Hey Valley! It was an interesting weekend for our services. The power went out during worship at the Pacific Way, and I know many of you lost the live stream. Yet our tech and worship team showed off their skill and worship continued and before long we were back online. I cannot say enough how thankful I am for such a devoted and talented team. Next weekend we will continue to meet for all three services and I will provide a further update later this week about what it may look like. Beyond that we covered a ton of ground while we considered the Creed line that teaches "Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead." The message is now uploaded if you want to check it out here and the outline/discussion guide can be downloaded here. This morning I did receive a great follow-up question from a member of Valley and I wanted to share it along with an answer with you below. Question: My question is if Satan is bound for the 1000 years that Christ is reigning on earth and people are reproducing and living their lives how is it that people will not accept Christ and want to rebel against him? Response: Good question. I think people’s rebellion against Christ at the release of Satan demonstrates 2 realities:
First, the depth of depravity in a human heart/mind. I imagine this rebellion will be seen as a good thing in the minds of those rebelling. Our world has a habit of calling what is good bad and what is bad good. Think about today’s secular perspective on abortion— it is good in the secular eyes while it is an evil act of murder in God’s. Same with homosexuality, greed, pornography and the list goes on and on. Then think about the way the church is viewed by the secular world— it is bad. A place of antiquated ideas and backwards ideologies. Yet what does God say about the church. It is a pillar of the truth, the beautiful bride of Christ and the people of true hope.
Second, this demonstrates how deceptive Satan truly is. He is skilled at what he does, he is the father of all lies and his lies offer what we think will be our happiness but lead to our destruction. This causes you and I to be even more diligent to see through his schemes and the way we do that is by knowing the truth. That is why we labor over reading, knowing, studying, and memorizing the Word of God. So that we will not be deceived and instead will obey God and not follow Satan.
Loving People Toward Jesus,
Pastor Mike
www.vcflongview.org
Valley Reading Plan Nov 16: Ezra 4–5 & 2 Pet 1
Nov 17: Ezra 6–7 & 2 Pet 2
Nov 18: Ezra 8–9 & 2 Pet 3
Nov 19: Ezra 10 & 1 John 1
Nov 20: Neh 1–2 & 1 John 2
Valley Memory Verses For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10
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