Livestream Preaching Times for July 16, 2026

5:30 AM — “A Man Blameless Before God”

Text: Job 1:1-5

8:00 AM — “The Gospel of God”

Text: Romans 1:1-7

3:00 PM — “Let There Be Light”

Text: Genesis 1:1-5

6:00 PM — “The Lamb Opens the Scroll”

Text: Revelation 6:1-17

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All times CST

THE GRAVE THAT COULD NOT HOLD HIM

“Whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” (Acts 2:24).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith.

The grave received many people before Jesus and has held many people since, but there was one grave that could not keep its prisoner.

Jesus entered the tomb bearing the weight of our sins, but He came forth in victory over sin, death, and the power of the grave.

The resurrection was not merely a miracle. It was God’s declaration that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that His sacrifice was accepted.

Paul wrote that if Christ has not been raised, our faith is empty and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17), but because He lives, we have hope beyond the grave.

The resurrection proves that death is not the winner, that evil does not have the ultimate victory, and that God’s promises cannot fail.

The same Christ who walked out of the tomb offers new life to all who come to Him.

He calls us away from the old life of sin and into a life transformed by His power (Romans 6:4).

The empty tomb stands as a message to every searching heart: Jesus is alive, Jesus is Lord, and because He lives, those who belong to Him have a hope that cannot be destroyed.

BDD

OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND

The book of Job reaches its turning point in a most unexpected way. After long speeches, unanswered questions, and human attempts to explain suffering, “the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1).

God did not begin by explaining every tragedy that had come upon Job. Instead, He directed Job’s attention to the greatness of the Creator.

The whirlwind became a classroom in which the Lord reminded a suffering man of truths that had always existed but had not always been considered.

Human beings naturally seek explanations. When sorrow enters our lives, we ask why.

The Bible repeatedly teaches that our understanding is limited while God’s wisdom is infinite. Through a series of questions, the Lord asked Job where he had been when the foundations of the earth were laid and whether he could command the morning or number the clouds (Job 38:4-12, 34-38).

None of these questions were intended to humiliate Job. They were intended to restore perspective.

If we cannot govern creation, we should be cautious before assuming we can fully understand God’s providence.

The whirlwind also reveals something about the character of God. He was not absent during Job’s suffering. He had heard every word, observed every tear, and knew every accusation that had been made.

Then He chose the proper time to speak. “To everything there is a season,” Solomon wrote, and God’s timing is often different from ours (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Peter later reminded Christians to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, casting all their care upon Him because He cares for them (1 Peter 5:6-7; Psalms 55:22).

One of the remarkable features of God’s reply is what it does not contain. The Lord never informed Job about Satan’s challenge recorded in the opening chapters.

Job never learned that conversation while he lived.

Nevertheless, he learned something even greater. He learned that confidence in God does not depend upon possessing every answer. Faith rests upon the character of God rather than upon complete knowledge.

As Isaiah declared, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord (Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 11:33-36).

The climax of the book is found not merely in Job’s restored fortunes but in his transformed understanding.

He confessed, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). The greatest blessing was not the return of possessions but a deeper knowledge of the Lord.

Trials often accomplish what comfort cannot. James encouraged believers to let perseverance complete its work so they may become mature and lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).

The Lord still speaks today, not through whirlwinds but through His word.

When confusion clouds our minds, the Bible directs our attention away from our limited understanding and back to the wisdom of the One who made heaven and earth.

We may not receive an explanation for every hardship, but we are given something better. We are assured that God is righteous, faithful, and worthy of our trust.

The One who spoke out of the whirlwind also sent His Son to reveal His love, and through Christ we know that neither suffering nor death can victorious against the faithful child of God (John 16:33; Romans 8:28, 31-39; Hebrews 1:1-3).

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, when the storms of life surround us, help us to remember that You are still upon Your throne.

Teach us to trust Your wisdom when we cannot trace Your purpose. Give us humble hearts that listen to Your word, steadfast faith that endures every trial, and confidence that You are working all things according to Your perfect will.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

BDD

THE QUESTION THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

“And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’” (Acts 16:30).

There is no greater question a person can ask than the question asked by the Philippian jailer.

People spend their lives searching for answers about success, happiness, relationships, and purpose, but the greatest need of every soul is salvation.

The jailer had seen the power of God when the prison doors opened, but he also recognized his own spiritual need.

He did not ask how to become a better person or how to improve his circumstances.

