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You'll Never Become An Overcomer Without Troubles To Overcome. Exodus 1:8 - 14 8Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” 11So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites 13and worked them ruthlessly. 14They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 8: Letting God Finish the Work Louie Marsh, 8-1-2021   Intro -  pictures of unfinished buildings -  story of house in Mom & Dad's neighborhood.   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   I Must Develop the Proper Perspective on…   My PROBLEMS   “14 … What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14b, ESV)   My ACHIEVEMENTS   “5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)   My HEART   "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)   The TRUTH   “32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”” (John 8:32, ESV)   Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. John 14:6 (Mes)   Martin Luther – wrote this about the Peasants Revolt, in the tract, “Against the Murderous and Thieving Hordes of Peasants.”   Picture of Luther's Tract   If the peasant is in open rebellion then he is outside the law of God…Therefore let everyone who can, smite, slay, and stab, secretly or openly, remembering that nothing can be more poisonous, hurtful or devilish than a rebel… Therefore dear sirs, fire here, save there, stab, smite, strangle them, whoever can. If your death result, very well, you can never attain to a more blessed death.”   My RELATIONSHIPS   “10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)   “5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Ephesians 1:5, ESV)   “12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12–13, ESV)   I Allow God to Finish the Work When I…   “23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24, ESV)   1) Understand God's goal for my life – CHRIST-LIKENESS.   2) Let God give me His PEACE.   3) Find SPIRITUAL WHOLENESS in Christ!   “24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”” (John 4:24, ESV)   4) Let Christ bring wholeness to my SOUL!   My soul is my –   MIND   “20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (1 Corinthians 14:20, ESV)   WILL   “24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24, ESV)   EMOTIONS   “16My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.” (Proverbs 23:16, ESV)   5) Realize this – God wants my BODY!!   “19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19, ESV)   “2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,” (1 John 4:2, ESV)  

Phil continued our series looking at Colossians.Introduction What are we building our life on?What is the source of your life?What is feeding you? While this past year may have been tough, we have had time to do things we didn't have beforeWhat have we used that time for ?Have we used it to build our relationship, drawing  nearer and going deeper?We have said this before is our life built on church attendance or on a relationshipLet's see what Paul says here to the Colossian church“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬Let's just look a this verse 3 things to emphasize here, and Pauls tone is strong 1 You must continue to follow himSo many  start well but fall away when trouble comes or perhaps they have not fully understood what it is to follow Jesus. Jesus told them. Parable of the sower - Matthew 13:3‭-‬9 NLTIn this passage there are 4 types of ground a. Hard footpathb. shallow soil with underlying Rockc. thorny ground d. fertile soilIt seems the odds are 1 in 4 for the seed to grow and become strong and last 2. Let your roots go down into himPaul prays his readers will be secure in their reliance on love. The imagery is that of a tree held strongly by deep roots (Matthew 13:6, 21; 15:13; Mark 4:17). Love, especially shown between fellow Christians, is meant to be the hallmark of our faith (John 13:34–35). Love is likewise meant to keep the Christian grounded, staying in place with Christ and growing us to maturity. Colossians 2:7 speaks similarly of being "rooted and built up in him and established in the faith."Matthew 13:21But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.Psalm 92:12But the godly will flourish like palm treesand grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.The Cedar Trees of Lebanon Today, the Bulk of the Cedar trees are located on the Arz Mountains in Lebanon. The site is well protected and cherished as UNESCO named the forest one of the World Heritage sites.Solomon used this cedar wood in Building the temple.Jeremiah 17:7‭-‬8 NLTPsalms 1:1‭-‬3 NLT3. Let your lives be built on himPaul famously speaks eloquently of faith, hope, and love at the conclusion of 1 Corinthians 13. Here, he mentions two of these attributes. First, his desire in this passage is for growth in faith, rather than knowledge, though both are important. Ephesians 2:22 also used the idea of a "dwelling place for God by the Spirit." Paul similarly taught the Colossians, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).Parable of 2 men building a house - Matthew 7:24‭-‬27 NLTConclusion The fruit of being rooted Overflowing with Thankfulness As a nation we have a culture of complaining, blame & claimTo walk in the opposite spirit is to be thankful and in every circumstance be content. Paul knew this but did it come from within himself, his own choice or decision or from him being rooted in Christ?When we are rooted into him the fruit will be evident. Questions In what ways do you need to grow up in Christ?How are you putting your roots down into him? Are there any hindrances to this? What do we need to do to build our lives on him?What evidence should we be expecting when we do these 3 things Paul encourages us to do?  

The Gospel of John 2021 Part One: The Glory of the Son By Louie Marsh, 4-18-2021   Intro – 4 cartoons – last one robbed left with bad sheet.   The Glory of Jesus:   1) Jesus is eternally GOD.   “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1–3, ESV)   In the beginning (ἐν ἀρχῃ [en archēi]). Ἀρχη [Archē] is definite, though anarthrous like our at home, in town, and the similar Hebrew be reshith [bərēʾšîṯ; בְּרֵאשִׁית] in Gen. 1:1. There is no argument here to prove the existence of God any more than in Genesis. Three times in this sentence John uses this imperfect of εἰμι [eimi] to be which conveys no idea of origin for God or for the Logos, simply continuous existence.   The Word (ὁ λογος [ho logos]). old word in Homer to lay by, to collect, to put words side by side, to speak, to express an opinion. Λογος [Logos] is common for reason as well as speech. Heraclitus used it for the principle which controls the universe. The Stoics employed it for the soul of the world (ἀνιμα μυνδι [anima mundi]) Marcus Aurelius used σπερματικος λογος [spermatikos logos] for the generative principle in nature.   At any rate John’s standpoint is that of the Old Testament and not that of the Stoics nor even of Philo who uses the term Λογος [Logos]   It therefore signifies both the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed, and the inward thought itself, the Latin oratio and ratio: compare the Italian ragionare, “to think” and “to speak.” As signifying the outward form it is never used in the merely grammatical sense, as simply the name of a thing or act (ἔπος, ὄνομα, ῥῆμα), but means a word as the thing referred to: the material, not the formal part: a word as embodying a conception or idea   As signifying the inward thought, it denotes the faculty of thinking and reasoning (Heb. 4:12); regard or consideration (Acts 20:24); reckoning, account (Philip. 4:15, 17; Heb. 4:13); cause or reason (Acts 10:29).   Vincent (1887) sums this up nicely for us:   As Logos has the double meaning of thought and speech, so Christ is related to God as the word to the idea, the word being not merely a name for the idea, but the idea itself expressed. The thought is the inward word...   The Logos of John is the real, personal God (1:1), the Word, who was originally before the creation with God, and was God, one in essence and nature, yet personally distinct (1:1, 18); the revealer and interpreter of the hidden being of God; the reflection and visible image of God, and the organ of all His manifestations to the world...   He made all things, proceeding personally from God for the accomplishment of the act of creation (1:3), and became man in the person of Jesus Christ, accomplishing the redemption of the world. -   With God (προς τον θεον [pros ton theon]). Though existing eternally with God the Logos was in perfect fellowship with God. Προς [Pros] with the accusative presents a plane of equality and intimacy, face to face with each other.   And the Word was God (και θεος ἠν ὁ λογος [kai theos ēn ho logos]). By exact and careful language John denied Sabellianism by not saying ὁ θεος ἠν ὁ λογος [ho theos ēn ho logos]. The subject is made plain by the article (ὁ λογος [ho logos]) and the predicate without it (θεος [theos]) just as in John 4:24 πνευμα ὁ θεος [pneuma ho theos] can only mean “God is spirit,” not “spirit is God.” So in 1 John 4:16 ὁ θεος ἀγαπη ἐστιν [ho theos agapē estin] can only mean “God is love,” not “love is God” as a so-called Christian scientist would confusedly say. For the article with the predicate see Robertson, Grammar, pp. 767f. So in John 1:14 ὁ Λογος σαρξ ἐγενετο [ho Logos sarx egeneto], “the Word became flesh,” not “the flesh became Word.”   2) Jesus is the CREATOR of the universe.   3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3, ESV)   3) Jesus is the LIFE & LIGHT of all people.   “4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (John 1:4–9, ESV)   Jesus is our   “10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:10–13, ESV)   Jesus alone reveals who & what GOD   “14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15(John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:14–18, ESV)   4) Jesus is the core all true Christian TESTIMONY.   “29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”” (John 1:29–31, ESV)        

