Podcasts about all jesus

Jesus came expecting to be received by a loving and loyal priesthood. The ministry and miracles by Jesus gave undeniable proof of His identity. These miracles were categorically rejected on technicalities by the religious leaders. 1) All Jesus could do is provide the opportunity for mankind to believe in His Father by faith;2) Provision for those who do believe to receive guidance, rebirth and regeneration;3) Prayer for believers to be in relationship now and in the world to come; 4) Promise of a place and a return, opportunity for faith.Those who come to the Father must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth? ***108: Jesus At The Last SupperMatthew 26:14-30; Mark 14:10-26; Luke 22:3-39; John 13:1-17:26Farewell Advice As Jesus sat with his disciples in the upper room, he said to them: “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In 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. And 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. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” Thomas said to Jesus: “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” Jesus replied: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” Phillip said: “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Jesus said: “Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, ‘Show us the Father?' Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, ‘He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.' And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me. Because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he...

In this sermon, we explore the profound message of Luke 2:22–35, focusing on Simeon's encounter with the infant Jesus in the temple. Discover how Simeon's prophecy highlights the dual impact of Christ's presence—bringing salvation to those who accept Him and confrontation to those who reject Him. Key themes include: Perseverance and Faith: Lessons from Simeon and Anna about waiting on God's promises. Salvation for All: Jesus as the light for both Jews and Gentiles. The Cost of Following Christ: How Jesus challenges our choices and reveals the true state of our hearts. Hope in the Face of Pain: The significance of Mary's sorrow and its connection to the cross. Join us as we reflect on the timeless relevance of Simeon's prophecy and how it calls us to respond to Jesus with faith and courage.

This teaching is from Matthew 21:10-23 and continues a study of Holy Week - Jesus' final week before His resurrection. In today's story, people recognized Jesus as a prophet, but He was much more than a prophet! Over the next few weeks we will be exploring: The heart of the Gospel as the heart of God's message of salvation, and that message is at the heart of who Jesus is. Let's dig into what that means for us. Following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, in today's text picks up with Jesus entering the temple courts and how he drives out all who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. Jesus says, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” Pastor shares the perspective that this is the second tine Jesus cleansed the temple, the first was at the beginning of His teaching ministry and the account in Matthew brings the second time Jesus does this. Pastor talks in detail about the temple at this time: size, construction and the courts on the sides of the temple allowed possibly as many as 200,000 people to worship at the temple. Following the overturning of the tables in the temple court, the blind and lame came to Jesus and he healed them and children were singing hosannas. But this angered the priest and teachers of the law, revealing their spiritual blindness and arrogance. Jesus desires that heir minds would be opened and that these leaders would be accept Him for who He is. He desires that we all come to Him in humility and genuine worship. Jesus then leaves the temple and heads to Bethany for the night. Everything the scriptures have predicted is about to take place... Today's teaching closes with the story of the cursed fig tree. What does this story tell us? Was Jesus just in a bad mood? Was he ‘hangry?” No, there is much to learn from this story, here's how it goes. Jesus is hungry. He goes to a fig tree to pick fruit but there's nothing on it except leaves. But it wasn't the season for figs! Didn't Jesus know this? Here's what we do know: Prior to the season for figs to come on a tree there are small nubs that grow on the tree called paggim. They are edible - but there aren't even any paggim on this tree. All Jesus finds are leaves. It's then that Jesus says, “May you never bear fruit again!” The fig tree is a symbol for Israel, the fig tree is often used as a representation of the children of Israel. And Adam and Eve, after the fall, were clothed in fig leaves. So the fig tree is a reminder of human sin, Genesis 3, but also a reminder of the nation of Israel especially its leaders. What Jesus sees as he looks at this tree is that it looks like a great tree but it has no fruit. This is a prophetic judgement on the leadership of Jesus' day - it is also a clarion call to us to take seriously the things of God! What God desires is that we don't just “look good” on the outside, He desires that we bear fruit! Jesus tells us throughout His ministry that if we continue in His word we will bear fruit. We're not saved by our fruit production but because we are saved, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control so that others are drawn to Jesus. We don't want our lives to be all for show - we want to produce fruit! Jesus goes on to let us know we can trust God to hear and heed our prayers and that we can, with confidence, do the work He has called us to do: on our knees, praying and believing what Jesus says, “You will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” We can ask anything according to His will - He hears and answers! Visit our website here https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/matthew-discipling Watch the video from Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOxHZDaamNk9DaM7h7LejJj7 Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app. We invite you to join us for our Sunday service every Sunday at 9:30am CT (live or on demand) here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service

I speak about the beauty of Jesus Christ. All Jesus lovers will love this!

 But it did not seem like a parable!  All Jesus had said when he “called the people to him” was, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what goes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” [Matt. 15 v.11]  It was because “the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying” [v.12] that Peter asked, apparently urgently, for an explanation.  The Pharisees it seems had got the point, he had quoted Isaiah to them, “This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” [v.8]  Jesus is referring to spiritual defilement, how the mind of a person becomes defiled – today we would say, dirty!  Jesus, in explaining the parable, said, “what comes out of the heart, this defiles a person” [v.19].  The Pharisees concentrated on the ritual of physical cleansing and the outward evidence of words and actions. The focus was on the ceremonial washing of hands, just like the Muslims do today with places outside each Mosque for washing hands and feet before they enter.  The message today in Jeremiah is exactly the same.  Jeremiah tells the people, “O Jerusalem, wash your hearts from evil that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?” [4 v.14].  Those thoughts of the heart that defiled them continued to lodge within them so the disaster God threatened finally happened. He does not mean ‘passing' thoughts that we push out of our minds.  But what do we let our minds and our eyes feed upon? We live in a world today where ungodly attitudes are uttered and ways of living are displayed again and again on TV and DVDs and in the cinemas and written in books.  And the majority of people “love to have it so”, which is the complaint Jeremiah makes in tomorrow's reading [5 v.31] – and then adds the question, “but what will you do when the end comes?” That's just the question we should also ask today!  He has a vision of what is coming and exclaims, “My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!  Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly … Crash follows hard on crash …” [4 v.19,20]  Then God comments, “my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise' in doing evil! But how to do good they know not” [v.22] Let us make sure we see the point of the parable  – and be clean within – then God will take care of us “when the end comes.”

Mark 3:20-35…and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Grace, mercy, and peace be yours today from God: Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.With the two fine preachers we have here at Cross of Grace, I didn't think I would have another chance to be at this pulpit, but I am grateful for it as they are off tending to the business of the larger church. And we pray for them in that work.This Gospel text is a sort of mishmash is it not? It jumps around from Jesus and the crowds to Jesus and the temple scribes and to Jesus and his family. And what is central to it all is that Jesus is caught in the middle—in the middle of the crowds;in the middle of a dispute with the scribes;and in the middle of a family squabble. But, reading the Gospels, that's where we often find Jesus—Caught in the Middle.At the beginning of the text, we find Jesus going home. He had just picked his twelve disciples and no doubt had been on the dusty roads for a time and wanted peace and quiet and a home cooked meal.But the crowds followed him home and were so big and persistent that Jesus and his new friends could not even eat their meal. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus was always drawing crowds —he was famous for his healing miracles…for changing water into wine…and for his teaching. Sometimes he had to flee from them. Once he even had to escape on a boat. These pressing crowds remind me of the Caitlin Clark effect. She can't go anywhere these days. Kids and adults hound her for an autograph and hand slaps as she comes and goes on the court her presence is filling arena across the country. I'm guessing she can't even go to a restaurant without crowds bothering her.Jesus' own family went out to rescue him as the crowds were saying he was crazy. Jesus was caught in the middle of it all.And then came the confrontation with the scribes—those annoying holy men who professed to have all the truths about God and saying how Jesus should be acting/behaving if he was truly God's son.They tried to trap him by equating him with Satan and deeming him a blasphemous, false messiah. In refuting his baptism by the Holy Spirit; claiming that he associated with all the wrong people; by not behaving as a righteous person should behave, they were trying to make the case against him. In so doing they themselves were blaspheming against the Holy Spirit and this is when Jesus has enough and utters his word about that sin being the only unforgivable one. Jesus caught in the middle of disputes between the Scribes and Pharisees—the religious establishment of the day would ultimately lead to his arrest and death.And then the text closes with Jesus back with the crowds and his family outside the home. This is where it gets a bit sticky. The crowd tells Jesus that his mother and siblings are asking for him, and it seems as though Jesus denies his immediate family, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And then motioning with his hands and arms to those gathered, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother. Again, we see Jesus caught in the middle of his family and the crowds. How do you think his mother and siblings took that? I'm thinking probably not too well. Did they think he was denying them their place in his life? What's up with that? It seems very harsh.I think we can all admit that families can be messy at times. There are misunderstandings. There can be harsh words. There can be addictions, diseases, and divorces that hurt and divide. There can be some family members who disavow faith and worship. There can be family members who are incarcerated. There are congregations (a wonderful expression of a family, right?) who are more interested in judging and condemning than embracing. There can be unloving actions that exclude LGBT+ family members—I've been a witness to that. I heard of a church sign this week that said, “God wants our humility, not pride.” Surely that is a direct hit aimed at Pride month. How will LGBT+ folks take that sign? Think they will feel welcome in that mainline church? And I read that the Southern Baptist Convention is scheduled to vote soon to expel any congregation that calls a woman pastor.Yes, our families of origin and our church families can be messy.As the 21st century disciples of Jesus we had better find ourselves in the middle. In the middle of religious disputes with words of forgiveness, truth, justice, and hope.We had better be in the middle of secular disputes around corruption, racial injustice, voting rights and equal rights for all. That's where we will find Jesus, and he expects us to be at his side in the middle of it all.All Jesus was doing that day as he looked at those sitting around him and saying, “Here is my family” was enlarging his family, not downsizing it. He didn't deny his own biological one. And we know that as he was dying on the cross for you and me, and for the sake of the world, he looked down at one of the disciples and said, “You take care of my mother.” He loved his immediate family even if they couldn't understand his life's mission. And he loves us even as we struggle to find the courage, patience, and grace to be caught in the middle with Jesus—right where he wants and expects us to be.Amen.

A Sermon for Whitsunday Acts 2:1-11 by William Klock “Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  How about now…now are we there yet?”  As you read the Gospels the disciples' questions about the kingdom of God feel a bit like that.  All Jesus needed was one of them kicking the back of his seat on the way to Jerusalem.  “When will the kingdom come?  How long?  Are we there yet?  Is it almost time, Jesus?”  But it wasn't just the disciples.  It was First Century Judaism.  Pretty much everyone was on the edge of their seat with anticipation for the kingdom.  Everyone except the Sadducees, because of course, they were sitting on the top of the heap, already in control of everything.  They'd already arrived and weren't particularly interested in anything that might upset the status quo.  But even then, they knew it was the Romans who were really calling the shots, so I suspect even the Sadducees were thinking “Are we there yet?”  They just didn't say it out loud.  Everyone knew it was time.  It had to be.  And that sense was even stronger for the disciples, because they knew Jesus was the Messiah—the one come to usher in God's kingdom and to set the world to rights.  So if the Messiah had come—well—the kingdom had to be really close. And so Luke, as he opens the book of Acts with the Ascension of Jesus, he tells us of Jesus' promise to his friends: “Don't go back to Galilee.  Stay in Jerusalem.  As John baptised you with water, in a few days I will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”  But they hadn't asked Jesus about the Holy Spirit.  They wanted to know when the kingdom was coming, because it had to be soon.  And so even as Jesus was leading them up the Mount of Olives and about to ascend to his throne, they were pestering him, “Is this the time?  Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”  And, remember, in answer to their question Jesus ascended, up on the clouds, into heaven, to take up his throne, to rule and to reign. And as he did that, he commissioned his disciples to do something that I don't think they expected.  He commissioned them to be his royal heralds, to go out and to proclaim this good news to Jerusalem, to Judea, even to Samaria, and then to the ends of the earth.  Now, this wasn't the first time Jesus had sent his disciples out to proclaim the kingdom, but when he'd sent them out before, it was to a people who were also asking those “Are we there yet?” questions.  The disciples had gone out and told the people that in Jesus the Messiah had come and that the kingdom was in sight.  But now Jesus is sending them out to proclaim that in his resurrection and ascension the kingdom has come and that was no small task.  Because even though the disciples had seen their risen Lord and even though they saw him ascend to his throne, this wasn't how anyone expected the kingdom to arrive.  They thought everyone would be resurrected all at once.  They though the Messiah would put down the enemies of God's people and cast down their empires.  They expected a king like David who would punish evil, wipe away all the problems, and make everything as it should be.  Instead, the wrong people were still in control, evil people still did evil things, so much was still wrong with the world—and yet Jesus had inaugurated something, he really had risen from the dead, and they'd seen him ascend to his throne with their own eyes, so they knew he was truly Lord and that the kingdom had come.  The Lord's plan was to work through them, to spread the good news and to tell the world that Jesus is Lord, and to grow the kingdom.  That wasn't what anyone expected, but they should have, because that's how the Lord had been working in the world ever since he called Abraham out of the land of Ur and set him apart from everyone else, and made him and his family a witness to the world—that one day, through this people, the whole earth would know the Lord and his greatness and his goodness and his faithfulness and come to give him glory. I wonder if we, too, don't forget this sometimes.  We might know better deep down, but we kind of assume that the Christian life is, more or less, a personal thing.  We raise our kids in it.  Maybe we talk to a few close people about it.  But we act as if our duty is mostly just to be good, godly people until Jesus comes back and sets everything to rights—as if he's the one who's going to make it all happen by doing all the hard work.  Sure, there are some people called to be missionaries who go off to faraway places where they've never heard of Jesus, but for most of us, it's just a quiet, personal, individual sort of thing.  Even the dominant eschatology of our day assumes that things will just get worse and worse until Jesus zaps us all out of here and rains down fire and brimstone on this awful, corrupt world.  But that's never what the story was about and that's never where it was headed.  The Lord called and created a people to make him known with the expectation that eventually that people—not in their own power, but in his—but that people would really make him known until, as the prophets Isaiah and Habakkuk both said, the knowledge of his glory would cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Maybe we forget our part in this kingdom mission because it seems so impossible.  What?  Us?  Grow the kingdom until the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth?  What?  Us?  Bring the nations to give him glory?  That's too big for us?  We'll just be holy over here and wait for Jesus to come back and do the impossible stuff.  And at this point, Jesus' disciples had no idea just how big and impossible the task was.  Taking the gospel to the gentiles wasn't even on their radar.  They were still thinking it was a message for Jews.  It would be some years before the full extent of it even sank in.  And this is why Jesus told his friends to stay in Jerusalem and to wait.  In his resurrection he was vindicated as the Messiah.  In his ascension he took his throne and sent the clear message that the kingdom has come.  But before the disciples could go on with the work of the kingdom, they needed something that God's people had never had before—at least not in this way.  They needed the power of the Holy Spirit to truly be the new Israel, to carry on the mission the Lord had given to Abraham and Isaac, and to all of Israel: to bless the nations by making him known to them.  Without the Spirit, Jesus' disciples would have the same problem God's people had always had and after a time, when the excitement wore off, they would become fickle and faithless and their loyalties would be divided and they would fall into sin and the nations would mock them, this time jeering, “Where's your Messiah now?”  No, they needed this gift of the indwelling Spirit to set their hearts on God and to write his law of love on their hearts—truly transforming their affections.  And it was this Spirit who would empower them to go out into a hostile world with the good news about Jesus and to live out his love and his grace and his justice, carrying the kingdom to the ends of the earth.  That's why they had to wait in Jerusalem. I don't think they really had any idea what was about to happen.  They didn't even really understand the full extent of the mission he'd given them.  They were just excited because of his resurrection and his ascension and Luke says that while they waited in Jerusalem that they spent their time in the temple praising and blessing God.  And then comes our Epistle today.  Look at Acts 2.  Luke writes, When the day of Pentecost arrived…   Let's stop there.  This isn't an incidental detail.  It's integral to the story.  As integral as Jesus having been born a Jew.  As integral as his death and resurrection taking place at Passover.  “Pentecost” means “fiftieth” in Greek.  Greek-speaking Jews gave the festival this name because it fell fifty days after Passover, but its biblical name was the “feast of weeks” and it was connected with the wheat harvest.  It was when the Lord commanded his people to bring him their firstfruits.  That's the very first part of the harvest.  It was an offering to the Lord and it was an act of faith on their part.  Other peoples brought offerings to their gods after the harvest had been brought in, once they knew what they could spare.  But Israel gave in faith from the very first of the harvest, trusting the Lord to give the rest.  So Pentecost was a feast of expectation and faith. But Pentecost was also the feast when Israel celebrated the giving of the law, the torah, at Mt. Sinai.  That's where the significance of “fifty” comes from.  Again, it follows fifty days after Passover and you'll remember that Passover commemorated Israel's exodus from Egypt: their slavery, Moses and the Lord's command to Pharaoh, “Let my people go!”, the plagues, the blood on the doorposts, the sparing of Israel's firstborn sons, the flight from Egypt, the rescue at the Red Sea.  Passover was a festival of the Lord's deliverance of his people and it celebrated that great event in which Israel was born as a nation.  And each generation participated in those events anew as they gathered year in and year out in their homes to share the Passover meal.  It marked them out as the Lord's covenant people. But that wasn't the end of the story.  From the Red Sea, the Lord led his people into the wilderness and fifty days later he gave them his law.  He called Moses up to Mt. Sinai and when Moses came back down he brough the law with him, carved on stone tablets.  In the Exodus the Lord had made Israel his people.  At Mt. Sinai he showed them what it meant and what it looked like to be his people.  So at Passover the Jews celebrated their redemption.  At Pentecost they remembered that the Lord had redeemed them for a purpose: to live a new kind of life in order to fulfil his purposes and their calling. Can you see how this all fits together with the events of the Gospels?  Easter is our Passover, when we remember how, through Jesus, the Lord redeemed us from our bondage to sin and death and made us his people.  And now, on Pentecost—this is our Mt. Sinai.  Let's continue with Acts 2: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.   In Exodus we're given an awesome picture of the holiness of God as his presence descended on the mountain in smoke and fire and thunder, and here the Spirit comes again like a storm, in this mighty rushing wind and fire descends upon his people.  And here Luke tells this new story to parallel the old.  As Moses went up on the mountain to the Lord, so Jesus has ascended into heaven.  And now Luke wants us to understand that Jesus, just as he promised he would, has come back down.  Moses came down with tablets of stone to tell the people how to live as the Lord's covenant people.  And now Jesus has returned, he's come down from heaven in the person of the Holy Spirit, to write his law of love on the very hearts of his people. Don't misunderstand.  That doesn't mean that Israel had a harsh and rigid law written on stone and that Jesus' people just “follow their hearts” or something like that.  There's a sense in which that's true, but definitely not in the sense that the world talks about following your heart.  Following our hearts is what got us into trouble and made a mess of this world, because apart from Jesus and the Spirit our hearts are set on sin and self.  That's the point here.  The law written on stone showed Israel how to live as God's holy people, but it couldn't change the affections of their hearts.  The Spirit, on the other hand, takes away the need for those stone tablets by changing our very hearts, filling them with a love for God and a desire for holiness, and by turning us away from sin and from self. And notice how the wind and the fire come from heaven.  Through the Spirit the creative and renewing power of the Lord—the very breath that he breathed into humanity to give us life in the first place—it descends on his people to accomplish his work on earth.  Jesus taught his disciples to pray “on earth as it is in heaven” and Pentecost was the firstfruits of an answer to that prayer.  Sometimes Christians treat the presence and gifts of the Holy Spirit as things that raise us up above the world or that make the world irrelevant, but it's really just the opposite.  The Spirit is the life-giving breath of God that gives us a foretaste of the resurrection and of the life we hope for one day in this world set to rights.  As the Spirit sets our hearts on God, he makes us the “on earth as it is in heaven” people, the people who not only show the world what God's kingdom looks like, but who actually live out his kingdom and its values of love and grace and mercy and justice in the midst of a world that values all the opposites of those things. But the first manifestation of the Spirit's “on earth as it is in heaven” ministry is what we see here.  Luke says, first, that Jesus' people were all together when this happened—they were united—and then the first manifestation of the Spirit was this amazing speech in other languages.  But what exactly was it?  Let's keep reading from verse 5: Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.  And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?  Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”   Jews had spread out across the known world and festivals like Passover and Pentecost brough them back to Jerusalem.  The Spirit came on Jesus' disciples with fire and the sound of a mighty rushing wind, but what everyone else couldn't help but notice was the ruckus they made as they began to speak in these other languages.  And it got their attention.  The disciples were a bunch of rubes from Galilee, way up north, or at least that's how people in Jerusalem would have seen them.  Galileans spoke Aramaic and Greek—the local languages—but they weren't cosmopolitan enough to speak all these other languages.  And yet these men visiting Jerusalem from places like Egypt and Asia and even from places like Parthia, beyond the borders of the empire, heard these Galileans speaking in their own languages.  That made them stop and take note.  But what they were saying caught their attention even more.  Luke says they were telling of the mighty works of God.  In the context here that can mean only one thing.  They were proclaiming the good news about Jesus.  That he had come proclaiming the kingdom and calling the people to repentance, that he had been crucified, that he had risen from the dead, and that he had ascended, and is now Lord—and maybe most of all, that he had done this in fulfilment of the Lord's promises and to show the Lord's faithfulness.  Many of these visitors had, no doubt, heard about Jesus and how he'd been crucified just a few weeks before.  Some of them had probably heard rumors that he'd risen from the dead.  If they'd been spending any time around the temple, they would have heard and seen the disciples praising God for what he had done in Jesus—and they probably thought they were crazy.   But now they hear these bumpkins from Galilee declaring the might works of God miraculously in their own languages and they stop.  And they listen.  And some of them, Luke says, sneered at the disciples thinking they were drunk.  But that's when—if we were to continue on from today's Epistle in Chapter 2—that's when Peter stood up addressed them, saying, “It's nine o'clock in the morning.  It's hardly the time of day for men to be drunk.  No, what you're seeing is the fulfilment of the words spoken by the prophet Joel when he told of the Lord's promise to pour out his Spirit and to redeem his people.  And Peter went on to tell the men there, again, of the mighty deeds of God: of Jesus, of his death, of his resurrection, and his ascension.  And he walked the men through the scriptures they knew so well and through the promises the Lord had made to his people, and he showed how Jesus had and was fulfilling them.  He finished his sermon, Luke says, proclaiming: “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”  (Acts 2:36) And the men who were listening were cut to the heart and cried out to Peter, “What should we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”  And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”  So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:38-41) The “on earth as it is in heaven” people began to grow.  The rest of the book of Acts is Luke's testimony to the mighty deeds of God through these people, empowered by Jesus and the Spirit.  We see the gospel—and with it the kingdom—going out from Jerusalem, to Judea, and then to Samaria, where it united Jews and Samaritans for the first time.  And then we see it go out to the nations, to the gentiles, the book ending with Paul proclaiming the good news about Jesus in Rome, right under Caesar's nose.  And Acts shows us churches sprouting up across the world.  Acts is the firstfruits of the kingdom harvest—a harvest that would, eventually include the whole Roman Empire and beyond.  And, Brothers and Sisters, Pentecost reminds us how.  Without it we might be tempted to give up, to retreat into the church building, and wait for Jesus to come and do it all himself.  But Pentecost reminds us that going all the way back to Abraham, the Lord has been calling and creating and empowering a people to make him known to a world lost in darkness, a people to be light, a people—like the disciples that day in Jerusalem—to proclaim to the world the mighty deeds of the God of Israel.  A people to proclaim the good news that in this Jesus who was crucified, who has risen from the dead, and who has ascended to his throne to rule and reign, that he is and that he will set this world to rights.  But, maybe most importantly, Pentecost reminds us that Jesus has called us and made us this people, not only to go out and to tell, but to go out and live and to do and to make and to build and to show his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  We do that as we live the fruit the Spirit has given and as we show the world, in real, practical, hands-on ways what God's new creation is like, living his love and his mercy and his grace and his justice and working for those things in the world.  It is an impossible task, but Pentecost also reminds us that we are not called to do it in our own power or on our own terms, but as we are empowered and guided by Jesus and the Spirit. Let's pray: O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Guest Preacher: Kurt B. Crays, CEO - Erie United Methodist Alliance Organist: James Ross Prelude - Scherzoso- Joseph Rhineberger Gathering at the Gate Welcome *Call to Worship (based on Luke 24:36-43) Leader: What is it like to literally not have a home, a place to lay your head at night? “Homeless” can also mean a sense of not feeling “at home,” lacking a feeling of belonging, feeling alone even in the midst of others. So many in this world are isolated. How can we find, and offer each other, “home” with the assurance of the presence of God and a beloved community? People: Rise up in us and we will rise From death into a newfound life: From bondage freed, from harm released, From illness healed, as one in peace. When all is lost our hearts are warmed, Our hope restored, our lives transformed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Leader: Jesus appeared among the disciples again. He stood among them and said: “Peace be with you.” Yet, the disciples were terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost. People: Centering our hearts and minds in peace is a way to feel calm within. We learn to still ourselves to be open to unimaginable possibilities. Leader: Jesus asked: “Why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” People: Doubts play an important role in our faith journey. Facing our uncertainties allows room for our hearts and minds to be filled with healing narratives. Leader: “Touch me and see,” Jesus invited, as he offered his pierced hands and feet. Yet, the disciples — even in the midst of their joy — felt disbelief. People: Sometimes we are presented with signs of hope long before we realize we are not abandoned. Our hearts rejoice, yet our minds still wonder at what we have seen. Leader: Jesus asked if they had anything to eat, and the disciples shared a piece of fish, which Jesus ate while in their presence. All: Jesus frequently shows us how to create community in the midst of feeling lost. We can form communities of sustenance and belonging. We are not alone – we are found – when we share Christ’s call to peace. Leader: This is a Word of Hope for the people who long for it. All: Thanks be to the Living Word. *Opening Hymn "What A Friend We Have in Jesus” #526 *Opening Prayer Leader: "Christ is Risen!" All: “He is risen indeed!” We repeat our Easter shouts of surprise and joy again and again, for news of your victory over powers of death and evil is news so startling so amazing so different from the news that bombards us day by day. Beyond our comprehension You startle us again and again with resurrection Life, bringing grace and hope and joy. You, in your risen power, are shaping all our days, and so we praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Confession of Faith: The World Methodist Social Affirmation #886 Gloria Patri Children's Chat Music Ministry and Offertory - Meditation on Need-George Brandon Doxology and Prayer of Gratitude Proclaiming Home Scripture Mark 12:28-31 Sermon: “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” Responding to Being Found Joys/Concerns Hymn "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" #301 Pastoral Prayer/Lord's Prayer Closing Hymn “I Love to Tell the Story” #156 vs 1-5 Verse 5: The Savior of our stories has brought his peace to you; now go and tell the story, for others need it too. To ev'ry one who’s hurting ring out the gospel call; proclaim that Christ is risen and grants his peace to all. Unlocking Home Action Steps & Benediction Postlude - Fanfare - Gilbert Martin The flowers on the altar today are given in loving memory of Ella Mae and Bob Finney Sr. by Anne Finney. Thank you for sharing in this worship service. Please continue to stay in touch through our website (stoneumc.org) and/or by following us on Facebook (Stone UMC). If you have joys or concerns that you would like lifted up in prayer, please fill out the Prayer Card in the pew, on the website, share them by contacting us at 814-724-6736 or churchoffice@stoneumc.org

