Rock Harbor Church

In The Risk Is Worth the Reward, we walk through Matthew 9:18–34 at a turning point in Jesus' ministry. After His formal rejection by the religious establishment, Jesus shifts His strategy. He no longer calls Israel to national repentance. Public signs are reduced to the sign of Jonah. Miracles now require personal faith. He teaches in parables and maintains a policy of silence regarding His Messianic identity until after the resurrection. To associate with Jesus at this stage meant risking expulsion from the synagogue system. Under synagogue discipline—Hezipah, Niddui, or even Cherem—a person could be rebuked, cast out, or permanently cut off from the community. Jairus, the bleeding woman, the two blind men, and the mute man all risked social and spiritual exile to come to Christ. They defied the system to receive life. Their physical afflictions pointed to deeper spiritual need. The world system cannot restore marriages, heal broken consciences, free people from sin, or raise what is dead inside. It declares things irreversible and beyond hope. But Jesus demonstrates resurrection power. Faith in Messiah becomes an act of defiance against a system built on accusation, condemnation, and outward appearance. This message calls believers to refuse the system's verdict of hopelessness. Mercy is found in Christ alone. His authority threatens systems that survive by control and accusation. The risk of following Him may be great—but the reward is life, restoration, and eternal freedom. Hashtags: #TheRiskIsWorthTheReward #Matthew9 #JesusAndTheSystem #FaithOverFear #ResurrectionPower #BiblicalTruth #SynagogueDiscipline #HopeInChrist #DefyTheSystem #GospelOfTheKingdom

In Matthew 9, Jesus collides head-on with a religious system that knew how to label people but had no power to restore them. Tax collectors, sinners, the sick, the ceremonially unclean, the blind, and the demonized were all considered beyond hope by Pharisaical Judaism. Their suffering was seen as deserved, their condition permanent, and their future sealed. But Jesus does something shocking. He calls Matthew out of a condemned identity. He eats with sinners the system had already judged. He corrects fasting that was rooted in religious performance rather than relationship. He restores a woman who had been isolated for twelve years because her body didn't work. He responds to Jairus, who risks his position and reputation by turning to the very Messiah the establishment rejected. He opens the eyes of blind men who see Him clearly while the religious leaders remain blind. And He delivers a demonized man whom the system could not help and instead accused. Matthew 9 reveals a powerful truth. Religious systems focus on outward conformity but cannot change the heart. They demand performance, enforce masks, and leave people trapped in hopeless cycles of behavior. Jesus does not come to repair that system. He fulfills the Mosaic Law and exposes Pharisaical Judaism as bankrupt, replacing it with a kingdom marked by mercy, restoration, and real transformation from the inside out. The question this passage leaves us with is simple but unsettling. Are we living under a system that teaches us to perform and pretend, or are we following a Savior who restores what religion has rejected? Hashtags #Matthew9 #JesusRestores #RejectedByReligion #GraceOverPerformance #GospelTruth #Kingdo

In this powerful teaching, we will walk through Isaiah 63 and unpacks the rich Hebraic idioms that reveal the Messiah not only as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, but also as the Divine Warrior King who returns in judgment and glory. This message explores: • The prophetic meaning of Edom and Basra • The significance of the Messiah's blood-soaked garments • The Day of the Lord and the Second Coming • How Isaiah 63 connects to Zechariah 14 and Revelation 19 • Why God's judgment passages bring comfort, justice, and hope • How trusting God with justice empowers true forgiveness Isaiah 63 presents a sobering yet hopeful picture of Jesus Christ as the righteous Judge who rescues Israel, defeats evil, and ultimately rights every wrong. This teaching also offers deep pastoral application on forgiveness, justice, discernment, and spiritual maturity in a broken world. We pray this message strengthens your faith, deepens your understanding of Scripture, and encourages you to trust God with both personal injustice and future hope. For more sermons, prophecy teachings, and biblical resources, visit: https://rockharborchurch.net Thank you for listening. Keep looking up, for our redemption draws near.

