Podcasts about abounding

Abounding in Your Follow-up Visitation

Privilege of Being in God’s House Gratitude for the freedom and presence of the Spirit of God. Many people would love to be in a place where the spirit of God is free. It is a privilege to be in God’s house. Romans Chapter 4 Reading of Romans 4:17-25 and verse 16. Focus on faith and grace. It is of faith that it might be by grace. The promise might be sure to all the seed. Not to that only which is of the law, but also which is of the faith of Abraham. Abraham: Father of Many Nations Abraham as the father of many nations, not just Israel. God told Abraham, “I’m going to make you a father of many nations.” All are children of Abraham through faith, not the law. Abraham pleased God through belief, not law-keeping. The law had yet to be given. Abraham came because he believed God. Abraham’s Faith God’s promise to Abraham to make him a father of many nations. Sarah was barren. Abraham didn’t have any children. Abraham believed God despite his age (100 years old) and Sarah’s age (90 years old). Abraham believed God. It was imputed to him for righteousness. Righteousness imputed to Abraham because of belief, not personal righteousness or worthiness. Not because Abraham was righteous. Not because Abraham deserved righteousness. Not because he was worthy of righteousness. But because he believed God. Importance of Faith Without faith, it is impossible to please God. God puts such a value on faith. When any soul will simply believe God in spite of all the circumstances, in spite of all the situations. God imputes righteousness to those who believe. Righteousness of Christ imputed at the moment of faith. We believed. Hope in a Hopeless World Hope is very important. The world has lost hope, even the lost. Wickedness abounds and it’s getting worse. Political changes have not brought righteousness. A lot of people thought when Trump got in office that somehow this country would turn around and get righteous. We’re no closer to God than we were two years ago. Evidence of lack of revival: no abandonment of sin, no church filling. If things were really getting right, brother, we’d see it in the church. It ain’t here. It’s growing more wicked every day. Encouragement to keep hope. Don’t let anything steal your hope. Advice to avoid negative influences: turn off TV and radio, open the Bible. Turn your TV off. Turn your radio off. And open up your Bible. Stop the influences of the devil. Hope as a Necessity Hope is absolutely necessary for the people of God. Despair and worry heard in voices of men at a gathering. There were some of them that were sharing before church, and some of them shared even after we had started. I could hear the despair in their voice. I could hear the worry and the concern. Concern is valid, but must be balanced with hope in God. Without a vision, you’ll perish. We cannot as the people of God in good faith talk about it without still having hope in God. Faith and hope are linked; faith precedes hope. If you’ve got faith hope’s right behind you. The more faith you have, the greater hope you’ll have as well. 1 Corinthians 13: faith, hope, and charity (love). Love is the greatest, but in good company with faith and hope. Now abideth these three. Faith, hope, and charity. But the greatest of these is charity. Need for hope in the church. We need to have hope in our heart tonight. We need to have a hope down in our soul. With God, anything can happen. When God’s involved, anything can happen. Believe God and let hope save each day. What we need to do is believe God and then let hope save us each and every day. Hope as Verb and Noun Hope is both an action (verb) and a thing (noun). Hope is both a verb and a noun. It is both an action and a thing. Like faith and love, hope is a real thing. Faith is an action, but faith is also a thing. Love is an action, but it is also a noun. It is a thing. Appreciation for people with hope who haven’t given up on God. I love to meet people that have got hope. I like to meet people that ain’t give up on God. They’ve not laid down on God. They’ve not quit believing in God. Hope leads to expecting God to move in unexpected ways. God’s going to do something that they ain’t expecting, that God’s going to move in a way they’ve never seen, that God’s going to come in and help them in a way that they can’t even understand or foresee. Hope should follow faith. If you’ve got faith, you ought to have some hope with you. Hope ought to follow your faith. Many Christians seem to lack hope. I see a lot of people that ain’t got much hope. I talk to Christian people, good Christian people. And when you talk to them, it seems like they don’t give up. They just throw it in the towel. Losing belief in God leads to hopelessness. When they quit believing in God, they quit believing God can do something. Focus on the present and the work to be done. I’m still breathing. I’ve still got a day ahead of me if God wakes me up and the sun shines again. We’ve got work to do. Need for hope to avoid emotional and spiritual backsliding. You’ll get so far down the ditch that you’ll end up backslidden emotionally and spiritually. You’ll get to the place where you sell out on faith and you sit down on God and suddenly, amen, everything that is wrong begins to come your way. Reaping hard things from sowing bad things. You’ll begin to reap hard things because you’ve sown bad things. Even without understanding God’s plan, hope is essential. Even though we cannot see what God is doing, we do not know what moment in time, what dispensation we’re in. What I can tell you is that we still need hope today. Abraham believed against hope. Abraham, who against hope, believed in hope. Hope is part of faith. Hope’s part of our faith. These three abideth, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is hope. Believing Against Hope Abraham believed against hope (Romans 4:18). Every earthly argument or sense was not supporting what God was telling Abraham. Everything that God told Abraham, the worldly argument, the worldly sense, the worldly rationality, The worldly experience would tell Abraham that’s not going to happen. Worldly rationality says it’s impossible, but God can do anything. It cannot be. It is impossible. There’s no need to believe in that because that is not reality. It is not something that can