Fontana Community Church

06/05/2026

SEALED WITH THE KING’S RING… Set in the kingdom of ancient Persia around 470 B.C. during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), the book of Esther is a dramatic narrative with profoundly deep spiritual insights. Several calendar dates in Esther provide timeless wisdom and encouragement for those who seek the eternal value of God’s Word.

Today, we witness the “hand of God” at work in the most unusual of circumstances. The story of Esther and her older cousin and guardian, Mordecai, is set in the biblical town of Susa. Part of modern-day Shush, Iran, it is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, dating back to 4000 B.C. Iran is also the home of the fastest-growing Christian movement in the entire world, despite having no buildings dedicated as “churches”. Indeed, as our lesson unfolds, we will witness His hand working in a book of the Bible where there is no specific mention of God or recorded national worship of Him.

Though the exiled remnant of Israel, known as Judah, were allowed to return to their homeland, some chose to remain in Persia where they had lived for over 50 years. They kept their nationality a secret and even used Persian names. Even so, a lot was cast by the Persian Prime Minister, Haman, to select the date for the annihilation of every single person of Judah who remained in Persia.

In response, Esther, a beautiful young woman of Judah, chosen to marry the Persian King Xerxes, was encouraged by Mordecai to go to the King and intervene on behalf of her people. Mordecai sent her a letter penned with the unforgettable words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Born with the name Hadassah, which represents righteousness, Esther certainly lived out her name when she went to the King without being summoned, an offense punishable by death. Fearlessly, she revealed her hidden heritage and begged for mercy for herself and her people.

She successfully interceded and secured the lives of the remnant nation of Judah. She also set a trap for Prime Minister Haman which not only resulted in his ex*****on, but transferred all his worldly assets, as well as his national authority, to Esther and Mordecai.

“Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai… “Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows... You yourselves write a decree… as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.”

“So the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and it was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the people of Judah, the satraps, the governors, and the princes of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to every province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.” (Esther 8:7-10)

"WHATEVER IS WRITTEN IN THE KING'S NAME AND SEALED WITH THE KING'S RING, NO ONE CAN REVOKE." The edict by King Xerxes that had previously doomed the remaining people of Judah to death, was neutralized by this second letter authorized by Mordecai on behalf of the King, guaranteed their protection and giving them the royal right to defend themselves against their enemies.

This segment of the story is our focus today, as the date recorded above, the twenty-third day of the third month of Sivan on God’s calendar, the evening of June 8 through the evening of June 9 on our 2026 Gregorian calendar. It appears this date marks a point in time when justice for God's people was meted out and guaranteed by the King.

We should note that God's calendar appointments are always perfect. Less than 9 months following the King's announcement of the scheduled assault, the targeted people routed their enemy when they attacked. Chapter 9 of Esther tells the story and this one sentence stands out. "...No one could stand against them, because the people of all other nationalities were afraid of them."

God intervened in the affairs of mankind, bringing his chosen servant, Esther, to the place where she would exalt Him by trusting Him with her life. As a result, the remnant of Israel defeated their enemies in only 2 days. Esther became Queen of Persia, the largest empire on the earth during her lifetime. Mordecai was appointed second in ruling rank to King Xerxes himself. And full justice was dealt to Haman.

Truly, we can see many faces of our Messiah in this ancient accounting of God’s deliverance of His chosen people from their enemies. Jesus is our Esther, the Perfect Intercessor willing to face death for us. Jesus is our Mordecai, the Watchman with a plan for our salvation, encouraging us along the way. Jesus is our Xerxes, the Merciful King who gave His life as His personal seal, guaranteeing our salvation.

Last, but definitely not least, we should see ourselves in Haman: the prideful, manipulative schemer with his own national agenda to fulfill. Because the truth is that we all desperately need to be saved from ourselves and our destructive, self-serving nature. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

The deliverance of God's people in the manner He chooses, continues to leave us mesmerized and dumbfounded. His plan not only includes overcoming obstacles among those claiming to align themselves with His own heart but also reaching out and moving in the hearts of hardened pagan nations and leaders if He so desires. He is always looking for the heart that will follow His leading.

SEALED WITH THE KING’S RING...

06/03/2026

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:17

05/30/2026

THESE ARE MY APPOINTED TIMES… The Lord God Almighty has been reaching out to us continuously during the last two months. Day by day, His perfect plan for the redemptive restoration of mankind has been brought to the forefront of our lives. We have literally been “counting the days”, looking forward to the mind-boggling events and revelations He has included in each one of these “appointed times” of Leviticus 23: “These are my appointed times, the times of the LORD that you will proclaim as sacred assemblies.”

