Ray Routley

ID 63208Dec 26, 1985

ID 63145Dec 31, 1971

ID 63139Dec 28, 1971

ID 54464Dec 30, 1975

Jesus is presented as a kingly high priest, superior to the Levitical order, after the order of Melchizedek. This Melchizedek, whose name signifies King of Righteousness and King of Peace, met Abraham and received tithes, demonstrating a higher authority. Unlike earthly priests who die, Jesus abides eternally, having an unchangeable priesthood established by an oath from God. His ministry is not based on a carnal commandment but on the power of endless life, making the law perfect and enabling believers to draw near to God. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' throne is in righteousness, and though God judged Him for our sins, His own righteousness prevents death from claiming Him, allowing Him to intercede for us in heaven. This priestly work effects peace, offering believers quietness and assurance forever, as He is the Prince of Peace who made peace through the blood of His cross.

ID 54463Dec 28, 1975

Jesus Christ is presented as our great high priest, superior to the Levitical priesthood, who has passed into the heavenly sanctuary. Unlike earthly priests, Jesus, the Son of God, ministered in the heavenly tabernacle, offering his own blood as a propitiation for sins, satisfying God's justice. He is a merciful and faithful high priest because he experienced human infirmities, temptations, rejection, and anguish, making him able to sympathize with and succure those who are tempted. Therefore, believers are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, trusting in his finished work and his ongoing intercession.

ID 53457Dec 26, 1975

Our High Priest is consecrated forevermore, serving in a heavenly tabernacle as a perfect substitute and savior for sinners. The sermon details the Old Testament consecration of Aaron and his sons, contrasting it with Christ's heavenly ministry, highlighting his divine clothing and his role as the Lamb of God who bore our sins. The sermon emphasizes Christ's complete work as the sin offering, burnt offering, and ram of consecration, consecrated by his own blood, and his ongoing intercessory work at the throne of God. Ultimately, Christ's consecration signifies his perfect, active, and eternal high priestly service for believers, pledging himself to us as a servant to his master.

ID 53456Dec 25, 1975

Jesus Christ serves as our great High Priest, a role exemplified by Aaron in the Old Testament, who was called, cleansed, and clothed for his sacred duty. The sermon highlights Christ's divine nature as God manifest in the flesh, possessing omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, as demonstrated by His miracles and knowledge of hearts. His priesthood, unlike Aaron's, is eternal and without beginning or end, reflecting His Alpha and Omega status. Clothed in the symbolic garments of the High Priest, Christ's breastplate signifies His carrying of His people in love and security, His ephod His righteous ministry, the Urim and Thummim His revelation of God's will, His robe His fruitful testimony, His girdle His service, and His crown His inherent holiness, all of which underscore His finished work on the cross and His ongoing intercessory ministry in heaven.

ID 53285Date unavailable

The Gospel, as defined in 1 Corinthians 15, centers on the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Christ according to the Scriptures, which is the essential good news for salvation. Without the resurrection, Christ's death would be meaningless, and without sin, the grave could not hold Him. Our lives are present and personal, and they are either spiritually dead in sin or alive in Christ, with no in-between. Tracing our spiritual roots back to Adam reveals that sin entered the world through his disobedience, resulting in spiritual death for all humanity, a state from which only Christ can redeem us.

ID 53282Date unavailable

David's heart, a man after God's own heart, is explored through his experience of rest and communion with the prophet Nathan. When God gave David rest from his enemies, David's thoughts turned not to riches or self-indulgence, but to the dwelling of the Ark of God. This concern for God's presence and house, coupled with his humble heart and patient waiting for God's timing, exemplifies a life focused on divine purpose rather than personal gain. The sermon highlights David's disciplined mind, his humility in recognizing his own insignificance before God, and his willingness to wait for God's vengeance, ultimately pointing to the covenant God made with him and the eternal kingdom established through his seed, Jesus Christ.

ID 53253Date unavailable

David's anointing as king serves as a type for Christ's kingship, illustrating that even after anointing, he faced significant difficulties. The sermon details David's encounter with Goliath, highlighting how David, unlike the fearful Israelite army, relied on God's name and power rather than Saul's armor. This narrative demonstrates that true victory comes not from human strength or worldly defenses, but from trusting in God's attributes and power, as exemplified by Christ's ultimate victory at Calvary. The core lesson is that believers, like David, can overcome challenges by walking in God's light and relying on His unfailing promises and strength.