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Guest Preacher: Kurt B. Crays, CEO - Erie United Methodist Alliance Organist: James Ross Prelude - Scherzoso- Joseph Rhineberger Gathering at the Gate Welcome *Call to Worship (based on Luke 24:36-43) Leader: What is it like to literally not have a home, a place to lay your head at night? “Homeless” can also mean a sense of not feeling “at home,” lacking a feeling of belonging, feeling alone even in the midst of others. So many in this world are isolated. How can we find, and offer each other, “home” with the assurance of the presence of God and a beloved community? People: Rise up in us and we will rise From death into a newfound life: From bondage freed, from harm released, From illness healed, as one in peace. When all is lost our hearts are warmed, Our hope restored, our lives transformed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Leader: Jesus appeared among the disciples again. He stood among them and said: “Peace be with you.” Yet, the disciples were terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost. People: Centering our hearts and minds in peace is a way to feel calm within. We learn to still ourselves to be open to unimaginable possibilities. Leader: Jesus asked: “Why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” People: Doubts play an important role in our faith journey. Facing our uncertainties allows room for our hearts and minds to be filled with healing narratives. Leader: “Touch me and see,” Jesus invited, as he offered his pierced hands and feet. Yet, the disciples — even in the midst of their joy — felt disbelief. People: Sometimes we are presented with signs of hope long before we realize we are not abandoned. Our hearts rejoice, yet our minds still wonder at what we have seen. Leader: Jesus asked if they had anything to eat, and the disciples shared a piece of fish, which Jesus ate while in their presence. All: Jesus frequently shows us how to create community in the midst of feeling lost. We can form communities of sustenance and belonging. We are not alone – we are found – when we share Christ’s call to peace. Leader: This is a Word of Hope for the people who long for it. All: Thanks be to the Living Word. *Opening Hymn "What A Friend We Have in Jesus” #526 *Opening Prayer Leader: "Christ is Risen!" All: “He is risen indeed!” We repeat our Easter shouts of surprise and joy again and again, for news of your victory over powers of death and evil is news so startling so amazing so different from the news that bombards us day by day. Beyond our comprehension You startle us again and again with resurrection Life, bringing grace and hope and joy. You, in your risen power, are shaping all our days, and so we praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Confession of Faith: The World Methodist Social Affirmation #886 Gloria Patri Children's Chat Music Ministry and Offertory - Meditation on Need-George Brandon Doxology and Prayer of Gratitude Proclaiming Home Scripture Mark 12:28-31 Sermon: “Won't You Be My Neighbor?” Responding to Being Found Joys/Concerns Hymn "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross" #301 Pastoral Prayer/Lord's Prayer Closing Hymn “I Love to Tell the Story” #156 vs 1-5 Verse 5: The Savior of our stories has brought his peace to you; now go and tell the story, for others need it too. To ev'ry one who’s hurting ring out the gospel call; proclaim that Christ is risen and grants his peace to all. Unlocking Home Action Steps & Benediction Postlude - Fanfare - Gilbert Martin The flowers on the altar today are given in loving memory of Ella Mae and Bob Finney Sr. by Anne Finney. Thank you for sharing in this worship service. Please continue to stay in touch through our website (stoneumc.org) and/or by following us on Facebook (Stone UMC). If you have joys or concerns that you would like lifted up in prayer, please fill out the Prayer Card in the pew, on the website, share them by contacting us at 814-724-6736 or churchoffice@stoneumc.org

Today is day 58 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the sixth line: “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of The Virgin Mary” and studying question 58. 58. What does the union of Jesus' two natures teach you about his ministry? All Jesus does as a human being he also does as God. His human words and deeds are saving because they are the words and deeds of God the Son. ( John 5:19–29; Romans 8:1–4; Colossians 1:19–23; Hebrews 4:14–16) We will conclude today with The Collect for Palm Sunday found on page 607 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It is All Jesus - 2/25/2024 - Robb Ferrell

Pastor Jason Bonilla shares that as we believe for more, we learn there is nothing that our God can't do! It takes just one touch to heal us and just one word to bring resurrection life. All Jesus requires of us to do is to trust him and believe by faith.

Pastor Jason Bonilla shares that as we believe for more, we learn there is nothing that our God can't do! It takes just one touch to heal us and just one word to bring resurrection life. All Jesus requires of us to do is to trust him and believe by faith.

All Jesus is a Christmas Eve message that inspires us once again that Its all about Jesus!The goal of all of us should be to get to the place where Jesus is preeminent in our lives. Not just present or prominent but All Jesus!For more info about us, you can visit www.rlmacon.com or if you would like to support ministry by giving. You can visit www.rlmacon.com/give

Jesus proclaimed that we must eat and drink of Him to have eternal life. But how could that possibly be? Addressing this often misunderstood and misapplied passage of Scripture, Alistair Begg explains that Jesus used physical descriptions to explain spiritual truths. Spiritual hunger—that deep-seated desire to make sense of existence—is universal. Only when we're united with Christ do we find the true food and drink that satisfies our deepest longings. All Jesus requires is that we know our need of Him and place our trust in His provision.

Jesus proclaimed that we must eat and drink of Him to have eternal life. But how could that possibly be-- Addressing this often misunderstood and misapplied passage of Scripture, Alistair Begg explains that Jesus used physical descriptions to explain spiritual truths. Spiritual hunger-that deep-seated desire to make sense of existence-is universal. Only when we're united with Christ do we find the true food and drink that satisfies our deepest longings. All Jesus requires is that we know our need of Him and place our trust in His provision.

  Jesus Final Prayers 1 Welcome back to our series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 26 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today we start looking briefly at Jesus final prayers in John 17:1-19. Jesus prays for Himself: Jesus starts off by praying for Himself. Central to this part of His prayer is glorification. That is the glorification of Himself in order that God the Father who sent Him will be glorified. In effect, Jesus is saying “Father, may people see me for who I truly am, your Son. And may they also through Me, see Your true nature Father!” Praying as He does, just before He knowingly goes to His death on the cross, shows the importance of the cross. For it is through the cross alone. Both God the Father and Jesus will be glorified. Jesus' death on the cross reveals a God of love, faithfulness and forgiveness. John 17:4 reveals that it was this purpose that He came, in order to complete the work given. Jesus' entire earthly life has been one to show divine love – to all people of every age and class. All Jesus' works and words were completed without even a hint of hypocrisy. His entire life was driven by the desire to see sinful people turn to God for reconciliation and forgiveness. Jesus confidently prays that having laid aside His glory by taking on human form, He will return to God's right hand, having achieved the work of redemption through the cross. Jesus prays for His Disciples: Now Jesus turns to pray for His disciples. Note how He describes them: they were chosen by God Himself, seen God in Jesus and have received God's words and obeyed them. Jesus prays that the disciples would be in the safe possession of both the Father and the Son. Despite misunderstanding frequently what Jesus was talking about, the disciples still managed to grasp that Jesus had come from God. Having taught that the disciples will endure persecution and suffering because they are His followers, Jesus prays for their safety.~ They will be safe, not because of their own cunning, character or conduct. They will be safe because of God's care and protection. As the disciples were God's possession, He will ensure that they are watched over and protected. This security is also borne from glorifying God and being witnesses for Him. By remaining loyal and obedient to Jesus, obedient to His teachings and telling others about Him, God's name & nature will therefore protect the disciples. Jesus also prays that they may be filled with joy and be dedicated wholly and solely to Him. The disciples now have a mission and purpose to fulfil – to tell others about this Jesus. Remember they will not be left alone but have the Holy Spirit to counsel and clarify with them. Right Mouse click or tap here to save this as an audio mp3 file

Today on Meditating the Word: The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold, the Birth of Jesus Foretold, Mary Visits Elizabeth, Mary's Song, The Birth of John the Baptist, Zachariah's Song; the Word Became Flesh, John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah, John Testifies About Jesus, John's Disciples Follow Jesus, and Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael. This is Day 274. Today we are reading Luke 1 and John 1 ---- Father God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the records kept about the life and history of John the Baptist and of Jesus and his disciples. Thank you for Mary and for her obedience and willingness to accept Your Word as truth and to be used as a vessel by You. Help us to be just as willing, Father. All Jesus had to say to his disciples was "Come and see". He offers us the same invitation today. All we have to do is follow Him. As we begin our journey through the New Testament, open our hearts and our minds and give us fresh manna, new revelation on Your Word, Father. We long to have a deeper understanding and closer relationship with You. Amen ---- We are reading the entire Bible this year in the order the events actually occured chronologically. You can download a copy of the reading plan from blueletterbible.com. And don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube, that way you'll get a notification each time a new episode is released.  It's my goal to encourage others to strengthen their Christian walk through daily reading God's Word. You can help, by sharing this podcast, and by rating and reviewing it. Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope to meet you here again tomorrow – and every day – as we continue our reading the Bible together. This is Cheree, reminding you that you are in my prayers and my thoughts. I look forward to spending time with you again tomorrow.  Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. ---- Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/yeti-music/at-dawn License code: SFVKF2JFJJIFZDGT Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/brock-hewitt-stories-in-sound/a-journey-of-love License code: VUSCEHWQYYSXTUKG

? Ready for a wild ride? Imagine trading your busy chaos for a divine encounter that changes everything. Let's dive into Acts 2:42-47 and ask, "What made those early Christians shift their lives so dramatically?" ? Join us at Harmony Christian Church and let's explore together! ? IT'S EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). ------------- OPENING ILLUSTRATION: I have a basic principle I live my life by. I learned it teaching my kids to ride their bikes. I've shared this before, but I think it's a good way to set up this sermon. My kids, when they were learning to ride their bikes, would always look down at their feet. They'd inevitably end up in the ditch. It finally hit me, it's because they were looking at where they were instead of where they wanted to go. It's become a principle in my life: Look where you want to go, not where you are. In life, lots of us are stuck and doing all the same things we've done for years. We are being dragged around by the Tyranny of the urgent Some of you don't know how you got so busy, working multiple jobs, taking kids to endless practices, keeping up with the jones'. Buying cars & trucks you don't need, etc. You don't know where you want to go, so you just give your time, attention, and resource to whatever is “loudest” Today, I want us to go on a quick adventure. We are going to look at a group of people who got a glimpse of a place they want to go and completely shifted what they were doing because of their encounter. SCRIPTURE: We are jumping into the first church that ever existed. Jesus has died, risen from the dead and He ascended into Heaven. He is no longer on earth. Listen to what happens after Peter preaches this sermon - thousands come to Christ and this is what these early Christians do. If you've been in church for very long, you've probably heard a sermon on this passage: Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. I want to ask a question I've never heard anyone ask. What was it that caused these people to shift their patterns of behavior so drastically? I know for you, you've grown up in a culture where it's acceptable to worship Jesus - this God/man who they had all seen and experienced but now the story is he flew up into the sky. What made them think they needed to continue on with anything? What made them think that it wasn't all over now that He left? These people have shifted drastically: -They devote themselves to apostles' teaching (they committed to being present and listening to preaching) -They fellowshipped (they hung out around each other in a way that encouraged one another) -They broke bread (they ate together) -They prayed together (they were committed as a group to bringing things before God) -They sold property to take care of those in need (they were shockingly generous) b Something that had never hit me, is each of these behaviors required leaving one thing for another b Time is a static commodity - if you do one thing, you are not doing another. b These people gave up in order to go up in their faith. b Still, the question is, what would cause such a deep shift? b These people were not experiencing a God who had come and left, but a God who had come and left Himself through the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew this day was coming. He knew there would be a period when He wouldn't be around. And this is what He said… John 14:15-21 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” These people had shifted where they were looking. b Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help…” They had decided the aim of their life was to live for Jesus and in the midst of that they encountered the Holy Spirit. ILLUSTRATION: When I first came to Christ, my brother had also come to Christ. He was coming out of a drug life and was on fire and really got pumped about the Holy Spirit. He told me to have the holy spirit, I needed to speak in tongues. He asked me if I wanted to pray for the gift of tongues. I said, I guess… He prayed 3 times for me to receive it and nothing happened. Finally, on the 3rd time, I thought, “he's not gonna stop till I do this…” so after he prayed, I started speaking gibberish. He was like, Praise God! and I was like, ugh… Listen. There is lots of misinformation about what it means to live by the Spirit and have the Spirit in your life. I believe the Holy Spirit does give some people miraculous gifts, but for lots of us, He's just what Jesus said - he's our advocate to help and be with you forever. b The Holy Spirit is literally Jesus' Spirit - it is Him, taking up dwelling in you. b What I want you to get is Christians have always been a people of Encounter. The reason these early Christians were so different was because they encountered God's Spirit. He spoke gently to their spirit and was like, “hey, what if you sold your property and gave it to that person over there…” “Hey, why don't you guys gather and learn what I taught…” These Christians were not worshiping a God who had left them, they were worshiping a God who left Himself CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: I know, personally, it's easy for me to get my eyes on something other than Jesus. I've got pressures, business that has to be taken care of. A million things to do for my kids. Some of you have babies that are keeping you awake all night. Some of you are dealing with end of life issues for parents or a spouse and everything has changed and you are struggling to just make it. Today, I wanted to remind you that you are of a people of Encounter. And the encounter is simple. “if you love me, keep my commands” All Jesus really is asking for is your love. “Will you love me” Will you point your life at me? He's saying. And He offers His Spirit as your advocate. He is your legal defense team, your counselor, your therapist, your heart doctor. Some of you don't know what it is that Jesus even commanded, you want to love, but you don't know how to live for Him. That's why we have created basecamp. We are actually ALL going to go through that over the next several months. Because we want you to have a foundation. Others of you have just let your eyes drift and you need to reengage the God of encounter. Don't miss Him! ------------------

