“Wars and Rumors of Wars: The First Sign of
the End-Time Season

Matthew 24:3-8 Luke 21:28
Zechariah 12:3 Ezekiel 37-38

INTRODUCTION

Family, we are living in a time when the world feels unstable. Nations are rising,
Alliances are shifting, and headlines change by the hour. But Jesus told us long
before any modern crisis that these patterns would appear-not to frighten us, but
to prepare us.

The end times are not a message of fear.
They are a message of clarity, alignment, and readiness.

Today, we begin our series with the first sign Jesus gave:
“Wars and rumors of wars.”

1. THE SETTING JESUS SPEAKS FROM THE MOUNT OF OLIVES
   
   Matthew 24:3
   Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives, the very place prophecy says He will
   return to (Zechariah 14). The disciples came to Him privately and asked:
   
   “What will be the sign of Your coming at the end of the age?“
   
   This is not a casual question.
   This is a prophetic question.
   And Jesus answered it with precision.
   
   He does not hide the future from
   His people.
   He prepares their hearts for it.
2. THE FIRST SIGN: “YOU WILL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS”
   
   Matthew 24:6-7
   
   Jesus says:
   
   “You will hear…”
   Not just see-hear.
   This fits our age of media, alerts, and constant information.
   “Wars…”
   Active conflict.
   “Rumors of war…”
   Threats, tensions, and military
   buildups, political posturing, nuclear talk, and alliances forming.
   
   Jesus is describing a climate of global instability
   
   Then he says something shocking:
   
   “See that you are not troubled.”
   
   This is not a suggestion.
   It is a command.
   
   Jesus is saying:
   “You will see shaking, but shaking must not live inside of you.
3. “The END IS NOT YET”- WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS
   
   Jesus makes it clear:
   
   Wars are not the end.
   Rumors of wars are not the end.
   Conflict is not the end.
   
   They are the beginning of birth pains.
   
   Birth pains:
   Start suddenly
   Increase in intensity
   Signal that something is coming
   Cannot be stopped once they begin
   
   Jesus chose this image intentionally.
   
   The world is not just collapsing.
   The world is contracting toward HIs return.
4. “NATION AGAINST NATION”- THE DEEPER MEANING
   
   The Greek word for “nation” is ethnos.
   
   This includes:
   
   Ethnic conflict
   Racial tension
   Cultural hostility
   National division
   Tribalism
   Potarization
   
   Jesus is not describing political wars.
   He is describing ethnic and cultural shaking.
   
   When we see division rising, we are watching His words unfold.
5. ISRAEL: THE PROPHETIC CENTER OF GLOBAL CONFLICT
   
   You cannot teach end-times prophecy without Israel. Israel Is
   God’s prophetic time-clock.
   
   1. Jerusalem becomes a global burden
   
   Zechariah 12:3
   “Jerusalem will be a heavy stone for all nations.”
   
   This means:
   Nations will argue over it
   Nations will pressure it
   Nations will fight around it
   Nations will injure themselves
   trying to control it
   
   When the world’s eyes are on Israel, prophecy is speaking.
   
   2. Israel’s rebirth fulfilled prophecy
   
   Ezekiel 38 describes a future coalition rising against Israel.
   
   We are watching alliances form today that mirror this pattern.
   
   Israel is not just another nation. Israel is the prophetic anchor of
   end-times.
6. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BELIEVERS TODAY
   
   Jesus did not tell us these things to make us anxious.
   He told us so we would be:
   
   Spiritually awake
   Emotionally steady
   Rooted in Scripture
   Unafraid of global shaking
   Focused on our assignments
   
   He said:
   “See that you are not troubled.”
   
   This is not a time to fear.
   This is a time for discernment.
7. THE BELIEVER’S POSTURE: LOOK UP
   
   Luke 21:28
   “When these things begin to happen, look up…
   for your redemption draws near.”
   
   Not when they are finished-
   when they begin.
   
   Loop Up.
   Lift your head.
   Do not bow to fear.
   Do not collapse under anxiety.
   Do not drown in headlines.
   
   The world hears “wars and rumors of wars” and says,
   “We are doomed.”
   
