Podcasts about 14for

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Old Testament: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a 1Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.' 3Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.' 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?' 8Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Psalm: Psalm 89:20-37 20 I have found David my servant; *        with my holy oil have I anointed him. 21 My hand will hold him fast *        and my arm will make him strong. 22 No enemy shall deceive him, *        nor any wicked man bring him down. 23 I will crush his foes before him *        and strike down those who hate him. 24 My faithfulness and love shall be with him, *        and he shall be victorious through my Name. 25 I shall make his dominion extend *        from the Great Sea to the River. 26 He will say to me, ‘You are my Father, *        my God, and the rock of my salvation.' 27 I will make him my firstborn *        and higher than the kings of the earth. 28 I will keep my love for him for ever, *        and my covenant will stand firm for him. 29 I will establish his line for ever *        and his throne as the days of heaven.” 30 “If his children forsake my law *        and do not walk according to my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes *        and do not keep my commandments; 32 I will punish their transgressions with a rod *        and their iniquities with the lash; 33 But I will not take my love from him, *        nor let my faithfulness prove false. 34 I will not break my covenant, *        nor change what has gone out of my lips. 35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness: *       ‘I will not lie to David. 36 His line shall endure for ever *        and his throne as the sun before me; 37 It shall stand fast for evermore like the moon, *        the abiding witness in the sky.' “ Epistle: Ephesians 2:11-22 11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision' by those who are called ‘the circumcision'—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God. Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Life As It Was Meant to Be Part 6: How to Have Hope Louie Marsh, 7-21-2021   Slide of “new” old series! TWO QUOTES:   “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of life.” - Emil Brunner   “Hopes are for the living, the dead are without hope. – Theocritus   “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ― Epicurus   “Hope is a waking dream.”  ― Aristotle   1) FIND IT in Christ alone!   “13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14, ESV) Christ is God – so my hope is RELIABLE! Jesus is alive so my hope is ALIVE He's coming back – my hope extends beyond this     2) GRASP Hope's full extent.   “15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18, ESV)   Hope is for the living & the Hope lasts Hope brings me BACK to Christ.     3) LIVE OUT hope's implications by…   FOCUSING on what I'm doing.   “5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5–6, ESV)   UNDERSTANDING my new nature.   “4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.”…“8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 8, ESV)   LIVING by faith.   But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thes. 5:8 (NLT)   ACTING in love.   But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation. 1 Thes. 5:8 (Mes)   4) COMPREHENDING my true destiny!   “9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–11, ESV)   God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master… 1 Thes. 5:9 (Mes)   Your purpose in life is to serve God in a special way!!!  Not to be a object of wrath – but part of His family!        

Go and make disciples… the privilege of Gardening with God: Matthew 28: cultivating, planting, tending, reaping: making disciples. The soils of souls Mark 4:1- Salvation - grace through faith - this is God's work Ephesians 2:5-10“...it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Here's where God's effort and our effort walk in stride Phil 2:12-13 “...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” He's made and is making His effort, doing the work, works, good works - now it is ours to join Him in “making every effort” (2Pe 1:5): - Working with God - this was God's intention for the beginning - tending, working His garden - me, you, me and you together, us - the Church - is, now, the Garden in and for which we work (Rom 12-16; 1Cor 12-14) - Genesis 2:5-9 “5Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground…” - Hired hands and servants, ambassadors and priests Sanctification - ongoing tending to and of the garden God's role - purification - Isaiah 6 Our role - cleanse ourselves, choosing righteousness by denying ourselves - our flesh's desires - 2Tim 3 And tap into God's Spirit - Galatians 5:13-14,16-18 “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Aid one another in growth and holiness Galatians 6:1-5 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.

Go and make disciples… the privilege of Gardening with God: Matthew 28: cultivating, planting, tending, reaping: making disciples. The soils of souls Mark 4:1- Salvation - grace through faith - this is God's work Ephesians 2:5-10“...it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Here's where God's effort and our effort walk in stride Phil 2:12-13 “...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” He's made and is making His effort, doing the work, works, good works - now it is ours to join Him in “making every effort” (2Pe 1:5): - Working with God - this was God's intention for the beginning - tending, working His garden - me, you, me and you together, us - the Church - is, now, the Garden in and for which we work (Rom 12-16; 1Cor 12-14) - Genesis 2:5-9 “5Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground…” - Hired hands and servants, ambassadors and priests Sanctification - ongoing tending to and of the garden God's role - purification - Isaiah 6 Our role - cleanse ourselves, choosing righteousness by denying ourselves - our flesh's desires - 2Tim 3 And tap into God's Spirit - Galatians 5:13-14,16-18 “13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Aid one another in growth and holiness Galatians 6:1-5 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load.

https://us15.campaign-archive.com/?u=012a44d6e7986cf7f82de120f&id=f69b839224 CONFRONTING EXPOSING & TEARING DOWN RADICAL EVIL PDF LIVE NOTES BROADCAST WORLDWIDE TEN MILLION FIERCE FROM APRIL 2021 TO JUNE 15th 2021 & ARCHIVES RIGHT AT THE GATES OF HELL-HADES COMING OUT OF THE SHADOWS Final overview 9“When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. 13You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. 14For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you. Deut 18 “…….the dark ones I sit alone and watch them dance. They are dressed all in white, pretty like angels, but their eyes are dark and hollow. They capture me and place me in the center of their circle. I scream to get out, fearing them and their strangeness as evil radiates from black eyes, rebuked by their deceiving form. Only a glimpse and all of it is gone, images I will question I ever seen at all, but deep in my soul I know it was real. Each night, I wait for them to come back, afraid. They do, reminding me I am losing, and I give into tears and the swallowing darkness. I beg them to leave me, but they say they cannot. Through their dancing, I see more things; visions of places evil and terrifying. All is blackness and fear, pain and screaming. I raise my hands to my face so I see nothing. I forget. And when I open my eyes, I find myself waiting... but I cannot remember for what. Rivers, Avah. The Shadows That Hide Me: Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (p. 20). Kindle Edition. 73 From THE LIVE RAGGED EDGE RADIO BROADCAST/SHATTER LIVE TV WEBINAR RUSS DIZDAR © “…..At the very least, the whole matter smacks of contrivance. That is, it smells of perpetration by those who have for decades—especially for the four years following the 2016 presidential election—observably desired to force this nation into a globalist mold. Such a thing will ultimately eventuate. The efforts of the globalist cabal, consisting of minions, both human and demonic, will bring about the global consortium of nations that will serve as platform for the Revelation 13 beast regime. Antichrist will at last have arrived to take his long-prophesied place of genocidal authority upon this judgment-bound planet. Horn, Thomas R. ; James, Terry. Antichrist and the Final Solution: The Chronology of the future Finally revealed (p. 23). Kindle Edition. First Seal: The Conqueror 1Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [a]seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Second Seal: Conflict on Earth 3When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come [b]and see.” 4Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword… A primary verb; to butcher (especially an animal for food or in sacrifice) or (generally) to slaughter, or (specially), to maim (violently) -- kill, slay, wound.: sphazó Phonetic Spelling: (sfad'-zo)Definition: to slay, slaughterUsage: I slay, kill by violence, slaughter, wound mortally. Revelation 6 PREEMPTOR NEWS The FBI visists 74 From THE LIVE RAGGED EDGE RADIO BROADCAST/SHATTER LIVE TV WEBINAR RUSS DIZDAR © INTRO- What most have missed "Order Out of Chaos": How the Elite's Plans Were Foretold ... https://vigilantcitizen.com/latestnews/order-out-of-chaos-how-the-elites-plans-were-foretoldin-popular-culture/ Why is that? Because, since the 19th century, the official motto of the occult elite is Ordo Ab Chao, Latin for Order Out of Chaos. This an insignia representing the 33rd degree in Freemasonry (the highest degree attainable). At the top, the degree's official motto: Ordo Ab Chao. https://vigilantcitizen.com/latestnews/order-out-of-chaos-how-the-elites-plans-wereforetold-in-popular-culture/ For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1 1. THE 40 DAY OVERVIEW ON SRA UPDA https://duckduckgo.com/?q=christian+song+of+freedom&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DfEKRvyOJwyw

