introduce you to your new self." You are not trying to become something you're not. You are becoming who you already are in Christ. And that process... takes some getting used to. And that's why motivation will never sustain you. Motivation is a feeling. And feelings rise and fall based on sleep, stress, weather, what somebody said to you on Tuesday... Feelings are not a foundation. They are a forecast — and the forecast changes every day. If your future depends on motivation... your future will always be unstable. That's why real change doesn't come from motivation. It comes from standards. A standard is not something you hope to live up to. A standard is something you live by. It's not "I'll try to eat better." It's "This is how I eat." It's not "I'm going to try to pray more." It's "This is who I am — I'm someone who prays." See the difference? Motivation asks, "Do I feel like it today?" Standards say, "This is just what I do." And here's the spiritual foundation for that: "If you believe God is everything the Bible says He is... you must believe you are everything the Bible says you are." Your standard for your life is not set by your history. It's not set by your feelings. It's not set by what other people expect from you. It is set by the Word of God — and the Word says you are a new creation, you are more than a conqueror, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. That is your standard. Live from it. Here's where it gets powerful — and this is the heart of everything. Christianity is not behavior modification. It is heart transformation. Phil 2:13: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Did you catch that? Not just the power. The desire. God is not just telling you what to do. He is changing what you want to do. He is going after the root, not just the fruit. He's not just pruning the branches — He is transforming the soil. Psalm 37:4 says: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Most people read that as a transaction — "If I delight in God, He'll give me what I want." But I think it goes deeper than that. When you delight yourself in the Lord... He begins to reshape what you desire. He doesn't just fulfill your desires — He transforms them. That's why David could say in Psalm 40:8: "I delight to do Your will, O my God." Not "I force myself." Not "I tolerate it." Not "I do it because I have to." I delight. ? What if doing the right thing didn't feel like a burden... but like a delight? David tells us exactly how it happens. He says: "I delight to do Your will... because Your law — Your Word, Your will — is written within my heart." Psalm 119:11 confirms it: "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Jer 15:16: Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. When God's Word gets deposited into your heart — really gets in there, not just in your head — it begins to rewire what you love. It changes your desires. It shifts what brings you pleasure... and what doesn't. You know how it works with food — you ate something bad once, got sick, and now you can't even stand the smell of it? Something changed on the inside. Your body made a new association. You didn't have to discipline yourself to avoid it. You just... didn't want it anymore. That's what the Word does to sin. That's what the Word does to old patterns. It doesn't just tell you to stop — it changes what you want. So here's the invitation — and I want you to really hear this: Stop trying to force behavior change... and start allowing God to transform your desire. You don't need more motivation. You need a new affection. You don't need a better system. You need a transformed heart. Because when His Word gets in your heart — really gets in there — your heart begins to want what He wants. Your desires start to align with His desires. And one day, you won't just say, "I have to obey God." You'll say, "I delight to do Your will." That's not a distant dream. That's the normal Christian life. 1 Cor 1:30 says: "God Himself made the way so you can have new life through Christ Jesus. God gave us Christ to be our wisdom. Christ made us right with God and set us apart for God and made us holy. Christ bought us with His blood and made us free from our sins." You have been given everything you need — not to white-knuckle your way through life — but to live from a transformed heart. The freedom is already yours. The new desire is already available. The question is: will you let the Word go deep enough to change what you want? Start there. Not with more effort. With more Word. Let it in. Let it go deep. And watch what it does to your desires. Prayer and Declaration of Victory Father... Thank You that You are not just calling us to change...You are working in us... to transform us. Lord, we confess... there are areas in our lives where our heartsare still drawn to what is comfortable...instead of what is life-giving. But today... we don't just ask for more discipline... We ask for new desire. Let Your Word go deep into our hearts... until what You love... we love... and what You desire... we desire. Teach us to delight in Your will. Not out of pressure... but from a transformed heart. And we thank You... that You are faithful to complete what You have started in us. In Jesus' name... Amen. As a Believer - you have been given liberty and freedom and victory. Today. Romans 5:17 "Those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource DELIGHT 以耶和华为乐（在祂里面找到真正的喜乐） Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/22/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 40:8: I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart. 诗篇 40:8: 我的　神啊！我乐意遵行你的旨意；你的律法常在我的心里。(page 920) Prov 4:23: More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it. 箴言 4:23: 你要谨守你的心，胜过谨守一切，因为生命的泉源由此而出。(page 1038) James 4:3 - When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 雅各书 4:3: 你们求也得不到是因为你们动机不纯，只求享乐和满足自己的欲望。(page 1962) Phil 2:13: For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve his purpose. 腓立比书 2:13: 因为你们立志和行事都是上帝在你们心中工作，为要成就祂美好的旨意。