ID 53198Date unavailable

David's anointing as king in 1 Samuel 16 illustrates God's preference for the heart over outward appearance, contrasting him with the rejected King Saul. While Saul was chosen by the people and followed his fallen nature, David, a humble shepherd, was chosen by God because of his heart. The sermon highlights that God sees not as man sees, emphasizing that true worth is internal and spiritual, not based on external qualities. Ultimately, David's anointing foreshadows the greater King, Jesus Christ, who, despite rejection by his own, was anointed by God to be prophet, priest, and king, offering salvation and eternal fellowship.

ID 53196Date unavailable

The glory of the Lord Jesus is revealed in his person, his moral perfections, his mediatorial work, and his acquired glories. As the eternal Son of God, he possesses an essential glory, unique and unparalleled. His moral perfections are evident in his sinless life, where he perfectly revealed God walking among men, as attested by demons, Pilate, and the centurion. His mediatorial glories include his roles as King and Great High Priest, interceding for believers. Furthermore, acquired glories stem from his finished work on the cross, leading to his resurrection and ascension, and his power as Creator, demonstrated in miracles like turning water into wine. His plan to restore humanity and share in our sorrows, overcoming death, also reveals his glory, as does the judicial blindness brought upon Israel and his pre-incarnate glory with the Father.

ID 53104Date unavailable

Wisdom, personified as Jesus Christ, has built her house with seven pillars, representing the church as a demonstration of God's wisdom. The sermon explores these seven pillars, beginning with the deity of Christ, emphasizing that His divine nature gives character to the church. It further details the necessity of Christ's incarnation for the church to have a high priest, His manifestation of life as an example, His crucifixion for the church's purchase, His resurrection for justification and new life, and His ascension for the church's maintenance through spiritual gifts. Ultimately, the sermon highlights that Christ Himself is the wisdom the church needs, and His attributes are reflected in believers.

ID 53103Date unavailable

That running the Christian race requires looking to Jesus as the author and finisher of faith, who endured suffering and shame for the joy set before him. It details Jesus's life, from his divine nature and incarnation to his poverty, suffering on the cross, and resurrection, highlighting his sinless perfection and ultimate victory. The message encourages believers to endure hardship and chastening, viewing it as evidence of sonship and an opportunity for God's glory, ultimately leading to the peaceable fruit of righteousness and a closer walk with God.

ID 53102Date unavailable

Life is a race that believers run with their eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. It highlights the cloud of witnesses from Hebrews 11, including Abel, Enoch, and Abraham, who demonstrated faith and obedience through their sacrifices and walk with God. The message emphasizes the importance of laying aside weights and sins that hinder progress, drawing parallels to the rigorous training and perseverance required in athletic races. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to maintain their focus on Christ, endure patiently, and strive for the incorruptible prize of Christ-likeness, which is achieved through faith in Him.

ID 53095Date unavailable

True wisdom from God is obtained by actively receiving His Word, storing His commandments in one's heart, and earnestly seeking understanding. The sermon emphasizes that wisdom is not mere knowledge but its practical application, learned through drawing near to God and experiencing His discipline, much like Jesus Himself learned obedience. By inclining our ear to God's teachings and applying His wisdom, we gain discernment, understand righteousness, and are equipped to live for His glory, ultimately finding God's favor and guidance.

ID 53092Date unavailable

Believers are not approaching a physical, terrifying Mount Sinai, but rather the spiritual Mount Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem, emphasizing the eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken. It contrasts the fear and inability of ancient Israel to endure God's presence with the privilege believers have to approach God through Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant. The message details the New Jerusalem as the eternal dwelling place, highlighting its glorious nature, its twelve gates representing Israel's tribes, and its twelve foundations bearing the apostles' names. It concludes by urging believers to run their spiritual race with reverence and godly fear, recognizing that God is a consuming fire, and to focus on the heavenly reward rather than earthly circumstances or past failures.

ID 53090Date unavailable

The Lamb of God, predetermined from before the foundation of the world, serves as God's ultimate sacrifice for sinners, offering salvation and cleansing from sin. The sermon explores the multifaceted nature of the Lamb, highlighting His role as the Passover Lamb, whose blood provides protection, and as a predicted sacrifice, fulfilling prophecy. It contrasts the 'book of life' with the 'Lamb's book of life,' emphasizing that salvation is secured by faith in Christ's atoning work, not by personal merit. Ultimately, the message underscores the Lamb's power to save and His preeminent position, urging listeners to trust in Him to avoid His future wrath and to reign with Him eternally.

