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Life As It Was Meant To Be Part 11: Praying To Win! By Louie Marsh, 8-22-2021 4 Pics – last one race. I Need To Pray For: 1) Myself – that I help spread GOD'S WORD. “1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,” (2 Thessalonians 3:1, ESV) In Myself – GROWTH In Others - EVANGELISM 2) Christ's STRENGTH. “3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you...” (2 Thessalonians 3:3a, ESV) 3) Christ's PROTECTION. “3But the Lord is faithful. He will…guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV) 4) CONFIDENCE in Christ. “4And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command.” (2 Thessalonians 3:4, ESV) 5) God's LOVE. “5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God...” (2 Thessalonians 3:5a, ESV) Remember this is God's TOUGH “6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6–12, ESV) 6) Christ's PERSERVANCE. “5May the Lord direct your hearts … to the steadfastness of Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5, ESV) “13As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:13–15, ESV) 7) Complete PEACE. “16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, ESV) May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you! 2 Thes. 3:16 (Mes) 8) God's GRACE. “17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:17–18, ESV)
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost The Collect: O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament: 1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 or 1 Samuel 17:57-18:5,10-16 [1Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. 4And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armoured with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 8He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.' 10And the Philistine said, ‘Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.' 11When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20David rose early in the morning, left someone in charge of the sheep, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry. 21Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army. 22David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers. 23As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.] 32David said to Saul, ‘Let no one's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' 33Saul said to David, ‘You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.' 34But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.' 37David said, ‘The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.' So Saul said to David, ‘Go, and may the Lord be with you!' 38 Saul clothed David with his armour; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail. 39David strapped Saul's sword over the armour, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.' So David removed them. 40Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine. 41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.' 45But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hand.' 48 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground. or 57On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58Saul said to him, ‘Whose son are you, young man?' And David answered, ‘I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.' 18When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. 10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand; 11and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, ‘I will pin David to the wall.' But David eluded him twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army. 14David had success in all his undertakings; for the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them. Psalm: Psalm 9:9-20 or Psalm 133 9 The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, * a refuge in time of trouble. 10 Those who know your Name will put their trust in you, * for you never forsake those who seek you, O Lord. 11 Sing praise to the Lord who dwells in Zion; * proclaim to the peoples the things he has done. 12 The Avenger of blood will remember them; * he will not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Have pity on me, O Lord; * see the misery I suffer from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gate of death; 14 So that I may tell of all your praises and rejoice in your salvation * in the gates of the city of Zion. 15 The ungodly have fallen into the pit they dug, * and in the snare they set is their own foot caught. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; * the wicked are trapped in the works of their own hands. 17 The wicked shall be given over to the grave, * and also all the peoples that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, * and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Rise up, O Lord, let not the ungodly have the upper hand; * let them be judged before you. 20 Put fear upon them, O Lord; * let the ungodly know they are but mortal. or 1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, * when brethren live together in unity! 2 It is like fine oil upon the head * that runs down upon the beard, 3 Upon the beard of Aaron, * and runs down upon the collar of his robe. 4 It is like the dew of Hermon * that falls upon the hills of Zion. 5 For there the Lord has ordained the blessing: * life for evermore. Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 6As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, ‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also. Gospel: Mark 4:35-41 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.' 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'
MAJOR POINTS1. Breakups are hard, but it is all for a purpose honey. 2. Release it to Jesus3. The suffering that Jesus endured is greater than our suffering. BIBLE VERSES For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.Phillipians 1: 29- 30 NIV Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act,making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans.Psalms 37: 3-7 CSBBe ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath Ephesians 4:26 KJVConsider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.James 1: 3-5 CSB Come 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”Matthew 11: 28- 30 ESVAnd he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.Luke 9: 3 ESVKeep up with Gabby:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/gabsteezy_/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/GabbyThorne4 YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/6nWrDJJkT4A RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECounseling Link https://www.betterhelp.com/
Monday, April 26th, 2021 Weekly Bible Study with Scott Title: Are you rooted? Scripture: Colossians 2:6–7 (NKJV) 6As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Ephesians 3:16–19 (NKJV) 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Matthew 13:3–9 (NKJV) 3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” John 15:4–5 (NKJV) 4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 1 Peter 2:9–10 (NKJV) 9But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (NKJV) 16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
The power of a tender heart. This sounds at once self-contradictory, but in truth, there is no greater power than the ability to act that comes from a person living in tender submission to the Lord. In the master's hands, a tender heart is pliable and easily moved to whatever state or place or season our Master desires of us.--1. We must seek to cultivate tender hearts before the Lord--2. A tender heart proceeds from brokenness and leads to subsequent healing.--a. Psalm 34-18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.--b. In an insta-perfect culture, we are expected to be always -on,- but authentic brokenness is a good thing. If the truth is that you are at point of brokenness, then embrace that truth. The truth shall set you free.--3. We must embrace experiences that lead to our own self-brokenness.--a. Rather than dwelling on -why me,- ask -What can I learn from this-- -How is God going to redeem this for His glory-- Or even more importantly, go to the LORD and beg for help---i. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and saves those who have a crushed spirit--b. Trials are a blessing--c. Pain is an opportunity for increased vulnerability--i. Heb 5- -1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.-
Fear Or Faith. What Rules Your Life? Believe, Trust, Obey, Honor The Lord! Numbers 14:1 - 9 The People Rebel 1That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” 5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
The Road to the Resurrection #4 Looking To Jesus By Louie Marsh, 3-23-2021 Slide One: Look at things from a distance – or look at things close up Slide Two: You can look at things from a vantage point – or you can just look up Slide Three: You can peek to look secretly – or look publicly Slide Four – You can look ahead or you can look behind. Slide Five – Looking Unto Jesus. 1) I must not let anything distract me from JESUS. “2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV) The word “looking” is aphorao (ἀφοραο) “to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something.” The word also means “to turn one’s mind to a certain thing.” Both meanings are applicable here, the spiritual vision turned away from all else and together with the mind, concentrated on Jesus. – Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament The minute the Greek runner in the stadium takes his attention away from the race course and the goal to which he is speeding, and turns it upon the onlooking crowds, his speed is slackened. It is so with the Christian. – Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament Looking (ἀφορῶντως). Only here and Philip. 2:23. In LXX see 4 Macc. 17:10. Looking away from everything which may distract. – Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 4, pp. 537–538). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 10 they won justice for their nation by fixing their eyes on God and enduring torture to the point of death. 4 Maccabees 17:10 2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [a]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. (Hebrews 12:2, Amp.) Don’t focus on my Don’t focus on my Remember: focus takes 2) I must follow Jesus the true TRAIL BLAZER. “2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…(Hebrews 12:2a, ESV) The author (τον ἀρχηγον [ton archēgon]). Old compound word (ἀρχη [archē] and ἀγω [agō]) one leading off, leader or prince as in Acts 5:31, one blazing the way, a pioneer (Dods) in faith (Heb. 12:2), author (Acts 3:15). Either sense suits here, though author best (verse 9). Jesus is the author of salvation, the leader of the sons of God, the Elder Brother of us all (Rom. 8:29) - Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament “31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31, ESV) Jesus will MAKE A WAY through my mess! “8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8, ESV) His way will involve SUFFERING. “21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21, ESV) His way might seem STRANGE. “27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV) 3) I must let Jesus CHANGE me. …and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2b, ESV) Perfecter (τελειωτην [teleiōtēn]). A word apparently coined by the writer from τελειοω [teleioō] as it has been found nowhere else. Vulgate has consummator. - Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament He changes what I “18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18, ESV) He changes what I “2For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” (James 3:2, ESV) He changes HOW I do both. “15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15, ESV) 4) I must do it all for JOY. …who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2b, ESV) “2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4, ESV)
View the Bulletin for Wednesday March 3, 2021View the Children’s Bulletin for this weekService Times: 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.All are welcome.Visit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.SPECIAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Saturday morning service (10:00 a.m.) Participant number will be limited to a total of TWENTY FIVE (23 worshippers, 1 elder, pastor). Saturday’s readings and the sermon will be the same as the following Sunday’s (these services are currently different from one another). REGISTER FOR SATURDAY.First Reading -- 2 Samuel 15:12; 17:1–4And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.Second Reading -- Acts 3:14–19“But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And His name—by faith in His name— has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.”Third Reading -- John 18:1–11When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with His disciples. So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to Him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am He.” Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So He asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He. So, if you seek Me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that He had spoken: “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost not one.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given Me?”
John 4:145 (ESV) Jesus and the Woman of Samaria 4Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. 4And he had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacobs well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give me a drink. 8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water. 11The woman said to him, Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock. 13Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. 15The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water. 16Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband, and come here. 17The woman answered him, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You are right in saying, I have no husband; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true. 19The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship. 21Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. 25The woman said to him, I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things. 26Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he. 27Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, What do you seek? or, Why are you talking with her? 28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? 30They went out of the town and were coming to him. 31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, Rabbi, eat. 32But he said to them, I have food to eat that you do not know about. 33So the disciples said to one another, Has anyone brought him something to eat? 34Jesus said to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35Do you not say, There are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.36Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, One sows and another reaps. 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. 39Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the womans testimony, He told me all that I ever did. 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They said to the woman, It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world. 43After the two days he departed for Galilee. 44(For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.
