How often have you heard ministers use Jesus Christ's words about binding and loosing to give themselves great authority? This sermon explains what Jesus was really saying.
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Photo: "Montserrat" by Salvadhor (http://www.flickr.com/photos/salvadhor/539623480/)

Binding and Loosing Part 1

People of various descriptions, shades of opinion and background have sought to predict the future, but are nearly always wrong. The Bible warns us about how not to go about trying to inquire into the future, and also how we may understand it.

How You Can Know the Future

When Jesus said “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” exactly what did that mean?
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Photo by Moyan Brenn: "Cerulean twilight" http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/10824086824/

Did Jesus Fulfill the Law? Sermon by Rod Reynolds

Because of the faith of their forefathers God chose Israel. But not only for the sake of Israel. Through them the world was to have an example, and be blessed as well. Israel failed to be the example God desired, but God will ultimately bring salvation to the peoples of Israel and all nations as Scripture explains.

Why Did God Choose Israel -- Part 2

God is building his dwelling place, a spiritual temple. What does God require of those involved in that process?

What Does God Require?

How does the Bible identify the true Church of God? What is necessary to remain in the true Church?

Find and Remain in the  True Church part 1

Even those who know or think they know Jesus Christ have much more to learn. God's word is the source that reveals who he is.

Who Is Jesus Christ?

With the mighty blast of the "seventh trumpet," Jesus Christ will return to the earth in power, to establish his throne in Jerusalem, ruling all mankind, and to put down his enemies, and reward the faithful. All this is pictured by a Biblical feast, the Feast of Trumpets, as explained in this message.

Lessons From the Feast of Trumpets

The New Testament makes some very strong claims about Jesus. In this message, Rod Reynolds discusses evidence available that the New Testament testimony concerning Jesus is a reliable foundation for faith in him as the promised Messiah.

Can You Believe What the Bible Says About Jesus? (part 1)

In the Bible are found many names and titles for God. The faithful who abide in God's word are called by his name (Jeremiah 15:16). Learn about some of the names of God and their meaning, and some of the implications those names have with regard to one's relationship with God.

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God's Name

God created the Sabbath and commanded it to be kept for the good of mankind. Learn more about what the Bible teaches about the Sabbath, its history and future.

Keep the Sabbath

Prophets and the faithful down through history have risked and not infrequently forfeited their own safety, comfort, property and lives for the sake of truth, or to save the lives of others. Godly character is often forged in the crucible of extreme trials.

Gold Refined

Once having received the Spirit of God, one must nurture it, and stir it up to retain it and bear the fruits of God's Spirit as he would have us to.

Stir Up the Spirit

How important is doctrine to the life of a Christian? What does Scripture say?

How Important Is Doctrine?

To whom does God give the authority to make judgments, and what does "binding and loosing" mean, how does it apply, from a Scriptural standpoint?

Binding Loosing Part 2

How often have you thought about the rewards God promises to those faithful to Him? When you think about it the magnitude of God's promises to us are staggering, if we repent of our sins and prove faithful. We are told that those who are Christ's will be resurrected at his coming.

In this flesh we are born, grow up, and even if all goes well, soon enough we reach the point of death. Often people spend years pursuing pleasure and happiness, but in the end look around and say, "Is this all there is?"

Happily, for those who know and obey the truth, this is not all there is. In this message, "What Will it be like to be in the First Resurrection?", we catch a glimpse of the magnificent promises God makes regarding those who are privileged to be in the first resurrection.

What Will it be like to be in the First Ressurection?

Immediately on the heels of the Feast of Tabernacles, is another Feast, with its own prophetic meaning. In order to understand fully how God's plan of salvation for mankind will be fulfilled, the prophetic meaning of this feast period cannot be overlooked.

The Hope of the Resurrection

Examination of Scriptural teaching regarding salvation and the idea of "going to heaven"

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Is heaven the reward of the saved?

Christ's disciples are expected to study God's Word daily. The source of godly wisdom is the Word of God, the Scriptures, the Bible. “…the Holy Scriptures …are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15). Effective Bible study then can lead you to eternal salvation (Proverbs 3:21-23; 4:5-6, 13). This message can guide you in studying  the Bible effectively.

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How To Study And Understand The Bible(Part 1)

For one to be a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ Bible study is essential, as Jesus said "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed" (John 8:31). In this message are keys intended to guide you in how to effectively study the Bible and properly understand its teachings.