Sixth Sunday of Easter | John 14:15-21 | May 14, 2023 | Amy Bertschausen, preaching In the gospel reading today, John is trying to make something abundantly clear. All Jesus asks all he asks, is that we recognize and accept his love, the love he has received from God, the love he has lived among us, the love that will remain with us through the Holy Spirit. " First Christian Church of St. Paul is a small, open and affirming, and multicultural church located near St. Paul, MN in Roseville. We are a local expression of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Join us for worship Sundays at 11:00 AM. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/NxEINYRCYkA Learn more about First Christian: https://fccsaintpaul.org/

How many times have you prayed and got nothing but crickets? It seemed as if God was silent and you pray and you pray some more, only to give up because you think God doesn't care since He isn't answering...Did you know Jesus had unanswered prayers?!?! He sure did...in the Garden of Gethsemene. He told his disciples he was grieved to the point of death and then he went and prayed three times that God would come up with another way to get our sins forgiven. All Jesus got from God was crickets...Did he quit? No...He knew what God's plan was and he followed through with it bearing great pain and agony for you and me, so our sins can be forgiven and we could have a relationship with God!

Many individuals may experience a void or lack of genuine care amid life's challenges. This pain could stem from a sense of unworthiness rooted in their sinful nature or simply from not knowing how to find inner peace and solace. Yet, the transformative power of God's unconditional love[1] awaits if only more people could grasp this profound truth.In this episode of the Revelations Podcast, we dive into the life and faith of Ross Hauser, MD who is the Medical Director of Caring Medical in Florida.  We learn about Ross's Jewish roots and his journey to Christianity, his belief in the importance of God's unconditional love, and his approach to integrating faith into his clinical practice.Tune in to gain insight into the power of faith and love to transform lives and become a beacon of hope for others.Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:Learn the meaning of God's unconditional love.Discover why Ross accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.Understand how to dispense love and truth.Support this podcast. Let me know if you can do that!ResourcesMore from the Revelations Podcast: Website | Instagram | Apple PodcastConnect with Ross: Email | Caring Medical | YoutubeMore Than a Carpenter book by Josh DowellThe Missing Commandment: Love Yourself book by Jerry and Denise BaselBible Verses:Deuteronomy Chapter 7Genesis Chapter 1; Genesis 1:2Leviticus 5:17Leviticus 17:11Numbers 11:291 Corinthians Chapter 13Episode Highlights[01:26] A Physician with IntegrityRoss Hauser is a medical doctor and runs a charity clinic in rural Illinois.They perform prolotherapy, which might help regenerate ligaments and ease pain.Reagan's husband saw a doctor praying with patients and praying before the treatment. That made a big impact on him.Ross [03:28]: “People just don't understand how passionately in love God is for them.”[04:00] Living God's Unconditional Love and TruthAll God wants to do is bless us and encourage us to live a life of love and truth.As long as his motivation is God's unconditional love and what he says is the truth, Ross is doing the will of the Lord.Once you compromise the truth, your motivation is not in not the interest of the other person.[05:11] Passion for God and HumanityRoss's faith in God fuels his passion for helping others. He believes that God is deeply invested in the lives of all people, desiring for everyone to join him for eternity. The divine love story begins with Abraham and the Jewish people and will ultimately be fulfilled in Israel.Ross takes the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1948 and the continued existence of the Jewish people as evidence of God's presence and plan.Despite numerous attempts throughout history to eradicate the Jews, they remain a vital part of the world. Ross thinks that Jewish resilience proves the existence of God and the truth of the Bible.[08:26] Jewish Roots and Christian FaithGrowing up in a Jewish family, Ross appreciates his upbringing. He still considers himself a devout Jew, even though he is a Christian.Ross' faith in Jesus as the Messiah is an integral part of his spiritual journey.Ross never doubted the stories of the Bible, and when he began to explore the New Testament, he realized its Jewish roots and historical accuracy.[12:13] A Year-Long QuestRoss spent a year researching the New and Old Testaments, trying to determine if Jesus was the Messiah.Ross consulted with his rabbi and examined Genesis in detail. At the age of 23, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.As he delved into the Old Testament, he found that the doctrines taught in his Bible study group aligned with the teachings of the Old Testament.The teachings of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and James, among others, were directed toward the Jewish people.This understanding helped solidify his belief in the authenticity and accuracy of both the Old and New Testaments.[18:30] The Influence of Jesus' TeachingsRoss was deeply moved by a chapter in “More Than a Carpenter” that argued that Jesus was more than just a good person.Jesus was either a 'looney tune-y,' or He was who He claimed to be—the Son of God.The disciples must have witnessed the risen Jesus to have such unwavering faith. They were ordinary people who changed the world.All Jesus' disciples, except John, suffered painful deaths. Ross then talks about the gruesome deaths suffered by the disciples, except John.Ross thinks the only reason the disciples would be willing to die for their faith is that they had witnessed Jesus' resurrection.[22:43] Moment of CommitmentIn September 1985, Ross found himself alone and decided to fully commit to his faith. He acknowledged his sinful nature and believed that Jesus had died for him.Ross asked for help to live a life that honored God and the Bible. He was once fearful of death but was now at peace.Ross considered the three possible outcomes after death: non-existence, eternal life with God, or eternal separation from God in Hell.Ross' most important goal was to ensure he would go to heaven. He encourages others to pray for guidance and truth, as he has done since the age of 17.[27:05] Lives Transformed by FaithTrue forgiveness for sin comes through the ultimate blood sacrifice — that of God's only begotten son, the exact representation of the Father.He, a former Jew, and his fiancée, who used to be Episcopalian, became Christians. Their shared faith helped strengthen their relationship.In 1994, the couple established a charity clinic in rural Illinois. Ross received revelations that led him to explore the effects of modern technology on human health.Ross has shared his findings on the clinic's YouTube channel as an exercise physiologist. He focuses on addressing the physical effects of using screens.[34:18] God's Unconditional LoveRoss emphasizes that Christianity is about belief, not actions.Ross [34:24]: “The hardest thing to understand is unconditional love.”Unconditional love means that one's standing before God is not dependent on their deeds but on Jesus's sacrifice on the cross.This realization allowed Ross to let go of the burden of people-pleasing. He instead prioritizes dispensing love and truth, no matter the circumstances.He believes that a successful life is marked by an increase in God's unconditional love, not material gains or popularity.[34:18] Seeing the Bigger PictureLearn to be comfortable in silence. Silence will allow individuals to focus on the divine presence.He recommended that couples share their daily experiences with God by discussing the amazing things that happened throughout the day.This approach helps to put life's challenges into perspective, allowing them to focus on the bigger picture.We should always prioritize advancing the Kingdom of God.[39:45] Celebrating the Good ThingsReagan [41:09]: “We take all this guilt and shame on us and its condemnation when 50 other things could have been absolutely amazing that day. We could have been able to encourage someone through prayer at the grocery store.”Rather than focusing on negativity, Ross encourages people to celebrate and derive an emotional charge from the good things in life.Humility is about aligning your opinion of yourself with God's. This approach can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.[43:15] Freedom from Rituals and Following the Holy SpiritWhen Ross accepted Jesus Christ, he understood that God's forgiveness meant his sins were covered and forgotten.God forgives him, but he must still address the consequences of his actions on Earth, such as apologizing to others.Around a decade ago, he did away with Christian rituals. He found freedom in asking God what he wanted him to do daily.Ross sought to follow the Holy Spirit wherever it led, ultimately desiring to encourage others to trust God and live powerful, loving lives.[45:53] Integrating Faith into PracticeRoss prays over his patient list, seeking divine guidance for each person.He does not impose his faith on his patients but strives to ensure that they feel loved and cared for. While people may reject certain beliefs or ideas, they will never reject love.Jesus did not explicitly command people to attend church, but doing so can serve important purposes.The Church reminds us that we are all beloved children of God, promotes family values, and offers a supportive community during challenging times.[51:57] Struggles with Faith and FamilyRoss' family initially reacted negatively when he started following Jesus. However, over time, his parents began to see the hand of the Lord in his and his wife's lives.His family's love for his gentile wife grew, and they began embracing her as their daughter.As more family members converted to Christianity, God continued to work on their hearts, and Ross was grateful for the positive changes he witnessed.[53:31] A Life in Service and HealingRoss did not feel a specific calling to share the gospel with Jewish people.Instead, he felt God called him to be a healer and a light in the field of regenerative medicine.He started the Journal of Prolotherapy and has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of various diseases.[56:16] Belief and Faithfulness as Key VirtuesGod isn't impressed by material possessions or popularity but by the faithfulness of those who believe in His word.According to Ross, people with true belief will naturally demonstrate their faith.The most important thing God wants from people is to believe in His Word.Many people often struggle with hopelessness and despair because they don't understand God's unconditional love.He recommends the book “The Missing Commandment: Love Yourself” to help people learn to love themselves as God loves them.[1:02:02] Care DeficiencyRoss started looking into people's eyes while conversing. The undivided attention facilitated deeper connections.This presence allowed others to feel truly seen and heard, often leading to intimate conversations about matters beyond the superficial.There is a care deficiency in today's society. Many people lack someone who genuinely cares for them, including a physician.Know that someone cares for us. God's unconditional love is universal. Ross expresses that the gift of salvation only requires faith and acceptance.[1:03:42] Prayer for Love and EncouragementRoss closes the conversation with a heartfelt prayer for the listeners and Reagan.He prayed for everyone watching the video, hoping the message would encourage their faith and remind them of their status as beloved sons and daughters of God.He prayed for strength in marriages, growth in faith, and for the seeds planted during the podcast to bear fruit. Finally, Ross asks for hope and help for those feeling helpless or hopeless, asking that more people be able to hear God's voice in their lives.About Ross HauserDr. Ross Hauser is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. He has been specializing in Prolotherapy (Regenerative Injection Therapy) since 1993. His expertise covers various treatments, such as dextrose prolotherapy, PRP therapy, and Stem Cell therapy.However, his devotion to healing goes beyond just the physical. As a former Jew turned Christian, Ross believes that the ultimate goal of life is to advance the kingdom of God and to show unconditional love and truth to all those around us.To connect with him, you may send an email or visit his Youtube channel.Enjoyed this Episode?If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and family. This episode will open your eyes and hearts to seeing the bigger picture and feeling God's unconditional love.Have any questions? You can connect with me on Instagram.Thank you for tuning in! For more updates, tune in on Apple Podcastskw: God's unconditional lovemeta: God is ineffable, but we can know Him still. God's unconditional love is universal; it is for everyone.

Today I hear Cardinal Sarah say love talks about burnt offerings and about meek, humble, and silent love. The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord comes to mind, no one has ever been as meek, humble and self-giving than our Blessed Mother. The three-letter word “Yes” says it all, she then gave everything of herself to care and love God's Son. I could only dream of having an ounce of that self-giving love that Mary has.Can we ever have enough self-giving love for God? Maybe not completely in this life but we can try with the help of our Blessed Mother as our intercessor.The prayers that we say with humility and meekness in the silent of our hearts, will get to Jesus faster than if we light that incense then waiting for the fire to rise to the heavens.Hebrews 10:8, say's “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in." All Jesus wants is our total and complete self, to do the will of the father. That can only be done with humility and meekness.Take away: I challenge you to reflect, do you humbly and meekly accept God's will as Mary did? If not, what is holding you back? Sit with God in the silence of your heart and ask him to help you if your answer was no.

Come this weekend as we unpack the book of Jonah and discover what it says read more... The post All People, All Seasons, All Jesus appeared first on ENCOUNTER.

After Jesus had his final meal before he died he went to The Garden of Gethsemane with some of his disciples. This episode is all about what went on there, highlighting the cup which Jesus requested to be taken away from him. What would have happened if God had agreed to Jesus' request? This is just one of the deeper things you might think about as you listen to this episode!For all other episodes and more, check out our website at thewordonthestreetpodcast.com Follow Anna on her Facebook Page hereJoin The Word On The Street Podcast conversation on our Facebook group hereFollow The Word On The Street Podcast on Instagram hereHere are the bible verses quoted in today's episode:Bible Passage: Mark 14:32-42Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. Which is a place at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. Jesus went here often, enough times for Judas to know where they would be.Jesus told them, “Sit here while I pray.”33 Jesus took along Peter, James, and John. He was sad and troubled and 34 told them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”35-36 Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down on the ground and prayed, “Father,[e] if it is possible, don't let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don't make me suffer by drinking from this cup.[f] But do what you want, and not what I want.”37 When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can't you stay awake for just one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”39 Jesus went back and prayed the same prayer. 40 But when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to say.41 When Jesus returned to the disciples the third time, he said, “Are you still sleeping and resting?[g] Enough of this! The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 42 Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here.”Bible Passage: John 18:3-113-5 Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, “Who are you looking for?”They answered, “We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!”Jesus told them, “I am Jesus!”[b] 6 At once they all backed away and fell to the ground.7 Jesus again asked, “Who are you looking for?”“We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth,” they answered.8 This time Jesus replied, “I have already told you that I am Jesus. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go. 9 Then everything will happen, just as I said, ‘I did not lose anyone you gave me.' ”10 Simon Peter had brought along a sword. He pulled it out and struck at Malchus, the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 11  Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. I must drink from the cup[c] that the Father has given me.”Bible Passage: Luke 22:5151 “Enough of that!” Jesus said. Then he touched the servant's ear and healed it.Bible Passage: Matthew 26:55-56Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. 56 But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.”All Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.Bible Passage: Mark 14:50-5250 All of Jesus' disciples ran off and left him. 51 One of them was a young man who was wearing only a linen cloth. And when the men grabbed him, 52 he left the cloth behind and ran away naked.Today's Questions: What do you do when you don't want to do something that you have to do? What do you think might have happened to the world if God had told Jesus that he would take the cup away and that he didn't have to die for the world's sins?

Today is day 58 and we are in the section on the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed on Jesus Christ the Son of God. Today we are on the sixth line: “He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of The Virgin Mary” and studying question 58. 58. What does the union of Jesus' two natures teach you about his ministry? All Jesus does as a human being he also does as God. His human words and deeds are saving because they are the words and deeds of God the Son. ( John 5:19–29; Romans 8:1–4; Colossians 1:19–23; Hebrews 4:14–16) We will conclude today with The Collect for Palm Sunday found on page 607 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 20:16 “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!' She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!' (which means, Teacher). When Jesus wants to be seen, eyes are opened. That's how God's light, which is love, works. At one moment Jesus is unrecognizable. You are prevented from seeing Him as we've discussed in the previous verses. Mary was the first to experience this blindness to Jesus' presence on that first resurrection morning, but not the only one. We read in Luke 24:31 “Then their (Cleopus' and another disciple's) eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.” Then He speaks your name, and you see Him. All Jesus said was, “Mary,” and then she recognized Him. Have you heard Jesus speak your name, and you knew He was present you? I bet you have never forgotten that moment. Can you imagine Mary telling of this moment? I can imagine she shared about seeing Jesus for the first time hundreds of times. Maybe God will give us a chance today to share about the time our eyes were opened and we saw Jesus. We once were blind, but now we see. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Dave Brisbin 2.12.23 Who says there's no humor in the bible? When Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again to see Kingdom, picture the scene: Nicodemus, face in a knot, thinking out loud—how can an old man crawl back into his mother's womb? I know it's not LOL funny to our ears, but worth a smile. Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman at a well with her pitcher: Give me this water so I don't have to lug this pitcher back and forth every day. Archaeologists believe that well was over half a mile from her village. Humorous and practical at the same time. That both of these vastly different people—a rich, educated, powerful Jewish man and a poor, Samaritan woman with five ex-husbands and a live-in boyfriend—could completely miss Jesus' meaning highlights the depth of their disconnection. Jesus pulls out the exact metaphor each needs in that moment to break them free. For the old man to become as newborn with the mind of a beginner. For the woman to be freed of the bondage imposed by life, culture, and codependence. All Jesus' metaphors point to one elusive truth. That salvation and Kingdom are the same: a quality of connection and presence. And the only Way to that connection: to be blown with the wind of God's spirit in the trust of a child without self-awareness, the submission of a servant without resentment. Living water, maya hayye in Aramaic, an idiom that means running water as from a spring, fountain, stream. Water that's safe to drink. Always in motion, clean, clear, never stagnant. The key is motion. Life is motion. Spirit is motion. Why do you seek the living among the dead? They are not moving. The only way we can know God, Kingdom, salvation is to be in sympathetic motion with God's life. And the only way to move with God is to drop the nets of security, sell everything of accomplishment, deflate ego and knowledge back to beginners' mind, “sin no more,” as in break through the shame that keeps us separated from a truth that will make us free. That truth—we are breathing a love that can't be lost—is the beginning and ending of a journey only negotiated in vulnerability. Are we ready yet? Willing?

Dave Brisbin 2.12.23 Who says there's no humor in the bible? When Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again to see Kingdom, picture the scene: Nicodemus, face in a knot, thinking out loud—how can an old man crawl back into his mother's womb? I know it's not LOL funny to our ears, but worth a smile. Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman at a well with her pitcher: Give me this water so I don't have to lug this pitcher back and forth every day. Archaeologists believe that well was over half a mile from her village. Humorous and practical at the same time. That both of these vastly different people—a rich, educated, powerful Jewish man and a poor, Samaritan woman with five ex-husbands and a live-in boyfriend—could completely miss Jesus' meaning highlights the depth of their disconnection. Jesus pulls out the exact metaphor each needs in that moment to break them free. For the old man to become as newborn with the mind of a beginner. For the woman to be freed of the bondage imposed by life, culture, and codependence. All Jesus' metaphors point to one elusive truth. That salvation and Kingdom are the same: a quality of connection and presence. And the only Way to that connection: to be blown with the wind of God's spirit in the trust of a child without self-awareness, the submission of a servant without resentment. Living water, maya hayye in Aramaic, an idiom that means running water as from a spring, fountain, stream. Water that's safe to drink. Always in motion, clean, clear, never stagnant. The key is motion. Life is motion. Spirit is motion. Why do you seek the living among the dead? They are not moving. The only way we can know God, Kingdom, salvation is to be in sympathetic motion with God's life. And the only way to move with God is to drop the nets of security, sell everything of accomplishment, deflate ego and knowledge back to beginners' mind, “sin no more,” as in break through the shame that keeps us separated from a truth that will make us free. That truth—we are breathing a love that can't be lost—is the beginning and ending of a journey only negotiated in vulnerability. Are we ready yet? Willing?