Life As It Was Meant To Be Part Two: U Turn Required! Louie Marsh, 6-20-2021 A Picture of Maturity:   “3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV)   A Faith that PRODUCES WORK. Faith without work is dead – and the more faith we have the more it'll be obvious to all.   A Love that PROMPTS TOIL. The Greek word here is slightly different from the one above, it mean toil, things that need doing that you don't like, that are a pain but need doing – it's love that impels us to do that!   A Hope that enables me to ENDURE.   Hope – the absolutely essential quality to life! Without hope you'll die, either spiritually, emotionally or even physically!  You've gotta have hope, and if you do you won't quit!!   That's how things SHOULD BE – look for a moment at those 3 things and ask how true are they in your life?  Okay – now let's see how to make some progress towards maturity!   How To Get There:   1) You must MAKE A U TURN!   “9For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, ESV)   This is the essential act that we must take if we are to grow spiritually and achieve the kind of life we want.             I don't think most Christians really understand this – AA and other 12 step programs have done a much better job than the church has of explaining and practicing this.             We MUST turn, in every area of our life!   This U Turn Involves Two Turns: Turning FROM whatever is hurting you. This is what most of us think of when we hear this – it's important alright but not all of it! Turning TO CHRIST. This is the positive side of things – you've got to have both or you don't have much!   “22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,” (Ephesians 4:22–23, ESV)             Paul's putting off and putting on is a good example of this – turning is not just a negative thing, it's a positive thing too, and it must be done over and over and over again as we try and move forward!             This is a CRITICAL part of the Christian life!   2) Make sure your faith is more than just TALK.   “5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5, ESV)             Talk can be cheap – and if you don't walk the walk then PLEASE don't talk the talk!  However….   RECOGNIZE you do have a responsibility to talk!   “14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14, ESV)             I know a lot of people who say, “My witness is how I live, I don't need to tell others about Christ.”  BALONEY!!  This is a cop out!   RELY on God's Power.   because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.  1 Thess. 1:5             These three things are KEY to the kind of powerful Spiritual life seen in the NT.   “16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16, ESV)             The Gospel is God's Power – we've got to rely on it, believe it, share it and live it!   “5so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5, ESV)             What does YOUR faith rest on – really?  Tradition? Family? Friends?   REST in the Holy Spirit.   “4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” (1 Corinthians 2:4, ESV)             When we share our faith, in either words or acts, we must rely on God's power – and encourage others to do so too!  Not on anything else!   “5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV)             When we trust the Spirit what we share comes alive, have you ever heard a sermon or lesson that was doctrinally correct but dead as a doornail?  It is the Spirit who gives life – that's why we must rest in Him!   REVEAL your deepest convictions.   An opinion is something you'll argue over, a conviction is something you'll die for! How many convictions do you have? A real danger in our post modern society is the lack of real convictions. Poll showing many college students said NOTHING was worth dying for – if that's true then NOTHING is worth living for either!    For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39   “14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;” (2 Corinthians 5:14, ESV)             When you look at the early Christians it's clear they had convictions – in fact look at any life worth living and you'll find strong unshakable convictions!   3) MODEL your life after mature believers.   “6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” (1 Thessalonians 1:6, ESV)             You might think Paul was conceited but he wasn't, just acknowledging the truth. We all need models – but be sure to do the following! Pick them carefully – make sure they are following Christ. Be wise – you don't make yourself into a carbon copy – you pick and choose things from their lives that you see a need for in yours! You do NOT become a clone! Make sure you have more than one – that helps keeps you balanced since no one is perfect.   “16I urge you, then, be imitators of me.” (1 Corinthians 4:16, ESV)   Some of my role models: C.S. Lewis, Francis Shaeffer, Dr. Walter Martin, Rick Warren, Dr. John Stott, Dr. Tim Keller among others.   4) BECOME a good model for others to follow.   “7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:7, ESV)             If you begin to live the dynamic Christian life you WILL become a role model whether you like it or not!           Charles Barkley and Brittany Spears among many other have said they aren't role models, but whether they like it or not they ARE role models, the only question is are they good ones or bad ones!           And the same is true of you and me! Our kids look to us, our unchurched friends look to us to see what a Christian really is. It does no good to piously say, “Oh don't look at me just look at Jesus!”           For many people we are the only Jesus they are ever going to see!!  So it's up to us to do the best we can, and stop running from the truth!   “9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.” (2 Thessalonians 3:9, ESV)  

Mark 6:45-56 NIV45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. 53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.1. I can't walk on water, but I can…walk in prayer.Mark 6:46 NIVAfter leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.“When we pray, God hears more than we say, answers more than we ask, and gives more than we imagine.”— Nicky GumbelPrayer - our faith meeting God's abilities.2. I can't walk on water, but I can…walk in confidence.Mark 6:48 NIVHe saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,Romans 8:31-32 NIV31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?I have to learn to put my confidence in God's perfect power, not my imperfections.3. I can't walk on water, but I can…walk in peace.Mark 6:50 NIVbecause they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.”Peace is a fruit of the Spirit, not a fruit of accumulation.4. I can't walk on water, but I can…walk in the Spirit.Mark 6:51 NIVThen he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,What if God's presence is about fixing our perspective not our problems?Romans 8:12-14 NIV12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.5. I can't walk on water, but I can…walk in purpose.Mark 6:56 NIVAnd wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.Purpose determines approach. At the end of the day, it's what we do, not what we intended to do.

Are you distracted, alone, or afraid? This message empowers us to focus on Jesus and trust him to get us through any storm.You can refuse to be afraid or consumed with impossible situations. Remain focused on Jesus, and you will be able to walk in faith and victory no matter the circumstance.Through this series, you'll learn how to live well & enjoy God's promises. You are loved by God; He knows your name. He has a plan for your life. Get helpful advice, encouragement, and hope for a life well lived in 2021 and beyond.Are you walking in faith and victory? Set your eyes on the promises of God. You only have one life journey; say yes to Jesus. Like the parables of the buried treasure and the valuable pearl, stop at nothing to gain your entry into the kingdom of heaven.See full notes and suggested praise and worship here: https://agfaithchapel.org/sermons-messages/focus-on-christ-to-get-through-trials-life-is-a-journey-part-14For more sermons and resources, visit www.agfaithchapel.org/sermons. Please consider supporting this ministry at www.agfaithchapel.org/give.This is brought to you by Faith Chapel church in Pleasanton, CA. Learn more at www.agfaithchapel.org.If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review? It's quick and very appreciated!

Show notes for Episode 206:Your hosts are Meshel Laurie and Emily WebbWith thanks to James Harding and Steve.For one family at least, connecting with James Harding’s Hard Cuddles organisation was the intervention that made the difference. Steve was fresh out of jail when he met James Harding. He was a convicted domestic abuser, helpless against his addiction, on the verge of losing his children and still blaming his partner for his troubles. He’s now sober and helping other men through the Hard Cuddles program. Both Steve and James Harding join Emily Webb for this episode of Australian True Crime.You can find out more about James Harding and Hard Cuddles here.For free phone counselling 24 hours a day you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14For help with addiction issues,Alcoholics Anonymous AustraliaNarcotics Anonymous AustraliaIf you need help coping with the effects of someone else’s drinking, you can get support through Al-Anon here.You can support us with a one-off contribution here.You can become a patron here.You can subscribe to Calm Ya Farm here.You can visit the Calm Ya Farm website here.Like us on Facebook ​Follow us on Instagram or TwitterSupport us on PatreonVisit our BookshopListen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google PodcastsListen on SpotifyIf you have any information on the cases covered by this podcast, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Thank you for supporting us and our guests. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/australiantruecrime. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Are You God’s Child? Then Act Like It! Romans 8:13 - 17 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. f And by him we cry, “Abba, g Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Whose Face Do Others See When You Defend The Truth Or Your Opinion Acts 6:12 - 15 12So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” 15All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Naya and Lo get right down to an important topic on their second episode by discussing Body Confidence. The two Leos share their confidence and why they feel good about their bodies as women and athletes, how they gained confidence, the favorite thing about their bodies and least favorite. They have advice to someone who is lacking body confidence and how to feel better about themselves. They also share some of their own experiences as adolescents and the social challenges they faced and discuss body confidence in women’s rugby. They wrap up the show by candidly answering listeners questions.Hosts: Naya Tapper & Ilona Maher38' 14For more information, links and resources plus conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s First and Only Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 60 hosts, 1300+ episodes across 50 shows and over 7 million downloads. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Contact us at info@wispsports.com.

Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB95) 13Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.14For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Romans 1:16For I am not ashamed of the gospel [c]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Hebrews 10 1 to 18 16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18Now where there is [e]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. Hebrews 11: 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off [e]were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Galatians 3:1-18 Galatians 3: 5Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Habakuk 2: 1I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. 2Then the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. Matthew 16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Advancing Thru Adversity Pt. 2 Admit It! By Louie Marsh, 11-22-2020   Intro – Admit It pics -   1) Admit that I need JESUS.   “20And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.” (Matthew 9:20–22, ESV)   2) Admit that I’ve got a PROBLEM.   “2Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” (Psalm 32:2–5, ESV)   3) Admit that I can’t solve it WITHOUT JESUS.   “5For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Genesis 3:5, ESV)   “4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:4–6, ESV)   “15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:15–18, ESV)   4) Admit that this healing isn’t going to be EASY.   “13“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14, ESV)   “28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV)   The rabbis used yoke for school as many pupils find it now a yoke. The English word “school” is Greek for leisure (σχολη [scholē]). But Jesus offers refreshment (ἀναπαυσιν [anapausin]) in his school and promises to make the burden light, for he is a meek and humble teacher. Humility was not a virtue among the ancients. It was ranked with servility. Jesus has made a virtue of this vice. He has glorified this attitude so that Paul urges it (Phil. 2:3), “in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself.” In portions of Europe today people place yokes on the shoulders to make the burden easier to carry. Jesus promises that we shall find the yoke kindly and the burden lightened by his help. “Easy” is a poor translation of χρηστος [chrēstos]. Moffatt puts it “kindly.” That is the meaning in the Septuagint for persons. We have no adjective that quite carries the notion of kind and good. The yoke of Christ is useful, good, and kindly. - [1] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Mt 11:29). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.   5) Admit that God has a PURPOSE for my life.   “28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)   “10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)   “9who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (2 Timothy 1:9, ESV)  

Matt Murphy shares from Ephesians 3:14 with a prayer to revive and empower and strengthen the Good Shepherd family. 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Join Fr Rob as he reflects on the Sunday Gospel readings and how we can apply these reflections to our lives today. 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 22: 1-14For a longer explanation and reflection on this Gospel reading, check out the Catholic Influencers Podcast (Season 4, Episode 14)

The will of God is the kingdom of Heaven in operation in our life and through our life in this world, today.The Kingdom Of Heaven is anywhere that the rule of God is taking place. The Kingdom of Heaven upsets the world in major ways, and effects the world in major ways.If we’re going to walk in the fullness of our assignment in the kingdom of God, we cannot walk in step with the culture of this world.Flipping The ScriptColossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Life comes from above.Genesis 1:7 God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. 1. LIVE UP4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.Hebrews 10:14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.I spend my life on earth continually becoming who I already am in Heaven.As a Christian I get to choose the Kingdom I live from. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.2. KILL OFF Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.live = means to enjoy real life, to have true life, endless life, in the kingdom of God.3. PUT ONColossians 3:10 Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Romans12:1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

In today's episode we talk about running the race and running towards God and pursuing His heart. We have a very special interview with Jason Sampler, the Georgia Director of Lifeline Children's Services sharing about the work of Lifeline with Pregnancy Counseling and Adoption Services here in Georgia and globally. Jason shares about a very special 9th Annual "Run for One" happening this weekend, August 29th at several locations in the south. This episode shares lots of beautiful insights about how we can pursue God and run towards Him. When we run towards Him, He will run towards us just like the Father in the story of the Prodigal running to his son. The Father's heart is to go after the one who is lost and even leaving the 99 to find that lost soul who has gone astray. He’s not far from each one of us. Even if it feels like you've run so far away that you’ve reached the point of no return, there He is right behind you, waiting to heal your backslidings.Jeremiah 3:22“Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings.”Matthew 18:11-14For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.Saturday August 29th Lifeline's 9th Annual Run for Onehttps://p2p.onecause.com/runforone5k/homeHope to run together with you! Even running at home is ok, just sign up and join with us as we support Lifeline and the great work they are doing globally! 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

Isaiah 43:1-3  But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;  How does fear work against the believers?      1. Fear dominates in faithlessness      2. Fear enters through forgetfulness      3. Fear permeates through distraction  “He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Cor 15:57)     The only way to overcome fear is FAITH: Believe in...1. God's Redemption   "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  2. God's Protection "When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." 3. God's Presence "I will be with you for I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior"  As we seek God's presence, we must embrace... 1. God’s SupremacyIsaiah 42:8 "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”Colossians 1:15-20.15 The Son is the image of the invisible God,the first born over all creation.16 For in him all things were created:things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;all things have been created through him and for him.17 He is before all things,and in him all things hold together.18 And he is the head of the body, the church;he is the beginning and the first born from among the dead,so that in everything he might have the supremacy.19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,by making peace through his blood,shed on the cross.“Man’s chief end is to glorify God”  1 Corinthians 10:31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 2. God's SovereigntyRomans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. Psalm 139You have searched me,Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you,Lord, know it completely. Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 3. God's Supervision Psalms 31:3For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me.Psalm 48:14For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. I Peter 5:6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight

Matthew 5:27-32#WorldDayAgainstTraffickingNazarene compassion @nazcompassion - Sept we will be doing a series on trafficking as part of FREEDOM SUNDAYOperation Underground Railroad - Rescuing children from slavery of all kinds @OURrescueColossians 1:9-14For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 5:17-20Law was created to maintain relationship and the best relationships are ones that understand the motivation behind the boundaries.Titus 2:11-14For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.

From the November 10, 2019 Evening Service Bless the LORD, O My Soul Of David. 1Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14For he knows our frame;a he remembers that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 19The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! 22Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

From the November 3, 2019 Evening Service Bless the LORD, O My Soul Of David. 1Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, 4who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, 5who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 6The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. 7He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. 8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. 10He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 13As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. 14For he knows our frame;a he remembers that we are dust. 15As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 19The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. 20Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! 21Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! 22Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

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.”

—Sermon text:Luke 22:24–30 Download the discussion guide for this sermon here.—Additional Resources—Worship PlaylistBelow, we are including a playlist of songs specifically selected by our worship leaders for this week’s sermon topic: —Supplemental Scripture Readings—Revelation / Call to WorshipPsalm 111Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!—AdorationTitus 3:4–7But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.—ExpiationHebrews 9:13–14For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.—DedicationPhilippians 2:5–11Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

—Sermon text:Luke 22:24–30 Download the discussion guide for this sermon here.—Additional Resources—Worship PlaylistBelow, we are including a playlist of songs specifically selected by our worship leaders for this week’s sermon topic: —Supplemental Scripture Readings—Revelation / Call to WorshipPsalm 111Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!—AdorationTitus 3:4–7But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.—ExpiationHebrews 9:13–14For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.—DedicationPhilippians 2:5–11Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

“I used to cling to bits of darkness in order to survive but I don’t have to live like that anymore. I am a child of the light and I can begin to live like one."What are the parts of our world need the light of God to shine on them? What about the parts of your life?//Ephesians 5:8-14For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”//This episode was written and recorded by Kevin Makins. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear, Lovely Lonely by YEYEY, Looking for that Moment When Time Stands Still by Will Bangs, and Drifters by Kelly Pratt.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Kevin Makins is founding pastor of Eucharist Church in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is a podcaster, a YouTuber, and the author of Why Would Anyone Go to Church? Visit www.KevinMakins.com to find out more.This season of Be Still and Go is supported in part by Convergence as they help share each episode with their community. (You should do the same!) Convergence a network that supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders engaged in an age of movement from “organized religion” to “organizing religion” driven by the values of an inclusive, progressive theological vision for a more just world for all. Visit www.convergenceus.org to find out more.

