E.P.I.C. Word of Truth Keith M. Seiber

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The recent events in our country should draw our hearts and minds to contemplate those three profound and interwoven truths:
The sovereignty of God,
The depravity of man,
And the fragility of life.
These truths reveal the grandeur of God's reign, the depths of our fallen state, and the fleeting nature of our earthly existence.
God‘s hand, God's sovereign hand, I believe, was truly there in Butler Pennsylvania eight days ago. God is not finished writing the story that is the life of President Donald Trump. God has a purpose for him to be alive. President Trump, himself, recognized the gracious and providential hand of God in the events of that day.
God spared His life, miraculously spared his life – I don’t think you can argue against that statement. But just as God still has something He wants from the life of our former president - God still has something for each and every one of us:
He still has plans for our lives.
He has things He wants us to do for Him.
He has a perfect will for our life that He still wants done.
Everything I just said is true or we would not be here today either.
Eight days ago, the events in Butler Pennsylvania got me thinking we need to ponder these truths as a church. We need to contemplate what we saw happen. But I think we need to look at it theologically.
We need to look at those events from a theological perspective and the main three theological themes that kept coming to my mind as I considered what happened there in Butler Pennsylvania, with the attempted assassination of President Trump and the death of the firefighter from Pennsylvania, the three theological things that kept coming to mind were:
the sovereignty and providential hand of God in the lives of men,
the depravity and the sinfulness of man, of how one man could desire to kill other men,
and the third theological thing that kept coming to my mind was the fragility of life. Our life is a vapor. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. We are not guaranteed this evening, much less tomorrow.
In the book of Daniel, we read, "And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Daniel 4:35). Here the Word of God declares God’s absolute sovereignty. He reigns supreme over all creation.
His decrees are unchallenged,
His purposes are unthwarted.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, orchestrating all things according to His divine will.

The time comes in every Christian's life when we must make a pivotal decision: whom will we serve? Joshua's challenge to the Israelites resonates through the ages and into our very hearts today.
He declared in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
The choice he presented was stark and clear-cut: serve the LORD or serve false gods. Today, the challenge remains the same, though the false gods may take different forms.
Are we going to serve the Lord, or are we going to serve ourselves and our priorities?
Are we going to serve evil and the devil, or are we going to serve the Lord?
Are we going to serve tradition or are we going to serve the Lord our God properly?

In this message we turn our attention to Revelation 14:6-8, a passage that serves as a powerful reminder of God’s ultimate sovereignty and justice. As we navigate through this prophetic vision, we are confronted with the reality of divine judgment and the urgency of the gospel message.
This section of Scripture, set within the larger context of the Tribulation, provides us with profound insights into God's righteous dealings with humanity and the fate of those who reject His grace.
The passage begins with the vision of three angels, each delivering a critical message to the inhabitants of the earth:
The first angel, flying in the midst of heaven, proclaims the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (Revelation 14:6). This angelic herald emphasizes the universal scope of the gospel, calling all people to "fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come" (Revelation 14:7). This proclamation underscores the imminence of divine judgment and the need for repentance.
The second angel follows, announcing the fall of Babylon the Great, "that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Revelation 14:8). Babylon stands for the corrupt world system in rebellion against God, and its fall signifies the inevitable collapse of all that stands opposed to God's righteousness.

The Book of Hebrews has consistently pointed us to the supremacy of Christ. We have seen Jesus Christ exalted above angels, above Moses, and above the Levitical priesthood. To put it simply: Christ is So Much Better!
We have been reminded that He is our great High Priest, who has entered once and for all into the holy place, obtaining eternal redemption for us. We have explored the themes of faith, perseverance, and the New Covenant, learning that our faith is anchored in the perfect work of Christ.
We have been warned against the dangers of drifting away, of hardening our hearts, and of falling into apostasy. Yet, we have also been encouraged by the "great cloud of witnesses" that surrounds us, urging us to run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
As we come to the final verses of this magnificent letter, Hebrews 13:22-25, we find the writer's closing remarks—a heartfelt plea, a blessing, and final greetings.

 While addressing the relationship between spiritual leaders and their congregations, this passage offers profound insights that are particularly relevant as we consider the role of fathers in our lives and the church's life.
This passage calls us to obedience and submission to those who lead us, for they watch over our souls with a sense of divine accountability. Fathers, too, are called to be shepherds in their households, guiding their children in the ways of the Lord with love and integrity.
Just as spiritual leaders are to watch over the flock of God, fathers are entrusted with the spiritual nurturing and protection of their families – that is the most important thing fathers can do, and that is our priority, this responsibility has priority over all other things for fathers.
The role of a father mirrors that of our heavenly Father—caring, guiding, disciplining, and loving unconditionally. This caring guiding, and loving is not based on how our children behave or how they behave toward us – fathers we are to do all this unconditionally.
Fathers, much like our spiritual leaders, are to lead by example, living out our faith in every aspect of life. We are to be men of good conscience, striving to live honestly and in a manner that glorifies God.

Welcome, today, we’re discussing a topic that many of us have faced—dealing with people who believe lies about us. We’ll explore how to respond, encourage ourselves in the Lord, and move on with peace and confidence.
It’s incredibly disheartening when people believe lies about you, especially when you’ve lived with integrity. Proverbs 12:19 reminds us, "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." The truth stands the test of time, while lies are fleeting.
In Proverbs 6:16-19 the Lord tells us just what He thinks about lies and the liars that tell them, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Jesus faced false accusations throughout His ministry. In I Peter 2:23, we read, "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Instead of retaliating, Jesus entrusted Himself to God. We, too, should refrain from responding in anger or seeking revenge.
Following Jesus' example in responding to false accusations and lies about us is a powerful testimony to our faith and character. Jesus faced numerous false accusations throughout His ministry, especially during His trial and crucifixion. Let's look at some key principles we can glean from His response, grounded in Scripture.
In the face of false accusations, Jesus often chose silence. In Matthew 26:62-63, during His trial before the high priest, we read, "And the high priest arose, and said unto Him, Answerest Thou nothing? what is it which these witness against Thee? But Jesus held His peace."
By holding His peace, Jesus demonstrated control and trust in God's ultimate justice. This echoes the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7, "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."
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