Pastor Alex Walker Acts 2:1-4 KJV 1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Forward and Onward without giving in to Discouragement “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes and say ‘O God, forgive me, or Help me’” – Billy Graham By Pastor George Lehman Faith must always pass the test of discouragement. Hebrews 12:3 (NIV) – Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. The reason I want to talk about discouragement again is because very few things can rob us from our joy and passion for life, like discouragement. If you are battling with discouragement, I believe if you make a determined choice after hearing this word and put it into practice you will live a courageous life – We look at 2020 and think can life get any worse. However, a courageous person approaches life very differently. We must make a commitment to change and apply God’s word to our lives. Job 4: 4-6 (NIV) – 4Your words have supported those who stumbled: you have strengthened faltering knees. 5But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. 6Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? I would say that discouragement is probably the greatest attack of Satan on our lives. (story of the wedge of discouragement – courage kicks it out). The moment we take our eyes off Jesus and you focus on your problems – discouragement will creep in. Colossians 3:2 (NIV) – Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things Proverbs 4:25 (NIV) – Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. The devil knows, Discouragement will result in sin and going astray: You become Spiritually drained and it’s harder for you to pray You stop seeking God You stop reading your Bible This is exactly what Satan wants to do, Plant seeds of doubt. Signs of Discouragement: (May alarms go off in your life) #1. An Attitude of ingratitude The seeds of discouragement will not grow in a Thankful heart. Look at what you have, not at what you don’t have. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) – Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Discouragement leads to selfishness all about me. Israel is a perfect example of a people who became discouraged that they became ungrateful. Numbers 14:2-4 (NIV) – 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” God’s response: Numbers 14:11-12 (NIV) – 11The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger then they.” It’s when discouragement is allowed to set in, we begin to forget all God has done for us in the past – we become ungrateful. #2. A critical fault-finding Attitude A discouraged person battles to say anything positive or anything good. All they ever do is criticise, complain, find fault and are judgemental. We become careless with our tongue. When you discouraged you want everybody to be miserable and unhappy too! (God doesn’t like murmurers #3. Discouragement leads to doubt and unbelief. When discouragement sets in it leaves us temporarily blind to the many truths of God. We lose sight of God’s goodness, kindness, generosity, and love. The things we believed in were passionate about Yesterday, we doubt today. #4. Discouragement leads to a weak watch against temptation. 1 Peter 5:8 LB “Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart.” We let our guard down when we upset with life. #5. Discouragement leads to giving up. If you allow discouragement to continue, it will suck the energy and passion out of your life. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. We give up reading the word, praying, coming to church and home cells; we give up feeding our Spiritual lives. #6. Discouragement leads to becoming a discourager. (We become instruments for the devil) Instead of being an encourager, a motivator, speaking words of joy and comfort to others, we become: Ungrateful Critical and negative We show doubt and unbelief We reflect a poor example by giving into temptation We become angry people We lose our testimony and just give up Hebrews 3:12-13 (NIV) – 12Beware then of your own hearts, dear brothers, lest you find that they, too are evil and unbelieving and are leading you away from the living God. 13Speak to each other about these things every day while there is still time so that none of you will become hardened against God, being blinded by the glamour of sin. I have found its no one else’s job to keep my Spirit up and filled with Courage. Yes the preaching helps, our fellow brothers and sisters help, but the only person that keeps me encouraged is Myself! 1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) - And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Forward and Onward without giving into Discouragement. Communion Due to not being able to gather to have communion, we must realize the power is within us. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 (NIV) – 24And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25in the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Communion is more than simply remembering When Jesus said, “Do this…” He was asking us to also do what He was doing. Matthew 14:27 (NIV) – But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
PROPHECY HOUR: IT’S ALMOST MIDNIGHT WE NEED TO FAST AND PRAY! Stan Johnson Web site http://www.prophecyclub.com/ email Stan askstan@prophecyclub.com www.Watchmanstrumpet.com The election is coming, it is to late to pray it out of here? Shouydl we be weeping and crying for what is to come? Ezekiel Chapter 9 1He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. 2And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. 3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; 4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. 7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. 8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem? 9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. 10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. 11And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. Another do not Miss End-Time Radio program as “We are Warning the World as it HAPPENS!” Please visit www.prophecyhour.com Also http://wichitahomeless.com/ Also https://www.facebook.com/WichitaMissionChurch/ “Remember we do not 100% agree with everything our guests, say, do, or believe. It’s up to you to pray and sort it out!”
Renewal – Life Lessons From Nehemiah Courage– Neh. 4-6 By Louie Marsh, 5-11-2008 SHOW CARTOONS ON CUE I Need Courage when I … 1) Face my OUTWARD opposition. VERBAL ABUSE: When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he exploded in anger, vilifying the Jews. In the company of his Samaritan cronies and military he let loose: "What are these miserable Jews doing? Do they think they can get everything back to normal overnight? Make building stones out of make-believe?" At his side, Tobiah the Ammonite jumped in and said, "That's right! What do they think they're building? Why, if a fox climbed that wall, it would fall to pieces under his weight." Nehemiah 4:1-3 (MSG) How I Should Respond: PUBLIC PRAYER “4Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.” (Nehemiah 4:4–5, ESV) Continuing the work with all MY HEART. “6So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6, ESV) PLANNING TO ATTACK & CONFUSE: “7But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.” (Nehemiah 4:7–8, ESV) How I Should Respond: Response: PRAYER & ACTION “9And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” (Nehemiah 4:9, ESV) 2) Deal with my INTERNAL opposition. GREED: “4And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax on our fields and our vineyards. 5Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”” (Nehemiah 5:4–5, ESV) How I Should Respond: ANGER & REFLECTION “6I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. 7I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them” (Nehemiah 5:6–7, ESV) CONFRONTATION “7…and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them 8and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. 9So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?” (Nehemiah 5:7a–9, ESV) 3) Fighting to STAY FOCUSED on the mission. “2Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.” (Nehemiah 6:2, ESV) If you get distracted you’ll say OH NO! “3And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” 4And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.” (Nehemiah 6:3–4, ESV) Refuse to get focused on SELF – stay on mission! “5In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. 6In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king. 7And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.” 8Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” 9For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” (Nehemiah 6:5–9, ESV)
1 Peter 5:1-5 (NLT)And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. 5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/yourdailybible)
Jesus Comforts the Disciples 1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Do let covid depression get you down --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fascinatinginsights/message
1 Saul lived for one year and then became king, and when he had reigned for two years over Israel,a 2Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent home, every man to his tent. 3 Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, -Let the Hebrews hear.- 4And all Israel heard it said that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a stench to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.--5 And the Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble -for the people were hard pressed-, the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns, 7 and some Hebrews crossed the fords of the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.8He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. 9So Saul said, -Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.- And he offered the burnt offering. 10As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. 11Samuel said, -What have you done-- And Saul said, -When
Hope For Life with Bob Lenz - an inspiring message for your busy day. This week's devotional theme is Failure. Today's episode will be from Romans 5:4.Romans 5:4And endurance produces character, and character produces hope.To discover more, visit lifepromotions.org.
Acts 27:1-28:10 Paul Sails for Rome And when it was decidedthatwe should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the AugustanCohort named Julius.2And embarking ina ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied byAristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.3The next day we put in at Sidon. AndJuliustreated Paul kindly andgave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.4And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.5And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.6There the centurion founda ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board.7We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.8Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea. 9Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because eventhe Fastwas already over, Paul advised them,10saying, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be withinjury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.11But the centurion paid more attention tothe pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.12And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. The Storm at Sea 13Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that theyhad obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.14But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster,struck down from the land.15And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.16Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,we managed with difficulty to secure the ships boat.17Afterhoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they wouldrun aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,and thus they were driven along.18Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next dayto jettison the cargo.19And on the third day they threw the ships tackle overboard with their own hands.20When neither sun nor stars appeared for manydays, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, Men,you shouldhave listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred thisinjury and loss.22Yet now I urge you totake heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.23For this very nighttherestood before mean angel of the God to whom I belong andwhom I worship,24and he said, Do not be afraid, Paul;you must stand before Caesar. And behold,God has granted you all those who sail with you.25So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.26Butwe mustrun aground on some island. 27When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.28So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms.A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms.29And fearing that we mightrun on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.30And asthe sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had loweredthe ships boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow,31Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.32Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ships boat and let it go. 33As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing.34Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,fornot ahair is to perish from the head of any of you.35And when he had said these things, he took bread, andgiving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.36Then they allwere encouraged and ate some food themselves.37(We were in all 276persons in the ship.)38And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. The Shipwreck 39Now when it was day,they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore.40So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach.41But striking a reef,they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf.42The soldiers plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape.43But the centurion,wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,44and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship.And so it was thatall were brought safely to land. Paul on Malta 28After we were brought safely through,we then learned thatthe island was called Malta.2The native peopleshowed us unusualkindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.3When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.4Whenthe native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another,No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea,Justicehas not allowed him to live.5He,however,shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.6They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him,they changed their minds andsaid that he was a god. 7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.8It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him andprayed, andputting his hands on him, healed him.9And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.10They also honored us greatly,and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
Rev.12:1 And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars; Eph.2:6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: Rom.13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Rev.12:2 and she was with child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered. 3And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems. 4And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child. 5And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. Rev 2:26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: 27and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: Rev 3:21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. Luke 8:21 But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it. 2Cor.4:16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. Heb.4:2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. Lk.1:45 And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. Lk.1:31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Matthew 13:18-23 18Hear then ye the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side. 20And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it; 21yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth. 22And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Mat.13:37-38 37And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; Genesis 1:11-12 11And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. Joh.16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you. Lk.1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God. Joh.16:19 Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me? Php.3:10-15 10that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; 11if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you: Joh.16:20-22 20Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. 22And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. 2Cor.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. Col.1:22-23 22yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. Gal.2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. Jas.1:23 For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: Eph.4:13 till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 2Cor.4:10-11 10always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. 11For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Gal.4:19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you 1Cor.12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof. Heb.13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to-day, yea and for ever. Amos 3:3 Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? 2Jn.1:7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the anti-christ. Col.1:27-28 27to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; Col.3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory. Phm.1:6 that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ. Rom.8:16-17 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are 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 with him. Jas.1:21Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. 1Cor.15:1-2 Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, 2by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. 1Pet.1:22-23,9 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: 23having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth. 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Rom.8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Isa.3:4-5,12 4And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. 5And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable. 12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Mat.10:6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Rom.8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Rom.1:3 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, Heb.5:8-9 8But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. Rom.8:23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom.4:17 (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. Gal.3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. Galatians 4:1-5 1But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 2but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 3So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: 4but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Gal.5:4 Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you Gal 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal 3:6-7 6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness. 7Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham Gal 4:6-7 6And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Pr.29:21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last. 1Jn.2:28 And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 2Cor.4:11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (6) Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 1Jn.3:2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 1Jn.4:17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. 1Jn.3:3 And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Titus 2:11-15 11For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world; 13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works. 15These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee. 2Tim.4:7-8 have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: 8henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
Pastor Matt guides us through Isaiah's revelation of God that led to a changed life. May we have a fresh revelation of God today.Isaiah 6:1-81In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called out to another and said,“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,The whole earth is full of His glory.”4And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5Then I said,“Woe is me, for I am ruined!Because I am a man of unclean lips,And I live among a people of unclean lips;For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”8Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Acts 21:126 (ESV) Paul Goes to Jerusalem And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11And coming to us, he took Pauls belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, Thus says the Holy Spirit, This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, Let the will of the Lord be done. 15After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge. Paul Visits James 17When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. 26Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:
Acts 18:123 (ESV) Paul in Corinth 18After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.11And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13saying, This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law. 14But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things. 16And he drove them from the tribunal. 17And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. Paul Returns to Antioch 18After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow. 19And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21But on taking leave of them he said, I will return to you if God wills, and he set sail from Ephesus. 22When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 23After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.
