Redeemer Church of Waterford

The Letter to the Church at Ephesus

Each of the seven letters to the seven church of Asia Minor in Revelation 2 and 3 contain characteristics, and warnings, and encouragements which apply to every church since the ascension of Christ more than 2,000 years ago. Listen as we examine the first of these letters.

"The Sword of the Spirit" - Part 2

The Apostle Paul and his Ephesian audience would not have had a physical Bible with 66 books like we do. So what does Paul understand to be "the word of God" when he calls on us to "take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"?

Ralph Rebandt: Seeing the World Through Jesus' Eyes

Ralph Rebandt, recently retired from 35 years as pastor of Oakland Hills Community Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan and is now answering God's call to seek the nomination for Governor of the State of Michigan. He preaches here from Matthew 9 on the ways Jesus saw the world and how He serves as a model for the way we should see the world.

"The Sword of the Spirit"

Why does the Apostle Paul identify the word of God as the sword "of the Spirit"? This is the 11th time Paul has referred to the Holy Spirit in his letter to the Ephesians. Only as we understand what he has already said about the Holy Spirit can we understand how to effectively wield the Spirit's sword.

The Helmet of Salvation - Part 2

The Helmet of Salvation is the gospel realities which the Apostle Paul delineates in Ephesians 1. In 2 Corinthians 4 he describes these gospel realities as "treasure in earthen vessels," and then proceeds to model for us how to use the helmet of salvation as a defense against the "weariness of our minds."

John's Vision of the Glorified Christ

In the Old Testament, God gave clear prohibitions against "imaging" Him. He went further, even telling Moses that no man could see Him and live. And yet here in the opening chapter of the Book of Revelation, God paints for John - and for us - a picture of the glorified Christ. What do we learn about the character of our risen and reigning Savior from this picture?

Your Day is Coming

In Obadiah 1:10-16, the prophet contrasts "the day of Jacob's calamity, distress, and destruction" at the hands of Edom with "the day of the Lord's retributive justice" against Edom. God always vindicates His people.

Why the First Day and Not the Seventh?

Who changed the Sabbath Day from the Seventh Day to the First Day? How did the "Sabbath Day" become the "Lord's Day"? A proper understanding of Hebrews 3 & 4 gives us the insight we need to get the proper answers.

The Helmet of Salvation

As the Apostle Paul comes to the end of his letter to the Ephesians, he is at pains to remind us that the believer is engaged in a cosmic spiritual war. The devil is bent on wearing you out, to cause you to become weary and to faint in your minds. The helmet of salvation is the gift that God has given to us to guard our hearts and minds against Satan's attacks on our assurance. What is this helmet and how is it to be used?

You're Going Down!

As Edom makes alliances with God's enemies against God's people, their pride has them on a downward trajectory to destruction under the wrath of God. Edom boasts of being an invincible eagle, yet it is God, like a majestic eagle, who comes to the vindication of his people.

The Shield of Faith

Christians are not exempt from the consequences of sin and its devasting effects in terms of disease, breakdown in family relationships, financial failure, accidents, and every other possible evil. It is only with the shield of faith that we are enabled to overcome all that the wicked one throws at us. What is this shield and how is it to be used?

Is Sorcery in Revelation 18:23 Pharmaceuticals?

There are some arm-chair Bible interpreters who are more than suggesting that the "sorcery" of Babylon in Revelation 18:23 is pharmaceuticals being used by governments to deceive the world in the end times. Pastor Paul takes us on an extensive exegetical journey to see if such views pass the muster of sacred Scripture.

Family Feud

The Book of Obadiah is God’s word to encourage His discouraged and defeated people who are living in exile, to remind them that God will ultimately triumph over their enemies through retribution, restitution, and restoration. Obadiah prophesies God's judgment on Edom (Esau) for their participation in atrocities against Israel (Jacob). This is a family feud that begins in Genesis 25 in the sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau.

A Psalm for the New Year

Psalm 65 celebrates the goodness of God as the crown of the year and gives us much to consider as we consider God's providence in 2021 and anticipate his watchcare in 2022.

"This Thing That Has Come to Pass"

Luke's narrative account of the birth of Jesus in Luke 2 is unlike either the Old Testament texts which foretell the birth of Christ or the New Testament texts which record the fulfillment of those prophecies. Rather than advance the narrative of Christ's birth as it relates to who Jesus is, Luke focuses on the response of those who heard the news that Christ had been born.