Former Muslim Jihadist Goes from Jihad to Jesus w Mohamad Faridi Join Johnny Baptist while he discusses the empirical events across the world leading up to World War III, the trickery and deceit of the New World Order, and the bizarre weirdness of the fallen angelic UFO phenomenon as we plunge head first into the forthcoming apocalypse and the Seven Seals of Revelation (chapter 6). Join us tonight for a really fascinating and inspiring show with our brother in Christ, Mohamad Faridi as he shares his testimony on his miraculous journy from Jihadist to ALL JESUS!! God Bless You - See you there! To sign up for radio show Email Notifications click  Mail Link: http://gem.godaddy.com/signups/185380/join

Text:  Mark 12:35-37   Jesus is the Expected Son of David Jesus' question points us back to the Old Testament (Psalm 110). Jesus' question reminds us that all of Scripture points to Him.   Jesus is the Enthroned Lord of All Jesus' identity is revealed as the Son of David who is the Son of God. Jesus' question is one of eternal significance that all must answer.  

Let me start by asking every partner, friend, and guest of HPC to share this message. Secondly, let me ask every partner, friend, and guest of HPC to hear this message. It is for us at HPC! Under and Over is a message for HPC and a principled message in the authority of God through Jesus name. Today, we read through St. Luke 7 and the story of the faith of the Centurion. Before you say you know the story, can I redirect your understanding to consider a few things. The Centurion was coming in proxy for a servant that was dear to him. Could I suggest to you the object of the story was the servant? Also, he understood the principle of authority in the Word of God by saying to Jesus that He had no need to come under the roof of his house. All Jesus had to do was speak the Word only! In other words, he knew Jesus had the power to heal even if He was not physically present to touch his servant. When Jesus says He is with us always even unto the end of the Word, this story exemplifies the fulness of His Word. What wonderful faith! Take a moment to listen to this message. It will test you and prepare you to take dominion for God.

What is it that Satan would find such a place of habitation within you? Reject the WORD, and so too Jesus, as the Christ. All Jesus wants is to PREPARE a place for you in the Kingdom!. Contact Us: Covenants.llc1@yahoo.com; Covenants on FB; CovenantsOnLine.com; 304-528-9220.

The twelve apostles didn't have to come up with a catchy story or a winning game plan to spread the gospel. All Jesus commanded them to do was to be his witnesses of what they had seen and heard. Now it's our turn.

All Jesus! All Summer long!!! Jesus spent the last three years of his physical life on Earth preaching, teaching, healing, holding, helping, laughing, crying, encouraging, correcting, challenging and preparing the world for the eternal change that he was going to make in his death, burial and resurrection. There are far more stories than we can cover in one Summer, so let's just line up some of our favorites and then Jam to Jesus' Parables, Miracles and Tales of Souls Set Free!!! It's gonna be so good!!!

It's All JESUS!

Today's meditation is on Luke Chapter 7 The Kingdom works on the principle of authority. Jesus walked in the authority of the Father while he was here on earth. He spoke, and even the wind and the seas obeyed him. I am an ordinary person, but I understand the power of authority. And this authority operated through Jesus.  All Jesus had to do was speak the Word, and healing flowed. He was following in the footsteps of Father God. God simply said Light Be, and light has continued on throughout the ages. The kind of faith God is looking for, does not rely on the senses, but strictly on his Word. By Jesus' Word, the blind were able to see again, the lame were able to walk, lepers were cleansed, the deaf were able to hear, the dead were raised back to life. God's Word still works miracles today. His salvation has been extended to all people. But it's up to me to accept it. The blessing of heaven has come upon me because I do not lose my faith, no matter what happens. In God's Kingdom, even the lowliest person is lifted to a place of honor. My sins were great, but God's mercy was greater still and he has forgiven my many sins. I am so very grateful. I have been saved by grace through faith. And I walk in the ways of peace because of what Jesus did for me. Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. ----- Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/adi-goldstein/what-really-matters License code: XZLEB4KSAPJHPPAB

The Absolute featuring Suzanne Plamer – “I Believe” (The Classic Rendition) Swing 52 – “The Joy You Bring” (Original Classic 12Inch) Byron Stingily – “It’s All Jesus” (Sean McCabe Remix) Marcel Vogel – “I Got Jesus” (Original Mix) Phoenix – “Searchin’ (My Prayer)” (Vocal Prayer Mix) Jasper Street Co. featuring Dawn Tallman – “Rejoicing (I’ll […] The post The Penthouse Sessions 1st May 2022 appeared first on SSRadio.

 Audio recordingSermon manuscript:Nobody had to teach us to have an unbelieving attitude towards life. What I mean by an unbelieving attitude is that we ignore God. He is the one from whom all things come. As we are by nature our thoughts do not rise up that high. We get up, make breakfast, and start in on whatever it is that we do. Little thought, or, more likely, no thought at all is given to the one who gave us a comfortable bed, who made the sun shine, who gives us good things to eat. Every day is filled to the brim with wonderful gifts from our Creator. We pay him no attention, though, or, at best, very little. Our thoughts are occupied with all sorts of other things—how to get ahead, how well or poorly we are doing, what's going on in Washington. How we conduct our affairs and what is going on in the country are taken to be the very serious and very important things. Thinking of God giving us all kinds of gifts is not going to add to the bottom line. It's not going to promote progress. It's taken to be almost something bad—like daydreaming. Work is the god who is going to bless us. Wasting time thinking about the true God is a sin. Here we are getting closer to understanding why we naturally act the way that we do. People aren't stupid, particularly when it comes to the things that have to do with the bottom line. So why should a person waste his or her time with the Lord God when there are other ways to be much more productive? That is to say, the reason why we don't thank and praise the Lord God is because it doesn't work. Since when did this help anybody? The way to get ahead in life is to work harder than everybody else, be smarter than everybody else, be more charming than everybody else, be prettier than everybody else. It's all up to you. God's not going to take care of you. You have to take care of yourself. If you don't take care of yourself, then you are screwed. So why would you waste time on anything that doesn't have the possibility of making you more competitive? You wouldn't. You're not stupid. You know what works. Here we have perhaps the root of all sinfulness. The root of all sinfulness is that the Lord God can't help me, or, perhaps, the Lord God won't help me. The first temptation was that Adam and Eve would be better off on their own. They could be like God if they believed in themselves and never gave up. Afterwards, when they heard God walking through the Garden in the cool of the day, it didn't even occur to them to ask for or expect help from God. They thought it much wiser to pretend that nothing had happened. Then they thought it much wiser to lie about what happened. It was someone else's fault, you see. This stupidity has been passed down from one generation to the next. The worthlessness of God on the one hand, and the much better results that can be expected by relying upon other things on the other hand—this is the thread that runs through all subsequent sin. This is true of the out-and-out unbelievers, such as the descendants of Cain, who relied upon their industry and technology for their blessings, as well as those who should have known better such as the Israelites. The Israelites in the wilderness were constantly saying, “We're going to die. We're going to die.” They constantly were desiring to go back to Egypt. Several times they rebelled in order to go back. Either the Lord God can't help or he won't help. We will be much better blessed in some other way. This thread, which runs through all sinfulness, can be seen in why we break the Ten Commandments. 1st commandment: We do not fear, love, and trust in God because other things will work better. 2nd commandment: We do not call upon his name because it won't do us any good. 3rd commandment: We do not gladly hear and learn his Word because there are better things we can do with our time. 4th commandment: We do not honor our parents and other authorities because we know better how to be happy. 5th commandment: We get angry and seek revenge because if we don't do it, nobody else will. 6th commandment: We pursue sexual gratification in other people and other things besides the spouse God has given us or will give to us because what God has given or will give is not good enough. 7th commandment: We take what doesn't belong to us or cheat to get more than we should because God won't give us what we want. 8th commandment: We lie so as to avoid punishment and to make ourselves look better than what we really are. 9th and 10th commandments: We don't think that the Lord God will take care of us, so we look for our blessing in those things that he hasn't given to us. The reigning and ruling assumption in our sin-darkened minds is that God can't help us or God won't help us. Or, with those who know him, such as the Israelites and us Christians, he is thought to be rather stingy. He doesn't always give us all that we might want, or he might not give it to us as quickly as we want. So we better take it into our own hands to make sure that we get what we want. On the other hand, sometimes God sends things our way that we don't like such as sickness, the loss of wealth, or other troubles. A god that would be more to our own liking would only think like we think and act how we would act. That is to say, we think that we would be better gods than the one who actually exists. And so, like the Israelites, we grumble. If only God would do everything we think he should do. One of the most important questions in life is whether God is actually good. This can sound like a Philosophy 101 kind of question, and we don't care much for philosophy majors.  It can also sound like a question that we already obviously know the answer to. The Sunday School answer is that of course God is good. How could it be otherwise? But I would present to you that this is a very personal question. Is God good to you? One clue that this question is important is how little we think about it. Our spiritual enemies have a way of preventing us from asking the right questions. We don't think about whether God is good. We just wake up, make our breakfast, and go about our day. The routines, the cares, and the concerns of this world, run our life as we go from one task to the next. The question of whether God is good to you rarely (if ever) occurs. Maybe we assume that we already know the answer, and, of course, the correct answer is “yes.” We go to church, don't we? Obviously the answer must be “yes.” Although our mouth might say, “yes,” our heart might be elsewhere. We might say “yes” with our mouth, but our heart is not interested in thanking and praising God. We'll say “yes” but what about all those dark and ugly things? Then we might not even want to say yes with our mouths anymore. What about childhood cancer? What about all the cruelty, suffering, grief, and death? Think of poor Job. God allowed Job to be stripped to the bone. Is a God like that still good? That's the very question that Job kept on asking. It takes up most of text in that rather lengthy book. Job remained confounded and perplexed until God finally spoke to him from the whirlwind. That doesn't come until chapter 38. Basically God says to hurting Job, “Who do you think you are? Are you God? Can you do what I can do?” This is what made the fever break for Job. He quit trying to be God's teacher, praising God when God did something to his liking, frowning at God when he sent something unpleasant. Job quit competing with God as a rival, wiser God. He embraced his role of being a creature. The bones that God had broken rejoiced. It is good to be a creature. When we think we are gods we are not very happy. We aren't meant to be in control of all things. We aren't meant to understand all things. We aren't meant to judge all things. Our lives as creatures is such where we see what our Creator has in store for us. These are things that God does. The Psalm says, “The eyes of all look to you, O Lord, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” As creatures who believe in the Creator we can be certain that he can help us and he will help us. I won't always know how. Sometimes it might appear as though he can't or he won't, but that's not up to me as a creature to know. That's God's job. Leave it to him and be at peace. In our Gospel reading today we heard about Jesus being tempted. Jesus is a man, a human being, just like every one of us. As the Scriptures say, “He was tempted in every way just as we are, but without sin.” So in our Gospel reading Jesus overcomes temptation. Notice how the devil tempts him just as he tempts us. The thread is the same. The devil would have him be dissatisfied with the state that he was in. He was hungry. How could God have put him in this miserable state? God was probably going to keep him there too. So Jesus should take things into his own hands. But Jesus says, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, by improving his own lot, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” The devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus could have mastery over all of them. All Jesus needs to do is not put all his eggs in one basket—not put all his eggs in the basket of God's promises. If he splits his allegiance between God and the devil then he can have his cake and eat it too. But Jesus says, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Then the devil seems like he changes tactics. Jesus won't quit trusting in the Lord his God. Let's see if he will go to what seems to be the other extreme. So he takes Jesus to the top of the temple and tells him to trust God—throw himself off. The Scriptures say that the angels will catch him. He won't even bang his foot against a stone.” It might seem as though the devil has changed tactics here, but he really hasn't. It might seem as though the devil is trying to get him to trust in the Lord his God too much, but that's impossible. It is impossible for anybody to trust in God too much. It is always the case that the more we trust the better. What the devil is really trying to do is what he's been trying to do all along: He wants Jesus to be dissatisfied with what God has given to him. God has given him a perfectly good set of stairs. The ordinary means of a perfectly good set of stairs is boring. He could really put on display his spiritual powers if he would throw himself off to the glory of God. But Jesus says, “It is written: You shall not test the Lord your God.” Jesus, a human being just like us, withstood temptation. He continued to believe that God would put things in order. He continued to believe that God could and would help him. He believed that our Father in heaven is good. God would feed him when the time was right. God would exalt him when the time was right. Whether the circumstances appear good or bad, boring or not, he waited for the Lord to open his hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. Where the first Adam failed, this second Adam, Jesus, prevailed. By the first Adam we inherited unbelief, sin, and death. By the second Adam we learn that God is good and gracious. Whoever puts their trust in him will not be disappointed. By the second Adam we are righteous, having been credited with Jesus's own righteousness. We inherit life, for Jesus has risen from the dead. And we can embrace our creatureliness instead of being unhappy, pretend gods. God is good, come what may. Even death cannot prevent us from counting on God to give us every good thing. All things work for the good of those who love him. Good things will come for those who trust in him. This is inevitable and certain. Good things will come to those who trust him. It's just a question of whether it will be today, tomorrow, or in the resurrection from the dead. That's up to him. However he arranges it, we can be sure that it is good because he loves us. Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, is proof of God's love for us.

 Stay Prayed up we are prey for d - evil one who's ready to gut us , mentally,  spiritually and physically..... It's ALL JESUS! 

It's ALL JESUS! Nothing can stop the GLORY OF GOD! Not even these "adds/commercials," that promote the immoral! JESUS ACCOMPLISHED WHAT HE WAS SENT TO DO! "TETALISTAI," JESUS SAID -PAID IN FULL- ^IT IS FINISHED ^ BLOOD COVENANT FULFILLED BY THE KING AND CREATOR WE ARE THE PRECIOUS PURCHASE ON ACCOUNT OF OUR REDEEMER WHO LIVES ! MEET your MAKER WHO WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIM NOW! JOHN 3:16-17_LOVED, GIFTED_SALVATION! JOHN 17:3-ETERNAL LIFE DEFINED_! ROMANS 5:17-RECEIVE AND REIGN! ITS ALL JESUS!REPENT OR PERISH!

Día 1 | Enero 1 “Y esta es la vida eterna: que te conozcan a ti, el único Dios verdadero, y a Jesucristo, a quien has enviado.” Juan 17: 3 “El Elixir de la vida” es un legendaria poción que garantizaba la vida eterna. Ese, al menos, era el objetivo de los alquimistas al crear un remedio que curara todas las enfermedades y de esa manera extender la vida eternamente. También existe un legendaria fuente llamada “La fuente de la juventud”, la cual era un símbolo de la inmortalidad y la longevidad. Se creía que el que bebiera de sus aguas o se bañara en ella volvería a ser joven o se curaría de cualquier enfermedad. En el Evangelio de Juan 5 encontramos el relato de la sanación en el Estanque de Betesda, en la ciudad de Jerusalén. Allí Jesus sanó a un hombre paralítico o lisiado. Se tenía la creencia que había una propiedad curativa en esas aguas, cuando un ángel tocaba el agua y esto había promovido la práctica de sumergirse en ellas, aunque solo el que tocara el agua primero, sería sanado. Jesus también promete la vida eterna, la felicidad de la inmortalidad, pero no a través de un rito particular o de la toma de alguna bebida mística. La única forma es a través de conocer a Dios y a Jesucristo. Aquellos que entablan una estrecha y viva relación con Cristo experimentan lo que es la vida eterna. Y es porque para poder tener la vida eterna debemos relacionarnos con el autor de la misma. Y es ese el objetivo de este devocional, conocer a Jesus en 365 días, donde estudiaremos todos las profecías acerca del Mesías con su aplicación a Jesucristo. Nuestro deseo es que al conocerlo podamos llegar a amarle, obedecer y confiar totalmente en él, porque conocer a Jesus lo es todo. Soy Oscar Oviedo y este es el Devocional “Jesús en 365 días” Producido por el Ministerio One4Seven #Matutina #DevocionalMatutino #Jesus365 #One4Seven

It's ALL JESUS!  Repost.... fellow heathenz!

Support commonkingdomwealth.com. The best thing you can do is pray for me! It's All Jesus! He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:5) ReflectionRejoice, O believer, that your life is bound up in Christ! Rejoice that in His holiness, you are likewise holy! Rejoice that in His eternal Glorification, you are likewise Glorified! Stand true in your faith, and you shall evermore be clothed in the incorruptible and evermore shall you be given the gift of life eternal.

All Jesus requires is for us to sit with him before he sends us out. Listen as Pastor Hector teaches us how to make a Mary Move

All Jesus requires is for us to sit with him before he sends us out. Listen as Pastor Hector teaches us how to make a Mary Move

All Jesus could give was the sign of Jonah. Jona's 3 days in the belly of the whale and his preaching for repentance that saved the ninevites. [Luke 11:29-32, Monday of the 28th Week in the Ordinary Time]

I'm sure that you've heard that story out of the Bible where Jesus was on trial before the crowd and they were given a choice between two people to set free (Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:18–24; and John 18:40); either Barabbas or Jesus.Jesus was standing before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who had already declared Jesus innocent of anything worthy of death (Luke 23:15). Pilate knew that Jesus was being railroaded and it was “out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him” (Mark 15:10), so he looked for a way to release Jesus and still keep the peace. Pilate offered the mob a choice: the release of Jesus or the release of Barabbas, a well-known criminal who had been imprisoned “for an insurrection in the city, and for murder” (Luke 23:19).The release of a Jewish prisoner was customary before the feast of Passover (Mark 15:6). The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. The choice Pilate set before them could not have been more clear-cut: a high-profile killer and rabble-rouser who was unquestionably guilty, or a teacher and miracle-worker who was demonstrably innocent. The crowd chose Barabbas to be released.Anytime I've heard that story, my first thought was truly how unjust and wretched this was. This crowd wanted Jesus dead so badly that they were willing to free this obviously guilty criminal. But recently I heard a preacher change my mind when it comes to the meaning of that story. As unfair as this trial was and despite the pain and suffering that Jesus had to endure, if Jesus was given the choice, Jesus would have chosen Barabbas as well. The Scriptures continually remind us that He had His face set towards Jerusalem and that His purpose in coming was to give Himself for you. That's the mercy that He has for us. None of us are better than Barabbas. No one. None of us are getting into Heaven based on our own good track record. It's ALL Jesus' mercy and the grace of our Father in Heaven.