occur. Believing God despite circumstances allows hope to flourish. When everything says it cannot be. It still can be. Believing in God Believing in hope means believing in God (verse 17). Before him whom he believed even God. Believing in God overrides worldly rationale and human experience. If you’re believing in God today, all bets are off as far as the world’s rationale. All bets are off is on human experience. God can change situations even when doctors say nothing can be done. You may have been to a thousand doctors and every one of them tell you, Nope, there is nothing that can be done. But brother, when you put it in God’s hands, it can change. Question of who to believe: doctors, lawyers, personal experience, or God. Do you believe the doctors? Do you believe the lawyer? Do you believe that person? Do you believe your experience, your own rationale, your own common sense? God can do anything, including wondrous miracles. All of those things are nothing to my God. Because God can do anything. God acts when humans cannot. God did it because you couldn’t do it. God did it because nobody else could do it. God did it to show you He could do it. Believing in God despite terrible circumstances. There are circumstances in my life that are terrible, and I have no idea how this is going to turn out. Anything is possible with prayer and belief. If you’ll keep praying and you’ll keep believing, friend, anything is possible. God’s timing differs from human timing; patience is needed. God’s timing ain’t your timing. So just be patient. Human solutions to God problems don’t work. His wife said, I’ve come up with a human solution to a God problem. What you need is not a human solution, but you need the God solution. Trusting God with all your heart leads to directed steps. If I trust in Him with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding but in all my ways acknowledge Him that He will direct my steps. God fixes what humans cannot. You’re liable to find out He fixes what can’t be fixed by humans. God’s Abilities Believing in God who is able to do all things. Abraham believed in any help because he was believing, number one, in God who is able to do all things. Believing in God who can quicken the dead. He was believing that God was able to quicken the dead. This God had power to raise someone up from the dead. Believing in God who calls things that are not as though they were. When God talks about something that has not happened, he’s speaking to it as if it will happen because he will make it happen. God will speak it as if it has already happened. Need for More Faith Need for more faith. I need more faith. I need to believe God for more than what I’m believing. Trusting God for things that are impossible for humans. When you trust God and believe Him for things that you can’t fix, you can’t do. Daily choice to believe God or the world. Every day when you get up, you’re going to have to make a choice. Am I going to believe God today or am I going to believe the world? Believing God leads to the birth of hope. If you believe God, friend, hope is born again right in your soul. Abraham’s Strength in Faith Abraham was not weak in faith. Abraham was strong in the faith. Abraham believed God when asked to sacrifice Isaac. Take your only son Isaac up there and offer him up as a sacrifice unto me. Abraham believed God would provide a sacrifice. God will provide himself a lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. He believed in his heart that if God allowed him to take that boy, that he’d raise him from the dead. Overcoming Weakness in Faith Problem of weakness in faith. I think that’s part of our problem today. Faith can move mountains (Matthew 21:21). If we had faith we’d say to the mountain be you moved and cast into the sea and it would be. Abraham’s example of not considering his own body as dead. Being not weak in the faith, he considered not his own body, now need. Not letting the mind dictate faith. Abraham did not let his mind dictate what God was saying, whether it be possible or impossible. Not staggering at the promise of God through unbelief. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God. Being fully persuaded that God could perform what He promised. Being fully persuaded what he had promised, he was also able to perform. Value of Hope Faith, hope, and charity (love) are all important. These three things abide. Faith, hope, and charity. The greatest of these is charity. Need for hope. You need a lot of hope, by the way. Wake up with enough faith to produce hope for the day. You need to wake up in the morning with enough faith to produce more hope so that you have hope to do you all day long. Losing hope leads to stopping. The minute you run out of hope, the minute you sit down. The minute you quit working for God, the minute we quit living for God and serving God and reading and studying and seeking God, when you lose hope, you just stop. Hope is essential for survival, like for prisoners of war. The main thing that those prisoners of war in Vietnam needed, the main thing they needed was hope that they’d get out. Hope can lift one out of pits, depression, and hurt. It’ll lift you up out of that pit that you’re in, that depression that you’re in, that hurt that you’re feeling. Hope is powerful and can save. Hope will save you. It’s that powerful. Hope from the Scriptures Hope comes from the Scriptures (Romans 15:4). Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning. That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Increased faith leads to bold hope. As your faith is increased, brother, hope becomes bold within yourself. Need for hope at all times, not just in church. You don’t need it on Wednesday and Sunday. You need hope on Thursday morning. You need some good hope on Friday morning. The world should see hope in Christians. Reckon why they’d ever ask you about Christ if when they see or hear you, all they see is somebody that has no hope. The lost are the most hopeless. If there’s anybody hopeless, It’s the lost. Without hope in Christ, life is miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19). If I had hope in this life only in Christ, I’d be of all men most miserable. God of Hope The Word of God gives hope and sustains belief. The Word of God was meant to give us hope because it gives us faith. Hope keeps serving and fighting and helping and it’ll sustain you. God is the God of hope (Romans 15:13). Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace and believing. Prayer for God to fill with joy, peace, and belief. I pray that He fill you with all joy and peace and believing. Abounding in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. That ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. Supercharged Hope The Holy Ghost supercharges hope. The Holy Ghost then gets into hope. It gets supercharged at that point. Hope begins to do unexpected things. Suddenly hope begins to do things you didn’t know hope could do. The power of the Holy Ghost brings action. When you get the power of the Holy Ghost into something, you better get out of its way. Because it’s fixing to do something. Hopelessness leads to despair. So many people have got their head down, which infers to me they’ve lost hope, which means they’re not believing God. Christians should never be hopeless. You’re never hopeless. Simple faith in Christ produces supercharged hope. That simple faith in Christ produces a supercharged hope that has power to lift you up out of depression, lift you up out of the pit, lift you up out of that hard place. God can do what no one else can do. God can do what no one else can do. Hope as an Anchor Hebrews 6:18-19: hope as a strong consolation. By two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation. Lay hold upon the hope set before us. Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Hope is both an action and a thing. Hope is both a verb and a noun. Hope is an action and a thing. Hope is the answer and a supercharged power. Out there in front of you is hope. Out there in front of you is the answer, the hope that you need. You’ll experience hope as a thing. A supercharged. Holy Spirit-filled thing. A power unlike anything else on the earth. Hope changes perspective. Give somebody real hope. Their perspective changes on every circumstance. Loss of hope leads to despair and suicide. If you take their hope away, you know what they do these days? They try to kill themselves. Need to exercise faith to increase hope. You better keep working on hope. Hope will rescue and save. Hope’s going to rescue you. Hope’s going to save you. Hope as an anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Hope leads to Christ’s presence. Hope will lead you into His presence. Need to be at the feet of the One who can do all things. The one thing you need, more than anything else, is to be at the feet of the One who can do all things. Hope takes one to Christ. Your hope took you there. Hopelessness leads to quitting. You take a person that’s hopeless and you know what they want to do? They want to quit. Hope leads to seeking Jesus. Somebody that’s filled with hope is going to find themselves at the feet of Jesus one more time. Hope is supercharged by the Holy Ghost. Hope is supercharged of the Holy Ghost. Hope is brought by the Scriptures. It is brought to us by the Scriptures. Hope is a refuge and a sure anchor. God has said it before us that we might lay hold upon it as a refuge. It is a sure and steadfast anchor of our… Hope leads into the presence of Christ. It takes me into the presence of Christ. Creation’s Groaning and Hope’s Saving Power All creation groans (Romans 8:22). We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Everyone experiences problems. Every one of you have got problems. Choice to believe God and have hope or go farther down. They can either believe God. In that moment, they can either believe God and watch hope be born and supercharged powerfully enter into their life and lift them out of that circumstance or they will go farther down. Saved by hope (Romans 8:24). For we are saved by hope. Hope saves like a life preserver. Like a life preserver, when I’m going under it, Hope saves me. Hope lifts one up when feeling overwhelmed. When it feels like you’re just so far down that you ain’t going to come up again, and suddenly you feel like something grabbed a hold of you and just hit you right back down. That was hope. Hope replaces negative emotions with positive ones. A smile replaced the frame. And confidence the worry. And boldness the fear. Hope is always available in Christ. In Christ, there is always hope. Hope rescues and lifts up. Hope, it didn’t rescue you. It didn’t lift you up out of that where you said it didn’t pull you right back up to hope it saved you. Waiting with Patience Hope is born of faith. Hope is born of faith. When there is no faith, there is no hope. More faith leads to more hope. The more faith you have, the more hope is born. Hope lifts above the world’s troubles. Hope will save you. Hope will lift you above the waves of this world and the wretchedness we live in and the groaning and the pain. Hope is for things not seen (Romans 8:24-25). Hope that is seen is not hope. If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Patience is needed while waiting for God’s promise. If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Hope sustains while waiting. That hope will be what sustains you as you wait for it. Hope is an anchor of the soul. Hope will hold you. As an anchor of the soul. Hope leads closer to God. That hope is taking you right into him. Hope leads into the holiest of holies. It’s walking you closer and closer to him. Until it goes right inside, within the veil, behind the curtain, to the holies of holies. God does what no one else can do. God did something that nobody else could do. Patience allows hope to work until God fulfills His promise. With patience while hope did its work in sustaining and saving day after day moment after moment until finally God does what God said he’d do. Once the promise is seen, there is no more need for hope. Once you see it, you no longer have to hope for it no more. Faith, hope, and charity (love) are essential. Faith, hope, and charity. These three. Gratitude for hope. Thank God for Hope. Believing and carrying on despite uncertainty. You just keep carrying on. And you keep believing. Hope it keeps up. God’s plan is good. What a good plan He came up with, honey. Use faith, hope, and love. You’ve got them. Use them. Invitation to be filled with hope. I’d like to see you leave here filled with hope. Filled with hope. Let God save and help. Let him save you tonight. Let him help you.