“I used to cling to bits of darkness in order to survive but I don’t have to live like that anymore. I am a child of the light and I can begin to live like one."What are the parts of our world need the light of God to shine on them? What about the parts of your life?//Ephesians 5:8-14For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”//This episode was written and recorded by Kevin Makins. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear, Lovely Lonely by YEYEY, Looking for that Moment When Time Stands Still by Will Bangs, and Drifters by Kelly Pratt.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all five seasons of Be Still and Go.Visit www.trcnyc.org/Donate to support this podcast and other digital resources from The Riverside Church that integrate spirituality and social justice.Kevin Makins is founding pastor of Eucharist Church in downtown Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is a podcaster, a YouTuber, and the author of Why Would Anyone Go to Church? Visit www.KevinMakins.com to find out more.This season of Be Still and Go is supported in part by Convergence as they help share each episode with their community. (You should do the same!) Convergence a network that supports the reshaping of organizations, congregations and leaders engaged in an age of movement from “organized religion” to “organizing religion” driven by the values of an inclusive, progressive theological vision for a more just world for all. Visit www.convergenceus.org to find out more.

View the Bulletin for Sunday March 22, 2020Service Times: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.No Bible Study or Sunday School this weekToday’s service will be BROADCAST LIVE on our YouTube channel:www.youtube.comIt will also be posted shortly after the service is over, here on our homepage, and on our video pageOld Testament Reading -- Isaiah 42:14–21For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant. I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols,who say to metal images, “You are our gods.”Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.Epistle – Ephesians 5:8–14For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the ninth chapter.As [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

By Pastor Brandon Dirmann Sub Title: I'm Not Stuck And Neither Are You Scriptures (All NKJV) - Romans 6:11-14 - Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. - Luke 4:18-19 - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  - John 8:36 -  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. - 2 Corinthians 3:17 - Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 - Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - John 14:12 -  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. - James 4:7 - Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. - Ephesians 6:10-13 - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 3 Truths About For Followers of Jesus 1. Followers of Jesus have been empowered to live in Freedom 2. Followers of Jesus have been commissioned to preach liberating power 3. Followers of Jesus have been commissioned to confront spiritual opposition and set people free