(page 1904) Jer 15:16: Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. 耶利米书 15:16: 万军之上帝耶和华啊，我把你的话视为甘饴，它们是我心中的快乐和喜悦，因为我属于你的名下。 (page 1256) Psalm 119:11: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 诗篇 119:11: 我将你的话藏在心里，免得我得罪你 (page 1004) Psalm 37:4: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 诗篇 37:4: 又要以耶和华为乐，他就将你心里所求的赐给你。(page 915) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/86691f42591acd135c31629b25582f60.jpg f3f2546e8e253f6a27dc13822cd82462 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/68ba5102272dddfd58b4b0952e9d5c0d.mp4 315903fc3676303f73f1cddba55c3e31 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound ALL THINGS NEW John 12:12–19 What if the only thing standing between you and the life God has for you... … is something you refuse to put down? Think about that for a second. Not the enemy. Not your circumstances. Not your past. Just... your grip. Imagine someone hands you a gift. A brand-new life. A fresh start. A clean slate. And you reach out to take it... but you won't let go of what's already in your hand. You cannot step into something new… while holding on to something old. We often think we can grow, change, and move forward without releasing the things behind us. But that’s not how transformation works. You don’t get transplanted into the garden… while still clinging to the flower pot. Some of us are emotionally attached to things God has already delivered us from. We cling… Not because they were good — but because they were familiar. And sometimes… familiar feels safer than free. God makes all things new—but we must be willing to release what is old. If you go on vacation but only think about what you left behind… is it really a vacation? (Overcoming conditioning will require some willpower and awareness) You’re somewhere new physically—but mentally, you’re still in the old place. Some people never leave their past. They replay conversations, revisit failures, relive moments. And they try to live today while emotionally trapped in yesterday. 2 Corinthians 5:17: Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! Palm Sunday John 12:12–19 (read) In John 12, Jesus rides into Jerusalem. The crowd celebrates—but the Pharisees resist. They were committed to the old system, while Jesus was bringing something new. Truth: The old mindset will fight to survive. Your old identity doesn’t want to die quietly. It will say: 'You’ve always been this way.' But that voice is history trying to override destiny. It's like someone leaving prison. They are free — but still think like a prisoner. Spiritually, many believers live the same way. If you think the same old thoughts, you will replay the same old life. Transformation happens when something changes within you. Renew your mind — and your life will follow. The Apostle Paul knew this firsthand. He had a past he could have been buried under — and yet he wrote these words in Phil 3:13-14: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Notice what he said: *forgetting* what is behind. Not ignoring it. Not pretending it didn't happen. But refusing to let it define where he was going. That's the posture God is calling us to today. Press on. “Don't look back.” Here's something we need to get clear on — because the enemy is sneaky. Condemnation can sound spiritual. It can feel like humility. But it's a trap. The Holy Spirit convicts — He does not condemn. Conviction leads you forward. Condemnation holds you back. There is a verse I need you to hold onto today. Romans 8:1 says: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." No condemnation. Not a little. Not conditionally. None. That means the voice that keeps replaying your worst moments? That is not God. That is the enemy using your past as a weapon against your future. And then Isaiah 43:18-19 makes it even clearer: "Forget the former things... do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" God is not asking you to pretend the past didn't happen. He's asking you to stop letting it have the final word. Jesus rode into Jerusalem to bring something new. And that same Jesus is still making all things new — today. So let me ask you directly — What could you be holding on to that God has already released? Is it a sin He's already forgiven? Is it a version of yourself that no longer exists? Is it someone else's words that were never true to begin with? Here's the challenge today: You cannot walk into the new thing God has for you with both hands full of the old. You have to choose. Not because God is withholding anything from you — but because freedom requires your participation. Jesus opened the door. But you have to be willing to walk through. He paid the price. He made you new. Today might be the day you finally put it down. Not tomorrow. Not when you feel ready. Today. The same Jesus who rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday — who turned the world upside down with a donkey and a crowd of worshippers — is riding into your situation right now. And He is making all things new. Will you let Him? Closing Prayer Father, thank You that You make all things new. We release our past into Your hands. Renew our minds, heal our hearts, and lead us forward. In Jesus' name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource ALL THINGS NEW 一切都更新了 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/29/2026 Description An account of the resource Rev 21:5: He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” 启示录 21:5: 坐在宝座上的说：“看哪，我正在使一切都更新！” 2 Cor 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 哥林多后书 5:17: 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人；旧事已过，都变成新的了！ (page 1408) Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. 以西结书 36:26: 我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面。(page 1183) Isaiah 43:19 : See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 以赛亚书 43:19: 看哪，我要做一件新事，如今要发生，你们岂不知道吗？ (page 1875) Luke 19:38: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” 路加福音 19:38: “奉主名来的王是应当称颂的！” (page 1702) Lam 3:22–23: His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 耶利米哀歌 3:22–23: 祂的慈爱永不止息； 每早晨都是新的，祂的信实极其广大。