Always Abounding in the Word 1 Peter 1:22-23

What is God really like when we fail Him? In this message, we turn to Exodus 34:6–7, where God reveals His own name and character in the aftermath of Israel's catastrophic sin with the golden calf. At the very moment we would expect judgment to fall, God leads with mercy—declaring Himself slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This sermon explores the difference between God's patience and His approval, why delayed judgment is not indifference, and how God's kindness is meant to lead us toward repentance rather than complacency. We'll also confront a hard truth: God's mercy often offends us when it's extended to people we think deserve judgment. You'll hear: • Why God's patience is not weakness • How we often confuse silence with approval • Why mercy flows from God's character, not our worthiness • How the cross proves that love and justice are never in conflict • What it looks like to respond rightly while mercy still speaks This message is both comforting and clarifying—offering hope to the repentant and a loving warning to the complacent. If you've ever wondered whether God is growing tired of you—or if you've mistaken His patience for permission—this episode invites you to listen again as God tells us His name.

Islay Baptist Church - Andrew Burnhamfalse00:29:15The Character of God - 4. Abounding in love and faithfulness

Always Abounding in All Seasons

Sermon by Sam LowThis week we explore 1 Peter 2:4-12.

In this sermon, “Abounding in Hope” from Romans 15:8–13, Pastor Jim Schultz gently leads us to rediscover the deep, steady hope God offers through Jesus Christ. This is not wishful thinking or shallow optimism, but a sure and steadfast hope rooted in God's faithfulness, Christ's finished work, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Romans and the Old Testament, we see that God's plan has always been to bring hope not only to Israel, but to all nations—uniting Jew and Gentile in Christ. Pastor Jim reminds us that true joy and peace flow from believing God's promises and placing our confidence in Jesus alone. As the “God of hope,” the Lord fills His people with joy, peace, and an overflowing hope that strengthens us to serve one another and share the gospel with the world. Whether you're feeling weary or encouraged, this message invites you to anchor your life in Christ, our only hope in life and in death.

Sermon by Mark van LuynThis week we explore 1 Peter 1:3-25

Abounding in Your Purity

Our Heavenly Father is abounding in love towards you each day. His love and care for you will never run low or even run out. Receive His love today. www.prayerdrive.com/

Hear episode 1 of Anchored & Advancing  In this powerful exposition of 1 Corinthians 15:58, discover what it means to live the Christian life with unwavering faith and purpose in today's challenging world. Please visit:  Faith Foundations – Foundational Teaching for the Church New Home Page - New Beginning Baptist Church of Palm Coast, FL

Our Heavenly Father is abounding in love towards you each day. His love and care for you will never run low or even run out. Receive His love today. www.prayerdrive.com/