Acts 17:115 (ESV) Paul and Silas in Thessalonica 17Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ. 4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. 8And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Paul and Silas in Berea 10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.
Are you looking for an Owensboro Church you can believe in? During this episode of the HIS Church Youtube Sermon Series Pastor Patrick Donahue teaches an amazing Message on how to Track Your Miracle. Full Service YouTube | https://youtu.be/DOO3k500lOA Sermon YouTube | https://youtu.be/plyxmnv4RXE Judges 7:1-9 1Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 3Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. 4And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 5So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 6And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 8So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 9And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand. Learn more about HIS Church today by visiting http://www.hischurch.cc/ or by calling us today at 270-926-6009. HIS Church Owensboro Campus 4810 Frederica Street Owensboro, KY 42301 HIS Church Amarillo Campus 6300 Arden Rd Amarillo, TX 79109 HIS Church Dumas Campus 10 Elm Ave Dumas, TX 79029 HIS Church Henderson Campus Preston Fine Arts Center 2660 S. Green Street Henderson, KY 42420
Download Sermon Slides Habakkuk 2:2-4And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
WHEN GOD BRINGS YOU INActs 121Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them. 2And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. 3And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.5So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.6And on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and roused him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.11And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.13And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14And when she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15And they said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. And they kept saying, “It is his angel.” 16But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. 17But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Genesis 15:1–6 1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
SERMON TRANSCRIPT BELOW: You’re probably familiar with the tragedy of “friendly fire,” but have you thought about the potential of “friendly faith”? Let me unpack the difference. Friendly fire refers to incidents when, in the fog of war, a soldier will accidentally fire upon his own forces. The history of warfare is replete with examples. Perhaps the best known is the case of Pat Tillman. He was a gifted athlete who played in the NFL. After 9-11 he voluntarily gave up that lucrative career and became an Army Ranger. He died in the mountains of Afghanistan as a result of “friendly fire.” Friends can hurt friends (and not just on the battlefield!). But, it is equally true that friends can help friends. Your faith in the Lord can encourage and transform the lives of your friends. That’s what I mean by “friendly faith.” A great illustration of this is the biblical account of four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. There he found healing and, more importantly, forgiveness for sins. God wants to use our lives and, particularly, our faith to influence others for Christ. Whom can you pray for or encourage today? Whom can you “bring” to Jesus? A kind deed, a quick email or note, a word of witness, an invitation--all of these are examples of ways that we can live out a "friendly faith." Join us this Sunday at Istrouma Baptist Church as we continue our series entitled, “Who’s Your One?” We'll learn more about living out a faith that makes a positive difference in the lives of our friends. Friendly Faith Sermon Series: Who’s Your One? Mark 2:1-12 Istrouma Baptist Church – Jeff Ginn, Lead Pastor 9:15 AM Sermon March 31, 2019 https://vimeo.com/327794391 https://www.facebook.com/istrouma.org/videos/1013316938861397/ Outline: CooperativeFriends And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men (2:3). Come the same way Carry the same weight CreativeFriends And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay (2:4). Are desperate Are determined ConfidentFriends And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”(2:5) Have a faith that is visible Have a faith that is victorious You’re probably familiar with the tragedy of “friendly fire,” but have you thought about the potential of “friendly faith”? Let me unpack the difference. Friendly fire refers to incidents when, in the fog of war, a soldier will accidentally fire upon his own forces. The history of warfare is replete with examples. Perhaps the best known is the case of Pat Tillman. He was a gifted athlete who played in the NFL. After 9-11 he voluntarily gave up that lucrative career and became an Army Ranger. He died in the mountains of Afghanistan as a result of “friendly fire.” Friends can hurt friends (and not just on the battlefield!). But, it is equally true that friends can help friends. Your faith in the Lord can encourage and transform the lives of your friends. That’s what I mean by “friendly faith.” A great illustration of this is the biblical account of four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus. There he found healing and, more importantly, forgiveness for sins. God wants to use our lives and, particularly, our faith to influence others for Christ. Whom can you pray for or encourage today? Whom can you “bring” to Jesus? A kind deed, a quick email or note, a word of witness, an invitation--all of these are examples of ways that we can live out a "friendly faith." Today, I want to speak on the theme, not friendly fire, but its exact opposite, “Friendly faith.” That is, your faith in the Lord Jesus, lived out, can be a blessing to your friends. It can change their lives and their eternity. I’m going to take you to a story in the Bible where it’s a case of friendly faith. Four friends living out their faith influenced their lame, paralytic friend for time and eternity. The story is found in Mark chapter 2. So if you have a copy of the Bible, I want you to open it there, please. Mark 2. And in honor of God's word, would you please stand as we read these verses. Mark 2:1-12. There God’s word says: 1And when he [that is, Jesus]returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. Could I pause right there and just note what Jesus was doing? As the crowds came, Jesus preached the word to them. You might think that Jesus was a great miracle worker who occasionally preached, but you'd actually have that backwards. He wasn’t a miracle worker who occasionally preached. He was a preacher who often enough did miracles. There is an emphasis in the word of God on the preaching of these truths because it is the preaching of the word of God that is used by him to bring folks to eternal salvation. So today, in the tradition of Jesus, we are preaching the word. Now look, please, to verse 3 and we’ll continue the reading. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4And when they could not get [him near] because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, [take]up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” Let’s pray. [Prayer] Please be seated. God wants to use our lives and particularly our faith to influence others for Christ. He wants us to live out what I'm going to call today a “friendly faith.” Now today, we're continuing our series entitled “Who's Your One?” We're going to learn more about living out of faith that makes a positive difference in the lives of our friends. You'll know that we have challenged one another through the course of 2019 to pick one person that God would lay on our hearts, a friend that we could pray for and seek to influence in an effort to bring them to faith in Christ. Do you have your one? I trust that you do. All throughout this week, we've been praying day by day, have we not? I hope you have been using your prayer guide. For the 30 days leading up to Easter we're going to be praying for our friends, and I want you to encourage you to invite them to come and worship with you here. If you'll go to the Welcome Desk before you leave, we have a lot of invite cards that you can pick up and use to invite others to come and worship with us, particularly on Easter that's right before us. Now, the four friends in the story that we’re studying today are great examples for us of what it means to live out our faith with our friends. I'm going to describe these men with three words, and I'm going to give you the three words, and then we'll go back and look at them each in turn. They are Cooperative. They are Creative. And they are Confident. These are going to be the three key words for this morning. Let's begin, then, by first of all describing them as “Cooperative friends.” Cooperative friends. Now here, I'm thinking of verse 3. Look at your Bible again, please. There it says: 3And they came [these four friends], bringing to him [Jesus]a paralytic carried by four men. Now, there are two things that I notice about these four friends. First of all, they come the same way. That is, they’re traveling the same road. They have the same destination. They have the same North on their [compass], and he is Jesus. Notice that it says “they came...to him.” They are all going the same way. Now here they are, each of the four friends, I can imagine them, each one at a different corner of this cot on which the man is lying. Had they been going different ways, they would have drawn and quartered the poor fellow. But instead, they’re going the same way. They are coordinated. They are cooperative. And did you know that churches function best when we are like these four friends, and instead of us each going our own way, we cooperate together to do the Lord's work. I'm so thankful here at Istrouma we have a North. We have an aim. We’re going the same way. And what is that way? We have a mission, and I think all of you probably can now quote our mission. It is, “We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.” Now, I want us to quote it together. Are you ready? “We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.” That is our aim. Our aim is to get people to Jesus and to help them become followers, dedicated followers, of the Lord Jesus. Let me remind you, here's our process that we follow. It's very simple. Four key steps in it. Number one, Connect. We're looking to connect people to Jesus by salvation and in active church attendance. Connect. Once connected, we want to help them Grow in their faith. Primarily, we do this by helping people get connected to a small group. A lot of these projects that you heard described that went on on Go Day, those were driven by our small groups. Cooperative friends working together to carry out the mission of the Lord. Growing in our faith. Connect. Grow. Thirdly, Serve. That is, get your hands dirty. Put your hands to the plow. Pull your weight. These projects, and projects like them that we do around the world, are avenues for you to put your spiritual giftedness to work for the Lord. And then, the process culminates by us actually going, locally and globally, to the very ends of the earth. This is our mission. This is our North. I think it's largely because of this that Istrouma, now listen