Sunday18th April The Fear of Starting Again 7 From our discussion yesterday, we learnt how Jacob went into panic as he was told that his brother Esau was riding out to meet him with 400 horsemen. Based on Esau's threat earlier that he was going to kill Jacob for taking his birthright, all he could see was the massacre of his household. He had forgotten that God was the One that told him to go back home and had promised to keep him and his family. In his confused and helpless state, he cried out to God, Genesis 32:11-12 (NLT) 11 O lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. 12But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count." Yes, there was a promise from God, but the fact of the moment was that Esau was coming with his men and as far as Jacob was concerned that could spell nothing but disaster. The fear of starting again in his home country seemed deem but Jacob took his fears to God in prayer and God delivered him. One thing that stands out clearly from the story of Jacob even that of Moses and Joshua is how fear disappeared once God is brought into the situation. The bible says;" perfect love casts out fear". Perfect love is God and when you stay around Him long enough, He dispels every trace of fear in you so that you can do what God has called you to do. It doesn't matter what you've attempted and failed at in the past, confront your fears and progress with God. Revelation.21:8 says the fearful are among those that will experience the second death in the lake of fire. So, we must not allow fear to take root in our life. I pray for the grace to conquer and overcome fear: fear of failure, fear of people or whichever will fill your heart in the name of Jesus. By the power of the Word and the Blood, you'll overcome every fear confronting you and you'll be a testimony in Jesus' Name. God bless you and enjoy your day.

Elon Musk puts 1.5 Billion into Bitcoin and pushes the price up 20% overnight. In this episode i talk about why I was happy to miss out on some of this gain and why you should be aware of problems both rich & poor people suffer from.Part of the Transcript of the show is below for a taster. Hello and welcome to another edition of the midlife journal with myself Lee Taylor, where we're going to be getting back onto the investment scene again I'm going to be talking about what I've been learning through my investment course because things have got really really quite excited in the cryptocurrency world if you if you follow it, like I do, you would have seen that, you know, Bitcoin went up massively over the last few days. I was actually gutted in one respect because I wanted to send some money to the exchange to buy some. And I had I'm sending it from a new account, and the account couldn't verify the bank account where I wanted to send it to. So it just limited me to 1000 pounds, and I wanted to send 5000 worth of Bitcoin. And I couldn't do it. So I had to wait 12 hours for the other 4000 to go through to make sure I wasn't being scammed which I knew it wasn't but hey ho, and I woke up the next morning and Bitcoin have gone up 20% so I missed out, but it's life you know you can't win all the time Hey these things happen I'm not gonna get myself down about it, an actual fact I was really happy because I found out that it went up so much because Elon musk put in 1.5 billion 1.5 billion into bitcoin. Now, why was I happy about that. Well, it's probably the first and last time I'll ever be ahead of Elon Musk, I've actually bought Bitcoin before he did. And I'm really quite chuffed about that. I've had it for quite some time. And it appears that he's just getting into it so. Okay, I'll swap he's 1.5 billion  for my five grand any day to week, but I still got that little bit of a sense of achievement that I was in there first and, you know, I do have a fair bit invested so you know that 20% increase did make me a good whack. So, you know, it wasn't all doom and gloom though I didn't get the extra four grand in there. I was still very, very pleased.Unknown 2:12But as I've said in the past. I don't really care about the price. In actual fact I'd prefer it if it went down, because I want to continue buying this for the long term. And I want to be an investor in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies for for a long time to come.  I've got a plan to put money into it every month. So for me, if the price did come down. It's better for me because I can buy more, because I don't plan on selling you know I'm not a seller. I'm not a trader I'm an investor. So, I'll be lending my money out I'm gonna create my own bank. I'll be lending my money out so I'm really not bothered about it. Going up at this stage in fact I probably do want it to come down more than go up, because I can buy more, you know I can get more for my money that's what it's all about.  I was on the course and there was talking about protecting your wealth and how we how we kind of value money from a perspective of where we are in the financial ladder. Now, you know, I grew up in a council estate in Dagenham reasonably poor family didn't have a great deal you know not not saying we had nothing, we had a. We had a nice life I had a great life rarely but we didn't have a lot, you know money was always tight, it was always scarce. So, you know, I grew up with very very little I think I had about 400 pounds to my name when I left school. So, by no means are long, a lot of money.Unknown 3:53I never come from an investing family or anything like that and my family had no idea how to invest money they, they were in the rat race they they ear

This week are exploring some of the richest passages of scripture all about wisdom. Proverbs 8.1,22–31 8Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? 22 The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth— 26 when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race. [NRSV] Colossians 1.15–20 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. [NRSV] John 1.1–14 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

Have you ever experienced something in this world trying to pull your attention away from the Lord? It doesn’t even have to be something sinful. It could be something just plain needful, but still less important, fighting for your attention! In this episode, we share about the type of faith that fights through the crowd to touch the hem of His garment and exercise a faith that knows no human bounds. The Apostle Paul said he wouldn’t give anything a place in his life to Master over him, except Christ alone. Sometimes it takes us pushing past the things that don’t last to the things that are Everlasting to truly lay hold on ETERNAL Life. It can be difficult and pressing, but the victory and reward of this type of faith are sure to come.1 Corinthians 6:12All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of anything.1 Timothy 6:11-12But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.Thank you for joining us on this episode of Spirit of Adoption Radio! Make sure to subscribe on the podcast platform of your choice so you won't miss next week's exciting episode!You can visit us at AdoptionAirfare.com/SOAR

BUY THE GO CREATOR GO BOOK & JOURNAL:www.antoinebeane.comhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GV2DK1Vhttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GVJ6MP5FOLLOW GO CREATOR GO & TRIUMPH MEDIAWORKS:Facebook & IG: @gogreatorgo & @triumphmediaworksTwitter: @gcreatorgwww.triumphmediaworks.com___________________________________SCRIPTURES CONCERNING IDENTIGenesis 1:27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.Jeremiah 1:5Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.1 Corinthians 1:30And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.1 Corinthians 6:17But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.1 John 3:1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.1 Samuel 12:22For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.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.Colossians 2:10And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.Colossians 3:12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.Ephesians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 1:11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.Ephesians 1:13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.Ephesians 1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.Ephesians 1:4Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love.Ephesians 1:5He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.Ephesians 2:13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.Ephesians 2:19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.Ephesians 2:6And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.Ephesians 4:24And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.Ephesians 5:8For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.Genesis 2:7Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.Isaiah 43:1But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”Isaiah 49:16Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.Isaiah 64:8But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.John 1:12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.John 15:15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.John 15:16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.John 15:5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.Matthew 5:48You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Matthew 6:26Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,Philippians 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.Psalm 100:3Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Psalm 139:14I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.Romans 6:6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”Romans 8:17And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

…10He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity. 11If they obey and serve Him, then they end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness.12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without kno... The post 888: Covenant Hour of Prayer (25th Sept., 2020) appeared first on DownloadSermon.com - Home of Unlimited Christian Sermons and Messages (Audio & Video).

