Podcasts about 11god

GOD DELUSION SLIDES wk. 4 God is a good Creator and He loves His creation.“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job 38:1-4The BIGOT myth“WHY WOULD A LOVING GOD TELL PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FEELINGS?”#1 For God to tell people who they are is in conflict or contradiction with Him being loving #2 Who he would tell you to be is not in agreement with how you feel #3 By “denying” your feelings he does not care for you and is not the loving God he claims to be #4 Feelings are the same as truth. So, in essence it is your truth being deniedGod is a good Creator who does in fact love his creation“3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT“The death of truth in our society has created a moral decay in which every debate ends with the barroom question, ‘says who?'”-Gregory KovelThe truth Christianity asserts:Humanity was created in God's image by GodOur bodies are the temple of God“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.  5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone…. 8 Or who shut in the sea with doors….10 When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; 11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!'  12 Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…. 19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness where is its place,20 that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home. 21 Do you know it because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great? .....25Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt…. 36 Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?.... 39 Can you hunt the prey for the lion….41 Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?” Job 38:1-41NKJV“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?” Job 40:2 NLTWhen truth is led by feeling, the creation begins to argue with the Creator“So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27“3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes twice, but I will proceed no further.” Job 40:3-5 NKJV“8 Would you indeed annul My judgement? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” Job 40:8 NKJV“9 What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you're doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?' 10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?' or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?'11 This is what the LORD says-the Holy One of Isreal and your Creator: ‘Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? 12 I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars at my command.” Isaiah 45:9-12 NLT#1 God is Creator. We are created   “When we reject God as creator, we reject the God of the Bible and serve a God of our own imagination.”- David Guzik  #2 He is a good CreatorThe familiar satanic lie: God's withholding from you (Gen 3:1) What God said, that's not really the truth (Gen 3:4) God just is keeping you down from being who you were meant to be (Gen 3:5)“God comes not to answer. God comes as the answer.”- Jon Courson It returns created to Creator     He says: “I am the potter; you are the clay” Isaiah 64:8 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5 “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you', says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:11God is a good Creator who loves his creation

Send us a textDon't show favoritism.Romans 2:11God does not show favoritism.Remaster of Episode 28, originally aired on October 2, 2019.Support the show

Do you ever wonder if you're really on the path God has for you?Maybe you sense something needs to change—but without clarity, it's hard to take that first step. So you end up staying stuck.I'm sharing 7 clear signs it's time to do something different—and how to confidently move forward when you feel called to more. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” ~ Jeremiah 29:11God didn't give you this one precious life to live on autopilot. He has a plan and a purpose for you—and now is the time to uncover what's standing in your way so you can walk fully in His calling!FREE DOWNLOAD: https://www.terri.com/7steps/JOIN US AT ICING WOMEN'S CONFERENCE: https://www.terri.com/icingBECOME A PARTNER: https://www.terri.com/partnership/FOLLOW ME IN FRENCH: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/terri-savelle-foy-podcast-audio-en-fran%C3%A7ais/id1698308606Be sure to subscribe to my podcast channel for more content about making your dreams bigger than your memories and fulfilling God's plan on your life.SAY HELLO!Website → https://www.terri.com/Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/terrisavellefoy/Tik Tok → https://www.tiktok.com/@terrisavellefoyPinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/terrisavellefoy/Support the show

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,     and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the LORD is a God of justice;     blessed are all those who wait for him.Isaiah 30:1823 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23GOD WILL SHOW MERCYTherefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,     and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the LORD is a God of justice;     blessed are all those who wait for him.Isaiah 30:18And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.Luke 4:1-2"Misinterpretations of our Redeemer's delays are the occasion of a great deal of wickedness. Our Lord Jesus has gone up into the mount of glory, where he is appearing in the presence of God for us, but out of our sight; the heavens must contain him, must conceal him, that we may live by faith. Weariness in waiting betrays us to a great many temptations."HenryHow we act in the wilderness is not the exception; its the rule (its who we really are)Certain of God's people are in trouble and distress, and they are eager for immediate rescue. They cannot wait God's time, nor exercise submission to his will. He will surely deliver them in due season; but they cannot tarry till the hour cometh; like children, they snatch at unripe fruit. ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven'; but their one season is the present; they cannot, they will not wait. They must have their desire instantaneously fulfilled, or else they are ready to take wrong means of attaining it. If in poverty, they are in haste to be rich; and they shall not long be innocent. If under reproach, their heart ferments towards revenge. They would sooner rush under the guidance of Satan into some questionable policy, than in childlike simplicity trust in the Lord and do good. It must not be so with you, my brethren, you must learn a better way.Charles SpurgeonHOW WILL YOU WAIT FOR GOD?IN VIEW OF HIS ABSENCE“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Luke 24:19-2132 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”Luke 24:32God's absence might be a lack of feeling or understanding; but it is never a true absence. God is always there.IN VIEW OF OUR SINLike a dog that returns to his vomit    is a fool who repeats his folly.Proverbs 26:11God's absence might be due to our pursuit of sin; but it does not stop Him from pursuing us.HOW DID MOSES WAIT FOR GOD?IN VIEW OF GOD'S MERCY11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.'” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.Exodus 32:11-1411 But Moses implored the Lord…Exodus 32:11ḥālâ — to become weak; to groan26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27HOW DOES JESUS WAIT? 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[a] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.Hebrews 7:25JESUS MAKES INTERCESSION FOR USThe son's intercession does not reflect the coolness of the Father, but the sheer warmth of the Son. Christ does not intercede because the Father's heart is tepid toward us but because the Son's heart is so full toward us. But the Father's own deepest delight is to say yes to the Son's pleading on our behalf.Dane C. Ortlund

Holy Cooperation | Jeremiah 29:11God has a productive plan for your life—no matter the situation you're in. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of His promise: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."But the question isn't whether God has a plan—the question is our holy cooperation. Are we aligning our hearts, decisions, and actions with His purpose? In this message, we explore what it means to trust, obey, and actively participate in the work God is doing in and through us.

“And you shall rejoice in all the good that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house…“ - Deuteronomy 26:11God is worthy of all the praise we can give Him, but that's not the only reason to be grateful for His blessings. Sharon Epps is here to tell us what happens when we rejoice in God's provision.Sharon Epps is the president of Kingdom Advisors, FaithFi's parent organization. Kingdom Advisors serves the broad Christian financial industry by educating and equipping professionals to integrate biblical wisdom and financial expertise.The Connection Between Gratitude and GenerosityTrue generosity begins with a sense of gratitude. This gratitude comes from recognizing that we are made in God's image. As His image-bearers, we are inherently wired with traits like generosity. However, generosity is difficult to practice without first appreciating all that God has given us. We must take the time to regularly practice being grateful for life itself, our families, friends, and the resources God has entrusted to us. Most importantly, we should cherish the gift of Jesus Christ, who offers us eternal life.Living a grateful life involves intentional practices. One method that can help with this is keeping a gratitude journal. By taking a few minutes a day to write down a few things you are grateful for, you can find healing and growth. Cultivating this habit with discipline will help you maintain a thankful perspective, even when life is tough.How Gratitude Fuels GenerosityGratitude transforms how we see our resources, allowing us to live with an open hand. When we recognize that everything she has comes from God, it becomes easier to hold things loosely, knowing that God is our true provider. This perspective shift also helps us see new ways to be generous beyond financial giving. For example, gratitude can encourage us to practice hospitality, and appreciation for our unique skills can motivate us to use them to serve others. Ultimately, gratitude leads to humility, which makes us more aware of others' needs and eager to help.Keeping Gratitude at the Heart of ThanksgivingWith Thanksgiving approaching, families must keep gratitude central during their celebrations. Simple but meaningful activities like going around the table and sharing what each person is thankful for. Another favorite idea is creating “construction paper placemats,” where each family member writes down a gratitude message for others. These activities help foster a spirit of thankfulness and bring families closer together during the holiday.Grateful living can transform our lives and our giving. By recognizing God's gifts, expressing gratitude, and using our resources generously, we can impact others in meaningful ways. As we approach Thanksgiving, let's make gratitude the foundation of our celebrations and carry that spirit with us throughout the year.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My wife and I are inheriting a significant amount of money, including $50,000 cash, $200,000 in stocks, and $600,000 in mutual funds. We have limited long-term savings and only a car loan as debt. Should I work with the CKA (Certified Kingdom Advisor) with whom we have an appointment or open a Schwab account independently? How should we manage this inheritance?I'm looking for CD rates that are comparable to my Christian beliefs. Can you provide guidance on where I can find Christian-aligned banking options for CDs?I'm a single mom of three children with a limited income. I was wondering how I could raise my credit score. What are some steps I can take to improve my credit score?Resources Mentioned:Bankrate.comChristian Credit CounselorsChristian Community Credit UnionAnnualCreditReport.comLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Send us a textSubscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.comFor an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;patreon.com/JeremyMcCandlessStudy Notes: IntroductionSelf-righteousness: Often associated with the Pharisees in the New Testament.Historical example: The Pharisees are classic examples, but all humans struggle with pride and self-righteousness to some degree.Central question: How do we get rid of self-righteousness?Biblical insight: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11 provides guidance.Context of Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11Moses' sermons: Deuteronomy is a series of sermons delivered by Moses before the Israelites enter the Promised Land.Historical journey:Left EgyptTravelled to Mount SinaiMoved to Kadesh Barnea where they sent twelve spiesWandered in the wilderness due to unbeliefNow, about to cross the Jordan River under Joshua's leadership.Main Theme: Dangers of Self-Righteousness and PrideMoses' warning: Not to fall into the traps of self-righteousness and pride.Focus: “The Cure for Self-Righteousness.”Three Main Parts of the PassagePart 1: Deuteronomy 9:1-6Key verses:Verse 1: "Hear, O Israel!"Verse 3: "Therefore, understand today..."Verse 4: "Do not think..."Verse 6: "Therefore, understand..."Pattern: Hear, understand, don't think, understand.Realization: Israelites will face a daunting task, but it's the Lord who will lead them and give them victory.Part 2: Deuteronomy 9:7-24Reminder of rebellion: Israelites' history of rebellion, especially the incident with the golden calf.Moses' intercession: Moses fasted and prayed for the Israelites, highlighting their persistent disobedience.Unbelief and disobedience: Connection between lack of faith and failure to obey God.Emphasis: Not about their righteousness but God's promise and grace.Part 3: Deuteronomy 9:25-10:11God's mercy: Despite their sin, God renews the covenant.Renewal of the tablets: New set of commandments as a sign of God's grace.Message: God's faithfulness despite Israel's stubbornness.Lessons for Us TodayUnderstanding grace: Recognize that God's favour is not because of our righteousness.Humility: Accepting that we are all, by nature, stiff-necked and rebellious.Dependence on God: Our success and blessings are due to God's grace, not our merit.Response to grace: Living humbly and gratefully, compelled by the sacrifice of Christ.ConclusionCure for self-righteousness: Understanding and embracing God's grace.Response: Humility and gratitude for God's unmerited favor and faithfulness.Final thought: We are chosen, saved, and blessed not because of who we are, but because of who God is. This realization should lead us to live our lives fully devoted to Him.Support the showJeremy McCandless is creating podcasts and devotional resources | PatreonHelp us continue making great content for listeners everywhere.https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Want to chat with Candis? Send us a text message.Have you ever thought about whose example has had a powerful affect on your life? Join Candis this week as she revisits the letters to Helaman and Shiblon, then dives into the extensive counsel Alma gives to Corianton over four chapters focusing on the power of examples and how our actions impact others. We will dive into Corianton's fall as a missionary, his serious sins, and the promise that redemption is always possible through Christ. There is always a way back.Go & Do ChallengeStudy what we didn't talk about in these chapters this weekRepent – you know what you need to changeSet a righteous example – there is always someone watching youEpisode LinksCome, Follow Me—Aug 5-11God's Intent Is To Bring You Home—Elder Patrick KearonIf you like what you hear don't forget to follow and leave us a review!We want to hear from you!Share your thoughts, experiences, etc with us at @goanddopodcast on IG or send us an email at thegoanddopodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, Shannon discusses four absolutes that govern her life and the scriptural support for them. The first absolute is that God is sovereign over every season, meaning He is fully in control. The second absolute is that nothing touches us in any season that is not first sifted through God's hand. The third absolute is that everything in our seasons can be used for our good and God's glory. The fourth absolute is that God uses our seasons to sanctify us and make us more like Jesus. Shannon shares personal examples and encourages listeners to trust in God's sovereignty.KeywordsSovereignty of God, seasons, sanctification, trust, God's gloryTakeawaysOur theology of God's sovereignty is important and will impact how we respond in difficult seasons.God is fully sovereign and in control of every season of our lives.Nothing touches us in any season that is not first sifted through God's hand.Everything in our seasons can be used for our good and God's glory.God uses our seasons to sanctify us and make us more like Jesus.Chapters00:00 | Introduction06:12 | God's Sovereignty in Our Seasons09:32 | Trusting God's Hand in Every Circumstance17:02 |Finding Beauty in Every Season19:26 | Becoming More Like Jesus Through Our Seasons26:52 | Conclusion and EncouragementScriptural SupportGod is sovereign over my seasonI Chronicles 29:11-12, Psalm 115:3, Proverbs 16:9, Isaiah 46:9-10, Romans 9:21, Ephesians 1:11Nothing touches me in any season that is not first sifted through His hand.Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:1-6, Job 23:10, Psalm 135:6, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21Everything in my season can be used for my good and His glory.Romans 8:28, Proverbs 30:5, Psalm 112:7, John 15:16, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Hebrews 12:11God uses my seasons to sanctify me and make me more like Jesus.Psalm 17:15, Romans 6:4, Romans 8:29, I John 2:6, I Peter 2:15-21, Ephesians 4:22-24

Main Scripture - 1 Samuel 11God Has Righteous Anger Against the Wicked1 Samuel 11:1-4Psalm 5:4-6Psalm 139:21-22Revelation 14:11God's Power Is Normally Experienced through Human Effort1 Samuel 11:5-11Exodus 14:13-16Psalm 127:11 Corinthians 15:58God Empowers His People to Accomplish His Purposes1 Samuel 11:12-152 Peter 1:3Application Points:Tell the Truth about God's hatred of wickednessTrust God to use His truth for goodPut effort into experiencing God's powerOrganize your life around being filled with God's Spirit

When your story is history, and your story is His story, your story will become ministry and prophecy. In this message, Pastor Jamie shares lessons for our lives from the biblical story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal.1 Kings 18:1, 17-21 POINT #1: Idolatry adds a limp to our walk with God.An idol is anything that takes the place of God in your life, and all idols are downgrades.When you add an idol into your walk with God, you can't go as far as you want, you can't go as fast as you want.Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money."Worship is your attention and your affection that leads to action.Jesus is coming back for a bride, not a harem.Exclusivity is the key to intimacy. God deserves to be our one and only, not just one of many. 1 Kings 18:23-29 POINT #2 Our idols will always end up hurting us.Idolatry causes us to engage in harmful, destructive behavior. It starts out fun, but in the end, you end up bleeding.1 Corinthians 10:6-11God loves you and wants what's best for you and idols are not what is best for you. 1 Kings 18:31-35, 36-40During a drought, water was costly. Worship should cost something. Don't give God your leftovers. POINT #3: Idols and their supporters must be completely destroyed in our life.1 Corinthians 10:12-14 "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols."The 4-step process of destroying idols:Recognize, repent, remove, replace.Recognize: what has turned my relationship with God from a walk to a limp?Repent: (turn) change your thinking so that you can change your direction.Remove: make an effort to remove the people, places and things that are harming youReplace: replace the bad relationships, bad environments and bad behaviors with Godly things. What story are you writing?