In Matthew 9:1–17, Jesus exposes the Kosmos, the world system built by man and energized by Satan, and shows why it inevitably rejects Him. Even after proving His divine authority by forgiving sins and healing the paralytic, the religious leaders respond with accusation rather than worship. Grace threatens their control. When Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector condemned by the religious elite, the system reacts with outrage instead of celebration. The Kosmos has no category for mercy, repentance, or redemption. It only knows exclusion and self-righteousness. Jesus then explains that He did not come to patch up Pharisaic Judaism or fit His teaching into a works-based religious mold. Using the imagery of garments and wine, He reveals that His mission cannot be mixed with man-made religion. The Torah is good, but the Pharisaical system had distorted it. He came to fulfill God's Law, not validate their traditions. This passage shows a timeless reality. The world system rejects Jesus because it cannot coexist with grace, and it will always reject those who follow Him as well. #Matthew9 #TheRejectionOfTheKosmos #JesusIsGod #GraceNotWorks #NewWineNewWineskins #Pharisaism #FulfillmentOfTorah #KingdomOfGod #BiblicalChristianity #GospelOfGrace #FollowJesus #FaithOverReligion

In this teaching, we walk through key Hebraisms that are often misunderstood and misused in modern theology. One of the most quoted passages, "My thoughts are not your thoughts," is frequently used to suggest that God is unknowable or irrational. But that is not what Scripture is teaching. This message explains the true biblical meaning behind this Hebraism by contrasting human wisdom with divine wisdom. God is not saying that His revelation is unknowable. He is saying that fallen human thinking is corrupted by sin and cannot rightly interpret reality apart from divine revelation. We explore how human autonomy, pride, and resistance to authority lead to spiritual harm, while submission to God's revealed order brings protection, clarity, and maturity. This includes a biblical look at repentance, faith, authority structures, and why God's way of salvation through the Messiah runs counter to human instincts. The teaching also examines the biblical role of the watchman, drawing from Isaiah, Ezekiel, Acts, and the words of Jesus. Scripture calls believers to spiritual vigilance, warning, and preparation, not silence. This message challenges the modern church's tendency toward emotional comfort over truth and explains why warning and preparation are acts of love. Topics covered include Human wisdom versus divine revelation Why God's thoughts are higher and holy The danger of autonomy without authority Repentance as a change of mind Faith that trusts God without full understanding The watchman calling in Scripture Why silence in the church is a serious failure Preparing believers psychologically and spiritually for what is coming

When Jesus crosses into Gentile territory in Matthew 8, He's not just healing a man—He's confronting an occupying force. The demons call themselves "Legion," a Roman military term that mirrors the Gentile domination of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles foretold by Daniel. This encounter is a prophetic preview. The demons recognize Jesus' authority, fear judgment before the appointed time, and beg not to be sent to the Abyss. Their request to enter the pigs exposes their torment and destructive nature, while Jesus' authority over them foreshadows the final overthrow of Gentile power at His return. The townspeople beg Jesus to leave, choosing familiarity over freedom. One man, fully delivered, wants to follow Him—showing the divide between those who benefit from darkness and those rescued from it. This sermon reveals how Matthew 8 points beyond an exorcism to the Second Coming, when the King will return to crush the final empire and establish His everlasting kingdom. Watch and see how this powerful moment previews the end of the Times of the Gentiles and the return of Jesus Christ. #BibleProphecy #EndTimes #SecondComing #JesusIsKing #SpiritualWarfare #TimesOfTheGentiles #BookOfDaniel #Matthew8 #Deliverance #KingdomOfGod #IsraelInProphecy #ReturnOfChristWhen Jesus crosses into Gentile territory in Matthew 8, He's not just healing a man—He's confronting an occupying force. The demons call themselves "Legion," a Roman military term that mirrors the Gentile domination of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles foretold by Daniel.