The $25k HomeBuilder grant is part of the government's COVID-19 stimulus package. It will provide eligible owner-occupiers (including first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate their existing home. Quick clarification: During the podcast I got my words muddled and said 'sustainably' renovate rather than 'substantially' renovate, the correct word in this context is definitely 'substantially'.In this episode we go through:What the HomeBuilder Grant isWho it's for and who it's not forHow and where to apply for itWhere to find details on the grant for your state or territoryWhether the grant be used with other grants, schemes and initiativesWhether the grant can be used towards your depositGo to the episode web page for details of where to apply for the HomeBuilder Grant.Follow the Dream Home MovementFacebookInstagramFollow Carl and Jo VioletaFacebookInstagramWebGuest bioJo Violeta is the host of the Dream Home Movement podcast and runs the awards winning mortgage brokerage Violeta Finance with her husband Carl. Think of Jo as your property finance translator. She explains complex finance concepts in a way that's easy to understand and accessible, so you can be feel confident and empowered.Here's a list of the relevant state and territory bodies and their preferred contact details:Australian Capital TerritoryACT Revenue Officehttps://www.revenue.act.gov.au/New South WalesNew South Wales Revenue OfficeHome.Builder@revenue.nsw.gov.au1300 130 624.Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory’s Revenue Officehttps://treasury.nt.gov.au/dtf/territory-revenue-officeQueenslandQueensland Office of State Revenue (OSR)https://www.treasury.qld.gov.au/budget-and-financial-management/revenue-and-taxation/HomeBuilderGrant@treasury.qld.gov.au1300 300 734.South AustraliaSouth Australian Revenue Officehttps://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/TasmaniaState Revenue Office of Tasmaniahttps://www.sro.tas.gov.au/VictoriaState Revenue Office Victoriahttps://www.sro.vic.gov.au/Western AustraliaWestern Australia Revenue Officehttps://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-financeTranscriptPlease note: This is an automated transcript, so it won't be perfect.00:00:00 - 00:00:05have you heard of the $25,000 homebuilder Grant? Well, if you have, you've00:00:05 - 00:00:09probably got questions about it. And if you've got questions about it promising00:00:09 - 00:00:16, you, you are not alone. Carl and I have received so many questions about the00:00:16 - 00:00:20homebuilder Grant recently. So I thought, Hey, let's do an episode about it.00:00:20 - 00:00:28I'm going to explain what it is, who it's for, who It's not for how to apply for it00:00:28 - 00:00:32and also answer some of the commonly asked questions about the grant. Now,00:00:32 - 00:00:39if we haven't met before Hello, I'm Joe Via letter. I own a an award winning00:00:39 - 00:00:43mortgage brokerage with my husband, Carl. We help families and small00:00:43 - 00:00:49businesses achieved their finance and property dreams by helping them secure00:00:49 - 00:00:53a fair deal on their home loans. Their property investment loans, their00:00:53 - 00:00:58commercial property finance and also save money on their mortgage00:00:58 - 00:01:03repayments through refinancing and access funds for their home renovations.00:01:03 - 00:01:09You confined us all over the Internet at Violet of finance. It's just got one t in it00:01:09 - 00:01:13, and we love to hang out on Facebook and Instagram. So please do come00:01:13 - 00:01:20along and say hi to us. They're all right Let's get stuck into the $25,00000:01:20 - 00:01:25homebuilder Grant. Welcome to the Dream Home Movement. This's your00:01:25 - 00:01:31weekly dose of home and property inspiration. Bring you clever tips and00:01:31 - 00:01:37advice from the very best experts and really like Renno storeys with your host.00:01:37 - 00:01:46Joe Violeta Thie $25,000 Homebuilder Grant is a $688 million scheme that's00:01:46 - 00:01:52part of the Australian government's covert 19 stimulus package. Now I know00:01:52 - 00:01:56that I have lots of listeners all over Australia, but I also have plenty off00:01:56 - 00:02:01international listeners for the dream home movement as well. And so I'm sorry00:02:01 - 00:02:08to my international listeners, but this is a new Australian government grant.00:02:08 - 00:02:12But you're very welcome to continue listening to the episode. And also we've00:02:12 - 00:02:20got plenty off really valuable, really fun episodes coming up that applied Tio.00:02:20 - 00:02:26You will apply to you no matter where you live, so I hope you will tune in to00:02:26 - 00:02:31those. Okay, So back to the home builder Grant. What is it? Well, it's00:02:31 - 00:02:41designed to provide a $25,000 grant to build a new home or sustainably00:02:41 - 00:02:47renovate your existing home. There are no caps on the number of grants00:02:47 - 00:02:54available. So in Australia, we've got the first home loan deposit scheme, for00:02:54 - 00:02:59example, which is the first home buyers. And there's a cap on that, which is00:02:59 - 00:03:05there's only 10,000 places available per financial year. There's no cap on the00:03:05 - 00:03:12number of grants For the homebuilder grant, however, there is a time limit,00:03:12 - 00:03:20and there's some flexibility built into the time limit as faras the timeliness00:03:20 - 00:03:26between contracts being signed that has just been built into the scheme recently00:03:26 - 00:03:31since it was first introduced. S O. If you're going to look at applying for the00:03:31 - 00:03:36scheme, you'll need Teo. Contact your relevant state authority and I'll go00:03:36 - 00:03:39through who you're relevant. State authorities are state or territory. Authorities00:03:39 - 00:03:46are later on in the episode, but basically without getting into the final finer00:03:46 - 00:03:51detail, the time limit is that the contract for the build or renovation must be00:03:51 - 00:03:59signed between the Fourth of June 2020 and the 31st of December 2020. So00:03:59 - 00:04:04this if you're listening to this episode in real time, it's being published on00:04:04 - 00:04:11Thursday morning, August 27th, 2020. So you've still got time, Tio, get00:04:11 - 00:04:18organiz DH and This is the bit where there's been a few little tweaks. So00:04:18 - 00:04:22originally they were saying that construction must commence within three00:04:22 - 00:04:27months off the contract date. I think there might be a bit of discretion in there,00:04:27 - 00:04:33a bit of flexibility. So again, you need to cheque with your relevant state or00:04:33 - 00:04:37territory authority. And I'll tell you what those are later on in the episode of00:04:37 - 00:04:45Also Got All those details in this show notes as well. So who is eligible for the00:04:45 - 00:04:52$25,000 homebuilder Grant? Well, first of all, it's for owner occupiers. So00:04:52 - 00:04:57you need Teo, the property that you're renovating or you're building you need00:04:57 - 00:05:04It needs to be for you to live in. Yeah, okay. On DH there. It's also available00:05:04 - 00:05:09to first home buyers, which is great, but also, you don't have to be a first00:05:09 - 00:05:15Homebuyer to access the grant s o. A lot of thie grants and schemes that are00:05:15 - 00:05:21available around property in Australia are really targeted to first home buyers.00:05:21 - 00:05:25But this has opened up Teo. Everyone, regardless of whether your first home00:05:25 - 00:05:31by our or you currently own a property, we have owned a property in the past.00:05:31 - 00:05:37Okay, so you also need to be now this is going to sound a little bit funny. You00:05:37 - 00:05:44need to be a natural person, so that doesn't mean you only I don't know. Eat00:05:44 - 00:05:52organic food and don't colour your hair. What it means is that you can't be a00:05:52 - 00:06:01company or a trust, so the you need to apply as a person and you need to be 1800:06:01 - 00:06:08years or years old or older and an Australian citizen. Now there's also a limit00:06:08 - 00:06:14on how much you can end. So if you're an individual, not in a couple, then00:06:14 - 00:06:24you need to have earned $125,000 or less per annum per year or $200,000 or00:06:24 - 00:06:32less for a couple combined. And the income will be based on your 2018 201900:06:32 - 00:06:40tax return or later. So if you done your 2019 2020 tax return, then it will be00:06:40 - 00:06:47based on that. So who is the grant? Not for Well, I mentioned before that it's00:06:47 - 00:06:54for owner occupiers, so it's not for owner builders, and I know that's really sad00:06:54 - 00:06:58news for a lot of our listeners. because a lot of our listeners are owner builders00:06:58 - 00:07:04or interested in becoming becoming becoming owner builders. And it's not for00:07:04 - 00:07:12investment properties only either. It's for owner occupiers. Now, if you are00:07:12 - 00:07:16wanting Teo, access the grant for a new build. So you wanting to build a00:07:16 - 00:07:24property, build a house, then the property value, including land, needs to be00:07:24 - 00:07:32under $750,000. What can exceed $750,000 which some people may feel like00:07:32 - 00:07:37you know, is not that much, especially considering it's including land. But in00:07:37 - 00:07:41you know, I live in Melbourne and in many of the out of suburbs you can get00:07:41 - 00:07:47house and land packages for $750,000 or under. Now, if you want to access it00:07:47 - 00:07:52for a renovation, the renovation contract needs to be between00:07:52 - 00:08:01$150,000.750,000 dollars, and the value of your existing property must not00:08:01 - 00:08:09exceed $1.5 million. And also, I'm going to read this okay, and then I'll00:08:09 - 00:08:13explain what it means. This is from the original documentation official00:08:13 - 00:08:19documentation from Treasury about the homebuilder grant, and that is that the00:08:19 - 00:08:25renovation works must be to improve the accessibility, safety and livability off00:08:25 - 00:08:30the dwellings. You'd need toe unpack of your builder. Exactly whether or not00:08:30 - 00:08:34that applies to the renovation works that you're thinking off. But some00:08:34 - 00:08:41examples off what it can't before are things like swimming pools, tennis courts00:08:41 - 00:08:50, outdoors bars, saunas and sheds or garages that are not connected to the00:08:50 - 00:08:55property. All right, so you think that you might perhaps be eligible for the00:08:55 - 00:09:00homebuilder grant, and you've got a new build or a renovation plan?00:09:00 - 00:09:06Awesome. So now how do you apply for it? And how do you get some Mohr00:09:06 - 00:09:14deeper detail? Well, you need Teo go through your relevant state or territory00:09:14 - 00:09:18body will probably thinking, Well, what's that? What does that even mean?00:09:18 - 00:09:24We'll go through the list off places that you need to go to get information and in00:09:24 - 00:09:31the show notes. I'll have the details so it might be email address or phone00:09:31 - 00:09:36number or website, whatever that your particular state or territory wants to00:09:36 - 00:09:42provide, like how they want youto contact them. So we've got the revenue00:09:42 - 00:09:46office. That's for the Australian Capital Territory. New South Wales Revenue00:09:46 - 00:09:50Office, Northern Territories Revenue Office, Queensland Office Off State00:09:50 - 00:09:56Revenue, South Australian Review New offer. State Revenue Office off00:09:56 - 00:10:01Tasmania State Revenue Office Victoria and finally, Western Australia00:10:01 - 00:10:07Revenue Office. Those are the places that you need to go to Teo, get more00:10:07 - 00:10:18detail and also to apply. Already, let's get stuck into some off those commonly00:10:18 - 00:10:23asked questions. So one of the most commonly asked questions comes from00:10:23 - 00:10:30first home buyers, and it is. Will this be paid in addition to the first00:10:30 - 00:10:35homeowners grant and the first home loan deposit scheme? If, of course, you00:10:35 - 00:10:42are eligible for those and yes, it will be okay, so that's good news. Now, if00:10:42 - 00:10:46you're not sure what the first homeowners grant ears and what the first00:10:46 - 00:10:52homeland deposit scheme is, you can head over Teo website, violeta finance00:10:52 - 00:10:56dot com dot ua. And we've got blogged posts with the details of those on there00:10:56 - 00:11:02, and I'll pop links to those blawg articles in the show notes as well. And then00:11:02 - 00:11:09the other question that is quite common. And, gosh, I just I was sort of00:11:09 - 00:11:13tossing up. We're not even to raise this because I don't really have an answer00:11:13 - 00:11:18for it. but I'm going to do it. Okay, So the other question that's quite common00:11:18 - 00:11:26is, can you use the $25,000 homebuilder grant towards your deposit? And the00:11:26 - 00:11:37answer is, we're still waiting for lenders to finalise their They're lending policy00:11:37 - 00:11:45around homebuilder Grant, so there's no kind of big blanket Answer yes or no00:11:45 - 00:11:54answer. It really depends on the individual lenders and bank banks lending00:11:54 - 00:12:02policy. So what you want to do, in that case is speak to your mortgage broker00:12:02 - 00:12:09and just create your deposit strategy with them based on your individual00:12:09 - 00:12:14circumstances. WHO which bank you're going toe. Apply floor based on your00:12:14 - 00:12:19needs and your goals and your you know whether or not you're meet their00:12:19 - 00:12:26servicing criteria. So I can't give you a definitive answer on the podcast. And00:12:26 - 00:12:30I'm sorry about that. I would love to be able to, but yet it's a discussion to00:12:30 - 00:12:36have with your mortgage broker. And, hey, if you don't already have a00:12:36 - 00:12:40mortgage broker, I happen to know a really good one. He's backing this Carlin00:12:40 - 00:12:46. You're very welcome to contact him. So yes, call my husband my partner in00:12:46 - 00:12:52violent of finance and eye contact details in this show notes as well. So that is00:12:52 - 00:12:58thie $25,000 homebuilder Grant. I hope that was helpful. Thank you so much00:12:58 - 00:13:04for tuning in next week. Next Thursday, we have Sam's been at back on the00:13:04 - 00:13:08show. He was on the show a few months ago, and he is going to talk to us00:13:08 - 00:13:14about what a buyer's advocate does and why you should consider working with00:13:14 - 00:13:18the buyers Advocate for your next property purchase. And we've got plenty00:13:18 - 00:13:23more exciting shows coming up for Siri's for So I'm looking forward to those,00:13:23 - 00:13:28and I'm looking forward to chatting with you again soon. Thanks for joining us00:13:28 - 00:13:32on the Dream Home movement. Be sure to come over and say hi on Facebook00:13:32 - 00:13:37and Instagram. I hope that your dream home projects are going well, and I00:13:37 - 00:13:39look forward to chatting with you again next week.