The Gifts of Tongues and Interpretation - November 2, 2019 - Steve MillerAs I was praying about this message some time ago, I felt like the Lord gave me three analogies to illustrate the purpose of speaking or praying in tongues.Lighter fluid – Sometimes conditions aren't ideal for starting a fire. Lighter fluid (or “boy scout water,” as my brother and nephew call it) gives your fire a “supernatural” boost.A key – There's no way to enter through a locked door, but a key is a small but precisely effective way to open the way that was impossible without it.A spark plug – You can have a perfectly designed car, plenty of good fuel, and plenty of air being mixed precisely right, but without the spark plug firing, fuel won't ignite so you've got no power. Spark plugs need to keep firing consistently for your car to keep running powerfully over the long haul.Acts 2:4 - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 10:44-46 - 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.Acts 19:6 - When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.I want to start out by saying that I believe that at least some form of the gift of tongues is available for every believer. Later in the message, we'll look at distinctions between different varieties of tongues or functions of the gift, and what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 12 when he asks “Do all speak with tongues?” (The implied answer is “no.”) And we do not teach that a person needs to speak in tongues in order to be a true Christian or to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. But in the three passages above, it's pretty clear that in these three groups of early believers, all involved received an ability to speak in tongues, not just a selected few. So let's start by looking at the nature and purpose of speaking in tongues, which tends to seem like a strange and ambiguous activity to us in the first place.Did you ever wonder why the Holy Spirit enables believers to speak in tongues and what is going on when we do?When we speak in tongues, who is speaking?We are speaking. The Holy Spirit is speaking. (See the verses above.)It's a cooperative effort. When we speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit is providing words for us to speak, bypassing our cognitive thinking process. Therefore, it's not unreasonable to say that when we speak in tongues we are declaring the Word of God. We are speaking truth. The words we speak are just the right ones, for they come from the Holy Spirit, our Helper.So when we speak in tongues, just what are we speaking?1 Corinthians 14:1-2 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. When we speak in tongues, we speak to God. He understands what we are praying even though we don't.Strong's: mustérion (moos-tay'-ree-on): a mystery, secret, of which initiation is necessary; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation. HELPS Word-studies: mystḗrion (the root of the English term, "mystery") – mystery. In the Bible, a "mystery" is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it. This agrees with what Jesus said about sending the Holy Spirit:John 16:12-15 - 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. According to Jesus, one of the Holy Spirit's main purposes is to reveal truth to us. How much? He has all the thoughts and wisdom and powerful Word that belongs to the Father and Jesus! And Jesus promised that the Spirit will take of what is His and declare it to us. That's rich.1 Corinthians 14:13-17 - 13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. It's reasonable to ask the Spirit to give you interpretation or understanding of the things you pray in tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul makes it clear that an interpretation is necessary if someone gives a prayer or message in tongues in the public meeting. But if we ask, we should expect that the Holy Spirit will give us some interpretation when we pray in tongues privately, especially since Jesus said that communicating revelation from God to us is one of His chief activities.It's definitely prayer, or communication with God.It can be thanksgiving and praise to God.We can be declaring the wonders of God. Acts 2:11 – (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!I believe that this declaration in tongues is not just limited to praising God for the wonders that He has done in the past, although that is powerful. It also includes declaring what He is doing now in the present, as well as what He will do in the future. In this way, we can be making declarations prophetically and speaking life and God's will into situations with His authority, which will bring powerful and transformational results.It can be used in intercession.John Bevere shares a story of a young woman he led into the baptism of the Holy Spirit in college at Purdue University. The Spirit awoke her the next morning and impressed her to pray in tongues. While doing so, she asked the Spirit to give her an idea of what she was praying about, and the impression came that she was praying for an older man in a life-and-death emergency. Later, after feeling a release that she was finished, she soon discovered that she had been praying for her roommate's grandfather who had suffered a heart attack at exactly that time, and that his life had been saved.A parent at our school tells about a dream that she had in which she was praying in tongues about a car crash that happened, and the next day she saw in the news that a similar accident had actually happened during that night, and the parties involved had survived.Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. What kinds of speaking or praying in tongues are there? Can any believer potentially have this gift, or just selected ones of us?Now, doesn't 1 Corinthians 12 teach that we all have differing gifts? It asks, "Do all speak in tongues?" The implied answer is "no." But what particular gift of tongues is that referring to? David Pytches, in his book Spiritual Gifts in the Local Church, explains that the Bible shows different types or uses the gift of tongues:"There are apparently three distinct manifestations in the area of 'tongues': The use of tongues where utterance is not understood by the speaker, but overheard by members of the public, and, without interpretation, understood by those whose own language it is.This is tongues used as a sign, like happened in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.Cathy tells about young Mark and Mike Knudsen understanding a word in tongues given in the service here several weeks after they had been adopted from India.John Bevere tells of a woman on his staff who sat near the back of a service while he was preaching, and in a relatively quiet voice, prayed in tongues for him. After the service had ended, the man sitting in front of her turned around and said, “Ma'am, may I say that your French is excellent!” She responded that she didn't speak French. He replied that he was a French teacher, and throughout the service she had been speaking perfect French in a special, very old dialect. In fact, every time she would speak something in French, John would follow by preaching the same idea in English!The use of 'tongues' in public worship. The 'language' used is unknown and should be followed by an interpretation given by the Holy Spirit.The use of 'tongues' in private which needs no interpretation, though apparently this could be asked for. Most of those who use the gift in private have never exercised it in public worship. Public exercise is a distinct anointing, yet a link between the public and private use appears to exist, i.e. any person who exercises the gift of tongues in public almost invariably uses the gift in private."What are the benefits or fruit of praying in tongues?1 Corinthians 14:4 - The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.· Jude 20-21 - 20But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.· You are built up, or edified (as in building a house), when you pray in tongues.· Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so it's not unreasonable to expect that praying in tongues can bring healing, refreshment, rest to our bodies. Busy ministers testify that regular prayer in tongues helps prevent them from burnout.· Joseph Prince shared this testimony: “Doris, a young woman from Singapore, shared how she started to worry when her menstrual cycle stopped. For two years, she believed God for restoration of a regular cycle and described how her journey was like a roller coaster ride with some very low points when it got really difficult to stay in faith.“One day, she watched a sermon I had preached on praying in tongues. In that video, I taught on how tongues was like rivers of living water flowing out of the belly, pushing out defilement, edifying the spirit, and repairing the house of God — our bodies. She remembered how I had shared that the word for “belly” was also the word for “womb,” and she started to pray often in the Spirit every day and to partake of the Holy Communion each morning.“Doris shared, ‘This has become part of my morning routine. Through it, I have grown closer to the Lord in my spirit and I feel such shalom-peace in my heart every day. I also experienced my restoration after more than two years! Praise Jesus!'”· Joseph Prince continues: “Now please don't think that in talking about physical healing, I am downplaying the importance of building up your inner man ... Many times, when it comes to healing, God goes to the root first, removing your deep-seated fears, anxieties, past hurts, and erroneous beliefs — mental strongholds that need to be demolished — before He deals with your physical body. The medical profession has been telling people how chronic stress, worry, fears, and depression can lead to all kinds of physical ailments. So, certainly, take full advantage of praying in the Spirit to fortify your inner man and build yourself up in faith and in the love of God (ref.: Jude 1:20–21). But as you do, be cognisant of the truth that praying in tongues can also repair your physical body. God wants you whole in every way, inside out!”· In her book Chasing the Dragon, Jackie Pullinger tells about how she ministered to heroin addicts in Hong Kong in the 1970's. When these new, Spirit-filled believers experienced the awful withdrawal symptoms, they were told to pray in their prayer language, and as long as they did, the symptoms went away. In this way, they were able to be delivered from heroin addiction.· Praying in tongues seems to be a key for receiving inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He had much more to say to us, but that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will guide us into all truth. John Bevere talks about how, as he is writing his books, if he gets stuck, he will take time to pray in the Spirit, and as he does, inspired ideas and words will start coming into his mind. He tells a story about a time he was preaching in Mexico, and just before the meeting his host found out about some unexpected trouble from the local authorities. John went outside and prayed in tongues, and the Lord gave him specific direction about what to preach. The authorities who came to break up the meeting ended up getting saved.· John Bevere tells of very busy ministers who testify that regular praying in tongues brings them rest and refreshment that helps them avoid burnout. · Joseph Prince teaches about this rest effect of praying in tongues: “It is not just the daily demands and responsibilities of family and work that are stressing us out. We have an enemy called the devil and one of his objectives is to “wear out the saints of the most High” (Daniel 7:25, KJV). He does this by stirring up storms in our lives (quarrels, crises, stressful situations), planting anxious thoughts in our minds, and invoking in us feelings of inadequacy and panic. Many times, we respond by leaning on our own efforts to manage and solve a hundred and one things! After a while of running around trying to do this and that to make things work, we end up mentally and physically exhausted, ready to just fall apart.“Friend, if I have just described you, I want you to know that God did not design you to live a life of stress but to enjoy a life of rest. He has given you a powerful weapon to counter stress: praying in the Spirit, which is able to rebuild and repair your entire self from the inside out. It costs you nothing, has no bad side effects, and isn't dependent on external factors such as a quiet surrounding with mood lighting and soothing pan flute music. Tranquil environments are great — I myself like to take long walks in the park or along the beach. But what happens when you “come back to reality,” to the sound of blaring car horns, or your kids throwing their toys around and screaming at each other?“You need something that is more robust and goes deeper — God's peace that surpasses understanding. And you can come to this wonderful place of rest and refreshing as you pray in tongues and sense His presence and love. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (ref.: 2 Corinthians 3:17). Let His Spirit free you from stress, worry, and anxiety as you unwind through your heavenly language.“Perhaps you already know how to pray in the Sprit, but for some time now, you have not exercised this wonderful grace gift. Can I encourage you to start doing it again? “Beloved, the Lord beckons you to draw near to Him today as you pray in the Spirit. He invites you to come to Him if your heart is full of labour and heavy with worry, and He Himself will rest you (ref.: Matthew 11:28). Let Him drive out all fear and confusion.”· The edifying effects of speaking in tongues tend to be different from one person to another. Larry Christenson, in his book Speaking in Tongues, wrote: “When you get closer to people who have had this experience, and watch them over a longer period of time, you actually discover great variety in their experiences. Perhaps the working of the gift is something like this: As a person prays in tongues, he is edified – built up – in that part of his life where he most needs building up. This would seem consistent with the working of the Holy Spirit, for He always deals with us as individuals.”· Christensen reports of one woman who experienced a building up of her assurance of salvation, which had previously been an area of struggle. Another man reported that through tongues the Holy Spirit took away some habits that would have been hard to do by himself, such as smoking cigarettes. One evening, after work, he lit up a cigarette. “All at once,” he told, “that cigarette tasted so lousy it made me sick. I thought it was because I had a big cold in my head. I spit it out of my mouth – and I haven't touched one since. I tell you, the Lord just took that habit out of me by the roots. Man, when the Lord cleans you out, He really cleans you out good!”· Cathy and I have both experienced times in our lives when we've been attacked by irrational fears or phobias. At those times, when we have prayed in tongues, we've both experienced calming and peace as we did so.· Christensen again: “The edification which one experiences through the exercise of speaking in tongues is on a highly individual basis. Your own program of sanctification is tailor-made by the Holy Spirit according to your individual need, and according to the place He is preparing you for in the Body of Christ.”· I feel like the gift of tongues is like a box full of wonderful treasures for my own life and for others, and I want to do so more and more with the expectation of wondering what great thing the Holy Spirit wants to do in me, my circumstances, the lives of those I know, and even believers, unbelievers, leaders, and nations around the world that I don't even know!How can I receive my prayer language in tongues or become more fluent in using it?This is Bob Heil's testimony of his struggle to learn to use his prayer language from his book Lessons From the Furnace (p. 39-42). As a Lutheran pastor, Bob had been prayed for by a group of pastors to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and He had felt a strong feeling of faith and even a physical “electricity” sensation at that time from God as a confirmation that he had received it. But he had not started speaking in tongues. That night I was sound asleep at about two o'clock in the morning when the Lord came into the room. Again there was the sensation of electricity going through me – wave after wave of it. I awoke and could hardly breathe. I knew the Lord was standing there. I could not hear Him; I could not see Him or touch Him, but I knew He was there and that He wanted me to pray. I went into the living room in the dark and began to pray. I tried desperately to pray in tongues. There had been an earlier day when I had despised tongues, when I had said, “God, give me the Holy Spirit, but not tongues.” I had thought it was the kookiest thing I had ever heard of. But sudden conviction had come from God, and He had spoken to me.“Who are you to despise My gift?”I said, “Oh, Lord, I am sorry, but it is the least of all Your gifts.”The Lord replied, “Who told you it is the least of My gifts? The Scriptures do not say that. Besides, who are you that you think you deserve more than the least of My gifts?” I repented that instant.Now I was asking God to give me the gift of tongues. I did not want to miss any blessing from God. I knelt there in the dark crying out to God for the gift. I pointed to my mouth, saying, “Ah, ah.” But nothing came. Finally I said, “All right, God, then help me to pray in English. Guide my thoughts and help me to pour out my heart to You, for I must pray.” Suddenly my mind welled forth with thoughts and I poured them out to God.For almost two hours I was there on my knees in the living room. The prayer was in English, but now the Lord guided the thoughts! It was never repetitious, never hum-drum. What a blessing! It was rich and alive – the most powerful prayer session I had ever had.I could have prayed in tongues then, or in any of the weeks and months that followed, but I did not know how. Finally after four months of desperation I cried, “God, I give up. I just give up; I can't wait any longer. I will just make sounds to You. I will dedicate the sounds and you will have to put them together. I don't know how, but I have got to do something.” I began to make sounds and spoke what was about two sentences worth of sounds and stopped. I said, “No, that was only me,” and I did not do it again for several weeks.Again I became so hungry for the blessing. I yearned to pray in tongues, because I wanted every bit of edification I could get my hands on. So once again I decided to pray sounds to God. I began making these utterances and this time I went on for what was perhaps a few paragraphs. Then I stopped. I thought to myself, “Was that me or not?” It was enough to turn me off so that for several weeks I said nothing else in tongues.Finally I was at a regional convention of the Full Gospel Business Men. There was a great sermon that morning and I became so thrilled and happy. During the prayer time afterwards I made up my mind to just keep making sounds until something happened. It took about five minutes, but gradually I began to feel my heart break through. I grew bolder and began to trust more and more new sounds. I stopped worrying whether it was me or not. I had dedicated the language to God. It began to flow more and more and my heart began to rise like a rocket off the launching pad. My praise ascended to God.Ever since that day it has been sweet and beautiful. By dedicating new sounds to my baby prayer language, it quickly blossomed forth full-grown. Then I realized it had been there all along – just waiting for me to use it. Just as I prayed in English, I was to do the praying in tongues. God had not put it in my mind or my throat. He had put it in my spirit. Not only that, but I could use it whenever I wanted. It was God's gift and God does not take back His gifts. He says “His gifts and callings are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29). If you have ever had it, you have still got it. Just open your heart and your mouth and pray to God in sounds. Leave the results and any correction up to Him.In teaching the Corinthian church about using tongues in the church meeting, Paul says a couple things that imply that the personal prayer language gift is available to all believers.1 Corinthians 14:5a - 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:18 - I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. The Lord promises us that when we sincerely and earnestly ask Him for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit, He will not disappoint us.Jeremiah 29:13-14a - 13"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity."Luke 11:13 - "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”Basically, to receive the gift of tongues we should sincerely ask for it. It's a good thing, and Jesus is encouraged us to believe confidently that our Father will give us the Holy Spirit and the good gifts that He may bring. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:31: "But earnestly desire the higher gifts," and as we read earlier, 1 Corinthians 14:1 echoes: "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts."If you've never prayed in tongues, what should you expect? Does the Holy Spirit possess you and you start speaking uncontrollably? No, it's generally a cooperative effort. Acts says that "they spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them."What should we do? A good word is "yield." John Bevere uses the imagery of wading into a gentle river or creek. You can fight to stand up straight and not be moved by the current, or you can relax, yield to it, and let it carry you along. It seems that a key part of cooperation with the Holy Spirit is surrender or yielding. It is saying "yes" to Him.I have been a believer in Jesus since I was very young, but I was never taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit until I was a 5th-grader at Family Bible Camp here at COC. I remember that Leslie Barker taught us in the morning kids' lesson in the old fellowship building, and then the kids from here (perhaps Cathy included) gathered around my brother Tim and me and laid hands on us and prayed for us. They said that we should expect to pray in tongues, but I wasn't sure what it would be like or how to do it. I did believe it and expected to receive the gift, though. So during my growing up, I knew I had been baptized with the Spirit, and I prayed in tongues a little, but sometimes had doubts about whether I was really praying in the Spirit or if it was just me. Then, during the summer after I had just graduated from college, I was at summer camp here and Bob Heil had returned to preach at it. That night here in the chapel, he taught about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, sharing his own testimony and struggle about receiving the gift of tongues, and inviting anyone who hadn't ever prayed in tongues or had doubts about it to stay afterward, and he would get us praying in tongues. So a friend and I stayed in the chapel with Bob and others, and I remember kneeling in the back row as he told us to just start believing and yield our mouths to speak. I started speaking in tongues with great confidence, and at the same time I was overtaken by hilarious belly laughter, and so was my friend. I knew that this was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, not just me being silly. I was full of joy and realized that the Holy Spirit was reaffirming in me a confidence that, yes, He indeed had given me this gift and I should never again doubt it, but use it confidently. Praise the Lord!John 16:7 - 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. Ephesians 6:18 – And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. I sincerely believe that the devil greatly fears a Church who makes good use of the gift of tongues, so it's no wonder that he works in many ways to keep us from believing in it, or receiving it, or making use of it. Let's eagerly desire and pursue this gift in our lives and expectantly see what the Holy Spirit will do with it in our lives, our families, our church, and in the world around us!