1OLordmy God, in you do Itake refuge;save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,2lest likea lion they tear my soul apart,rending it in pieces, withnone to deliver. 3OLordmy God,if I have done this,if there iswrong in my hands,4if I have repaidmy friend[b]with evilorplundered my enemy without cause,5let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,and let himtrample my life to the groundand lay my glory in the dust.Selah 6Arise, OLord, in your anger;lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.7Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;over it return on high. 8TheLordjudges the peoples;judge me, OLord, according to my righteousnessand according to the integrity that is in me.9Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,and may you establish the righteousyou whotestthe minds and hearts,[c]O righteous God!10My shield iswith God,who savesthe upright in heart.11God isa righteous judge,and a God who feelsindignation every day. 12If a man[d]does not repent, God[e]willwhet his sword;he hasbent andreadied his bow;13he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,making hisarrowsfiery shafts.14Behold, the wicked manconceives eviland ispregnant with mischiefand gives birth to lies.15He makesa pit, digging it out,and falls into the hole that he has made.16Hismischief returns upon his own head,and on his own skull his violence descends. 17I will give to theLordthe thanks due to his righteousness,and I willsing praise to the name of theLord, the Most High.

CLICK HERE for the episode guide to help you connect with Scripture through this song.Can I give you some good news? God does not restrain His faithfulness. He doesn't hold back. TobyMac sings about it in his song "Faithfully," and David sings about it in Psalm 40.Tag along with me as we explore God's faithfulness together.In this episode, I discuss the following:Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include: Study a topicRead in contextDefine wordsComplete a word studyShare with a friendEpisode GuideThe story behind the song "Faithfully" by TobyMac - YouTube VideoThe variety of Greek and Hebrew words used to describe God's faithfulness all closely linked to God's truthfulness (veracity)Looking up the word "faithful" in the English dictionaryRecognizing that faithfulness is an attribute that we should display (communicable attribute of God) - God is faithful, and we are to be faithfulFaithful and True as a name of Jesus - Revelation 19:11God's faithfulness saves us from the despair of our own unfaithfulnessUsing the Psalms Explorer in my Logos Bible Software to choose Psalm 40 to study the theme of God's faithfulnessExploring the idea that God "inclined" to David - a state of engagement in a relationship - the Lord really sees us in our pain and wants to engage with usGod is ACTIVE in His engagement with us - Psalm 40:2-3What makes this Psalm a Messianic Psalm - Hebrews 10:5-7David's response to the faithfulness of God - Psalm 40:9-11Additional ResourcesLyrics - NewReleaseToday.comThe story behind the song "Faithfully" by TobyMac - YouTube VideoExploring Logo Bible Study Psalms Explorer - Webinar Replay on YouTubeMy favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate LinkThis Week's ChallengeSpend some time in Psalm 40. Look for God's attributes, specifically His faithfulness. Then, take a trip to Hebrews 10 to see Jesus fulfilling parts of this Psalm. Finally, follow David's lead and share what you've learned with a friend. Don't keep the glad news of God's deliverance to yourself.‌Logos Bible Software Webinar Replay. Deep discounts offered until April 18, 2024 - CLICK HERE

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________SexagesimaO Lord, how manifold are your works! in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.Psalm 104:25 (BCP) ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. SeptuagesimaLord, you have been our refuge: From one generation to another. Venite Psalm 95:1-7Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Psalm 7 Domine, Deus meus1O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; *save and deliver me from all who pursue me;2Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces *and snatch me away with none to deliver me.3O Lord my God, if I have done these things: *if there is any wickedness in my hands,4If I have repaid my friend with evil, *or plundered him who without cause is my enemy;5Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, *trample my life into the ground,and lay my honor in the dust.6Stand up, O Lord, in your wrath; *rise up against the fury of my enemies.7Awake, O my God, decree justice; *let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.8Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; *O Lord, judge the nations.9Give judgment for me according to myrighteousness, O Lord, *and according to my innocence, O Most High.10Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,but establish the righteous; *for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God.11God is my shield and defense; *he is the savior of the true in heart.12God is a righteous judge; *God sits in judgment every day.13If they will not repent, God will whet his sword; *he will bend his bow and make it ready.14He has prepared his weapons of death; *he makes his arrows shafts of fire.15Look at those who are in labor with wickedness, *who conceive evil, and give birth to a lie.16They dig a pit and make it deep *and fall into the hole that they have made.17Their malice turns back upon their own head; *their violence falls on their own scalp.18I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; *I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsGenesis 9:8-17 English Standard VersionThen God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. You are God(Te Deum laudamus)You are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. Mark 8:27-9:1 English Standard VersionAnd Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. A Song of Praise(Benedictus es, Domine Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34)Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; * you are worthy of praise; glory to you.Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; * on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you, beholding the depths; * in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Sexagesima (Anglican Prayer Book)O LORD God, you who see that we do not put our trust in anything that we do: Mercifully grant that by your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our LORD. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________EpiphanyAnd nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.Isaiah 60:3 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. EpiphanyThe Lord has shown forth his glory: Come let us adore him. Venite Psalm 95:1-7Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Psalm 7 Domine, Deus meus1O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; *save and deliver me from all who pursue me;2Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces *and snatch me away with none to deliver me.3O Lord my God, if I have done these things: *if there is any wickedness in my hands,4If I have repaid my friend with evil, *or plundered him who without cause is my enemy;5Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, *trample my life into the ground,and lay my honor in the dust.6Stand up, O Lord, in your wrath; *rise up against the fury of my enemies.7Awake, O my God, decree justice; *let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.8Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; *O Lord, judge the nations.9Give judgment for me according to myrighteousness, O Lord, *and according to my innocence, O Most High.10Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,but establish the righteous; *for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God.11God is my shield and defense; *he is the savior of the true in heart.12God is a righteous judge; *God sits in judgment every day.13If they will not repent, God will whet his sword; *he will bend his bow and make it ready.14He has prepared his weapons of death; *he makes his arrows shafts of fire.15Look at those who are in labor with wickedness, *who conceive evil, and give birth to a lie.16They dig a pit and make it deep *and fall into the hole that they have made.17Their malice turns back upon their own head; *their violence falls on their own scalp.18I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; *I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsProverbs 3:1-7 English Standard Version3 My son, do not forget my teaching,    but let your heart keep my commandments,2 for length of days and years of life    and peace they will add to you.3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;    bind them around your neck;    write them on the tablet of your heart.4 So you will find favor and good success    in the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,    and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him,    and he will make straight your paths.7 Be not wise in your own eyes;    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:11-12 English Standard Version11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline    or be weary of his reproof,12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,    as a father the son in whom he delights.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. You are God(Te Deum laudamus)You are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. Ephesians 2:11-22 English Standard Version11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. A Song of Praise(Benedictus es, Domine Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34)Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; * you are worthy of praise; glory to you.Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; * on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you, beholding the depths; * in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. EpiphanyO God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7; Ephesians 6:11God knows all about us, including the number of hairs on our heads. There are many spirits that exist among us. You should only follow the Holy Spirit which will not deceive you. 

Lezen: Psalm 68:1-11God ís gerechtigheid. David zong het. Maria zong het. Zijn vijanden, de mensen die zichzelf verheven voelen, drijft Hij uiteen. Hij zal ze overal verspreiden, laten smelten voor Zijn aangezicht. Maar de rechtvaardigen, de mensen die bij Hem horen, zullen juist blij zijn en juichen als zij God zien. Op deze wereld is gerechtigheid soms ver te zoeken, maar wanneer Hij komt zullen we dansen. Gerechtigheid zal zegevieren! Zoals Mirjam zong: ‘Uw hand, HEER, verplettert de vijand. U toont uw majesteit en breekt uw tegenstanders. De HEER is koning voor eeuwig en altijd!' En zoals Debora zong: ‘Maak wie U liefhebben onstuitbaar als de opgaande zon.' (Richteren 5:31). Zing met deze vrouwen over Zijn nabijheid en zegen:Halleluja, niemand is zo rechtvaardig als U!Deze overdenking is geschreven door schrijfster Suzanne Verschoor. 

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________The First Week of AdventThe glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.Isaiah 40:5 ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us.Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. In AdventOur King and Savior now draws near: Come let us adore him. Venite Psalm 95:1-7Come, let us sing to the Lord; *let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving * and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.For the Lord is a great God, *and a great King above all gods.In his hand are the caverns of the earth, * and the heights of the hills are his also.The sea is his, for he made it, *and his hands have molded the dry land.Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, * and kneel before the Lord our Maker.For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. * Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice! Psalm 7 - Domine, Deus meus1O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; *save and deliver me from all who pursue me;2Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces *and snatch me away with none to deliver me.3O Lord my God, if I have done these things: *if there is any wickedness in my hands,4If I have repaid my friend with evil, *or plundered him who without cause is my enemy;5Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, *trample my life into the ground,and lay my honor in the dust.6Stand up, O Lord, in your wrath; *rise up against the fury of my enemies.7Awake, O my God, decree justice; *let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.8Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; *O Lord, judge the nations.9Give judgment for me according to myrighteousness, O Lord, *and according to my innocence, O Most High.10Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,but establish the righteous; *for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God.11God is my shield and defense; *he is the savior of the true in heart.12God is a righteous judge; *God sits in judgment every day.13If they will not repent, God will whet his sword; *he will bend his bow and make it ready.14He has prepared his weapons of death; *he makes his arrows shafts of fire.15Look at those who are in labor with wickedness, *who conceive evil, and give birth to a lie.16They dig a pit and make it deep *and fall into the hole that they have made.17Their malice turns back upon their own head; *their violence falls on their own scalp.18I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; *I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsIsaiah 1:21-28 - English Standard VersionHow the faithful city    has become a whore,    she who was full of justice!Righteousness lodged in her,    but now murderers.Your silver has become dross,    your best wine mixed with water.Your princes are rebels    and companions of thieves.Everyone loves a bribe    and runs after gifts.They do not bring justice to the fatherless,    and the widow's cause does not come to them.Therefore the Lord declares,    the Lord of hosts,    the Mighty One of Israel:“Ah, I will get relief from my enemies    and avenge myself on my foes.I will turn my hand against you    and will smelt away your dross as with lye    and remove all your alloy.And I will restore your judges as at the first,    and your counselors as at the beginning.Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness,    the faithful city.”Zion shall be redeemed by justice,    and those in her who repent, by righteousness.But rebels and sinners shall be broken together,    and those who forsake the Lord shall be consumed.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. You are God(Te Deum laudamus)You are God: we praise you;You are the Lord: we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin's womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. Mark 1:14-28 - English Standard VersionNow after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. A Song of Praise(Benedictus es, Domine Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34)Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; * you are worthy of praise; glory to you.Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; * on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.Glory to you, beholding the depths; * in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; * we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety.Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth.Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations.Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. The First Week of AdventAlmighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14

GROW   Greatness Reached over Oppression through WisdomYou're passing it Keepers of the DreamKeep GROWingDe ja VueCould you be the Dream that I once knew?I had no clue but God knew!It just took something I had to do.. Jeremiah 29:11God knows the thoughts and plans he has for our life, thoughts of Good and not of evil to give us an expected endEverything; every living thing..It GROWs and it showsThings change as they GROWWe do alsoIn this little thing called Time of which we can never get again but we can make the best of it   Quality over quantity✨

JONAH 3:10 - 4:11God's grace changes Jonah. This week we explore God's Scandalous Grace. How does God view the “other”?What does God do with our failure? The same God that is pursuing you is pursuing the" “other”. We invite you to look deeper into God's pursuit of you and the “other”.

Proverbs 15:25, 23:10-11God cares for the poor, the vulnerable, and the neglected, and if we are his followers so should we.