The Gospel's overarching narrative is the empowerment of ALL Jesus followers.--------------------Real Life is a Christian church reaching the world for Jesus, one person at a time, in Moscow, ID. You can catch our services in person or online every Sunday at 9 and 11 AM.Online Giving: liferotp.com/giveLife Groups: liferotp.com/lifegroupsFacebook: facebook.com/liferotpInstagram: instagram.com/liferotp

Do you know your SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY? Casey highlights the authority and power that you carry as a child of God. This message is going to encourage you, sharpen you and equip you to take up the armor of God and fight your battle. Notes: 1. Acknowledge Your Identity God's Everlasting Love Romans 8:31-39 John 1:12 What are we? DANGEROUS 2. Accessing Your Authority Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price on the cross for you, and with that, came the ability to fight each and every single battle from a place of victory. Colossians 2:14-15 Anything that has to do with the kingdom of darkness has to obey your command in the name of Jesus.  All Jesus asks of us is to be obedient to Him. Acts 5:32 The ability to fight from a place of victory is given to us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit allows us to walk in the same authority that Jesus did while he was here on earth.  Luke 10:17-19 3. Acquire Your Weaponry Put on the full armor of God!  - Belt of Truth - Breastplate of righteousness  - Shoes of Peace - Shield of Faith - Helmet of Salvation - Sword of the Spirit Psalms 23:4 We have been gifted the greatest power of all and that is the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7:7  4. Attack the Enemy!  Let's take the world back by going on the offense and attacking the enemy where he stands! John 14:12-14

Have you been sitting in the boat with Jesus for so long making excuses of why you can't achieve what God has called you to do? All Jesus is saying today is go a little deeper. The blessings are in the deep. Stop living in the shallow water of complacency and comfort and lack of confidence. Just go a little deeper.

All Jesus ever was and all Jesus ever did, He is still doing today!   In Luke 4 Jesus said, "I am sent to heal!" He is still The Messiah which means The Anointed One! He is still The Healer today! We continue today to study the miracles of Jesus to build our faith for healing...specifically stories of people who had sickness of long continence.  It doesn't matter how long you have been sick...you can be healed!  

"We don't have to earn God's friendship. All Jesus asks is that we abide, dwell, rest, deeply in that love, so that we might bloom from that love into God's likeness." The Rev. E. Suzanne Wille preaches on the sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9, 2021). Readings: Acts 10:44-88; Ps. 98; 1 Jn. 5:1-6; Jn. 15:9-17

IntroductionThe definition of controversy is – prolonged public disagreement or heated discussion. Controversial political policies, controversial interest groups and best of all controversial people.In our modern era, one of the ways to objectively identify a controversial public figure is track the number of times their entry on Wikipedia has been modified. Since anyone can suggest an edit to a Wikipedia entry, the number of edits reflects how much we care about the content of a Wikipedia page.Frequent revisions over a long period of time suggests underlying conflicts of interest between Wikipedia editors. Fans will promote their hero’s positive image and add details that other readers will consider biased and unsubstantiated. And these editing wars go on for decades.If you use this metric, the most controversial person in the world is George W. Bush. You will also see on that list Michael Jackson then Barack Obama, Adolf Hitler, Britney Spears, and then of course the professional wrestler, the Undertaker.Every person on the top ten has lived within the last 100 years, with the exception of one. Number 2 on the list is Jesus Christ. Isn’t that amazing? 2000 years after his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ is still a deeply controversial figure. Why?What makes a person controversial? A person of controversy is someone who promotes and then eventually represents a value that a certain segment of society loves and another segment of society hates. And if you want to have a controversial person go supernova, just sprinkle in some misinformation and claims that circulate without being fact-checked.Today in our passage, we see all of this. We see the origin of this controversy swirling around the person of Jesus. Everyone’s got a theory about who Jesus is. In the passage we see 8 different conclusions regarding the identity of Jesus Christ. And all eight of these could be found in our culture today.So let’s dive in.BackgroundYou will remember from last week, the grace/truth blade of the ministry of Jesus has scattered the masses. The crowds are divided over him. Many turned away from him because of the hard words he spoke after the feeding of the 5000.Since that event, it’s been six months. And the questions have been swirling around Jerusalem. Who is Jesus Christ? Here’s the first answer. The religious leaders saw Jesus Christ as a risk to their power and because of that he needed to be eliminated. Allowing him to go on as he is doing is a tremendous liability to our parties cause. He must be destroyed!You remember from last week that chapter 7 opens up by telling us that the Jews (that is the religious leadership) were seeking to kill Jesus. So you can imagine in our modern context, everyone’s standing around the temple mount and an AMBER alert goes off on their phones. Dangerous Sorcerer, usual hangs out with the dregs of society - prostitutes, fisherman and tax collectors. Last seen in Galilee. Suspected to be headed to Jerusalem.Why was Jesus suspected to be headed to Jerusalem? Because, as we learned last week, it was the feast of Booths. And this was one of the three pilgrimage feasts.Jesus home base in Galilee was Capernaeum and it says that after his brothers went up to the feast, Jesus went up privately. That doesn’t mean that he went up in secret, it just means he didn’t go up the way you normally would - in caravans of people.Now you might ask why the Jews didn’t just go up to Galilee to arrest Jesus. It wouldn’t be hard to find him. They undoubtedly knew where he lived. There was a political reason.They need the Feast to draw Jesus out of Galilee. Why? Because so long as he was in Galilee he’s under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. And the Jews have no influence over Herod Antipas. They likely wouldn’t even be able to get a hearing with him much less a verdict.So knowing that Jesus might attend the feast, the Jews have their ear to the ground.Now why are they wanting to kill him? What evil has he done deserving death?In John chapter 11 we are given a glimpse into the reasons that the Jews wanted to kill Jesus. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead the text says that the religious leaders convened. What are we to do? If he goes on like this everyone will believe in him and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our position.The reason they hated Jesus was because he threatened their position and their control. When you sit in that high seat of authority long enough, it’s hard to give it up. You get accustomed to calling the shots.And you see, some today who want Jesus dead for similar reasons. And so they try to destroy him, not of course with swords and spears but with words and ideas.Richard Dawkins is one of the most well known atheists. He’s written books like, “Outgrowing God. The God delusion.”Sam Harris wrote, “The End of Faith.”Christopher Harris “God is not Great.”Daniel Dennet, “Breaking the Spell.”In fact they’ve collectively written a book called the four horseman referencing the imagery in the book of Revelation. They take for themselves the metaphor of the four horseman of the apocalypse picturing themselves riding in with bloody swords eliminating God from the minds of men.Why do they care? What difference does it make if this collection of atoms over here believes something that isn’t true? Let him believe what he wants.Here’s at least part of the answer. If the material world is all their is, we have absolute control. We are at the top of the food chain. My intellect is the highest form of authority. But if Jesus Christ is God, I no longer hold that position. Jesus Christ is a threat. If he is who he says he is then he will take away both our place and our position.Dawkins, Dennet, Harris…they all think they know Jesus. The Jewish leaders of Jesus day…they think they know Jesus.So, Who is Jesus? He is a risk.THEY THINK THEY KNOW HIM, BUT THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.Some identify Jesus as a risk. Let’s look at a second identification. Who is Jesus? Some just saw the good things Jesus was doing. He’s not stirring up the people. Remember what he said, "Blessed are the peacemakers."Jesus is pro peace. I like peace. We need more of that in our world.He’s healing people. That’s so nice of him. He’s feeding hungry people. Look at all the humanitarian work that’s being done. Humanitarian work is great. I’m pro humanitarian aid. We all deserve a better quality of life.He cares about our needs. Listen to the guy. Are not sparrows sold for very little? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. The very hairs on your head have been counted. Fear not. You are worth more than a flock of sparrows. –Matthew 10:29-31 That’s a positive message.My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2).Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matt. 11:29-30).He’s a good man. He’s a good teacher. He uses lots of metaphors in his teaching. I like that style of teaching. He’s engaging. He promotes family values.This is the guy who just thinks on very simple, very superficial terms and his cursory glance prevents him from concluding anything very profound about him.So, who is Jesus? Jesus, Oh yeah, I know Jesus. He’s a good man. A great moral teacher, a great prophet.But is this all he is? Does this identification sufficiently explain him?THEY THINK THEY KNOW HIM, BUT THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.Let’s look a third identification. Some identified him as a risk, others as a good man. Who is Jesus Christ? Oh, he’s a deciever.Jesus is saying a lot of things that contradicts the tradition of our Scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the law. These guys are smart. We don’t trust folk who challenge our heroes. Anyone who does something different than the way it’s always been done, can’t be trusted. He’s causing a lot of disruption and family division.I know he’s doing all these miracles but that’s got to be some sort of trick. It’s a tactic to deceive. We’ve never encountered some of his ideas which means he can’t possibly be orthodox. And rather than asking the question, "Does the teaching of Jesus offer a better explanation of the OT than the Scribes and Pharisees?" Rather than do some thinking, they simply say, “It’s not mainstream.” Therefore it’s deception.And that is how many today view followers of Jesus Christ. Followers of Jesus are being deceived. Hasn’t science proved evolutionary thought. Aren’t the brightest minds in the ivy league schools convinced?These poor, simple minded Christians. These poor Christians believe that any gap of scientific knowledge is evidence of God’s existence. Religion feeds on people willing to do that."We need to eradicate religion because it preys on the ignorant, the needy. Religion blindfolds the simple. We need to free these men and women. They are being seduced, exploited. Head in the sand.And rather than asking if the Bible offers a better explanation of the evidence, they simply say, "How can so many credentialed scientists be wrong?"This is how many were viewing Jesus. How can the Scribes and Pharisees be wrong. You can’t get more authoritative than that? You can’t get more respectable and trustworthy than that?All Jesus wanted them to do and all he wants us to is ask oursleves a question: Does the explanation of reality offered by Jesus Christ improve upon your current explanation of reality. Put some thought into it. G.K. Chesterton said it this way. So, Who is Jesus? With confidence many say, “Jesus is a deceiver. If Houdini were alive in Jesus’ day, he’d be Jesus.” Is that a satisfactory answer?THEY THINK THEY KNOW HIM, BUT THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.Let’s look at a fourth identification in the text. I see who Jesus is. I might even believe that he is being treated unfairly. However, I don’t want to associate with Jesus because I don’t want to be shamed. I don’t want the stigma that goes along with that man.It’s politically incorrect to speak positively about him. That’s a hot potato. That’s a taboo subject. It’s obviously sensitive and it’s not worth engaging.To speak positively would be like hiding a fugitive in my home. If they discover I’m treating this man with sympathy, I’ll get thrown in jail along with him. And while that’s tragic and unjust, I certainly love my lifestyle more than I love this man.Many today will not associate with Jesus, not because they are unbelieving, but because they are terrified of the consequences of associating oneself with him. They are too terrified of exploring when that exploration might cost them dear social capital.The fear of being canceled in our culture is pretty strong. Say the wrong phrase, love the wrong thing, and your career could be over. You could lose friends. That’s what’s going on here in the text.The Sadducees had an iron grip of control over the people.The Pharisees had an iron grip over the synagogues.In John chapter 9 we are going to see the parents of the man born blind refuse to answer an obvious question for fear of being put out of the synagogue.And nothing has changed in our world. There are always people in power trying to push agendas and they intend to you use their power to make you pay if you don’t get on board. Maybe you’re involved in politics or the entertainment industry. You speak to loudly about Jesus and you’ll be canceled. I don’t want to be labeled ignorant, deluded, simple-minded, unscientific.Who is Jesus? I don’t actually know, but I know enough to know I don’t want to get involved.Is that a good answer?THEY THINK THEY KNOW HIM, BUT THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.Let’s look at a 5th identification. Jesus Christ is a wise man.John is so masterful in his recording of this event because he’s painting this picture of scattered confusion. Earlier we are told that the Jews wanted to kill him. But now we are told that the Jews are marveling. This is true to life in controversy. When something his hotly controversial, you know it because within the same party you have differing views. We’ve seen this in the Christian response to COVID haven’t we? People within the same sect of Judiasm are coming to opposite conclusions. We read of Caiphas and Nicodemus, both members of the Sanhedrin, on diametrically opposite sides of their evaluation of Jesus Christ.So who is Jesus? Some are arguing, this man is a sage. They are marveling at his insight, discernment, his wise judgment, intellectual acumen, brilliance. They saw Jesus as wise.In Judaism, it was highly valued to be able to debate in open public. The way you prove yourself a man, the way you earn respect is to best a man in open debate. That’s why you see all these interchanges take place while Jesus is teaching in the temple.Should we pay taxes to Caesar? Man that seems like such a trap question. Everyone knows what’s behind that. If Jesus says, "Pay taxes, he’ll be acknowledging Caesar as god and sovereign." If he says, “Don’t pay taxes,” he’ll be accused of a sedition. What is he going to say? Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s. Give Caesar the coin he made. Caesar wants your money. God wants your heart.Wow. That’s deep. They are trying to roast Jesus and Jesus keeps roasting them. And some look at this and they say, “This man is truly wise.”And that is why some follow Jesus. They love how insightful he is. They love it when he roasts the self-righteous religious elite. Some love Jesus because he’s like a religious Robinhood. Some compare him to Gandhi. Some marvel at the way he was able to start a world religion. He touched on some nerve of humanity. Bravo.Who is Jesus Christ. He’s a wise man. Yes, he certainly was wise. But is that all he was? Is that an adequate explanation?THEY THINK THEY KNOW HIM, BUT THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.Let’s look at a 6th identification. You see the swirling confusion? While it was widely know that Jesus was a wanted man (we’ll see that next), not everyone knew. Some hear Jesus claim that his life is in danger and they think he’s lost his grip on reality.When does someone cross the line from being rational to mad? Answer: when you can’t explain their behavior.Most of the time we can find reasons why someone acts the way they do. We can say, "Even though I would never do it that way, I can see why you would do that." My wife and I are similar in a lot of ways but there are some key differences. When we clean the house I start with the big rooms and move to the closets. She starts in the closets. Now even though I wouldn’t do it that way, I see why. I would never call her insane for that.We’ve got a free Saturday. What do you want to do today? She says: I’m going to go to Dillards at Mall. Okay, now you are insane.Many looked on Jesus Christ and they had no category for the kinds of claims he was making. He’s claiming to be God. Maybe he has a demon. I can’t relate to that. In our modern day he would be locked up in an insane asylum.A lot of times we think of the ancients as simple people. We think of them as intellectually inferior, pre-scientific, superstitious, etc. But let me ask you a question. How smart do you have to be to evaluate this claim, "Hey guys, guess what, I’m God, you know, the one who made the universe."Every year there are 1000’s of people globally that slip into a mental disorder and claim to be God. But guess what? A thousand out of a thousand of them are not believed. And presumably this is nothing new. This has been happening since the beginning of time.You have to stand back and marvel at the uniqueness of this. Jesus Christ got away with something no one else has ever gotten away with. Every one of these self-proclaimed Messiahs have been dismissed as a fools or evil people or madmen. Jesus was different. Why? Because the people who lived closest to him were totally and completely convinced. That’s why they lived and died for him. The gospels were written just a few decades after the life of Jesus. Where were the whistle blowers?Who is Jesus Christ? Some will say he was a madman. Is that a satisfactory answer? Does that sufficiently explain him?THEY THINK THEY KNOW HIM, BUT THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.Let’s look at a seventh identification. Here’s the most honest group of them all. Everyone else thinks they know him. This group admits confusion. This doesn’t add up. On the one hand he’s openly doing miracles? But he’s a wanted man. They know that he’s being hunted by the religious elite. And that in itself says something. That’s curious why he would be so irksome to these guys. He must be hitting a nerve. Is he Messiah? No he can’t be Messiah, he’s from our home town.Who is Jesus Christ? He’s a Mystery. This is perhaps the most common answer in our day and age. Who is Jesus? Who knows?! I would love to know, but it’s just not knowable.So let us ask, is Jesus’ knowable? Or are we just living in a post-truth culture in which truth may exist but isn’t available. With so many competing understandings and constructions, deconstructions and reconstructions how can we know? Will the true Jesus please step forward?THEY DON’T KNOW HIM BECAUSE THEY LACK THE ONE THING NECESSARY TO TRULY KNOW HIM.You’re saying to yourself, “Will you please stop saying that.” What is this one NECESSARY thing we lack in order to TRULY know him? Here it is. See if you can see it. Here’s what this saying. Listen carefully. Before you can know Jesus, you must be willing to do whatever God wants you to do. You must surrender. You must be willing to abandon your will. Do you see what the text is saying? The obstacle to knowing Jesus is PRIMARILY an unwillingness to surrender your will?Spiritual eyesight is given to those who surrender their will to God. There’s an English word for surrendering our will to another. What is it?That’s the key. The one thing necessary to know Jesus? Submission to Jesus. And you might think, that’s not fair. What do you mean, I have to submit to Jesus to know him? How can I be asked to submit to a man I have not yet learned to trust.I need to know the guy first. That’s totally fair. We aren’t saying that you can’t get your questions answered. That’s fine. Get your questions answered.We are not saying you don’t need knowledge about God. Of course. Of course it’s okay to learn about him first.But at some point you will have enough information to make an educated conclusion and the issue will no longer be information. The remaining hurdle will be submission.This is always the last, final and ultimate obstacle.For some it’s evidence problem. But most think it’s an evidence problem when it’s actually a submission problem. Let me give you an example.There are a lot of things you’re doing right now, and you have seen the scientific evidence - it’s bad for you. You’re eating too much fat, too many carbs, too much gluten, whatever. You are a bit overweight. You are eating some food you know is causing irritation in your body.For example, just this week, I kind of got on a health kick. I was thinking about how bad processed sugar is for me. I’ve watched a few documentaries like every single person in this room has. And I thought, you know, I need to eat more greens and vegetables. And so I ate a good breakfast, but then in the staff kitchen someone left a giant box of chocolates. I mean like giant. And that’s all it took. My diet lasted 45 minutes.We all do this. We’ve seen the scientific proof. We’ve seen the evidence. It’s overwhelming. There’s not even a shadow of a doubt. If you exercise, you’ll have a better quality of life. You know it. Yet you won’t trust yourself to it. You won’t submit yourself to it. Why? Because you want to do what you want to do. You want your freedom. Chocolate just tastes good.It certainly is not less than reason, but it takes more than reason, doesn’t it? It takes more than evidence. It takes submission. When we are unwilling to submit, it means we are interested ultimately in our freedom.That’s why Jesus cannot be known. Why? Because he has a different goal. His primary aim is not your freedom or autonomy. That’s why he says, "The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory." With that goal, you can never see the world accurately. You will always be selective in your judgment. You will delude yourself time and time again with your confirmation bias.We need to submit to God to ultimately understand him. The bottom line, is we are unable to understand God. Why? Because we are finite and fallen human beings. We cannot set ourselves up on some solid perch outside of Christ and gain a vantage point from where we can objectively evaluate him. Divine revelation can only be assessed, as it were, from the inside.Following Jesus Christ is not an intellectual game. It’s not something to be thought about and assessed, as if God is an object we may politely examine, dissect and discuss, picking and choosing what we like of him.You will never know Jesus Christ, you will never experience the freedom he offers until you are willing to surrender it all.You have to give it all up and make a different goal. You have to say, “I’ve done enough research to believe that you are likely who you claim to be. My goal is no longer to evaluate you. My goal is to look at the world the way you tell me to.” Until you are willing to say, “God, whatever you say” you will never know God. Until you are willing to say, "I give you my life. My life is not my own. You tell me what to do.As soon as you do that, you put yourself into a position to know God. It’s like a cup that’s just in the wrong direction. You just complain constantly that the water never fills up the cup. The problem’s not with the water. The problem is in the position of the cup!If you were here on Wednesday this week you will remember this quote:He got this from Jesus. Jesus asks this of us. Turn the cup. It’s an issue of submission.And this was the final identification. So when you surrender to Messiah what do you do? When you say, “My life is not my own, what do you do?” It can look a lot of different ways.I want to highlight some ways it’s looked for some folks in our church. Not only will it show you how others have surrendered, but there is an opportunity for you to join them in their surrender.Whatever you do, the point is that you know Jesus by surrender your will. You’ll never know him till you do that.