This episode explores the importance of checking in on your friends following R U OK day. For more info on R U OK: www.ruok.org.au/ If you need someone to talk to, contact Lifeline 24 hrs: 13 11 14For more info on mental health: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/Royalty Free Music by Del Sound Follow us @ovbutop on Insta, FB & Twitter 

Day of Pentecost Sunday, June 09, 2019   Year (cycle): C   The Collect:  Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. or this O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Psalm:  104:25-35,37 25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *         in wisdom you have made them all;         the earth is full of your creatures. 26 Yonder is the great and wide sea     with its living things too many to number, *         creatures both small and great. 27 There move the ships,     and there is that Leviathan, *         which you have made for the sport of it. 28 All of them look to you *         to give them their food in due season. 29 You give it to them; they gather it; *         you open your hand, and they are filled with good things. 30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *         you take away their breath,         and they die and return to their dust. 31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *         and so you renew the face of the earth. 32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *         may the Lord rejoice in all his works. 33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *         he touches the mountains and they smoke. 34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *         I will praise my God while I have my being. 35 May these words of mine please him; *         I will rejoice in the Lord. 37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *         Hallelujah! Second Lesson:  Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!' 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness* with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. or 1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.' 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?' 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.' 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,    and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;      and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above    and signs on the earth below,      blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness    and the moon to blood,      before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Gospel:  John 14:8-17,(25-27) 8 Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.' 9Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 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; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me* for anything, I will do it. 15 ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. [25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.]

Day 33: Job 23:14For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.40 days of singing the scriptures and memorizing Bible verses40daysofsts.com

March 17, 2019 Theme: Experiencing the Trinity: Ephesians 3 prayer Ephesians 3 14For this reason I kneelbefore the Father,15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.16I pray that out of his glorious richeshe may strengthen you with powerthrough his Spirit in your inner being,17so that Christ may dwell in your heartsthrough faith. And I pray that you, being rootedand established in love,18may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people,to grasp how wide and long and high and deepis the love of Christ,19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filledto the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is ableto do immeasurably more than all we askor imagine, according to his powerthat is at work within us,21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.3 Main ‘Requests: Strengthening, Empowering, Filling Ask 1: I ask the Father to grant you out of the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner person. Ask 2: Paul prays: I ask the Father out of the riches of His glory to have Christ dwell in your hearts through faith. Ask 3: I ask the Father to grant you out of the riches of His glory, to have you rooted and grounded in love. Ask 4: I ask the Father to grant you out of the riches of His glory to be empowered to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, length, height and depth of the love of Jesus. Ask 5: I ask the Father to grant you out of the riches of His glory to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. Ask 6: I ask the Father to grant you out of the riches of His glory to be filled up to all the fullness of God. This is a big prayer because we are praying to and with a big God who is able to do immeasurably more abundantly than all we ask or imagine. Amen. Speaker: Richard Clinton

This Extra comes from the discussion making the episode "Everything will be figured out". Flora, Julia and Bo in this extra gave their views in response to the Media comment: students of Asian backgrounds tend to be shy about seeking help when experiencing struggles.Notes: If you need to talk to someone, call 13 11 14For emergency, call 000To make an appointment for University Counselling services, go to https://services.unimelb.edu.au/counsel/individual/making-an-appointmentGuest speakers: Flora Wang, Julia Ducan, & Bo HuInterviewer: Xia CuiProducer: Xia CuiAudio Editing: Xia Cui & Chris HatzisImage: Shutterstock

1 Kings 17:8–16    8Then the word of the Lord came to [Elijah], 9“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed 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, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the Lord the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

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.”

