Lakeview SDA Live Services

07/27/2025

Our Greatest Need
Date: July 26, 2025 | Lakeview SDA Live Services
Speaker: Paul McKoy

The world is shifting at a pace that leaves most people unsettled. Wars rage in Ukraine, genocide devastates Gaza, and all the while, technology—especially artificial intelligence—is advancing faster than society can keep up. The headlines feel like they are pulled from a dystopian novel, but this is the world in which we now live, a world where security seems more elusive every day.

Recently, Stuart Russell, one of the world’s leading experts in artificial intelligence and a professor at UC Berkeley, delivered the 2021 Reith Lectures—a renowned BBC series—where he issued sobering warnings about the dangers of AI, especially its use in military applications. He described how AI-powered drones, equipped with facial recognition, can already be programmed to identify, hunt, and even kill targets without any human intervention. Russell’s warnings were not abstract speculation; he spoke of real-world technology that exists today, technology whose development and potential for harm far outpace the creation of moral or legal boundaries. The mere possibility of small drones, flying autonomously and selecting targets by algorithm, adds a chilling dimension to already chaotic times. It is a stark illustration of just how fragile our sense of control and safety really is.

So, with all these mounting threats—war, genocide, violence, and now even AI with lethal autonomy—where can we find security? Where do we look for answers? What is truly our greatest need in a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams?

Jesus gave a prophecy that speaks directly to our era. In Luke 21:25–27, He said,
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
If there was ever a time when men’s hearts fail them for fear, it is now. Many people today feel that these verses are describing our own headlines—distress of nations, perplexity, fear of what comes next, and the sense that there is no place left to hide.

It is easy to become fixated on the problems—the headlines, the rapid rise of dangerous technology, the seeming hopelessness of the future. But Christ always turned our attention from the problem to the solution. He challenges us not to focus on the terrors, but to ask where our faith is anchored.

In Luke 18:1–8, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow, a story of a powerless woman seeking justice from an unjust judge. She persists until the judge finally gives in, not out of love for justice, but because of her relentless faith. Jesus concludes, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

That final question is the dividing line for every soul in a world gone mad: Will the Son of Man find faith? Not just belief in a vague sense, but real, living, enduring faith—faith that clings to Christ when every earthly thing is shaken.

The Bible makes it clear that the faith Christ seeks is not merely positive thinking or optimism. Romans 12:3 teaches that God “has dealt to every man the measure of faith.” This is not about the quantity of faith, but its object. Saving faith—pistis in the New Testament—is confidence placed not in ourselves, our government, our technology, or even our own understanding, but entirely in what Christ has already accomplished. It is faith rooted in the righteousness of Jesus, not the illusions of our own strength.

Consider the warning given in Acts 8 about Simon the Sorcerer. Simon was baptized and joined the early church, but his “faith” was self-serving. He wanted spiritual gifts for his own gain, not from a heart surrendered to Christ. Peter rebuked him sharply, exposing a heart not right with God. Contrast that with the blind man in John 9, who placed his simple, genuine trust in Jesus and received both sight and salvation.

Jesus Himself settled the question of what God requires in John 6:28–29: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Faith is not something you muster by willpower. It is surrendering your pride and placing yourself wholly in Christ’s hands.

The persistent danger in our world is that we will place our trust in the wrong thing. Some hope in science and progress; others in power, money, or self. But the faith that will endure is the faith of Jesus—the faith He both modeled and gives as a gift to all who ask. When everything else is shaking, that faith remains unmovable.

So how do we nurture and strengthen this faith? Romans 10:17 gives the answer: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” In its original context, Paul was reminding both Jews and Gentiles that the only saving faith is found in hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is only one gospel for all people, and it is the only hope that can withstand the storms of this age.

Romans 5:8 declares that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” If Christ could love, redeem, and save us at our worst, what future threat could possibly undo His victory? Our greatest need is not more security, technology, or power. It is unshakeable, saving faith in Jesus Christ—faith that looks to what He has done and rests there, unmoved.

This faith is not just for moments of crisis, but for every day. Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we are strangers and sojourners on the earth, but we carry God’s promises in our hearts. Paul, facing the end of his life, could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7–8). The world may collapse around you, but faith in Christ cannot be destroyed.