Jeremiah 1:5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”Joshua 1:9Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.Luke 12:7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.Isaiah 41:10Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Zephaniah 3:17The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,Ephesians 2:22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.Psalm 27:10For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in1 Peter 5:6-7Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.Ephesians 2:19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,Ephesians 1:3-6Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,Romans 5:8But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Philippians 4:13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,Romans 8:31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Isaiah 43:4Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Acts 1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Psalm 139:1-24To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. ...1 John 4:10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.1 John 3:1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.1 Peter 5:6-76 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.Philippians 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.1 Corinthians 15:57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.Romans 8:38-39For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8:28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.2 Timothy 1:7For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.2 Corinthians 5:21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.1 Corinthians 6:19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,Romans 8:37-39No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.Matthew 5:14“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.Psalm 86:15But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.Deuteronomy 7:9Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,Revelation 3:20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.1 John 4:16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.John 1:12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,Luke 1:37For nothing will be impossible with God.”Isaiah 26:3You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.Psalm 138:3On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.Psalm 136:26Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.Exodus 15:2The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.1 John 3:1-3See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.2 Peter 1:3His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,Colossians 3:12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.Ephesians 5:8For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of lightEphesians 4:24And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness John 15:15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.Isaiah 12:2“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.Psalm 118:6The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake youRevelation 21:3-4And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”The Lord bless you(A)‘and keep you;(B)25 the Lord make his face shine on you(C)and be gracious to you;(D)26 the Lord turn his face(E) toward youand give you peace.asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.6 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.I pray that you would be surrounded by and filled with and located in and anchored to our Savior Jesus Christ Christ above you that you may walk in wisdom and rest in his love. Christ below you that you may never stumble or fall Christ on your right in your strength Christ on your left and your weakness Christ going before you to prepare the way for you And Christ walking behind you to clean up all your messes. Christ within you filling you to overflowing today, tomorrow and forever AMEN.