Warm greetings to all you warriors; I'm Matthew Adams, your friend and ally on this spiritual journey through the podcasting world. Today, let us immerse ourselves in a conversation about becoming spiritual warriors who are adept and tuned in to hearing God's voice, embracing His instructions, and understanding His nature even amid the spiritual battles we encounter.Scripture“The laws of the LORD . . . are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.” — PSALM 19:9, 11God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has expressed through scriptures the significance of His laws — they aren't mere instructions but a reflection of His divine nature and His desires for us. Navigating through life, especially as believers and spiritual warriors, requires an attuned ear to God's voice, a heart receptive to His desires, and a spirit willing to embrace and walk in His ways.The Power Of God's Whisper is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Driving Points* Understanding God's Nature Through His CommandsGod's commands aren't arbitrary rules but a reflection of His nature—love, justice, and holiness. To hear His voice is to understand these aspects deeply and allow them to sculpt our decisions, interactions, and the very path we tread upon. He speaks not to control but to share His character and guide us toward a path that's inherently blessed and protected.* The Reward Beyond ComplianceWhile the concept of rewards may stir discomfort, the rewards God speaks of aren't mere compensations. Obeying His laws, and living according to His instructions bring forth a life that is harmoniously aligned with His blessings, protection, and guidance. It's essential to comprehend that these rewards aren't transactions but rather the natural fruit born out of a life lived in synchrony with His divine order.* The Spiritual Warrior's Path to True VictoryAs spiritual warriors, our victory isn't only in overcoming external battles but in triumphing over internal conflicts that challenge our adherence to God's word. Our genuine success lies in embodying the wisdom, love, and character of God in every battle we face, ensuring that our warfare is not only victorious but also reflects the heart of God in every encounter.ConclusionSpiritual warriors, the true resonance of victory, isn't just found in the triumph over our battles but also in how we engage, navigate, and remain steadfast amidst them. God's laws, His voice, are not restrictive chains but life-giving words that mold, protect, and bless us as we maneuver through every spiritual engagement. Thus, the adherence to His word and the incorporation of His nature into our spiritual warfare become paramount.Call to ActionEmbark, dear warriors, on a journey where God's words are not just instructions but a lifestyle, where His commands are not burdens but blessings, and where His voice is not an obligation but an opportunity to commune and walk in synchrony with Him.PrayerHeavenly Father, align our hearts with Your voice, sharpen our spirits to discern Your commands, and fortify us, Lord, to be warriors that not only seek victory but seek to reflect Your love, justice, and holiness in every battle we face. May Your laws not be mere words to us but seeds that blossom into actions that glorify You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.Thank you for joining me, Matthew Adams, on this explorative journey into understanding God's voice as spiritual warriors. May our paths echo with His divine instructions, and may our battles showcase His nature, ensuring that our victories, both large and small, illuminate His eternal glory. Until next time, warriors, keep the armor of faith securely fastened and let His voice guide your way. Get full access to My Reasons To Believe at myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Warm greetings to all you warriors; I'm Matthew Adams, your friend and ally on this spiritual journey through the podcasting world. Today, let us immerse ourselves in a conversation about becoming spiritual warriors who are adept and tuned in to hearing God's voice, embracing His instructions, and understanding His nature even amid the spiritual battles we encounter.Scripture“The laws of the LORD . . . are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.” — PSALM 19:9, 11God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has expressed through scriptures the significance of His laws — they aren't mere instructions but a reflection of His divine nature and His desires for us. Navigating through life, especially as believers and spiritual warriors, requires an attuned ear to God's voice, a heart receptive to His desires, and a spirit willing to embrace and walk in His ways.The Power Of God's Whisper is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Driving Points* Understanding God's Nature Through His CommandsGod's commands aren't arbitrary rules but a reflection of His nature—love, justice, and holiness. To hear His voice is to understand these aspects deeply and allow them to sculpt our decisions, interactions, and the very path we tread upon. He speaks not to control but to share His character and guide us toward a path that's inherently blessed and protected.* The Reward Beyond ComplianceWhile the concept of rewards may stir discomfort, the rewards God speaks of aren't mere compensations. Obeying His laws, and living according to His instructions bring forth a life that is harmoniously aligned with His blessings, protection, and guidance. It's essential to comprehend that these rewards aren't transactions but rather the natural fruit born out of a life lived in synchrony with His divine order.* The Spiritual Warrior's Path to True VictoryAs spiritual warriors, our victory isn't only in overcoming external battles but in triumphing over internal conflicts that challenge our adherence to God's word. Our genuine success lies in embodying the wisdom, love, and character of God in every battle we face, ensuring that our warfare is not only victorious but also reflects the heart of God in every encounter.ConclusionSpiritual warriors, the true resonance of victory, isn't just found in the triumph over our battles but also in how we engage, navigate, and remain steadfast amidst them. God's laws, His voice, are not restrictive chains but life-giving words that mold, protect, and bless us as we maneuver through every spiritual engagement. Thus, the adherence to His word and the incorporation of His nature into our spiritual warfare become paramount.Call to ActionEmbark, dear warriors, on a journey where God's words are not just instructions but a lifestyle, where His commands are not burdens but blessings, and where His voice is not an obligation but an opportunity to commune and walk in synchrony with Him.PrayerHeavenly Father, align our hearts with Your voice, sharpen our spirits to discern Your commands, and fortify us, Lord, to be warriors that not only seek victory but seek to reflect Your love, justice, and holiness in every battle we face. May Your laws not be mere words to us but seeds that blossom into actions that glorify You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.Thank you for joining me, Matthew Adams, on this explorative journey into understanding God's voice as spiritual warriors. May our paths echo with His divine instructions, and may our battles showcase His nature, ensuring that our victories, both large and small, illuminate His eternal glory. Until next time, warriors, keep the armor of faith securely fastened and let His voice guide your way. Get full access to My Reasons To Believe at myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Do you feel the weight of your past mistakes? Does thinking about the future make you anxious? In this message, Pastor Eric Robertson explains how we can "redeem the time."Ephesians 5:15-16 " See that you walk circumspectly [carefully], not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."- MEdeeming the time is fixating on the future.We are addicted to the future. Because by our own design, we are never living in the moment we are living for. We connect our happiness to a moment that never comes. The gospel gives us hope for the future and hope for now. Matthew 6:31-34""So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."" NLTWhy would God equip you to do something that is outside of His will?When we worry about what the future holds, it robs us of our present peace. ‭‭- MEdeeming the time is being preoccupied with the past. Condemnation, shame, and guilt anchor is to our past.  God wants to do a new things in you. His mercies are new every morning. The only thin anchoring you to your past is a lie that you believe. Philippians 3:13-14"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." NLT‬‬- How can you live in the present and Redeem the Time?      - Treat time like a gift, not a guarantee.James 4:14"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone." NLT Psalm 90:12"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." NLT       - Time is a limited resource. What you do on this planet has eternal weight. The things that you do to serve God will never be forgotten. The things of this world leads to nothing that lasts eternally.         - Learn Patience over Productivity.Psalm 37:7, Colossians 3:12, James 1:4        - Cultivate Contentment over ControlLuke 12:25-26, Hebrews 13:5A lot of the running we do is to get things that we don't need. Don't let what you could have keep you from enjoying what you do have.          - Rest, Don't RushHebrews 4:9-10,11God wants you to rest. He created Sabbath for you. 

Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:1-3:24 (we won't read it again, but we will discuss it) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. 3 God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light! 4 God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water.” 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. It was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.9 God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear.” It was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.11 God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds and trees on the land bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.” It was so. 12 The land produced vegetation—plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years, 15 and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” It was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night. He made the stars also. 17 God placed the lights in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth, 18 to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.20 God said, “Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21 God created the great sea creatures and every living and moving thing with which the water swarmed, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day.24 God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals, each according to its kind.” It was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the cattle according to their kinds, and all the creatures that creep along the ground according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.”27 God created humankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them,male and female he created them.28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.” 29 Then God said, “I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has living breath in it—I give every green plant for food.” It was so.31 God saw all that he had made—and it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.1 The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. 2 By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created—when the Lord God made the earth and heavens.5 Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. 6 Springs would well up from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground. 7 The Lord God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)10 Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it runs through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is pure; pearls and lapis lazuli are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it runs through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it. 16 Then the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.”18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.” 19 The Lord God formed out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man's side and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,“This one at last is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;this one will be called ‘woman,'for she was taken out of man.”24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become one family. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.1 Now the serpent was shrewder than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard'?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; 3 but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.'” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, 5 for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 The man replied, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” 11 And the Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” 13 So the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”14 The Lord God said to the serpent,“Because you have done this,cursed are you above all the cattleand all the living creatures of the field!On your belly you will crawland dust you will eat all the days of your life.15 And I will put hostility between you and the womanand between your offspring and her offspring;he will strike your head,and you will strike his heel.”16 To the woman he said,“I will greatly increase your labor pains;with pain you will give birth to children.You will want to control your husband,but he will dominate you.”17 But to Adam he said,“Because you obeyed your wifeand ate from the tree about which I commanded you,‘You must not eat from it,'the ground is cursed because of you;in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,but you will eat the grain of the field.19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat fooduntil you return to the ground,for out of it you were taken;for you are dust, and to dust you will return.”20 The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 21 The Lord God made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God expelled him from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. 24 When he drove the man out, he placed on the eastern side of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries who used the flame of a whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.Main ThemesInitial RemarksLet's Come Together (Finally!)If the last two weeks of the Bible study have been divisive, I hope that this week brings us all back together. During those two sessions, I suggested the possibility that the early chapters of Genesis are figurative. Nevertheless, I asserted repeatedly that they are true. Today, I want to focus on those truths embedded in the narrative. What is Genesis teaching us? And here's the surprising part: even if you adamantly disagree with me and believe the text is meant to be taken completely literally, or if you land somewhere in between, I think we will agree on the main lessons taught by the text. They stand mostly independently of the figurative versus literal debate.A Minimum Facts PresentationBefore we jump into the substantive portion of our discussion, I want to make one important clarification. The purpose of my dive into Genesis is to establish a Christian worldview. We are not engaging in an exhaustive exploration of every textual and theological issue. So, the discussion today will be a sort of “minimum facts” presentation. That is, I want to highlight the most basic lessons in the text with which virtually every Christian agrees. I will not delve into every possible conclusion that can be drawn from the text, although that would be very interesting. And, as always, participants are free to discuss anything I did not include in my presentation. So, again, the list below is not an exhaustive list of the points made by the first three chapters of Genesis, much less by the entire book. It is more of a “top four.”Genesis v/s Enuma ElishI think that a good way to explore the worldview presented by Genesis is to compare the biblical text to the Enuma Elish, the ancient Babylonian creation myth. (You can find it here.) The Enuma Elish is fairly representative of many Ancient Near East myths, so it provides a great backdrop against which Genesis shows its distinctive outline. (I am not necessarily embracing or rejecting the view that Genesis is a polemic against other Ancient Near Eastern myths. I simply find the comparison to be helpful.)One God—No Theomachy, No Theogony, No Deicide Listen the words of the Enuma Elish:1 When the heavens above did not exist,2 And earth beneath had not come into being —3 There was Apsû, the first in order, their begetter,4 And demiurge Tia-mat, who gave birth to them all;5 They had mingled their waters together6 Before meadow-land had coalesced and reed-bed was to be found —7 When not one of the gods had been formed8 Or had come into being, when no destinies had been decreed,9 The gods were created within them:10 Lah(mu and Lah(amu were formed and came into being.11 While they grew and increased in stature12 Anšar and Kišar, who excelled them, were created.13 They prolonged their days, they multiplied their years.14 Anu, their son, could rival his fathers.15 Anu, the son, equalled Anšar,16 And Anu begat Nudimmud, his own equal.17 Nudimmud was the champion among his fathers:18 Profoundly discerning, wise, of robust strength;19 Very much stronger than his father's begetter, Anšar20 He had no rival among the gods, his brothers.21 The divine brothers came together,22 Their clamour got loud, throwing Tia-mat into a turmoil.23 They jarred the nerves of Tia-mat,24 And by their dancing they spread alarm in Anduruna.25 Apsû did not diminish their clamour,26 And Tia-mat was silent when confronted with them.27 Their conduct was displeasing to her,28 Yet though their behaviour was not good, she wished to spare them.29 Thereupon Apsû, the begetter of the great gods,30 Called Mummu, his vizier, and addressed him,31 "Vizier Mummu, who gratifies my pleasure,32 Come, let us go to Tia-mat!"33 They went and sat, facing Tia-mat,34 As they conferred about the gods, their sons.35 Apsû opened his mouth36 And addressed Tia-mat37 "Their behaviour has become displeasing to me38 And I cannot rest in the day-time or sleep at night.39 I will destroy and break up their way of life40 That silence may reign and we may sleep."41 When Tia-mat heard this42 She raged and cried out to her spouse,43 She cried in distress, fuming within herself,44 She grieved over the (plotted) evil,45 "How can we destroy what we have given birth to?46 Though their behaviour causes distress, let us tighten discipline graciously."47 Mummu spoke up with counsel for Apsû—48 (As from) a rebellious vizier was the counsel of his Mummu—49 "Destroy, my father, that lawless way of life,50 That you may rest in the day-time and sleep by night!"51 Apsû was pleased with him, his face beamed52 Because he had plotted evil against the gods, his sons.53 Mummu put his arms around Apsû's neck,54 He sat on his knees kissing him.55 What they plotted in their gathering56 Was reported to the gods, their sons.57 The gods heard it and were frantic.58 They were overcome with silence and sat quietly.59 Ea, who excels in knowledge, the skilled and learned,60 Ea, who knows everything, perceived their tricks.61 He fashioned it and made it to be all-embracing,62 He executed it skilfully as supreme—his pure incantation.63 He recited it and set it on the waters,64 He poured sleep upon him as he was slumbering deeply.65 He put Apsû to slumber as he poured out sleep,66 And Mummu, the counsellor, was breathless with agitation.67 He split (Apsû's) sinews, ripped off his crown,68 Carried away his aura and put it on himself.69 He bound Apsû and killed him;Notice how this ancient myth sounds nothing like Genesis. It immediately greets us with multiple gods (Apsû, the first in order, and the demiurge Tia-mat). Other gods are subsequently created. A genealogy of gods is called a theogony, and it was common to ancient myths. Genesis, however, has no genealogy. At most, in Genesis, when God speaks he uses a plural form—like maybe he is addressing a crowd. This has led some scholars to posit a heavenly council. But there is no god other than God—Yahweh.The Enuma Elish tells the story not only of multiple gods but of their animosity. A conflict between the gods arises. A war between the gods is called theomachy. This is also common to ancient myths. Finally, the gods' quarrel ends in the death of a god—deicide. If we continue reading, we would learn that creation itself is the result of this rivalry between the gods and their death.What do we find in Genesis? None of that!In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1In the beginning there is no two anything. There are no two gods opposing one another. There is not even an impersonal dualism like a ying and yang. There is no good and evil. There is only good. And this good is not some mystical goodness, like a force or energy or “waters,” but a good God—a personal being.This is one of the most shocking and powerful lessons from Genesis—monotheism! And, if we are willing to take more of scripture into account, we could go as far as to say that it is “perfect being monotheism.” This means that there's not only one God, but that God is perfect. He is all powerful and morally perfect. I think that this “perfect being theology” is key to a robust conception of “good.” A theology that includes multiple gods will generally fail the Euthyphro Dilemma: “Is the good good because God approves it, or does God approve it because it's good?” A theology with no gods (atheism or some form of dualism) makes goodness accidental—it is a robust fact that could be different—and cannot account for moral duties. It is only when goodness is grounded in a necessary being that what is good could never be otherwise and goodness becomes personal such that it can give moral duties to others.God is Not Like NatureAgain, hear the words of the Enuma Elish:49 [Marduk] gathered [Tia-mat's foam] together and made it into clouds.50 The raging of the winds, violent rainstorms,51 The billowing of mist—the accumulation of her spittle—52 He appointed for himself and took them in his hand.53 He put her head in position and poured out . . [ . . ] .54 He opened the abyss and it was sated with water.55 From her two eyes he let the Euphrates and Tigris flow,57 He heaped up the distant [mountains] on her breasts,58 He bored wells to channel the springs.59 He twisted her tail and wove it into the Durmah,61 [He set up] her crotch—it wedged up the heavens—62 [(Thus) the half of her] he stretched out and made it firm as the earth.In the Babylonian story, the clouds, the wind, the rainstorms, the rivers, the mountains, and much of creation is a part of or physically connected with Tiamat's body. Notice the connection between the gods and creation—they might not be entirely the same but they are not entirely distinct either.What do we find in Genesis?God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water.” Genesis 1:6God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear.” Genesis 1:9God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds and trees on the land bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.” Genesis 1:11God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years . . . .” Genesis 1:14I could quote more verses, but I think the point is clear. God is not like creation. Creation is not made of God. It is made by God. God simply speaks creation into being. God transcends it. The creator who makes things good exists even if nothing else exists and would exists if all stopped existing. He is the beginning and the end.Nature is Not SpiritualAlthough the Enuma Elish story does not contain as many spirits of nature as other Ancient Near Eastern myths, we still have a clear example. Listen to this:11 He placed the heights (of heaven) in her (Tia-mat's) belly,12 He created Nannar, entrusting to him the night.13 He appointed him as the jewel of the night to fix the days,14 And month by month without ceasing he elevated him with a crown,15 (Saying,) "Shine over the land at the beginning of the month,16 Resplendent with horns to fix six days.17 On the seventh day the crown will be half size,18 On the fifteenth day, halfway through each month, stand in opposition.19 When Šamaš [sees] you on the horizon,20 Diminish in the proper stages and shine backwards.In the Enuma Elish, night is a personal god. Night does not behave according to some natural principle. Night only comes and stays for as long as it does because the god of night is following orders. Presumably, the god of night could be enticed to disobey. Is all of nature like this? (For purposes of this discussion I am not including animals or humans in the definition of nature.) Is there a spirit of the waters? Is there a spirit of the sky? Are the flowers sprites and the trees dryads? Does everything around us behave as it does because a personal being—a spirit—is choosing to behave a certain way? The implications of these questions are staggering.Perhaps we scoff at the idea that nature is personal and spiritual, but we shouldn't. Not because I think that it is true but because it is the worldview that was held by nearly everyone in the ancient world and many (perhaps most) people still hold it today. If anything, the idea that nature is “non-spiritual” is not the rule but the exception. If to the belief in a non-spiritual natural world you you add the belief that nature was created by a mind—a mind not entirely unlike ours—then you have an entirely peculiar worldview. That is the worldview of Genesis.The Christian, non-spiritual, intelligible understanding of creation is distinctive and has shaped the modern world. For example, it is foundational and necessary for science. This is the reason that many historians (Christian and non-Christian alike) agree that science is an outgrowth of Christian theology. Here's how an article explains the connection between Genesis and science, which, if overly simplistic, gets the point across:1. Laws Up AboveThe ancient Chinese had incredible technology, but not science as we know it. Why? Because while they were intelligent, they did not believe in a Higher Intelligence—not in the Bible's sense. They didn't think there were ever-present, always-applicable laws of nature that governed the universe. They went out into the world and tamed it through technology, but they didn't seek to press into the deeper laws of the universe.That's because they didn't have Genesis 1. They didn't believe that “In the beginning, God.” They didn't believe that through his Word an ordered cosmos was created that shows all the hallmarks of dependable regularities—seasons and spheres with boundaries and signs in the sky, all going round and round, evening and morning, evening and morning. . . .2. World Out ThereThe ancient Greeks were smart cookies. All philosophy is a footnote to Plato, as they say. Philosophy, mathematics, art, and literature were all spheres of excellence for the Greeks. Science? Not so much, because science requires you to believe in a stable and predictable world out there that's open to investigation. Science occurs when you make repeatable observations and check your theories against the cold, hard facts. But Greeks didn't believe in cold, hard facts. They believed in minds and reason and laws but not in empirical investigation. For them, study entailed a journey within the mind, not a venture out into the field. So, no science.3. Minds In HereIf human minds are the product of mindless operations that only honored survival, not intelligence (the two aren't at all synonymous), then why should we trust our minds to understand the laws up above and the world out there? If we're the product of the cosmos and part of the cosmos with no higher calling than to pass on our genes, why trust a brain that whirs away according to its own survival imperative?If you really want confidence in the scientific endeavor, turn to Genesis 1, where humanity is specially created in relationship with the Orderer above and the world out there. . . .Another website summarizes the same principles as follows:Nearly all scientists today, regardless of their religious beliefs, believe a certain set of foundational principles which make it possible for them to do science. Some of these common basic beliefs include:(1) Human beings can understand the natural world at least in part.(2) Nature typically operates with regular, repeatable, universal patterns of cause and effect so things that we learn in the lab here today will also hold true half way around the world a week from now. (3) It's not enough to sit and theorize how the world ought to work, we actually have to test our theories; science is a worthwhile pursuit.These beliefs seem obvious today, but for most of human history, many people did not hold all those beliefs. For example, animists who believe that gods or spirits inhabit many aspect of the physical world might doubt that nature operates on regular, repeatable, universal patterns of cause and effect; instead they would believe that nature is controlled by gods and spirits who need to be appeased or manipulated by ritual. Or for a very different example, some of the most brilliant philosophers of the ancient world did not see the need to do experiments because they thought it was possible to derive from logic and first principles how the world ought to behave.Allow me to explain the last statement in the quotation above. The Greeks, for example, believed that the universe had to be modeled by elegant abstract principles, such as geometry, which were discoverable only through thought. So, they assumed that the orbits of planets had to be circular. The Christian worldview recognizes that the universe was made by a mind—a mind that could have created the world this way or that way. Because the creator had options, much like an artist does, we can not simply assume that the world is a certain way. We must discover what that mind decided.Man in the Image of GodThe Enuma Elish is one of the least outrageous Ancient Near Eastern myths when it comes to the creation of mankind, but it repeats a common theme:1 When Marduk heard the gods' speech2 He conceived a desire to accomplish clever things.3 He opened his mouth addressing Ea,4 He counsels that which he had pondered in his heart,5 "I will bring together blood to form bone,6 I will bring into being Lullû, whose name shall be 'man'.7 I will create Lullû—man8 On whom the toil of the gods will be laid that they may rest.In the Babylonian creation myth, why is man created? So that the “toil of the gods will be laid” on him. You might remember that last week I mentioned an Egyptian myth that answers the question similarly. Here is how scholar John Walton discusses that Egyptian myth within the broader context of Mesopotamian myths:[I]n Mesopotamian traditions people are created to serve the gods by doing the work that the gods are tired of doing. Turning again to KAR 4, "the corvée of the gods will be their corvée: They will fix the boundaries of the fields once and for all, and take in their hands hoes and baskets, to benefit the House of the great gods." The labor that had been required for the gods to meet their own needs was drudgery, so people were expected to fill that gap and work to meet those needs.In Genesis, why is man created?Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.”God created humankind in his own image,in the image of God he created them,male and female he created them.God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! (Genesis 1:26-28a)This is shocking and remarkable! Man is created to be like God (at least in some sense), to rule the earth, and to be fruitful and multiply. I will discuss each of these points in reverse order.Be Fruitful and MultiplyAccording to Genesis, to marry and have children is integral to being human. Marriage is the very reason that God has made us male and female.So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man's side and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Then the man said,“This one at last is bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;this one will be called ‘woman,'for she was taken out of man.”That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become one family. The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:21-25)To be clear, there are several New Testament verses that make clear that marriage is not a moral duty—one has not sinned for remaining single. However, sadly, this caveat has started acting like the exception that swallows the rule. The Apostle Paul, the one who spoke of marriage and singleness this way, did not suggest singleness as a mere alternative to marriage. Listen to the following verses from 1 Corinthians:I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. (1 Corinthians 7:6-9) And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:32-35)He who is single can focus exclusively on ministry. This is a gift. This does not override the fact, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18)! I know that much more can be said about this topic and forgive me if I am painting with too broad a stroke, but the fact that marriage and childbearing is part of God's plan for us is unmistakable in the Genesis narrative.Rule the EarthOur modern, egalitarian, environmentalist sensibilities are sure to be offended by the idea that we are to rule and subdue the earth. However, this idea is not as ominous as it sounds. As a website explains:God's command to subdue the earth and the animal life in it is a command to have the mastery over all of it. A true mastery (of anything) cannot be accomplished without an understanding of the thing mastered. In order for a musician to master the violin, he or she must truly understand the instrument. In order for mankind to attain mastery over the animal kingdom, we must understand the animals.With the authority to rule comes the responsibility to rule well. There is an inherent accountability in the command to subdue the earth. Man has a duty to exercise his dominion under the authority of the One who delegated it. All authority is of God (Romans 13:1-5), and He delegates it to whomever He will (Daniel 4:17). The word subdue doesn't have to imply violence or mistreatment. It can mean “to bring under cultivation.”Man is to be the steward of the earth; he is to bring the material world and all of its varied elements into the service of God and the good of mankind. The command to subdue the earth is actually part of God's blessing on mankind. Created in the image of God, Adam and Eve were to use the earth's vast resources in the service of both God and themselves. It would only make sense for God to decree this, since only humans were created in God's image.The Imago DeiWe are made in the “image of God”—which in theology is often referred to by the Latin phrase imago Dei. What does that mean? I could spend an entire session of our study answering this question. Different theologians give different answers. But, because this is a primer in Genesis, I think that presenting the mainstream position is sufficient. Besides, and rather ironically, it is the mainstream position that is often most misunderstood. Fair warning though, I will go a little beyond the text in Genesis to discuss this topic.What makes a person a person? Even Christians will answer with something like the ability to reason. That is not entirely wrong, but I am sure you can immediately think of examples that work as counterarguments. What about a human being that is in a comma? What about a fetus? What about someone who is asleep? Neither of these three humans can reason, so they are not persons. Taken to its logical conclusion, killing a human in their sleep is not murder. No person was killed.So, what gives? Can we give a better explanation of the imago Dei? I think so. To be a person is to be a rational soul. To explain this further, I will quote extensively from a 2003 paper by Dennis Sullivan (emphases are my own):Empirical functionalism is the view that human personhood may be defined by a set of functions or abilities. Such abilities must be present in actual, not potential form. The classical expression of this view is that of Joseph Fletcher who in 1972 outlined twenty criteria for human personhood. These included such hallmarks as minimum intelligence, self-awareness, a sense of time, and the capacity to relate to others (Fletcher, 1972). In response, Michael Tooley weighed in with the idea of self-awareness (1972), and McCormick with the concept of “relational potential,” based on the ability to interact socially with others (1974). Fletcher then decided, based on feedback from these and other writers, that the sine qua non for human personhood was neocortical functioning (Fletcher, 1974). Neocortical functions are those “higher brain” processes of the cerebral cortex necessary for active consciousness and volition. This should be contrasted with whole-brain functioning, which includes activities of the brainstem as well as the cortex.…Functionalists would extend the above argument to deny personhood to the unborn child, since she lacks rationality or self-awareness. However, by this criterion, one could argue that adults also lack self-awareness when asleep or under anesthesia, yet no one questions their personhood during such moments. One way to circumvent this objection is to use Tooley's idea that only “continuing selves” have personhood, which includes both self-awareness and a sense of the future (Tooley, 1983). This would nonetheless deny personhood to the unborn and justify abortion on that basis.Michael Tooley, and more recently, the Princeton philosophy professor Peter Singer, have both advocated the next logical step: infanticide (Veith, 1998). If the fetus has no right to personhood because it is not yet self-aware, then neither does the newborn: “Infanticide before the onset of self-awareness . . . cannot threaten anyone who is in a position to worry about it” (Singer, 1985, p. 138).…Ontological personalism states that all human beings are human persons. On this view, the intrinsic quality of personhood begins at conception and is present throughout life (O'Mathuna, 1996). Such individuals are not potential persons or “becoming” persons; they are persons by their very nature. There is no such thing as a potential person or a human non-person.In order to understand this it will be helpful to reflect on the worldview assumptions that underlie both personhood views. Since the Enlightenment, society in general has been dominated by a high regard for science and the secular tradition of naturalism. Naturalism is the concept that only observable data has reality. A scientist who adheres to this view is free to have any metaphysical or philosophical opinion he would like, as long as it does not influence his practice. In other words, he need not hold to naturalism as a philosophy, but he must adhere to it in his methodology (Plantinga, 1997). However, the Christian scientific community should not be bound by the constraints of methodological naturalism. Herein lies the tension between the two ideas of personhood. The influence of naturalism has led secular science away from a reverence for life, replacing it with a reductionism that claims the human organism is no more than the sum of its chemical parts. The empirical functionalism idea of personhood is compatible with this view, which makes man simply a collection of parts and functions, or a property-thing. Put together enough chemical molecules in the right way, and you have a human being; put another set of parts together, and you have a 1957 Chrysler. Philosophically, it makes no difference.Ontological personalism, on the other hand, is based on the premise that a human being is a substance. A substance is a distinct unity of essence that exists ontologically prior to any of its parts. This traditional concept dates back to Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas. This view has been well summarized by the Christian philosopher J. P. Moreland (1995), and is discussed in great detail in the book Body and Soul (Moreland & Rae, 2000). For this review, I will focus on two implications of the idea of substance: the parts v. whole distinction, and continuity.To expand on my earlier illustration of a classic automobile, consider a nicely restored 1957 Chrysler. Many of the original parts have rusted away and have been replaced, so that this vintage car is a collection of old and new. Although many will refer to it as the same car as when it was new, intuition tells us that this is not the case. In fact, as stated earlier, remove the wheels, the motor, the seats, and the body, and the result is no longer a 1957 Chrysler; it is not even a car. To go still further, imagine adding other parts to the original chassis, such that the result(God forbid) is a1972Volkswagen Beetle! There was no continuity of essence between the two vehicles; each is nothing more than a collection of parts (my apologies to VW lovers).Try to do the same kind of thought experiment on a human being. Remove an arm or a leg from John Doe, and he remains a person, in fact, the same person. You can amputate all of John's extremities and even remove many internal organs; as long as he remains alive, his substance will never change. You can even “add new parts,” by transplanting organs from other persons, yet John Doe will never become James Smith; his substance is not defined by his component parts. He will always remain the same person.…Naturalism has its greatest difficulty here. To hold to a property-thing view of persons is to deny the commonsense understanding of personal continuity, with a host of attendant problems for law and morality.…I might add that this view is also compatible with biblical teaching on the image of God. It allows us to explore the way human beings resemble the Divine (rationality, volition, social nature, etc.), while helping us to avoid the dangers of a strictly functional definition. On this view, the image of God is intrinsic to the nature of persons. Thus, Scripture teaches the value of man from the womb, whereas intuition and philosophy help us to affirm that such valuation begins at conception.The philosophical idea of a human being as substance arises out of a broader philosophical principle, that of substance dualism. Substance dualism holds that there is an entity called a soul, and that the mind is a faculty of the soul. Body and soul (mind) are functionally holistic, which means that the two entities are deeply integrated and functionally interdependent. Yet they are ontologically separate, which means that the soul can exist independently of the body. This allows for a personal existence after death (Moreland & Rae, 2000). Another implication of this idea is that if personhood begins at conception, then that is when the soul originates as well.The Original Plan Was Good but then…the FallAuthor Sandra Richter in The Epic of Eden describes God's original intent by pointing out that the creation narrative is not complete in six days—there is a seventh day. On that day God rests. Creation is as intended so God may stop to rule overall. With that in mind, Richter concludes:In sum, Genesis 1 tells us of God's first, perfect plan—a flawlessly ordered world infused with balance and productivity. Here every rock, plant and animal had its own designated place within God's design, a God-ordained space in which each could thrive, reproduce and serve the good of the whole. And we see from the structure of Genesis 1 that the force that held this peaceful and productive cohabitation in balance was Yahweh's sovereignty over all. But as Day 6b makes clear, God chose to manage this creation through his representative ʾAdām. Thus humanity is given all authority to protect, maintain and develop God's great gift under God's ultimate authority. This is who Yahweh is, who humanity is and how both relate to the creation. And regardless of how you choose to harmonize science and Bible, this message is clearly part of the intent of Genesis 1. I would say it is the primary intent.Then Richter makes the connection to the repeating theme of the entire book of Genesis: covenant.You may have noticed that my description of Genesis 1 sounds a lot like the relationship between a vassal and his suzerain; a relationship in which the vassal is given full autonomy within the confines of his overlord's authority. When this reading of Genesis 1 is wedded to Genesis 2, the profile of covenant becomes even clearer. Here the suzerain (Yahweh) offers his vassals (Adam and Eve) the land grant of Eden with the stipulation that humanity care for it and protect it.Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate [ ʿābad] and keep it [šāmar]. (Gen 2:15)In addition to this perfect place, Adam and Eve are given each other (Gen 2:18-25), and as is implied by Genesis 3:8, they are given full access to their loving Creator. The only corner of the garden which was not theirs to use and enjoy was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die. (Gen 2:16-17)In essence, Adam and Eve are free to do anything except decide for themselves what is good and what is evil. Yahweh reserves the right (and the responsibility) to name those truths himself. (Emphasis added)This was Adam and Eve's perfect world. Not just fruit and fig leaves, but an entire race of people stretching their cognitive and creative powers to the limit to build a society of balance and justice and joy. Here the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve would learn life at the feet of the Father, build their city in the shadow of the Almighty, create and design and expand within the protective confines of his kingdom. The blessing of this gift? A civilization without greed, malice or envy; progress without pollution, expansion without extinction. Can you imagine it? . . . This was God's perfect plan: the people of God in the place of God dwelling in the presence of God. Yet, as with all covenants, God's perfect plan was dependent on the choice of the vassal. Humanity must willingly submit to the plan of God. The steward must choose this world; for in God's perfect plan, the steward had been given the authority to reject it.But then the fall came. And, surprisingly, then redemption came too.God's perfect plan (and humanity's perfect world) was a matter of choice. Did ʾAdām want this world? Or one of their own making? The ones made in the image of God could not be forced or coerced, but instead were called upon to choose their sovereign. And choose they did. Whenever I think of this moment, the lyrics of Don Francisco's old folk song echo in my mind: “And all their unborn children die as both of them bow down to Satan's hand.”16 God's original intent was sabotaged by humanity, stolen by the Enemy. ʾAdām rejected the covenant, and all the cosmos trembled. Genesis 2:17 makes it painfully clear what the consequences of such an insurrection would be: in that day, “you shall surely die.” But amazingly, mercifully, even though Yahweh had every right to wipe out our rebellious race, he chose another course—redemption. In a move that continues to confound me, God spared the lives of Adam and Eve (and their unborn children) by redirecting the fury of the curse toward another—the battered flesh of his own Son. This is the one the New Testament knows as “the last Adam” (Rom 5:14; 1 Cor 15:22, 45). And although the first Adam did not die, the second surely did. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.Conclusion—A Personal NoteWhen I read Genesis, I am astounded. I am not attempting to be overly dramatic or sentimental, but Genesis is so true I can hardly believe it. It paints a picture I cannot deny: Nature is just that. Yet it is curiously intelligible. But it is not divine. The divine things, like goodness, seem to transcend nature but not be less real than it. If nothing else, goodness seems more real. Whereas nature could not exist, goodness seems necessary. Man seems to be like nature but also somewhat divine. Something about man is not like the animals or anything else. Man and nature seem beautiful, yet both seem broken. Is this not truly our experience?