to this, you won't believe it; if you've been a Baptist for a long time, you really won’t believe it, Istrouma is almost a hundred years old – next year we celebrate 100 years – and did you know, to the glory of God, this church has never had a church split. We have always walked in harmony. Have you ever wondered why, why is it we don't fuss and fight? It's because we cooperate. We have the same mission. We have the same goal. We have the same aim. Jesus is our Lord, and we're cooperating together going the same way. I remember a story I heard some years ago about this fellow who was moving. He was moving from his house, and so he was there in the doorway of his home, the front door, and he was working with a refrigerator. A passer-by walking there, a Good Samaritan, happened to note the fellow wrestling with the fridge in the doorway. The Good Samaritan said, “Hey, could I help you?” And the homeowner said, “I'd love it.” So the man jumped up the steps and came up, and each one got on one side of the refrigerator, and they began to struggle with that heavy fridge there in the doorway. After a couple of minutes they paused to kind of catch their breath. The Good Samaritan said, “Whew! I don't know if we're ever going to get this refrigerator in your house.” To which the owner said, “In? I'm trying to get it out!” Now, I’ve loved that story across the years, because the truth is we've got to know which way we’re going. We've got to know which way we’re carrying this load. As a church, we don't ever need to be confused. We are working together, and our aim is to make disciples of all nations. If we’ll have the same North, and if we’ll have the same mission, if we’ll go the same way, we’ll be in harmony with one another. So these men, they’re coming the same way. Secondly, they’re carrying the same weight. They're carrying the same weight. Have you ever heard this saying, “Many hands make light work”? It's true. Many hands make light work. I don't know if you’ve ever had to sustain someone who is what we’d call dead weight. Maybe someone passes out, and you realize how heavy the body is when there’s no life force at work in them. Here's this man, he's a lame man, he can't carry himself, and what a struggle it would have been for just one of these men to have borne him all the way to where Jesus was. But thankfully, there was not one friend or even two friends; there are four friends working together sharing the load. Now the application is very easy to make, is it not? We, God's people, each need to take hold of our corner of the cot. Each one of us has a load to bear in helping our friends get to Jesus. Each one of us has a load to bear in helping the work of the church go forward, in giving life, and bringing the life-giving news of Jesus to a waiting world. I tell you, it's amazing what can be done when people cooperate together. I want you to watch a video clip. It's from Perth Australia. You're going to get a glimpse of what people together can do [Video clip was shown]. Here's the story: In Perth Australia, and you can Google this and watch it, there was an incident several years ago where a man was waiting on a commuter train to come through, like a subway. As the train arrived, the doors opened and this fellow began to make his way into the train. There was quite a lot of traffic, foot traffic, and as he was stepping into the train, his foot accidentally slipped down into a crack between the platform and the train itself, and it went all the way up to his hip. There he was, stuck between the platform and a 43-ton train. Soon enough, that train is going to roll out of the station. Well, when the passers-by saw what was going on, they all rallied to where the man was and they, with their bare hands, they leaned into that massive locomotive, and together the crowd relieved the weight of that train enough; they rocked it off that man enough, that the man was able to escape. Now, can you imagine such a thing, the power of working together that they could move a 43-ton train off the leg of that trapped man? It's a lesson to us that if we work together, there's nothing that we can't do that God would will for us to do. We, God's people, have all about us people who are trapped, if you will, in their sins. The Bible even describes us as dead in our trespasses and sins. As good as dead if there isn't some help brought to bear to help them escape from the snare of the devil. And we, God's people, bring that help when we are connected and when we grow and when we serve and when we go together the same way, sharing the weight, God will use us to change the world. I tell you, we do this as Southern Baptists in a great way. If you don't know, Istrouma is part of a larger network. We’re not an independent church. We are autonomous but we’re not independent; we cooperate, just like the word I'm using to describe. And it's often call “CP Missions.” Cooperative Program, that's what “CP” stands for, the Cooperative Program. Many of you may not even be aware of this, but we’re part of a network of about 45,000 churches, all of us cooperating voluntarily. We, every dollar that you give in the offering plate here, we take a portion of that dollar, and we actually send it away. The very first thing we do with your offerings is we give from our receipts to the work of the Lord around the globe through what we call CP Missions. Let me tell you some of the things that are done with your gifts through CP Missions. First of all, we have the world's largest Evangelical missions sending agency. It's called the International Mission Board. By the way, we happen to have a couple of our international missionaries with us today, the Melancons. Would you please stand, Pat and your wife? God bless you guys, missionaries around from around the world with us today. Pat's going to come and dismiss us in prayer when we conclude our service. He directs a ministry called Baptist Global Relief. Can I say all these things publicly, Pat? Okay, very good. Sometimes we serve in sensitive areas where there are security concerns. But whenever there's a disaster around the world, let's say that there's an earthquake in Nepal, how do resources get to Nepal to not only alleviate human suffering, but to take the good news of the Gospel? They do it through our CP gifts, and we're supporting missionaries just like the Melancons who serve 365 days of the year taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth. So we support the International Mission Board, more than 4,000 career missionaries. You know, sometimes we celebrate that we support a young couple in central Asia who are from our church; that Abbie and Tyler are about to go to Eastern Europe. We celebrate these young couples. But again, I say to you, you're not just supporting them. You’re supporting thousands of missionaries, many of whom you will not know their names until you get to heaven. But they're going to come and they're going to say, “Thank you for giving. And because you gave, I was able to go to Afghanistan or to Pakistan or to China or to Ecuador or wherever it may be in the world. Your gifts go. You go by virtue of your gifts. Not only the International Mission Board, but the North American Mission Board. Again, thousands of missionaries serving full-time across our nation, supported by your gifts. We have six seminaries, and many of them are multi-site. We're training probably in the neighborhood of 15,000 new pastors and missionaries and ministers who will serve all over the world, and your gifts sustain those seminaries. We have the world's third largest disaster relief organization. I’ve already referred to Baptist Global Relief, but here in the states, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The yellow hats and the yellow shirts that do relief in places like New Orleans when Katrina hit. Believe me when I tell you, much of the work that is done is done by our network of corporation. So I want to encourage you that God is using you in ways perhaps you never dreamed or never knew. But that's what happens when all of us get against that weight and we do our part in carrying our share of the load. All right, that's the first word, “Cooperative.” Now, the second word. How could we describe these men? I want to use as my second word the word “Creative.” These men were creative, were they not? Look, if you will, in your Bible again to verse 4. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. Now, I've entered homes by a variety of means. I've rung the front doorbell and I've going in through the front door. If I'm a close friend of the family, I might come in through the carport door. Maybe even I'll come in through the back door. Maybe you've got sliding glass doors to the patio; I've come in through sliding glass doors. I even, I have to confess this, I’ve even come in through the window a time or two. I remember when I was in high school, I stayed out late one night, and my mom and dad, I guess they thought I was already in the house and I was already in bed, all the doors were locked when I got home. I was a teenager, so I began to look for a window that was open. I found an open window in our dining room. So I'm about halfway in the window when I hear this shriek. It's my mother who sees this strange man climbing in through the dining room window. So I’ve come in to a home by variety of means, but I'll tell you this, I've never entered a home through the roof. And I don't suppose these men had either. But the Bible says, they could not get near him, and because they could not get near him through a door, or even through a window, their ingenuity kicked in. Their creativity kicked in. I love this. Churches ought to be seedbeds of creativity. But instead, we're often known for quite the opposite. In fact, somebody has said that the seven last words of the church, do you know what they are? I've told you before. The seven last words of the church: “We've never done it that way before.” The seven last words of the church. I can take you to a lot of churches today, and they're doing things the way they did them in the 1950s. You open up the door, you walk in, the music they play, the technology they utilize, it's like you've gone back in time. It's like a time warp. And very often, those churches are dwindling. Now, we're never going to change the message we preach. Don't be alarmed. We're preaching the message that was once for all delivered to the saints. It's an unchanging message, but we ought to bring creativity to bear in our outreach. Let me just ask you this, off the top of your head, I want you to think of the most creative company, or the most creative entity, that exists today. All right, you got one? Let me see a show of hands, you’ve thought of a company that you think's pretty innovative, pretty creative, raise your hand. All right, you got one in mind? What's the one you have in mind? [Disney.] How many of you thought of Disney when you thought of creativity? All right, a few of you. Someone else, raise your hand. What did you think? [Apple.] Okay, very good, how many thought of Apple? All right, a lot of you did, I see a lot of hands. Maybe one more, any other creative company that came to your mind? [HelloFresh.] Pardon? HelloFresh? What is that? All right, very good. I've got to get more current, I can tell! How many of you thought the most creative entity on earth today is the church? Wow, okay, one or two of you. I don't