Running to Win - 15 Minute Edition

Our society today is filled with violence, immorality, and impurity. After the fall in the Garden of Eden, sin spread rapidly. Satan, the wily serpent who beguiled Adam and Eve, was hard at work. The first murder took place, and humanity's thoughts were only evil continually. Scripture says, "The sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them." In this message, Pastor L...

What does the Bible say about the battle between good and evil? Ever since the original sin in the Garden of Eden, Satan has tried to blot out the seed of God's promised Redeemer. In this message, we'll study instances where Satan clashed with God. He strikes against the family (Genesis 4) and society (chapter 6) to kill and corrupt. As we assess the far-reaching consequences of our fall, we also...

Satan's deception began in the very beginning and continues today. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they and their offspring were contaminated with sin as the whole universe experienced the effects of that decision. In this message, we'll take an honest look at the story of Satan's lie, our rebellion, and the promise of God's intervention. Only He can put things back together again.    C...

One key difference between God and Satan is that God always speaks truth, while Satan always lies. Millions today are deceived into thinking they can do what they like and somehow still end up in "heaven." In this message, we'll begin an exploration of five lies of false religion. God offers the hope of deliverance even in the destructive aftermath of sin. What's the truth that can deliver us?    ...

Despite our hope for a better world, Satan lies about himself, the consequences of sin, and ultimately about God. John Milton wrote an epic poem called Paradise Lost.  He detailed the fall of mankind and its awful consequences. In this message, we'll explore God's revelation about the origins of humanity's fall into sin and its consequences. Far from paradise, we now live on a fallen planet, await...

Satan is a liar, appealing to our deepest desires. By heeding the serpent's lies and eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve fell into sin and its consequences. Since that first rebellion, people have created many false religions. In this message, we catch a glimpse into how Satan's mind operates, thinks, and strategizes to catch us in his traps. False religions can seem appealing until God's tru...

What could God do with a rebellious angel and where do we fit? Though their doom is sure, Satan and his demons aim to take as many people as possible to hell with them and derail believers in their life's race. In this message, we'll continue to explore five limitations God has given the devil. Unlike eternally fallen angels, God offers us, in our rebellion, full atonement through the blood of Chr...

Every one of us belongs to God's kingdom or Satan's. Since the devil's infamous start in the Garden of Eden, he's been blinding the minds of unbelievers and targeting believers. In vivid Old Testament word-pictures, we discover the origins of Satan, an angel of light who became God's archenemy. In this message, we'll begin to explore five limitations from God that guarantee the devil's doom. If we...

Christians  face an adversary   whose accusations can intimidate or deceive . He's called the devil, the prince of darkness.  But  you  have a defense   attorney,  the Lord Jesus — your advocate before the Father . Let's begin a probing look at Satan 's rise and fall.     Click here to listen (Duration 14:35)

The Christian life is one of joy and one of suffering. Faith leads to the ultimate victory, but it may not change  y our  earthly  circumstances.  The trial of your faith is more precious than any temporary riches.  In this message, you 'll  l earn to be content with the God to whom we pray .  If you live th is  way ,  you also will  belong  with the heroes of faith  who went on to die without see...

Many people pray for years, asking God for deliverance from appalling situations.  Even so,  faith is  ultimately  not  about  getting what  you  want ;  faith  accepts  what God gives  you .   Even when you don't see a miracle  in this life , the Lord  never stops  doing a good work in you.  In this message, you'll  find hope by  commit ting y oursel f  to God  and  leav ing  the decision with hi...

One of the  deepest disappointment s   anyone could feel has to do with  divine healing. When you see a child suffer or a young mother die of cancer , it's natural to  wonder whether  you  can go on believing.  Ha s God answered  your  prayer with an  ongoing "no"?  In this message, you'll clarify  four facts about faith  that'll  help  you to get  perspective , to keep believing, and to  honor Go...

How is God's grace sufficient  for   a  heavy  loss like the death of a loved one or a divorce?   Your reaction to   final  answer  of  "no" is  vital .  Unless God grants grace  to  trust Him ,  it will be impossible to carry   or accept  on  y our own .  In this message,  you'll  take away life-changing truths about burdens too heavy for you.  Remember: even   weighty   "no" answers are still an...