(page 1341) God is not patching the old—He is making all things new. 神不是修补旧的，祂是在更新一切。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/2871b16e8ffb0cc2c550738579d46d6c.jpg 2f97b676c6c68343db696da2b3c7b540 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8794ffa092f9361749afadb6d2d77daa.mp4 f94fa929009091839238638fd399d100 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound HE IS RISEN — NOW I WILL ARISE Romans 5:9-11 “The stone is sealed. The grave is quiet. But God is still working. What looks like the end is actually preparation for something amazing. SUNDAY IS COMING. Hold on to hope.” Sore muscles usually mean you're on the right track. Sometimes things feel harder not because you're failing — but because you're growing. So - Just because you're in a dark season doesn’t mean you’ve slipped. You just might be underground… growing roots… getting ready to rise. Think about Good Friday. Dark. Painful. seemingly Hopeless. Jesus was beaten, crucified… and placed in a grave. It looked like the enemy had won. But Sunday changed everything. The grave could not hold Him. Death could not contain Him. Darkness could not stop Him. Jesus declares: “I was dead… but now I am alive forevermore.” Here’s what the resurrection teaches us: God always finishes what He starts. No matter how dark it looks… No matter how long it’s been… No matter who is against you… God will take you from Friday… to Sunday. Today is not just about what Jesus did. It’s about what is available to you now. Romans 5:10,11: Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion! And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ! Two words I want you to lock in your heart this morning. Resurrection. …means bringing something back to life. Something that was dead — breathing again. Arise. …means to get up. To wake up. To move from where you have been. So the question is— Have we been asleep? Paul writes to the church in Ephesus — people who already knew the Lord — - and he says this in Ephesians 5:14: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” He is not writing to pagans. He is not writing to people who had never heard the Gospel. He is writing to church people. People who were already saved, already loved, already filled with the Spirit. And he is saying — “wake up.” Could it possibly be that some of us need to wake up to what we already have? Could it be that the resurrection is not just a doctrine we believe — but a reality we need to walk in every single day? "it is finished" Tetelestai (tetel-is-sty) Greek Business. Judicial. Military context. The debt of your sin has been fully paid The judgement for your sin has been fully served The war against sin and death has been won Salvation and Reconciliation is fully Yours. Do we need to wake-up to our inheritance, just like the prodigal son did when he “came to himself?” In Luke 15, the prodigal son says: “I will arise and go to my father.” This is Awakening. This is True Repentance. This is the message of Easter: Because Jesus rose — you can rise. When life hits you— (sometimes by surprise, right?) When you're overwhelmed… When you're broken… When you're bound… There is one response: “I will arise and go to my Father.” Say it when: life doesn’t make sense the report is bad your heart is broken you feel stuck “I will arise and go to my Father.” As true believers, we are no longer on the outside looking in In Matt 27: 51: “Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two…” At the moment of Jesus' death on the cross, the thick curtain in the Jerusalem temple separating the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom. This event symbolized the removal of barriers between God and humanity, signifying that Jesus’ sacrifice granted direct access to God, ending the need for priestly mediation and the old covenant. The veil, which was roughly six inches thick and impassable, could not be torn by human force, suggesting the tear was a divine act indicating the sacrifice was complete. It marked the end of the old sacrificial system, as Jesus became the final, perfect sacrifice. The cross tore the veil. Heb 10:10: By God’s will we have been purified and made holy once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah! We now have direct access to God. He is not distant. He is your Father. You are not abandoned. You are accepted. Maybe sometimes your heart stirs in the middle of the night and you know something needs to change… yet, the next morning, it’s so easy to just go back to the usual routine and forget what you felt Dog & the Nail Story I want to be careful here — but I also want to be honest… Some of us may be sitting on a nail today We are uncomfortable enough to whine about it — but not uncomfortable enough to get up (arise) and do something about it. We talk about our situation. We may even pray about our situation. We may ask others for prayer about our situation. …but for some reason we haven’t moved off the nail Some people are in a pit… …but not uncomfortable enough to leave. So why do we do it? Because sometimes the familiar pit — even when it is painful — feels safer than the unknown of climbing out. Because change requires movement, and movement requires faith, and faith means trusting something you cannot yet see. “rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." Why wait for rock bottom when resurrection power is already in you? When you’re in darkness… You don’t follow what you see. You follow His voice. “He has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” Today is your day. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today. Say it with me: “I will arise and go to my Father.” He is risen — Now I will arise. Heavenly Father, Thank You for the power of the resurrection. Thank You that Jesus is alive— and because He lives, we can live too. Today, we choose to arise. Out of darkness… into Your light. Out of fear… into faith. Out of bondage… into freedom. Father, we come back to You. Just like the prodigal son, we say: “I will arise and go to my Father.” Restore what has been broken. Renew what has grown cold. Awaken what has been asleep. Fill us again with Your life, Your Spirit, and Your power. From this day forward, we will not stay where we’ve been— we will walk in the new life You have given us. We declare: Because He is risen… we will arise. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource He is Risen 他已复活 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/05/2026 Description An account of the resource Romans 5:9-11: Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 罗马书 5:9-11: 现在，我们既然因祂所流的血而被称为义人，岂不更要靠着祂免受上帝的烈怒吗？ 如果我们还与上帝为敌的时候，尚且可以借着上帝儿子的死亡与上帝和好，和好后的我们岂不更要借着祂儿子的生命得到拯救吗？ 不但如此，我们借着主耶稣基督与上帝和好之后，还要借着祂在上帝面前欢喜。 (pg 1828) Eph 5:14 - “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 以弗所书 5:14: “沉睡的人啊，醒来吧！从死人中起来吧， 基督要光照你了！”(page 1899) Luke 15:18: “I will arise and go to my father…” 路加福音 15:18:“我要起来，到我父亲那里去…”(pg 1694) Matt 27: 51: Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two… 马太福音 27:51: 忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半，地也震动，磐石也崩裂 (pg 1614) Heb 10:10: By God’s will we have been purified and made holy once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah! 希 伯 來 書 10:10: 凭上帝的意旨，耶稣基督只牺牲了自己的身体一次，便使得我们永远圣洁。(pg 1950) 他已复活! 现在是起来的时候 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/7470cab28a66c099bfe6251d590a9d2f.jpg b8962439b5d11d7fa47446b73affcc17 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/4897b07f534823f3f6715270cc0742cf.jpg f6b7221341ce791bf1e913fe99999021 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f98b30a9e0f04924860b903a0cce593f.mp4 5c65005d92a217faef9294268c7f599c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Quiet Place Psalm 145:18,19 It’s easy to get caught up in all the to-do’s “There’s always something that needs to be done.” Always chasing. Always thinking about the next step and almost missing the current step. Not being in the present moment. …and the Present Moment is All That We Really Have. “Slow down, young man.” (I can still hear that voice calling out to me.) For years now we have heard we live in a “microwave culture” Lamentations 3:26: it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. How often do we actually take time to “wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD?” One of my favorite (and maybe one of my most quoted) Bible verses is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I Am God.” This verse has always meant so much to me – even though it can be such a challenge for someone like me to actually practice it. I have always had to be very deliberate in order to follow this lesson, whether it meant locking myself away, taking a walk on a nature trail or even going away to a monastery. This season of my life has made it more essential to practice this, and it was through such a deliberate effort that this message began to take shape. I hope there is some learning here that maybe you can benefit from, too. Will it require a desperate moment for you to “Be Still and Know that He is GOD?” Are you willing to embrace a new way of living? The old ways won’t go away quickly or easily. (routines, habits, learned behaviors) It will require Divine help – and with your humble cooperation. Psalm 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Good News: New Beliefs can grow into a new reality. “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” “We all find time to do what we really want to do.” So, in other words, this message won’t be for everybody. You will have to really want this shift in your daily life. David Wilkerson: "When God wants to bring you into a new place, He first brings you to the end of yourself." Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6) Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. so – are you still with me? Are you in? “The LORD is near to all who call on him…” drift. It’s easy to get off track and find yourself in a place or situation you weren’t meant to be in. A little compromise. A little comfort. A little distraction. Next thing you know… ( ) Drift doesn’t announce itself. It just slowly pulls you away. For us to Be Still and Know we have to release the distractions that take our attention off of God’s Presence Those “distractions” could also be called “attachments” Attachments are like unnecessary chains – holding us back from the higher objectives we should be focused on “The greatest enemy of stillness can often be distraction.” Col 3:2: “Set your affection on things above…” “fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Where are we pointing our hearts today? Psalm 145:18 states: "You draw near to those who call out to you, listening closely, especially when their hearts are true" Not being at peace is when your soul is still attached to outside distractions. These distractions can be attachments to who we think we must be – outside our identity in Christ Jesus said “My yoke is easy” “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life” Matt 5:3, (Jesus taught) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," is recognizing our own spiritual bankruptcy and utter dependence on God's grace, rather than self-righteousness. Being "poor in spirit" means emptying oneself of self-assurance to receive God's kingdom and His righteousness.” “God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness” In the still quiet moment, we come Him just as we are. Attachments and all. How else can we be made free? If we could do it ourselves we would have already done it. Paul: “I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Cor 12:31) LOVE When we “arise and go to our Father” we need to come to Him in faith, trusting in His love, His grace, His mercy. 