He asked how to be saved.

The answer was centered in Jesus Christ, because salvation is found not in human effort, religious tradition, or personal goodness, but in the grace of God revealed through His Son.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and He gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins (1 Peter 2:24).

Every person must eventually face this question: What will we do with Jesus?

The world offers many paths, but Christ declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

The most important decision you will ever make is not about what you will accomplish in this life, but whether you will belong to Christ for eternity.

BDD

THE UNSEEN WAR

Battles fill the pages of history, but there are real battles that never appear in the records of men. Kingdoms rise and fall before our eyes, yet behind the curtain of human events another conflict rages.

Daniel was granted a rare glimpse into that hidden world. As he mourned, fasted, and sought the face of God, heaven opened just enough for him to understand that his prayers had entered a battlefield.

An angelic messenger declared that the answer had been sent from the very first day, yet the prince of Persia resisted him for twenty-one days until Michael, one of the chief princes, came to assist.

The messenger also foretold the coming of the prince of Greece, showing that the conflict would continue as the kingdoms of this world marched across history (Daniel 10:10-21).

How little we know of what transpires beyond our sight.

We often imagine that what we see is all that exists, but the child of God lives in two worlds at once.

Her feet tread the dust of earth while her life is bound up with the realities of heaven.

The Christian does not wrestle merely with difficult circumstances, hostile people, or political powers. The Bible says “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age” (Ephesians 6:12).

Behind visible opposition there is often invisible hostility.

This passage is not given to make us fear the powers of darkness. It is given to magnify the sovereignty of God.

Notice that the evil powers could delay the messenger, but they could not defeat God’s purpose. The answer was hindered, not canceled.

Heaven was never in danger of losing the conflict.

The Lord who rules over angels also rules over kings.

Persia could boast of its armies, Greece would one day conquer nations, but neither earthly empires nor spiritual adversaries could overturn the decree of Almighty God. Every delay in God’s providence is governed by divine wisdom.

There is also comfort for the praying believer. Daniel must have wondered whether heaven had heard him. Twenty-one days passed with no visible answer.

The angel declared, “From the first day that you set your heart to understand, your words were heard” (Daniel 10:12).

What encouragement for weary saints.

Many prayers appear to vanish into silence, but not one sincere cry escapes the ears of God. The answer may travel through storms we cannot see, but it will arrive at the appointed hour.

God’s clock is never late, though it seldom moves according to ours.

Michael’s appearance reminds us that God has not left His people defenseless. The armies of heaven are not idle spectators. Though we cannot see them, the Lord commands hosts beyond numbering.

This should not lead us to become fascinated with angels, but with the God who sends them. Our confidence rests not in Michael but in the Lord of Michael.

Angels are servants. Christ is King. They obey His voice, fulfill His commands, and minister according to His perfect will (Hebrews 1:14).

The mention of the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece also teaches us that Satan seeks influence over nations as well as individuals.

The conflict extends beyond personal temptation.

Empires, governments, cultures, and movements are all arenas in which spiritual forces seek to advance either truth or deception.

Every kingdom of men has an expiration date. Persia passed away. Greece yielded to Rome. Rome itself crumbled into dust.

Only the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ shall endure forever (Daniel 2:44).

How then should the Christian live? Not in terror, but in steadfast faith.

We are never commanded to fear demons. We are commanded to resist the devil, stand firm in the armor of God, pray always, and trust our victorious Savior (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:13–18).

The battle is real, but so is the triumph of Christ. At the cross He disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through His sacrifice (Colossians 2:15).

The decisive victory has already been won, though the final celebration awaits His return.

Believer, do not lose heart when prayers seem delayed or trials seem prolonged. The King upon the throne has never surrendered a single battle.

What appears to be silence may simply be the hidden movement of divine providence.

Continue to pray.

Continue to trust.

Continue to stand.

The God who strengthened Daniel still governs heaven and earth, and every unseen conflict moves steadily toward the day when all darkness will flee before the everlasting light of Jesus Christ.

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Prayer

Heavenly Father, strengthen our faith when we cannot see what You are doing. Remind us that our prayers are heard, even when the answer seems delayed.

Clothe us with the whole armor of God, keep us steadfast against every attack of the evil one, and fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who has already won the victory through His cross and resurrection.

Teach us to walk by faith and not by sight until the day Your eternal kingdom is fully revealed.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Throughout God’s word, God is revealed as the Shepherd of His people. David declared, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1).