Appointed by God Almighty on His calendar for mankind, these incredibly special festival times of sharing with His people are introductions to the ministry of Messiah Jesus, anointed as the Incarnation of God Himself, destined not only to dwell with mankind on earth and fulfill God’s appointments, but also to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What could be more important than this incredible calendar filled with earth-shattering events that only the Son of God could accomplish!

The Almighty’s first “appointed time” began 3500 years ago under a Spring full moon, when He made His presence known to a world power that had a stranglehold over the people who worshipped Him. God announced His intention to free them through a series of plagues which rearranged their daily lives, decimated their national economy, wracked them with disease, disrupted weather, devastated their food supply, increased insects to unbearable swarms, and plunged them into darkness for days. Finally, with the 10th plague of death, even people who didn’t worship Him were brought to their knees.

“On the 14th day of the month when all the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs…The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” Exodus 12

The blood of the sacrificial lamb marked 600,000 households who were “passed over” from certain death that night in Egypt. It was to be celebrated forever on the 14th day of God’s first month as a reminder that He alone delivered His people from their bo***ge. Those who believe in Jesus, our Passover Lamb, literally stand as the continuing generations of those “passed-over”. The death angel cannot claim us. “Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. 1 Corinthians 5:7

The Day of Passover on the 14th gave birth to the week-long festival known as Unleavened Bread beginning the 15th on the weekly Sabbath. Its unusual name is a reminder of the night when Pharoah urged them to leave so quickly they didn’t have time to even properly prepare their bread, the mainstay of their diet. They just packed the lump of raw, unleavened dough and headed out into the desert, depending on God's promises and His provision! “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.” Exodus 12:17-18

From this scripture we understand why this festival to the Almighty came to be known as Passover and the following 7 days as Unleavened Bread, collectively recognized as the Passover season. “Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”1 Corinthians 5:7-8 https://www.facebook.com/fontanacommunitychurch/posts/pfbid02DmTMRDDQKyptCa42RjYbJXB3aWWhjZboUnppc4xPK8acgrgfj2wghXskEmuzwXyjl

God’s appointed festivals of Passover and Unleavened Bread also begat the Almighty’s next festival of “Firstfruits”, a “wave-offering” unto Him forever in Leviticus 23:10,14: "...When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; ... it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings."

Incredibly, when Jesus was raised from the dead on the 16th, the day after the Sabbath following the Passover feast, but had not yet ascended to the Father, He was on His way to God's Throne as the “wave offering” “Firstfruit” of the resurrection of mankind, an event also marked on God’s calendar 1500 years prior. “…Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 https://www.facebook.com/fontanacommunitychurch/posts/pfbid02ko8S6D8amfuECyYSqzDPrWY7fdjb9hmwdd8X6qtzEWyNyi3rD7fBCtm1ZCHh2X7Vl

“‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord...This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.” Leviticus 23:15-17, 21

The beginning counting of Weeks in the New Testament started when Jesus was raised from the dead, “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20) The gifting of the Holy Spirit to Christians, 50 days later, known today as Pentecost, empowered His followers to not only keep His Commandments, but teach them, to ALL nations, massively increasing their number and influence.

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4

The Hebrew translation of verse 1 says “Shavuot” since this appointed day came to be known as Pentecost following the gift of the Holy Spirit on those gathered. “Shavuot”, the spoken and written Word of the Almighty on Mount Zion destined to reach the ends of the earth as Jesus prophesied in Matthew 24:14. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” https://www.facebook.com/fontanacommunitychurch/posts/pfbid0yz9SftJubFJ9mBCxLDxH9DkmnBEY2eAEAeYK4yUW4qqyuubQXKDtb3YJaxfJeaNLl

Jesus was the plan all along. And He has been spiritually right beside us all this time, even during the Exodus. “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-2

GOD'S APPOINTED FALL HOLY DAYS HAVE YET TO BE FULFILLED BY JESUS! When He returns to earth, it will be by Divine Appointment to fulfill the remaining 3 Holy convocation times on God's calendar. The first of these, the anointed Day of Trumpets, is appointed by the rising of the new moon, beginning God's 7th month, as appointed in Leviticus 23. In ages past, as soon as the sliver of the new moon was observed by two witnesses, they blew the trumpet 100 times: 11 series of nine brief blasts followed by one long powerful blast, known as "the last trumpet.” (September 12 on 2026 calendar)

On the 10th day of the same month (Begins eve of September 21-22 on our 2026 calendar) the Almighty appropriated a blood sacrifice to cover the sins of His people: the Day of Atonement. Appointed during the wilderness Exodus of the Israelites, the covering or atonement was the blood sacrifice of an innocent animal. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement (covering) for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” Leviticus 17:11

Hebrews 9 points us straight to Jesus as the Perfect Blood Sacrifice. “That first plan contained directions for worship, and a specially designed place of worship. A large outer tent was set up…Then a curtain was set up. This was called "the Holy of Holies…Only the high priest entered the smaller, inside tent, only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for his own sins and the people's accumulated sins…But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven's "tent"—the true Holy Place—once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all.”

