River City Church Montgomery Podcast

Matthew 5:43-48 (NKJV) 43  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:38-42 (NKJV) 38  "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39  But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40  If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42  Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

John 1:14 (NKJV) 14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Matthew 5:27-30 (NKJV) 27  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29  If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Matthew 5:21-26 (NKJV) 21  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. 23  Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25  Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26  Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5:4 (NKJV) 4  Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.    

Matthew 5:3 (NKJV) 3  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.    

John 15:9 (NKJV) 9  "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Isaiah 9:1-4 (NKJV) 1  Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2  The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3  You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4  For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian.  Matthew 4:12-23 (NKJV) 12  Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13  And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15  "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16  The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned." 17  From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 18  And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19  Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." 20  They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 21  Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, 22  and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. 23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.        

Isaiah 49:1-7 (NKJV) 1  "Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. 2  And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me." 3  "And He said to me, 'You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.' 4  Then I said, 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.' " 5  "And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength), 6  Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' " 7  Thus says the LORD, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the LORD who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And He has chosen You."   John 1:29-42 (NKJV) 29  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30  This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31  I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." 32  And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." 35  Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" 37  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?" 39  He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40  One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42  And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).      

Matthew 22:37-38 New King James Version (NKJV) 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

Isaiah 63:7-9 (NKJV) 7  I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD And the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has bestowed on us, And the great goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, According to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. 8  For He said, "Surely they are My people, Children who will not lie." So He became their Savior. 9  In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the Angel of His Presence saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; And He bore them and carried them All the days of old.  Matthew 2:13-23 (NKJV) 13  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15  and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." 16  Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18  "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." 19  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20  saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." 21  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."    

Luke 1:26-55 (NKJV) 26  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34  Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37  For with God nothing will be impossible." 38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 39  Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44  For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45  Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." 46  And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50  And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53  He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54  He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."    

Amos 8:11-12 (NKJV) 11  "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. 12  They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.   Malachi 4:5 (NKJV) 5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.      

Zechariah 6:12-13 (NKJV) 12  Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD; 13  Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD. He shall bear the glory, And shall sit and rule on His throne; So He shall be a priest on His throne, And the counsel of peace shall be between them both." '    

Isaiah 9:2-7 (NKJV) 2  The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 3  You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4  For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. 5  For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. 6  For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.    

1 Kings 2:45-46 (NKJV) 45  But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever." 46  So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. Thus the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

2 Samuel 7:4-17 (NKJV) 4  But it happened that night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5  "Go and tell My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: "Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? 6  For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 7  Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' " ' 8  Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. 9  And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10  Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 11  since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house. 12  "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14  I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15  But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16  And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever." ' " 17  According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.    

Judges 2:2 (NKJV) 2  And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?  

Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (NKJV) 15  "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16  according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' 17  And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. 18  I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19  And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20  But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' 21  And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'-- 22  when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

Numbers 21:4-9 (NKJV) 4  Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5  And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." 6  So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7  Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8  Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9  So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.    

Exodus 12:1-13 (NKJV) 1  Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2  "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3  Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4  And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6  Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7  And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8  Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9  Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire--its head with its legs and its entrails. 10  You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 11  And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD'S Passover. 12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13  Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.    

Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV) 1  Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2  I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3  I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."    

Genesis 3:14-15 (NKJV) 14  So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15  And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."    

1 John 4:19 (NKJV) 19  We love Him because He first loved us.    

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) 14  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Pastor Todd teaches on Spiritual Gifts; What they are, how they operate, why we should seek them, and the Spirit of Love in which they should be used.   1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (NKJV) 1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2  You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3  Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4  There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.    

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV) 1  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9  not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.    

Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV) 16  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) 1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.    

Acts 6:3-4 (NKJV) 3  Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4  but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:7 (NKJV) 7  Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.  Acts 2:42 (NKJV) 42  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Acts 2:47 (NKJV) 47  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.  

John 1:1-5 (NKJV) 1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.    

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV) 1  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2  in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3  among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9  not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.    

Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV) 41  And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV) 1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.    

John 21:1-12 (NKJV) 1  After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2  Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3  Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4  But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5  Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6  And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8  But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9  Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10  Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11  Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12  Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"--knowing that it was the Lord.    

John 20:19-22 (NKJV) 19  Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21  So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Luke 24:1-12 (NKJV) 1  Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2  But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6  He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7  saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " 8  And they remembered His words. 9  Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10  It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11  And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12  But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.    

Luke 19:28-40 (NKJV) 28  When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29  And it came to pass, when He came near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, 30  saying, "Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. 31  And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you loosing it?' thus you shall say to him, 'Because the Lord has need of it.' " 32  So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. 33  But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you loosing the colt?" 34  And they said, "The Lord has need of him." 35  Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36  And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. 37  Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38  saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39  And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." 40  But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

Isaiah 43:16-21 (NKJV) 16  Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 17  Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): 18  "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19  Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 20  The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. 21  This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.    

Luke 15:11-32 (NKJV) 11  Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13  And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14  But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15  Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16  And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17  But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19  and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' 20  And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21  And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22  But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23  And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24  for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. 25  Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26  So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27  And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' 28  But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29  So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30  But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' 31  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32  It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "

God, Fill Me Up! Psalm 63:1-8 (NKJV) 1  A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3  Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4  Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 6  When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. 7  Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. 8  My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.    

Genesis 15:1-6 (NKJV) 1  After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." 2  But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3  Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!" 4  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5  Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6  And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.    

Luke 4:1-14 (NKJV) 1  Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2  being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' " 5  Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7  Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." 8  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 9  Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10  For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' 11  "and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " 12  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " 13  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 14  Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.    

Psalm 98:1-9 (NKJV) 1  A Psalm. Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2  The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. 3  He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4  Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 5  Sing to the LORD with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a Psalm, 6  With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 7  Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8  Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the LORD, 9  For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.    

Luke 6:17-20 (NKJV) 17  And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18  as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19  And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. 20  Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.    

1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV) 41  Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain." 42  So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43  and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." 44  Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' " 45  Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46  Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

District Superintendent Allen Newton Gives us Three Things God Wants Us To Know from Psalms 139.

Exodus 33:14-23 (NKJV) 14  And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15  Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16  For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth." 17  So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." 18  And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." 19  Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." 20  But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." 21  And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22  So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23  Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."