Acts 18:123 (ESV) Paul in Corinth 18After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.11And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13saying, This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law. 14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things. 16And he drove them from the tribunal. 17And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. Paul Returns to Antioch 18After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21But on taking leave of them he said, I will return to you if God wills, and he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Series: The Jesus Way Title: We Journey Like Jesus John 14:5-15 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.d From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask mee anything in my name, I will do it. Who is Jesus? He wasn’t white, he was a brown skinned-middle eastern Jew born to a working class family. He never owned a home. Never got a college degree. But Jesus was God’s level of listening and responding to humanity. Jesus was born in a part of the world that touches Africa, Asia, and Europe. He wasn’t a white man like me. Don’t ever say it’s a white man’s religion. It’s a world’s religion because Jesus belongs to the world! COMPASSION WITHOUT ACTION IS ONLY OBSERVATION God refused to observe, he stepped into our world to take action against sin! 1st Century Complexities: Roman occupation, Racial Tension, they would abuse the Jewish people and misuse their authority Classism, people struggling financially, broken social systems Jewish tax collectors who betrayed their own people, and temples that swindled people on the conversion to purchase necessary items Samaritans living in close proximity, you’re not supposed to interact with “those people” Leprosy running rampant, the only solution for leprosy is social distancing In the midst of the complexities Jesus is God’s level of listening. I heard your cry for an answer---Here is the way 2,000 years later: 21st Century Complexities: It’s no longer leprosy, it’s COVID 19, Social Distancing and an on going, global pandemic Meanwhile, large scale protest that can potentially spread the disease Meanwhile, riots and looting breakout, Meanwhile reports of outsiders, ANTIFA and others infiltrating the riots In the midst of the complexities Jesus has released His spirit into you and me,and now we must show the world the Jesus Way! When you meet the person, you get the full plan Jesus is the person, HE IS the plan. You can abolish laws, but only Jesus can truly reform the human heart. Where there are Fathers, there is no true failure Fathers are present even if they’re not perfect. Jesus said, OUR FATHER. If he could teach them to deal with the complexities of life by journeying with a father 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Many Pastors afraid to talk, but we aren’t speech writers, we are called to be spiritual fathers We love because we are loved John 1:10-13 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own,b and his own peoplec did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. “The closer the people of all races get to Christ and His cross, the closer they will get to one another.” —Billy Graham

A prayer of an afflicted man. When he is faint and pours out his lament before the LORD. 1Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry for help come to you. 2Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. 3For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. 4My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. 5Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones. 6I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. 7I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. 8All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. 9For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears 10because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. 11My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. 13You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. 14For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. 15The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. 16For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. 17He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. 18Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD: 19“The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.” 21So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem 22when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. 23In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. 24So I said: “Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. 25In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. 27But you remain the same, and your years will never end. 28The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”

The Sermon has been updated and is now represented here in its entirety. Series: May Those Who Follow Find Us FaithfulTalk: Teaching God's WordDeut. 6:4-9; 2 Timothy 1:5Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 23:37-40I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2 Timothy 1:51.   Keeping children home > receiving them back. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thought and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  2 Timothy 3:14-15Why do we teach?  “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”                                                               Psalm 119:105  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.  1 Peter 2:2I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.                                                               Psalm 119:11When do we teach?         When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight … Jeremiah 15:16 How do we teach?

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Go down tothe potter’s house, and there I will give you My message.” 3So I went downto the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4But the pothe was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potterformed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5Thenthe word of the LORD came to me. 6He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel,as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter,so are you in My hand, Israel. 7If at any time I announce that a nation orkingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8and if that nationI warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it thedisaster I had planned. 9And if at another time I announce that a nationor kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10and if it does evil in My sightand does not obey Me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended todo for it. 11“Now therefore say to the people of Judah and those livingin Jerusalem, ‘This is what the LORD says: Look! I am preparing a disasterfor you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, eachone of you, and reform your ways and your actions.’ 12But they willreply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will allfollow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’”Jeremiah 18:1-12 (NIV) Jeremiah 18:1-12