Series: Revelation Class (Worship, Witness, Follow)Service: Wed Bible StudyType: SermonSpeaker: Scott KerchevilleTHE LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES (REV 2-3)SPECIFIC CHURCHES, WIDE APPLICATIONAfter seeing the reigning Lord Jesus, John is told to write letters to the messengers (usually translated “angel”) of the seven churches. While some have interpreted these letters as symbolically representing different periods in church history, it is plainly evident that these letters are written to real churches who were living through specific historical realities.We need to ground our interpretation of Revelation in the situation of these seven churches; however, the rest John’s vision makes it plain that Jesus is unveiling reality for anyone with ears to hear. All Jesus’ followers…

POWERFUL GOOD NEWS for our Eternal Transformation into the Eternal VICTORY promised to ALL Who BELIEVE! YOU MUST KNOW THIS! JESUS CHRIST THE LORD is the ONLY WAY, TRUTH and LIFE, accepted, believed and Living by FAITH in Jesus Christ, following taking the first BOLD Steps of FAITH in the Finished Works of JESUS CHRIST for our Salvation is the ONLY WAY to be considered GOOD in the Sight of GOD, through our FAITH Alone in JESUS CHRIST we become righteous in the Sight of GOD; and through Living through his HOLY Faith, LOVE and HOPE in JESUS CHRIST, our HOPE in LIFE and Toward GOD are made acceptable before GOD into our Eternal Citizens and Children of the MOST HIGHT GOD in JESUS name. BELIEVE, REPENT and BE BAPTIZED - as you Grow in the Knowledge, Wisdom and OMNIPOTENT POWER of JESUS CHRIST HEAVENLY KINGDOM GOOD NEWS. RECEIVE IT NOW, While you are still in the LAND of the Living for the Devil roams around to rob and destroy ignorant souls, and do not procrastinate your time, for we do not know what your tomorrow will be like, for in death is silence and too late to REPENT, BELIEVE - NOW in this moment in time is Your Time, While Today is CALLED TODAY. ACT BOLDY NOW - GOD SHALL STRENGTHEN, YOU, ONLY BELIEVE and STEP FORWARD, ALL JESUS in your Private Prayers, HE WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY, TRUTH and LIFE for your VICTORY in this Journey and into your Eternal VICTORY for HEAVEN's Journey as Predestined Citizens of HEAVEN. You are included Precious Soul - Its time to take hold of this inspired TRUTH from the POWER and LIGHT of GOD's WORD by FAITH in JESUS. BE BLESSED. Welcome to Kinsman Podcast. Connect and Follow in Faith. Kinsman Podcast is committed to inspiring souls/ Living souls willing to Listen, while we’re still among the Living. For in death is silence evermore. This Podcast is driven by Faith in Jesus Christ the LORD. You are welcome to support Kinsman Podcast by Clicking this Link anchor.fm/boaz-kinsman/support ; ALL Proceeds will go toward growing Kinsman Podcast. Be Blessed. For a one time support paypal.me/boazkinsman Thank You and May God Show Greater Grace on Your Life and Family. Twitter - twitter.com/boazkinsman FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE and SUPPORT - Don't Forget to Download KINSMAN PODCAST on itunes/Apple Podcast/ Anchor on itunes and other Podcasting Platforms. Also welcome to SUBSCRIBE to KINSMAN PODCAST - YOUTUBE CHANNEL. This Episode is released in the POWER & Authority of JESUS CHRIST, my LORD and Personal Savior - My Eternal Returning KING, He is coming SOON, ACT NOW, BELIEVE the GOSPEL - GOODNEWS of GOD's KINGDOM through JESUS CHRIST the LORD. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/boaz-kinsman/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/boaz-kinsman/support

12.06.20 Thank You For Stooping To Save Me John 8:1-11 Pastor Jackson speaks from John 8 about Jesus stooping in the dirt and forgiving a woman who was caught in adultery. The religious leaders wanted to get Jesus in trouble so they dragged this woman in front of him and asked him what they should do, obey the law and stone her or let her go. All Jesus did was stop and stooped down and wrote in the dirt. This act is symbolic because it shows how much Jesus loved us, when we couldn't stand up and reach him, he stooped down and came to us. Jesus isn't afraid to touch the dirt in our life and clean us up and make us whole . Thank you for listening today! If you want to learn more info about our church visit us on our website at www.topchurchlv.com. We hope this message encouraged you to know you can live victoriously through Jesus Christ. Join us next week for another sermon to uplift your spirit.

All Jesus does as a human being he also does as God. His human words and deeds are saving because they are the words and deeds of God the Son.

One of the most thrown-around Christian phrases, but what does it actually mean? Using the classic: who, what, when, where, why, and how, we break down what it means to live this daily practice. All Jesus-followers should spend time each day with Him. Just like any relationship, it takes intentionality and time to grow in your faith life. We hope this helps you start or continue that in a big way! Tune in to hear what the Oasis staff (Ben, Jaena, and Brennen) has to say about the Bible and how you spend your mornings. 

Audio Transcript: Hello. Welcome again to our livestream service. So glad to have you watching along with us. If you're new, I especially want to welcome you. My name is Shane. I am one of the pastors here at Mosaic. As Pastor Andy mentioned earlier, we would love to connect through our digital connection card. You can find that link in the description of this video, or it should be popping up in the chat if you're watching on Facebook or YouTube. If you fill that out, can you give us some information about yourself? We would love to follow up with you this week and just send a small gift to your email to thank you for being with us. Then you can also check off on there to receive some more information from us about ways to get connected here at Mosaic.The last couple of months have been pretty crazy for our family. Beyond just COVID crazy, we made the decision back around May, that it was time for us to begin looking for an apartment and to move. We began that process. Part of the reason is... My name is... coming in and out in the livestream, or is that just happening here? Anyways, my wife and I... We've been married for 15 years. We've got two kids. Our son, Owen, is eight. He's going to be turning nine this fall. Our daughter is five. They've just been getting way too big. They've been sharing a bedroom. Our whole family's been sharing a bathroom. It just hasn't been working out. Something needed to change.Now rewind with me. We began to look. Things were going well. We found a great place. We're getting ready to sign the lease and set the move-in date. Then the owner of the apartment called, said, "Hey. We saw on your application that you have a child under the age of six. Therefore, we need to have the place inspected for lead." Of course, they found lead because it's Boston, and everything here is made 100 years ago. He's like, "Well, before we can let you guys move in, we're going to have to delead the apartment."If you know what that's like, it's a whole long process. It's got to get inspected. Then the work needs to be done. Then it needs to be inspected again. Long story short, our move date moved. We went from looking to move in mid June to July 1st. Then it moved again from July 1st to July 15. Then it moved a third time to August 1st. We actually, finally moved into our apartment yesterday. Praise God. Extremely worn out and tired. Huge special thanks to Wade and Jessica for watching our kids for us, literally, all day long. They're probably more tired than we are.I bring that up because if we rewind all the way back to the spring, making that decision to move, that is a big life-changing decision, right? That's a decision that comes with a lot of risks and a lot of questions. It's something that you have to put a lot of thought to. I don't know. How do you make decisions like that? Some of you might be the, shoot first, ask questions later, type. I am the, ask all the questions and then maybe I'll reluctantly pull the trigger, type. I'm the kind of guy that I need to sit down. I need to look at all the possible options. I need to write out all the pros and cons and very carefully come to a decision.That's what we did. My wife and I... We sat down. The first thing we did was we updated our budget. Then we set kind of our target price range. Then we kind of went shopping to see what our options were. Then we did a full-out cost/benefit analysis of every single option before us until we finally arrived at the one that we believed would be best for our family, that would be best for our budget, would be best for our ministry, and for our goals, for our short-term, for our long-term goals.I bring all of this up because it's relevant to our text today. Jesus never really pressured people into making an impulsive or an uninformed decision when it came to following Him. In fact, what we often see is that when people want to follow Him, He challenges them to count the cost before doing so, to consider what they're really committing themselves to. We're going to see this in our text today, that three people come to Jesus. Some of them seem very enthusiastic about following Him. All Jesus needs to do in this moment is, right, smash that Like button and His followers go up, but He doesn't do that. You should do that if you're watching on Facebook or YouTube.Jesus doesn't do that. Instead, He tells them to consider what it's going to cost them to be His disciples. In doing so, He gives them an open door to walk away if that cost seems too high. This seems so strange to us. Doesn't Jesus want more followers? Yes, of course, He does, but He wants followers. He wants followers in the truest sense of the word, legitimate followers. He wants lives, not just likes. He wants men and women who are prepared to give their lives to follow Him wherever He goes, wherever He takes them, whatever it costs them.What we're going to see is that Jesus is going somewhere. A place our text tells us that He's going is He's going to Jerusalem. Jesus is on a path to the cross. Our text today is Luke 9. We're going to be looking at verse 46 through 62. As we do, I want us to do a cost/benefit analysis of following Jesus. We're going to see five aspects of life where following Jesus is going to cost us something in the short term. We're also going to see that the decision to not follow Jesus is going to cost us something in the long term.The five categories that we're going to be looking at is, first of all, we're going to be talking about how following Jesus is going to cost us our pride. Second, our purpose, third, our possessions, four, our people, and then fifth, our priorities. If you look at the text with me, I'm going to be reading from Luke, chapter 9, beginning in verse 46. It says, "Now an argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest, but Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side. He said to them, 'Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.'""John answered, 'Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.' Jesus said to him, 'Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.' When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparation for him, but the people did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples, James and John, saw it, they said, 'Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?' He turned and rebuked them. They went on to another village.""As they were going along the road, someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' To another he said, 'Follow me,' but he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. As for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'"God, we thank you for this word. We thank you for your word, your word that is an authority in our lives that is true, that is inerrant, that has power. We thank you for giving us this word recorded here in Scripture for us. Lord, we pray that you would take these truths and that you would apply them to our heads, to our hearts, to our hands to conform us more into the image of your Son, Jesus Christ. It's in His name that we pray, amen.Wow. It's an intense text. In the context of Luke's gospel, it's a little bit of a turning point. Much of Luke's gospel, up to this point, has really been focusing on this issue of Jesus's identity. Who is this man who performs miracles, and casts out demons, and heals the sick? This really comes to a head in verse 20, when Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answers, "You are the Christ of God."Then right after this, we see the story of the transfiguration where Peter, James, and John are brought up to the mountaintop. They are given the privilege of getting a glimpse of Jesus's true power, and splendor, and glory. Luke 9... It answers that question of Jesus's identity definitively, that this is God in the flesh, that He is the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the divine Savior of the world. Now that that has been made clear, Luke begins to shift a little bit and ask another important question. That's this: If this is who Jesus is, then what does it look like to be His disciple? What does it mean to follow this Jesus?The big idea is that if you have seen Jesus for who He really is, you never want to leave Him. This is what we saw last week. Peter sees Jesus for who He really is. What does he do? He's like, "This is great. Let's build some tents. Let's camp out here forever. I never want to leave you, Jesus. Let's just stay here." What Peter needed to learn and what we need to learn is that Jesus doesn't just camp out. Jesus is not going to be stagnant or complacent in His mission. Jesus is on the move. He has a purpose to fulfill. He has a mission to complete.If we want to be with Him, we have to move with Him. We have to follow Him. Following Him won't always be safe. It'll almost never be comfortable because our passage today tells us where He's going. Verse 51 says that, "When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem." This is so important, right? Jesus... Up to this point, He's been healing. He's been traveling around. He's been teaching. Now, all of a sudden, He sets His face to Jerusalem because now the time had come where He needed to complete His mission. He needed to fulfill His purpose here on Earth.What was that purpose? He told them a few verses earlier. Verse 22, he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day, be raised.” This was His purpose. This was His mission. He's born to die, to give His life as a ransom for many. If this is where Jesus is going, then what does it mean to follow Him? Well, Jesus tells them in the very next verse. Verse 23, "He said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?'"The way of Jesus is the way of the cross. Before reaching the glories of heaven, it needs to pass through the valley of the shadow of death. It's short-term pain for long-term gain. For us, short-term, following Jesus is potentially going to cost us everything. Short-term, it may seem reckless, insensible, foolish. Long-term, it's the only rational option before us. Look at these five categories. The first thing that we see in our text is that following Jesus is going to cost us our pride. It says in verse 46 through 48. It says that, "An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and He said to them, 'Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.'"Notice that Jesus doesn't rebuke them for wanting to be great. Instead, it says that he knew the reasoning of their heart. The reasoning was flawed. He corrects their reasoning. He gives them a proper definition of what greatness is. You want to be great? That is great. You should strive for greatness, to be the best that you can be, but first, allow Jesus to give you a proper definition of what greatness is and what makes a person truly great. He pulls this child over, and He says, "Look." How do you relate to those of humble stature? He checks their pride. What we see here is Jesus is... He's trying to get his disciples to displace where... Instead of desiring a childish greatness, that they begin to desire a child-like greatness.This is the difference. Childish greatness... It's puffed up. It's pride-filled. It's argumentative. It's conceited. It's filled with selfish ambition in its desires to rule over and subjugate others, but child-like greatness is humble. It's gentle. It's meek. It's not weak, but it's strength that's under control. It's ambitious, but it's ambitious to serve others. It reaches for the top, but it does so in order to pull others up along with it.What's the cost/benefit of following Jesus? Here, the cost is, we must lay down our childish pride. The benefit is, we receive the freedom of child-like humility. The childish pride... It comes from thinking of God as a taskmaster, as this grumpy boss who's always tracking everyone's performance, comparing you to everyone else. Child-like humility... It comes from knowing who God really is. He's a loving father that you have been accepted by grace through faith, not anything that you've done to earn it. Therefore, there's nothing you can do to lose it. Therefore, you've got nothing to lose and no one to impress. You're just secure in the Father's love.A childish desire for greatness is insecure. It grasps at power to build itself up at the expense of others, but a child-like desire for greatness is both confident and humble at the same time. It's secure in the Father's love. Therefore, it's free. It's free to steward the power that God gives it as a gift from a good Father in order to use to serve and to build up others.The second thing we see is that following Jesus is going to cost us our purpose. This is verse 49 through 55. John answered Jesus. He said, “Hey, master. We saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us." "Jesus said to him, 'Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.' When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him, but the people did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples, James and John, saw it, they said, 'Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?' He turned and rebuked them. They went on to another village."When I say that following Jesus is going to cost us our purpose, this is what I mean. James and John... They had a dream. They had a vision of what it would be like when the Messiah came and established his kingdom, of what their purpose would be in that Messianic kingdom. Their problem was their presuppositions about that purpose and that kingdom weren't in line with Jesus. Jesus has to rebuke them here. See, Jesus's mission was not about handing out special ranks or privileges. It was not about destroying His enemies. He's actually getting prepared to die for His enemies. He said that, "I've not come to condemn the world, but to save the world."Now this doesn't mean that there is no judgment. The time for judgment would come. Actually, in the very next chapter, in the very next passage, Jesus talks about that as He sends His disciples out on a mission. He says, "Listen. You're going to be rejected by people. You're going to be rejected by villages. Listen. Those villages or those people are going to fall under judgment on Judgment Day," but that day is not here. That day is coming right now. They're on a mission to proclaim good news. They're on a mission to proclaim and to announce the gospel that the king has come, and he's offering peace. He's offering amnesty to all who would repent and believe, that people can come to be forgiven and to be made right with God.The question for us here, the application is, is Jesus the Lord of your dreams? Can Jesus tell you what to do? Can Jesus tell you no? Are you willing to submit your dreams, your plans, your deepest desires and purpose to Him as your king? When I was about 14 years old, a dream was born in my heart. That dream was to stand on a stage in front of a crowd of people, playing music with a band, and hearing them sing songs that I had written.Now I knew at age 14... At the time, my all-time hero was Kurt Cobain. I was just fascinated with him, with his story, with his talent. Even at 14 years old, I knew that this dream was not from God, and it was not what God wanted for me. I knew that Kurt Cobain was a tragic hero who lived a tragic life and died a tragic death. I knew that, but I convinced myself that I was going to be different, that somehow, if I could just get a small taste of the success and the fame that failed to satisfy him, that surely, it would be enough to satisfy me. I worked toward that goal. When I got into college, I pursued that with everything I had. It really didn't take long before that dream started to come to fruition.I met some guys. I joined a band. We started writing music. We started playing shows. We started going to studios and recording. The next thing you know, we're doing radio interviews, and we're signing autographs. We're getting to play shows with some of our all-time favorite bands. It was amazing, but that feeling... It didn't last very long. In fact, it wasn't long before that glory really began to fade, and I felt myself getting jaded. I felt myself getting dissatisfied, disillusioned even. I remember the night that my dream from 14 really, for all practical purposes, became a reality.We were playing this show with one of our favorite bands that had just recently risen to massive success. We're playing this show. The room is packed. As we're playing, I can hear the crowd singing the songs that we wrote. After the show, the rest of the band... They went and they hung out with the other bands. I went home. All I could really feel, all I could really think was, "That's it? That's what I've been waiting for?" That didn't satisfy me. That didn't feel the way that I thought that it should feel. I knew what was going on. I'd known it in the back of my mind for some time.I was chasing the wind. I was never going to reach that moment of satisfaction. Anytime you get closer, it just moves farther away. I knew that as I was chasing the wind, I was also running away from Jesus Christ and from His purpose for my life. That was a hard realization. I began to see that the songs we wrote would never be good enough, that the shows would never be big enough, and that it was never going to fully satisfy me. God had to take me to the end of that dream to show me how vain it was and to show me that when Jesus says no, I should listen, but also to show me that when Jesus says no, it's not because He's trying to withhold something good. It's because He has something better, and you need to trust Him.I needed to repent. I needed to let go. Really, the problem wasn't that my dream was too big. The problem was my dream was way too small. It was all about me. I needed to make it all about Him. I needed to put that down in order to take up my cross and find something that was really, truly worth living my life for, which was following Jesus Christ. We might not directly relate to that or to James and John. The application for us all is that you're going to know that Jesus is truly your Lord by how you react when He tells you no. If Jesus can't tell you no, then He's not your Lord. If He's not your Lord, then He's not your Savior.Don't waste your life trying to tack Jesus onto your dreams, trying to get Jesus to serve your purposes. Instead, invest your life in His eternal purposes and His mission. The question is, what area of life are you trying to keep Jesus off the throne? It could be anything, right? Is it sex? Is it money? Is it relationships? Is it the way that you treat other people? Is it work? Is it leisure? Is it the way you parent? Is it your health or your stewardship of your body, of your resources? Now whatever it is, if Jesus tells you no, right... He's not trying to withhold something good. He wants to give you something better. What's the cost/benefit of following Jesus here? The cost is, we must be ready to lay down our desires, our dreams, our purposes and submit our lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ. The benefit is, we receive the joy of being used by God for His eternal purposes in His plan, in His mission.Third, we see that following Jesus is going to cost us our possessions. This is verse 57, 58: "They were going along the road, and someone said to him, 'I will follow you wherever you go.' Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes. Birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.'" As Christians, this is hard, but we need to be really careful about becoming overly attached to the things of this world. Jesus wants this man to understand that the urgency of his mission is so great that he can't afford to put down roots. He can't afford to get too tied down by the comforts of this world. For Jesus, that meant He didn't even have a home.Now, does that mean in order to follow Jesus that we all need to be homeless? I hope not. That's a hard question because, apparently, it did for this guy at least. Now I don't think that applies to everyone. The question for us is, are we ready? Are we willing? Are we prepared to do so if Jesus commands? If Jesus is the Lord of your life, then He's the Lord of your stuff, and He can tell you how to use it. He's the Lord of your money, of your home, of your possessions, of your time, of your treasure, of your talent. They're all His. We are called to steward them well. Everything we have has been entrusted to us by God for His good purposes. We're going to give an account for how we use them.Now, if that worries us, again, we need to remember who God is. God is a loving and generous Father. His purposes are good. His resources are limitless. Therefore, if He's asking us to be disciplined with how we use our possessions, if He's asking us to be generous, He's asking us to be good stewards, it's because, again, He knows what is best for us. He knows what's best for our fellow man. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says that, "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." This makes sense. Pretty much, common sense farming illustration.Then he compares it to how we use our finances and possessions. He says this, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, 'He has distributed freely.'" He's giving to the poor. "His righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." What's the cost/benefit of following Jesus here? It costs us our entitlement to use our possessions as we desire. The benefit is, we get to steward the provisions of a gracious Heavenly Father whose resources are limitless.Fourth, we see that following Jesus is going to cost us our people. This is verse 59 and 60: "To another he said, 'Follow me.' He said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'" Sometimes I like to imagine what it would be like if Jesus was a pastor today and try to figure out, how long would it take him before he got fired for saying stuff like this? James and John... They got the classic Jesus juke. These next three guys are getting the Jesus nuke. This is like, let the dead bury their own dead. Wow. What's going on here?Well, culturally, there might be some stuff going on here. It's likely that this guy's father wasn't actually dead yet. Perhaps what he was saying was something more like, "Jesus, I want to follow you, but I'm going to wait. I'm going to wait until my father dies because I don't want to lose out on my inheritance or my place in the family." Whatever the case, Jesus is trying to make it clear that the call to follow Him is... On the one hand, it's urgent. On the other hand, it's a call that's going to supersede all other commitments, loyalties, allegiances that we may have, even to our own biological families.Now, this doesn't mean that we don't love and honor our families. 1 Timothy 5:8 says that, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Now what this does mean, however, is that our allegiance to Jesus and our loyalty to the family of God... It overrides our allegiance to our biological families if those things come into conflict. There's going to be times when they do.Some of you know this very well. I've talked to people. I've met with people who've come to Mosaic and said things like, "Listen. I live in a country where it is against the law for me to become a Christian. If I get baptized and make that decision to follow Jesus, my family is going to disown me. They could even have me killed." For them, the cost of discipleship was immediately a reality in their life. It cost them something, and it alienated them from their families.Some of you have experienced this to a lesser degree. All of us at times in our lives... We're going to have these times where the wishes, the desires of our biological families, and our allegiance to them is going to come into conflict with our allegiance to Jesus and His desires and purposes for our lives. My wife and I... We know this a little bit. This month is going to mark seven years that we have been here in Boston and seven years that we have been away from our family.Now, their wish and our wish is that we would be closer together. All right? We miss them terribly, but Jesus has called us here. We need to remind ourselves, "If this is where Jesus has called us to, we need to trust Him that this is for our good and obey." Jesus is passing out a lot of hard pills to swallow in this passage, but we take them as medicine for our souls. We take them with an eternal perspective. By God's grace, Kelly and I... We have assurance that we will spend eternity with our biological families in heaven because of their faith in Jesus Christ. That's a great comfort to us, even if right now, we don't get to see them as often as we would like.Even if that were not the case, when we come to Christ, we are given in Christ a whole new definition of family, that our true family is not biological, but it's supernatural, right? It's the family of God. It's our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is what we see in the previous chapter in Luke 8. In verse 19, we're told that, "Then Jesus... His mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. He was told, 'Hey, your mother and your brothers... They're standing outside, desiring to see you.' He answered them, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.'"Mark 10:29, "Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life. Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.'" How can leaving our families for the sake of the gospel result in receiving a hundredfold back? Well, He's talking about the church. He's talking about our brothers and sisters in Christ.If you've ever relocated around the country, and had to leave a church, and move to a new area, and find a new church, you know exactly what this is about. J. C. Ryle wrote that, "The true Christian regards all Christ's friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home. When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them. He is more at home with them in a few minutes than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years. What is the secret of all this? It is simply affection for the same Savior and love to the same Lord."What's the cost/benefit of following Jesus here? Well, it's going to cost us our earthly commitments and allegiances, but the benefit is, we receive a heavenly citizenship, adoption into the household of God. Jesus is preparing for us an eternal place with an eternal people.The last thing we see is that following Jesus is going to cost us our priorities. This is verse 61, 62: "Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.'" What do you treasure? What do you hold most dear? What are you afraid to let go of, or what can you not imagine living your life without? What is it that's going to tempt you to take your hand off the plow and look back?Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem, and He didn't turn back. There were a lot of good things that He could have done, but He sets that all aside because there was only one thing that He needed to do. Nothing was going to stop Him from fulfilling that task, from going to the cross. His priorities were set in stone. Many of you have read the book, From Good to Great. Jim Collins famously observed that good is the enemy of great. It sounds very profound, but it's just kind of common sense, right, that there are so many good things that we could commit our lives to, but those good things become bad things if they keep us from doing the ultimate things and the greatest things. The greatest purpose and priority that anyone can have in this life is to know Christ and to proclaim the kingdom of God.This all started with Jesus's disciples arguing about, who is the greatest? The true greatness comes when we follow in the footsteps of the greatest man who ever lived, and that is Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, that only the man who follows the command of Jesus single-mindedly and unresistingly lets his yoke rest upon Him, finds his burden easy, and under its gentle pressure, receives the power to persevere in the right way. The command of Jesus is hard, unutterably hard, for those who try to resist it. For those who willingly submit, the yoke is easy and the burden is light.Following Jesus and giving your life to His kingdom as your top priority... This is going to be the hardest thing that you could ever attempt to do, but it's worth it. The reason that it's worth it is because as you do, Christ is right there with you, yoked together. It might be hard, but you keep pushing forward. You keep in step with him. As you do, you begin to realize that He is the one carrying the weight. He's the one shouldering the burden, and you get the privilege of going along with Him in this great mission.As we close, I want to just ask one simple question. Why count the cost of discipleship? Perhaps you came to Christ, and nobody ever challenged you to do this, to count the cost. What's the harm in that? If somebody is ready to come to Christ, why stop them? Why caution them and encourage them to count that cost? Why not just let them dive in with all of their enthusiasm? I think part of reason that Jesus wants us to count the cost of discipleship is because once you've done so, there is absolutely nothing that's going to be able to make you turn back. Once you've counted the cost and once you have determined that the privilege of following Jesus and of knowing Christ is worthy of giving up everything you have, then nothing is going to take away down.Nothing will stop you. Nothing will deter you. Nothing will distract you. There will never come a day where you throw in the towel, and quit, and say, "Hey, I didn't sign up for this," because, of course, you signed up for this. We all signed up for this. We did it because He's worthy, because He's worth it. This doesn't mean that you're going to live a perfect, flawless Christian life, but it does mean that you're going to get up every day, you're going to take up your cross, you're going to preach the gospel to yourself, remind yourself of Christ's worth, and you're not going to turn back.Listen. Until you see Jesus for who He really is, this cost of discipleship is always going to seem too high. The lordship of Jesus is always going to seem burdensome. When you see Jesus for His true worth, when you see Jesus for who He truly is, you begin to see reality for what it truly is. That truth sets you free. It sets you free to see that the cost of discipleship is not a price that you have to pay. It's actually an investment that you get to make.Jesus says this in Matthew 13, verse 44, that, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who, on finding one pearl of great value, went, and sold all that he had, and bought it." "The kingdom of God is like a field," Jesus says.Now, the world sees that field. It sees toil. It sees work. It doesn't see any value in investing there. What the world doesn't know is that that field is not a field to be worked. A field is a field to be mined for treasure, that in that field is a treasure. The greatest treasure of all is Christ Himself. The greatest treasure you find is Christ because He's the one who first treasured us. He's the one who found us and gave His all for us. He did so joyfully.Before calling us to count the cost, Jesus Himself counted the cost. He counted the cost of our salvation. This is Hebrews 12:1. It says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him... " You picture that guy who finds the treasure in his field and then in his joy, he goes and sells everything he has. It says that of Jesus, that, "For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."What was the joy set before Jesus? What did Jesus have by going to the cross that He did not have without going to the cross? It was us. It was God's people. We can joyfully give all we have for Christ and for His kingdom because God joyfully gave all He had for us. No matter how hard we may try, we will never outgive God. Romans 8:31 tells us, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son... " Think about this. "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"Where are you today? Counting the cost of discipleship... It's important. It takes thought. It takes honest reflection, but it doesn't really take a lot of time. The man who found the treasure in the field... He immediately, joyfully went and sold all that he had to get it. He bought it right away. Now, in contrast, we see that Jesus is not at all impressed with the men that he meets in this passage. He's not impressed with their excuses. He's not impressed with their reasons for procrastinating, for waiting to make that call. He wanted them to count the cost, but He also wanted them to act urgently.Maybe you're a Christian who came to Christ, and you've never counted that cost. You should do that now. You should do that daily because, really, what you're doing is you're counting the value of Jesus Christ as you do. Perhaps you're not a Christian. Perhaps you're watching, and right now, you're afraid. You're afraid of what it might cost you to follow Jesus. I'm not going to stand up here and give you a bait-and-switch about all the amazing things that are going to happen to you if you make that choice. I want you to count the cost because it will cost you.Beyond just the five things that we've already talked about from this passage, first and foremost, it's going to cost you your sin. You know in your heart what I'm talking about. You can't come to Jesus without repentance. Where are the places in your life that you don't want Jesus to be Lord because you don't want Him to change things, because you don't want Him to tell you what to do? If there are places like that, this is what I would encourage you to do. Take a hard look at Jesus, and then take a hard look at your sin.What has sin done for you, right? Has it made you happy? Does it satisfy you? Does it give you peace? Does it give you joy? Does it give you hope? Does it give you purpose? If not, then why keep living for it? Scripture actually says that apart from Christ, that we are slaves to sin. We live for sin, and we are slaves to sin, but that Jesus came to set us free from not just the penalty of sin, but from the power of sin to give us victory over sin. We can live in that freedom. Jesus died for you so that you could be set free, so that you could repent, put your faith in Him, and find that His commandments for you are not burdensome. His commandments are life, and joy, and peace.Listen. Making that decision... It's going to be the hardest thing that you would ever do, but nothing could be more worth it. On the other hand, not making that decision is a decision too. That decision comes with a cost as well. I pray that you would consider that. As you do, look and see that sin will take everything from you and never fulfill on its promises. Jesus is the only who came and gave everything for you. That is why He is worthy of our lives.Now, would you please join in prayer before we continue in worship? Father God, you gave your greatest treasure, your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we could be saved, so that we could be adopted into your family and be called sons and daughters as well. We thank you, and we praise you for that. Jesus, you gave your all, your very life, for us. We thank you for your sacrifice.We pray we would live lives worthy of your gospel. We pray that you would help us to just more deeply comprehend your great love for us and that by the power of the Spirit, we would count the cost and see your greatness, see your worth, and live lives of greatness ourselves following in the footsteps of you, our Lord, our Savior, denying ourselves, taking up our crosses daily, and following you. Jesus, it's in your name that we pray, amen.