"Behold, He Comes with Clouds"

Part Two of "John's Vision of the Glorified Christ."

The Shadow of the Cross Over the Manger

There is no Christmas without the cross. The peace and joy of Christmas is only ours because God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John's Vision of the Glorified Christ - Part 1

"Begotten, Not Made"

What does it mean that "God sent His ONLY-BEGOTTEN Son into the world"? "Only-begotten" does not refer to Jesus's birth in Bethlehem, but rather to His "eternal generation" from the Father from all eternity. Listen as Pastor Paul explains this important distinction.

Clothed with Frail Humanity

What does it mean that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh"? And what difference does it make?

The Gospel of Peace

In Ephesians 6:14-17 the Apostle lists for us the various pieces of spiritual armor which are necessary for us to both "stand against" (6:11) the devil's schemes and to "withstand in the evil day" (613, which is to say, to bear up under the trials that are common to believers in a fallen world. An essential piece of this armor is the footwear of the gospel: our stability on gospel realities, our mobility in the way of peace, and our proclamation of the gospel of our salvation which produces...

Truth, Justice, and the Gospel Way - Part Two

The Devil's primary objective is not to make you sin. His desire is to make you doubt God's love and faithfulness to you. He aims for your heart - the seat of your emotions. It is the breastplate of righteousness which protects us from this particular attack of the Evil One. What is the righteousness which we are to put on as a breastplate?

Our Constant Companion

Dr. Stephen Nichols, President of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, FL.

The Binding and Loosing of Satan

Premillennialists view Revelation 20 as coming at the end of the church age, commencing a "1,000 Year Reign of Christ" at the end of the "Seven Year Tribulation" period and concluding with the end of history and the beginning of the "Eternal Age." Amillennialists see Revelation 20 as a picture of the church age, commencing with the binding of Satan at the first coming of Jesus and ending with Satan cast into the lake of fire at the end of the church age. We compare and contrast these two v...

Truth, Justice, and the Gospel Way

What does it mean to have our "loins girt about with truth," to have "on the breastplate of righteousness (justice)," and to "have feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"? Conventional interpretations have dogmatically affirmed that what the Apostle has in view is the armor of the Roman soldiers who guarded him in prison. But this is not the case. What Paul is describing is the armor of the Divine Warrior. And he is commanding us to take up the armor of this Divine Warrior s...

WMUZ Pastor of the Month

Pastor Paul Edwards was honored to be named one of WMUZ's Pastors of the Month during the month of October. Listen to the 6 minute interview with Pastor Paul which aired on WMUZ at various times in October.

The Christian in Complete Armor

From a reading of Ephesians 6:14-17 we can readily identify WHAT the armor of God is. What is not so apparent is WHO the armor of God is.

Seven Parallel Cycles of Church History - Part Two

The Book of Revelation is primarily a visual image given to John of the persecution of the Christian in every generation of the church; and the comforting assurance that the slain Lamb has overcome the adversary and we too have overcome the adversary by the blood of the Lamb. Who are the agents of persecution coming against you? The Book of Revelation reveals them!

The Nature of Spiritual Warfare - Part 3

From Ephesians we learn that there are three realms or spheres in which spiritual forces are at work: 1) Physical: "Flesh and Blood" 2) "The Air" or "High Places" or "This World" 3) "Heavenly Places" What are these three realms and how do they affect our lives? Click "View Item" to listen to this morning's message from Ephesians 6.

The Nature of Spiritual Warfare - Part Two

The trials, suffering, calamities, tragedies, and disappointments we experience in this present world are the 'backlash' of a greater cosmic struggle of spiritual forces who are opposed to Christ and His people. The Bible describes this struggle as "darkness." This darkness is governed or ruled by powerful forces. What is the darkness and who are these forces?

Seven Parallel Cycles of Church History in Revelation

The Book of Revelation presents seven cycles of church history which run parallel to each other in the unfolding of God's plan and purpose for the history of the church. Each cycle begins with the first coming of Christ and ends with the second coming of Christ. The Book of Revelation does not only tell us things which will happen in the future, but things which are happening NOW and have been happening since the ascension of Christ.

Unlocking the Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is not a puzzle to be solved. It is a picture book of God's promises to His beleaguered and persecuted church. It contains seven cycles of church history, from the ascension of Christ to His Second Coming, which run parallel to each other, displaying a different aspect on the events which unfold in every age of the church throughout church history.

The Nature of Spiritual Warfare

The Apostle in Ephesians 6:11 has introduced us to the devil Now, in verse 12, he further reveals that the devil is the prince of an immense cadre of spiritual forces which are arrayed against us: principalities, powers, world rulers of darkness, and wicked spirits, all operating in the realm of "high places," a spiritual domain beneath the heavenly places called "this world" - the system of evil arrayed against God.

Satan's Rage Against the Church

If you are a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, you are a target of Satan's rage. Revelation 12 gives us spiritual insight into the motives of Satan's hatred, and a clear strategy for overcoming his attacks.

The Enemy of God and His People

The Devil is not a caricature. He is a very real created being with immense power to deceive the world and harass God's people. In this message from Ephesians 6, we examine the craft and power of our great adversary, the Devil.

The Repository of Sovereign Strength

The Apostle Paul gives to his hearers an imperative to "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." What are the means by which sovereign strength is made available to us as we press on against the enemy which unceasingly assails us on every front?

Sovereign Strength for the Day of Evil

Ephesians 6:10 is a call to war against the evil that befalls us as we make our way through the routine of our lives. What is this evil and what are the resources God has given us to battle it?

Inciting Hallelujahs

Psalm 117 is the gospel in miniature. Here, both Jew ("the people") and Gentile ("the nations") are called upon to praise Jehovah. But how can Gentiles, whose gods are idols, be expected to praise Jehovah, the exclusive God of Israel? What has God done to incite shouts of "Hallelujah!" even from those who don't recognize Him as God?

God in the Dock

What do you sing when your present (negative) experience of God contradicts what you believe about God? How do you reconcile God's 'former favor' with your 'experience of pressing ills'?

The God of Yeshurun

Yeshurun is not a proper name. It is a term of endearment used by God to endear Himself to His people, even when we have rebelled against the lavish overtures of His grace.

A Rest for the People of God

"The Lord is Mindful of Us"

In ever tightening concentric circles, beginning with the Church, and moving to the leaders of the Church, and culminating with the individuals in the congregation, the Psalmist enjoins us to trust the Lord as our help and shield.

Singing in the Pain

What do you sing when you are feeling down? When you are "in the depths"? Psalm 130 is a song sung blue in the midst of depression and sadness. When the world sings the blues, their songs commiserate with us in our pain, but because they have no regard for God and His promises, they cannot alleviate our pain. In Christ, God has done something about our pain.

"Some Man Telling A Man About the Other Man"

In the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch we have a masterclass in evangelism: keep to the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus.

"Let the People Tremble"

The world does not fear God because the church does not fear God, and a healthy fear of God comes from standing in awe of His word.

"He Spoke Unto Them"

When God answers the call of His people, he does so through His testimonies and His ordinance which reveal His faithfulness and His truth. God IS His word and His word is JESUS.

"The Lord Loved Solomon"

Why does God love us? The answer to that question is found in the Lord's love for Solomon before he had done either anything good (to cause God to love him) or bad (to cause God to hate him). Solomon is the "beloved of God," and so is everyone whom God has set His affections upon from eternity.

"They Called...He Answered Them"

What's so amazing about God's people calling upon the Lord and the Lord answering them? When we consider the holiness of the LORD against the backdrop of our rebellion and rejection of the LORD, it is amazing that He answers our call rather than just consuming us in His wrath.

The Source and Security of Liberty

The 48th Psalm offers for us a model for the success and prosperity of human governments. But even though we implement this model, our love of country should never displace from our hearts the affection we have for our eternal home.

Biblical Justice: The Salvation of Our God

The primary concern of the psalmist in Psalm 98 is justice. He calls this justice "God's salvation" (v. 1) and "the salvation of our God" (v. 3). The world is longing for justice. Every news cycle reminds us of that. The salvation of our God is the justice the world longs for, but is blind to. The world is looking for justice in all the wrong places. In this message we identify how biblical justice differs from social justice and God's plan to impose His justice on the world.