ID 53089Date unavailable

When life's circumstances feel overwhelming, the sermon emphasizes turning to Christ as the unchanging "rock" of stability, drawing from Psalm 61. Examples illustrate this by contrasting the instability of worldly affairs, like the stock market and job losses, with the eternal constancy of Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The core lesson is that true peace and rest are found not in changing external conditions but in anchoring one's life to the immutable value of Christ. The sermon concludes by highlighting that from this rock flows salvation, the Holy Spirit, the joy of salvation, Christ's gentleness, and God's absolute holiness, urging listeners to seek refuge and sufficiency in Him.

ID 52853Date unavailable

Unbelief is the root of all sin and leads to severe judgment, as illustrated by the story of the unnamed official in 2 Kings 7 who doubted Elisha's prophecy of abundant food during a famine. Despite God's provision through the miraculous flight of the Syrian army, this man's doubt prevented him from experiencing the blessing and ultimately led to his death by trampling in the gate. The sermon emphasizes that unbelief, originating from the Garden of Eden, hardens the heart, disables good works, and separates individuals from God's grace, contrasting it with faith in Jesus Christ as the only means of salvation and eternal life. Ultimately, the message calls listeners to turn from unbelief and place their trust in Christ, whose atoning sacrifice and resurrection provide the true 'coinage' for salvation.

ID 52816Date unavailable

Believers are called to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, recognizing that the Christian life is a spiritual warfare against unseen principalities and powers. The sermon emphasizes that this battle requires divine strength, not personal effort, and illustrates this through the biblical accounts of Daniel, Lucifer, and the Apostle Paul's military experiences. Christians are equipped with spiritual armor and weapons, which must be actively put on and utilized, rather than discarded due to perceived difficulty or the world's influence. The core lesson is to rely on God's power, not our own, to overcome sin, worldly temptations, and discouragement, ultimately finishing the race faithfully.

ID 52807Sep 12, 1982

God's four-fold security in Christ offers unbreakable protection, as evidenced by Jesus' promise of eternal life and the Father's greater power. The sermon highlights God's active role in salvation, from anointing Jesus and raising Him from the dead, to appointing Him as judge. It emphasizes that salvation is not based on human merit but on Christ's finished work on the cross, urging listeners to respond to God's persistent call through nature, conscience, providence, and His Word. Ultimately, the message concludes that rejecting God's call leads to judgment, while accepting Jesus as Savior brings eternal security and glorifies God.

ID 52666Sep 12, 1982

Trials are opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity, not reasons for despair. The sermon emphasizes that while suffering is inevitable, our response to it is key, and God's faithfulness provides comfort and strength. By embracing trials with joy and seeking wisdom through faith, believers can develop patience, achieve spiritual maturity, and ultimately glorify God. The message encourages trusting God's promises, even amidst affliction, to find peace and completeness.

ID 52471Date unavailable

The mystery of Christ is revealed through the grace of God, uniting Jews and Gentiles into one body and fellow heirs through the gospel. Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, emphasizes this stewardship and the revelation God has given him, which was not known in past ages. This mystery, centered on Christ, allows for boldness and access to God through faith, and Paul prays for believers to be strengthened in love and comprehend Christ's immeasurable love. The sermon highlights that this revelation is now made known through apostles and prophets by the Spirit, enabling believers to understand God's manifold wisdom and be filled with the fullness of God.

ID 52468Date unavailable

Paul's ministry is presented as a divinely appointed stewardship, a calling to serve and carry God's message, particularly the unsearchable riches of Christ among the Gentiles. These riches, encompassing God's infinite attributes like love, grace, and mercy, are likened to an ocean from which believers can draw endlessly. The sermon emphasizes that this ministration of grace, even when tempered with God's judgment on sin, is meant to reveal the fellowship of the mystery—the unity of believers in Christ—to principalities and powers in heavenly places. Ultimately, Paul's prayer is for believers to be strengthened in their inner man by God's Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, so they may comprehend Christ's immeasurable love and bring glory to God through their lives and the church.

ID 52467Date unavailable

Christians are called to remember their former state as sinners, dead in trespasses and sin, and subject to the prince of the power of the air, but to also remember the transformative power of God's grace. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is not by works but a gift of God, received through faith, and that God's purpose in this change is to create believers for good works. It highlights that God, rich in mercy and love, has quickened believers together with Christ, raising them to sit in heavenly places, and that this divine action is the source of their new life and ability to walk in holiness. The message concludes by urging believers to live in the reality of their new identity in Christ, free from past guilt and condemnation, and to walk in the good works God has ordained for them.

ID 52432Date unavailable

Expounds on the hope and power available to believers through Christ, drawing from Ephesians 1:15-23. It emphasizes that true hope is found not in earthly possessions but in Christ's promises and His ultimate conformity to His image. The message highlights God's immense power, demonstrated in Christ's resurrection, as the source of strength for believers, enabling them to overcome fear of death and live in the assurance of eternal life. The sermon concludes by urging believers to grow in faith and love, reflecting God's glory and anticipating the eternal dwelling of God with humanity.

ID 52429Date unavailable

The spiritual blessings believers receive in Christ, focusing on God's predestination for holiness and adoption as sons. It highlights that true holiness, as exemplified by Christ, is achieved through God's power and the discipline of the mind through His Word. The message further explores redemption through Christ's blood, the forgiveness of sins, and the riches of God's grace, illustrating how believers are accepted in the Beloved and made heirs with Christ. Finally, it underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in sealing believers, providing access to the Father, strengthening the inner man, guiding Christian conduct, and empowering believers to be filled with the Spirit, leading to songs of praise and thankfulness.

ID 52062May 16, 1976

The book of Revelation unveils Jesus Christ as the central figure, emphasizing his divine nature and authority as the first and the last, alive forevermore. The sermon traces the progression of the early church through the messages to seven specific churches: Ephesus, representing a loss of first love; Smyrna, enduring persecution; Pergamos, marked by the church and world merging; Thyatira, characterized by false sacrifice; Sardis, a remnant with a name for life but inwardly dead; Philadelphia, a true church of brotherly love with evangelistic zeal; and Laodicea, a lukewarm and apostate church. The core lesson is to maintain fervent love for Christ, remain faithful through trials, and avoid compromising with the world, ultimately calling believers to possess spiritual riches through Christ.

ID 51995May 16, 1976

Unbelief is the root of all sin and leads to judgment, as illustrated by the man who doubted Elisha's prophecy of famine relief and died trampled in the gate, seeing the abundance but not partaking. The sermon contrasts this with the faith of Noah, who obeyed God's command to build an ark despite never having seen rain, and Pharaoh, whose hardened heart refused to believe God's power even after witnessing miracles. Ultimately, the message emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not works, and that rejecting this faith results in eternal judgment, a consequence that even the most moral person will face if they do not believe.

ID 51993Date unavailable

Practical Christian living by drawing from the book of James, focusing on interpersonal relationships within the family of God. It highlights four key admonitions: not to speak evil of one another, not to grudge against one another, to confess faults to one another, and to pray for one another. The message stresses that unchecked negative speech and grudges fester and harm the body of Christ, while confession and prayer foster healing and unity. Ultimately, it calls believers to humility and mutual care, reflecting God's grace in their interactions.

ID 51991Date unavailable

Christian liberty is rooted in Christ's redemptive work, freeing believers from the bondage of this present evil world and the curse of the law. This freedom is not merely an absence of restraint but a positive state of sonship, allowing access to God and the ability to gaze upon His glory. True liberty is found in continuing in Christ's word, for the truth makes believers disciples and enables them to walk in the light of God's glory, serving Him with joy and proclaiming His freedom.

ID 51880Date unavailable

Expounds on Isaiah 50, presenting Jesus Christ as the perfect servant and the light of the world. It highlights Israel's sin and turning away from God, contrasting it with God's persistent mercy and the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. The message emphasizes that Jesus willingly endured suffering, shame, and death as a ransom for sinners, fulfilling God's demand for justice while offering salvation. It concludes by urging listeners to trust in Jesus, the light of the world, to escape spiritual darkness and eternal separation from God, and to find true life and salvation in Him alone.

ID 51861Date unavailable

The Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world, offering salvation and eternal life to those who follow Him. Drawing from Isaiah 50, the message highlights God's grace and the perfect servant, Jesus, who willingly suffered for humanity's sins. It contrasts this divine light with self-kindled fires of man-made religions, emphasizing that true salvation comes only through faith in Christ. The sermon concludes by urging listeners to turn from darkness and embrace the eternal light offered by Jesus, who is the sole source of deliverance from judgment and the path to knowing God.