   The believer hears the same words and says,
   “He’s closer.”
8. APPLICATION: HOW WE LIVEIN THIS SEASON
   
   1. Let Scripture interpret the news
   
   Not the other way around.
   
   2. Guard your heart from fear
   
   Fear is not a fruit of the Spirit.
   
   3. Pray for Israel and the nations
   
   This aligns you with God’s heart.
   
   4. Stay focused on your assignment
   
   The world may shake, but your calling does not.
   
   CONCLUSION
   
   Wars and rumors of wars are not the end. They are
   The beginning of the prophetic season, Jesus described.
   
   We are not watching the world fall apart. We are watching
   The Word of God comes together.
   
   Lift your heads.
   Steady your heart.
   Stay in position.
   
   Your redemption is drawing near.
   
   PRAYER
   “Wars and Rumors of Wars: The First Sign”
   
   Father,
   We thank you for Your Word today.
   –
   a Word that does not shake us, but steadies us.
   A Word that does not frighten us, but prepares us.
   A Word that reminds us that You are God
   in the middle of every global storm.
   
   Lord, we lift our eyes to You.
   You told us that when these things begin to happen,
   we should look up,
   because our redemption is drawing near.
   So today, we refuse fear.
   We refuse anxiety.
   We refuse confusion.
   We choose faith.
   We choose clarity.
   We choose to stand on what You have spoken.
   
   Father, we pray for the nations.
   We pray for leaders, governments, and those in
   authority.
   Let Your peace interrupt the plans of darkness.
   Let Your hand restrain what the enemy
   desires to release.
   
   We pray for Israel-
   Your covenant people, Your prophetic time-clock,
   The nation you have engraved on the palms of
   Your hands.
   Cover them.
   Protect them.
   Fulfill every word You have spoken concerning them.
   
   And Lord, we pray for Your Church.
   Make us a people who are awake,
   a people who are discerning,
   a people who are anchored in
   Scripture
   and unmoved by headlines.
   Let us be light in a dark world,
   steady in an unstable world,
   and faithful in a distracted world.
   
   Father, strengthen every heart in the church.
   Where there has been fear, bring peace.
   Where there has been confusion- bring hope.
   Where there has been distraction-
   bring understanding.
   Where there has been heaviness, bring hope.
   Where there has been distraction, bring focus.
   
   We declare today:
   We will not be troubled.
   We will not be shaken.
   We will not be moved.
   Because You are our refuge,
   our foundation,
   and our soon-coming King.
   
   Seal this Word in us.
   Let it bear fruit.
   Let it produce endurance, wisdom,
   and readiness.
   And let our lives reflect the truth
   That you are closer now than ever
   before.
   
   In Jesus’ name,
   Amen.
   
   Rev. Debra Stith
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

When They Call You a Stranger in the Church

Beloved,

There are moments in our spiritual walk that reveal more than they
wound. In the past, someone called me a stranger in the church-a
a place where I have worshiped, prayed, served, and grown. The words
were meant to diminish, but instead they clarified something holy: people
do not get to define who you are in God.

The Spirit led me to sit with this, not in offense, but in truth.

You Are Not a Stranger to God

When people mislabel you, God speaks louder.

“So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with
all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
-Ephesians 2:19

This is the identity heaven recognizes.
This is the identity no human can revoke.

You belong-not because people approve you, but because God has
adopted you

Mislabeling is Often Misrecognition

Sometimes people cannot discern the grace in your life. Sometimes
They react to what they do not understand. Sometimes your presence
exposes what they have ignored in themselves.

But Scritpture reminds us:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
-Psalm 118:22

Rejection is not always personal.
Sometimes it is prophetic.

Christ Welcomes the One Others Push Away

Jesus consistently embraced the ones religious circles tried to
exclude.

“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.”
-Romans 15:7

If Christ welcomes you, no one has the authority to unwelcome you.

God Sees What People Cannot

People look at labels.
God looks at identity.

“The Lord sees not as man sees.”
-1 Samuel 16:7

They may see you as unfamiliar.
God sees you as chosen.

They may see you as a stranger.
God sees you as His own.

Stand Firm in Who You Are

You do not have to defend yourself.
You do not have to argue.
You do not haveto shrink.