Genesis 1:26Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."Leviticus 26:11God's soul, the seat of His feelings, will not abhor them. In verse 30, conversely, if they do not obey Him, He says, "I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you."Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/622a9079e8fb640012cb94f3. I pray that God would "give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18I, pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance" https://plus.acast.com/s/blueprint-of-faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. David Swanson | Lev 17:1-11God calls us to a life of worship for very particular reasons, including by the "blood."

Anchor Passage: 1 Peter 4:10-11God has given unique gifts and talents to each one of us in this life. Join us as we learn how to share God's grace by using our gifts for the good of His people!

In this episode we continue our conversation entitle "For the Lord sees not as man sees" 1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”Exodus 18:21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.Philippians 2:3-4Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in Heaven and in Earth, in the seas and in all the deeps.”Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;Psalm 22:28For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a person's heart, but the LORD's decree will prevail.”Proverbs 21:1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Psalms 33:10-11God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.'Deal with the devil': Evangelical pastor testifies about bargain Christian conservatives made with GOP. Brad Reed December 8, 2022, 4:44 PM EThttps://www.rawstory.com/robert-schenck-testimony-video/ Former Anti-Abortion Lobbyist Rev Robert Schenck Statement on "Operation Higher Court"https://www.c-span.org/video/?524567-1/hearing-politics-supreme-courtReverend Schenck was a prominent activist in the pro-life movement before 2019 and cited the Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as part of an unequal exchange between Christians and politicians. Schenck later repudiated his anti-abortion position and has preached in more than 40 countries since 1982, including every state in the US.The Rev. Robert Schenck, who was once a prominent anti-abortion activist, testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday that he and his fellow conservative Christians made a Faustian bargain with the Republican Party as part of their quest to overturn Roe v. Wade.During his testimony, Schenck described a meeting he and his fellow evangelicals had with Republican operatives in which they were told that, in order to get what they wanted with Roe, they would have to accept and promote an entire package of right-wing policies that they otherwise might have found objectionable."In that meeting that I participated in, the conversation went something like this: ‘You guys want Roe v. Wade overturned, we can do that for you, but you take the whole enchilada, you take the whole thing,”‘ he said. “You take everything else that comes with it. Because if you want Roe gone, you have to work with us.” ( Rev. Robert Schenck).Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/622a9079e8fb640012cb94f3. I pray that God would "give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18I, pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance" https://plus.acast.com/s/blueprint-of-faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heb.12:7-11God's discipline and blessings1. What does God's Discipline Evidence?2. What are responses to God's Discipline?3. What are blessings of God's Discipline?

Psalm 7 1 O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, 2lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. 3O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, 4if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, 5let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah 6 Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. 7Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high. 8The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. 9Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! 10My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. 11God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. 12If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; 13he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. 14Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. 15He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. 16His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. 17I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Welcome back to the Holy Girl Hotline! On today's episode, we're going to be talking about bad habits and habitual sin. This topic is one that extends our testimonies to post-salvation, and is included in the story God is continuing to write. We believe that our journey is not complete at salvation, but that the process of sanctification is a life-long one. We discuss some of our bad habits, some scripture to help us with these, and some of our thoughts and revelations. We hope this episode encourages and blesses you. No matter where you are in your journey, keep fighting the good fight! We love you!References: Work out your salvation | Philippians 2:12The wages of sin is death | Romans 6:23I do the things I do not want to do | Romans 7:14-25No condemnation for those in Christ | Romans 8:1Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit | Psalms 51:17Dog returning to its vomit | Proverbs 26:11God will not tempt you beyond what you can bear | 1 Corinthians 10:13Jesus is head over every ruler & authority | Colossians 2:10We are fighting not against flesh and blood enemies | Ephesians 6:12

BREAKING THE CYCLEGOD'S RECIPE FOR A MIRACLESunday, June 11, 2023WHAT IF God wanted to use everything in your life for His purpose?2 Timothy 2:19-21When we have an iniquity that has been a  part of our life since birth it can be challenging to define what is honorable and dishonorable and then allow God to use each vessel in our life (memories, failures, wins, etc…) to bring about His purpose and plan.We must acknowledge our issues and face our failures so that God gets glory and the next generation walks in freedom.2 Corinthians 4:7-11God has chosen to use us, in all our messed up broken state to reveal His promise wholeness and His power to heal. You can BREAK THE CYCLE!2 Corinthians 3:3Within you is a recipe for a miracle.

Praise His Name And Wait On His Timing. That Takes Trust And Patience Psalm 7:10 - 17 10My shield d is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. 11God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. 12If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. 13He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows. 14Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. 15Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. 16The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. 17I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Sunday 22 in Year C First Reading ‡ Sirach 3:17-20.27-28Humble yourself and you will find favour with the Lord. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 67:4-7.10-11God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. Second Reading ‡ Hebrews 12:18-19.22-24You have to come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God. Gospel ‡ […] The post All are welcome appeared first on rmhealey.org.

Dear IGNITE Listner, Today we took time to reflect on our Shmita year thus far.  Please review this episode to grasp what we are referring to.  References:Shmita Cycle: manualShmita Scriptures at large: Leviticus 25-26; Exodus 23:10–11God's Vision for Smita: Leviticus 25:18-19; Leviticus 26:3-13God's Purpose for Smita (Rest and Liberty): Leviticus 25:1-7; Leviticus 25:4; Leviticus 26:1-2;Visit with us live each week Monday 10AMclick ULECx.com/conferencecall  205-582-7082or view our archive record of all our calls at ULECx.comDisclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this podcast including the team and guests are solely their opinions.  Host and guest may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed.This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.   

                           Isaiah - the Vision - Part Three:                              Foolish Leaders/Foolish Counsel:                                     “The Northern Kingdom”                                                Isaiah 28:1-13          Three Sections:1.        Prophecy Fulfilled: A Warning to Judah - vs. 1-4The woe here anticipates Ephraim's or Samaria's imminent fall, that in fact occurred in 722:  2 Kings 17:5-6Pride was their main issue: Isaiah 16:6Drunkenness is a symptom of Pride: Isaiah 5:11Rather than face judgment soberly, the leaders instead drink themselves into a drunken stupor; this is a constant reaction for the ungodly: Isaiah 22:12-13The chastisement is described as a Hailstorm, flooding and downpour:  Isaiah 8:7-8 2.        Light for the Remnant - vs. 5-6 Instead of the drunken rulers Israel and Judah had come to expect, God will bring a new spirit to the throne:  Is 11:1-4There will be a change of atmosphere and empowerment: Isaiah 44:3  3.         Faulty Leadership -vs. 7-13      A.    Irresponsible Self-indulgence - 7-8 The priest had broken the divine law: Lev. 10:9They should have chosen the spirit instead of wine: Eph. 5:18What hope is there for a nation when even its spiritual leaders have given themselves over to debauchery:  Isaiah 5:11-12      B. Taunting - vs 9-13  Isaiah is responding to sarcastic taunts: Isaiah 5:19They failed to listen to the message of opportunity; they had a chance to rest or trust in the Lord: Isaiah 30:15Ultimately, the only security is in the conviction that God cares for us and will bring all the strands of the life committed to him to a joyous climax: Ps 56:10-11God will not be mocked!  Gal. 6:7Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/AnthonyMartino66?fan_landing=true)

DEVOTION AND MEDITATION Psalm 139:11God's Love covers me, even in the darkest moments

Out of the Rubble:Positioned and PrayerfulNehemiah 1: 1-11God positions us for purpose.Don't forward God's callAlways pray for God to make a wayWho is God calling you to help?Check out the full service on YouTube here or check Harmony out online here.