In this sermon we explore the encounter between Jesus and Legion not merely as an act of personal deliverance, but as a moment of cosmic warfare and the reclaiming of sacred space. When Jesus crosses the Sea of Galilee into the Decapolis, He deliberately steps into unclean, Gentile territory dominated by death, demons, and defilement. Tombs, pigs, and a legion of unclean spirits all signal hostile spiritual ground.   Legion represents organized spiritual occupation. Jesus confronts a stronghold tied to territory, not just an individual. With a word, He strips the powers of their claim, drives them out, and exposes their impotence. The demons beg, the pigs rush into the sea, and chaos collapses under divine authority.   This passage reveals Jesus as the rightful Lord over the unseen realm, fulfilling the promise that God would reclaim the nations from rebellious powers. What was once dominated by darkness becomes ground for testimony and proclamation. The delivered man becomes the first missionary to the Decapolis, showing that when Messiah reclaims dominion, restoration and witness follow.   This is not just about freedom from demons. It is about the Kingdom of God invading enemy territory and restoring sacred space under the rule of the true King.   Hashtags   #CosmicWarfare #ReclaimingDominion #SacredSpace #JesusAuthority #UnseenRealm #KingdomInvasion #SpiritualStrongholds #Decapolis #DeliveranceAndDominion #ChristVictorious

When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, He was not just showing power over weather. He was confronting chaos itself. 🌊 In the Bible, the sea symbolizes evil, judgment, and the demonic realm, and Leviathan pictures the ancient dragon of chaos. When Jesus rebuked the wind and muzzled the waves, He was exercising divine authority over Satan's kingdom, pushing back darkness and advancing the Kingdom of God into enemy territory. ⚔️ Immediately after the storm, He confronts Legion, proving this was spiritual warfare, not random weather. This miracle shows us that Jesus is Yahweh in the flesh, Lord over creation, Lord over the abyss, Lord over Leviathan, Lord over the demonic realm, and Lord over every storm that comes against the Kingdom.

In What Child Is This?, we explore the powerful prophecy of Isaiah 9:1–7, a Christmas passage that reaches far beyond the manger and into the heart of God's redemptive plan for the world. Isaiah reveals that the first rays of Messiah's light did not shine in Jerusalem's temple but in despised Galilee, a region crushed by Assyria and mocked by the world. God intentionally chose the darkest and most overlooked place to announce the coming of His Son, proving that divine hope shines brightest where human hope has failed. Galilee would later become the launch point of Jesus' earthly ministry, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy and revealing God's grace to the humble, the broken, and the forgotten. Isaiah also unveils the identity of the Child: Wonderful Counselor, divine wisdom beyond human understanding. Mighty God, fully God in human flesh. Everlasting Father, the source and sustainer of eternal life. Prince of Peace, the One who will ultimately end all war and rebellion. This Child is not merely a baby in a manger. He is the rightful King who will sit on David's throne, rule the nations, and establish a kingdom of justice, righteousness, and everlasting peace. Scripture declares that the zeal of the Lord will accomplish this without fail. Christmas is the down payment of the Kingdom. The cradle guarantees the crown. The First Advent assures the Second. This message calls us to see Christmas not only as a moment in history, but as a promise of what is still to come.

In this in-depth Bible teaching, we explore two critical Hebraisms that unlock major New Testament passages: the Key of the House of David (Isaiah 22) and "All shall be taught by God" (Isaiah 54). First, we examine the Old Testament background of the Key of David and how it reveals delegated royal authority under the king. This foundation allows us to correctly understand Jesus' words to the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3 and His absolute authority to open and shut doors of access, ministry, and the Kingdom itself. Next, we tackle Isaiah 54:13 and its direct quotation by Jesus in John 6. By understanding Jewish interpretive methods (PaRDeS), we expose how this passage is often misused to support Calvinistic theology. When read in its proper Jewish and prophetic context, Jesus is not teaching mystical election, but showing that God draws people through Scripture itself. Those who hear and learn from the Father through the Word come to Christ by faith. This study dismantles common misunderstandings about divine drawing, salvation, and election, and reaffirms the biblical truth of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES: Isaiah 22 Isaiah 53–54 John 6 Revelation 3 Matthew 16 Acts 2 Psalm 2 1 Corinthians 15

In Matthew 8:19–22 and Luke 9:57–62, Jesus exposes the excuses people use to avoid true discipleship. Some want comfort. Others want delay. Others want divided loyalty. Jesus responds with sobering clarity. Following Him is not convenient, conditional, or secondary. Discipleship demands urgency, priority, and total allegiance. This passage confronts halfhearted commitment and reminds us that excuses may sound reasonable to people, but they do not work with Jesus. The call to follow Him is immediate, costly, and nonnegotiable.