think very many people think of the church when they think of creativity, and could I just say, shame on us. Now why would I say that? Because we have the image of God stamped upon us, the Imago Dei. He said, male and female, he made them in His image. He made them. We're in His image. What does God like? Let just start at the beginning. In the beginning God…? Created – the heavens and the earth. You see, he is creative. Just think of the flowers that he made, the beauty of them, the grandeur of them, the delicacy of them, the colors of them. Roses. Irises. Daffodils. But the Lord is so creative, is he not? And here's the thing: the church is to be creative. You say, “Yes, but I like the way we've always done things.” I know that. I know that. I know you like the way it's always been done. Y’all sit in the same pews every week! I know you like it the same way, and the truth is, I do too. We're all creatures of habit, aren't we? We get in ruts. Have you ever heard this definition of a rut? A rut is a grave with both ends kicked out. You may ought to get out of your rut. And the truth is, we do get out of our ruts. Most of you didn't get here by horse and buggy today. Most of you heated up your coffee with a microwave or Keurig, or whatever those things are. You love innovation in certain spheres of life, and we in the church ought to appreciate creativity. I just want to say on behalf of Istrouma, and I want to say to the praise of God, we're a pretty creative bunch around here. By some measurements, relatively speaking, we're pretty creative. I can't say that for myself, I'm not that creative, but we have staff members who are quite creative. I would just put a piece of artwork here on the screen. This is from our artist here on staff. This was a design that was made by our art staff, and it was for our student DNOW event. That kind of artwork is very, very cutting-edge, and they were doing a Bible study on the Battleground, Ephesians 6, and the armor of God, and how to win in life. That's creative. You know, the bumpers that you see before I get up to preach each Sunday, that's our staff, they produce those bumpers. Folks like Jim Szalay and Josh Boyd and Jana and Laura Fuson, very creative people, and it’s to the glory of God. We ought to rejoice in it. We're creative not just in artwork; we're creative, for example, in our outreach in sports. You know, it's not every day you have a church that has a whole sports ministry, and we're blessed that we have it. And I just want to say, Thank you Lord for giving us this ample property and that there were leaders before I came that had the vision to build ball fields and gymnasiums, and we utilize those for the Lord, and that's the way it should be. A couple of Sundays ago we had a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and of course this is the time of March Madness, so our Sports Ministry said, “Let's capitalize on that and let's have a basketball tournament.” But the real goal, and if you know ML Woodruff who directs our Sports Ministry, we don't play sports for sports’ sake. We don't even play sports for the children's sake. Well, we do, but I'll explain how. We really play sports for the Gospel's sake – and in that sense, for the children's sake and their parents and their grandparents that they might come to know Christ. For crying out loud, we even have a Pickleball League! That's right, pickleball. Very creative. I think about our age-graded ministries. They're so creative. A recent Sunday, our children’s staff put on what I think they called “Pajama Day.” They let the children come in their pajamas to Sunday morning, and I know this out of the box, a little bit creative, but they wanted to do something fun for the children, something creative, something out of the box. And here's our children’s staff, just being creative. Don't be mad at them; rejoice that they’re being creative, trying to reach those boys and girls! Our Student Ministry, they recently had what they called Paint Wars and they just throw paint on each other as a fun activity, and again, when they conclude that, they sit the teenagers down and they tell them the Gospel. Now, are y'all tracking with me? What are we talking about? We’re talking about creativity. Really, when you think about it, that's what Go Day is. Go Day is an expression of creativity, reaching out. We had teams yesterday wash EMS and first responders’ vehicles to touch them with the love of Christ. How creative! I led the donut team, and we took donuts to Home Depot and just gave them passers-by. Had a team go to Istrouma High School and give out donuts there because our Sports Ministry was doing a baseball clinic, so there those two creative outreaches dovetailed. We had a block party, and I can’t list all the projects. 53 projects scattered across the city, each one unique, creative, God-honoring, and that's how we ought to live our lives, for the Gospel. Let's do it. Now, there's a couple of things about these friends and their creativity. The engine of their creativity was their desperation. They are desperate. Have you ever heard this saying, “Necessity is the mother of _____?” Invention. Exactly. These men were desperate. They knew they could not heal their lame friend. They’d known him perhaps all their lives. They knew no doctor could heal their friend. This is the time, this is the place, this is the person, this is the opportunity. If they don't seize it, it may never come their way again. They are desperate. If they can't come through the door and they can't come through the window, they're going to come through the roof, because they're desperate. And I’ll tell you what. One of the reasons our churches are not as creative as we ought to be is because we are not as desperate as we ought to be to see the lost come to Christ. I'm not as desperate as I ought to be, so one of our prayers this morning ought to be, “Lord, make us desperate to reach our friends with the Gospel.” If you're desperate to see your friends come to Christ, you will pray for them. You will invite them. You will share the hope of Christ with them, and I will as well. God help us to be desperate. And not only were they desperate, they were determined. Yes, desperation makes you determined. They were not going to go home unless that friend got to Jesus. I can imagine it was hot. I've been to that part of the world. I remember one occasion Nell and I were in Jericho; it was 125 degrees in the shade. And here come these men. It's hot, that lame man's heavy, but they're not to be deterred. They're determined to get him to Christ, and they will not take no for an answer. One last word I want to give you, and that is these friends were Confident. They were confident. Would you look now to verse 5? 5 And when Jesus saw their faith [you could just circle that word “faith”, When Jesus saw their faith], he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now, I want to be clear about something because I don't want you to misunderstand me, and I don't want to fail to be clear. These friends were not confident in themselves. In fact, I would say they had no confidence in themselves. It was for that reason they made the journey to Jesus. They knew their resources had been exhausted. No, they had no confidence in themselves or in their flesh. In whom, then, was their confidence? It was in Jesus. That's why he was their North. They said, “We've got to get to Jesus.” Two things about their faith stand out to me. Number one, it's visible. Jesus saw their faith. I'll submit something to you this morning. Listen. All genuine faith is visible. You say, “Where do you see their faith?” That hole up there in the roof. There's the evidence of it. You see, their faith drove them to that decision and that action. James said it this way, “You show me your faith without works; I'll show you my faith by my works.” He said, “I will show you my faith.” Now, we’re not to make a show of our faith, but if we have faith, it will show. Should I say that again? We're not to make a show of our faith, but our faith, if genuine, will show. Their faith was visible, and then, because it was, that is because it was genuine, it was victorious. That is, their faith reached its goal. In fact, it not only reached their goal, it want far, far beyond their goal. I love what happens in this story. They let that man down in front of Jesus. Jesus looks at him. Well, let me back up. The Bible says Jesus saw their faith and he said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now here there ought to be a sound effect. There ought to be [screeching of brakes]. What? Like the needle coming across the record. Your sins are forgiven? Who said anything about sins? I don’t think they brought him there to get his sins forgiven; how embarrassing is that? Right there in front of God and the world, “Your sins are forgiven.” What sins; who is talking about sin? No, Jesus, he makes a turn here that is sudden and is telling. You see, the greatest need of that lame man that day was not that he would walk again, as great as that need was. No, the far greater need was that he be saved. That he be forgiven. I don't know in what condition you’ve come today. You may be here a paralytic, and God can heal you and we would rejoice were he to do so this day. But your greatest need is not to be healed of your physical malady. You may be here with intense pain, and I know several of you have aches and pains and sicknesses, and O that God would heal you. But the greater need is our spiritual healing. You may be here in bankruptcy today, and I'm heartbroken that you’re in bankruptcy. But perhaps it is the bankruptcy that will bring you to Christ so that your greater need can be met, and that is that your sins be forgiven. I think I may have misunderstood this passage for years, because it says “Jesus saw their faith,” and I always thought that meant the faith of the four. And he said he saw their faith, and then he said to the paralytic, quite apart from that, “Friend, your sins are forgiven,” as though they were a separate thing. But I’ve evolved in my thinking on that question. I actually believe that when he said “Jesus saw their faith,” it encompassed the five. He saw the faith of those four friends, and I believe he saw into the heart of that lame man. After all, the lame man was willing to be borne to Jesus. He was willing to come through the roof; he was anxious to. And so I believe Jesus saw right into his heart that that man had faith not only to be healed but to be saved, to be forgiven. You say, man, what, you think Jesus can see into the hearts of men? Yes I do. Upon what basis? This very story. Because don't you follow the story? It said there were some Pharisees sitting nearby who said – in fact, they didn't say it, let me correct that, they were thinking it in their hearts – “Who is this man?” I can just hear the disdain in their voice, “Who is this man that he could forgive sin?” Jesus perceived what was in their heart while it was yet unspoken. So of course Jesus could see into the heart of that lame man, and he saw faith there, and he responded to the faith that he saw and he healed that man and saved him of his sin, because I'm going to tell you something, the only way to get saved is to exercise personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. Here's what the Bible says. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. The key to heaven is faith. The key to heaven is committing in your life in faith to Jesus as Lord. And I believe that's exactly what that lame man did. And in Lagniappe, he got the great thing, forgiveness, but lagniappe came when he was healed. He was healed. Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven.” And then they questioned him, the Pharisees did, the religious crowd, and then Jesus put a question to them. He said – and I want to put the question to you; are you ready? Here comes the question: Which is easier to say, your sins are forgiven, or rise, take up your bed and walk? Church, how do you answer that question? Which is easier, and I'll give you a hint, which is easier to say? “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” I'll answer it for you. The easier thing to say is “Your sins are forgiven.” And do you know why that’s easier to say? Because if I say to you, “Your sins are forgiven,” no one can verify whether it occurred or not. I'm clouded in this cloak of invisibility. You don't know if sins have been forgiven or not. But, by contrast, it’s harder to say, “Rise, take up your bed and walk,” because everyone will be able to see whether it happened or not, whether you’re genuine or not. So the harder thing to say is, “Get up and walk.” Well Jesus took the easier route when he said “Your sins are forgiven.” But then he said to the religious rulers, But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” [lest you think I’m a charlatan]… rise, [take]up your bed, and [walk].” That man took up his bed and he walked, and do you why that miracle occurred? That miracle occurred to confirm that Jesus is who he claims to be. Jesus is God come in the flesh to redeem sinners, and I'll say every miracle that occurs, occurs to verify and certify that Christ is Lord. It's pretty easy to say “Your sins are forgiven.” But it's not easy to accomplish. Relatively free to say “Your sins are forgiven,” but excruciating to accomplish. You know it's interesting, in the Bible, much of what occurs in the Bible occurs by virtue of God speaking it into existence. By divine fiat, God created all that is ex nihilo, out of nothing. He said, “Let there be light,” and there was light, no action required. No price to be paid. He spoke it, and it was. One of the few things, if the only thing, that required his action was to redeem us of our sins. He didn't just say “Your sins are forgiven.” No, justice demanded, holiness demanded, that sin be punished, it be atoned for, a price be paid. Justice demanded it, and love paid the price. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, and to prove that price was paid, he arose from the dead. And he lives today to bring forgiveness and salvation to all who will put their faith in him. Hey listen friend; I was talking a moment ago about the faith of these five. I honestly don't know of what quality their faith was or of what quantity it was. It could be that they came hopeful, not certain, but their faith was sufficient for them to make the journey, and what saves us isn't the amount of our faith, the quality of our faith. What saves us is that we exercise what little, feeble, weak faith we have. Come to Jesus, and when you come to Jesus, you'll find him sufficient to pay every sin. Would you stand, please? What a great story, a story about friendly faith. These friends brought their friend to Jesus. He got his cake, and he got to eat it too. He was healed of his illness and he was saved from his sin. I know that God today wants to heal our sin-sick souls, make us his own. If never before you’ve called upon Christ as Savior, would you this day? I want to lead you in a prayer to do that. From your heart, cry out to God. [Invitation and Prayer] [Lord’s Supper] [Singing]
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4And seeing that the light […]
“Seed” as a Theme in the Bible 1 Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God,which lives and abides for ever. Eve – her seed (Messiah) will bruise Satan’s heel (Gen. 3:15 ) Abraham – his seed will bless many nations (Genesis 12, 15)David – Messiah to be of his royal lineage (II Samuel 7, Isaiah 9) Jesus – as The Fulfillment, Gospel teachings Paul – theological – Romans 4, Galatians 3 (Abraham) Paul – practical – Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9 (fruit of the Spirit) Two ‘seed’ time-scales: (i) affects all humanity (all dispensations),(ii) affects a human life. Encourages:Patience (one lifespan, future generations). Hope (fruit in a lifespan, of future generations; ‘take (God’s) long view’). Purpose (seed has levels of purpose). Asking basic questions: (i) where is the fruit? (ii) what is the fruit?Requires: Faith (required, planting is a starting point, believe that somethingwill happen, maybe …. a harvest!) Participation (our involvement; ‘planting’, ‘watering’). Three Parables of Jesus Christ about Seeds and Fruit The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13) - Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) - 1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. The Parable of the Identifying Fruit (Matthew 7) - 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Let us: - Be Patient (with ourselves). - Have Hope (our lives can bear good fruit). - Purpose (fruitfulness is its own reward, but inestimable in eternal matters…..) - Ask (i) where is the fruit (“Normal Christian Life”)? (ii) what is the fruit? Let us also: -Have Faith (be a starting point, believe that one life can yield a harvest). - Participate in the work (sow the Word of God). -1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever.
情人节从哪来的?Valentine's Day,瓦伦丁节,又称情人节,是欧美和大洋洲的一些国家的民族节日。此节日的来源甚多,但一般是以罗马圣教徒瓦伦丁被处死,后被定为“情人节”这个版本较为通用。公元3世纪,罗马帝国出现全面危机,经济凋敝,统治阶级腐败,社会动荡不安,人民纷纷反抗。贵族阶级为维护其统治,残暴镇压民众和基督教徒。是时有一位教徒瓦伦丁,被捕入狱。在狱中,他以坦诚之心打动了典狱长的女儿。他们相互爱慕,并得到典狱长女儿的照顾。统治阶级下令将他执行死刑。在临刑前,他给典狱长女儿写了一封长长的遗书,表明自己是无罪的。表明他光明磊落的心迹和对典狱长女儿深深眷恋。公元270年2月14日,他被处死刑,后来,基督教徒为了纪念瓦伦丁为正义、为纯洁的爱而牺牲自己,将临刑的这一天定为“圣瓦伦节”,后人又改成“情人节”。单身狗英语怎么说?“单身狗”这个词是近几年流行起来的一个表达,很多学生都问我在英语中怎么翻比较好,其实咱们可以一起来看一看。Single Dog如果这么翻的话未免有些草率了,而且dog这个词在英语文化中并不像中文中那样有很多的贬义色彩,比如如果形容一个人很幸运的话就可以说这哥们是个“lucky dog”,所以这么翻显然不能翻译出中文中的修辞色彩。从另外一个层面看,老外如果真是听到这个表达的话,我琢磨着第一个反应肯定是直接在脑海中出现活生生的一只狗的形象,并在头顶冒个泡,泡里面的文字是“male or female?”当然如果要是个母的那这事就变得更复杂了,直接变成bitch了,不好不好,不妥不妥~~~Bachelor/Bachelorette这两个词都是非常中规中矩的直译,“单身狗”嘛,其实说的就是单身汉或是单身女,感觉这个也一般。Poor Loner如果从信达雅的角度看这个翻译的话,信和达我觉得都做到了,但是雅的话不及下面这个表达。Damn Single这个翻译个人觉得挺赞的,“Damn”这个词有“该死的/TMD”这些意思,听起来跟“单”的发音差别又不大,整体的意思就是“该死的单身”。其实没人想做“单身狗”,真正想单身的人叫celibate,但这个词想表达的单身和咱们的独身主义者还是有差别的,celibate是禁欲的单身,但就我身边的人来看,单身可以,禁欲?呵呵。好啦,放过单身狗啦。其实单身也没什么不好,双身也没什么好。恋爱有恋爱的烦恼,单身有单身的骄傲。“单身狗”我想更多的时候也只是一种自嘲的说法。毕竟宁缺毋滥也是一种人格上的自信。没有遇到更好的,那就不!将!就!下面是一些Facebook上非常火的英文情话,祝愿单身的人早日找到另一半,祝愿恋爱中的人相伴到永远!记住,多说情话,有益无害。问题是——古典名著的英文情话虽然逼格高大但常常艰深而晦涩影视台词的英文情话虽然耳熟能详但都是用烂的老梗浪漫爱情片的英文情话虽琅琅上口但词汇实在太单调用英文说情话,是需要技术滴……下面精选了10则逼格与情调共存的情话请大家学以致用1You are my today and all of my tomorrows. 你是我的今天,以及所有的明天。(一个爱字都没提,就充分表达出了相守一生的深情)2They tell you in school that it's the lungs that keep you breathing but it's your heart. 学校老师说过,我们要靠肺部呼吸存活。但实际上,我靠的是你的心。3Your voice is full of beautiful memories we have yet to make. 你的声音里,满是我们将要创造的美好回忆。 4And it's as if I never really even knew love until right now, in this moment, with you.我仿佛从来不懂什么是爱,直到我遇见你。5Ask me to define my love for you and I'll say it's captured in every beautiful memory of our past, detailed out in the vivid visions of our dreams, and future plans, but most of all it's right now, in the moment where everything I've ever wanted in my life is standing right in front of me and smiling. 若要我给对你的爱下个定义,我会说:爱,深深刻印在我们过去每段美好回忆中,详细描绘在我们鲜活的梦想憧憬和未来计划中。但最重要的,爱,是此时此刻,是我毕生追求的一切美好,就站在我面前,绽开微笑。(这里的everything I've ever wanted in my life指的就是you,哦,光是读一遍,美加君就感觉被撩到了……)6I can't, and won't ever be able to, get enough of you.我不能,也永远不会,对你厌倦。7I really don't know how many more love stories I have left in me, but I want you to be my last. 我真不知道命中还剩多少次爱情故事,但我想要你做我的最后一次。8There are going to be days where you're undone, stressed out, tired, spent. And I'll still love you just as much in those moments as I ever have, maybe even a little more, because it'll mean you let me get close enough to know the real you. That's all I want. 当你受挫失落、憔悴不堪、倦累难耐、筋疲力竭时。我会像以往一样爱你,也许甚至会爱你更多。因为那意味着你对我敞开心门,让我接近真实的你。这就是我想要的。9I swear I couldn't love you more than I do right now, and yet I know I will tomorrow. 10If I could, I would wrap my arms around you and just hold you until the hurt went away. 如果可以,我愿拥你入怀,紧紧抱住,直到你的伤心被融化驱散。(用went的原因是虚拟语气)
1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4And seeing that the light […]
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
In this episode, we discuss the short and hazardous road to becoming a dictator, the REAL reason Tamagotchi left their home planet, the best virtual pets that don't exist, and organic soccer balls. Oh, and Tamagotchi Town.Starring Automatic Tiger, Bachelor, OneSecondBefore, Shrug, Tulpa, and VirtualClint.Links:The Tamaogotchu music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5WsyN3GWUg&t=0s&list=PLtzBqajn4vZvzfp00IqA0WdWl9L7I5YSt&index=4And here's the whole video it came from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjdviZ8-lLc&t=0s&list=PLtzBqajn4vZvzfp00IqA0WdWl9L7I5YSt&index=5The Onahole Tamagotchi nobody has documented: https://twitter.com/BachelorSoft/status/1023653984035323904The Swan Song gundamgotchi episode we discussed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HncoAK8qRlgJapanese Tamagotchi animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKtHSuELsc0&index=6&t=0s&list=PLtzBqajn4vZvzfp00IqA0WdWl9L7I5YSt
In this episode, we discuss the short and hazardous road to becoming a dictator, the REAL reason Tamagotchi left their home planet, the best virtual pets that don't exist, and organic soccer balls. Oh, and Tamagotchi Town.Starring Automatic Tiger, Bachelor, OneSecondBefore, Shrug, Tulpa, and VirtualClint.Links:The Tamaogotchu music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5WsyN3GWUg&t=0s&list=PLtzBqajn4vZvzfp00IqA0WdWl9L7I5YSt&index=4And here's the whole video it came from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjdviZ8-lLc&t=0s&list=PLtzBqajn4vZvzfp00IqA0WdWl9L7I5YSt&index=5The Onahole Tamagotchi nobody has documented: https://twitter.com/BachelorSoft/status/1023653984035323904The Swan Song gundamgotchi episode we discussed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HncoAK8qRlgJapanese Tamagotchi animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKtHSuELsc0&index=6&t=0s&list=PLtzBqajn4vZvzfp00IqA0WdWl9L7I5YSt
Revelation 18:20-19:4And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” How does it all end? Do God's people cry out forever? Is there a hell? Is there a heaven? What does the apocalyptic language of Revelation have to do with what is actually going to happen when Christ returns? Is God just, if evil is not done away with? How does God defeat evil? How will God judge the church? How will God judge the corruption of empires, the violence of empires, the greed of empires, the seductions of empires? What does the "Fall of Babylon" entail and why does all of heaven rejoice at the fall of the "unholy trinity" as we see it in Revelation 18 and 19? We have to understand this in someways is like Easter and Good Friday. There is no resurrection without death and there is no wedding supper of the lamb if there is still evil present. Join us as we look at The Day of the Lord and continue to worship the lamb who is worthy of all our praise!