The fullness of this truth is found in Jesus Christ, who came as the Good Shepherd to seek the lost, care for the helpless, and lay down His life for His sheep.

The shepherd does not merely lead from a distance. He knows His sheep, loves His sheep, and watches over His sheep with faithful care.

GUIDES THE LOST

The Good Shepherd guides those who have wandered away. Jesus came into a world that had lost its way because of sin, and He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).

Like sheep, humanity often follows its own desires and turns away from the path of righteousness (Isaiah 53:6).

Christ does not abandon those who have strayed. He calls them back to Himself.

His voice leads us through the confusion of this world. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).

As we listen to His word and follow His direction, He leads us into paths of righteousness and truth. The Shepherd who found us continues to guide us every step of the journey.

GUARDS THE LAMB

The Good Shepherd not only guides His sheep, but He guards them. Jesus promised that His sheep are secure in His care, saying, “No one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).

The believer’s confidence is not found in personal strength but in the mighty hand of the Shepherd who watches over His flock.

The sheep may face valleys, dangers, and enemies, but the Shepherd remains near. David could walk through the valley of the shadow of death because he knew the Lord was with him (Psalms 23:4).

The presence of the Shepherd brings peace in the midst of life’s storms because His care is greater than every threat.

GIVES LIFE

The greatest expression of the Shepherd’s love is that He gives His life for the sheep. Jesus did not come merely to teach or inspire. He came to redeem.

At the cross, the Good Shepherd laid down His life so that His sheep could receive forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life (1 Peter 2:24-25).

The Shepherd who died for His sheep also rose again and continues to care for them. He provides spiritual nourishment, restores the weary soul, and leads His people toward the eternal home He has prepared (John 14:1-3).

One day, the Chief Shepherd will appear and reward those who have faithfully followed Him (1 Peter 5:4).

Until that day, we rest in the care of the One who guides the lost, guards the lamb, and gives life.

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Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. Help us to hear His voice, follow His guidance, and trust His protection. When we wander, bring us back. When we are weary, strengthen us.

May we always rest in the love of the Shepherd who gave His life for us and leads us toward eternal glory.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance’” (Luke 5:31-32).

The greatest sickness known to humanity is not found in the body but in the soul. Sin has wounded every person and separated mankind from the presence of God (Romans 3:23).

The good news of the gospel is that God has not left us without a remedy. Jesus Christ came as the Great Physician, not to ignore our condition but to heal us completely.

He does not merely treat symptoms. He restores the heart, cleanses the conscience, and brings sinners back into fellowship with God.

DIAGNOSES THE DISEASE

Before a physician can provide healing, the disease must be recognized. Jesus came exposing the true condition of humanity.

The Pharisees believed they were spiritually healthy, but they failed to recognize their need for a Savior. Christ revealed that pride, self-righteousness, and unbelief were symptoms of a deeper sickness within.

The word of God acts as a mirror, revealing what is hidden within us (James 1:23-25). The Lord knows every wound, every weakness, and every hidden sin. Nothing is concealed from His eyes (Hebrews 4:13).

But His diagnosis is not meant to destroy us but to lead us toward repentance and restoration.

DELIVERS THE DISEASED

The Great Physician does not merely reveal our sickness. He provides healing.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Through His sacrifice on the cross, He offers forgiveness to those who turn to Him in faith and obedience. Isaiah declared that by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

The healing Christ provides is deeper than physical relief. He delivers us from the guilt and power of sin. He gives a new heart, a renewed mind, and a transformed life (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The sinner who comes to Him does not remain condemned but receives mercy, grace, and the hope of eternal life.

DEVELOPS THE DISCIPLE

A great physician does more than rescue a patient from danger. He restores the patient to strength and usefulness.

Christ does not save us merely from something. He saves us for something. Those who have been healed by His grace are called to follow Him, grow in holiness, and serve His kingdom.

Jesus told His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him (Luke 9:23). The healing process continues as we walk with Him each day.

Through His word, His Spirit, and His grace, He continues shaping us into His image (Romans 8:29).

The Great Physician who found us in our brokenness continues His work until we are perfected in His presence.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, to heal our sin-sick souls. Help us to recognize our need for Him, receive the healing of His grace, and faithfully follow Him as devoted disciples. Continue Your work within us until our lives reflect the beauty of Christ.