The last holy day to be fulfilled by Jesus is appointed to begin the 15th day of the same 7th month, (September 26 eve on 2026 calendar) the first of God’s 7-day Feast of Tabernacles, culminating in the 8th Last Great Day. The future fulfillment of the Festival of Tabernacles will occur when ALL nations on Planet Earth will come together in peace to worship Jesus Christ as Lord! "The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day, there will be one Lord and His name the only name…Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles." Zechariah 14:9,16.

John the Revelator adds the crowning touch to this final glorious festival appointed by God Almighty for all humanity. “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.’”

“THESE ARE MY APPOINTED TIMES…”

05/26/2026

Judge the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute; rescue the poor and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.

82:3-4 📖

https://alittleperspective.com/welcome-to-scripture-pictures/

05/26/2026

Memorial Day always holds a particular tension.

For many, it marks the beginning of summer. It may look like grills, pools, frisbee, or an endless list of other things. But beneath the long weekend is an unmistakable ache. Memorial Day invites us to remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to others, and to pause long enough to honor the weight of that sacrifice.

As followers of Jesus, we live with an awareness that the world is both beautiful and deeply fractured. War reminds us of that reality in deeply painful ways. Behind every folded flag is a story and behind every name etched in stone is a family that carries grief, absence, memory, and love.

And still, as Christians, we also live with hope.

Because while nations rise and fall, Jesus remains King.

We believe there is coming a day when swords will be beaten into plowshares, when violence will cease, and when Jesus will wipe every tear from every eye. A day when every tribe, tongue, people, and nation will gather around the throne of Jesus together.

Scripture tells us that one day death itself will be swallowed up forever.

Until then, we live in the tension of the “already” and the “not yet,” longing for the fullness of God’s kingdom while still living in a world marked by loss.

In the meantime, we give thanks for every reflection of courage, sacrifice, and selflessness we see in this world.

We honor those who served.
We mourn the reality of war.
We pray for peace.

We remember, we grieve, and we give thanks.

And we cling to the promise that in the story God is writing, death does not get the final word.

05/23/2026

PENTECOST: BRING TWO LOAVES OF BREAD…There are two loaves of bread, side by side, on the offering table to the Lord. This unusual offering was appointed for this time of the year for God’s chosen people. Since both loaves are leavened, they appear to be spiritually significant as sinful types of mankind. But this is a heavenly offering...

We are all at the feet of Jesus on this one, as our “Rabboni” (rah BONE I) instructs us on “heavenly” leaven through one of His shortest parables. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” The Parable of the Leaven, repeated in Luke 13:20–21, immediately follows the Parable of the Mustard Seed. Both share the spiritual theme of the Kingdom of God growing from small, even microscopic beginnings to incredible spiritual size and dimension in its fulfillment.

The Almighty expressed Himself succinctly in His instructions on the offering He desired on this ancient appointed and anointed date. “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. Leviticus 23:15-22

A clearer picture of "firstfruits" emerges when we add to the Leviticus scripture the understanding that a sheaf of grain in Genesis 37:5-11 represented a person or persons, as evidenced in Joseph's dream. The lone sheaf of the Firstfruit Offering of grain was called "the sheaf of the first fruits." The first wave offering of firstfruits, appointed on the 16th day of the first month was accepted by God when Jesus was raised from the dead and presented Himself to His Father as the “Firstfruit Offering”, the first of the resurrection of mankind, the event appointed by God on His calendar 1500 years before. Jesus own words in John 12:23-24 pierce our spirits with such wisdom, it brings us to our knees: “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” The Spirit of God Who Raised Jesus From The Dead: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=991890269827873&set=a.243759214640986

The Feast, or Festival of Weeks, also known as Shavuot, “weeks” or “sevens” in Hebrew, marked the completion of the seven-week plus one day counting period from the 1st sheaf wave grain offering, called Firstfruits (fulfilled by the Resurrection of Jesus) to the 2nd wave grain offering, called Shavuot, on Mount Sinai, as God’s Spirit descended on the Israelites in fire and thunder or “kolot” (CO-lote), which means voices or languages, and the nation covenanted with Him by accepting and agreeing to follow the Ten Commandments and the Levitical laws. We Are Surrounded By A Great Cloud of Witnesses https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1028224646194435&set=a.243759214640986:

