08/23/2026
Pastor Fred Ross
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’”
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew13:24-30;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’” For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches too, for giving them water in the wilderness, yes, springs in the desert, so that my people, my chosen ones, can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and these my people will some day honor me before the world. You have not brought me the lambs for burnt offerings; you have not honored me with sacrifices. Yet my requests for offerings and incense have been very few! I have not treated you as slaves. But O my people, you won’t ask my help; you have grown tired of me! You have brought me no sweet-smelling incense nor pleased me with the sacrificial fat. No, you have presented me only with sins and wearied me with all your faults. I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah43:19-25;Matthew13:24-30;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’” For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches too, for giving them water in the wilderness, yes, springs in the desert, so that my people, my chosen ones, can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and these my people will some day honor me before the world. You have not brought me the lambs for burnt offerings; you have not honored me with sacrifices. Yet my requests for offerings and incense have been very few! I have not treated you as slaves. But O my people, you won’t ask my help; you have grown tired of me! You have brought me no sweet-smelling incense nor pleased me with the sacrificial fat. No, you have presented me only with sins and wearied me with all your faults. I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah43:19-25;Matthew5:6,13:24-30;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’” For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches too, for giving them water in the wilderness, yes, springs in the desert, so that my people, my chosen ones, can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and these my people will some day honor me before the world. You have not brought me the lambs for burnt offerings; you have not honored me with sacrifices. Yet my requests for offerings and incense have been very few! I have not treated you as slaves. But O my people, you won’t ask my help; you have grown tired of me! You have brought me no sweet-smelling incense nor pleased me with the sacrificial fat. No, you have presented me only with sins and wearied me with all your faults. I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm34:8;Isaiah43:19-25;Matthew5:6,13:24-30;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’” For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches too, for giving them water in the wilderness, yes, springs in the desert, so that my people, my chosen ones, can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and these my people will some day honor me before the world. You have not brought me the lambs for burnt offerings; you have not honored me with sacrifices. Yet my requests for offerings and incense have been very few! I have not treated you as slaves. But O my people, you won’t ask my help; you have grown tired of me! You have brought me no sweet-smelling incense nor pleased me with the sacrificial fat. No, you have presented me only with sins and wearied me with all your faults. I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. They brought him this message from Hezekiah:“This is a day of trouble and frustration and blasphemy; it is a serious time, as when a woman is in heavy labor trying to give birth and the child does not come.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm34:8;Isaiah37:3,43:19-25;Matthew5:6,13:24-30;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’” For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches too, for giving them water in the wilderness, yes, springs in the desert, so that my people, my chosen ones, can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and these my people will some day honor me before the world. You have not brought me the lambs for burnt offerings; you have not honored me with sacrifices. Yet my requests for offerings and incense have been very few! I have not treated you as slaves. But O my people, you won’t ask my help; you have grown tired of me! You have brought me no sweet-smelling incense nor pleased me with the sacrificial fat. No, you have presented me only with sins and wearied me with all your faults. I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. They brought him this message from Hezekiah:“This is a day of trouble and frustration and blasphemy; it is a serious time, as when a woman is in heavy labor trying to give birth and the child does not come. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For he is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in heaven. Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us? No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day—we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm34:8;Isaiah37:3,43:19-25;Matthew5:6,13:24-30;Romans8:34-37;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe. but one night as he slept, his enemy came and sowed thistles among the wheat. Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing good seed in his field; “The farmer’s men came and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that choice seed is full of thistles!’ When the crop began to grow, the thistles grew too. “‘No,’ he replied. ‘You’ll hurt the wheat if you do. “‘An enemy has done it,’ he exclaimed. “‘Shall we pull out the thistles?’ they asked. Let both grow together until the harvest, and I will tell the reapers to sort out the thistles and burn them, and put the wheat in the barn. ’” For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert! The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches too, for giving them water in the wilderness, yes, springs in the desert, so that my people, my chosen ones, can be refreshed. I have made Israel for myself, and these my people will some day honor me before the world. You have not brought me the lambs for burnt offerings; you have not honored me with sacrifices. Yet my requests for offerings and incense have been very few! I have not treated you as slaves. But O my people, you won’t ask my help; you have grown tired of me! You have brought me no sweet-smelling incense nor pleased me with the sacrificial fat. No, you have presented me only with sins and wearied me with all your faults. I, yes, I alone am he who blots away your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. “Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied. Oh, put God to the test and see how kind he is! See for yourself the way his mercies shower down on all who trust in him. They brought him this message from Hezekiah:“This is a day of trouble and frustration and blasphemy; it is a serious time, as when a woman is in heavy labor trying to give birth and the child does not come. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For he is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in heaven. Who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us? No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day—we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm34:8;Isaiah37:3,43:19-25;Matthew5:6,13:24-30;Romans8:34-37;2Corinthians4:8,4:10&version=TLB
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John17:15-18&version=TLB
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. But earnest prayer was going up to God from the church for his safety all the time he was in prison. The night before he was to be executed, he was asleep, double-chained between two soldiers with others standing guard before the prison gate, when suddenly there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John17:15-18;Acts12:5-7&version=TLB
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. But earnest prayer was going up to God from the church for his safety all the time he was in prison. The night before he was to be executed, he was asleep, double-chained between two soldiers with others standing guard before the prison gate, when suddenly there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured, and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John17:15-18;Acts12:5-7;James5:18&version=TLB
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. But earnest prayer was going up to God from the church for his safety all the time he was in prison. The night before he was to be executed, he was asleep, double-chained between two soldiers with others standing guard before the prison gate, when suddenly there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured, and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John17:15-18;Acts12:5-7;James5:18&version=TLB
I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power. They are not part of this world any more than I am. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world, Make them pure and holy through teaching them your words of truth. But earnest prayer was going up to God from the church for his safety all the time he was in prison. The night before he was to be executed, he was asleep, double-chained between two soldiers with others standing guard before the prison gate, when suddenly there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured, and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again. Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John17:15-18;Acts3:19,12:5-7;James5:18&version=TLB