In His name, Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Schedule for Wednesday, July 15, 2026

5:30 am

Walking After the Spirit

(Romans 8:1-4)

10:00 am

The Unseen Battle

(Daniel 10:12-13)

2:00 pm

The Spiritual Mind

(Romans 8:4-8)

TikTok: @dewaynedunawayministries

All Times CST

THE UNSHAKABLE FOUNDATION

The Bible repeatedly describes God as the Rock of His people. Moses proclaimed, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

David rejoiced, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer” (Psalms 18:2).

These glorious images find their fullest expression in Jesus Christ, who is the eternal foundation upon which every believer must build (1 Corinthians 10:4).

The world shifts beneath our feet, kingdoms rise and fall, and human strength fades, but Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. Those who trust in Him stand upon a foundation that can never be shaken.

BUILDING UPON CHRIST

Jesus declared that the wise man hears His words and obeys them, building his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-25).

A life anchored in Christ is not established upon emotion, popular opinion, or religious tradition. It is established upon the truth of God’s word.

The rains may descend, the floods may rise, and the winds may beat against the house, but the believer who has built upon Christ remains secure because his confidence rests in the One who cannot fail.

REFUGE IN THE ROCK

Throughout his life, David fled to the Lord as his refuge in times of fear and trouble (Psalms 61:2-3).

The same refuge is found today in Jesus Christ. He welcomes the weary, strengthens the weak, forgives the guilty, and comforts the brokenhearted.

In Him we find safety from the condemnation of sin, grace for every trial, and peace that surpasses human understanding. Our Shepherd faithfully keeps His sheep, and no one can snatch them from His hand as they continue following Him (John 10:27-29).

CONFIDENCE THAT ENDURES

Believers are called “living stones” because they have been joined to Christ, the chief cornerstone of God’s spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4-6). Our assurance is not rooted in personal achievement but in the faithfulness of the Savior who has redeemed us.

As we continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast (Colossians 1:23), we grow in confidence because the foundation beneath us is eternal.

Everything built by human hands will one day pass away, but those whose lives are established upon Christ will stand forever in His glorious kingdom.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us an unshakable foundation in Your Son. Teach us to build every part of our lives upon His word. When trials come, keep us steadfast in faith.

May we continually find refuge in Christ, grow stronger in our trust, and remain faithful until the day we stand before You in glory.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

BDD

THE TYRANNY OF COMMAND, EXAMPLE, AND NECESSARY INFERENCE

There is something profoundly ironic about the doctrine of command, example, and necessary inference. It claims to restore biblical authority, yet it ultimately enthrones human judgment.

The Bible is no longer allowed to speak for itself. Instead, every text must pass through the filter of a man-made system that asks not merely, “What has God said?” but, “What can we deduce?”

The result is that deductions become doctrines, opinions become laws, and human conclusions are invested with divine authority.

God has never asked His people to live by another man’s inferences. He has called us to live by His revealed word. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Heaven has drawn a bright line between revelation and speculation. Faith rests upon revelation, not upon the ingenuity of the interpreter.

Advocates of command, example, and necessary inference insist that their conclusions are “necessary.”

Necessary according to whom?

The Holy Spirit has inspired the text, but He has not inspired the deductions of modern readers. One man’s necessary inference becomes another man’s impossible conclusion.

One congregation divides from another because they disagree over what is supposedly “necessary.” If the inference were truly necessary, why do equally sincere and capable students of the Bible continually reach different conclusions?

History exposes the weakness of the system. Those who have championed it have repeatedly fractured over orphan homes, missionary societies, located preachers, church kitchens, multiple communion cups, Bible classes, and countless other controversies.

Each side confidently claimed biblical authority. Each side insisted its inference was unavoidable. Both cannot be right.

Their divisions did not arise because God’s word was unclear. They arose because human reasoning had been elevated to the throne of authority.

The Bible records many examples, but not every example establishes a universal law. Christians met in homes. They assembled in an upper room. Some traveled by ship. Others walked dusty roads. Paul left his cloak in Troas. The early believers greeted one another with a holy kiss.

Which of these examples are binding? The system itself offers no inspired answer. Someone must decide.

The moment that decision is made, human judgment has entered the process. The interpreter becomes the legislator.

When God intended to bind something upon His people, He knew exactly how to do it. He did not whisper in riddles or conceal His will behind a maze of deductions.

He spoke with clarity.

He declared the gospel plainly.