1500 years later as Israel gathered on Mount Zion to celebrate Shavuot on the same calendar date, fiery tongues of the Holy Spirit descended upon those who covenanted with God through Jesus Christ, enabling them to not only speak and understand other languages but to commission and equip them to “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Hebrew translation of verse 1 says “Shavuot” since this appointed day came to be known as Pentecost following the gift of the Holy Spirit on those gathered.) Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”) Acts 2:1-12

“Shavuot”, the spoken and written Word of the Almighty on Mount Sinai, was exponentially enlarged to “Pentecost” on Mount Zion resulting in at least 16 other nations outside of Israel, including Arabs, Libyans and Egyptians “declaring the wonders of God.” And they are responsible for God's spoken word being fulfilled through His Incarnate Word, reaching nations across the earth, including our own, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Observation of the new moon on the evening of May 17 places ancient Shavuot on our 2026 Gregorian calendar to sometime between sundown May 25 to sundown May 26, now recognized as today’s Pentecost. The Hebrew calendar, appointed and no longer tied to the observation of the new moon, marks Shavuot beginning sundown May 26 in Israel, or a few days later in other nations. Pentecost is also calculated as the 7th Sunday after Easter, May 24, for many Christians.

Jesus was the plan all along. And He has been spiritually right beside us all this time, even during the Exodus. “For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-2

1500 years later, Jesus stood on Mount Zion and said this about God’s ancient commandments: “The most important one…is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 2:29-31

Indeed, if the Ten Commandments given in Deuteronomy 5 are consolidated into 2 groups, the first 4 being about our relationship with God, and the last 6 being about our relationship with our neighbor, we have exactly the Words of Jesus.

Listen now to the identical words of the Almighty shortly after Israel was reminded of Him speaking the Ten Commandments in thunder and lightning on Mount Sinai: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6

We close today's lesson with these powerful words: “11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:11-22

BRING TWO LOAVES OF BREAD…

05/22/2026

JESUS CHRIST ...More than a name, Christ is a title. It means anointed one. The new human, the ultimate priest, the cosmic king, God’s heavenly life coming into our world in a new way- a surprising way. And after Jesus rose from the dead, he spread his anointing out into the world through his followers, Christians from the word Christ, anointed ones who follow the Anointed One. People marked by God’s spirit so that more and more of earth can be filled with the life of heaven.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/937179387562568

05/20/2026

05/19/2026

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES… Crossing millennia, the Almighty is still speaking to His chosen people who now wear the name of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The Great Smoky Mountains literally smokin' is the perfect illustration for His lesson on faith that begins in thick clouds, thunder and lightning, and everyone trembling.

“On the third month after the Israelites left Egypt-on the very day-they came to the Desert of Sinai...In the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God…” Exodus 19:1, 16-17.

This biblical date, carefully recorded in Exodus for posterity, occurs on our 2026 calendar around the morning of May 18. The book of Hebrews also puts the 3500-year-old accounting of Exodus 19 in a timely perspective for us. “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.

Hebrews 12: 18-29 continues with this exhortation. “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.’ "

"The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’ But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

"See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’”

The Lord descended on Mt. Sinai like a blast from a furnace. The whole mountain shook. God Almighty spoke the Ten Commandments, which He later wrote in His own handwriting on tablets of stone. He told the people through Moses, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.”

But before Moses returned, the Israelites became impatient with worshipping God in the manner He chose and waiting for Him to lead and direct them. So they fashioned a contemporary idol to worship in the meantime. It was never meant to take the place of God, just facilitate His worship in the manner the people needed.

3500 years later, are we just as foolish? Is it possible to begin the Christian life by trusting in Jesus, and then slowly, but surely, begin to place our confidence in our worldly, religious position to win the race to heaven, while our faith in Jesus Christ finishes a distant second? The best lesson in the world on faith is found in chapter 11 of Hebrews. And nothing is more profound than reading it from God's Word without any earthly comments or explanations attached.

Hebrews 11:"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead."

"By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away. ”For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

"By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith."
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death."

"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones."

"By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel."

"By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the pr******te Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."

"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."

"Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground."

"These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

We close our lesson today with the awesome exhortation of Hebrews 12:1-3. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

This is God’s plan for all of us who are called by His name. It’s been on His calendar for 3500 years now, made possible in every detail in by Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God

“WE ARE SURROUNDED BY A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES.”