Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The Conclusion of the Matter…”

Isaiah 14:12-21 "Lucifer is Fallen…"

Pastor Andy dives into Isaiah 14, openly admitting he doesn't enjoy studying Satan, but submits to the text because the church is reading through the whole Bible. He traces the centuries-long debate over whether the passage is about the king of Babylon, Satan, or both — walking through Hedwig Janau's 1926 taunt song analysis, Jerome's controversial decision to translate "day star" as the proper name Lucifer, and the sharp pushback from Luther and Calvin. He resolves the tension through Matthew 16, where Jesus addresses Satan through Peter, suggesting Satan operates through human vessels, just as he did through the serpent and the king of Babylon. Paul's statement in Ephesians 6:12 settles it: we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. The message pivots to Jesus, contrasting Satan's five "I will ascend" statements — which are eerily similar to DSM-5's nine traits of narcissism — with Jesus's choice to descend, humble Himself, and lay His life down. The way up is down. The way to life is the cross. Exact Scripture References: Isaiah 14:12-20 Ezekiel 28 (prophecy against the king of Tyre) Matthew 16:22-23 ("Get behind me, Satan" — Jesus addressing Satan through Peter) Luke 10:18 ("I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven") Job 1-2 Revelation Ephesians 6:12 (we do not wrestle against flesh and blood) 1 John 3:8 (the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil) John 10:10 ("I have come that you might have life to the full") Romans 8:11 (the same Spirit that raised Christ lives in you) Topics and Keywords: Isaiah 14:12-20 — taunt song against the king of Babylon The debate: is this passage about Satan, the king of Babylon, or both? Hedwig Janau's 1926 book and the taunt song form Jerome's translation of day star into the proper name Lucifer The Vulgate and its influence for a thousand years Luther and Calvin's rejection of the Satan interpretation John Milton's Paradise Lost as cultural influence The Schofield Reference Bible's influence on evangelical culture The five I will statements and their parallels to narcissism Satan as one who operates through others — serpent, Peter, kings Jesus in Matthew 16 — addressing Satan through Peter Paul's summary — we do not wrestle against flesh and blood Jesus chose to descend, not ascend The cross as the way to life Narcissism vs. servanthood — the DSM-5 and Isaiah 14 Surrendering to Jesus as the antidote to striving

Isaiah 7:14 “The Lord Himself will Give You a Sign”

Pastor Andy reads Isaiah 7:14 in its full historical context, beginning with King Ahaz — one of the worst kings in Judah's history, who sacrificed his son to pagan gods, replaced the temple furniture with Assyrian idols, and coldly rejected the Lord. Into that moment of rebellion and terror, God announces not a military strategy but a birth: a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. His name will be called Immanuel, "God with us." The prophecy has both an immediate and an ultimate fulfillment and is addressed to everyone, the Gentiles as well as Israel. Jesus, as the offspring of Eve and not of Adam, is the new and better Adam whose unique blood and DNA provided redemption for all humanity. The message closes with a challenge: you are not a random person living a random life — you are in covenant with God, and the fulfillment of the ages has come upon us. Exact Scripture References: Isaiah 7:10-25 Isaiah 7:9 Isaiah 11:1-10 2 Chronicles 28:1 2 Kings 16:3 Matthew 1:18-23 Romans 5 Hebrews 12:24 1 Corinthians 10:11 Luke 15 Topics and Keywords: Isaiah 7:14 in its historical context King Ahaz — one of the worst kings in Judah's history The sign given in a moment of unbelief and rebellion The irony of God announcing a birth in a moment of terror and conspiracy The word alma — Hebrew for young woman of marriageable age The word parthenos — Greek for virgin in the Septuagint Why the Septuagint translation matters for Joseph's response The immediate and ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy The Book of Immanuel — Isaiah 7-12 You are not a random person — you are in covenant with God The plural "you all" in verse 14 — the sign is for everyone Jesus as the new and better Adam The miracle of the virgin birth — sperm, egg, DNA, and redemption The fulfillment of the ages has come upon us Your choices reverberate into eternity Hope for prodigal children and prodigal nations

Isaiah 6:1-8 "How Do You See God? (ft. Guest Speaker Mike Everett)

