Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES.ORG

Intro: Weclome to our new series on the Book of Isaiah! This is a wonderful book of the Bible filled with amazing glimpses of Gods work and prophecy!

The prophet Isaiah ministered during a turbulent time in Israel’s history. The nation had abandoned the way of the Lord and was living in open sin and idolatry. The verses leading up to our text chronicle a scene of rebellion and sin.

Isaiah 1:18

King James Version

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your si...

Imagine for just a moment that you are God. You are the Creator of the Universe and you possess all power within yourself. All right, your people are being held as slaves and the time has come to deliver them. Who would you choose to do this great work? Perhaps you would send a great military leader? What about sending a skilled politician? Maybe you would send some great orator; a man who could give heart-stirring speeches that would grip the hearts of men. If you had the population of the world at your disposal, would you have sent...

Thank God for the privilege of prayer! To be able to go into God’s presence and seek His face and help for the needs of life is a blessing beyond value. To have that open door unto His throne of grace, Heb. 4:16; to be invited to enter there to call upon Him; and to have His promise that He will hear us and answer us when we call upon Him, Jer. 33:3; Matt. 7:7-11, is a wonderful thing! God forbid that praying should be an unusual sound in our lives!

But, how much greater is the blessing to...

The Crisis of the Present Hour

My beloved brethren, we gather here today in a world that is spinning in a whirlwind of compromise. If you look around our society today, you will find that truth has fallen in the streets. We live in an age of the "filter" and the "spin." People change their words to please their listeners. They wear masks to hide their true selves. The world tells us that a little lie is harmless if it keeps the peace, or that a hidden compromise is acceptable if it helps you get ahead in...

My name is Dr. Mike Letterman and I am an evangelist. I preach into 166 countries and a listening audience of 1.6-1.7M every Sunday morning. But that’s not me. That’s God. Pastor Mike is just not that good. I’m not the one people come to hear. They come to hear the Holy Spirit and that is what I am proud to be part of.

Now my daddy had a sayin’ about a lot of things and one of these was about titles. Daddy had a sayin’ about a lot of things, like looking down a fence ro...

Ex. 3:1-12 GOD’S ANSWERS FOR MAN’S EXCUSES

3 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this grea...

Psalm 127:1, Genesis 2:18-25

A FIRM FAMILY FOUNDATION

Intro: There may be some people listening to these sermons and you wonder if there is anything here for you. You may think that since your children are grown and gone that these messages do not touch your life. If you are single or living alone, you may believe that sermons about the home and family have nothing to say to you. No matter where you are in life you still have family. The things we are going to discuss today will apply to everyone here, whether you...

Genesis 6:1-13

THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL FATHER

Intro: If you were to make a list of great Bible fathers, you might include men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You might include Solomon, who wrote many of the Proverbs for his sons. You might include Joseph, the husband of Mary, who raised Jesus as his own Son and provided him with a godly home. There would surely be many others who would make the list of the great dads of the Bible. However, most of us would not include the man who is...

Abraham: Following In The Footsteps Of Faith

Sermon #1

Genesis 11:27-12:3

27 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

30 But Sarai was barren; she had...

Genesis 4:16-26

King James Version

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah...

Genesis 2:18-25

King James Version

18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast...

In our age, there are many misunderstandings surrounding the Christian life. A trip to the local Bible bookstore bears this out. The shelves are lined with books that claim to be able to teach us how to make the Christian life easier for the believer and the church more acceptable to the world. The truth of the matter is that there is nothing easy or acceptable about the Christian life. It is not always easy to live for Jesus. The Gospel of Jesus Christ will never be acceptable to the world. We are not out for a day in...

Have you ever experienced the heartbreak of a shattered dream? Everything was set! You were sure things were going to turn out a certain way, and then the bottom fell out from under everything.

Maybe it was a child that did not turn out the way you envisioned. Maybe it was a financial setback that broke your heart. Maybe it was a marriage that did not go as you had dreamed it would. Life, it often seems, is a series of shattered dreams.

When our dreams are shattered it often leaves us devastated, confused and...

Matt. 12:22-33 HAVE YOU COMMITTED THE UNPARDONABLE SIN?

22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation...

Intro: As we have moved through the final verses of the book of Ephesians, we have been dealing with the issue of spiritual warfare. I think most believers really don’t believe that we are engaged in battle with an unseen, yet very powerful enemy. It doesn’t change the fact that we are.

Satan, the enemy of God, is also the enemy of the people of God. His desire for us is to defeat us, destroy us, and devour us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom h...

Today, we will consider the final piece of “the whole armor of God.” Allow me to spend a moment reminding us of the other pieces of the armor and what they represent.

Once again we turn our attention to the pieces that make up “the whole armor of God.”

Lets read from Gods word!

Ephesians 6:13-18

King James Version

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taki...