Each year, as this season arrives, people express their expectations, emotions, and hopes for what lies ahead. The atmosphere is often filled with mixed feelings. For some, there is genuine excitement—still savouring the victories of 2025 and looking forward with anticipation to how the new year will unfold. Some approach the new year with caution, determined to tread carefully and avoid setting their expectations too high. They strive to ensure that nothing goes wrong, doing all they can to manage what lies ahead. Others carry disappointment and discouragement from the past year—2025 may have been especially painful, marked by loss in the family or the burden of chronic medical diagnoses affecting loved ones. Perhaps 2025 brought its share of financial struggles, leaving you feeling as though you barely made it through, surviving by the skin of your teeth. Maybe you faced trials at work, encountered obstacles in your business or studies, or dealt with health challenges. For some, the year was marked by battles with depression or anxiety. The challenges can seem endless, and the list often feels like it never stops. I'm not sure where you find yourself along this spectrum.

Sermon by Jimmy ShepherdThis week we explore Philippians 4:4-7

Ecclesiastes has long been viewed as the great existential work of the Hebrew Bible, containing the famous cry "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As part of a search for enduring meaning, it questions the nature of work, mortality, happiness, justice, goodness, and life itself. Abounding with careful observations, disappointments, and insights, Ecclesiastes is one of the richest and most complex books in all of Tanakh.  Join us as we speak with Erica Brown, whose commentary offers a fresh and hopeful look at this ancient book, as she synthesizes rabbinic commentary with modern scholarship, fine art, and poetry.  Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus(Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus(IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Ecclesiastes has long been viewed as the great existential work of the Hebrew Bible, containing the famous cry "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As part of a search for enduring meaning, it questions the nature of work, mortality, happiness, justice, goodness, and life itself. Abounding with careful observations, disappointments, and insights, Ecclesiastes is one of the richest and most complex books in all of Tanakh.  Join us as we speak with Erica Brown, whose commentary offers a fresh and hopeful look at this ancient book, as she synthesizes rabbinic commentary with modern scholarship, fine art, and poetry.  Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus(Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus(IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Ecclesiastes has long been viewed as the great existential work of the Hebrew Bible, containing the famous cry "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." As part of a search for enduring meaning, it questions the nature of work, mortality, happiness, justice, goodness, and life itself. Abounding with careful observations, disappointments, and insights, Ecclesiastes is one of the richest and most complex books in all of Tanakh.  Join us as we speak with Erica Brown, whose commentary offers a fresh and hopeful look at this ancient book, as she synthesizes rabbinic commentary with modern scholarship, fine art, and poetry.  Dr. Erica Brown is the Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and the founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks–Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus(Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus(IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020). He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Always Abounding in 2026 1 Corinthians 15:58

