Grand Prairie Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4125 Lake Ridge Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX (2026)

10/25/2026

🔥 FORGIVENESS DOESN’T AUTOMATICALLY RESTORE TRUST!

You can forgive someone without giving them the same access to your life.

Forgiveness is a matter of grace. Trust is a matter of character.

💬 Can you forgive someone and still have boundaries?

10/24/2026

Watch Live - "Built to Stand: Standards - Who Told You It Doesn't Matter?"

Does the way we live really matter? Pastor Mark explores how the grace that saves us also transforms our everyday choices—from dress and music to health and the heart. Through Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy, discover what it means to surrender every room of your life to Jesus. Saved by grace. Changed by grace. Called to holiness.

gpsda.church/sermons

10/24/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱. 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱.
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“…and having done all, to stand.” - Ephesians 6:13, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
This week began with grace.

That is where the Christian life must always begin.

Ephesians has shown us a beautiful movement.

Sit in His grace.
Walk in His ways.
Stand in His strength.

Sit.

Your salvation rests on God’s mercy and Christ’s saving work. You did not earn your place in His family. Jesus made the way. Receive the gift through faith. Stop trying to convince God to love someone He has already demonstrated His love for at the cross.

Walk.

Grace does not leave you where it found you. The Savior who forgives you also begins changing you. Bring your habits, relationships, attitudes, words, and choices under His authority. When Scripture exposes something, surrender it. When the Holy Spirit convicts you, respond.

Then stand.

There will be pressures you cannot predict. Temptations you did not schedule. Disappointments you did not request. Conflicts you would rather avoid.

But Christ already knows what lies ahead, and He has not asked you to face any of it alone.

Stand in His truth.
Stand in His righteousness.
Stand in the gospel.
Stand in faith.
Stand in salvation.
Stand with His Word in your heart and prayer on your lips.

This is not a seven-day formula that ends today. It is a life with Jesus.

Grace remains the foundation. Obedience becomes the walk. Dependence becomes the strength.

And Sabbath reminds us every week that our lives ultimately rest in the hands of the God who created us, redeemed us, and is preparing us for His kingdom.

So take time today to look back over the week.

Where has God spoken to you?
What has He asked you to surrender?
Where do you need His grace?
Where do you need to take the next step?
And where do you simply need to stop trying to fight in your own strength?

Bring all of it to Jesus.

Your past.
Your present.
Your future.

You are saved by grace. You are being changed by grace. And by His grace, you are being equipped to stand.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
What part of your life is Jesus asking you to place fully in His hands today?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, I receive Your saving grace through Jesus. I surrender my daily walk to You, and I trust You with what lies ahead. Forgive me where I have failed. Change what needs to change. Equip me for every battle. All that I am belongs to You. Teach me to sit in Your grace, walk in Your ways, and stand in Your strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 2:1–10 · Ephesians 4:1–3 · Ephesians 6:10–18
Reflect on: “I Surrender All,” SDA Hymnal #309

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
Sit in His grace. Walk in His ways. Stand in His strength.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/23/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗿
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” - Ephesians 6:17, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
God never tells His people to stand without providing what they need to stand.

Paul describes that provision as armor.

Truth steadies you when deception sounds convincing. Righteousness calls you to depend on Christ and live with integrity. The gospel of peace prepares you to stand and serve. Faith trusts God’s character when fear and accusation begin pressing in. Salvation guards your hope. The Word of God gives you truth strong enough to confront temptation.

And Paul surrounds it all with prayer. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”

The armor of God is not a collection of religious ideas to admire. It is provision to receive and use.

A Bible sitting unopened cannot guide your thinking. Truth you refuse to believe will not steady you. Faith you never exercise will not help when fear arrives. Prayer you continually postpone cannot become the place where you learn dependence.

As Sabbath approaches, slow down. Open the Word. Confess what needs to be confessed. Think honestly about where you struggled this week and where God helped you.

If you stumbled, return to Him.
If you are weary, rest.

If a temptation is already waiting for you next week, do not wait until it arrives to prepare. Take a promise from Scripture and carry it with you.

Then let Sabbath remind you of something the world trains us to forget: You are not sustained by your own endless effort.

God is Creator.
God is Redeemer.
God is the One who makes you holy.

As the sun sets, lay down what you cannot carry and remember the God who has carried you.

Stand in His strength.
Then rest in His presence.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
Which part of God’s provision have you been neglecting in the battle you are currently facing?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, clothe me with everything You provide. Establish me in truth, strengthen my faith, guard my mind, and keep Your Word in my heart. As Sabbath begins, help me lay down distractions, remember Your faithfulness, and rest in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 6:14–18 · Matthew 4:1–11 · Exodus 20:8–11 · Deuteronomy 5:12–15 · Ezekiel 20:12 · Psalm 119:9–16

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
God provides the armor. Put it on. Then rest in the One who gives you strength.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/22/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝘀
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” - Ephesians 6:10, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
Following Jesus does not remove you from conflict. Sometimes it puts you right in the middle of it.