Your belonging is rooted in God, not in the
approval of people.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
-Romans 8:31

Let them talk.
Let them misunderstand.
Let them mislabel.

Your assignment remains untouched.

A Closing Word for Your Heart

Being called a stranger in the church may have felt
like an insult, but spiritually, it was a revelation. It
exposed hearts. It clarified identity. It reminded you
that your belonging is not horizontal-it is vertical.

You are known.
You are seen.
You are chosen.
You are not a stranger- you are HIs.

🕊️Companion Prayer: When They Call You a Stranger

Father,
I come before you with a steady heart, grateful that You see me
fully and call me Your own. When people mislabel me or misunderstand
the grace in my life, anchor me again in the truth of who I am in You.

You said in Your Word:

“You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but members of God’s family.”
-Ephesians 2:19

So I rest in that identity today.
I refuse every label that does not come from heaven.
I release every word spoken from
insecurity, jealousy, or blindness.
I stand in the belonging you have already established.

Lord, guard my heart from offense.
Let no wound take root.
Let no careless word shape my posture.
Let no human opinion override Your voice.

Teach me to walk in quiet confidence,
to respond with grace,
and to remain unmoved by others’ noise.

Where there is rejection, give me revelation.
Where there is misunderstanding, give me maturity.
Where there is misrecognition, give me peace.

Thank you for welcoming me,
choosing me, and calling me your own.
Thank you for protecting my identity. My assignment
is intact, and my presence is purposeful.

I belong to You.
I am known by You.
I am held by You.
I am never a stranger in Your house.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Rev. Debra Stith

Finding Your Identity When People Mislablel You

Some moments don’t just bruise the ego-they touch the spirit. Being called
A stranger in the very place where you worship can feel like a quiet wound.
But scripture has already spoken to this experience with clarity, dignity, and
truth. What others call you, and who God says you are, will never be the same
thing.

The Opening: A Moment that Reveals Hearts

There are times when people’s words expose more about their own spiritual
posture than yours. Being labeled a stranger in the church is one of those
moments. It can feel dismissive, disrespectful, or even spiritually aggressive,
but it is not a reflection of your identity.

It is a revelation of theirs.

Section One: You Are Not a Stranger to God

People may misunderstand you, but God has already settled your belonging.

“So now you are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with
all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
-Ephesians 2:19

This is your anchor.
This is your identity.
This is your covering.

No one in a pew, pulpit, or parking lot has the authority to override what God
has declared.

Section Two: When People Mislabel You

Sometimes people project their own discomfort, jealousy, or insecurity onto
others. Sometimes they simply cannot discern the grace on your life.

Scripture reminds us:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
-Psalm 118:22

Rejection is often a sign of divine selection.
Being mislabeled is often a sign of divine assignment.

Section Three: Christ Welcomes the One Others Push Away

Jesus consistently embraced the ones religious people tried to
exclude.

“Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for
the glory of God.”
-Romans 15:7

If Christ welcomes you, then no one has the authority to unwelcome you.

Section Four: God Sees What People Cannot

People look at labels
God looks at identity.

“The Lord sees not as man sees.”
-Samuel 16:7

They may see you as unfamiliar.
God sees you as chosen.

They may see you as a stranger.
God sees you as His own.

Pull Quote

“Your belonging is not determined by people – it is established
by God.”

Section Five: Stand Firm in Who You Are

You don’t have to defend yourself.
You don’t have to argue.
You don’t have to prove your belonging.

Your identity is rooted in God, not in the approval of people.

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
-Romans 8:31

Let them talk.
Let them misunderstand.
Let them mislabel.

Your assignment remains untouched.

Conclusion: You Are Not a Stranger -You Are His

Being called a stranger in the church may have felt like an attack,
but spiritually, it was a revelation. It exposed hearts, clarified your
identity, and reminded you that your belonging comes from God
alone.

You are known.
You are seen.
You are Chosen.
You are not a stranger-you are HIs.

Reflection Questions
1. When have you felt
misunderstood or mislabeled in a
spiritual environment?