This week, Pastor Caleb and Alex teach through the 5 verbs that Jesus gives his disciples in the great commission! All Jesus followers are called to make disciples and in this episode you will learn how you can do just that!Support the show (http://gatheringgen.com/give)

The Bible’s story is the history of the world, but with a particular focus - God’s salvation plan.In these talks, John Benton (Pastors’ Academy) develops the Bible’s big story.The Coming of God | The Coming of Grace | The Coming of the Kingdom | The Coming of the Future“But now God had come in the most unexpected way, taking human nature to himself.”“All Jesus’ dealings with needy people speak of unconditional love”

All Jesus had to do was speak the word of authority and whatever He said came to pass. It is the same today. Speak the Word Lord!

All that Jesus did is the building block of the believers' current reality. All Jesus did is credited to your account by faith and is potent in your life now.

Every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The One radio, Ibiza 101.1 FM, Marbella 96.4 FM On the net: https://theonemarbella.com Online: http://ow.ly/c3kv50yzmq7 - http://ow.ly/lJUi50yzmq5 TRACKLIST 1/ AEROPLANE « Love On Hold » (Dr Packer Remix) 2/ FUNKATOMIC « Oh my George » 3/ ALASTAIR LANE, LEE WILSON « Harlem Groove » 4/ ANGELO FERRERI, MOON ROCKET, CORRADO RIZZA, BLACK CONNECTION « Give Me Rhythm » 5/ ATFC « Sleep Talk » (Dr Packer Remix) 6/ MICHAEL GRAY, ROROE « The One » 7/ TED PETERS « That Tempo » 8/ DAVID PENN, KEVIN McKAY « Hallelujah » (Odyssey Inc Remix) 9/ BYRON STINGILY « It’s All Jesus » (Sean McCabe Remix) 10/ BLAZE « Precious Love » (Audiowhores Edit) 11/ HARDSOUL « La Pasion De Gozar » (Audiowhores Sunshine Edit)

In today's episode we are going to be looking at Jesus' miracles. Why did he do them and what did he do? Being a human meant that he would've needed to go to the toilet, he ate and slept like any other human, but he actually didn't have to. He could've chosen to create all his meals out of thin air, he could've magicked a flying carpet to transport him around and he could've prevented himself from dying - forever! Remember John 1:2, which says that  “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus is above the laws of science. He created science! And while Jesus was on the earth he did some amazing things! Being one of Jesus' disciples must've been amazing. Every day they were witnessing incredible events like this! And any time one of them would get a sniffle or a sore throat they'd probably go and ask Jesus to heal them and he would! Why would Jesus do these miracles? It was another way that Jesus showed the people who he was. Only the creator of the world could do the things that Jesus was doing. If Jesus had said “I am the messiah. I am God's son.” If Jesus had said that he would have gotten arrested. So he had to show them that it was true. He showed the people that he was God's son by performing miracles. The miracles also meant that the people gave Jesus respect. They listened to his teachings and were curious, asking themselves questions like - Who is this man? Where did he get his power from? How does what he say fit in with what God has said in the past? Should we believe what he says and follow him? There is another reason why Jesus did these miraculous things - to fulfil another prophecy about him. Long before this time, the prophet Isaiah in 35:3-6 said, "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” We don't see many miracles these days. Often we use science to try and work out a reason why it wasn't a miracle. I think that God doesn't need to use miracles. Jesus used them to let everyone know that he was God. What do we need them for now? When I was a kid I was taught that Jesus could do amazing miracles. I was also taught that if you ask, seek and knock the door will be opened to you, meaning if you ask for something from God then he will answer your prayers. But you have to have faith the size of a mustard seed… so one night before bed I prayed for a packet of Minties, which were the best chewy mint lollies in the world in the 90s. I believed with all my heart and when I woke up in the morning I ran to my shelf where I fully expected the lollies to be, and to my disappointment, they were not there! I was devastated! I didn't understand! Did God not hear me? Of course he did, he's God. “Why didn't you answer my prayer?” I prayed, over and over. I didn't understand straight away, and it was a long time before I understood, but there has to be a good reason for God to do things. We may not always know the reason, but he is God and he is perfect and has the best reasons for doing everything he does. All Jesus' miracles were spectacular and were done to show the people, and us today even, that He really is God. He is powerful, he is awesome and he is God. Discussion Questions: If you were there and saw Jesus doing some of the miracles, what would you think about him? If you could ask Jesus to perform a miracle today what would it be? Pray for your miracle, you never know, he may want to say yes and give you what you want.

Faith Comes by Hearing (Rom. 10:17) The Word is near you (Rom. 10:8) The Spirit has worked faith in our hearts Believe and Confess The heart believes the Gospel (Rom. 10:9-10) We confess faith in Jesus Salvation is for All Jesus is Lord of all (Rom. 10:12) Everyone who calls on Him will be saved (Rom. 10:13) Call on Jesus We cry “hosanna,” save us (John 12:13) Serve and follow Him (John 12:26)

Mark 11:11-21 - All Jesus found was leaves

At St. Paul’s, we observe an extended advent. So this sermon uses the readings for Advent 1, though at St. Paul’s it was our Advent 4. For more info on extended Advent, check out the Advent Project. Listen Here: Read Here:Advent 4/1 – Year ADecember 1, 2019Preached at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookline, MAThe Reverend Jeffrey W. MelloIsaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44; Psalm 122Just before the passage we heard this morning from Matthew, Jesus is talking with his disciples about what sounds like the end of the world. In this morning’s reading, Jesus anticipates their question. He certainly anticipates mine. “When, Jesus?” When will all of this happen? They want to be ready. I want to be ready. They want to be prepared. I want to be prepared.Ready for what, though? Prepared for what?While many will read these passages and interpret them to mean that Jesus is talking about the physical destruction of the world as we know it; the end-times, what Jesus is really talking about is the turning upside down of the world. Just like we sing each week in Advent.The world, Jesus predicts, is about to turn. And it won’t be pretty when it does. But after it turns? Oh, after it turns it will be beautiful. It will be paradise. It will be the Kingdom of God here on earth.Jesus’ followers want to know when, exactly, this will take place. But Jesus says that’s just not how it works. Just like Noah had no warning (though, to be fair, he had time to build the arc), the kingdom of God will break in suddenly even as we are about the most mundane of tasks, working in the field, or grinding grain. One will be taken and one will be left.Yet, somehow, by the time Saint Paul writes his letter to the church at Rome, the question of when has been decided. “Now,” St. Paul writes. “Now is the moment to wake from sleep.” Now is the time Jesus foretold.But, how does he define “now?” Now, as in two thousand years ago? Now as in at the time of his writing? Or now, when we are hearing this letter? How could he have known that “now” was going to be sometime “later?”All Jesus tells his followers is that we are not to fall into the same trap as the homeowner who didn’t let his house be broken into.But doesn’t that make getting broken into a good thing?And, wait...doesn’t that make God the thief in the night?And I think that the point. God is the thief in the night. And, using Jesus’ metaphor and following his logic, God does not want us to know when God might arrive because God is afraid we won’t let God break in. God knows us well enough to know that we will be too busy trying to make God happen that we won’t be able to let God happen.We won’t, if we have time to prepare, let God break into our lives, or break into our hearts. And God desperately wants to do just that.Perhaps the wisdom gained by the early church in the intervening years between Jesus’ ministry on earth and Paul’s letter to the community in Rome is that the key to be reading for the coming of Jesus into the world isn’t to be prepared for some time in the future, but to live every moment expecting it happen in the here and now; to live each moment as though it is happening. The key to letting God break into our lives isn’t to busy ourselves with behaving in a way we think will make God happen, but to live our lives everyday, in every moment, with our hearts open, unarmed, and vulnerable to a break in by God.Maybe the way to be suprised by God is to assume the surprise at every turn. To expect it. To look for it. To wonder where God is in the world around me, not if God is in the world around me.“Maybe this is God,” you might suggest to yourself walking down the street, or waiting on hold, or looking in the mirror. “Maybe this is God.”Maybe one is taken and one is left because one was expecting God to show up in the mundane details of life and the other was too busy working to notice God had, in fact showed up. God will show up, but only the one who expects God to be there in the field, or at the grain mill, or in the meeting, or on the street, while raking leaves, or shoveling snow, while grocery shopping or visiting the sick will know it.Last week Chris Dulla, Andrew Tanis, Art Wing and Melissa Dulla played in a band at a restaraunt who was celebrating their second anniversary. They call their band the “Embers,” because they trace their origins to the campfire at the Parish Retreat. As I watched them play, I saw the church at its best. “God did this,” I thought. God brought these folks together to create joy and connection. When Sarah Dulla joined Chris for a Lady Gaga duet, I thought my hear was going to burst out of my chest.In that restaurant, I saw God. I’m sure everyone there saw a “nice group of people” singing in front of them. But I’m not sure they expected God to show up in that restaurant in Dorchester on a Sunday night in November.I’m not sure how many were left, but this one was definitely taken.We sing the hymn “Were you there when they crucified my Lord” every year while we say the Stations of the Cross. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? When they nailed him to the tree? When they laid him in the tomb? Sometimes, it causes me to tremble.”Just as the Coming of God into our lives is not bound by time to some point in the distant future, Christ crucified is not bound by time to some point in the distant past.Was I there when they crucified my Lord? Well, that depends whether I have spent time looking for Christ in the world around me. But as Jackson Caesar sang this spiritual last night here at Saint Paul’s and asked me the question of whether or not I was there when the sun refused to shine I had to say “yes” I was there. Yes, I was there when immigrant parents died on the border. Yes, I was there when young men of Color were shot dead in the street. Yes, I was there when wars were raged on my behalf and when creation was stripped for my dependence on fossil fuel. Yes, I was there. Yes, Lord, I am there now. And sometimes it causes me to tremble.And I was there when God broke into the world at the hospital bed of a parishioner, in the conversation with a colleague over coffee, on retreat at a monastery. Yes, Lord, I was there, too. And sometimes, it causes me to tremble.I was there when you were born into the world again this morning, and I will be there when you are crucified in the world again tonight.Don’t miss the ways God is crucified every day in this world by looking to the past for when it happened to Jesus on the cross.Expect God to be Crucified today.And please don’t miss the ways God’s love and truth and mercy is already breaking into your life today by looking and planning for the way God might break in sometime in the distant future. Expect to be surprised by God today.The breaking in of God into our lives and hearts isn’t meant to be a surprise. It is not a Pop quiz on our behavior. It is not a carrot meant to reward us or a consequence meant to punish us.God wants to break in, all the time. Is breaking in, every day. Now is the time. It need not come as a surprise. AMEN.© 2019 The Reverend Jeffrey W. Mello

Today Deacon Nemsy speaks on the drama of the second coming of Christ. This drama is the triumph over good, over evil, and the triumph of justice. He tells us that Jesus has prepared a place for us in the House of the Father. All Jesus wants is for us to love Him back, and that this is the true drama of salvation.

