Have you ever wondered why the economy is having so much trouble, why families are falling apart, why jobs seems so scarce these days, and other things like that?  The answer is in this weeks message.  Have a listen and hear for yourself.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:26 — 22.6MB)

People are a lot faster and busier these days than they were in Bible times.  People rush to and fro all over the earth.  There are still some hold-outs in remote locations.  But most our world seems to be in a big hurry these days.  People are so busy going places and getting things done.  Even the “fun” stuff has to be done in a rush.  We have mega stores open 24 hours a day, and fast food joints and gas stations and health clubs.  We’re working all day, and then we keep on going all day, all night, all week, and all weekend.  We are so technologically advanced in computers and transportation and medicine that we somehow think we’re morally superior to the people in the Bible.  But the truth is, the battle that raged over the hearts of people thousands of years ago is the same battle that rages today…and it’s all connected to God’s Word.

Take a listen, and tell me what you think.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:38 — 21.3MB)

Most of the time, you probably don’t think about the fact that what we are always floating on a massive ocean of molten rock.  The grass and trees and oceans and streams, the mountains, the valleys–everything we typically think of when we think of the earth that we live on is really just a thin skin wrapped around a core of fiery hot lava, that would burn us all up in no time if we were exposed to it.

Usually we don’t even see any of it.  Once in awhile there might be a volcanic eruption and we get a quick glimpse of the heat and energy hidden beneath our feet.

Similarly, we don’t typically see the power and action going on in heavenly realms.  But once in a while we catch a glimpse of what is happening in the realm of angels, and Daniel chapter 10 offers one of those glimpses.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:56 — 22.9MB)

What do you think it would be like to meet an angel face to face?  My guess is that it’s nothing like you’ve ever imagined.  When people in the Bible meet angels, much of the time they are paralyzed with fear and they fall on their faces.  So if an angel actually revealed itself to you, more than likely it would be a terrifying event.  At the same time, it would make for the story of a lifetime, because angels aren’t sent to people for the fun of it.  They always come bearing important news.

So do you think it would be worth it to be scared half-to-death in order to receive a personal message from the Lord?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:33 — 19.9MB)

Have you ever wondered what angels do?  You see artwork of angels everywhere from statues in churches to paintings in museums to dangley decorations on rear view mirrors.   But what do they really look like, and how do they really operate?

We get a glimpse of the heavenly realms in Daniel 10.  Would you like to take a peek?  Just click on the link below.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:40 — 19.1MB)

Have you ever wondered why God revealed things through the Old Testament prophets?  Thinking about Daniel, why would God tell Daniel about kingdoms and powers that would rise to power in the centuries to come after Daniel was God?  Why would he give him details about the end of the world.

Well the simple answer is because God wants to save you.  He shares information about things to come in order that you might be prepared to avoid the judgment that befalls all people who reject the Lord.  Prophecy is meant to change you heart, to change your mind, and to change your behavior.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:37 — 20.9MB)

Have you ever wanted Jesus to come back and save you from all the problems of this world? Well if you really know Jesus, then you know the main reason he hasn’t come back yet is because he wants more people to get saved.  He’s counting on Christians to keep spreading the gospel.  That way, when he does come back, there will be less people who have to suffer eternal punishment and more people who get to enjoy a relationship with the Lord.  There’s a lot of work to do.  And we don’t know how much time we have to do it.  So while you’re waiting, you ought to be saving some souls!

And if you’re on the other side and you’re hoping that Jesus is never really coming back because you know you’ll be in big trouble, today is a good day to make a change in your life.  You can turn around now, so when Jesus does come back, you can celebrate his return rather than dread it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:18 — 23.0MB)

Have you’ve ever wondered about the connection between Christianity and the Jewish people?  Obviously Jesus himself was a Jew, as were all 12 of his disciples.  So the Christian church was started by Jews in Israel and spread out from there.  But the church also felt a disconnect because most Jews (especially most of the religious leaders) rejected Christ and, of course,  had him crucified.  And what’s interesting to think about is that Jesus said he came to his people.  And if you read through the New Testament, you see that because Jesus was rejected by most of his own, the Gentiles adopted into Christ’s church.  But what’s even more interesting is that God has not abandoned the Jews.  Gentile believers have been grafted in to the God’s tree, but Daniel 9 helps to reveal that God has not forgotten his promise to Abraham, and still has big plans for the children of Abraham.  But because Jesus met with so much resistance from his own, he has turned his attention to everybody else, and is hoping to use Gentile believers to entice the Jewish people back into the plans that God has to bless them.  And once those plans kick back into gear, there are going to be big things happening in the world!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:01 — 18.8MB)

It’s amazing to me to think about how accurate and detailed biblical prophecy is.  As we’ve been going through the book of Daniel and discovered how God revealed details of coming kingdoms and rulers and, most importantly, the Messiah, it’s so intruiging to be able to look back at our ancient history and see how the things God said would happen, took place exactly like he said.  But then again, God invented time.  All the things we measure time with–the rotation of the earth, it’s revolution around the sun, the vibrations of a quartz crystal.  God created all those things and put them into place.  So I shouldn’t be surprised that God can set a date for something centuries and even millennia  down the road and guarantee that it will come to pass.

But I’m still pretty impressed by it.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:56 — 18.7MB)

The cool thing about Bible prophecy is that it gives you the key for understanding it within Scripture.  Of course it’s a huge help to be filled with the Holy Spirit, because God himself is the best teacher and guide for understanding his inspired Word.  But there are so many practical cross references and connections throughout the Bible, that pretty much anybody who really wants to can use ordinary common sense to understand what God wants the world to know.

In the prophecy of Daniel 9 there is a lot going on, but if you see the 66 books of the Bible as a whole, you can glean how the interconnectedness helps us to see God’s plans for the world–both the prophesy that has already been fulfilled, and that which has yet to happen.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:59 — 22.0MB)