Holiness is the essence of what God is. Everything about God is holy, so in order to get a revelation or understanding of His holiness, we need to know who God is and what He is like.7 attributes of God:God is Light - 1 John 1:5God is Love - 1 John 4:8-11God is Justice and Judgement - Deuteronomy 32:3-4 & Genesis 18:25God is Anger and Wrath - Nahum 1:2 & Revelation 22:18-19God is Mercy and Lovingkindness - Psalm 51:1 & Psalm 106:1God is Grace - Hebrews 4:16God is Power - Psalm 93:1-4

Dear Birmingham Business Leader!  Today Kayla and I discussed understanding Shmita from an Eternal Perspective.  If someone asked me how to enter into a formal business partnership with the Kingdom of Heaven, I'd tell them to build their business plan over the principles of the Shmita Cycle. Our Father provides specific instruction on how to spiritually navigate business on a year-by-year basis in the book of Leviticus. This is the second recording in a series of three calls completely dedicated to Shmita: 01-10-22 Will the Market Crash? // Understanding Shmita // Part 101-17-22 Eternal Perspective // Understanding Shmita // Part 2   01-24-22 Nine-Month Economic Forecast // Understanding Shmita  // Part 3References:Shmita Cycle: manual Shmita Scriptures at large: Leviticus 25-26; Exodus 23:10–11God's Vision for Smita: Leviticus 25:18-19; Leviticus 26:3-13God's Purpose for Smita (Rest and Liberty): Leviticus 25:1-7; Leviticus 25:4; Leviticus 26:1-2;Visit with us live each week Monday 10AMclick ULECx.com/conferencecall  205-582-7082or view our archive record of all our calls at ULECx.comDisclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this podcast including the team and guests are solely their opinions.  Host and guest may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed.This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.  

Dear Birmingham Business Leader, If the market is to 'suffer' a major 'correction' or 'recession' it will most likely happen between now and early October.  January through September 2022 is the last 9 months of what is known as the Sabbath (rest) year.  Shmita or the Sabbath year is the period of a seven-year period ordained by the Lord.     Consider these recent economic 'downturns' that have occurred in previous Shmita years as evidence to support this forecast: 1966 - Market drops 23% 1973 - Oil crash, market drops 48%1980 - Great recession, market drop 1987 - US Stock Market Crash 33% 1994 - US Bond Market Crash 2001 - US Stock Market Crash 37% drop, 911 2008 - US Stock Market Crash 50% drop 2015/16 - Crash Alert 2021/22 - ??????  This is the first recording in a series of three calls completely dedicated to Shmita:01-10-22 Will the Market Crash? // Understanding Shmita // Part 101-17-22 Eternal Perspective // Understanding Shmita // Part 2   01-24-22 Nine-Month Economic Forecast // Understanding Shmita  // Part 3 References: Shmita Scriptures at large: Leviticus 25-26; Exodus 23:10–11God's Vision for Smita: Leviticus 25:18-19; Leviticus 26:3-13God's Purpose for Smita (Rest and Liberty): Leviticus 25:1-7; Leviticus 25:4; Leviticus 26:1-2;Scott Harwell of Harwell Law Firm and YOUTUBEDr. Martin Williams of Dream Keepers International, Ambassadors Worship Center, and his message that inspired our study of Shmita   Shmita timeline stats - Are You Ready? Helpful article - Shmita, The Next Great Depression Visit with us live each week Monday 10AMclick ULECx.com/conferencecall  205-582-7082or view our archive record of all our calls at ULECx.com/2021Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this podcast including the team and guests are solely their opinions.  Host and guest may maintain positions in the companies and securities discussed.This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as specific investment advice for any individual or organization.  

True Relief Does Not Come When The Problem Is Solved; It Comes From An Enduring Hope In God's Ultimate Salvation. Psalm 62:9 - 11 9Common people are only a vapor; important people, an illusion. Together on a scale, they weigh less than a vapor. 10Place no trust in oppression or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, don't set your heart on it. 11God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God,

1Jn4:6 “Anyone who knows God listens to US... “ ( Listens to APOSTOLIC teaching- listens to the Catholic Church!) v. 10and 11God loved us first. That's why we must love (reach out to) others first. 5:16 John differentiates between MORTAL and VENIAL sins, to use the Church's language. (Mortal sins = serious matter, you're aware it's wrong, and you choose to do the act of your own free will.) 2Johnv6 Loving God is to “walk according to his commandments.” (Not “faith alone”, in the Protestant sense.) 3John v. 5-8 Support the Church financially! v.9, 10 Again watch out for false teachers, and follow the Church founded by Christ on the Apostles! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/catholicbiblestudy/support

God's Strategy To Save Lost HumanityMemory Text;11“And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” Jonah 4:11God's desire to save lost humanity.

                Hebrews – A Call to Commitment:                           “The Better Covenant”                                 Hebrews  7:20-28 The New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:31The Main Idea is found in Hebrews 7:22          Four benefits of the Better Covenant:1.      God's Reliable Oath  (five times in 9 verses) The Old Priesthood was based on a command: Exodus 28:1The oath is about God's word. God's word is powerful and reliable.  He spoke the world into existence in Genesis 1:3God's Word gets results: Isaiah 55:10-11God does not change His mind: Numbers 23:19 2.         The Guarantor (Jesus)    3.         The Permanent Priesthood         The benefits of the permanent priest:        1)   Complete SalvationHis saving power is complete: Romans 10:9The old covenant brought doubt; the new brings assurance: 1 John 5:13        2)    Ongoing Intercession—Isaiah 53:12 His prayer: John 17:20-21      The Character of Christ is stated in five terms:      1)      Holy (It is the opposite of polluted); he never deviates from in the least from God's                 ordinances and commandments.      2)      Blameless or Devout: Loyal to covenant obligations.     3)       Pure or innocent; He was not touched by evil.     4)      Set Apart: Undefiled by the worlds standard.     5)      Exalted: He shares the throne with God.4.         The Perfect Sacrifice  Support the show (https://paypal.me/pwp398?locale.x=en_US)

DEVOTION AND MEDITATION Psalm 139:11God's Love covers me, even in the dark days

“...constant through the trial and the change, one thing remains...”I'm just now realizing how much God loves change and variety Just look around – at yourself, your friends, your neighborhood – every one and everything is changing. In small ways – a new hairstyle, a change of clothes – or in larger ways – in learning to play a musical instrument, cook new foods, speak a new language or build a new building.In God's created world, change was how it all began. Out of chaos: Light, Dark; a vault (space) to separate the waters; land and sea, plants and trees; sun, moon and stars; creatures in the water, birds in the air; all the animals and creatures on the land; and finally, man and woman. Gen 1:3-27Have you ever watched a flower open from bud into a blossom? It can happen in 90 minutes at twilight for some flowers. Seen maize grow several inches in just 1 day? Watched a baby roll over, a toddler take her first steps or a young child speak his first full sentence? Change all around us! All the time!Let's get a little perspective in this matter. About 500,000 years ago, the mountains in Western Uganda rose up enough to block the rivers flowing from Uganda (through what is now DRC) on their way out to the Atlantic Ocean. Water then collected in an area larger and deeper (100 meters deeper) than Lake Victoria is today. There were 7 small islands, now known as the 7 hills of Kampala.About 30,000 years ago, another tectonic lift in the west forced water to exit Lake Victoria near Jinja, creating the River Nile as we know it today.About 2,300 years ago, the author of Ecclesiastes wrote “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecc 3:1 People saw that change happens, sometimes in cycles or seasons Change comes whether we want it or not.The thing about change – as a Ugandan proverb says – change changes Each change affects and effects other changes. Sometimes the ripple effect is hard to predict or goes on longer than we can imagine. When we chose to indulge in a sin, there are consequences that we have to live with. Choosing to eat food that isn't healthy might add weight to our bodies or tip us over into diabetes. On the other hand, when we chose to follow Christ, there are many more changes coming our way: to be more gentle, thoughtful, helpful, kind and loving Each of those choices leads to other changes as well.It is almost as if God created this entire world as a classroom or laboratory for us in which to play and learn. He made each of us unique, with different talents, gifts, blessings and challenges. He has given us all we need to develop and blossom into the full life in Christ He's planned for us. In spite of all the activity and changes around us, one thing remains, constant in the trial and the change – God's Love and character don't change. The Creator of the Universe holds steady, never giving up on any of us, no matter how tough life seems, no matter the fierceness of the storms around, He holds us secure. When we chose to hold fast to Him, His Word and plan, we are guided through the changes into His arms. His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out. He who made all this change, has plans to bless us with all the fullness of His blessing. “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future: Jer 29:11God even allowed change to come to Jesus. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Gal 4:4-5 Jesus walked in this world of change, without being changed by it. He did and said the will of His Father and changed the course of history and our lives.For the past 2 years, the world has faced not only wars, famines, extreme weather events but also plagues that are just now beginning to be prevented by vaccines, mask wearing and social distance keeping. We become used to the changes we see everyday and think that all will be as it has been before. But God...loves change and variety. He wants so much for us to grow into His likeness, to love and know Him, that He gives us each day, a chance to ask Him for wisdom, understanding, faith, courage, whatever we need.Without change, we can never become the person He created us to be. We are not the same as when were born. Some of us are not as were at 40, 50 or even 60! In God, there is much to become, ever seeking Him and His Kingdom. It is not for us to say “When the lockdown is over, I will do ….” Rather we need, in this day, to ask God “What will you have me do today? How may I serve You?” That is the act we can chose in the midst of change that moves us closer to God.God Himself does not change He is ever faithful, just, true, loving, blessing. He is always, ever working for our good, blessing us whether we see it or feel it. God does not tire of doing good for His children, in encouraging, feeding, healing them. In the face of all the change around us, there is room for joy in the great beauty and variety in the natural world. There is always room for prayer in the face of storms and natural and manmade disasters. There is no need or place for fear or anxiety as God is in control and has promised to protect us. We simply need to stay close to Him.Change does bring changes. Our choice is to always, ever seek God and His will. We will then grow to become more like Christ and bring Glory to God. God who is constant in the trial and the change.QUESTIONS:- Where do you see change in yourself?- What change is God making in your life and choices?PRAYER POINTS- for people walking in fear or anxiety to see God – bigger than the mountains they face- for people wanting to be free from changes, to rejoice in what God brings to their life; to see the blessings He pours down on them and through them to others

Teaching Notes“Dear woman, that's not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” John 2:4But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:6-11God is faithful not just while we wait, but while we work.Keep working while you are waiting. Going Deeper DiscussionWhat is it you are asking God to do in your life? Turn that into a prayer…“God, I'd really like you to… but until then I'll keep...” What are your answers?What is it you are asking God to do in your life?Turn that into a prayer. Sunday Set ListWFC Lenexa + WFC AnywhereHouse of the Lord- Phil WickhamWho My God Is- Mitch LangleyPeace Be Still- Belonging Co. feat./ Lauren DaigleIt Is Well- Bethel MusicWFC SpeedwayWorthy- Elevation Worship Make Room- Community Music The Lion and The Lamb- LeelandThis Is Amazing Grace- Phil WickhamBe sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday's set!

Teaching Notes“Dear woman, that's not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” John 2:4But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions. When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:6-11God is faithful not just while we wait, but while we work.Keep working while you are waiting.Going Deeper DiscussionWhat is it you are asking God to do in your life? Turn that into a prayer…“God, I'd really like you to… but until then I'll keep...” What are your answers?What is it you are asking God to do in your life?Turn that into a prayer.Sunday Set ListWFC Lenexa + WFC AnywhereHouse of the Lord- Phil WickhamWho My God Is- Mitch LangleyPeace Be Still- Belonging Co. feat./ Lauren DaigleIt Is Well- Bethel MusicWFC SpeedwayWorthy- Elevation Worship Make Room- Community Music The Lion and The Lamb- LeelandThis Is Amazing Grace- Phil WickhamBe sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday's set!

2 Corinthians 9:10-11God has given us different seeds to grow — time, resources, and skills. Will we sow it, or will we keep it? William Gilbuena encourages us to go and sow it and share it with others. #DailyDevo

Psalm 7:1-2 The enemy threatens to tear David apart7:3-5 If he is guilty, may he be judged7:6-11 He calls on the LORD to arise in judgment7:12-16 Judgment will fall upon the head of the wicked7:17 Final praiseGod as judge from Psalm 7God is judge of all peoples- 7:7-8God is a righteous judge- 7:11God is angry with sin- 7:6, 11God punishes the wicked- 7:9, 11, 12-16God vindicates the righteous- 7:8, 9, 10I made a mistake around the 22 minute mark in talking about the word in the Greek translation for "Arise." It is actually the word in the Greek translation for "lifted up" which also appears in the same verse. 

Philippians 1:3-11God calls us into relationship with him, but can that relationship be broken.

THE WEEK OF EPIPHANY IV - SATURDAYLESSON: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8To impute absolute perfection and sinlessness to the saints is a fruit of carnal thinking and devotion. On this basis, men do not measure the saints by God's grace, but according to their own person, worthiness, and grandeur. This is quite contrary to the way in which God measures men. God measures men in accordance with His gifts. God never allowed John the Baptist to perform any miracle such as many lesser saints are reported to have performed (John 10:41). In short, He has often performed through lesser saints what He has not done through the great saints.When Christ was twelve years old, He concealed Himself from His mother and allowed her to be mistaken and lacking in knowledge (Luke 2:43). On Easter Day He showed Himself to Mary Magdalene before He showed Himself to His mother and the apostles (John 20:14). He spoke to the Samaritan woman (John 4:7), and even with the woman taken in adultery (John 8:10), in a more friendly manner than He showed towards His mother. Peter falls and denies Christ, but the murderer on the cross acknowledges Him and believes in Him.In these and similar remarkable examples He wants us to estimate the saints according to His indwelling Spirit so that we should not simply judge them according to their person. He wants to dispense His gifts freely, according to His good pleasure, as Paul declares (1 Corinthians 12:11), and not according to our ways of thinking.SL.XI.484,14-15AE 76,287PRAYER: All that we are and have, O Lord, is of your mercy and grace alone. Pour out your Spirit upon us that we may ever continue to live in the light of your grace, in and through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

INSTAGRAM: @youth_bioyPSALM READING: Psalm 119:161–168NEW TESTAMENT READING: Hebrews 6:13–7:10OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 7:1–9:11God is the God of promise. Faith involves trusting the promises of God. God makes a promise; faith believes it, hope anticipates it, patience quietly waits for it.