He revealed the lordship of Christ openly.

He commanded repentance, faith, holiness, love, and perseverance without requiring believers to unravel a web of logical constructions before they could obey.

The apostles never urged the churches to master a hermeneutical formula. They preached Christ. They called sinners to believe the gospel.

They taught the churches “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), not the whole counsel of human inference.

The Bereans were commended because they searched the Scriptures to see whether Paul’s teaching was true (Acts 17:11).

They examined what had been written, not what someone imagined might be hidden between the lines.

Reason has its place. God expects us to think carefully. We compare passage with passage. We recognize implications that naturally flow from revealed truth.

But there is an immeasurable difference between recognizing an implication and binding that implication upon the conscience of every believer.

The former is an act of study. The latter is an act of legislation.

The church has always been in greatest danger when it has confused the voice of God with the voice of its own reasoning. Every generation has produced teachers who were more certain of their deductions than of God’s declarations.

Such confidence is misplaced. The authority belongs to the text, not to the interpreter. The power resides in what God has spoken, not in what we suppose He must have meant.

Let the power of God’s word drown out the whispers of human systems. Let every creed built upon speculation crumble beneath the weight of divine revelation. Let every chain forged from human deduction fall to the ground.

The Lord has not commanded His people to walk by inference. He has commanded them to walk by faith. And “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), not by the uncertain conclusions of men.

The safest hermeneutic is also the simplest. Believe what God has plainly revealed. Obey what He has clearly commanded. Rejoice in what He has graciously made known.

Where God has spoken, let us speak with confidence.

Where God has remained silent, let us refuse to manufacture laws that Heaven itself has never proclaimed.

The church needs less confidence in human deduction and far more confidence in the clear, sufficient, and living word of God.

BDD

LIVING THE RIGHT WAY

Every person is living some way. The important question is whether we are living God’s way.

The world measures success by wealth, popularity, and pleasure, but the Bible measures success by faithfulness. Solomon concluded that the whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments” because every work will be brought into judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

A life that pleases God is never wasted, even if the world fails to recognize it.

Living the right way begins with a heart that is surrendered to Christ. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

That kind of life is not built on feelings but on commitment. When we love the Lord, we seek to obey Him because His commandments are for our good (John 14:15; Deuteronomy 10:12-13).

God’s word teaches us how to speak, think, and act. David declared, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalms 119:105).

Instead of allowing the world to shape our values, we should allow the Bible to renew our minds so we can discern what is good and acceptable before God (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The right way is not discovered by human wisdom but by listening to the Lord.

A righteous life also bears fruit in the way we treat others. Jesus taught that we should do to others as we would have them do to us (Matthew 7:12).

Paul urged Christians to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, just as God has forgiven us in Christ (Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:12-14). Kindness is not weakness. It is evidence that Christ is living within us.

No one lives the right way by his own strength. We all have sinned and need God’s grace (Romans 3:23).

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, forgiveness is offered to those who trust Him. We then continue walking in the light, relying on God’s mercy as we faithfully follow Him (1 John 1:7-9).

The right way is not always the easiest way, but it is always the best way. Jesus said that the narrow way leads to life, while the broad way leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

Let us choose the path that honors God, trust His promises, and remain faithful until the end, knowing that “the crown of life” awaits those who love Him (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

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Prayer: Our Father in heaven, thank You for giving us Your word to guide our steps. Help us to choose what is right instead of what is easy. Strengthen us to follow Jesus each day with humble and obedient hearts. Forgive us when we fall, and give us courage to live in a way that brings honor to Your name. May our lives point others to Christ until the day we are with You forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

SERVICE

The world often measures greatness by how many people serve us, but heaven measures greatness by how willingly we serve others.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, though He was the King of glory, took upon Himself the form of a servant. He did not come demanding the honor of men but offering His life for the salvation of sinners.

He declared, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). If we would walk closely with Christ, we must learn the joy of giving ourselves for the good of others.

1. THE CALLING OF SERVICE

Service begins with a divine calling. God does not save us merely from sin, but He saves us for a purpose.

Paul wrote that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Every believer has a place in the kingdom of God. Some may serve publicly, others quietly, but no faithful act done for the Lord is insignificant.

The servant does not wait for a perfect opportunity. He recognizes that every moment is an opportunity to glorify God. A kind word, a helping hand, a prayer offered for another, or a sacrifice made in love can become an offering pleasing to the Lord (Hebrews 13:16).