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. “If we really love God, we will not be afraid of him. We cannot love him completely and also be afraid. We would only be afraid of God if we thought that he would punish us. So, if someone is afraid that God will punish them, it shows that they do not completely know God's love.” When we come to God, do we really trust that He loves us and has made us righteous through the blood of Jesus? from last week: Romans 5:10,11: Now that we are at peace with God, and because we share in his resurrection life, how much more we will be rescued from sin’s dominion! And even more than that, we overflow with triumphant joy in our new relationship of living reconciled to God—all because of Jesus Christ! There is a saying that says, 'To lose yourself is to find yourself.' From a Christian perspective, we know “Apart from Him (Jesus) we can do nothing.” John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” This is the scriptural, spiritual answer to “There’s always something that needs to be done.” We have something in us called the “Fight or Flight” or “Stress Response” The fight-or-flight response is your body's natural, automatic reaction to stress or danger. It triggers physiological changes, such as a faster heart rate and tenser muscles, that prepare your body to deal with the source of the stress. This can be helpful in the short term, but if it goes on too long without giving your body a chance to relax, it can have negative effects on your physical and mental health. We can remain in a state of Fight or Flight – or we can “be still and know” That “Power, Love and a Sound Mind” is starting to make even more sense now, isn’t it? John 17:22,23: For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me. Psalm 119:130: Break open Your Word within me until revelation-light shines out! “Those with open hearts are given insight into your plans.” Psalm 145:18: You draw near to those who call out to you, listening closely, especially when their hearts are true. In every situation, the pattern was the same First, the reaction Then, acceptance Then, surrender When you release resistance and trust that God knows the path, solutions appear in ways you couldn’t plan. You don’t need to control everything. You don’t need to fear negative thoughts. You simply need to return to trust. God is the solution. God is the way. So today, let go of fear. Accept where you are. And trust that you are being guided. Wait upon the Lord and let your strength be renewed Meditate on God’s Name – Jehovah Shalom Prayer: Heavenly Father, Right now, we come to You—not with performance, but with open hearts. You are near to all who call on You in truth. Lord, we confess—we’ve been busy, distracted, pulled in too many directions. We release the striving. We release the fear. We release the need to control everything. And we choose to be still. Teach us to abide in You. To rest in Your love. To trust in Your goodness. For those who feel overwhelmed—be their peace. For those who feel distant—draw them near. For those who feel bound—set them free. We trust You. We rest in You. We return to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource A Quiet Place 安静之处 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/12/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 145:18–19: The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. 诗篇 145:18–19: 耶和华靠近一切求告祂的人，就是诚心求告祂的人。敬畏祂的，祂必成就他们的心愿，也必听他们的呼求，拯救他们。 (page 1028) Psalm 46:10: Be still, and know that I am God. 诗篇 46:10: 你们要安静，要知道我是神。(page 926) Lamentations 3:26: It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. 耶利米哀歌 3:26: 人仰望耶和華，靜默等候他的救恩，這原是好的。(page 1341) Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 马太福音 5:6: 饥渴慕义的人有福了！因为他们必得饱足。(page 1563) Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. 耶利米书 29:13: 你们寻求我，若专心寻求我，就必寻见。 (page 1280) John 15:5: I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from Me you can do nothing. 约翰福音 15:5: 我是葡萄树，你们是枝子… …离了我，你们就不能做什么。(pg 1749) 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 约翰一书 4:18: 爱里没有惧怕；爱既完全，就把惧怕除去。(page 1981) Return to the Quiet Place 回到安静之处 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/f320ee2779221d9a76a734074991f780.jpg ff34f89916dc01900c4aea068e274512 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/165ae22e2ceb5c6fa0c3109eb5e698b7.mp4 6c76614fbb241ee9c36b38cefc21f1e1 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound All We Need Psalm 73:26 When was the last time you gave yourself permission to be joyful—right now, today, exactly as things are? Not when the diagnosis improves. Not when the bills are paid. Not when everything settles down. Right now. Most of us are living in the “if” and the “when.” “I’ll be happy if…” “I’ll rejoice when…” But joy was never meant to be a destination. Joy is a decision we make in the middle of the journey. Solomon said that “as a man thinks, so is he.” We think many thoughts—but not all define us. It is our dominant thoughts that shape our lives. How we interpret what we are going through. What we choose to focus on. …and what we focus on expands. If we focus on what’s missing, joy will always feel out of reach. If we focus on what God is doing—even in small ways—something begins to shift inside of us. I’ll be honest with you… Lately, I’ve been focused on my health challenges. And while it’s good to be aware, there comes a point where awareness becomes obsession. And when that happens, we begin to miss the simple joy of being alive. There comes a moment where we must choose: Will I live by how I feel? Or will I walk by faith? So here it is: It is time to stop postponing joy. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not when everything changes. Right now. Psalm 73:26 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” God is enough—right now. Philippians 4:6-8 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. (Don’t rush these next quiet lines: Those are the moments where the room will lean in.) Philippians 4 gives us a pathway: Release anxiety. Refocus your thoughts. Receive peace. “Do not be anxious about anything…” “Present your requests to God…” “And the peace of God will guard your heart and mind…” Peace does not come from control. Peace comes from surrender. King David understood this. After one of the most painful seasons of his life, Scripture says: He arose. He washed. He anointed himself. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He did not wait to feel better. He chose to move forward. That is what it means to stop postponing joy. [Control vs Trust] So many of us are trying to fix what we cannot fix. Trying to control what we cannot control. And it is exhausting. Peace begins where control ends. In Mark 6 we read: There was such a swirl of activity around Jesus, with so many people coming and going, that they were unable to even eat a meal. So Jesus said to his disciples, “Come, let’s take a break and find a secluded place where you can rest a while.” They slipped away and left by sailboat for a deserted spot. But many of the people saw them leaving and realized where they were headed, so they took off running along the shore. When Jesus looked at the crowds, He saw people who were tired, overwhelmed, and burdened. Scripture says: He was moved with compassion. Jesus said: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” What is important to understand is the way Jesus says this. He does not say it like a boss giving orders. He doesn’t say it like someone who is tired of listening to people's problems. He says it as someone who is gentle, someone who understands, someone who is not annoyed by our weakness and not surprised by our struggles. You are not coming to a God who is tired of you. You are coming to a God who understands you. Come. Rest. Stop striving. Stop postponing. It’s time to Rejoice — not someday — but now. Our strength comes from remaining (abiding) in the Vine As Jesus said in John 15:7, ”If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” "The Christian life is not a testing ground to see how much you can handle. It is a living connection to the One who handles everything." It is time — right now — to stop postponing our joy. As we prepare our hearts to come the Table of the Lord today for Holy Communion, we do not come with conditions. Not: “God, I will trust You when…” But: “God, I trust You now.” Peace does not come from control. Peace comes from surrender. Jesus said: “I Am the bread of life.” He is our source. He is all we need. Prayer Lord, we come before You right now—not when life changes, but just as we are. We confess that we have postponed our joy. Today, we choose to trust You. Be our strength when we are weak. Be our peace in the middle of uncertainty. Fill us with a joy that the world cannot give and cannot take away. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource All We Need 我们所需要的一切 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/19/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 73:26: My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 诗篇 73:26：我的肉体和我的心肠衰残；但神是我心里的力量，又是我的福分，直到永远。 Philippians 4:6–8: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 腓立比书 4:6–8： 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事借着祷告、祈求和感谢，将你们所要的告诉神 Ecclesiastes 3:1,4: There is a time for everything… a time to weep and a time to laugh… 传道书 3:1,4：凡事都有定期…有时哭，有时笑… 2 Samuel 12:20: Then David got up… washed… and worshiped the Lord. 撒母耳记下 12:20： 大卫就从地上起来，沐浴，抹膏…进耶和华的殿敬拜。 Matthew 11:28: Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 马太福音 11:28： 凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。 Luke 10:20: Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 路加福音 10:20：要因你们的名记录在天上欢喜。 1 Timothy 6:6: Godliness with contentment is great gain. 提摩太前书 6:6： 敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了。 John 6:47–48: Whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. 约翰福音 6:47–48：信的人有永生。我就是生命的粮。 Psalm 107:9: He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. 诗篇 107:9： 他使心里渴慕的人得以知足，使心里饥饿的人得饱美物。 Psalm 31:19: How abundant are the good things You have stored up… 诗篇 31:19： 你为敬畏你的人所积存的恩惠是何等大呢！ Romans 12:12: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 罗马书 12:12：在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/5e15599ba7afa35c3852fc001c82fa6e.jpg 8337ce0b005df687d495064098bd08ee https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/1fcf4ac184427edc00d5f01ba28eb5c8.mp4 4bf6ec578557bcaf81e5a92a1bb73923 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound SENT John 20:21 Ever look at yourself in a funhouse mirror? The image staring back is wildly distorted — and kind of funny. But that image in the bathroom mirror at midnight? Not so funny. I remember one night at the movie theater... "Yikes — when did I get this old?" "Be careful what you hear"* — and also — *"Be careful what you see."* Who do you see yourself as in Christ? James 1:23-24 (read) As followers of Christ, we are no longer the person we used to see in that mirror. That image is a distortion. You have a bigger mission — a greater purpose — than what you've experienced thus far. *Do you believe it?* What if everything you've believed about your life has been too small? "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21 "Yeshua said to them again, 'Shalom aleichem! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'"* We aren't "went ones" — we are sent ones. And if that's true… it's time we begin to see ourselves differently. Col 1:28-29: Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion to labor with tireless intensity — with His power flowing through me — to present to every believer the revelation of being His perfect one in Jesus Christ. If you're feeling tired today — that's okay. It could actually be a great thing. When we are weak, HE is strong. We rely on His strength and power to do what He sends us to do. Feeling like you've lost your mind? Relax — you now have the Mind of Christ. Paul said: *"Grace alone empowers me so that I can boldly preach this wonderful message."* Maybe that's why it takes a while for us to fully understand this. It takes a revelation from God — through the Holy Spirit and the Word. John 8:47: "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."* James 1:21: With a sensitive spirit we absorb God's Word, which has been implanted within our nature — for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us. Here's something we all understand: when you decide to make a real change — health, weight loss, more energy — you add new disciplines and new perspectives… and you subtract some things that just *"gots ta go." Same in our Christian walk. When we give our life to Christ, the Bible says our lives are no longer our own. 1 Cor 6:19-20 — We are bought with a price. It's time to subtract that out-of-date image of your old nature. "Put on Christ."(Rom 13:14)* Col 3:3: "For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." Choosing to live for Jesus is not just adding something new — it is letting go of the old. This is sanctification. A sanctified life is also a crucified life. Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. "I Live by the Power of the Son of God." We now have new purpose — new passion — new plans. God's plans. We draw our life from the Vine. Some of the greatest movers and shakers in history rose up out of the greatest adversity. (Remember last week...)* Psalm 73:26: My mind and my body may grow weak, but God is my strength — He is all I ever need. "God is the strength of my heart and all I need forever." TPT: Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace. But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever you're all I need! Our church family — in the sanctuary and online — has such a heart for prayer and ministering to others. We believe in God's power and we want to see it manifested. "As my Father has sent me, even so send I you." — This is our heart for ministry to each other. But we're not doing this alone or under our own strength. Jesus is wherever we are. John 16:7: "It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you." And Jesus is *"the same yesterday, today and forever." Eph 4 — Jesus "gave apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors and teachers as gifts to His church — for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ." Our job is to be equipped as conduits of God's power — standing on and speaking His Word to all who need it. And isn’t that really everyone? One of the lessons I've recognized in my own healing journey: we all desperately need the prayer of others. Others who truly believe the uncompromised truth of God's Word. Eph 3:20: Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… Eph 3:20 TPT: *Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination — His miraculous power constantly energizes you.* We are relying on Divine strength — not human limitation. To flow in the mighty power given to us by Jesus would be a very good thing indeed. – John 6:28-29: The people asked Jesus: *"What must we do to perform the works of God?"* His answer? Believe. Faith — not striving — is the foundational work that fulfills God's requirements. We can do what we are called to do, by Grace, through Faith. We can only use what we have. *What do you have?* Acts 3:6-9: Peter said, *"Silver and gold have I none — but such as I have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."* And he took him by the hand… and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. He leaped up, walked, entered the temple — walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him. *"I Live by the Power of the Son of God."* Our anointing is not for ourselves — it is for the ones God gives us to bless. Isn't it time we released that anointing — by Grace through Faith — for the sake of those God has given us to minister to? 1 John 2:2: He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins — and not only for ours, but for the sins of the whole world. *"Be doers of the Word."* *"Faith without works is dead."* John 20:21: *"Peace to you. Just as the Father has sent me, I'm now sending you."* --- *(Closing prayer — keep exactly as written.)* Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource SENT 差遣 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 04/26/2026 Description An account of the resource John 20:21: Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I Am sending you. 約翰福音 20:21: 願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣 你們。 (page 1760) James 1:23–24: Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 雅各書 1:23–24: 人若聽道而不行道，就像人對著鏡子看自己本 來的面目，看見，走後，隨即忘了他的相貌如何。(page 1960) Colossians 1:28–29: Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. 歌羅西書 1:28–29: 我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧勸戒各人，教 導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全地引到神面前。(page 1909) James 1:21: …Instead, with a sensitive spirit we absorb God’s Word, which has been implanted within our nature, for the Word of Life has power to continually deliver us. 雅 各 書 1:21: 因此，要摆脱一切污秽和一切盛行的邪恶，要温 顺地接受植根于你们心底的上帝的教导，这教导能够拯救你们。 (page 1960) Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 加拉太書 2:20: 我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我 ，乃是基督在我裡面活著。(page 1887) Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. 以弗所書 3:20: 神能照著運行在我們心裡的大力，充充足足地成 就一切，超過我們所求所想的。(page 1897) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/72653bd3e18d80987442b54b1c270a59.jpg 135745faec5d5d7d7e466d795a4601cd https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/7609677f9dc4fde06bb836d95dade2ed.mp4 ddaeb4ac7383647b443b4bfbd307bb6b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Endurance Factor Living Through the Process Into Victory Hebrews 10:35-39 The morning workout feels tough at times… There are moments when everything in me wants to stop. To ease up. To quit early. But when I push through—when I endure— I experience something on the other side that I could never get by quitting. There’s a satisfaction. A strength. A quiet confidence that says: “I didn’t stop.” “Keep Showing Up” …and the Christian life works the same way. As Believers, Victory Is Already Built Into the Journey Scripture tells us: “Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ…” 2 Corinthians 2:14 Notice that word: always. Not sometimes. Not eventually. Not just for certain people. Always. That means your current struggle (despite how it may feel right now) is not evidence of defeat. It is part of a process that ends in victory. 