2. What scripture helps you anchor your
identity when people misjudge you?

3. How can you respond with grace
without shrinking your God-given authority?

4. What does belonging to God’s family mean
to you in this season.

Rev. Debra Stith

By Debra Stith – GraceVoiceMedia

There come times and moments after every breakthrough, every revelation, every answered prayer, that is where the real work begins. It’s the moment after you
believe. The moment where faith shifts from emotion to posture, from excitement
to discipline, from inspiration to alignment.

Belief is the doorway.
Putting God first is a daily walk.

Many people believe in God.
But not everyone orders their life around Him.

Belief is internal.
Priority is visible.

And the truth is simple:
What you put first becomes the foundation for everything that follows.

🌿 1. After You Believe, Your Priorities Must Shift

Belief without reordering your life becomes inspiration without transformation. When God becomes first, everything else finds its rightful place.

Putting God first means:

Your decisions flow from His wisdom
Your peace comes from His presence
Your identity comes from His voice
Your direction comes from His leading

It’s not about perfection.
It’s about posture.

🌙 2. After You Believe, Your Desires Mature

When God is first, your desires begin to align with His heart.
You stop chasing what drains you.
You stop forcing what isn’t yours.
You stop entertaining what breaks your peace.

You begin to want what He wants for you:
Clarity
Wholeness
Purpose
Peace
Alignment

This is spiritual maturity – not striving, but surrender.

🔥 3. After You Believe, Your Decisions Become Evidence

Faith is not proven by emotion.
Faith is proven by direction.

Putting God first shows up in:

What you say yes to
What you say no to
What you walk away from
What you protect
What you prioritize

Your decisions become the fruit of your beliefs.

🌱 4. After You Believe, You Stop Competing With God for Control

Putting God first means releasing the illusion that you can manage
everything on your own terms.

It means saying:
“God, I trust Your timing more than my urgency.
I trust Your plan more than my fear.
I trust Your wisdom more than my assumptions.”

This is where peace lives.
This is where clarity grows.
This is where alignment becomes natural.

💛 5. After You Believe, You Build Your Life on a Solid Foundation

When God is first:

You don’t crumble under pressure
You don’t break under criticism
You don’t fold under transition
You don’t lose yourself in the noise

You become anchored.
Steady.
Rooted.
Unshakeable.

Because your foundation is not your feelings – It’s your faith.

✨Reflection for Today

Ask yourself in 2026:
“Where in my life does God need to be first again?”

Not out of guilt.
Not out of fear.
But out of alignment.

Because after you believe…. Putting God first is how you live
What you say you trust.

🙏🏽 🙏 Closing Prayer

“Lord, help me put You first in every area of my life.
Align my desires with Your will.
Order my steps with Your wisdom.
Strengthen my faith with Your presence.
And let my life reflect the truth that I trust You above all else.
Amen”

How grace found me right where I was

Opening Reflection

There are moments when life grows quiet enough for the soul to speak.
In that stillness, I heard a whisper – gentle, steady, unmistakable. “Come
home.

I didn’t know it then, but Jesus had been drawing me long before I
recognized His voice. My journey wasn’t dramatic or sudden. It was slow
unfolding, a tender awakening, a longing for something real and safe
and true.

And when I finally turned toward Him, I discovered what my heart had
been searching for all along: a love that welcomes me without hesitation.

The Moment Everything Shifted

I didn’t come to Jesus with polished prayers or perfect faith. I came with
honesty. I went with a need. I came carrying the pieces of my life, unsure
If they were enough.

But Jesus didn’t step back.
He stepped closer.

He didn’t question my worth.
He affirmed it.

He didn’t measure my past.
He covered it with mercy.

In His presence, I learned something
Life-changing:
Jesus doesn”t wait for us to be whole
before He welcomes us. He welcomes
us so He can make us whole.

What His Love Did in Me

His love didn’t just soothe me – it transformed me.

It quieted the shame that tried to cling to me.
It healed wounds I thought I had to hide.
It restored pieces of me I
believed were lost forever.
It taught me that belonging in Him is not
earned – It’s received.

Jesus didn’t just open the door. He embraced me.
He called me His own.
He welcomed me into a love that
holds steady even when life does not.

Walking Forward With Him

Now I walk with a new confidence – not in myself,
but in the One who welcomed me with open arms.
Every day is shaped by His presence.

