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Self-Government and Responsibility (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jacob's Trouble, or the Great Tribulation, comes about because people are not meeting their God-given responsibilities: keeping His Commandments.

Self-Government and Responsibility (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our experiences prepare us to be a better judge or king. Though we may exercise righteous judgment, we dare not pass judgment nor justify sin in ourselves.

Blame Games

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

The tendency to point fingers at others is hard-wired into human nature. Mistakes are the portals of discovery if we admit them and learn from them.

Liberalism and the English Riots

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Liberal judges tend to place the blame on genetics, environment, or society, but never on the one who commits the crime.

Abdicate

Sermonette by Ryan McClure

In 1936, British King Edward VIII abdicated for the woman he loved. Satan's pride and Adonijah's presumptuousness urged them to leave their ordained positions.

Decide Now How You Will Respond!

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God's chosen saints should realize that while Satan designs temptations to exploit human weakness, Almighty God allows trials to perfect faith and prove loyalty. Consequently, every temptation provides a choice between life or death, blessing or curse. In James 1:13-15, we learn that dealing with temptation is a process, beginning with raw desire, resulting either in resistance and growth or in sin and death. God sets limits on the work of Satan, the accuser, as seen in the positive conclusion of Job's trials. We see a massive contrast between Adam and Eve's failure and Christ's victory. While Eve gave in to the lust of the eyes, Jesus overcame Satan's threefold test—hunger, faith, and power by prayer, fasting, God's Spirit, and Scripture, proving that yielding to legitimate desires becomes sin if pursued outside the will of Almighty God. While temptation is universal, it is not irresistible; no one is ever forced to yield. Furthermore, God promises to provide strength and a way to escape (I Corinthians 10:13). While society excuses sin as weakness or disease, Scripture contends that responsibility rests on the individual. Scripture provides examples of both failure and faithfulness. Failures include Lot, Achan, the rich young ruler (overtaken by greed and materialism), Saul, Absalom, Herod (overtaken by ambition), Peter (overtaken by self-preservation), and Israel (by idolatry). But victories include Job's endurance, Joseph's purity, David's restraint, and Christ's resistance. Temptation reveals whether our hearts will trust God or surrender to selfish desires. We can resist temptation only through deliberate preparation, guarding our hearts, setting boundaries, relying on God's spirit, and clinging to His Word. With God's strength, His chosen saints can endure, resist, and gain eternal life.

The Handwriting is on the Wall (2008)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

We must allow God to change our lives. The blessings and cursing principle of Deuteronomy 28 remains unchanged, applying to all who have made the covenant.

Self-Government: Overcoming

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We dare not allow anybody to come between God's direct governance and ourselves. Even God's government will not work unless we voluntarily govern ourselves.

Free Will or God's Sovereignty?

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

If God is sovereign and promises salvation to believers, why does it matter how believers live? How significant are our choices in the grand scheme of life?

Self-Discipline

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Protestant theology recognizes that Christian self-discipline presents a major logical difficulty in its keystone doctrine of 'by grace alone.'

A Contrast of Kings

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We currently have no preparation for our future roles as kings and priests, but God desires to fill thousands of leadership positions in the Millennium.

Simplifying Life (Part Three)

Sermon by David F. Maas

Scripture emphasizes the importance of nurturing a deep connection with God as the foundation of all other relationships.

Jonah: Typical Israelite

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

To this borderline-suicidal narcissist, his universe held only himself, permitting God's will for others only if it conformed to his own will.