Church Elder Mike Everett opens Isaiah 6:1-8 with a question that drives the entire message: How do you see God? Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up after King Uzziah's death. It completely changed his perspective. Mike traces the scope of God's unchallengeable authority from Isaiah's vision through Revelation's billions of angels and uncountable human souls, then to Genesis. Against this backdrop, Mike shares the night his wife Patty suffered a massive stroke and was unconscious for over 13 hours. The word God spoke at the door of her ICU room, "Mike, Patty will be okay," shifted his perspective from despair to hope. The following morning, God spoke again through Ephesians 5, calling Mike to love his wife as Christ loved the Church. A vision of God changes your perspective. A word from God changes your trajectory. And through Jesus, His Word, and His Holy Spirit, God has made full provision for us to carry His light into the darkness. Exact Scripture References: Isaiah 6:1-8 Revelation 5:11 Revelation 7:9 Revelation 4 Genesis 1:26-28 Genesis 3 Ephesians 5:25-27 John 1:1-4 John 14:16-17 John 10:10 Acts 1:8 Mark 16:17-18 Matthew 28:18 1 Peter 5:8 Romans 10:9-10 Ephesians 4 Romans 12 1 Corinthians 12 Topics and Keywords: Isaiah's vision of God in the year King Uzziah died God seen for who He is, as He is, and where He is The train of God's robe as a symbol of authority The scope of God's authority — Revelation's billions of angels and uncountable souls Isaiah's response — woe is me, I am undone The live coal — a picture of salvation Getting your eyes off the earthly king to see the true King God's authority delegated to mankind in Genesis 1 Satan usurping that authority in Genesis 3 God's provision through Jesus, His Word, and the Holy Spirit Personal testimony — Patty's stroke and the word from the Lord Husbands loving wives as Christ loved the church The church as broken — but God is restoring The Gadarene demoniac — a word changes a trajectory Signs following believers — Mark 16 The baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit

Song of Solomon 2:1-4 “Covenant Love Cleaves, Delights, Guards” (ft. Guest Speaker Arlen Busenitz)

Arlen Busenitz opens Song of Solomon with God's design for marriage and sex, summarized in one sentence: Covenant love cleaves, delights, and guards. Beginning in Genesis 2, he establishes that marriage is not a social construct or a contract but a covenant — a lifelong commitment where God joins two people together as one flesh. He then unpacks the Song of Solomon's invitation to delight in one another. For example, expressing and receiving love, celebrating each other's worth, and keeping the flame burning through daily acts of love and respect. Using the fire illustration, sex is recognized as a good gift from God meant to be enjoyed within marriage, not outside it. Finally, he calls couples to guard their marriages against the little foxes (resentment, distraction, pornography, and anything that creeps into the vineyard), noting that the answer is not fighting each other but standing together against them. Ultimately, we are empowered by the gospel that offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and a fresh start. Exact Scripture References: Song of Solomon 2:1-7, 15 Song of Solomon 7:6 Genesis 2:24-25 (leave, cleave, one flesh — God's design for marriage) Matthew 19:6 Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 4:26 1 Corinthians 7 1 Peter 3:7 Revelation 2:4-5 Romans 12:15 Proverbs 5:18 Topics and Keywords: Song of Solomon as God's design for marriage and sex Marriage as covenant, not contract Leave, cleave, one flesh God created and blesses marriage The fire illustration — sex within marriage The purity culture — what it got right and wrong Delight in expressing and receiving love Five love languages — time, acts of service, words of affirmation, physical affection, gifts Inward beauty versus outward beauty Guard your hearts — do not awaken love until it's time Little foxes that spoil the vine Us against the foxes — not against each other The gospel gives power to slay the foxes Forgiveness versus reconciliation Fresh start through the gospel Singles — channel energy to serve the Lord Sanctification through marriage

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “The Conclusion of the Matter…”

Pastor Andy summarizes Ecclesiastes on Father's Day, tracing Solomon's exhaustive exploration of every direction a life could go — pleasure, wealth, achievement, building lasting things — all of which collapse into the same verdict: vanity of vanities, all is vanity. He connects this to the greatest plague in Western society today: nihilism, illustrated starkly by Canada's MAID policy, encouraging those with diminished capacity to choose medically-assisted suicide. Yet Pastor Andy argues that all this meaninglessness doesn't disprove God, it points to Him. Just as cold points to heat and death points to life. Solomon's conclusion is the only logical one: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. Paul picks up this thread in 2 Corinthians 4, showing that the light and momentary afflictions of this vain life are working an eternal weight of glory. The Holy Spirit was given as a helper, an unmistakable guarantee that mortality will be swallowed up by Life. In conclusion, Jesus Christ is the only aim worthy of a human life, the only one who brings all of life's tensions into balance, and today is the day to give Him everything. Scripture References: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Ecclesiastes 7:16-18 Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 Ecclesiastes 1:2 Romans 1:18–3:31 2 Corinthians 4:17–5:8 Colossians 2:3 Topics and Keywords: Ecclesiastes and the question of what life is for Solomon's explorations: pleasure, wealth, achievement, building Vanity of vanities — all is meaningless Ecclesiastes 7 — do not be overly righteous or wicked The consolation prize of life — eat, drink, enjoy your wife Nihilism as the greatest plague in Western society Canada's MAID policy as a societal expression of nihilism The cold, dark, and death point toward heat, light, and life Fear God — the logical conclusion of Ecclesiastes Paul's overview of Romans — the universal problem and the good news 2 Corinthians 4 — eternal weight of glory The Holy Spirit as a visceral guarantee of eternity Walking by faith not by sight Jesus Christ as the only worthy aim for a human life Dying to self and living for Christ brings all of life into balance Father's Day — the role of a dad