And if you’re reading this, wondering whether Jesus
will welcome you too, hear this clearly:
He already is.

He’s been drawing you.
He’s been whispering to you.
He’s been waiting for you – not
with judgment, but with joy.

Pull Quote
“Jesus didn’t wait for me to be
perfect. He welcomed me, so He
could heal me.”

Reflection Questions

1. Where have you sensed Jesus drawing you lately?
2. What parts of your story need His healing love?
3. How might your life change if you fully believed
you are already welcomed?

Companion Devotional: Welcomed by His Love

Scripture for Meditation

John 6:37 – “Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”

Let this verse settle into your spirit. Jesus doesn’t just
accept you- He welcomes you. He receives you. He
delights in your coming.

Quiet Reflection

Find a still moment today. Breathe deeply. Let your heart
slow down. Ask yourself: Where have I felt Jesus drawing
me lately?

Don’t rush the answer. Let it rise gently.

Devotional Thought

Jesus doesn’t wait for perfection. He meets you in honesty.
He meets you in need.
He meets you in the places you thought were too messy, too
complicated, or too broken.

His welcome is not fragile.
His love is not conditional.
His arms are not hesitant.

You are received – fully, freely, joyfully.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for welcoming me with a love that never wavers.
Teach me to rest in Your embrace, trust Your heart, and walk in the
confidence of being fully received. Draw me closer today, and help me
recognize Your voice as You lead me. Amen

Action Step

Write down one area of your life where you need to feel welcomed,
accepted, or held.
Then speak this aloud over yourself: “Jesus welcomes me here too.

Debra Stith, GraceVoicemedia.com

Steeping into the New Year with Presence, Peace, and Purpose

Opening

There is a sacred hush that rests on the first morning of a new year.
Before the noise begins, before the lists start forming, before the world
makes its demands, there is a moment where the soul whispers one name that has never failed us: Jesus

This morning, I rise not because everything is perfect, but because God is faithful.
I step into 2026 with gratitude, expectancy, and a heart fully turned toward the One
who has already gone ahead of me.

Section 1 – A Year Framed by His Presence

Good morning, Jesus.
Thank you for meeting me here at the doorway of a brand-new year.
Thank you for stepping into 2026 before I ever arrived.
Thank you for ordering my steps, steadying my heart, and renewing
my strength.

I don’t know everything this year will hold, but I know the One who holds me.

Pull Quote:
“I’m not chasing blessings this year
_
“I’m chasing your presence.”

Section 2 – A New Year, A New Posture

In 2026, I choose to walk with You intentionally.
I choose peace over panic.
Obedience over impulse.
Stillness over striving.
Faith over fear.

This year, I refuse to be driven by pressure.
I will be led by Your Spirit.

Section 3 – A Heart Ready for God’s Work

So here I am, Lord.
Awake.
Available.
Aligned.

I’m not asking for a perfect year. I’m asking for a purposeful one.
A year where You shape me, stretch me, and strengthen me for
what You’ve assigned.

Pull Quote:
“Lead me. Cover me. Transform me. Use me.”

Conclusion – Good Morning, 2026

Good morning, Jesus.
Good morning, purpose.
Good morning, 2026

I step into this year with confidence – not in myself, but in the God who
walks with me.
Let’s walk this out together.

Reflection Questions

1. What is one thing you want to surrender to Jesus as you enter 2026?
2. What posture do you want to carry into this new year – peace,
   obedience, stillness, or faith?
3. Where do you sense God inviting you to be more intentional this year?
4. What does “walking with Jesus” look like for you in practical, daily ways?
5. What are you expecting God to do in and through you in 2026?
   

Debra Stith, GraceVoiceMedia.com

Spiritual Warfare in the Psalms

A 10-lesson Bible Teaching Series

🌿 Series Overview

The Psalms are not just poetry- they are weapons, strategies, and
survival manuals for the believer under attack. The series explores
how David and other psalmists fought spiritual battles through prayer,
worship, lament, declaration, and trust.