Liberty Church

INTRODUCTION — “THE FIRST FELT NEED IS TO KNOW ME.”Every year—like many pastors—I usually start January with a “felt needs” message series. Something to help us get our feet under us for a new year: stress, relationships, habits, purpose, prayer, identity… the things we're feeling right now.But as I was preparing for the first series of 2026, I heard the Holy Spirit speak something that immediately captured my attention. “The first felt need is to know Me.”I really believe The Lord is communicating to us, “The greatest need of My people is not a change in circumstances, but the greatest need of My people is clarity about who I AM.”If you don't know who He is… You won't trust Him.If you don't trust Him… You won't obey Him.If you don't obey Him…You won't experience the life He promised.[SO THIS YEAR…] before we talk about our needs, we are going to talk about His nature. We're going to start right where God Himself starts when He describes His own character.Not what culture says about God… Not what our trauma says about God… Not even what our feelings say about God… BUT WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT GOD.And there is one place in Scripture where God gives the most repeated, most quoted self-description of Himself in the entire Bible:FOUNDATIONAL SCRIPTUREExodus 34:6–7 (NIV) The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God,slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.This passage appears more than twenty times throughout the rest of Scripture. It is the Bible's anchor text for understanding the heart of God.[BUT IT DOES CREATE TENSION…] One moment God is compassionate, gracious, loving, forgiving… Then suddenly we read He “punishes the children”…SO… Is God merciful or is He vengeful? To answer that question, we need to look at the story behind these words.I. THE STORY BEHIND THE DESCRIPTIONBefore Exodus 34, God makes a covenant with Israel—He saves them out of slavery, brings them to Mount Sinai, gives them the Ten Commandments, and calls them to be SHAPED BY HIS CHARACTER so they can REPRESENT HIM TO THE WORLD.But as Moses is on the mountain receiving the covenant… Israel is at the bottom breaking the covenant… They build a golden calf. They worship an idol.God is hurt. God is angry. God tells Moses, “They will keep doing this. This rebellion will never stop.” AND God is ready to call off the covenant—And He would have been absolutely just in doing so!But Moses intercedes and reminds God of His promise to rescue the world through Abraham's family.[SO NOW THE QUESTION IS…] Will God give Israel what they deserve,or will He give them who He is?In response to that question— In response to human rebellion, human weakness, and human failure— GOD REVEALS HIS CHARACTER.II. THE FIVE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (THE CENTERPIECE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT)The description in Exodus 34:6–7 has five core traits:Compassionate; Gracious; Slow to Anger; Abounding in Loyal Love; Faithful / TruthfulCompassion is listed first—not by accident. And today we're going to begin with the first thing God wants us to know about Him:III. THE GOD WHO IS COMPASSIONATE“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate God…” —Exodus 34:6The Hebrew word is raḥûm {ra-khum} (רַחוּם).Its noun form is raḥamîm (compassion).Both come from the Hebrew root rechem — womb.To the ancient Hebrew mind, compassion is not a soft, vague feeling.It is love ROOTED IN THE DEEPEST PLACE OF HUMAN EMOTION—a mother's fierce, protective, tender love for her vulnerable child.Compassion is not distant pity. It is GUT-LEVEL MOVEMENT TOWARD SOMEONE IN PAIN.A. Compassion HAS DEEP EMOTION — 1 Kings 3In Solomon's famous judgment between two mothers, the real mother is described as being “deeply moved”—the Hebrew is raḥamîm—compassion rising from her core, from her womb.She would rather lose her child to another woman than see him harmed.Compassion MOVES YOU TOWARD ANOTHER'S GOOD AT YOUR OWN COST.{BIG KEY} THIS IS THE FIRST WORD God chooses to DESCRIBE HIMSELF!B. Compassion MOVES GOD TO ACTIONCompassion isn't just God's feeling—it is God's movement. When Israel cries out in Egypt, Scripture says God “heard their groaning” and was moved with raḥamîm to rescue them.In the wilderness, though they complained and doubted, God sustained them like a mother with Food, Water, Protection, Clothing that did not wear out, Leadership, guidance, and mercy!{BIG KEY} When God reveals His character, the very first trait He mentions is COMPASSION.C. Israel Rejects God's Compassion… but GOD REMAINS COMPASSIONATEDespite His tenderness, Israel continually rejects Him. They worship idols. They oppress each other. They abandon Him and heir rebellion leads to exile.In the darkest moment, God speaks through Isaiah: Isaiah 49:15 Can a mother forget her nursing child, or have no compassion (raḥamîm) on the child of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.Even when Israel forgets God— God promises that He will not forget them!He is more faithful than the most faithful mother. More tender than the most tender heart. More committed than the most committed parent.[AND ISAIAH ANNOUNCES SOMETHING RADICAL…] God will rescue His people by ENTERING INTO THEIR SUFFERING HIMSELF.IV. JESUS IS THE COMPASSION OF GOD IN HUMAN FORMWhen Jesus steps onto the scene, He is the fulfillment of Exodus 34:6.The Greek word for compassion in the New Testament is oiktirmos {oeek-teir-mose} (οἰκτιρμός).It means deep pity; heart-moved mercy; compassion that expresses itself in action.There is also another word often used of Jesus' compassion:splagchnizomai {splank-knee-ZOE-my}— compassion from the inner parts, the guts, the womb-like center of a person.Jesus is the raḥûm of God walking among us.JESUS HEALS Because He Is CompassionateHe touches the leper; He lifts the broken; He feeds the hungry; He embraces the outcast.JESUS WEEPS Because He Is CompassionateAt Lazarus's tomb, He is deeply moved; He enters our grief.JESUS PROTECTS Because He Is CompassionateIn Luke 13:34, He compares Himself to: “a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings.” Again we see the mother-heart of God.JESUS SAVES Because He Is CompassionateThe ultimate oiktirmos {oeek-teir-mose} is the cross. Jesus enters humanity's suffering, sin, sorrow, death— Not because we deserved it, but because He COULDN'T LEAVE US WHERE WE WERE.V. THE TENSION OF COMPASSION AND JUSTICE[NOW LET'S TURN BACK TO…] Exodus 34.God is compassionate… But He is also just. He forgives wickedness, rebellion, and sin… But He “does not leave the guilty unpunished.”Is this contradiction? No—it is the balancing of God's character.A. The Third and Fourth GenerationsThe phrase “punishes to the third and fourth generation” does not mean God is punishing innocent grandchildren.It means God limits the consequences of generational rebellion only to those who continue it.In Hebrew thought:“Thousands” = countless generations“Three or four” = a very limited number{BIG KEY} God's LOYAL LOVE IS THOUSANDS OF TIMES GREATER than His judgment.God LEANS OVERWHELMINGLY TOWARD MERCY.He only gives judgment WHEN PEOPLE CONTINUOUSLY REJECT HIS COMPASSION.VI. WHAT COMPASSION REQUIRES FROM USBecause God is compassionate, Scripture calls us to embody His compassion:Luke 6:36 Be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”2 Corinthians 1:3–4 God comforts us so we can comfort others.Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another…When we see suffering— Be moved.When we see brokenness— Move toward it.When we see pain— Don't look away; Don't harden your heart; Don't grow numb.Compassion is the character of God developed within His people.Agape, if we want to represent the God who is, we must become a people who reflect what He is.VII. APPLYING GOD'S COMPASSION TODAY1. When you are hurting, GOD MOVES TOWARD YOU, NOT AWAY FROM YOU.Some of you think God is disappointed or distant.No—He is moved by your pain.2. When you fail, GOD'S COMPASSION DOES NOT RUN OUT.Israel failed repeatedly—but God remained compassionate.3. When you see suffering, GOD WANTS TO MOVE THROUGH YOU.Compassion is not a feeling—it is participation.4. GOD'S COMPASSION IS STRONGER THAN YOUR GENERATIONAL PATTERNS.Three or four generations of sin cannot outweigh thousands of generations of God's loyal love.5. THE CROSS PROVES COMPASSION WINS.Jesus does not abandon His children—He gathers them.CONCLUSION — THE GOD WHO IS COMPASSIONATESO WHEN GOD REVEALS HIMSELF—not when Moses describes Him, not when people guess about Him, not when circumstances try to interpret Him— God tells Moses the very first word: COMPASSIONATE.THE God with a mother's heart…THE God who moves toward the hurting…THE God who feels deeply and acts timely…THE God who enters suffering, not avoids it…THE God who forgives before He judges…THE God whose love lasts to a thousand generations…THIS IS THE GOD WHO IS COMPASSIONATE.And this is where we begin 2026. Not with what we feel… BUT WITH WHO GOD IS.Today— Let's respond to the God who moves toward us.