Prayer LiturgyBible ReadingWhat is prayer for?to “get God to do something”?Does God answer our prayers? YES YES YES!the Bible is clear - when we pray something happensGod calls us to pray as part of our cooperation with HimDoes God do a lot more than answer our prayers?? YES YES YES.If God just gave us whatever we asked for we would not be better off!God hears our requests and answers in the most loving wayto form us.Prayer is never about changing God - Prayer is about being changedGod already knows what you are going to pray for - He knows better than you do what you need!Matt 6:7God is always present and at work!God cares about this more than you do!Prayer is never about convincing God - it is about moving into alignment with His will and His power - About learning to fully surrender to Him and fully RELY upon Him.Prayer changes us - prayer FORMS us.Prayer shuts down unhealthy thought patterns and opens up healthy ones.Prayer quiets anxiety, prayer fosters hope,prayer reminds us of the truth, prayer reveals the lies,prayer opens us to hear the voice of God.Pray reminds and enables us to forgive and to show grace.Who Taught you to pray? - If prayer is so important who taught you to do it?Most of us just stumble along and figure things out. We might have a little instruction but most of us were never taught HOW to prayThis is why prayer is so hard for so many people - if they have to make it all up themselves it is difficult! They pray for a few minutes and run out of things to say.When we feel like we are constantly failing it will never become a pattern in our livesHow does one teach others to pray?Luke 11:1It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2And He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'"Why should I pray other people’s prayers?to have something to say when you don’t know what to say - why isn’t tongues enough?2 Cor 14:13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.If prayer forms us and we are making up our own prayers then our formation is bound to be limitedmaking up your own prayers is still going to be good for you because God is in the midstbut it won’t change you as deeply because its just MORE of you.Angry people pray angry prayers, violent people pray violent prayers, greedy people etc...So What prayers should we prayYou need to pray the word of God!Jesus gave us a prayer to pray - we should be praying it!The book of Psalms has been the prayer book of God’s people for over 3000 yearsYou need a Wise liturgy given to you by the great tradition of 2000 years of lovers of Jesus.Prayers that have stood the test of timePrayers that have been helpful for generation of Jesus followersYou need a liturgy that is going to take you into encounter with Jesus but then also outward into encounter with the worldYou need a liturgy that you can come back to over and over again.that stays the samethe lattice, the skeletonthat makes room for change and variety

Romans 8 ... 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ...

This week's episode features a story by Charlotte Norup! Co-creator of the Calling Darkness podcast and a voice actor on the Grey Rooms podcast. Find them all on Twitter by clicking the names, or search them out on Facebook!Remember to tag #HooksofHorror and tweet out a link to what you create using the hook from this weeks episode! or visit the Facebook page to share your work if you aren't on TwitterThe stories on this episode are:'My uncle Ike hunted monsters" written by Justinthulu starts at 3:55'The Icy lake' by Charlotte Norup starts at 36:14For more from your Narrator:Digital and Dice podcastCreaturePastaThe SGO filesVia email at : Hooksofhorrorpod@gmail.comor on TwitterMusic and SFX used were purchased on: www.PMSFX.com and you should check it out! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ephesians 2:11–22    11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

First ReadingJeremiah 23:1-61Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.5The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”PsalmPsalm 231The Lord| is my shepherd;I shall not | be in want.2The Lord makes me lie down | in green pasturesand leads me be- | side still waters.3You restore my | soul, O Lord,and guide me along right pathways | for your name’s sake.4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil;for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me. R5You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the | Lord forever. RSecond ReadingEphesians 2:11-2211Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.Gospel ReadingMark 6:30-34, 53-5630The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Stepping into spiritual authority. Prodigal son was given a ring, sandals, a robe and a meal with the Father .... A ring on our finger signifying authority we’ve not earnedSandals on our feet showing Status we’ve not strived to attain , living in sonship and freedom. The Father's robe, clothing us in his righteousness, giving us his appearance, walking in his likeness. Eating at a table in intimacy, consuming food and having our fill of that which will never leave us empty. It begins with intimacy. 2 Chronicles 7:14and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. His will for our land.... Healing. Bringing the Kingdom come WHEREVER WE ARE! Hebrews 61Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2and of instruction about washings,a the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do if God permits.Do we really want HIM or just the things that come along with him? SEEK MY FACE | Do we want to KNOW HIM? Do we want HIS HEART? Acts 13:22“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.‘”Habakkuk 2:14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Where do we have influence?( Gaining prophetic vision for every area of our lives ) Our Own LivesOur Family & HouseholdOur Workplace / arena of income ( businesses ) Our Community of FaithOur Role to the Body and the Lost ( ministry ) Our City , Nation , World Any other place of influence Matthew 77“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!Seek, find, agree, repent, declare, obey. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13–5:11 13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. --- Clearly some of Paul’s initial teaching was either misunderstood or he simply did not have time to explain. There was confusion or uncertainty of what happens at the end of time including concern about what happens to those that die before Jesus comes back. We can imagine within a hostile environment, some may have been killed for their belief in “another king” (Acts 17:7) between the time of the apostle’s visit and Timothy’s return to Thessalonica, and some may have fallen into despair. Paul’s clarification of the hope we have in Jesus’ resurrection would serve as a catalyst for encouragement and his confirming the unpredictability of the end times would provide reason to hold fast to their faith while under the day-to-day pressure of living in a thoroughly Roman and pagan culture.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13–5:11 13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. --- Clearly some of Paul’s initial teaching was either misunderstood or he simply did not have time to explain. There was confusion or uncertainty of what happens at the end of time including concern about what happens to those that die before Jesus comes back. We can imagine within a hostile environment, some may have been killed for their belief in “another king” (Acts 17:7) between the time of the apostle’s visit and Timothy’s return to Thessalonica, and some may have fallen into despair. Paul’s clarification of the hope we have in Jesus’ resurrection would serve as a catalyst for encouragement and his confirming the unpredictability of the end times would provide reason to hold fast to their faith while under the day-to-day pressure of living in a thoroughly Roman and pagan culture.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:13–20: 13AND WE ALSO THANK GOD constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! 17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy. THE THANKSGIVING that started in verse 2 hasn’t finished yet. The word of God was at work within the church at Thessalonica and Paul felt that they shared the gospel bond, but he and his companions were concerned for them in their absence. Like parents sending their firstborn off to school for the first time, Paul felt the sting of the possible outcomes. Would they be bullied? Would they remember what he taught them? Unlike kindergarten, the culture in Thessalonica was pagan to the core and loved Rome. They had many gods to turn to and Caesar was lord. It was like sending your five-year-old on the first day of school directly into the principal’s office with a list of ways the school was not doing things right, and suggesting the principal should step down.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:13–20: 13AND WE ALSO THANK GOD constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! 17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy. THE THANKSGIVING that started in verse 2 hasn’t finished yet. The word of God was at work within the church at Thessalonica and Paul felt that they shared the gospel bond, but he and his companions were concerned for them in their absence. Like parents sending their firstborn off to school for the first time, Paul felt the sting of the possible outcomes. Would they be bullied? Would they remember what he taught them? Unlike kindergarten, the culture in Thessalonica was pagan to the core and loved Rome. They had many gods to turn to and Caesar was lord. It was like sending your five-year-old on the first day of school directly into the principal’s office with a list of ways the school was not doing things right, and suggesting the principal should step down.