Temptation appeals to familiar weaknesses. Discouragement whispers that nothing will change. Fear exaggerates tomorrow. Deception makes compromise look reasonable.

Paul does not pretend the battle is imaginary. But he does tell you where your strength comes from.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

Not your might.
His.

Then Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood.” That matters because spiritual conflict often arrives wearing somebody’s face.

A difficult coworker.
A family member.
A church member.
Someone who hurt you.
Someone who disagrees with you.

People can do real harm, and harmful behavior may need to be confronted. Boundaries may be necessary. Accountability may be required.

But people are not the ultimate enemy.

Scripture reveals a larger conflict between Christ and Satan—a Great Controversy over the character of God, His truth, and the loyalty of the human heart. The battles we see are often connected to a conflict much bigger than the person standing in front of us.

If the devil can persuade you to turn another human being into your enemy, he can tempt you to respond with the very bitterness, hatred, pride, or revenge he wants to produce.

Paul redirects your vision. There is a spiritual battle behind the visible one.

And God has not left you without help. He has provided everything necessary for you to remain faithful.

So bring the actual battle to Him.

Tell Him where you are angry.
Tell Him where you are afraid.
Tell Him where you are tempted.
Tell Him whose name keeps appearing in your thoughts.

Then ask Him not merely to change the situation but to guard your heart while you walk through it.

Sometimes victory means God changes the circumstance. Sometimes victory means the circumstance does not change you.

Either way, your strength is in Him.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
Have you begun treating a person as the enemy instead of recognizing the spiritual battle taking place around you?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, I need Your strength. Keep me alert to temptation and guard my heart against bitterness. Give me wisdom to address what is wrong without becoming what is wrong. Help me remember the value You place on every person, and equip me to stand faithfully. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 6:10–18 · Revelation 12:7–12 · 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
The battle is real, but the person in front of you is not the ultimate enemy.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/21/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us…” - Ephesians 5:2, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
It is one thing to understand grace during Bible study. It is another thing to practice grace when somebody gets on your nerves.

Relationships reveal how deeply the gospel is reaching into our lives.

Paul brings Christianity out of the abstract and into everyday conversations. He tells believers to speak truthfully, deal with anger without allowing it to become sin, use words that build people up, put away bitterness and malice, and forgive as God has forgiven them.

In other words, grace is supposed to reach your mouth.
Your temper.
Your text messages.
Your marriage.
Your friendships.

Even the way you talk about people who have hurt you.

Ask yourself: What happens to my words when I feel misunderstood? What tone comes out when I believe someone is questioning me? Do the people closest to me experience the same patience from me that I expect from God?

Walking in love does not mean pretending wrong is right.

Grace does not require you to ignore harmful behavior or remove healthy boundaries. Truth and love belong together. You can address what happened without becoming cruel. You can establish a boundary without hatred. You can refuse revenge without pretending trust has already been restored.

Forgiveness places personal vengeance in God’s hands. Reconciliation may require repentance. Restored trust may require accountability and time.

Jesus shows us what love looks like. He was full of grace and truth. He never compromised truth in order to appear loving, and He never used truth as an excuse to stop loving.

That is the walk God is shaping in us.

The grace you received was never intended to stop with you.

Let somebody else experience it.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
Do the people closest to you experience the grace from you that you are grateful to receive from God?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, let Your love shape my words and my responses. Forgive my harshness, bitterness, and pride. Give me humility to acknowledge when I am wrong, courage to speak truth when necessary, and grace to treat people as You have treated me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 4:25–32 · Ephesians 5:1–2 · John 1:14 · Colossians 3:12–15

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
Let the grace you receive become grace someone else experiences.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/20/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
Grace does not only change your standing before God. Grace changes your direction.

After telling us that salvation is not the result of our works, Paul immediately tells us that those who have been saved are “created in Christ Jesus for good works.”

Do not miss the order.

We are not saved by good works.
We are saved for good works.

The works do not produce salvation. They reveal what God is producing in the life of a person who has been saved.

Titus 2 says the grace of God not only brings salvation; it also teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

Grace forgives you.
Then grace teaches you.

Grace receives you.
Then grace reshapes you.

Paul calls you God’s “workmanship.” That means God has not finished working on you.

There may be an area in your life that His Word keeps touching—a habit, entertainment choice, relationship, attitude, spending pattern, dishonest practice, or private compromise.

And every time God brings it up, you feel the temptation to explain it, defend it, minimize it, or postpone dealing with it.

But conviction is not God trying to push you away. It is evidence that He is still working on His workmanship.