Welcometo Pastor's Chat today and a blessed New Year. I trust this year will be ablessed one for you as you keep your eyes on Jesus—as you lay aside everyweight and those sins that so easily beset us, and run with endurance the racethat is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of yourfaith every day (Hebrews 12:1-2). Day by day, you walk with Him. Wehave seen in 1 Timothy 4:7 that we are to discipline ourselves for the purposeof godliness. Of course, godliness has many benefits because it means we becomemore like God. We deal with problems, situations, challenges, and even tragedyin a godly way—knowing that God is almighty, that He is in charge, that Heloves us, that He never makes a mistake, and that He desires to help us inevery area of our lives. When we live a godly life, we live with thatassurance. Noticealso how Paul finishes this statement: “This is a trustworthy statementdeserving full acceptance.” In other words, this is not a suggestion. Thisis a foundational truth for Christian growth and for the Christian life. It isworthy of full acceptance—to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.It is worth doing, knowing what Paul reminds us of that in 1 Corinthians 15:58:“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, alwaysabounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vainin the Lord...” Because of that truth, we persevere, we continue, we do notgive up—we keep going. Why? Because our labor in the Lord is not empty. It isnot fleeting. It does not simply disappear. It is eternal. It accomplishessomething. It makes a difference in the world in which we live. Sowhat are some things we can do? How can we practice these disciplines? First, Iwant to encourage you to set aside time—preferably in the morning, or at leastat some quiet point during the day—when you can get alone with the Lord for afew minutes. I challenge you to make it at least 15 minutes. Spendtime reading your Bible. On our website and in our blog at Pastor Mike ImpactMinistries, you'll find links to the calendars. (https://www.pmiministries.org/) We have twoBible-reading calendars available. One plan allows you to read through theentire Bible in a year in less than 15 minutes a day. If you have more time andwant to read more, you can choose Plan A, which is also available on thewebsite. You can print the calendar as a PDF and use it daily. Thisis important, because as Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, butby every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” That means from Genesis1:1 to the last verse of Revelation. Both of these plans include a dailyreading from the Psalms—helping us with praise, worship, seeking God, andunderstanding who He is. The Psalms guide us in worship before the Lord. I alsoencourage you to read the Proverbs, because Proverbs teaches us how to livewisely and how to relate to the people around us in very practical ways. Second,I want to encourage you to take time to pray. Write down some prayer requests.Pray specifically. Join us in praying for a pastor in India—if you write me,email me, text me, or message me in any way you can contact me, I will send youthe name of an Indian pastor you can pray for. Pray for missionaries. Pray foryour pastor. Pray for people who need to be saved. Pray for your neighbors—andget to know them. Decidethat you are going to be a person of prayer. E.M. Bounds said that you reallycannot rightly call yourself a Christian if you do not pray. So spend timetalking to God. And during that quiet time, listen as well—allow the HolySpirit to speak to you. That is communion with God. This is worship. We do notgo to church on Sunday just to worship once a week. No—we should and can worship24/7. Every day, every moment, should be an act of worship as we put the Lordfirst in our lives, look to Him, and make Him the center of everything.