Do you have tendency to grin and bear it when God doesn't answer your prayers? God doesn't call you to  a  stoic  response .   God's grace  shines brightest through your weakness.  In this message, you'll identify the features of Paul's triumphant prayer :  the request, God's reply, and Paul's response.  What difference  will God's sufficient grace  make   for you  when the answer is "no" ?     Cl...

If someone doesn't pray  regularly , it's probably due to  some  unanswered prayer.  You have a choice  when the answer to  your prayer  is a clear "no."  You can become  resentful,  or  the answer can  increase  y our faith.  In this message,  you'll ask  relevant questions about  Paul's thorn  in the flesh—one of the best examples of  triumph  in  unanswered prayer .  What might God give you tha...

W hen disaster  strikes , some view prayer as merely positive thoughts or energy.  Don't  be   stuck  in that  low  view of  prayer .  Habakkuk  and Joseph   lived in  tumultuous times   like these .   They both  journeyed from  frustration to the calm assurance that God is in charge.   In this message, you can be delivered  to a new perspective  of  faithful   commitment  to God  amid   any  disa...

Ther e are  so many  issues to be anxious about:  failing in your work or studies ,  providing  enough  for your  family ,  or   the  overall  state of the nation .  In Habakkuk's day, e vildoers were  having a field day   in Israel .   In this message, you'll  recount the truths that God is in control, He's been faithful  from the beginning, and He cares.  You too can  put your confidence in God...

How do you praise God when calamity is  raging ? Do you deny  it ,  accept  it , or  what ?  The prophet Habakkuk's dialog s  with God show a man wrestling with how God could seemingly be out of touch with how tough things were.   In this message, you'll arrive at two  fundamental  conclusions  about God.  Let's  get  to  the heart of the prophet's complaint as we learn  to truly   praise  during...

Where  i s God when injustice, poverty, exploitation, fraud, and disasters  come? America  and the world today  seem  to be heading from bad to worse.  In Habakkuk's day,  he  prayed for deliverance and was sent disaster.  In this message, you'll listen to the prophet's prayer, perplexity, and his posture  amid  disaster.   If you're feeling perplexed about God and His ways in the world,  He hasn'...

Do you struggle to develop habits in your time alone with God? K nowing  the Lord   in prayer  is far more vital than getting what  you  want from Him .  As you know God more, your passion for Him will increase and your desire for sin will decrease.  In this message, you'll  ponder  five   choices that  develop intimacy with the Lord during your quiet time .  You can come boldly to the  throne  of...

As you mature as a Christian, you'll find prayer shifting from asking for things to asking for God.    That's why answers to prayers are often more than you could ask or imagine. In this message, you'll identify what makes faith sure: the right object, the right motivation, and the right process. God wants a relationship with you that transcends the daily details that seem so crucial.    Click her...

Prayer is something of a mystery.   T he answers sometimes come from unexpected directions, even unrelated to what  you requested.  When  you  think  y our prayers are unanswered,  you  may have received an answer  in disguise.  In this message, you'll make the paradigm shift in your prayers from  the mentality of  " getting "   to the  mindset   of relationship .  When  you  pray, God might not g...

Can believers expect  guidance or  physical healing on demand?   When waiting on God  feels like  forever ,  eternity is  exactly what you need to keep in mind.  In this message, you'll  be provoked to pray  even  more  when   God delays His answers .  Like the heroes of faith , you  can  begin to  anticipate  and  " live in light of "  the  eternal  city  of God.   Your confidence in  God  answer...

Next time you feel like God is a bit slow in answering your prayers, remember: His sca le of time is bigger than yours.  He has a larger agenda.   God gave Abraham promises that would not come to pass for hundreds of years. Abraham died before any were fulfilled.  In this message, you'll  unlock key principles of Abraham's faith.  He believe d  in the invisible over against the visible, and he kne...

Are you asking God for guidance, but the answer is delayed?  Abraha m, a man of faith  who followed God's leading ,  never saw the  complete  fulfillment of God's promises to him.   He believed in the future  God had for him ,  against the present.   In this message, you'll  gain a larger perspective on prayer  when you're not exactly sure  where you 're  going .  As you wait , what's keeping you...