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Exciting testimonies of how God has used the Gideons International Ministry worldwide to bring people to Himself.

In this first of two messages, we explore Paul’s prayer for the Colossian believers and the importance of praying according to God’s Word. Knowing God’s will involves more than knowing Scripture—it means allowing His truth to shape how we live. Through His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God gives us wisdom and understanding to see life from His perspective so we can walk in obedience to Him.

This service steps away from our usual sermon format, allowing Scripture to guide us in worship through the story of God's redemptive plan. Beginning with creation in Genesis, we trace humanity's fall into sin, God's promise of a Savior, and the redemption made possible through Jesus Christ. In Revelation, we are reminded of the glorious hope awaiting those who belong to Him. From beginning to end, Scripture tells one beautiful, unfolding story of God's faithfulness, His love for His people, and His promise to one day make all things new.

After we sin, we may wonder whether God can still use us. Psalm 51 reminds us that His answer is yes. David’s response to forgiveness and restoration was not to remain trapped in shame, but to let God use what he had learned. He committed to teach others about God’s grace, worship the Lord with renewed joy, cultivate a humble and repentant heart, and desire God’s goodness for others. God does not want empty religious actions; He desires hearts that are surrendered to Him. Though repentance may not remove every consequence of sin, God is gracious to forgive and restore. His grace can redeem even our broken places and use our stories to encourage others.

When we’ve sinned, it can be easy to wonder if we’ll ever feel close to God again. But Psalm 51 reminds us that God’s heart is always ready to restore His children when we turn back to Him. David’s prayer is simple: “Restore me.” Restore my joy. Restore my fellowship with You. Give me a clean heart and a willing spirit. While sin may still carry consequences, we don’t have to live buried beneath guilt and shame. God welcomes us back with grace, renews our hearts, and restores the joy of walking closely with Him. We can come home, forgiven and fully loved.

What do we do when our sin is staring us in the face? Psalm 51 reminds us that we don’t have to hide, minimize, or make excuses. Like David, we can come honestly before God, call our sin what it is, and trust His mercy. God doesn’t simply want changed behavior—He wants hearts marked by integrity, wisdom, and obedience. And when we ask, “God, will You cleanse me?” we find our answer in Jesus. His sacrifice has made a way for us to be forgiven, washed clean, and brought back into fellowship with God.

What do we do when we’re confronted with our own sin? Psalm 51 shows us that we begin with God Himself. After David’s devastating sin with Bathsheba, he came before God in repentance, trusting completely in His mercy, steadfast love, and compassion. David didn’t minimize his sin; he asked God to wipe it away, wash him, and make him clean. His prayer reminds us that no sin puts us beyond the reach of God’s grace when we humbly turn to Him. We don’t have to remain trapped in shame. Jesus died for sinners, and the cross is where forgiveness, cleansing, and renewal begin.

Esther 9–10 brings the story of Esther to a powerful conclusion: the tables have completely turned. The day intended for the destruction of the Jews instead becomes a day of deliverance as God protects His people and raises Mordecai to greater influence. God's providence is unmistakable—directing circumstances, moving hearts, providing protection, and fulfilling His promises. The celebration of Purim reminds Israel to remember God’s deliverance. Ultimately, Esther teaches us that God is sovereign, faithful, gracious, and always at work. We may not see what He is doing, but we can trust Him to provide, keep His promises, and accomplish His purposes for His glory and our good.

Esther 8 shows God’s providence continuing to unfold as Haman falls, Mordecai is exalted, and Esther again risks herself for the sake of her people. Though Haman is gone, his deadly decree remains, so Esther pleads with the king for deliverance. The chapter reminds us that God frustrates the plans of the wicked, brings justice in His timing, and can place His people in positions of influence for the good of others. Esther’s concern for those still in danger also challenges believers to not simply rest in their own salvation, but go and tell others how they can come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

One thing that cannot be done in heaven is evangelism, as it is a place filled with believers in Jesus. So, what is evangelism? It is the act of sharing the message of Jesus with others. In today's passage, we see Jesus traveling to a Gentile region to talk to a single man possessed by demons. This man comes to believe in Jesus as his Savior, and as a result, the demons leave, transforming his life. Although he desires to accompany Jesus, Jesus instructs him to return home and share with his people what the Lord has done for him. Our calling as well is to reach out to the broken individuals around us and share the good news of Christ, enabling them to experience the same relationship with Him that we cherish. Two effective methods for sharing the good news of Christ are briefly explained – the Romans Road and the 4 Symbols. Additionally, we should pray for a burden for the lost, seek opportunities to share Christ, and ask for the boldness to speak about Jesus (referred to as BOB).

In Esther 6, we see the visible outcome of God’s invisible providence. While Haman schemes to destroy Mordecai and the Jewish people, God is quietly working every detail for their deliverance. A sleepless king, a forgotten act of loyalty, and Haman’s own pride become instruments in God’s sovereign plan. Esther reminds us that God’s timing is perfect, pride leads to destruction, and no circumstance lies outside His control. God is just, He protects His people, and even when we cannot see what He is doing, we can trust His sovereign purposes.

Esther shows us what courageous faith looks like when following God is costly. Courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing obedience even when we’re afraid. Her example reminds us that following God may require sacrifice, humility, careful wisdom, and a willingness to put others before ourselves. Yet Esther doesn’t step forward alone. God is already at work, providentially arranging circumstances, protecting His people, and even directing the heart of the king. Ultimately, Esther points us toward Jesus, who gave Himself to rescue us. We can step forward in faith because God is sovereign, present, and faithful to provide.

Do we still carry things Christ never meant for us to carry? Like sin, regret, bitterness, unforgiveness, fear, grief? If you are holding on to any of these things, here’s what to do. First, release the weight of yesterday. Let it go. Then, renew your mind with God’s truth and remember that our feelings aren’t always reliable but God’s word is. And finally, allow God to redeem your pain. He transforms it into ministry to others. God never wastes what we surrender to Him. So surrender everything to the Lord.

When evil rises against God’s people, God is never absent or outmatched. In Esther 3, Haman’s pride and hatred grow into a plot to destroy every Jew in the Persian Empire. Though his plan appears unstoppable, God is governing every detail. The chapter reminds us that the true battle is not merely against people but against the spiritual forces that oppose God’s plan of redemption. Believers can trust that God remains sovereign, faithful, and victorious over every scheme against His people.