Revelation 18:20-19:4And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste. 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” How does it all end? Do God's people cry out forever? Is there a hell? Is there a heaven? What does the apocalyptic language of Revelation have to do with what is actually going to happen when Christ returns? Is God just, if evil is not done away with? How does God defeat evil? How will God judge the church? How will God judge the corruption of empires, the violence of empires, the greed of empires, the seductions of empires? What does the "Fall of Babylon" entail and why does all of heaven rejoice at the fall of the "unholy trinity" as we see it in Revelation 18 and 19? We have to understand this in someways is like Easter and Good Friday. There is no resurrection without death and there is no wedding supper of the lamb if there is still evil present. Join us as we look at The Day of the Lord and continue to worship the lamb who is worthy of all our praise!
This is the 20th 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. Do Not Throw Away Your Confidence, Which Has A Great Reward Preservation of the Saints Hebrews chapter 10:19-12:29 Hebrews 10 32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions James 1 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. Hebrews 10 32Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions 35Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10 37For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”[38And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Hebrews 11 0ne point, have faith in God and be patience and He will give you all that He has promised. A persevering faith is always rewarded VS. 1-40 Things that are called faith but are not. Faith, is not positive thinking 2. Faith is not a hunch that is followed. 3. Faith is not hoping for the best, hoping that everything will turn out all right. 4. Faith is not a feeling of optimism Hebrews 11 The first and second verses and the sixth verse, taken together, help define faith for us. Here we see the ingredients of faith: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. (Hebrews 11:1-2 RSV) And without faith it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 RSV) Definition of faith in God Faith commences with "things hoped for," that is, it starts with a sense of discontent. 2. Then comes "the conviction of things not seen" aware that we are surrounded by an invisible spirit kingdom, that which is seen is not the whole explanation of life, 3. "He that comes to God must believe that he is, that God exists." There are some who say, "That's the hard part, that's what is difficult." No, it is not. 4. "The assurance of things hoped for." achieved by acting on the revelation of the things unseen. 5. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. (Hebrews 11:3 RSV) The amazing deductions & implications and of Biblical faith By faith, we understand that the world was created by the word of God so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. (Hebrews 11:3 RSV)--- That statement was made in the first century. • Biblical faith puts us immediately in touch with reality. Faith is a way of piercing the illusion that tends to distract us and lead us into chasing rabbits of thought all over the pasture and bring us right to the point, to show us things as they really are. Do not laugh at faith. Faith is dealing with facts. Faith grounds one immediately on reality. Grounds one immediately in reality. What science can't tell us, faith can. How human history is going to end, but by faith, I know. 2. Science cannot tell me what is wrong with human life, what is the reason why I act the way I do, and you act the way you do but by faith I know. 3. Cannot tell me what lies beyond the door of death. Even to the scientists, it is an enigma, a mystery, but by faith, I know what lies beyond. Mystery, but by faith I know what lies beyond. 4. Cannot explain the mysteries of my own makeup, and tell me how to fulfill my manhood, how to realize my dreams, but faith can. Hebrews 11(NASB) 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval. THE HEART OF BIBLICAL FAITH CONVICTION Hebrews 11 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5 RSV) Genesis 5:21-24 (NIV) 21When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.22After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away. Jude (NIV) 14Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Hebrews 11 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith, he is still speaking. (Hebrews 11:4 RSV) Cain believes a lie. – That one way is as good as another Abel believed God and came the way God had outlined Hebrews 11 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. The 9by faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}{YouTube}
“If You Want To Get To The Gold, You Can’t Cave In. “Don’t Cave In...Strengthen The Walls." So, You’re Crazy If You DON’T Talk To Yourself. What Do People Think Hope Looks Like? Hope Really Looks Like A Bald Guy With Beard. Acts 28 - 1And when they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta.2And the natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4And when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” Fill In The Thought Bubble Over The Apostle Paul’s Head. Pastor T.D. JAKES - Five Steps To Happiness. Challenge Your Own Story: Change the way you talk to yourself about who you are and what happened to you in life. You wrote the script. Change the Story. Acts 28 - 5However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. Believe In Hope! That It Matters. Will Make A Difference. Is The Right Direction. That Hope Is Enough. Enough For What? Hope Enough For What?... To Change The Story! What Do People Think Hope Looks Like? What Does Hope Really Look Like?