So as technology grows ever more unsettling, as wars rage, and as human institutions falter, ask yourself: Where is your faith? Is it anchored in the shifting sand of this world, or in the Rock of Christ? The answer to our greatest need is not found in what we control, but in who holds us. By placing our faith in Christ, we possess a security nothing on earth can threaten, and a hope no darkness can extinguish.

When Jesus comes, will He find that faith in you? That is your greatest need, and it is the only foundation that will last.

07/26/2025

July 26, 2025 | Divine Service

Divine Service | July 26, 2025Speaker: Paul McKoy

07/26/2025

Sabbath bulletin — July 26, 2025

07/21/2025

Sabbath bulletin — July 19, 2025

07/21/2025

July 19, 2025 | Divine Service

07/21/2025

July 05, 2025 | Divine Services

07/21/2025

June 21, 2025 | Divine Service | Communion Sabbath

Communion Sabbath

06/15/2025

A Father’s Greatest Fear
Date: June 14, 2025 | Lakeview SDA Live Services
Speaker: Reuben Maldonado
Occasion: Father’s Day Sabbath

Fatherhood is one of life’s greatest blessings, but also carries one of its deepest burdens. Throughout every society and culture, the arrival of a child is a time of celebration and joy. The Scriptures affirm, “Children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). Yet, along with that joy, every father knows a secret trembling, a profound sense of responsibility, because with great blessing comes the possibility of heartbreak and fear. Anything can happen in this world.

Fathers dedicate their children to God, standing before Him to declare, “This is Yours, Lord. I love this child, but I trust You more than myself.” This is more than ceremony—it is a vow, a daily surrender of our children into God’s hands, coupled with a lifelong promise to raise them in His ways. The church and the family must work together, because even the strongest father cannot stand alone in a world like this.

God commanded His people: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). True fatherhood means seizing every moment—rising, walking, sitting down—to teach our children who God is, what He values, and how to walk with Him. Our goal as fathers is not just well-behaved children, but sons and daughters who know Christ for themselves and live in such a way that their lives are worth imitating.

But here lies a father’s greatest fear—not just that our children will stumble, but that they might abandon faith altogether. No father wants to see his child drift from God. There is no pain like seeing your son or daughter wander away, living in rebellion, rejecting what you have poured your heart into teaching them.

We worry about dangers we cannot protect them from, choices we cannot make for them, pain we cannot heal, and temptations we cannot always see. Proverbs 22:6 calls fathers to “train up a child in the way he should go,” but we know the road is rarely straight. It zigzags with mistakes, rebellion, and, we pray, eventual return. The best fathers fall short, and the wisest fathers know their own weakness.

Still, God calls fathers to faithfulness, not perfection. We are called to model repentance as much as obedience, to admit our mistakes, and to show that dependence on Christ is not a sign of failure, but of strength. Every day, we plant seeds in faith, hoping and praying they will bear fruit, even if it is long after our influence seems to have faded.

The story of Samson is a powerful warning—and comfort—for every father. God gave clear instructions to Samson’s parents (Manoah and his wife) for raising a son set apart for a special purpose. Despite their efforts, Samson’s path was not straight. He ignored godly counsel, insisted on his own way, and compromised principle for pleasure. He was strong in body but weak in character, and suffered for it. Like many fathers, Manoah and his wife must have felt helpless as they watched their son walk away from his calling.

Yet Samson’s story reminds us that a father’s efforts, joined to God’s promises, are never in vain. Even when Samson strayed furthest, God’s purpose for his life was not destroyed. In the end, Samson returned to the Lord in repentance. God heard his final prayer and restored his strength “just one more time.” The end of Samson’s story is not defeat, but redemption.

Fathers, your greatest fear is real, but God’s faithfulness is greater. Your calling is not to guarantee an outcome, but to faithfully teach, love, and pray. Children do not come with manuals, but God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path. Trust Him when you cannot see the way. Model a life that your children will want to imitate. And when you fall short, show them the way back to God through repentance.