In this message we look at one of the most beautiful portraits of Jesus' compassion in the Gospels. In Matthew 8:1–17, the Messiah reaches down to restore the rejected members of society: a leper no one would touch, a Gentile Roman centurion everyone despised, and a woman often overlooked in that culture. Jesus breaks every social barrier, every cultural taboo, and every religious expectation to show that the King's heart is for the lowest and the forgotten. This is a powerful reminder that no one is beyond His reach, His grace, or His restoring touch. 🙌✨ Jesus still restores the rejected today.

In this message Pastor Brandon walks through the doctrine of the remnant and shows why it is essential for understanding Israel, the church, and God's prophetic plan. Beginning with Elijah and the seven thousand who did not bow the knee to Baal, he traces how Isaiah develops the remnant theme and how Paul explains it in Romans chapters 9 through 11. Pastor Brandon explains what a remnant is, why it is pictured as a torn piece of cloth, and how God always preserves a believing minority inside the larger nation of Israel and inside the visible church. He exposes the roots of replacement theology and supersessionism, showing how they grew out of the early church breaking from its Jewish roots and how they often flow into anti Jewish attitudes today. From there the study unpacks key covenants that still belong to ethnic Israel, including the Abrahamic covenant, the land covenant, the Davidic covenant, and the new covenant. Pastor Brandon explains why these promises cannot be transferred to the church, how Gentile believers share in the spiritual blessings of the new covenant without replacing Israel, and why the survival and future salvation of Israel depend on the remnant that God preserves. The message also looks at the stump of Jesse in Isaiah 11, the humbled and almost cut off Davidic line, and how Messiah Jesus rises from poverty and obscurity to fulfill the promises to David. Along the way you will see how all of this connects to Christmas, the birth of Christ, and his future reign on David's throne in the millennial kingdom.

In this message, Pastor Brandon walks through Matthew 7:7 to 29 and explains how Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a sobering reality. There are only two paths, two gates, two trees, two fruits, two teachers, two prophets, two voices, and two foundations. Every person must choose. Jesus contrasts true discipleship with counterfeit spirituality and warns that outward religion without inward obedience will collapse when judgment comes. This passage not only warns unbelievers about salvation, it also calls believers to choose obedience, discernment, and a life built on God's standard rather than the world's. Jesus invites His followers to enter the narrow gate, walk the difficult road of discipleship, reject false teaching, and build their lives on the solid rock of His Word. Pastor Brandon also shows how these contrasts fit into the broader Kingdom program. The narrow way leads to life and future reward, while the broad way leads to loss, destruction, and a wasted life at the Judgment Seat of Messiah. Learn to ask, seek, and knock. Enter the narrow gate. Examine the fruit. Listen to the true Shepherd. Build your life on the rock and avoid the collapse of a life built on sand. Watch now and let the words of Jesus guide your choices in these last days.

Matthew 7 contains one of the most penetrating chapters in the Sermon on the Mount. In this teaching, Jesus dismantles the false religious system created by the Pharisees and the Mishnah. He exposes counterfeit righteousness, confronts hypocrisy, corrects misunderstanding about judgment, and calls His followers to live out the true righteousness of the Law of the Messiah. Jesus makes it clear that He alone has the authority to interpret the Law of Moses. He commands His disciples to judge by God's standard, reject man-made religious systems, discern false prophets, walk the narrow path, and build their lives on the unshakable foundation of His Word. This chapter contrasts the burdensome system of Pharisaic Judaism with the liberating truth of Jesus' teaching. Outward displays, religious behavior, and spiritual activity prove nothing without authentic obedience. Satan can imitate signs, but he cannot produce genuine righteousness. The Sermon on the Mount concludes with the crowds astonished because Jesus teaches with divine authority, unlike the scribes who relied on tradition. He is the true Lawgiver, and His words carry the full weight of heaven. If you want to understand how Jesus exposes false religion and reveals the true nature of God's righteousness, this teaching will strengthen your discernment and deepen your understanding of Matthew 7.