This is the tenth 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 PROPITIATION 4:14 -10:18 Jesus our Great High Priest 4:14 –16 Look back. Hebrews 1:3…When He had made purification of sins, 2. Hebrews 2:17-18 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. 3. Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession 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. Jesus our Great High Priest Hebrews chapter 5 Hebrews 5:1-10 4 things necessary to be a Priest Class ---- mankind vs. 1a 2. Service ---- something to offer. vs. 1b 3. Disposition ------ merciful vs. 2-3 4. Appointment ---- Devine vs. 5-10 Hebrews (NASB) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. Relating to the 2 different offices of Jesus LORD Work Obedience Service Always relating to His Lordship HIGH PRIEST Sin Forgiveness Grace That’s where we relate to His Priesthood Hebrews (NASB) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 4And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”; 6just as He says also in another passage, “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” Genesis14:17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18AndMelchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all. The order of Melchizedek BLESSES ABRAHAM ABRAHAM PAYS TITHES ALSO A KING NO GENEALOGY ABRAHAM MOSES TRIBE OF LEVI AARON AARONIC PRIESTHOOD DAVID Hebrews (NASB) 7In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.9And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. • Difficulties Teaching The subject matter – Godhead 2. The teacher doesn’t have a good grasp of the subject. 3. The audience is not ready Sometimes as a student you haven’t or are not willing to put in the Time and effort. They were not always dull of hearing, they became dull of hearing. Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ 7 Spiritual Gifts of Rom 12:6-8 Prophesying • Serving • Teaching • Encouraging • Contributing • Leadership • Mercy 1Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Baby Christian 1 Peter 2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation John 16“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Ephesians 4:12until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 6 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do, if God permits. Hebrews 6 King James Version (KJV) 6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. GOD’S WARNING Hebrews Chapter 6:1-7 Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}
This is the ninth 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 PROPITIATION 4:14 -10:18 Chapter 4 An Exhortation to Enter God’s Rest “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 Jesus Ἰησοῦς Mat 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Mat 1:22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Mat 1:23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." Yahshua ַ הוֹשׁוּﬠ ְי -1) The first element is YAH, which is the commonly accepted abbreviated form of YHVH 2) The interesting word group that starts with YAH then the Hebrew verb (shua), meaning to be saved or delivered. -Yahshua is the name Joshua is a compilation of two elements. -Why Joshua? “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.” 5And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” • 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. 2 WARNINGS TO MAKE US MORE DILIGENT 1. 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. 1 Thessalonians 5:23- God will save your body soul and spirit. 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. THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICE 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 PROPITIATION 4:14 -10:18 JESUS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST 4:14 –16 Look back 1. Hebrews 1:3…When He had made purification of sins, 2. Hebrews 2:17-18 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. 3. Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession 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. Jesus our Great High Priest Hebrews chapter 5 Hebrews 5:1-10 • 4 things necessary to be a Priest. 1. Class ---- mankind vs. 1a 2. Service ---- something to offer. Vs. 1b 3. Disposition ------ merciful vs. 2-3 4. Appointment ---- Devine Vs. 5-10 Hebrews For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. Relating to the 2 different offices of Jesus LORD Work Obedience Service Always relating to His Lordship HIGH PRIEST Sin Forgiveness Grace That’s where we relate to His Priesthood Hebrews (NASB) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; 3and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. 4And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. 4And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. • 5So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, • “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”; • 6just as He says also in another passage, • “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.” “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”Genesis14:17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18AndMelchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all. The order of Melchizedek BLESSES ABRAHAM ABRAHAM PAYS TITHES ALSO A KING NO GENEALOGY ABRAHAM MOSES TRIBE OF LEVI AARON AARONIC PRIESTHOOD DAVID Hebrews (NASB) 7In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.9And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Difficulties teaching 1. The subject matter – Godhead 2. The teacher doesn’t have a good grasp of the subject. 3. The audience is not ready Sometimes as a student you haven’t or are not willing to put in the Time and effort. They were not always dull of hearing, they became dull of hearing. Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. • Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ 7 Spiritual Gifts of Rom 12:6-8 Prophesying Serving Teaching Encouraging Contributing Leadership Mercy 1Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Baby Christian 1 Peter 2 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation John 16“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Ephesians 4:12until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Hebrews 5 (NASB) 10being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. • 2 Chronicles 3:14 Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}
GENESIS - Exclusively God’s. 05.23.17, The Good Book Series TEMPTED AWAY… TESTED TO STAY. Genesis 3:2-5, 8-13. 2And the woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die.’” 4And the serpent said to the woman, “You surely shall not die! 5“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10And he said, “I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” 11And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12And the man said, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Temptation Is Satan’s Way Of Reducing Us To Our Worst. Pedal To The Metal…Or Pull The Emergency Brake Testing Is God’s Way Of Bringing Out Our Best. Why? Christlikeness Has No Cruise Control. RISKING FOR RELATIONSHIP Genesis 12:1-9. 1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; 2And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5And Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. 6And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. 7And the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. 8Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. 9And Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev. Genesis 13:14-18. 14And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. 16“And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. 17“Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” 18Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD. The Only Way To Discover The End Of The Story Is To Take The First Step.
PICK UP YOUR MAT, My Adventure Series. God’s measurement of our lives and our church will never be our number, our money, our effort, or our success. God’s measure of our lives will only be in the... POWER THAT EXUDES FROM OUR SOULS Acts 3:1-10 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6 Then Jesus told him, "Get up, pick up your mat, and walk." John 5:8 Acts 3:7-10 7And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. ------------- What if a group of people discovered that they all had been given divine power? ------------- These powers gave them infinite capacity to do good, give love to others, and change people’s lives for the better. ------------- What if this same group of people realized that to exercise their power all they had to do was to believe God was with them and that nothing could stop them? ------------- The only problem was that every time they used their powers, it cost them something. ------------- The price to pay was in obedience to God’s plan for their lives, sacrifice of personal gain, destroying bad habits, and giving up anything that stood in the way of embracing and using His Power. ------------- Do you think they would do it? Would the power to do that much good be worth such a personal price? ------------- A better question is: Would you do it? ------------- The fact is that God makes every one of us that offer every day. ------------- Will you take the challenge to literally build the powerful Kingdom of God here on the earth? ------------- Will you live your own God-Given Adventure? ------------- Your Daring Adventure Begins The Day You “Pick Up Your Mat.”
I Am the Breadof LifeWhy do you believe in Christianity? Why do you be piece in Jesus?Sometimes we have doubts and we need to look again at why we believe.Sometimes we have a hard time expressing what we believe to others.How can we be con$dent about what we believe?At Christmas we read an eye witness, named John, wrote, John &'&4And the Word became )esh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory,glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. We can read the testimonies of the people who saw Jesus.Another way to be sure about what webelieve is to see what Jesus said aboutHimself. Who did Jesus say he was?
Nehemiah 1- 4And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, 5And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments- 6Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee- both I and my father's house have sinned. 7We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations- 9But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them- though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name- and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
FROM MISERABLE TO MESSENGER 11.13.16 "I Am Transformed" Series Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV Isaiah 6 (NASB) 1In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, with a burning coal in his hand which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7And he touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is forgiven.” 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9And He said, “Go, and tell this people…” Luke 5:4-11 (NASB) 4And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5And Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.” 6And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; 7and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10and so also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
Testimony about my Spiritual Baptism of Heavenly Languages OUT-POUR OF THE SPIRIT- GIFT OF A RULER SUPERNATURAL LANGUAGES- GIFTED TO WRITE Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5EfoPmLfR0 Testimony about the power of God in me -Casted out Demons across the country Demons should know you if you are in Christ Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZceJ-dmsSxE Ministry Scripture and notes: Grace Note: ELOQUENT SPEECH IS NOT A SIGN OF GODLINESS Grace Note: When you have experienced God for yourself, no one can come and with their smooth mouth convince you that your Experiences with Him didn’t happen! James 4:8 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. WORDS FOR CLARITY • Patience = To remain unmoved in your confession of faith • Experience = Testimony of God’s ACTS, PRESENCE, POWER and DELIVERANCE in our Lives • Because you remain unmovable in your faith (patient); EXPERIENCES FOLLOWS , which Leads to: • TIME(SEASONS OF GOD ) CHANCE (HAPPENINGS OF GOD) =EXPERIENCES To speak of our Personal Experience to the building of faith = TESTIMONY THE WORD Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Colossians 1:9-11 (KJV) 9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 1 Thessalonians 2:5 (KJV) For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Romans 8:16 (KJV) The Witness within yourselves The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 9:1 (KJV) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, Hebrews 2:4 (KJV) God verifies with Signs and Wonders God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? DISCERN THE ACTS OF THE LORD: Matthew 24:24 (KJV) FALSE Signs and Wonders For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect Ecclesiastes 1:16 (KJV) I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. IN ALL THY GETTING GET UNDERSTANDING Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. THE enemy COMES to steal what you don’t understand Matthew 13:19 (KJV) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Testimony about my Spiritual Baptism of Heavenly Languages: OUT-POUR OF THE SPIRIT-GIFT OF A RULER SUPERNATURAL LANGUAGES-GIFTED TO WRITE Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5EfoPmLfR0 Testimony about the power of God in me -Cast out Demons across the country Demons should know you if you are in Christ Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZceJ-dmsSxE Ministry Scripture and notes: Grace Note: ELOQUENT SPEECH IS NOT A SIGN OF GODLINESS Grace Note: When you have experienced God for yourself, no one can come and with their smooth mouth convince you that your Experiences with Him didn’t happen! James 4:8 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. WORDS FOR CLARITY • Patience = To remain unmoved in your confession of faith • Experience = Testimony of God’s ACTS, PRESENCE, POWER and DELIVERANCE in our Lives • Because you remain unmovable in your faith (patient); EXPERIENCES FOLLOWS , which Leads to: • TIME(SEASONS OF GOD ) CHANCE (HAPPENINGS OF GOD) =EXPERIENCES To speak of our Personal Experience to the building of faith = TESTIMONY THE WORD Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Colossians 1:9-11 (KJV) 9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 1 Thessalonians 2:5 (KJV) For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Romans 8:16 (KJV) The Witness within yourselves The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Romans 9:1 (KJV) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, Hebrews 2:4 (KJV) God verifies with Signs and Wonders God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? DISCERN THE ACTS OF THE LORD: Matthew 24:24 (KJV) FALSE Signs and Wonders For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect Ecclesiastes 1:16 (KJV) I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. IN ALL THY GETTING GET UNDERSTANDING Proverbs 4:7 (KJV) Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. THE enemy COMES to steal what you don’t understand Matthew 13:19 (KJV) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
"I AM" Calvary ~ St. George's, Exploring the "I Am" statements of Jesus. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe* in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?* 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.’* 5Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ 6Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know* my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
1 Samuel 24:1-7(ESV) 1 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3And he tcameto he sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
1 Peter 5:1-7 (English Standard Version) 1 Peter 5Shepherd the Flock of God 1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Affordable Podcasting $5.99 a month includes Web Hosting Suppport The Classic Blues at Music Maker Visit Recover in Christ Ministries today Visit our 24 hour family friendly radio streaming station Buy Your 50 mp3 classic radio shows for $5.00 inclues shipping Mike Wilhoit praise page Crosswalk3 Matthew 1 1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 2 1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
click here Visit the Recover In Christ web site. click here to visit michael shull web site. Genesis 11 1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. 10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. 28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.
click hereVisit the Recover In Christ web site. Genesis 3 1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
click hereVisit the Recover In Christ web site. Romans 1 1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: 7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Visit the Recover In Christ web site. leviticus 4 1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: 3If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. 4And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. 5And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: 6And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary. 7And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 10As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering. 11And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, 12Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt. 13And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty; 14When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD. 16And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation: 17And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail. 18And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. 20And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. 21And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation. 22When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty; 23Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: 24And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. 25And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. 26And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. 27And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; 28Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned