16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

https://wrestlingwiththeology.org/media/podcast/dd_240620.mp3

Renaissance Coliseum

Peoria, IL

Bart Gunn vs Wyldcard

'Southern Psycho' Elliott Russell vs Kendall Windham

Rick Steiner vs Vampire Warrior

Illinois Tag Team Titles Match: Badd Company (c) vs 'Superstar' Bill Dundee &

'Macho Man' Randy Savage

Bunkhouse Buck vs Erik Watts

Illinois Heavyweight Title Match: Iron Mike Sharpe (c) vs Chris Candido

2 Cold Scorpio vs Terry Taylor

Big Bubba Rogers vs Big Boss Man

'Gentleman' Chris Adams vs Jerry 'The King' Lawler

6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.” 7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” 10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” 12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

https://wrestlingwiththeology.org/media/podcast/dd_240613.mp3

"I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain" (Galatians 4:11).

With all the problems that the Galatians have encountered, Paul was worried about them. They had basically reversed most of everything he taught. He was worried that all of his work was in vain.

In this verse, Paul shows his spiritual fatherhood over the Galatian churches. He worries over them as a parent over a wayward child. How many of you have looked at your child, at one point or another, and asked the same question about your child? How could I have spent so much time and energy and you won't listen to me?

This struggle every parent and every pastor understands well. All the labor we put into our children and our congregation but people still turn aside to the left and the right. But do we labor in vain? Absolutely not! All labor done in Christ is not in vain. It will bear abundant fruit, but it might take some time. And God gives us the strength to wait patiently for His fruit. Amen.

State Farm Center

Champaign, IL

Hector Guerrero vs Steve Southern

Big Boss Man vs Vampire Warrior

Interstate 74 Title Match: Ahmed Johnson (c) vs Grappler

'Southern Psycho' Elliot Russell vs Chris CAndido

Bart Gunn & Bunkhouse Buck vs Iron Mike Sharpe & Kendall Windham

Nikita Koloff vs Moondog Spike

Erik Watts vs Great Kabuki

Big Bubba Rogers vs Trevor Murdoch

Jerry Lawler vs 'Gentleman' Chris Adams

'Universal Heartthrob' Austin Idol vs Dustin Rhodes

"You observe days and months and seasons and years!" (Galatians 4:10).

Christians all over the world argue over the celebration of holy days. Lutherans have several. The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics have even more. The Evangelicals have almost none. And everyone says their number is correct. And everyone condemns those who celebrate one they don't like.

But holy days and seasons aren't evil in themselves. St. Paul writes to the Romans, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind" (14:5). No one should condemn you because you celebrate or don't celebrate their day. However, you cannot condemn anyone for not celebrating your day. "The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. ... [T]he one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God" (Romans 14:6). In everything you do, give thanks to God. Amen.

"How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world?" (Galatians 4:9).

In relation to God's power and glory, everything in the world is weak and worthless. The elementary principles that drive the doctrines of demons are especially weak and worthless. The Galatians had come out of this mindset. They had exchanged the weak and worthless for divine power and glory.

But some wanted to go back. Paul has to ask the question burning on his mind: "Once you've tasted God's goodness, how can you possibly want to go back? You want to go back to the world's bitterness?" Some of the Galatian Christians wanted to go back to the world's bitterness. They didn't want Christ's sweet Gospel.

How about you? Do you want to turn back? Do you want the weak and worthless? Or do you want true power and glory? Choose God's sweet power and glory. You will be greatly blessed. Amen.

"But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God" (Galatians 4:9).

As a child of God, you are known by God. It's not that you've found Jesus. It's that Jesus has written your name in the Book of Life. "Anyone not found written in the Book of Life [will be] cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).

Those whom God knows are in the Book of Life. Those who are not in the Book of Life will hear the words spoken to the foolish virgins, "Truly I say to you, I do not know you" (Matthew 25:12). No one wants to hear these words from our Lord.

But your name is written in the Book of Life because God has made you alive through your Baptism (Ephesians 2:5). In your Baptism you can rejoice. Not that you know God. But that you are known by God. Amen.