Each lesson includes:

Key Psalm(s)
Warfare Focus
Teaching Points
Reflection Questions
A Warfare Practice for the Week

Lesson 1: The Battlefield of the Soul

Psalm 3
Warfare Focus: Recognizing spiritual attack and responding with
confidence in God.

David names the enemies without fear.
Spiritual warfare begins with awareness, not denial.
God is the lifter of the head, restoring identity and courage

Warfare Practice: Write your own “Psalm 3,” naming the battle and
declaring God’s protection.

Lesson 2 – Worship as Warfare

Psalm 27
Warfare Focus: Worship dismantles fear and restores spiritual sight.

Teaching Points

“The Lord is my light” is a declaration, not a whisper.
Worship shifts the atmosphere and the heart.
Seeking God’s face is a strategy, not a suggestion.

Warfare Practice: Create a personal worship playlist for spiritual battles.

Lesson 3 – When the Enemy Feels Too Strong

Psalm 18
Warfare Practice: God as Deliverer, Warrior, and Rescuer.

Teaching Points

God fights for His people
David’s imagery reveals God’s violent love in opposition to darkness.
Victory is not symbolic- it is literal.

Warfare Practice: List past victories and pray them aloud as testimony.

Lesson 4 – The Power of Lament

Psalm 13
Warfare Focus: Lament is a weapon, not a weakness.

Teaching Points

Honest lament breaks spiritual numbness.
Lament leads to trust.
God meets us in the “How long O Lord?”

Warfare Practice: Write a lament prayer using David’s pattern.

Lesson 5 – God as Refuge and Fortress

Psalm 91
Warfare Focus: Dwelling in God’s presence as protection

Teaching Points

Spiritual warfare is won by abiding, not striving.
Angels are assigned to protect.
The secret place is a shield.

Warfare Practice: Create a “Secret Place Routine” for daily covering

Lesson 6 –Breaking the Spirit of Fear

Psalm 56
Warfare Focus: Trust as a weapon against fear.

Teaching Points

Fear is a spiritual attack on identity.
“What can flesh do to me?”
reframes the battle.
God collects tears -nothing is wasted.

Warfare Practice: Speak Psalm 56:3-4 aloud morning and night.

Lesson 7 – Warfare Through Praise

Psalm 149
Warfare Focus: Praise executes judgment on the enemy.

Teaching Points

Praise is not passive – it binds kings in chains.
High praise + two-edged sword = spiritual authority.
Joy is a weapon.

Warfare Practice: 10 minutes of intentional warfare praise.

Lesson 8 – When Betrayal Becomes a Battlefield

Psalm 55
Warfare Focus: Healing and protection from relational warfare

Teaching Points

Betrayal is a spiritual wound.
David teaches us to cast
burdens, not carry them.
God sustains the righteous in
relational storms.

Warfare Practice: Release one burden to God in prayer.

Lesson 9 – Standing Firm in the Day of Trouble

Psalm 46
Warfare Focus: Stability when the world shakes.

Teaching Points
God is a present help, not a distant one.
“Be still” is a command to stop spiraling.
God’s sovereignty ends the enemy’s noise.

Warfare Practice: Practice 5 minutes of stillness before God.

Lesson 10 – Victory Belongs to God

Psalm 20
Warfare Focus: Declaring victory before the battle ends.

Teaching Points

Trust in God’s name, not human strength.
God answers from His holy heaven.
The righteous rise and stand upright.

Warfare Practice: Write a victory declaration for your current battle.

Closing Prayer: Psalm 20

Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the promise of Psalm 20.
You are the God who answers in the day of trouble, the God who
Remembers every offering of faith, and the God who sends help from
Your holy sanctuary. Today, I place every battle, every need, and every
desire before you.

Strengthen my heart where it feels weak. Establish my steps where they
feel uncertain. Let Your Name- not my strength, not my plans, not my
resources-be my confidence and my covering.

Lord, fulfill Your purpose in my life. Grant the desires that align with Your
will. Make my petitions strong before You. As I stand in faith, let me rise and
stand upright, knowing that victory belongs to You alone.

I declare that some trust in chariots and some in horses, but I will trust in
the name of the Lord my God. Lift me, sustain me, and let Your victory
be seen in my life.

Amen

Debra Stith, GraceVoiceMedia.com