Podcast Summary: Fresh Life Church – "Maybe This Morning"

Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Date: January 12, 2026

Overview: Main Theme

Pastor Levi Lusko's message, "Maybe This Morning," challenges listeners to reflect on the reality and imminence of Jesus Christ's return. Drawing from Matthew 16, he weaves together biblical prophecy, the certainty of Christ’s second coming, and how believers should live in anticipation of that day. With urgency and candor, Pastor Levi urges the church to be constantly ready, live intentionally, and keep Jesus at the center of their daily lives.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Living in Light of Christ's Return

• Pastor Levi opens with a reflection on the hymn “I’ll Fly Away” and the phrase “some glad morning,” urging listeners to consider the possibility: “What if this were the morning you flew away from your body, flew away from this world to God’s celestial shore?” (01:30)
• He challenges the audience to live each day with the awareness that this could be "the day" – either personally (through death) or globally (at Christ’s second coming).

2. Biblical Emphasis on the Second Coming

• Pastor Levi highlights the prevalence of Bible references to Christ’s return:
  • “It’s talked about 318 times in the New Testament, and there’s only 260 chapters… In the Old Testament, 1,527 times.” (04:15)
• He contrasts society’s concrete belief in Jesus’ first coming (Christmas) with its abstract treatment of the second coming, despite eight times more biblical prophecy about Christ’s return.

3. Prophecy and "Signs of the Times"

• Explains prophetic foreshortening: Many Old Testament prophecies speak of Christ’s first and second comings in the same breath, making it difficult to discern timing (07:00).
• Uses the analogy of seeing mountains at a distance—what looks close may actually be far apart.
• Stresses that reading Scripture footnotes and letting “the Bible interpret itself” is key to understanding prophecy (15:40).

4. Matthew 16: Discerning the Present Moment

• Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees for demanding a sign while missing clear spiritual truths unfolding before them (18:10).
• Memorable historical weather wisdom is discussed (“Red sky at night, sailor’s delight…”), emphasizing that spiritual signs are often as recognizable as weather patterns.

5. The Dangers of “Unholy Alliances”

• Points out the unusual partnership between Pharisees and Sadducees—two groups normally at odds—who joined together in opposition to Jesus (27:10).
• Challenges listeners: “Do you have friendships in your life that are formed on wickedness? … Do you have alliances based on envy or hatred?” (28:50)
• Cites Psalm 1:1 as a guide to godly relationships and accountability.

6. The Request for a Sign and The Ultimate Sign of Jonah

• Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a supernatural sign to prove His divinity; He refuses, offering “the sign of the prophet Jonah” (i.e., His resurrection after three days) (36:30).
• Quote: “You want a sign? You can’t handle the sign, all you’re going to get is the cross.” (37:00)
• Explains how Jesus fulfilled Messianic prophecies in all aspects of His life, challenging skepticism about His identity.

7. Godliness, Contentment, and the Insatiable Heart

• Stresses that human desire for “more” is endless, but “if Jesus isn’t enough, nothing on earth ever will be” (48:15).
• Encourages contentment: “You came naked, you’re leaving naked. Everything you need is already in your life.” (47:40)
• Cautions against constantly seeking additional proofs or blessings rather than responding to what God has already revealed.

8. Barriers to Faith: Intellectual vs. Moral Problems

• Levi distinguishes between honest doubt and willful unbelief: “This then becomes a moral problem, unbelief, not an intellectual one. It’s not that they couldn’t [believe], it’s that they wouldn’t.” (01:00:10)
• References Lazarus’s resurrection as a sign rejected by religious leaders, showing that miraculous evidence alone can’t change a hardened heart.

9. Signs of the End Times

• Outlines biblical “signs of the times” that indicate the closeness of Christ’s return, including: wars, Middle East conflict, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, persecution, religious deception, apostasy, widespread travel and knowledge (increased “to and fro”), rampant immorality, and the “super sign” of Israel’s rebirth as a nation (01:09:40).
• Quote: “Jesus Christ is coming soon. I’m trying to say we got a super sign of both the destruction and the rebirth of the modern state of Israel.” (01:17:10)
• Cites the exponential speed of Bible translation as a sign of the gospel reaching the world (01:19:40).

10. How Then Shall We Live? Four Biblical Exhortations

Pastor Levi ties in Jeremiah 29’s guidance for believers living in exile:

1. Work hard – "Show up for work and do your best. People will notice."
2. Do good – "Share the gospel. Especially do good to the household of faith."
3. Enjoy life – "God isn’t blessed by you thinking holiness means being a bummer. Eat your bread with gusto!"
4. Be patient – "Why is Jesus taking so long? Be patient; He’s coming." (01:24:40)

11. Readiness, Hope, and Living with Perspective

• Encourages self-examination: “What if Jesus came today and you weren’t ready? … How much better to do all that now, and then he comes and you go, Maranatha. You know what that means? It means ‘It’s about time!’” (01:28:50)
• Urges listeners to keep “room” for Jesus in their hearts, above all else.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On prophecy:
  “There are eight times as many prophecies in this book about the second coming as there are the first. So why… do we treat the second coming like, ‘Oh, someday’?” (04:50)

• On readiness:
  “When you know where you’re going, it changes how you live on the way.” (10:30)

• On misguided alliances:
  “Do you have friendships in your life that are formed on wickedness... based on envy, jealousy, hatred? That is baby murder and has to be dealt with ruthlessly in your heart.” (28:50)

• On the sign of Jonah:
  “You want a sign? You can’t handle the sign, all you’re going to get is the cross.” (37:00)

• On sufficiency in Christ:
  “If Jesus isn’t enough, nothing on earth ever will be.” (48:15)

• On the frequency of end-times signs:
  “The technical period of the end days or end times began the moment Jesus ascended ... we have never been closer than anyone in human history to the return of Christ today.” (01:22:40)

• On living in exile:
  “Work hard, do good, enjoy life, be patient.” (01:25:00)

• On hopeful waiting:
  “Don’t worry, Jesus, I’m waiting up for you. What if he came today? … Maranatha. It means it’s about time. Come quickly.” (01:32:00)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• Opening and Main Theme: 00:10 – 05:00
• Importance and Prevalence of Second Coming in Scripture: 04:00 – 07:30
• Prophetic Foreshortening and Sign of the Times: 07:00 – 11:00
• Interpreting Matthew 16 and Weather/Prophecy Analogy: 18:00 – 25:00
• Unholy Alliances and Relationships: 27:00 – 32:00
• Request for Signs & Sign of Jonah: 36:30 – 44:00
• Contentment & Faithfulness: 47:00 – 53:00
• Nature of Unbelief: 01:00:00 – 01:04:00
• Specific End-Times Prophecies and Current Events: 01:09:00 – 01:22:00
• Four Exhortations for Living in Exile: 01:24:00 – 01:28:00
• Call to Readiness and Invitation to Faith: 01:28:00 – 01:33:00

Final Reflections

Pastor Levi concludes by inviting listeners to maintain a posture of readiness and anticipation for Christ’s return—“maybe this morning.” He encourages everyone to examine their hearts, sweep away distractions, and make room for Jesus. The call is clear: live every day purposely, as if it were the day you meet Jesus, and keep eternity front and center in your thoughts and actions.

For more information or to listen to the full episode, visit freshlife.church or download the Fresh Life Church app.