What you value is not neutral. It is steering the entire direction of your life. In this message from Matthew 6:19 through 34, we explore Jesus' call to stop living for possessions and begin living for the Kingdom of God. Jesus teaches that: You cannot serve God and mammon at the same time. Your treasure pulls your heart toward whatever you pursue. A generous, Kingdom focused "good eye" fills your life with light. A greedy, materialistic "bad eye" fills your life with darkness. Worrying over money and needs reveals the true object of your trust. We walk through how: Not valuing possessions enough to seek them, in verses 19 through 24, breaks the grip of materialism and exposes the idolatry that often hides in modern Christian life. Not valuing possessions enough to worry about them, in verses 25 through 34, frees your heart to trust your heavenly Father who feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. At the center of this message is Jesus' command: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33 NKJV. When God's Kingdom is placed first, your priorities shift, your anxiety decreases, your generosity grows, and your trust in the Father deepens. If your life has been driven by security, comfort, or accumulation, this message will challenge you and call you back to one Master, one vision, and one treasure. Watch now to understand how what you value drives your life and how to realign your heart, your money, and your worries with the Kingdom of God.

In this in–depth study from Isaiah 14, Pastor Brandon unpacks the fall of Satan, the layers of Hebrew idioms in the passage, and the prophetic connection between Lucifer, the Antichrist, and the future Messianic Kingdom. This session walks verse by verse through the famous "Five I Wills," revealing the pride that corrupted the anointed cherub and how the same Luciferian mindset continues to manifest in the world today. Discover how Isaiah intertwines past, present, and future events to show the original rebellion of Satan and the judgment that awaits him. Learn why Scripture refers to him not as "Lucifer," but as *Halel ben Shachar*, the shining one, and how ancient Jewish interpretation, prophetic patterns, and New Testament revelation all converge to form a complete picture of his fall. Pastor Brandon also explains: • The true meaning of "fallen from heaven" • Why Satan's fall is an idiom for judgment and disgrace • The role of the anointed cherub and his original position before God • The prophetic meaning of the five "I Will" statements • Why Satan still believes he can win • How the Antichrist will attempt to fulfill Satan's ancient ambitions • The millennial reign of Christ and why God releases Satan after a thousand years • How human pride mirrors Lucifer's rebellion • The coming judgment of the abyss and the final lake of fire This teaching digs deep into prophetic themes, Hebrew linguistics, ancient Near Eastern context, and the unfolding spiritual battle described throughout Scripture. It also reminds every believer to guard their heart from pride and to walk humbly before the Lord Jesus Christ.

In part 2 of this message, Pastor Brandon unpacks Jesus' teaching on how to pray effectively, not like the hypocritical religious leaders or the mindless pagans, but in a way that truly connects with the heart of God. Jesus warns us against praying for attention, using empty repetition, or treating prayer like a performance. Instead, He gives us the Lord's Prayer, not as a ritual to recite, but as a template for meaningful, personal, and powerful communication with our Father in heaven. Discover how to: ✅ Pray with sincerity, not showmanship ✅ Align your will with God's purposes ✅ Build a private, authentic relationship with the Father ✅ Use the Lord's Prayer as a framework for deeper, effective prayer Let Jesus' words transform your prayer life from routine to relationship!

In this message, Pastor Brandon unpacks the true meaning of the Lord's Prayer from a powerful Jewish perspective—revealing its depth as a model for daily prayer and its prophetic connection to the coming Kingdom of God. Jesus taught that prayer was never meant to be a performance, but a private conversation with our Father. Through this teaching, we see how genuine prayer transforms character, develops faith, and prepares believers for eternal reward at the Bema Seat of Christ. From "hallowing God's name" to "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," this study brings clarity to what Messiah intended—showing that the Lord's Prayer is both a personal guide and an eschatological cry for the day when Christ will reign from Jerusalem. Watch as Pastor Brandon exposes hypocrisy in prayer, addresses pagan repetition, and calls believers back to intimate, faith-filled communication with God. 📖 **Key Topics:** - The Jewish background of the Lord's Prayer - The difference between public and private prayer - Vain repetition vs. heartfelt devotion - What "Hallowed be Your name" truly means - "Your Kingdom come" and the return of Christ - The connection between character and eternal rewards 👉 **Subscribe for more biblical prophecy, discipleship, and verse-by-verse teaching from Rock Harbor Church.** 🌐 Visit: [https://rockharborchurch.net](https://rockharborchurch.net)

Brandon Holthaus - Unlocking Hebraic Bible Idioms