When the Holy Spirit shows you something that needs to change, you can respond without fear. The same grace that forgives your past gives you strength to take the next step.

You may not be able to change everything today. But you can obey God in the next thing.

Growth often becomes visible through very ordinary decisions.

One surrendered habit.
One deleted temptation.
One honest conversation.
One step in a new direction.

Grace has given you more than forgiveness. Grace has given you somewhere new to walk.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
What step of obedience have you been delaying even though God has already made it clear?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, thank You for making me Your workmanship. When Your Word reveals something that needs to change, keep me from defending or excusing it. Give me a willing heart and the strength to obey. Let my choices reflect the grace You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 2:10 · Titus 2:11–14 · Philippians 2:12–13

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
The grace that receives you also teaches you how to live.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/19/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8–9, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
Receiving a gift sounds simple. Until you are used to earning everything.

Some of us know how to work. We know how to prove ourselves. We know how to push harder, do better, and try again. That may help in school, work, or business.

But salvation does not work that way. Its cost was beyond anything you could ever pay, and yet God offers it freely through Jesus Christ.

Paul could not make it clearer: “By grace you have been saved through faith.”

Grace provides.
Faith receives.
Jesus saves.

Faith is not another work we perform to impress God. It is the empty hand that receives what Christ has already provided.

That leaves no room for spiritual superiority. The person who has spent fifty years in church and the person who came to Christ last week stand before God on the same ground.

At the foot of the cross.

Experience matters. Obedience matters. Spiritual growth matters. But none of them replace Jesus.

Grace also means you can stop bargaining with God.

“Lord, if You forgive me, I promise I’ll never fail again.”
“Lord, if I do better this week, maybe You’ll accept me.”

No.

Repentance is real. Obedience matters. But forgiveness is not purchased with promises about your future behavior.

You come because Jesus paid for what you could never afford.

And when grace is truly received, it begins changing the heart that receives it. Obedience becomes the response of gratitude rather than an attempt to purchase acceptance.

You do not obey so God will finally love you. You learn to obey because in Christ, you have discovered how deeply He already does.

Sit in His grace.

Receive the gift.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
What are you still trying to contribute to a salvation Jesus has already purchased?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, thank You for salvation that I could never earn. Forgive my pride and every attempt to bargain with You. Teach me to trust completely in Christ’s saving work, and let gratitude for Your grace shape the way I live and treat others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 2:8–10 · Romans 3:21–28

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
You can receive the gift. You cannot take credit for the purchase.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/18/2026

𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 | 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲
BUILT TO STAND
𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥. 𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥.

𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,” - Ephesians 2:4, NKJV

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
It is easy to measure your relationship with God by your most recent performance.

A patient response makes you feel close to Him. A repeated failure leaves you ashamed. A good week gives you confidence. A bad week makes you wonder whether God is disappointed with you.

Before long, your sense of acceptance begins rising and falling with your behavior.

Ephesians directs your attention to something far more dependable: God’s mercy.

Paul does not describe humanity as slightly damaged and in need of improvement. He says we were “dead in trespasses and sins.” Dead people do not need advice. They need life.

Then come two of the most beautiful words in Scripture: “But God.”

We were helpless.
But God.

We were sinners.
But God.

We could not save ourselves.
But God, who is rich in mercy…

God’s love moved toward us before we could make ourselves worthy of it. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, He provided what we could never provide for ourselves.

Paul even says that God has raised us up and made us “sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Our standing before God is not built on our latest success. It rests in Christ and what He has done for us.

That means you can bring your actual condition to God today.

You do not have to pretend your sin is smaller than it is. You do not have to exaggerate your spiritual progress. You do not have to clean yourself up before coming to Him.

Confession simply tells the truth about where you are and turns toward the Savior whose mercy has already made the first move.

Grace begins with God moving toward people who cannot save themselves.

So today, stop measuring His love by your performance.

Sit in His grace.

𝗔 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬
Where have you been treating God’s love as though it were a reward for your good performance?

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥
Father, I cannot give myself new life. Thank You for loving me and making salvation possible through Jesus. Help me come honestly before You, receive Your mercy, and rest in Christ’s saving work instead of my own performance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

𝗚𝗢 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥
Read: Ephesians 2:1–7 · Romans 5:6–11

𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦...
Mercy made the first move.

— Devotional by Pastor Mark A. Valadez

10/17/2026

Watch live - "Built to Stand - Saved. Changed. Equipped." with Pastor Mark A. Valadez

The message follows three movements through Ephesians: sit with Christ, walk with Christ, and stand in His strength. We'll look at how His grace saves us, changes how we live, and equips us to remain faithful.

gpsda.church/sermons

Grand Prairie Seventh-day Adventist Church

10/25/2026

10/24/2026

10/24/2026

10/23/2026

10/22/2026

10/21/2026

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

10/18/2026

10/17/2026

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