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How To Study And Understand The Bible(Part 2)

How are we instructed to pray to God, and what benefits may we expect?

Fundamentals_of_Prayer_p2

Does God promise a life in this age free of suffering for the faithful? God promises blessings for obedience to his word, but why is the life of a Christian also challenging, and often one of trials and suffering?

Do Faithful Christians Suffer?

We are instructed in Scripture to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. By what yardstick can we use to do so? Learn how love as defined in Scripture can help us examine and improve our faith and standing before God. 
Photo by Tim Donnelly, "Wild Flower": https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbodon/16495665857/ used under a license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Christian Love, Part 1

Far from being just a warm feeling in one's heart, genuine Godly love is specifically defined in how it is to be fulfilled from a practical standpoint, both as it is directed towards loving God and loving one's neighbors. Much of the Bible is directed at instructing us in how to apply these precepts, and informing us with regard to how they have been perverted, subverted and rejected among human beings, and God's judgments on individuals and the world as a whole as a result. 
Photo by Tim Donnelly, "Time to Reflect": https://www.flickr.com/photos/timbodon/6043440613 used under a license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Christian Love Part 2

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Christian Love, Part 2

Through many examples, types and symbols, the Old Testament of the Bible points to the reality of the coming Kingdom of God. It was what motivated and inspired the patriarchs and matriarchs of old, and should us as well.

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The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament

How can you determine who is a true messenger of God

Who Is a Messenger of God?

Repentance according to Scripture is necessary for salvation. Genuine repentance from a Scriptural standpoint is not just remorse, although it includes that, but a change in the way you think, and behave, and are – to a different way – to become a different person. Repentance from sin is a "change of mind [that] involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God" (Vine's Expository Dictionary).

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Repentance

What does the Bible tell us about the second coming of Jesus Christ? How is it, as Scripture says, that "every eye will see him" when He comes? How will the nations react? 
Photo by Jeremy Brooks, "With Nothing To Hold On To" https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/3438759770/ released under a CC cc-by-nc 2.0 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Every Eye Will See Him

Though the most widely distributed book in history according to guinnessworldrecords.com, its teachings are properly understood by, relatively speaking, only a handful of people. Many specific truths are revealed in the Bible, that are themselves mysteries, even though they are explained clearly in the Bible. Is there a key -- or keys -- which will unlock the mysteries of the Bible?

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Mysteries Of The Bible

Sermon by Rod Reynolds
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In this sermon, Rod Reynolds explores why it is that so many people do not understand the Bible. This sermon also explains some vital keys in unlocking God’s Word so you can understand it better. The Bible is the most widely circulated book in the world. Well over 2 billion copies of the Bible have been printed and distributed worldwide. Almost every household in much of the western world has at least one Bible, and yet it is a book that is little understood.

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Why the Enigma of the Bible?

Will the wicked really be tormented forever in hell? In this sermon, pastor Rod Reynolds examines in detail passages in the book of Revelation that have traditionally been used to establish the common belief in a never-ending hellfire reserved for punishment of the wicked. To understand what the Bible says about hell, we must carefully study the context of the scriptures in question.

Messenger Church of God Sermons

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Smoke Ascends Forever?

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There are many facets to what is pictured by the Feast of Trumpets. Very prominent in what is pictured by that day is that God is a judge - that Jesus Christ, when He returns to the earth is returning in judgement. In this sermon, Pastor Rod Reynolds discusses some of the prophecies concerning Christ’s judgement on the earth, and the principles relating to the manner in which Christ judges.

Feast of Trumpets: Christ as Judge

There is a God in Heaven who has blessed us as a nation. We've enjoyed unprecedented wealth, conveniences and power over the past 200+ years; blessings of produce, crops, and livestock - all dependent on favorable weather. Nations that suffer prolonged periods of drought, a succession of devastating floods, weather that is unseasonably cool for too long, or widespread disruptive weather events such as hurricanes will suffer in lost agricultural production, and even famine and ruin in extreme cases. In this sermon, pastor Rod Reynolds addresses the question, can anything be done about the weather?

Can Anything be Done About the Weather?

Even when we face sickness and death, God is aware of our plight, and if we maintain our faith, we are safely in his hands. In this sermon, Rod Reynolds explains what the Bible says concerning death – what death is and what is the hope that lies beyond the grave for all human beings.

What is Death?

God made promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These promises included physical blessings to specific peoples, or nations. Understanding how these promises have been and are being fulfilled is an important key to understanding Bible prophecy in our age.

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