If you have children who are wandering, keep praying. If you feel like your best has not been enough, remember: God’s grace fills the gap. The seeds you plant in tears, God can water with mercy. And even when the path seems lost, your Father in heaven never gives up on you or on your children.

This is the Father’s greatest hope: God’s love is greater than our failures, and His power to restore surpasses every fear. Dedicate your children to Him again today. Stand firm in your calling. Trust your Father, and walk by faith, not by fear.

06/15/2025

June 14, 2025 | Divine Services

Divine Services | June 14, 2025Speaker: Reuben Maldonado

06/15/2025

In This World, But in Christ
Date: May 31, 2025 | Lakeview SDA Live Services
Speaker: Luis Hohl
Scripture Focus: John 17:11–15

To say we are living in perilous times hardly captures the full reality. Around us, confusion multiplies, morality is redefined, and division deepens between people, families, and nations. The character of society has become a mirror of Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 3: “Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…” Many in authority openly embody these very traits, exalting human pride, self-interest, and rebellion against God’s order. The prevailing spirit is one of self-worship, not self-sacrifice. In such a world, to stand for truth is to invite opposition, discomfort, and even hostility.

Yet Christ’s prayer in John 17 is not a prayer for escape. Jesus looked down the corridor of time and saw a people who would live under intense pressure—misunderstood, marginalized, sometimes hated for refusing to bow to the spirit of the age. He did not ask that His followers be removed from the world, but that they would be preserved from evil within it. He knew that the world would never welcome those who walk in His footsteps, because truth, by its very nature, exposes what is hidden, unsettles what is comfortable, and calls all to repentance. Truth has never been popular. It is often the solitary voice crying out against the tide.

Nations today are fragmenting, not uniting. Laws are changed, right and wrong are confused, and any voice that pleads for repentance and righteousness is quickly drowned out or pushed aside. God’s judgment is not a threat; it is a certainty, because God cannot allow rebellion to endure forever. So the question presses in: are you ready? Not merely ready to survive difficulty, but ready to remain unshaken when all that can be shaken is removed.

As you read through John 17, Christ’s prayer can be seen in three movements. First, He prays for Himself, that the Father would be glorified through His obedience, even as He walks the path to Calvary. His glory is not found in escape, but in endurance and faithfulness to the very end. Next, He prays for His disciples, pleading that they would be sanctified through the truth and protected from the evil one. He does not ask for their comfort, but for their faithfulness. Lastly, He prays for all believers—that we would experience the unity that only comes from sharing the life and love of Christ.

This message is a sobering call. Jesus never promised popularity or ease. Anyone who decides to truly follow Christ must settle this: we are not of this world, and the world will never fully embrace us. But there is more to His prayer than warning—there is hope, radiant and certain, woven through every line.

Christ’s prayer is not only that you endure, but that you overcome. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s Word is both shield and sword, and no power of darkness can prevail against the soul who clings to Christ. Though you may walk a lonely road, you do not walk it alone. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). You have a High Priest who intercedes for you. The same Savior who prayed for His disciples prays for you even now.

God has always preserved a remnant, a people who refused to be molded by the world. You are not called to withdraw or hide, but to shine as lights. Your life, set apart by truth, becomes a living rebuke to evil and an invitation to hope. Though the world moves further from God, Christ draws near to those who seek Him. Your weakness is not a liability; it is the stage upon which His strength is revealed.

Yes, judgment is coming, and the world will be shaken. But God’s promise is sure: “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust” (Psalm 91:4). When the storm rages and evil increases, look up. The end of the world’s story is not defeat for God’s people, but victory through Christ. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord, and He shall reign forever. The call is not merely to survive, but to overcome and to stand.

Whoever chooses to follow Jesus must refuse to be shaped by the world’s fear or compromise. But in Christ, you are secure. His intercession is your guarantee, His word your anchor, His love your comfort. Hold your ground. You are in this world, but you belong to Christ, and nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from His love or rob you of His coming reward. Remain in Him, and let your life declare the hope and certainty of a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

06/15/2025

May 31, 2025 | Divine Services

Divine Services | May 31, 2025Speaker: Luis Hohl

06/15/2025

Sabbath bulletin — May 31, 2025