Ephesians 6:16

SPIRIT-FILLED WARFARE PART 2c THE BUCKLER OF FAITH

Intro: We are continuing to examine the various pieces that constitute “the whole armor of God.” I am taking my time and preaching on each piece of the armor because there is coming a day in each of our lives when we will need to know what “the whole armor of God” is, and we will need to know how to use it in our lives. The truth is, we need to know about and use the armor every day. We don’t always think about it, but it...

As we continue to study “the whole armor of God,” we continually need to be reminded why this is such an important topic. Verses 10-13 introduce the subject of spiritual warfare. We are told that the saints of God are engaged in a great cosmic battle against a powerful, relentless enemy. Our enemy is called “the devil,” v 11. Our enemy is said to employ “wiles,” v. 11. This word refers to “the tricks, schemes, and methods” the devil uses to undermine the faith of the saints, and to attack the glory of God.

God’s command to His people is that the...

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word...

The verses before us speak about spiritual warfare. They remind us that we are in the fight of our lives. Against a relentless, powerful enemy. We are engaged in battle with a spiritual being who is intent on our destruction. We are fighting against an enemy who hates our God, and who hates us too. He wants to devour our families, destroy our testimonies, devastate our church, and discredit our God. But, this enemy of whom I speak is not all-powerful. The God we serve is, 1 John 4:4.

While Satan is intent on our defeat, the Lord is...

In our modern, relatively peaceful world it is easy to forget that we are a people at war. In verse 12, we are reminded that we have a very powerful and insistent enemy. Our enemy, Satan, is doing everything in his power to defeat, dismantle, and destroy the kingdom of God. We must fight him in God’s power, wearing God’s armor. Unfortunately, many believers do not see the need for the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18

King James Version

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his...

Ephesians 6:1-4

SPIRIT-FILLED HOMES

Intro: The Holy Spirit wants to control every area of your life. That is the clear teaching of Ephesians 5:18. When are “filled with the Spirit”, He will be in total control of our lives. When He is in control of our lives, we will live lives that please the Lord; we will worship in a manner that glorifies the Lord; and every relationship in our lives will honor Him as well.

Ephesians 6:1-4

King James Version

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is r...

Ephesians 5:22-33

King James Version

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the...

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

King James Version

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which...

John 20:1-18 JESUS: THE RESURRECTED REDEEMER

Intro: Today, we celebrate the greatest day in the history of the world. Today we celebrate the great truth that Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a Roman cross and died, arose from the dead just three days later! This one truth is what sets Christianity apart from every other system of belief in the world! All other religious leaders have died. Buddha died! Mohammed died! Confucius died! Every founder of every religion that has ever existed has died. However, only One has risen again from the dead! If we were...

Ephesians 4:17-24

A NEW WALK FOR A NEW LIFE

Ephesians 4:17-24

King James Version

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not...

Ephesians 4:1

PAUL’S CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH

Ephesians 4:1

King James Version

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Intro: The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.”

To me, the first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profo...

Ephesians 3:7-13

PAUL THE PREACHER

Ephesians 3:7-13

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God...

Ephesians 3:7-13

PAUL THE PREACHER

Ephesians 3:7-13

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God...

PAUL THE PIONEER PREACHER

3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles...

Ephesians 3:1

3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

PAUL THE PRISONER

Intro: Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church is a blessing. For it is in this le...

THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE OF GOD

Intro: Paul’s emphasis in chapter 2 has been on the grace of God in salvation. He describes our lost condition in verses 1-3. He talks about God’s amazing salvation in verses 4-10. Then, Paul reminds us that we were Gentiles. As such, we were separated from the provisions and promises of God, v. 12. Not only that, but we were separated from the Jews, who were God’s chosen people. They had the Law of God and they held the keys to pleasing God. The Gentiles had nothing but condemnation and ho...

Intro: Our world is a world differences. There are political differences that result in war, division, and strive, both in America and around the world. There are social differences in areas like homosexuality, abortion, and different ways of living. These differences cause division. There are differences in the home. Sometimes there is fighting between spouses, between children, between parents and children, and between extended members of the family. These differences translate into divisions.

Sadly, there are also differences in the church. Differences in styles of worship, doctrinal beliefs, types of music, dress codes, and countless...

Ephesians 2:10

THE WORKMANSHIP OF GRACE

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Intro: I think you would agree with me when I say that grace is a mystery. As we have studied these first two chapters of Ephesians, the mystery of grace has only deepened for me. As I reflect about what we have learned about grace from this book thus far, I stand amazed...

A look at Salvation as God meants it to be!

Ephesians 2:4-7

BUT GOD!

Ephesians 2:4-7

King James Version

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-3

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE

Part 2

Lets read from Gods Word!

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by...

Ephesians 2:1-3

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE

The Sixth Sense is a 1999 American psychological thriller film[2] written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist whose patient (Haley Joel Osment) claims he can see and talk to the dead.

Released by Buena Vista Pictures through its Hollywood Pictures label on August 6, 1999, The Sixth Sense was well received by critics and was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay f

Intro: Some years ago...

Ephesians 1:15-23

THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW

Ephesians 1:15-23

King James Version

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the...