God sees what others overlook.

2. THE CHARACTER OF SERVICE

True service requires the character of humility. It is possible to do good things with the wrong heart, seeking praise rather than pleasing God.

Jesus warned against practicing righteousness merely to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1). The servant of Christ serves because love has taken possession of the heart.

The greatest example of humble service is found at the feet of Jesus. The One who created all things washed the feet of His disciples and taught them that they should follow His example (John 13:12-17).

Service is not beneath the follower of Christ. It is the very pathway by which Christ’s love is displayed.

3. THE CROWN OF SERVICE

Faithful service may go unnoticed by the world, but it is never forgotten by God. The Lord promised that even a cup of cold water given in His name would receive a reward (Matthew 10:42).

Heaven keeps records that earth cannot see.

Paul reached the end of his life with confidence because he knew he had faithfully served the Lord. He wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

The greatest reward of service is not applause from people but the joy of hearing the Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Let us not wait until we have great abilities or perfect circumstances before we serve God. The Lord delights in hearts that are willing.

A small act of obedience placed into His hands can become a great blessing.

The servant who gives himself to Christ discovers that he receives far more than he gives, for the greatest joy is found in living for the glory of God.

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Prayer: Our gracious Father, teach us the beauty of service. Remove selfishness from our hearts and give us the humility of Jesus. Help us to recognize the opportunities You place before us and to serve others with love and faithfulness. May our lives be poured out for Your glory until the day we see Christ and receive the eternal reward prepared for those who serve Him. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Many people recognize The Grapes of Wrath as a classic novel that later became an equally memorable motion picture. The title itself, however, reaches much deeper than American literature.

It comes from language rooted in the Bible, where God’s judgment is pictured as grapes gathered into a winepress. What was intended to nourish becomes a vivid symbol of justice when people stubbornly reject the Lord.

The movie shows viewers of hardship and injustice, but the Bible teaches us that there is an even greater reality awaiting every soul that refuses His mercy (Isaiah 63:1-6; Revelation 14:14-20).

Throughout the Bible, God is patient. He does not delight in punishing sinners. He repeatedly calls people to repent because He desires them to live (Ezekiel 18:23).

His patience is not endless, however.

Jesus warned that a tree producing no fruit would eventually be cut down, and He called people to bear fruit worthy of repentance (Luke 13:6-9). Those warnings are expressions of divine love, urging men and women to turn before the harvest of judgment arrives.

The imagery of the winepress is sobering. Revelation describes the grapes of the earth being gathered because they have become fully ripe. Then they are thrown into “the great winepress of the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:19-20).

This is not a picture of uncontrolled anger. It is the righteous judgment of a holy God who has offered grace through His Son.

Every opportunity to repent has been extended.

Every invitation has been sincere.

When judgment comes, no one will be able to accuse the Lord of being unfair (Romans 2:5-11; Acts 17:30-31; Matthew 7:13-14).

The good news is that no one must become part of those grapes of wrath. Jesus Christ bore God’s judgment on the cross so that those who believe and obey Him might receive forgiveness and eternal life (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8-9).

Peter declared that repentance and baptism are connected with the forgiveness of sins, and Paul proclaimed that we are united with Christ through obedient faith (John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 1:5).

God’s wrath is real, but so is His mercy. The same Lord who warns also invites.

As Christians, we should never rejoice at the thought of judgment. Instead, we should be moved with compassion for those who do not know Christ.

Paul wrote that “knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11). The certainty of judgment should motivate us to teach God’s word faithfully, to live holy lives, and to urge our neighbors to seek the Savior while there is still time (2 Peter 3:9-14; Hebrews 9:27-28).

The title The Grapes of Wrath has endured because it speaks to something every generation senses: injustice cannot continue forever.

The Bible explains why.

God is both loving and just.

His grace is available today, but His judgment will come.

Let us receive His mercy with grateful hearts, walk faithfully before Him, and help others escape the coming wrath through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing both Your justice and Your mercy in Your word. Help us never to take Your patience for granted. Give us hearts that repent quickly, live faithfully, and share the gospel with compassion.