This is the 23rd and last 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.  Welcome to Mount Zion Preservation of the saints Hebrews chapter 10:19-12:29 True faith will enable us to run the race of life. Hebrews chapter 12:1-4 True faith understands God's discipline is not contrary to God's love Hebrews chapter 12:5-14 True faith understands the imperative to live holy Hebrews chapter 12:14-17 True faith chooses the right mountain Hebrews chapter 12:18-28 18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” Hebrews 12 22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12 25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.” Concluding Exhortations and Application Hebrews chapter 13 Outline Hebrews 13:1-6 Application – be loving Be loving to the brethren - verse 1 Be loving to those who are strangers - verse 2 Be loving to those who are persecuted - verse 3 Be loving to your companions - verse 4 Be loving in a positive and negative way - verses 5-6 Hebrews 13 13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. 4Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 7Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. 15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Benediction and Final Greetings 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. 20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly. 23I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25Grace be with you all. Access to GOD OLD COVENANT GOD Prophets  Angels Moses Human priesthood Law of works Man  NEW COVENANT Jesus both God and man and His children. Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}{YouTube}

This is the 19th 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. He Who Promised is Faithful Hebrews 10 13waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14For by one 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 UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, 17“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Anyone want to go back to Judaism??? A High Priest that is impeccable A covenant that is better A better place of service A better sacrifice in every way than the old covenant And one that the Holy Spirit says will satisfy every need we have to be right with God Preservation of the saints Hebrews chapter 10:19-12:29 19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 1 Peter 3:21 20to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.[e] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities, and powers in submission to him. Hebrews 10 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, (NIV) 26For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (KJV)   Hebrews 10 26For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Hebrews 10 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Hebrews 2 2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Hebrews 10 28Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30For we know the one who said, “I will take revenge. I will pay them back.” He also said, “The LORD will judge his own people.” 31It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}

This is the 14th 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. Jesus our High Priest Forever The order of Melchizedek Hebrews 6:20 -7:20 ABRAHAM patriarch Prophet – Priest – King The order of Melchizedek BLESSES ABRAHAM ABRAHAM PAYS TITHES ALSO A KING NO GENEALOGY ABRAHAM TRIBE OF LEVI AARON AARONIC PRIESTHOOD DAVID/JUDAH Melchizedek Priesthood was greater Than the Jewish Levitical Priesthood Proven by the Genesis 14 Encounter between Abraham and Melchizedek Melchizedek was greater than Abraham – The Jewish priesthood came from Abraham Melchizedek was a king and a priest – Jewish priesthood could not be both Melchizedek was made like the son of God The Jewish priesthood could only take tithes by law from Jewish people – Melchizedek could take tithes from anyone - he was not even a Jew therefore his priesthood was universal The official blessing could only be given by the greatest person to the lesser person Melchizedek blessed Abraham, therefore he was greater There was no need for a law to make Abraham give tithes to Melchizedek he was inherently worthy of 10% 1 Corinthians 16 1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2On the first day of every week each one of you is to [a]put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 3When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me 2 Corinthians 9 7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Hebrews 7 11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. Hebrews 7 11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. Hebrews 7 13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by through which we draw nigh unto God. 20And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: • 21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sworn and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) • 22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}

This is the eighth 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. Jesus the Son is greater than Moses Recap of Chapter 3 verses 1-6 Moses and Jesus were the only two Apostles of God sent to be exodus leaders. vs. 1 Both were faithful ln carrying out their Apostleship vs. 2 Jesus was worthy of greater honor because he created the Israelite race while Moses  was an Israelite- Moses did not make men, children of God, but Jesus does vs 3-4 Moses was a servant as an exodus leader, but Jesus is a Divine Son vs. 4 If we want to follow Jesus, our exodus leader, all the way into the promised land of heaven we need: 1. A hope of salvation to the degree that you glory in it. 2. An outspoken faith Hebrews 3(NKJV) 6but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.  7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:  “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Hebrews 3(NKJV) 6but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” 2 ways you can test God 1st way is to trust God – this is a good way. For example a missionary’s prayer. 2nd way is to not believe/trust God – this is a bad way – this is how the Israelites did it – To question God’s motives. Hebrews 3(NKJV) 6but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Numbers 30 (NASB) 1Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which the LORD has commanded. 2If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 3“Also if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by an obligation in her father’s house in her youth, 4and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself, and her father [a]says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5But if her father should forbid her on the day he hears of it, none of her vows or her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her because her father had forbidden her. Hebrews 3(NKJV) 6but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. 7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ 11So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Hebrews 3(NKJV) 12Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, 15while it is said, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.” 16For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Chapter 4 an exhortation to enter God’s rest Hebrews 4 (NIV) 4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands” Difficulties with the word “rest” Definition: anything which God initiates and brings to a conclusion 1st Rest: Gen 1&2 creation started and completed. Was God tired? 2nd Rest: Moses leads God’s people out of the bondage to the promised land 3rd Rest: Jesus leads people out of the bondage of sin to the promised land of heaven Rev 14:13 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” Hebrews 4 (NIV) 4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” rested from all his works.” 5And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” Hebrews 4 (NIV) 6Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands” Difficulties with the word “rest” Definition: anything which God initiates and brings to a conclusion 1st Rest: Gen 1&2 creation started and completed. Was God tired? 2nd Rest: Moses leads God’s people out of the bondage to the promised land 3rd Rest: Jesus leads people out of the bondage of sin to the promised land of heaven Rev 14:13 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” 2 HELPERS TO MAKE US MORE DILIGENT THE WORD - 12For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 2. God - 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Jesus our Great High Priest Vs 14 - 16 Jesus is our Great High Priest 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. One Mediator Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Mediation – access to GOD OLD COVENANT: GOD Prophets Angels Moses Human priesthood THE LAW Man NEW COVENANT: Jesus the God/Man our Great High Priest

Galatians 5:13-15, 24-25 The Message Translation 13For you, dear friends, have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. 14For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:24-25 The Message Translation 24“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passion and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 6:1-3 The Message Translation1“Dear friends, if a Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody.”

DRAINED- How’s That Working For Ya? Series DRAINED or FILLED Ephesians 5 11And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” 15Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

The Isolation we caregivers often live in leads us to make poor decisions.  It's a lonely walk, but don't do this alone.  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14For a caregiver, that multitude of counselors contain: Pastors Physicians Accountant Financial Planner Therapist Trusted CLOSE friends

http://versebyversebibleteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/Hebrews_3_14_19.mp3 [audio: http://versebyversebibleteaching.com/wp-content/uploads/Hebrews_3_14_19.mp3] 14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came […]

Romans 7:7-25 (English Standard Version) The Law and Sin  7What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." 8But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.  13Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.  21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Cross references: Romans 7:7 : Romans 3:20 Romans 7:7 : Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:17; Deut 5:21 Romans 7:8 : Romans 7:11; Gal 5:13 Romans 7:8 : 1 Cor 15:56 Romans 7:10 : Romans 10:5 Romans 7:11 : Romans 7:8 Romans 7:11 : Gen 3:13; Heb 3:13 Romans 7:12 : Psalm 19:8, 9; 119:137; 2 Pet 2:21; Romans 7:16 Romans 7:14 : 1 Kgs 21:20, 25; 2 Kgs 17:17; Isa 50:1; 52:3 Romans 7:15 : Romans 7:18, 19; Gal 5:17 Romans 7:16 : 1 Tim 1:8; Romans 7:12 Romans 7:17 : Romans 7:20 Romans 7:18 : Gen 6:5; 8:21; Job 14:4; 15:14; Psalm 51:5 Romans 7:19 : Romans 7:15 Romans 7:20 : Romans 7:17 Romans 7:22 : Psalm 1:2; 112:1; 119:35 Romans 7:22 : 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 3:16; 1 Pet 3:4 Romans 7:23 : Gal 5:17; James 4:1 Romans 7:24 : Romans 6:6; 8:23  

 12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. 17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."  25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.