4 Truths to Stand On This WeekNo matter what happens this week, God is on the throne and Jesus is King. – Psalm 47:1-9, Philippians 2:9-11God is sovereign over all nations and people. – Daniel 4:25, Psalm 20:7God ordains government to restrain evil and promote good. – Romans 13:1-7Disciples of Jesus should be salt and light as citizens of two kingdoms. – Jeremiah 29:7, Matthew 5:13-16, 1 Timothy 2:1-74 Ways to Engage this Week as Disciples of JesusDo educate yourself about the issues from a biblical perspective.Do steward your vote as a God-given opportunity.Don't give in to fear and trust God with the outcomes.Don't compromise your witness or the unity of the church for politics.

Scriptures to read with this sermon....  Jonah 3:10 - 4:11God had compassion on the Ninevites, even though they were a very sinful city. Jonah was envious because of God's generosity of his forgiveness.  Romans 9:6-16God is not an unjust God. God is the one that decides who he will have mercy upon. God is the one who decides who he will have compassion on.  Matthew 20:1-16 (sermon verses)Jesus tells us about unfairness. It is not our decision, on what is fair and what is not. It is ultimately God's decision. But that's a good thing! We hope you enjoy this message! If you have any questions you can email us at:votl.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @votlchurchFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/votl.org/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbssSY_GyJMabh9W-sSVQpQ Online: https://votl.org

Neal looked at Gideon and the lessons that we can learn.After Joshua had died the children of Israel did not follow Jehovah and did not carry out all the things God had told them to do. They got themselves into big trouble!Judges 2 vs 10-11God places 12 Judges over the children of Israel to try and get them to return to him and trust him again. Gideon is one of these 12Judges 6 vs 7 -24I want to look at v12-21 Gideon’s encounter with the angel of the Lord and to see what we can learn from this encounter.v12 – What an opening. This should be a such a blessing and encouragement to Gideon but he almost ignores this and speaks back to the angel of the Lord.v13 – Questions! This is so much like us when God comes to us to encourage us or speak to us! Why am I in this situation? Where have you been? Why do I feel abandoned? In fact in this case as we have already seen it was their own fault! They had turned their back on God and abandoned him! This is so much like us – we go our own way with our own ideas, get in a mess and then somehow its God’s fault for abandoning us! Can you hear yourself saying these things!But the angel of the Lord is patientv14Once again a great encouragement to Gideon but again he answers back!v15This sounds like us again.BUT…….God chose Gideon because it was not about Gideon’s strength or might – It was about God’s power working through him. It’s the same with us. He wants to use you and has chosen you “The Lord is with you”.v17This is so much like us – God speaks and we say show me a sign – Word to give at Church: I’m nothing, I’ve had a bad week, I’m not good enough, Is it me, Is it the enemy, is it my imagination? Lord give me a sign? If someone else brings a word about water – I will bring this as it’s about a river – I just need confirmation! And yet so often God is gracious and does exactly that!The Angel of the Lord is incredibly gracious and patient and says “I will stay here until you return!” However, I’m not sure if he realised just how long Gideon was going to be – 3 to 4 hours maybe. Finally Gideon realises that this is an Angel of the Lord and he believes him!But later on in this chapter he does the same again - v36-40This is a picture of how patient God is with us. He tells us what he wants us to do and we argue and prevaricate and tell him why we can’t, how weak and useless we are and then ask for signs to confirm it all and keep him waiting and yet he is patient and kind and loves us all through it!!My encouragement is that Gideon is like me – full of fear, full of self and many reasons why God can’t use me, questioning and with so little faith in God. Always wanting confirmation and a sign just to make sure!!Note: It’s not about gifting – It’s about character – Can God use you where you take your little faith and let God use it for his glory!And yet Gideon is found as one of the names in Hebrews 11 which is the chapter in Hebrews about Great Examples of faith!!Hebrews 11:32Be encouraged – God is patient and kind and loves us so much that he will speak to us more than once, he will speak to us through others, through the bible, through circumstances and through the gifts and will even answer our prayers about fleeces as he wants to work with us and overcome the enemy just as Gideon did in Chapter 7 and 8!!Ephesians 3:20It’s not about your power – It’s about God’s power – Whatever you think you can achieve in God- He can and will achieve more than we ask or think!Questions:1. Can you see elements of you in Gideon and is it helpful to see God use him?2. Does this story help us to understand God’s heart towards us and his infinite patience!3. What can I learn from Gideon’s story that can help my walk with God?4. Has anyone got a recipe for roasted goat? How long does it take?

EP 158 | Beacons Of Hope, Psalm 25:1-11God calls us to be people of faith, and beacons of hope for others. How will you share the hope of God with those that you meet today?

Reading: Romans 6:1-11God's grace is truly amazing. He makes a way for restoration. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and shares with us the nature of God. What does our new life in Christ look like?  We have died to sin, as pictured by our baptism, but still have cravings for sin. If it wasn't a serious matter, Jesus Christ would not have died to pay the price for it. But He did, and He made us free. So, because God's Grace is abundant and freely given, should we just live our lives without a thought towards how we live it?

Acts 23:10-11God's Promises helped Paul:Overcome his enemies.Overcome his imprisonments.Overcome the shipwrecks and storms of his life.

Romans 2:1-11 So you have no excuse – anyone, whoever you are, who sits in judgment! When you judge someone else, you condemn yourself, because you, who are behaving as a judge, are doing the same things. 2God's judgment falls, we know, in accordance with the truth, on those who do such things. 3But if you judge those who do them and yet do them yourself, do you really suppose that you will escape God's judgment? 4Or do you despise the riches of God's kindness, forbearance and patience? Don't you know that God's kindness is meant to bring you to repentance? 5But by your hard, unrepentant heart you are building up a store of anger for yourself on the day of anger, the day when God's just judgment will be unveiled – 6the God who will ‘repay everyone according to their works'. 7When people patiently do what is good, and so pursue the quest for glory and honour and immortality, God will give them the life of the age to come. 8But when people act out of selfish desire, and do not obey the truth, but instead obey injustice, there will be anger and fury. 9There will be trouble and distress for every single person who does what is wicked, the Jew first and also, equally, the Greek – 10and there will be glory, honour and peace for everyone who does what is good, the Jew first and also, equally, the Greek. 11God, you see, shows no partiality. The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation . SPCK. Kindle Edition. Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the whole of my love; because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of myself; because you have promised so much, I owe you my whole being. I pray you, Lord, make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by love what I know by understanding. I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more, and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of your love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours, too, in love. Amen. Anselm

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJVTrusting in the Lord is so important, but sometimes so difficult. You love the Lord and you are thankful for every single blessing He has chosen to bestow upon you. But what do you do when you are going through hard times, and you have prayed and all you seem to hear from God is silence? How do you hold on to your faith in such circumstances?Doing It On Our OwnSometimes we feel we must do things on our own and we focus so much energy on finding the way ourselves, that our minds become confused and our faith begins to waiver. We know we must do the work, but we must have trust and faith that God will, not only show us in which direction to go, but He will have our rewards waiting for us when we get there, thanks to His grace and mercy.How Do We Trust in the Lord to Handle It AllSo how do we achieve this?How can we make sense of all that is going on in our lives, and still trust in the Lord to handle it?First, we must give it to God, laying all our fears and worries and problems at His feet. Try not to think of this as a difficult task. In fact, that's actually the easy part. The hard part is not picking it back up.That is the second thing. So many times we will go to God in prayer and truly empty ourselves of all the pain and anxiety we are going through, but the next day we find ourselves, once again, worrying about those same problems. Why would we worry if we truly gave it to God because faith shows us it will be taken care of. We can't do any of it alone, but only through true faith and trust in the Lord, can we accomplish these goals."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11God has such a beautiful plan for our lives. Isn't it about time we allow Him to reveal the plans He has for each of us, so that we may flourish in rich, new lives, grounded in Christ Jesus?PrayerFather God, thank you so much for your grace and mercy. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your son to die on the cross for us. The bible tells us that you will never leave, nor forsake us and that is such a beautiful promise...a promise that can carry us through these tough times. We need only to trust in you Lord. In Jesus name. Amen"But blessed is the one who puts his trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him." Jeremiah 17:7Read the full devotion at https://devotableapp.com/daily-devotion-proverbs-35-6-trust-in-the-lord/

1 Corinthians 6:9-20 Paul is seeking to help us understand the process of being set apart from the rest of the world. We were designed to live set apart from the ways of the sinful world; we are set apart for something greater.To be set apart is a life that all Christians are called to live.Although we play a part in our sanctification, it is a work God does in our lives as we follow him. The Christian life is a life of growing in sanctification. In verses 9-10 Paul gives a list of sins that represent all the major types of ungodly behaviors that should never be characterized with the lives of those who identify with Christ. Those who practice these sins as a habitual lifestyle will not inherit the kingdom of God.Read verses 9-10Read Gal 5:19-21The life of Gods’ people should be characterized by faithfulness and purity.Read verse 11God has made Christians holy, not perfect, by the work of his Holy Spirit, and we are therefore called to live as his holy people. God gives us everything we need to live a holy life in this world (read 2 Peter 3-4). Our way of life is to be distinctly different from the unholy world around us. Every part of our lives should reflect the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.The spirit of our God has set us apart for new behavior.Therefore it is inappropriate for anyone who is united to Christ to violate the Christian body which has become a sanctuary of the living God and is therefore claimed by God himself.Read verse 12-17The Corinthian believers thought they were free to sin with no impact on their spiritual lives.The believe that what we do physically has no affect on our spiritual lives comes from a heresy called Gnosticism. One aspect of this heresy was the idea that only thing that mattered was the spiritual. Our bodies were not important but Paul spoke against this idea. He is teaching that our physical bodies belong just as much to Christ as our spirits do.For believers the question should never come down to whether something is lawful or a right, but whether is it is beneficial. The body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. This means that believers belong to God and their behavior should reflect it. Believers should not use their bodies for dishonorable purposes, rather for God’s glory.Read 18-20In submitting to Christ , we submit in both body and spirit. We are set apart-sanctified-in Christ and our bodies are no longer to be used as vessels for sin. Instead, our bodies are to be vessels to glorify Christ.Does your life reflect a daily progression and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit?Do you glorify god with you being?What can you do to glorify God with your life?If you are living a life indulging in sin submit to Christ and allow him to begin a work in you.The goal is not to be sinless but to sin less. Only Christ was sinless but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can sin less and glorify god with our being.

Bonus episode from Miranda. From time to time Miranda will have a positive word to share. Here are the hi-lights:Desire fuels disciplineDon't think about it just do it.Exercise is the most underused drug.Kick in the pants time.Too often we wait for motivation and that last such a short amount of time. It's like a shower you must do it daily.The higher you can bring desire the more discipline will fall into place.Discipline is a practice.Hebrews 12:11Colossians 2:23Do it with joy.You were created to do great and mighty things.Jeremiah 29:11God's not done with you.For info on DNA testing contact Ed Hayden haydenwellness@gmail.com

GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRHWhen they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. —Matthew 2:10–11God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything (Acts 17:25). The gifts of the magi are not given by way of assistance or need-meeting. It would dishonor a monarch if foreign visitors came with royal care-packages. Well, what then do they mean? How are they worship? The gifts are intensifiers of desire for Christ himself. When you give a gift to Christ like this, it’s a way of saying, “The joy that I pursue (verse 10) is not the hope of getting rich with things from you. I have not come to you for your things, but for yourself. And this desire I now intensify and demonstrate by giving up things, in the hope of enjoying you more, not things. By giving to you what you do not need, and what I might enjoy, I am saying, ‘You are my treasure, not these things.’” I think that’s what it means to worship God with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. May God take the truth of this text and waken in us a desire for Christ himself. May we say from the heart, “Lord Jesus, you are the Messiah, the King of Israel. All nations will come and bow down before you. God wields the world to see that you are worshiped. Therefore, whatever opposition I may find, I joyfully ascribe authority and dignity to you, and bring my gifts to say that you alone can satisfy my heart, not these.”Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourdailybible)

God wants you to realize how special you are the Him, How He delights in you. and He wants you to Relish the privilege you have to talk with Him, Delight in Him.What a Friend You Have in Jesus You were made for friendship with God. Each of us is designed for deep, intimate friendship with God. Jesus said: I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him. John ‭15:15‬ To be a servant of the Lord Jesus is an immeasurable privilege. Yet Jesus goes much further and confers a greater honor. He brings you even closer. He calls you His friend.The word Jesus uses for friend is philos.Two evidences of True Friendship Jesus reveals to show sincerity. First, He opened His heart with transparency. He said a master doesn't tell his servant what he's doing, Yet, Jesus revealed His Father's will to us. He asked the Father to send His Spirit to revealed All things by His Spirit He has said. Who searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets. (1 Corinthians ‭2:10‬) So we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians ‭2:12‬)Jesus asked the Father to give you another advocate like himself to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John ‭14:16-17‬The Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything Jesus has told you. John ‭14:26‬ The Spirit will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.'‭‭John‬ ‭16:13-15‬ ‬Second, the cross proves Jesus friendship. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus wanted you to know and understand His Great Love for you, how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. Even When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans ‭5:5-8‬)Christ substituted Himself for you under God's wrath on the cross, and he did it because He Loves you and you are His treasured friend. He paid a Great Price for your friendship. Friendship is in the at the very center of the gospel.And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in adhered to, trusted in, and relied on God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness as conformity to God's will in thought and deed, and he was called God's friend. Genesis 15:6; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8, ‭‭James‬ ‭2:23‬ ‬So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. Romans ‭5:11‬ Oh the riches of God's Grace and Mercy that we along with believing Abraham should be counted the Friend of God, because of the LORD Jesus CHRIST.James 2:23, Romans 5:11God's Gift to You For you as a Believer you're a Christian, ‭The KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords is your MOST Devote Friend, Who gave His Life for you to Demonstrate His Great Love for you! Talk to Him Always! He knows the Absolute Best for you!‬ 1 Timothy 6:15, John 15:15, James 2:23, Romans 5:8, Matthew 6:8Jesus came, died, and was raised from the dead that you might experience friendship with God — not just in heaven, but now: Listen to what Jesus says: “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. . . . And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:21, 23) The filling of the Holy Spirit is not merely power to perform works of ministry, but to experience God's friendship to the extent that we can't stop speaking about him to others (Acts 4:20). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not given to us to enhance our identities, but to mediate God's gracious friendship to others.For those who trust in Jesus, the cross removes the relational distance. The Father says “come” (Isaiah 55:3), the Son says “come” (Matthew 11:28–30), the Spirit says “come” (Revelation 22:17). Draw near to your greatest Friend and he will draw near to you (James 4:8) and give you the grace you need (Hebrews 4:16).Jesus chose us as friends, he died for us as friends, he caused us to trust him as our friend, and he will remain our friend for the endless ages to come. What a friend we have — moment by moment, now and forever — in Jesus.