May we always trust in Jesus Christ, who bore our sins so that we might have life. Strengthen us to bear good fruit until the day we stand before You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

BDD

Livestream Preaching Schedule for Tuesday, July 14, 2026

5:30 am

The Morning Mercies of God

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

10:00 am

God’s Presence in Our Lives

(Exodus 33:14)

2:00 pm

The Secret Place of the Most High

(Psalms 91:1)

6:00 pm

The Empty Tomb

(Matthew 28:6)

THE LIGHT THAT FADETH NOT (A Poem)

The roses trembled in the Light,
Though clouds withheld the Day,
The stubborn Dawn declined to rise,
And shadows kept their stay.

Along the steel and silent Creek,
Where waters never cease,
We learned the stream remembers well
The language whispered Peace.

The Darkness claimed no lasting throne,
The Night could not remain,
For God’s own Son entered the world
And summoned Light from pain.

The red horizon pierced the clouds,
And turned the heart within,
While searching eyes looked everywhere
For signs of hope again.

The wings of distant aircraft moved
Across the endless blue,
The barking dogs announced the earth
Still waking to the new.

And through the hours long and deep,
The flowing waters say,
The Light that came into the world
Will never fade away.

Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

BDD

THE NIGHT

The night has always been more than the absence of light. To ancient humanity, darkness was a mystery that surrounded the campfire. To modern humanity, it became a region to be studied, measured, and explored. but even after centuries of discovery, the night still holds a kingdom of its own, a vast domain where questions outnumber answers.

Imagine a civilization that has conquered every visible corner of its world. Its cities shine without interruption, its machines predict the movements of planets, and its knowledge stretches across oceans and continents. And above those cities remains the same ancient darkness. The stars continue to whisper from distances so great that the human mind struggles to comprehend them. The kingdom of the night survives because knowledge itself creates new mysteries.

Perhaps the greatest discovery of science is not the discovery of answers, but the discovery of how many questions remain. Every star examined reveals new galaxies. Every particle studied reveals deeper structures. Every attempt to understand existence opens another door. The universe does not become smaller as we learn more about it. It becomes larger.

The kingdom of the night also exists within the human mind. There are regions of thought, emotion, and imagination that remain unexplored. Humanity builds machines to travel into space, yet still struggles to understand itself. The greatest frontier may not be beyond the stars, but within the consciousness of the beings who look toward them.

For centuries, people feared the darkness because they imagined what might be hidden there. But the night was never empty. It was filled with worlds waiting to be discovered. The darkness did not conceal the universe from humanity. It invited humanity to search.

Intelligent life should look at history and realize that the night is a teacher. It teaches patience because the stars are distant. It teaches humility because the universe is immense. It teaches curiosity because every mystery demands investigation.

The kingdom of the night is not a kingdom of fear. It is a kingdom of possibility. It belongs to those willing to look upward and ask the questions that have no immediate answers. For as long as humanity wonders, explores, and seeks understanding, the night will remain not an enemy, but a doorway.

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Prayer: Lord, give us humble hearts that seek wisdom and courage to explore the mysteries You have placed before us. Help us remember that every discovery should lead us toward greater wonder, gratitude, and reverence for Your creation. Amen.

BDD

THE MERCY SEAT

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

The mercy seat in the Old Testament was the place where atonement was made and where God met with His people (Exodus 25:22).

Under the New Covenant, Christ has opened the way into God’s presence through His own blood (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Because Jesus is our great High Priest, we are invited to approach God’s throne with confidence, not because we deserve acceptance, but because Christ has made the way.

Hebrews 4:16 reminds us that every believer has continual access to God’s mercy and grace.

MERCY

The first blessing awaiting us at God’s throne is mercy. Mercy is God withholding the judgment that our sins deserve.

Every believer knows the daily need for mercy because we continually fall short of God’s perfect standard. The Lord delights in showing compassion to those who humbly seek Him.

We never come before a reluctant Savior. We come before One whose heart is full of mercy and whose hands are open to receive those who call upon Him.

MEETING

Hebrews does not merely invite us to receive something from God. It invites us to come to God Himself.

Prayer is more than presenting requests. It is meeting with our heavenly Father. At the throne of grace we find fellowship, communion, and renewed strength for the journey.

The greatest privilege of prayer is not simply answered petitions but the presence of the One who sits upon the throne.

MIGHT

The verse concludes by promising “grace to help in time of need.” God never calls His children to walk alone. The grace He gives is sufficient for every temptation, every burden, every sorrow, and every trial.

When we leave the throne of grace, we leave strengthened by His power rather than our own.

Those who continually come to the mercy seat discover that God’s might is always greater than their weakness, and His grace is always sufficient for every need.