Caroline continues our Advent series What Child Is This with a sermon on God's abounding love and faithfulness.

Bunyan is tempted to "sell Christ" and he thinks he has. Torment follows...

The enemy lies to him, the Lord Jesus gives him the truth he needs when he needs it.

Always Abounding is Always About God

Bunyan continues to seek God's face with sometimes success, sometimes not so much. Now he begins to think blasphemous thoughts as the enemy attempts to keep him from God's intended place of honor among the people of God. (Imagine Christian history without "Pilgrim's Progress"!)

Bunyan begins his long process of seeking after God. He listens to true believers. He is deceived by false believers. His struggle continues to remind us of "Christian" in Pilgrim's Progress.

Always Abounding on Opposite Sides of the Earth

Former Hope member and current Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Warrenton, Virginia, Mike Poff shares ten life-changing lessons learned over decades of ministry—lessons that moved him from doubt and failure to discovering God's genuine purpose. Whether you're new to faith, skeptical, or just searching for direction, you'll find timeless principles that actually work in real life. Mike openly discusses his biggest struggle: watching his church decline while questioning everything. Through this painful season, he discovered that God defines success differently than we do. His vulnerability and the real stories he shares—including how one phone call led to 15+ baptisms and changed families—will help you understand what it truly means to follow Jesus in everyday life. If you've ever felt lost, doubted God, experienced failure, or wondered if faith actually works—this is for you. Mike's honest storytelling about his own struggles makes these lessons feel real and immediately applicable. You'll hear about actual people whose lives have been completely transformed, and you'll get practical tools you can use right away.

Here begins the actual reading of "Grace Abounding..." in which Bunyan tells of his wretched life before conversion. Filthy sins, then religious sins... We see in this true story of a real man, the inspiration for "Pilgrim's progress."

Before actual reading of Bunyan's classic autobiography, I share the words of GEORGE OFFOR, editor of the 1875 edition of the 1666 book. Then, Bunyan's own preface to "GRACE ABOUNDING to the Chief of Sinners." Next time, we begin his actual relating of his life previous to his conversion.

Abounding in Revival

"Good" is such a mediocre word, we can often misunderstand what it means that God is good. But when we open our Bibles and consider God's goodness we see that all the beautiful aspects of his character flow from it. It's not just that God is good. Our greatest joy and only hope are in the fact that is perfect goodness.Application Questions: 1. How do you tend to define "goodness"? Is it rooted in God or your own ideas?2. What are some big moments in life in which you have seen God's goodness/kindness?3. What are some small moments in life in which you have seen God's goodness/kindness?4. What are some ways you have seen God's goodness/kindness in creation?5. How does the gospel prove the perfect nature of God's goodness?6. What are a few ways you would treat others differently if you were more consistently living out God's goodness toward them?

Send us a textColossians 2:6-7Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.Support the show

Always Abounding is about the People, not the Structures

In this message, Adrian Rogers shares key phrases in Romans 6 to teach us how to have victory as we walk with Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/135/29?v=20251111

In this message, Adrian Rogers shares key phrases in Romans 6 to teach us how to have victory as we walk with Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/135/29?v=20251111

Curtis Bronzan 

Curtis Bronzan 

Feeling hopeless? The world can crush that spark fast—but Romans 15:13 has a word for us today. In this episode, Delaney and Bev zoom into the verse, breaking it down to: the who of hope, character of hope, how of hope, and practice of hope. For the Christian, hope is SURE and tied to God Himself. So, this is your jolt: from hopelessness to Spirit-filled, unshakable hope. Dive in to learn more!