Judges 4:4-9, 15-22At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’” Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. And the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and all his army into a panic before Barak; Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot, while Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-ha-goiim. All the army of Sisera fell by the sword; no one was left.Now Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between King Jabin of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite. Jael came out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. He said to her, “Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’” But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground – he was lying fast asleep from weariness – and he died. Then, as Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went into her tent; and there was Sisera lying dead, with the tent peg in his temple.Luke 24:1-12But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body.While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.Deborah and Jael: Women RuleThere are a lot of reasons to question – and even disdain – the many horrible, nasty, terrifying things that happen to women in the “Game of Thrones” series. And the same can be said about much of what we find in our Bibles, sadly enough. (Remember how Lot offered his daughters up to the angry mob in the Sodom and Gomorrah story a couple weeks ago? And he was the good guy in that story!)As I’ve said, I haven’t made my way through the whole “Game of Thrones” series, yet, but I have seen already that, not only do the women of the Realm hold their own, they really do overcome… and persist… and win… in more ways than not, in spite of all the ugliness and violence and misogyny they face in that medieval world. And, without sharing any spoilers – because I haven’t seen them to share them, remember – I’ve been told by others who’ve seen the show from start to finish that women really do rule, in the end. And I think the same is true – or at least the hope for the same is true – throughout the Biblical narrative, if we read it with the right kind of eyes. And it’s why I want to share something about the role of women – their place, their purpose, their importance, and their power – in Scripture, in the Church, and in the Kingdom, as we’re called to understand it.(I had the thought – about a week and a half ago – that this would have been a great Sunday to hand over the preaching to a woman for the occasion; that this would have been a great Sunday to have Pastor Libby back, or to invite Pastor Teri to join us again. BUT, that good idea didn’t surface in enough time to make that possible. So, you’re stuck with this middle-aged white guy’s best effort at saying what should be said more often. And there’s some value in that, just the same, I suppose.)So, I picked Deborah and Jael because their story is the most “Game of Thrones-y”, as far as I could tell, in terms of guts, gore, strength and power. And it’s not a story that gets a lot of air time, it seems to me, probably because there’s not much too it, in the book of Judges. It all takes place in just a couple of chapters; there’s the story itself and then a song about the story.But it matters that Deborah was a Judge in the days of Israel before there were kings. She was a prophet and powerful leader for God’s chosen ones. Judges like Deborah were military leaders, raised up by God, to lead the people back to faithfulness when their faithlessness caused them to stray. And judges like Deborah delivered them from their enemies, through their leadership and courage and wisdom and faith, like we heard this morning.And I love when Deborah says to Barak, the military commander under her authority, “…the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” It makes me think Deborah might have been the first feminist – deliberately plotting and planning for the help of Jael, the other heroine of the story, to hide and then smite Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, with that tent spike to the temple.But, there are plenty of other women of influence in Hebrew Scripture – Eve (whose bad rap is unnecessary and unfair, if you ask me); Ruth (an outsider who became an insider of devotion, loyalty and faith); Rahab (the prostitute who helped the Israelites conquer Jericho, which could have been a plot for any season of “Game of Thrones,” as well); and, of course, there’s Miriam and Sarah and Rebekah and Hannah and Hagar, and more.And it doesn’t stop with the Old Testament. It picks right up again with Elizabeth and Mary, in the Gospels – bearing the hope of the world in Jesus and his cousin, John the Baptist. And there are others, too: Martha and Mary; Phoebe and Lydia; and all those who go unnamed, but far from unnoticed or insignificant where Jesus is concerned. The widow who gave so generously. The woman of great faith who begged for help for her daughter. And the other woman who Jesus healed when she boldly, bravely touched his robe, after her own long-suffering faithfulness.So, in light of all that, when it comes to the place and power and purpose of women in the Kingdom, I’d like to assume I’m “preaching to the choir,” as they say, but one can never be so sure.Just this week – because Monday happened to be the Feast Day for Mary Magdalene, who I haven’t even mentioned yet – I happened upon a Twitter thread spun from a post by a Jesuit priest named James Martin. (He’s kind of a rock star among Jesuit priests, these days.) His post said simply:“In the time between her encounter with the Risen Christ and when she shared the news of the Resurrection with the other disciples, Mary Magdalene was the church on earth (Jn 20). Because only to her had been revealed the full Paschal Mystery.”And he added:“Any discussion of women's roles in the church must begin with these two facts: It was to a woman, not a man, to whom the Risen Christ first chose to appear. And it was a woman who, for a time, was the sole carrier, and proclaimer, of the Good News of the Resurrection.”And you wouldn’t believe – or, if you’ve ever spent two minutes on Twitter these days, you would actually believe – the anger and mean-spirited and hateful and ignorant responses that followed, suggesting that women don’t belong in the pulpit, that women don’t belong leading mass, that women have their place in the Church but that it isn’t anywhere near as important or as powerful or as ordained, in the same way, as that of men.And, before we get too self-righteously indignant about all of that – our progressive theology and polity as ELCA-flavored Christians, I mean – check this out:Frankly, I’m a little suspicious of all of that “shock” and “surprise” from those guys. I’ve heard as much – or worse – myself over the years. Just like you don’t have to wear a white sheet or use the N-word to be a racist, you don’t have to be a rapist or to be blatantly abusive or disrespectful toward women in order to fall victim to the sin of misogyny.And all of this matters – the way we regard and empower women, or not – because I heard just this week that 21 percent of middle and high school girls report being bullied online or by text, compared with less than 7 percent of boys. (mprnews.org)It matters because, on average, a woman working full time earns about 81 cents for every dollar a man earns, working full time. (businessinsider.com) And those numbers are worse for women of color.It matters because 4 out of 5 victims of human trafficking are girls. And something like 15 million girls under the age of 18 are married off, around the world, with no say in the matter. (makers.com)So it matters if we, in the Church, aren’t right and righteous when it comes to the place and power of women and girls in our midst. Because if we are not, it means we’re either mirroring or instigating or perpetuating what’s so frightening and sad and sinful out there for our sisters and daughters and mothers and friends.So let’s celebrate that it was Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told [the news of the resurrection] to the apostles. And let’s remember that their words seemed to [the men] an idle tale, and they did not believe them.Let’s remember and celebrate what Genesis promises us, that, in God’s image we were created – both male and female.Let’s remember and celebrate what we find in Acts, that, “…God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy… Even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out my spirit...”Let’s remember and celebrate that “The gifts [God] gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”Let’s make this our goal – and our challenge – and our joy, in the end. And may this not just be about our life together in the Church, but through the Church, and for the sake of the world, in as many ways as we can manage it.Amen

A Love Story from ChristLuke 15:11-32 (NKJV) The Parable of the Prodigal SonA parable is a story that makes a point. Other than the point, we really cannot derive doctrine from the story. If we can find other Scriptures that are not parables that can substantiate some of the specifics of the story then we can derive useful doctrine for living.As we take a fresh look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I believe we can more fully understand how much God truly loves us; how much God truly loves you!The main character in the parable:1. The loving, forgiving father, whose character remains constant throughout the story, and is a picture of God the Father. 2. The younger son symbolizes the backslidden as he was previously a member of the family. 3. The elder brother represents the self-righteous. The prodigal son realizes he had no right to claim a blessing upon return to his father's household, nor does he have anything to offer, except a life of service, in repentance of his previous decisions.We see the father waiting for his son, perhaps daily searching the distant road, hoping for his appearance. The father notices him while he was still a long way off and ran to him. Obviously the father was longing for his son's return.When the father reaches his son, he throw his arms around him despite the stench sweat and pig's excrement.The father is so filled with joy at his son's return that he doesn't even allow his son to finish his confession. He doesn't question or lecture him; instead, he unconditionally forgives him and accepts him back into fellowship. God our Father greatly loves us, and patiently waits for us to repent so he can show us His great love.Ephesians 2:4-5 (NKJV)Titus 3:4-5 (NKJV)1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)This prodigal son was satisfied to return home as a servant, but is restored back into the full privilege of being his father's son. He had been transformed from a state of destitution to complete restoration. That is what God's love does for us!The father orders the servants to bring:1. The best robe, (as sign of the prodigal's acceptance back into the family)2. A ring for the son's hand (a sign of authority and sonship) 3. Sandals for his feet (as only servants did not wear shoes.) All these things represent what we receive in Christ upon salvation: The robe of the Christ's righteousness:Isaiah 61:10 (NKJV)Romans 8:15 (NKJV)Galatians 4:4-5 (NKJV)Ephesians 1:4-6 (NKJV)The authority to drive out demons and heal the sick:Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)Matthew 21:19-21 (NKJV)Luke 10:18-19 (NKJV)Feet fitted with the preparation of the gospel of peace:Ephesians 6:14-15 (NKJV)Notice that the prodigal son was previously a member of the father's household. Unsaved or backslidden they both have been victimized by sin and through their choices have become enslaved to sin.It amazes me that the father would even recognize his emaciated son while he was still a long way off. I would think that his hair would be a mess, his clothing rags, his stride faltering from lack of nourishment and water. How do you picture yourself after you have sinned? Do you see yourself as a mess? Do you see yourself as spiritually emaciated having nothing to offer your heavenly Father for His mercy?God knows you. He knows you are flesh. When you sin He knows that you will return to Him. He is looking for your return. He is not waiting to tell you how stupid you are or how you should have known better.When the prodigal returned his father gave him a new robe. When we return God restores us with the robe of righteousness. He places a signet ring on our finger symbolizing the authority of His kingdom and he gives us shoes with which to take His kingdom to the lost.I would submit that we need all three in order to accomplish God's will for us. We obviously need the robe of righteousness that gives us right standing before God, allowing us to come boldly before His throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16When you pray do you come boldly with confidence before God's throne in time of need? One cannot do that looking at how deserving or undeserving they are. Do you pray as the elders in Luke 7:1-5 (NKJV)?The elders of the Jews did not have confidence to request Jesus' mercy and grace in time of need so they come before him attempting to convince Jesus as to how deserving the Centurion is. They replaced right relationship with Jesus, with works. We need the signet ring of God's kingdom that gives us the authority to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works than those. John 14:12But there is one more item that we need in order to use the previous three gifts that we received. That item is to understand how much God loves us! 1 John 3:1a (NKJV)Ephesians 3:17-19 (NKJV)I don't know what hurts are buried in your souls. I do know that God the Father is looking for you to turn to Him, to receive His forgiveness because Jesus Christ took it all onto himself on the cross. Like him you can say it is finished!

Find us online at: AdventNYC.orgEmail us at: Podcast@AdventNYC.orgTalk with us at: Advent Sermons & Conversations on FacebookReadings for this week:Acts 10:34-43Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”Psalm 118O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals.It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off!I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; the right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it.I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.The Lord is God, and he has given us light.Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.1 Corinthians 15:19-26If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.Luke 24:1-12But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.Come to a service and hear the sermons live and in person Sunday morning 9am and 11am in English and 12:30pm in Spanish at 93rd and Broadway.

Find us online at: AdventNYC.orgEmail us at: Podcast@AdventNYC.orgTalk with us at: Advent Sermons & Conversations on FacebookCome to a service and hear the sermons live and in person Sunday morning 9am and 11am in English and 12:30pm in Spanish at 93rd and Broadway.Readings for This Week:First Reading: Daniel 12:1-3The book of Daniel is an example of apocalyptic literature, which is full of strange visions and symbolism. Arising during times of great persecution, apocalyptic literature is concerned with God’s revelation about the end time and the coming kingdom of God, when God will vindicate the righteous who have been persecuted.1“At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”Psalm: Psalm 16My heart is glad and my spirit rejoices; my body shall rest in hope. (Ps. 16:9)1Protect me, O God, for I take ref- | uge in you;  I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good a- | bove all other.” 2All my delight is in the godly that are | in the land,  upon those who are noble a- | mong the people. 3But those who run after | other gods  shall have their troubles | multiplied. 4I will not pour out drink offerings | to such gods,  never take their names up- | on my lips. R 5O Lord, you are my portion | and my cup;  it is you who up- | hold my lot. 6My boundaries enclose a | pleasant land;  indeed, I have a | rich inheritance. 7I will bless the Lord who | gives me counsel;  my heart teaches me night | after night. 8I have set the Lord al- | ways before me;  because God is at my right hand, I shall | not be shaken. R 9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spir- | it rejoices;  my body also shall | rest in hope. 10For you will not abandon me | to the grave,  nor let your holy one | see the pit. 11You will show me the | path of life;  in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for- | evermore. RSecond Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25Images of worship and sacrifice are used throughout Hebrews to highlight what Christ has uniquely accomplished through his death. Because we have received forgiveness through Christ’s death, we live with sincere hearts by trusting in God’s promises and encouraging love and good works from each other.11Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” 13and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [15And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16“This is the covenant that I will make with them  after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts,  and I will write them on their minds,”17he also adds,  “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.]   19Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.Gospel: Mark 13:1-8In the last week of his life, Jesus warned his disciples concerning trials that were to come upon them and upon the world. He exhorts the listener: Do not be alarmed.1As [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”  3When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”

Find us online at: AdventNYC.orgEmail us at: Podcast@AdventNYC.orgTalk with us at: Advent Sermons & Conversations on FacebookCome to a service and hear the sermons live and in person Sunday morning 9am and 11am in English and 12:30pm in Spanish at 93rd and Broadway.Readings for this WeekFirst Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16This chapter begins the story of Elijah. God sends a drought on Israel because of the sins of King Ahab. This passage depicts God’s saving acts not only on behalf of Elijah, but also on behalf of those who are associated with the prophet, even a foreigner, the widow of Zarephath.8The word of the Lord came to [Elijah,] saying, 9“Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” 11As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 15She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.Psalm: Psalm 146The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. (Ps. 146:8)1Hal- | lelujah!Praise the Lord, | O my soul!2I will praise the Lord as long | as I live;I will sing praises to my God while I | have my being.3Put not your | trust in rulers,in mortals in whom there | is no help.4When they breathe their last, they re- | turn to earth,and in that day | their thoughts perish. R5Happy are they who have the God of Jacob | for their help,whose hope is in the | Lord their God;6who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that | is in them;who keeps promis- | es forever;7who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to | those who hunger.The Lord sets the | captive free.8The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who | are bowed down;the Lord| loves the righteous. R9The Lord cares | for the stranger;the Lord sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way | of the wicked.10The Lord shall | reign forever,your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. | Hallelujah! RSecond Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28The letter to the Hebrews describes Christ as a high priest who offers himself as a sacrifice for our sin. Christ does not die again and again each year. He died once, is alive with God, and will reveal himself on the last day.24Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; 26for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.Gospel: Mark 12:38-44After engaging in a series of public arguments with religious leaders in the temple, Jesus contrasts the proud and oppressive ways of those leaders with the sacrificial humility and poverty of the widow.38As [Jesus] taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! 40They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”41He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:4-24: "And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6"As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." 7And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" 8And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. 9And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once." 10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your lives. 20"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

There Is An Atmosphere Around You. Either It Is Shaping You Or You Are Shaping It. What Atmosphere Around You Is Making You Sick And Causing You Pain? Change The Atmosphere With One Word. Call It What It Is. Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 1 Kings 17:1 Their Word Was Drought. What Word Is Around You? What Word Is In You?(Fly In) Receive: Find Your Force Field. And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3“Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4“And it shall be that you shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.” 1 Kings 17:2-4 The Opposite Of The Atmosphere Is Always Available.(Fly In) In The Atmosphere Of Drought Elijah Received Abundance.(Fly In) Become: A New Identity Means The Old Rules Don’t Apply. 8Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” 12But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 1 Kings 17:8-13 In An Atmosphere Of Drought Elijah Became Abundant Food & Water. You TEACH What You Know, But You IMPART Who You Are. You Keep Changing Until Your Atmosphere Does. Protect Your NO, So You Can Release Your YES. Giving What You Need Creates Freedom To Receive. Remember, I AM… Becoming Is Identity! Release: Expectation Is Everything. 14“For thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.’”15So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah. 1 Kings 17:14-16 Abundance Is The Belief That There’s More. Without The Belief That There’s More You’ll Always Stop. (Fly In) Like A Doctor, God Is Calling you to RELEASE the OPPOSITE of the sickness and pain in the atmosphere around you.(Fly In) Treat Them Based On Their Destiny, Not Their History. Act Like Everyone You Meet Can Have What You Have. Arguments Never Alter Atmospheres. Demonstrations Do. Looking For Fire Or Becoming A Fireplace. (Carmel) Become A Fireplace And God Will Provide The Fire!

               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, you took on our humanity in order to live under the law and redeem us. Grant that I always marvel at your grace, and receive you with joy; AMEN.The Role of the Law in the Life of the Christian:The whole world with all diligence has struggled to figure out what God is, what He has in mind and does. Yet the world has never been able to grasp ‹the knowledge and understanding of› any of these things. But here [in the Apostles’ Creed] we have everything in richest measure. For here in all three articles God has revealed Himself and opened the deepest abyss of His fatherly heart and His pure, inexpressible love [Ephesians 3:18–19]. He has created us for this very reason, that He might redeem and sanctify us. In addition to giving and imparting to us everything in heaven and upon earth, He has even given to us His Son and the Holy Spirit, who brings us to Himself [Romans 8:14, 32]. For we could never grasp the knowledge of the Father’s grace and favor except through the Lord Christ. Jesus is a mirror of the fatherly heart [John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3], outside of whom we see nothing but an angry and terrible Judge. But we couldn’t know anything about Christ either, unless it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit [1 Corinthians 2:12]. Large Catechism, Apostles’ Creed (Concordia p. 406)Born to Save Us:There is nothing trite or trivial in what has happened at Christmas: The deepest lowliness is but the mask for the greatest glory, the glory of him who came to be our Savior!How does the birth of Christ comfort & encourage us?OPENING HYMN: 56 – Gentle Mary Laid Her ChildLITURGY: Service of Word & Sacrament, CW p. 26Please rise.PRAYER OF THE DAY:M: Almighty God, grant that the birth of your one and only Son in the flesh may set us free from our old bondage under the yoke of sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.The WordFIRST READING: Isaiah 52:7-10God has kept his word: Hidden in the lowliness of the manger is the glory of God for our salvation. 7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of a herald, who proclaims peace and preaches good news, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God is king!” 8The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voices. Together they shout for joy, because with both eyes they will see it when the LORD returns to Zion. 9Break out, shout for joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, because the LORD is comforting his people. He is redeeming Jerusalem. 10The LORD lays bare his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation from our God. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!PSALM: 98, p. 103SECOND READING: Hebrews 1:1-9In the manger, we see Eternal God in the form of a baby:In the past, God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets at many times and in many ways. 2In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature. He sustains all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4The Son became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say: You are my Son. Today I have begotten you? And again: I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. 6And again, when he brought his firstborn into the world, he said: Let all God’s angels worship him. 7About the angels he says: He makes his messengers winds and his ministers flaming fire. 8But about the Son he says: God, your throne is forever and ever, and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy beyond your companions. THEME VERSE: Galatians 4:4-5Alleluia. When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law. Alleluia. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! GOSPEL READING: John 1:1-14As the manger and the Virgin’s arms held him whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, so we too recognize and receive him who has come in human flesh and blood to dwell in us through the Word and sacrament:In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him everything was made, and without him not one thing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6There was a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as an eyewitness to testify about the light so that everyone would believe through him. 8He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9The real light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not recognize him. 11He came to what was his own, yet his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They were born, not of blood, or of the desire of the flesh, or of a husband’s will, but born of God. 14The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.Praise be to you, O Christ!HYMN OF THE DAY: 35 – Of the Father’s Love BegottenSERMON based on Hebrews 2: Radiance in HumilityCONFESSION OF FAITH: Nicene Creed, p. 31OFFERINGADULT CONFIRMATIONSPRAYER & LORD’S PRAYERThe sacramentFor our Holy Communion practice, please see the purple sheet in the pew racks.COMMUNION LITURGY: p. 33DISTRIBUTION HYMN: 40 – O Jesus Christ, Your Manger IsSONG OF THANKS: CW p. 36CLOSING HYMN: 58 – See in Yonder Manger LowNOTESNo 7 PM Worship tonight. Stay warm!February 4, Annual Voters’ Mtg.THIS WEEKToday Joshua 19 9:30 - Christmas 1 Worship with Holy CommunionMonday Joshua 20Tuesday Joshua 21Wednesday Joshua 22Thursday Joshua 23Friday Joshua 24Saturday Judges 1 8 AM - Men’s Bible Breakfast @The RanchSunday Judges 2 9:30 - Epiphany 1 Worship with Holy Communion; 40 Years of SOTL 10:58 - Bible Class: Genesis 3 & Godly Discipline                                                  

This is the 18th class on the book of Hebrews. This Bible class was taught at the Pilot Point Church in Pilot Point Texas. The following is the outline of the class. Only the Blood of Jesus The Son’s sacrifice is superior to the O.T. sacrifice Hebrews chapter 9:12-10:18 Hebrews 10 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. (NIV) For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. (NASB) In Isaiah 53, we have all the offerings listed in the work of Christ upon the cross: 1) Burnt Offering – Isaiah 53:11; cf. Leviticus 1 Giving self to God 2) Peace Offering – Isaiah 53:5; cf. Leviticus 3 Peace with God 3) Sin Offering – Isaiah 53:6,10-12; cf. Leviticus 4-5 Sinful nature, sins against God 4) Trespass Offering – Isaiah 53:5; cf. Leviticus 5:15-19; Leviticus 6:1-7 Personal sins, sins against your fellow man 5) Meal Offering – Isaiah 53:3,10; cf. Leviticus 2 Thanks to God Hebrews 10 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.  2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?  3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.  4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Hebrews 10 5Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; 6. IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. 7.“THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’” 8After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law), Hebrews 10 9then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 1 10By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again, he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}

John 1:1-18 Christ the Great Evangelizer John 1 The Word Became Flesh  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.  9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") 16And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

click here Visit the Recover In Christ web site. Passage John 1 : John 1 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

*Readings: (Gospel)* *A Reading of the holy gospel according to* *Mt 9:9-13* As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. 10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. *Reading: Mt 9:9* As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. *Commentary:* follow me: God calls whom he wills without distinction of persons. Matthew would have been associated with public sinners since he collected taxes on behalf of the Romans. Rose up and followed him: Matthew left everything and immediately followed Christ as his disciple. God has a unique plan for each individual to achieve holiness and to do the work of evangelization. When we discern our vocation in prayer, we too must follow Christ wholeheartedly and without delay. (CCC 858-860) *Reading: Mt 9:10-13* 10 And as he sat at table  in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. *Commentary:* Some were scandalized because Christ associated himself with sinners, but he equated mercy toward sinners with the mercy of God. This caused further scandal because that statement was viewed as an assertion of his own divinity. (CCC 589, 2100) *Reading: Mt 9:13* 13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. *Commentary:* These words of Christ are reflected in one of the options of the Penitential Rite of Mass: "You came to call sinners." (CCC 1438) *Works Cited* Ignatius Press. The Didache Bible : With Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2014. Edited by Rev. James Socias, 2nd ed., Downers Grove, Il, Midwest Theological Forum, Inc. ; San Francisco, Ca, 5 Jan. 2015, pp. 4, 777. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/July2Commentaries Official website: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreTrulyRich