Our text for this week is Ephesians 4:25:

The beginning of a New Year is always a good time for evaluation. Most of the time we want to say “good riddance” to the old, embracing the hope that this New Year will be better. Certainly it can and should be a much better year for every Christian.

As we are told in Hebrews 12 and other verses, everything that can be shaken will be shaken. However, we have been given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. A primary way that we build our lives on the kingdom that cannot be shaken is to use the key of the kingdom for every major decision in our lives. The key of the kingdom is described in Matthew 6:31-33:   

As we covered in our message last week, one of the crucial issues with both Israel and the church in these times is for them both to understand their purpose. This is a major, in-depth study which we will do in the coming year. However, there is one issue that relates to both Israel and the church, which are crucial for us to understand now. That is the issue of borders.

Our study this week is from Ephesians 6:10:

This week we continue to study our purpose in Christ with Ephesians 2:11-13:

When I began writing and speaking on current events, I received some negative responses, which I expected. However, I honestly did not expect the many positive responses that I received. In fact, in every way that I think we can measure, it has had a positive impact on our ministry. I did not do it for that, and I honestly did not know if it would actually hurt us, but long ago I resolved that if the Lord would trust me with His truth, I would not let any threat keep me from speaking it.

         Last week we addressed the elements of truth in the saying, “In Jerusalem, Christianity became a religion. In Greece, it became a philosophy. In Rome, it became an institution. In Britain, it became a tradition. In America, it became an enterprise.”  Not all of this was bad or unintended. The Christian culture that was to be received by all nations was also intended to receive from all nations.

       When we have more faith in people than in God, we tend to get our security or confidence by how many people share our views. Jesus had a different perspective, saying in Luke 6:26:

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”