1 Cor 15:57: But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. You are not fighting for victory. You are walking through a process that leads to victory. (Jesus won the victory) One Day at a Time. Hebrews 10:35–36: “So do not throw away your confident trust in the Lord… Patient endurance is what you need now… Then you will receive all that He has promised.” We love the promise. We celebrate the calling, but we often underestimate the process. (I believe in miracles… and in “suddenlys”) …but often, there is a gap between: What God has spoken and what we are experiencing. …And that gap is bridged by endurance. “Patient endurance is what you need now… Then you will receive all that He has promised.” Endurance is not punishment. Endurance is positioning. Alignment. (“I see the objective and the obstacle must give way”) Endurance is what carries you from: Promise given to Promise fulfilled 1 Peter 5:10: “After you have suffered a little while, He Himself will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” “A little while.” It may not feel like a little while. But compared to what God is producing in you — it is. “…will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever.” God is not just bringing you out of something. He is building something into you. Strength Stability Firmness Spiritual depth (vs 35) “ …So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” ( ) 2 Cor 3:12: Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. What you’re going through is temporary. But what God is forming in you is lasting. (listen) Psalm 139:5: “You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way…” Before you arrive—God is already there. Before the breakthrough—He has already made provision. Before the victory—He has already secured it. So endurance is not walking into uncertainty. It is walking into something God has already prepared. You are not moving toward an unknown outcome. You are moving toward something God has already seen—and prepared—for you. Sometimes the most freeing thing we can say is: “I can’t fix this on my own.” That’s not weakness. That’s alignment. God’s Word does not deny anxiety—it meets us in it. Philippians 4:6–7 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation… present your requests to God…” It does not say: “Pray once and you’ll never feel anxious again.” It says: “In every situation.” That means: Every time the worry returns Every time the pressure rises Every time the thoughts race We bring it back to Him. Again. And again. And again. Endurance in faith is repetition with trust. (trust “all things work together for good”) And the promise? “The peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds…” Not peace you create. Peace He provides. Psalm 94:19: “When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.” Not after the struggle. Not instead of the struggle. Within it. That means: You can feel pressure and still have peace You can be in a battle and still have joy You can be waiting and still be winning God does not always remove us immediately from the situation… …But He meets us powerfully within it. “Yea, though I walk through…” Merton: “Contemplation is a spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. It is gratitude for life, for awareness and for being.” (listen again) Psalm 94:19: "Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of Your Presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight". So here’s the truth: You are not stuck. You are not failing. You are not forgotten. You are in the middle of a process that requires endurance but is guaranteed to end in victory. Heb 11:6: “…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The same God who: called you walks with you strengthens you …has already determined the outcome: Triumph in Christ. I CANNOT RETIRE - IT’S TIME FOR ME TO REFIRE (before we refire, we need to *rewire) *mind renewed Declaration (Congregational Response) “I will not quit. I will not throw away my confidence. God is working in me, through me, and ahead of me. My endurance will lead to breakthrough. In Christ—I will triumph.” Father, Thank You that You have not called us to a life of defeat, but to a life of victory in Christ. Give us strength to endure. When we feel weak, remind us that You are our strength. When we feel anxious, draw us back to Your peace. When we feel like giving up, anchor us in Your promises. Teach us to trust You—not just once, but in every situation. Build in us a faith that perseveres. Form in us a life that stands strong, firm, and steadfast. And Lord, we thank You that even now, You are working ahead of us—preparing the way. We choose to keep walking. (“we walk by faith”) We choose to keep trusting. We choose to endure. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Endurance Factor 坚持到底的力量 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/03/2026 Description An account of the resource 2 Cor 2:14: Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place. 哥林多后书 2:14: 感谢神！他常率领我们在基督里夸胜，并借着我们在各处显扬那因认识基督而有的香气。(page 1872) Heb 10:35,36: So do not throw away your confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. 希伯来书 10:35,36: 所以，你们不可丢弃勇敢的心，存这样的心必得大赏赐！你们必须忍耐，使你们行完了神的旨意，就可以得着所应许的。(page 1952) 1 Peter 5:10: After you have suffered a little while, He Himself will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 彼得前书 5:10: 你们暂受苦难之后，必要亲自成全你们，坚固你们，赐力量给你们。(page 1971) Psalm 139:5: You have gone before me and prepared the way, and You follow behind me with kindness. 诗篇 139:5: 你在我前后环绕我，按手在我身上。 (page 1022) Philippians 4:6,7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation present your requests to God, and His peace will guard your hearts and minds. 腓立比书 4:6,7: 应当一无挂虑，只要凡事借着祷告祈求，将你们所要的告诉神，神所赐的平安必保守你们的心怀意念。(page 1906) Psalm 94:19: When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy. 诗篇 94:19: 我心里多忧多疑的时候，你的安慰使我快乐。 (page 979) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States