7 Reasons God Doesn’t Love YouRomans 5:1-11God doesn’t love you because you are able or strong God doesn’t love you because you are godly God doesn’t love you because you are righteousGod doesn’t love you because you are goodGod doesn’t love you because you deserve his loveGod doesn’t love you because you are friendsGod doesn’t love you because you are at peace

Righteous InfluenceParaphrase of Jonathan Edwards:The spirit that is at work in a people is plainly observed so as to convince others that Christ is the son of God, died to save sinners, we are in great need of Him, and our affections for Him and God increases.-Genesis 4:2-5True righteousness - aligns with God in our worship, in our life, and in our influence. -Colossians 4:7-8-John 12:9-11God uses everyone for influence and its the “little known” to the “no named” that He most often uses to be influential.-1 Corinthians 15:584 characteristics of righteous influence1. Willingness to give everything2. Little regard for self, but utmost for God3. Speaks and Acts Differently4. Consistencymentor@grandparkway.org“Through the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christian is involved in a daily life and habit that cannot be explained.” A.W. Tozer3 questions to consider:What influence is your life having?Who are you influencing the most?What informs your influence? (world, peer pressure, self, or God)

Acts 4:32-5:11God has a purpose for our every possession. He invites us, with all that we have, to choose a life partnered with him. If we reject this choice, the consequences are dire.

Acts 4:32-5:11God has a purpose for our every possession. He invites us, with all that we have, to choose a life partnered with him. If we reject this choice, the consequences are dire.

11God said, “I command the earth to produce all kinds of plants, including fruit trees and grain.” And that's what happened. 12The earth produced all kinds of vegetation. God looked at what he had done, and it was good. 13Evening came, then morning—that was the third day.Gen 1:11-13

God intervenesSermon 8: Genesis 10-11God's instruction Followed (10)Genesis 10 is called the Table of Nations by scholars. This is not just another genealogy, but describes people groups and where they settled. Perhaps this chapter is better described as an Atlas of the Ancients - the sons of Noah. People scattered and filled the earth.God's intervention Unfolded (11:1-10)The tower of Babel is significant. Chapter 10 gives you the impression people obeyed God, but chapter 11 explains that under Nimrod's leadership everyone decided to stay in one place and make a name for themselves - not God. Let us make our own connection to the heavens. God intervenes and confuses their languages.Note: they say, "come let us…" and God mimics this in verse 7. God comes down to see this building project of rebellion.God's introduction of His Friend (11:11-27; 12:1-4, James 2:23)This last genealogy picks up Shem's line, which brings us down to Abram, who God calls in 2013 and who is a major feature of Genesis (covering 15 chapters: through 25:12). Oswald Chambers: “Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith— a faith, tested and true, built on the true God.”We read about the intimacy between God and Adam in the garden. We hear about Enoch's walk with God and Noah's righteousness. But Abraham is the first documented life with enough details to give us an impression of what walking with God looks like.

Worship audio from Dec 24, 2017 - Christmas Eve Candlelight service.Bulletin here, text at the bottom.Green Pastures with Jesus is the daily podcast from Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Church of Fairmont, MN. Here you’ll find a variety of segments to lead you to the green pastures of the Word of God, where our Good Shepherd feeds our faith.  Find us online: www.shepherdofthelakes.net or http://facebook.com/shepherdofthelakes Worship is Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM.Bible class & Sunday School follow at 10:40 AM.323 E. 1st St – Fairmont, MNpastorhagen@icloud.com or (507) 236-9572 iTunes & iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/green-pastures-jesus-shepherd/id1183522558?mt=2 Stitcher link: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=127180&refid=stprOr simply search for “Green Pastures with Jesus” in your podcast app. Intro & Outro courtesy of Koine - The Church Band. Check them out at www.koinemusic.com, or find them on iTunes & Amazon: Search for Koine. Bible text from Biblegateway.com - EHV.                 elcome to Shepherd of the Lakes! We’re here to shepherd Christ’s flock and seek the lost sheep by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with all. Come, let us worship!For your convenience, in the back corner of the sanctuary there is a room for any parents with children in need of a quiet place. The restrooms are located on the lower level. Please ask if you have any further questions or concerns. Lord Jesus, bless our Christmas celebrations. You know me far better than I know myself; you came to this world as a baby in order to create peace between me and you. Grant me a quiet heart to hear your Word, and remind me again with the joy of your birth; AMEN.The Gift of Christmas:“In the obedience of this person Jesus . . . Christ has covered all our disobedience, which dwells in our nature and its thoughts, words, and works. Our disobedience is not charged against us for condemnation; it is pardoned and forgiven out of pure grace alone, for Christ’s sake.”Formula of Concord, Article 3 (Concordia p. 545)Our worship this evening is an adaptation of the Lessons and Carols service traditionally held at King's College, Cambridge, England, on December 24th every year. Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve, 1918. It was planned by Eric Milner-White, who at the age of thirty-four had just been appointed Dean of King’s College after experience as an army chaplain. The lessons for tonight have been used for almost 100 years to recall God’s promise to send a Savior, as well as that promise’s fulfillment.   EXHORTATION & PRAYERPlease rise.Dear people of God, in this Christmas season, it is our duty and delight to hear again the message of the angels and, in heart and mind, to go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us — the Christ Child lying in a manger, born to save us.Let us read and learn in Holy Scripture the story of the loving purposes of God from the first days after our fall into sin to the glorious redemption brought to us by this holy child.But first, let us pray for people all over the world who would delight with us to know the good news of Jesus Christ and who would join with us in singing his praises. Let us pray for the people of our community and our church.And, because this would please the Lord, let us remember in his name the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed, the sick and those who are sad, the lonely and the unloved, and the elderly and the little children. We especially remember all those who do not know the Lord Jesus, those who do not love him, and those who by unrepentant sin have grieved his heart of love.Finally, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us in heaven, who live in greater light than we, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, who died in faith, and who live before the throne of God and praise him each day in his temple. We confess that we are united with them as we are united with one another.To sum up all these petitions, let us pray as Christ himself taught us:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever; Amen.OPENING HYMN: 55 – Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:8-15God promises that a descendant of Eve, as the champion and substitute of all mankind, would win a victory over Satan and rob him of his power.8They heard the voice of the LORD God, who was walking around in the garden during the cooler part of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9The LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” 11God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13The LORD God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14The LORD God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all the livestock, and more than every wild animal. You shall crawl on your belly,and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel. SECOND LESSON: Genesis 22:15-18God repeats his promise: All nations will be blessed through Abraham’s descendent. 15The Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said, “I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your descendants greatly, like the stars of the sky and like the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the city gates of their enemies. 18In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”   CONFESSION OF FAITHFrom the Augsburg Confession, Article 3:M: Our churches teach that the Word, that is, the Son of God, assumed the human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary. C: So there are two natures — the divine and the human — inseparably joined in one person. There is one Christ, true God and true man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, truly suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He did this to reconcile the Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not only for original sin and guilt, but also for every sin of all humanity. He also descended into hell, and truly rose again on the third day. Afterward, he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. There he forever reigns and has dominion over all creatures. He sanctifies those who believe in Him, by sending the Holy Spirit into their hearts to rule, comfort, and make them alive. He defends them against the devil and the power of sin.The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, according to the Apostles’ Creed.THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7The Promised One will rule on David’s throne forever.2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.On those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. ... 6For to us a child is born. To us a son is given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders. His name will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7There will be no limit to his authority and no end to his peace. He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from now on and forever.The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this. HYMN: 42 – Come, Your Hearts and Voices RaisingFOURTH LESSON: Micah 5:2-4God points to the place where the Messiah will be born.2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come the one to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from ancient times, from eternity.” 3Therefore he will surrender them until the time she who is in labor gives birth to a child. Then the remainder of his brothers will return to the children of Israel. 4He will stand and shepherd with the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. They will dwell securely, for at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth. FIFTH LESSON: Matthew 1:18-25The angel’s announcement to Joseph.18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother, Mary, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. Before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her privately. 20 But as he was considering these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”22 All this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Look, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son. And they will name him Immanuel,” which means, “God with us.”24 When Joseph woke up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. He took Mary home as his wife, 25 but he was not intimate with her until she gave birth to her firstborn son.[f] And he named him Jesus.CONFESSION OF FAITHAdapted from Dr. Martin Luther’s seventh sermon on John 1, from 1537/8. (LW 22:102f)M: John’s Gospel says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Earlier, John called the Word ‘God,’ then a Light which came into the world and created the world - and yet, was not accepted by the world. C: With this word ‘flesh,’ we see how God has assumed our human flesh and blood. Human reason cannot comprehend the mercy of our God, choosing to share our humanity. M: We Christians learn to prize and esteem these words, for herein we see the gospel. The Son of God did not take on himself the nature of angels, but humbled himself and took on the seed of Abraham. C: Jesus Christ, who is of my flesh, blood, and soul, is seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. The humanity of Christ is enduring proof of God’s mercy toward me, on account of Jesus. M: These words are not given for you to misuse or merely take up on occasion; these words are given for you to believe. C: Therefore, we should constantly have such words in our heart and on our lips. Let us learn not to argue with the devil when he tempts us; rather, let us put him to flight with the heartfelt words: “The Word became flesh for me!”M: The eternal Son of God ‘committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;’C: And though he was not guilty of death, he became man for our comfort and salvation. Yes, he became a curse and sin for us, in order to deliver us from the eternal curse, and to justify us. M: We believe the Scriptures and confess with the holy Christian church, which existed at all times and will endure until the end of the world: This article of our Christian faith, together with all the others, is firmly and solidly established by the apostles & prophets, the spokesmen of the Holy Spirit:All: That Christ, our Lord and God, assumed true human nature; and that he became a natural man like any other man. He dwelt among us, with a human body as you & I have; he was nourished and grew as every other human, except without sin. SIXTH LESSON: Luke 2:1-7The birth of our Lord.In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3And everyone went to register, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. ( . . . continued . . . )6And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. HYMN: 61 – Hark! The Herald Angels SingSEVENTH LESSON: Luke 2:8-20The angel’s announcement to the shepherds.8There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11Today in the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they told others the message they had been told about this child. 18And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. HYMN: 263 – All Glory Be to God on HighSermon based on Luke 2: A Song about PeaceOFFERINGAfter the offering, an usher will come to your pew and light the candle nearest the center aisle. Please then light the candle next to you until all the candles are lit in the pew. When all the candles are lit, the lights will be dimmed. Remember to tip the unlit candle and leave the lit candle vertical.PRAYERO God, who makes us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your only Son, Jesus Christ; grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, so may we also behold him with sure confidence when he shall come to be our judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever;Amen.BLESSINGMay he who by his incarnation gathered things earthly and heavenly into one, fill us with such joy that comes with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. And the blessing of God Almighty - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - be upon you and remain with you always;Amen!CLOSING HYMNPlease be seated for our closing hymn:Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from heaven afar; Heav'nly hosts sing, Alleluia; Christ, the Savior, is born! Christ, the Savior, is born!Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, Love's pure lightRadiant beams from thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.December 31 worship at 9:30 AM & 7 PM. All are welcome to the parsonage (517 Tilden St) for fellowship after New Year’s Eve worship. Adult confirmation for Ingrid Chrisman, Josh Chrisman,Travis & Ventura Ulrich will be next Sunday.                                                           THIS WEEKToday Joshua 12 9:30 AM - Advent 4 Worship with Holy Communion 6:30 PM - Christmas Eve Candlelight WorshipMonday Joshua 13Tuesday Joshua 14Wednesday Joshua 15Thursday Joshua 16Saturday Joshua 17 9:15 AM - Bible Basics: Fellowship & EvangelismSunday Joshua 18 9:30 AM - Christmas 1 Worship with Holy Communion 7 PM - New Year’s Eve Worship with Holy Communion  Looking Ahead to Next Sunday:Theme Christmas 1Color WhiteLiturgy CW p. 15 with Holy CommunionHymns 78, 77, 5, 76Readings from Isaiah 45, Colossians 3, Luke 2; Psalm 111Verse of the Day Colossians 3:15   

"When we pray we can't wrap our prayers in a BLT sandwich..Bless Me, Love Me, Take Care of Me. Sometimes our prayers are driven by our own selfish desires. Pastor Garrett asked us this question...If your prayers were answered, would they change just your life or the life of others? Ask yourselves if your praying for others, our nation. Our prayer life must be broader than ourselves." 1 Kings 3:10-12 "10It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you..."

Philippians 2:5-11God became a humanMike Orsmondwww.abergavennybaptist.co.uk

God packs a lot of what He wants to say into a few words. In Mark 1:9-11God the Father speaks of Jesus as a king, a servant, and His Son, who will become a sacrifice.