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for opening the way into Your presence through Jesus Christ. Help me never to neglect the privilege of coming boldly before Your throne. Let me continually receive Your mercy, enjoy fellowship with You, and find the grace and strength I need for each day. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

BDD

THE TABLE OF DEMONS

The Apostle Paul gave a solemn warning to the church when he wrote, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21).

He was reminding believers that loyalty to Christ must be undivided. While the immediate context concerned idolatry, the principle reaches beyond pagan temples.

Whatever competes with Christ for our hearts becomes a rival table. Every believer must decide where he will sit and whom he will serve.

DECEPTION

The table of demons is attractive because it is covered with deception. Satan rarely presents sin in its true form. He disguises darkness as light and destruction as pleasure (2 Corinthians 11:14).

Eve looked upon the forbidden fruit and saw something desirable before discovering the sorrow it brought (Genesis 3:6).

The enemy still promises freedom while producing bondage. Every invitation away from Christ is ultimately built upon a lie.

DIVISION

The table of demons always produces division. Sin separates people from God (Isaiah 59:2), divides families, weakens churches, and destroys fellowship among believers.

Satan delights in discord because he knows a divided people cannot effectively serve the Lord. Christ, however, prayed that His followers would be one (John 17:21).

Whenever bitterness, pride, envy, or selfish ambition rule the heart, we have wandered from the Lord’s table and begun tasting another.

DESTRUCTION

The final result of the table of demons is destruction. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Sin may satisfy the flesh for a season, but it always leaves the soul empty. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and every step away from Christ moves a person closer to ruin.

But God’s grace still calls us back. The Lord’s table offers forgiveness, fellowship, and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us reject every counterfeit feast and remain faithful to the One who alone gives the bread of life (John 6:35).

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, keep my heart from every form of deception that would draw me away from Christ. Help me reject the table of demons and remain faithful to Christ’s table. Unite my heart in wholehearted devotion to You, and let my life reflect the holiness and purity of Jesus Christ. In His name, Amen.

BDD

THE FOUNTAIN OF LIFE

(Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:13-14; Revelation 22:1-2, 17)

From the opening pages of God’s word to the final invitation in Revelation, the Lord presents Himself as the only source of true life.

The prophet Jeremiah rebuked Israel for forsaking “the fountain of living waters” and digging broken cisterns that could hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13).

Centuries later, Jesus stood before a thirsty world and offered living water that would satisfy forever (John 4:14).

Every soul is searching for satisfaction, but only Christ can quench the deepest thirst of the human heart.

CLEANSES THE CONSCIENCE

The Fountain of Life washes away the stain of sin. The guilt that burdens the conscience cannot be removed by good works, religious traditions, or human effort. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

When we come to Him in humble faith and obedience, our hearts are purified, our consciences are cleansed, and we are made new creatures in Christ (Hebrews 9:14). What sin has defiled, God’s grace is able to make clean.

COMFORTS THE CONTRITE

The Fountain of Life also refreshes those who come with broken hearts. Jesus invited the weary and heavy laden to come to Him and find rest for their souls (Matthew 11:28-29).

The Lord never turns away the humble sinner who seeks His mercy. David declared, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalms 51:17).

Those who drink deeply of Christ’s grace discover peace in place of guilt, hope in place of despair, and joy in place of sorrow.

CONTINUES FOREVER

Unlike the broken cisterns of this world, the Fountain of Life never runs dry. Jesus promised that the one who drinks of the water He gives “will never thirst” because it becomes “a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).

The river of life flowing from the throne of God will satisfy the redeemed throughout eternity (Revelation 22:1-2). The same Savior who gives life today will sustain His people forever.

Therefore, let every thirsty soul come to Christ, drink freely of His grace, and rejoice in the never-ending Fountain of Life (Revelation 22:17).

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Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for being the Fountain of Life. Thank You for cleansing our guilty consciences through the blood of Christ, comforting our broken hearts with Your unfailing mercy, and giving us living water that never runs dry. Keep us from the broken cisterns of this world and teach us to draw daily from the endless supply of Your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

BDD

Livestream Preaching Times for Monday, July 13

5:30 am “The Fountain of Living Waters” (Jeremiah 2:3)

8:00 am - “Fellowship with Demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21)

10:00 am - “The Mercy Seat” (Hebrews 4:16)

5:30 pm - “The Incomparable Christ” (Hebrews 1:1-3)

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All times CST