READING FROM THE HEBREW BIBLE 2 KINGS 5:1-15B L: Our first reading is from the second book of Kings,and is read responsively. L: There was a man named Naaman, who was a commander of the army of the king of Syria. He was a powerful man and in high favor with his king. Naaman, though a mighty warrior, suffered fromleprosy - his skin diseased and white as snow. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and given her to Naaman’s wife as a slave-girl. She said to her mistress, All: “If only my lord were with the Israelite prophet, who lives in the land of Samaria! Surely he would cure my lord of hisleprosy.” L: (This was Elisha the prophet.) So Naaman went in and told his king exactly what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the king of Aram said, “Go then.” So Naaman went to Israel with his horses and chariots laden with gifts. He stopped at the gate to Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a servant out to him to say: All: “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your skin shall be restored and you shall be clean.” L: But Naaman became angry and stormed off, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come outside, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! There are two rivers in my home countrybetter than all the waters of Israel. Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. But his slaves said to him, All: “Sir, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” L: So Naaman went down and washed himself seven times in the Jordan River, according to the word of the man of God; his skin was restored like the skin of a young man, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, Naaman and everyone with him; he came and stood before Elisha and said, All: “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except the God of Israel.” L: This is the word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God. ✠ THE GOOD NEWS LUKE 17:11-19L: The good news of Jesus Christ, according to the gospel of Luke, the seventeenth chapter.A: Glory to you, O Lord. L: On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village along the way, ten lepers approached him. They kept their distance, as required inreligious law, and from far away they called out: All: “Jesus, Teacher, have mercy on us!” L: When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they did, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. This man was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise up and be on your way; your faith has made you whole.” L: This is the gospel, the good news of God’s grace.A: Praise to you, O Christ.

So Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd, he could not because he was short in stature, so he ran ahead climb a sycamore tree, to see him because he was going to pass that way when Jesus came to the place he looked up and said to him: Zacchaeus, hurry and come down for I must stay at your house today. So we hurried down... He was happy to walk him in all who saw it began to grumble and said, He has gone to be the guest of one who is the sinner? So, the story of Zacchaeus is great, right? There's great players, there's this short guy, who's a tax collector that everybody hates there's this guy named Jesus that everybody loves and then there's the crowd who goes wild at what goes on, right? And so what I love about this are all these characters because what you need to remember or know about Zacchaeus is everybody hated him, nobody likes a tax collector anyway, right? Nobody likes people taking your money, right? But in the biblical Day, it was a contractor who literally did everything they could to get your money, whether it was legal or not, whether it was ethical or not. So nobody liked the tax collector, a tax collectors were so hated that even in scripture, they're given a special designation as a sinner. Jesus ate with sinners, and tax collectors. So Zacchaeus is not well liked, everybody hates him, Jesus sees him Jesus knows who he is, he recognizes him and he says, a very simple. Zacchaeus I must go to your house today. Jesus is gonna neighbor, he's gonna go over to Zacchaeus’s house. There are no seeming or apparent motives of any kind. I just wanna be with you, I just wanna get to know you, I just wanna care for you. I just wanna be with you, I just wanna see you, I just wanna know you. That's all Jesus seemingly says, and that's clearly all that happens at least initially, is he just wants to be with Zacchaeus, he just wants to love on it, he just wants to be there for him. Why do you share that might be... Because everybody else in town hates him, probably 'cause nobody else wants to be with him, probably he's extremely isolated, and alone, and everybody thinks he's a... You know what? And so Jesus is gonna make clear to everybody who's gathered this guy, this guy who you hate, this guy who is doing everything wrong, this guy who nobody wants to be with this guy I wanna be with, I wanna offer him care and by the way, I want every one of y'all to know it. That's why they started grumbling right? That's why they said he's gone to be with a sinner. All Jesus’s motivation was… was to love him. To offer him his career, his compassion, his concern, right? Jesus had no ulterior motive his only motive was to be in relationship with Zacchaeus. I dare say He had an ultimate motive, I believe his old man motive was to help Zacchaeus know that he was loved that somebody gave a flip about it that somebody actually cared about him. That's what the neighboring is... You see neighboring is this art of trying to help people know that somebody else cares, that somebody else notices, that somebody else really does want to be with you and to know you, right. And so there in your notes, just I think we've got to touch on this because the story of Zacchaeus gives us a powerful image for how and what the ultimate goal of neighboring is, so there now the art of neighboring has no ulterior motive.

God’s promises that are available in Christ are various and plentiful, touching on just about every aspect of life. He makes promises for salvation, provision, guidance, peace, health, and much more. All believers believe that God can heal. All Jesus followers agree that Jesus healed people. But we disagree on whether God always wants everyone fully healed. Have you prayed for multiple and seen some healed but others not, why does that happen? There are only two stories in the New Testament that address the “why.” https://www.clintbyars.com/blog/2019/5/21/offended-at-jesus

Investigating Jesus Part 31 Jesus’ Last Prayer:Jesus prays for Himself (John 17:1-5) After his final teaching on his last night before his death, Jesus now turns to prayer. Firstly, praying for Himself, then for his twelve disciples and then finally for all disciples that will follow, the church. This prayer is probably the pinnacle of revelation in John’s gospel. Here we see Jesus’ very words, revealing an unparalleled intimacy with his Father. We get a glimpse into the very heart of their relationship and see the intimate bond between them.Jesus prays for Himself (John 17:1-5) Central to this part of his prayer is glorification. That is the glorification of Himself in order that God the Father who sent Him will be glorified. Glorify is rarely used outside of church circles today. If ever it is, is usually in the context of somebody pretending to be better than they really are. Glorify means, in a biblical context, to have the person’s true nature disclosed. In effect, Jesus is saying in John 17:1: “May people see me for who I truly am, your Son. And may they also, through me, see your true nature, Father.” Praying as he does, just before he knowingly goes to his death on the cross, shows the importance of the cross. For it is through the cross that God the Father and Jesus will be glorified. Jesus’ death on the cross reveals a God of love, faithfulness and forgiveness. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4) reveals that it was for this purpose that he came, to complete the work given. Jesus’ entire earthly life has been one to show divine love – all for the glory of the Father. All Jesus’ works and words were completed without even a hint of hypocrisy or sinfulness. His entire life was driven by the desire to see sinful people turn to God for reconciliation and forgiveness. At the cross and through the cross alone, this is achieved. Jesus confidently prays that having laid aside his glory by taking on human form, he will return to God’s right hand, having achieved the work of redemption. The theme of eternal life runs throughout John’s Gospel (John 3:15-16; John 10:28). What is eternal life? Eternal life is knowing God personally and intimately, and that is only achieved by faith, through Jesus’ death on the cross. It is a free offer and open to all. It is the responsibility of each individual to take up this free offer from God. Once the offer is taken up, the responsibility is then to tell others of this offer. Do you know this Jesus personally? When was the last time you told somebody else about Him? Imagine what this world would be like if more Christians were obedient in this way! Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file ~ You can now purchase our Partakers books! Please do click or tap here to visit our Amazon site! Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

All Jesus asks of us is to abide in him.  What is required of us to “abide” and what happens if we actually do it?

All Jesus is telling us today from the gospel passage is to believe in him and to believe in the scriptures. He wants us to trust him and to also trust the scriptures for our salvation and also for our healing, just the same way he told his own folks of men and women in Nazareth who were doubtful and skeptical of his mission to save and his power to heal. Some of us are witnesses of how Jesus saved us and changed our lives, and of how he healed us. We are witnesses of how he saved us from things that weighed us down, and of how he brought us out of places we never thought we could ever come out from. All Jesus is asking you to do is to have faith in him, to have faith in the scriptures. Sermon from The Table on 2/3/19.

Pastor Van Brooks joins Tyler and Darin to discuss the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20 and how it applies to our groups. All Jesus-followers have been called to Mission and our groups are no exception. PV shares his insights into how important our groups can be toward this divine calling. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pastor Brian brought such a powerful Christmas Message in our December Series, Unto Us, on Jesus as our Prince of Peace! All Jesus asks is that we come to Him, and He will give us peace beyond our comprehension. That is all we have to do! Listen to this message today, and share with a friend! Link in bio. . Listen to this message today, and share with a friend!

Though Jesus was resurrected, His heart and work hadn't left man. Through His appearance He told man He's there, whatever form He's in. He would walk with people, be there at all times and places, provide, shepherd, let them see, touch Him, so they are not helpless again. All Jesus did after His resurrection showed God's constant hope and concern for man, that He deeply cares and cherishes man. It's all the same, it has never changed. 2 Jesus wanted that people should know their lives in this world aren't alone. God cares for them, He is with them, He's the One people can lean on. He's family to His followers. Leaning on God, man's not weak, lone. Those who accept Him as sin offering won't be bound in sin any more. All Jesus did after His resurrection showed God's constant hope and concern for man, that He deeply cares and cherishes man. It's all the same, it has never changed. 3 Jesus's work post resurrection, for man, were all very small things. But for God, they were meaningful, valuable and important things. God does finish what He starts. There're steps, a plan, showing His wisdom, His omnipotence and great deeds, and also His love and mercy. All Jesus did after His resurrection showed God's constant hope and concern for man, that He deeply cares and cherishes man. It's all the same, it has never changed. 4 The main thread through all of God's work is that He cares deeply for man, and is really concerned for man. These are feelings that He cannot ignore. All Jesus did after His resurrection showed God's constant hope and concern for man, that He deeply cares and cherishes man. It's all the same, it has never changed. from The Word Appears in the Flesh

  Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!(2ndCorinthians 13:5 NET)  Examining yourself under a spiritual magnifying glass may not be as fun as shouting and praising God, but it is absolutely necessary as part of the devoted Christian life.  The test and examination of yourself is to clearly see if you are in the faith, genuinely (truthfully and honestly), and by fruit production. What does that mean? What did Paul mean when he stated this examination was to be about whether or not we are in the faith of the Lord Jesus? The good news is we do not have to guess.  But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.  But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”(Acts 24:24, 25 NASB) Paul explained “faith in Christ” to Felix and Drusilla as: righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come. It made Felix shake and tremble. It’s time for people to shake and tremble by the power of the Holy Spirit as we minister faith in Christ Jesus as Paul did.  Jesus said the Holy Spirit was sent to convict concerning those things.    And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). We begin to look at these closely. These are powerful and revealing, and they are the very definition of faith in Christ. Faith in Christ is to include righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come, or it is something else. I don’t mean that every message preached or taught has to be specifically about these three subjects, but there needs to be an underlying current of truth in each message. We should never relegate to a backburner righteousness, self-control, or judgment to come.  I understand how foreign that sounds to our ears today because much of the modern church has gone after fluff and cotton candy preaching that RARELY mentions or teaches anything concerning these subjects. Yet, it is precisely what the Holy Spirit was sent to minister through the Church. I will tell you this in advance. Each of those three things mentioned by Paul are vast in scope. You could probably preach on each one until Jesus returns and never run out. For example, did you know righteousness includes ALL Jesus provided for you and me through His awesome and mighty sacrifice? Righteousness includes every benefit of redemption, but did you know it also includes our moral behavior?   So, are you ready to be challenged and “rudely” interrupted from the traditions of men? Here is part 2!  

The last half of John 6:11 describes how Jesus involved the Disciples in the loaves and fishes miracle. It says He distributed the multiplying food to the hungry people through them. The miraculous literally passed THROUGH their hands. They were conduits of wonder. I can't even begin to imagine what an amazing experience that must have been for them. But as someone who longs to be more USEUL when God is moving to meet people's needs through displays of His power, I notice two things here that I find extremely helpful. First, through the events of the preceding verses, Jesus made it clear to the Disciples that they were not responsible to MAKE the miracle happen. Neither THEIR money nor THEIR culinary skills were involved. It was ALL Jesus. Their role was to simply dispense what He was creating. They were like divine delivery-persons. UPS and FedEx drivers aren't required to purchase or manufacture the items in their trucks. Their job is to just make sure the boxes get to the right address, ring the doorbell, and leave them on the porch. So much pressure comes off when I understand that. Miracles are not up to me. My job is to lay hands the sick. It's His to do the healing. My job is to speak the words of prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, and discernment HE gives. My job is to pray for the bound and broken-hearted. His is to deliver and comfort. The second thing I see here is that the grand miracle of feeding the multitude unfolded in stages, mouthful by mouthful. The Disciples got to be involved in distributing a series of bite-sized miracles that altogether became something legendary. Now, don't misunderstand. A miracle is a miracle. The terms “large” and “small” do not really apply. And God can work massive miracles in an instant. But I've found that for the most part, He invites me to participate in a lot of little ones that accumulate over time into an amazing expression of His glory. As an older man who has walked with God for a long time now, this is deeply moving to me. I look back over my life and rejoice with amazement at the times I've witnessed demonstrations of God's explosive power. But I also cherish the cumulative weight of all those quieter ones. And I've come to understand the value of living in the daily expectation of a steady stream of God's manifest power. So, if you're desperate today for a large, loud, and immediate miracle from heaven, we have a God who is more than able. But it may just be that His provision is on the way to your doorstep a box at a time. Don't miss them.

Acts 1:8 - All Jesus is asking of you is to do the impossible. In this sermon Pastor Byron teaches over the Spirit’s role in the launch of the early church and how the Spirit is still at work in our life and church today.

I. Introduction I'd like to invite you to turn in your Bibles to Revelation Chapter 3. We are looking this morning at verses 1-6, Jesus’ warning to the church at Sardis. John MacArthur, in his exposition of these verses, used an illustration that has stuck with me. I would like to begin with it. He talked about the phenomenon of distant starlight. Physicists tell us that light travels at a constant rate: 186,000 miles per second. Because this universe is so vast, cosmologists have invented a unit of measurement called the light year, which is the distance that light travels in a year; the math works out to 5.88 trillion miles a year. Because stars are so distant from the Earth, it takes that distant starlight many years to travel to the Earth. The light of every star that we see twinkling in the night sky was actually sent toward the Earth many, many, years ago, maybe even centuries ago. For example, the stars that make up the Big Dipper, which is the most famous constellation, range from 78 to 123 light years away from the Earth. That means that the next time you stand and look up at the night sky, at the Big Dipper, you are looking back in time. You are looking, for the most part, at starlight that began its journey earthward over a century ago. It is possible that some or many of the stars in the Big Dipper no longer exist — perhaps one or two of the stars in the handle or in the drinking gourd part are already gone. We do not know, nor will we know with certainty until that star goes dark. Though a star may not exist anymore, the light has been traveling all this time and has not reached us yet. MacArthur used that as an illustration for the church at Sardis. In Revelation 3:1, Jesus said to this church at Sardis, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” They were living on past glories, past starlight. They were walking around with the appearance and reputation of life, but they were in reality dead. They were a dead church. We can liken it to taking a tour of an archaeological site in Europe or in the Near East. For example, we can see the Parthenon or the Acropolis in Athens, or the Colosseum of ancient Rome that is still there today. Those structures provide of vigorous, wealthy, powerful empires, still, to some degree, living off the reputation of past deeds. The faded glory of a dead empire. We say appearances can be deceiving, but nowhere is that more true than in the spiritual realm of churches, in dealing with the genuine spiritual state of both individuals and churches — appearances can be deceiving. It is possible for an individual person or a church to appear to be alive spiritually, but actually be dead. The Puritans called such an individual a “Gospel hypocrite.” The word “hypocrite” actually is related to the Greek word for “actor,” referring to someone who puts on a mask. When it comes to the Christian Gospel, it refers to a person who goes through the forms, the outward motions of Christianity, but inside is spiritually dead. Jesus spoke to the Scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27-28, saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside, are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous, but inside, you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” The same thing can happen to a church as a whole. It can be living on past reputation of spiritual vitality, but inside, there nothing going on spiritually; there is no vitality. The church is dead. Christ’s words to this dead church stand as a timeless warning to all churches, in all locations, throughout all time. Any church can turn at some point in its history from a vibrant witness, healthy doctrine, and a loving community of saints that is reaching out in its world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, courageously embolded. They can turn and begin a decline towards spiritual deadness, toward death as a congregation. That church might still have a reputation as being a “great church”, but like Samson shorn of his hair, who did not realize that God had left him and taken away his power, so also, this church at Sardis, did not know that their reputation had far outlasted their actual spiritual life. This is a practical problem all over America. Previously vibrant churches are dying or have died. I drive by churches like that every time I drive here, even churches that First Baptist Church planted decades ago. Some of them have a name and a reputation, but they are dead. Their time has passed. One poll shows that between 8,000 and 10,000 local churches die every year, while only about 1,000 new churches are planted every year. You have heard this morning about the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Mission Board. They work to plant churches. Among other entities, those are included in the 1,000 new church plants, a fraction of the number dying every year. Why? Why do so many previously flourishing local churches die? That is a question that today’s passage will lead us to consider. Thom Rainer wrote a book a couple of years ago called Autopsy of a Dead Church. That is a potent image, isn't it? This book stands as a warning to living churches, as Jesus said to the small remnant within this dead church at Sardis in Revelation 3:2, to, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.” Using this image, then, this morning we will do the sad work of visiting a cold morgue to see the coroner pull out the corpse of a local church, the church at Sardis, and hear the description of how that corpse died. We will look into the face of such a church so that we can be warned, we can be revived, we can be revitalized ourselves as a church, renewed in our zeal for Christ. We will ask the Lord to search us and know our hearts and show us if any spiritual necrosis is creeping its way through our soul. We will be moved, I hope, with a healthy fear of this happening to First Baptist Durham, and, by God’s grace, will seek to avoid the same fate as the church at Sardis. This is the implication in the final statement in all these letters: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” It is unwise for any church, no matter how healthy and vibrant, to read this letter to Sardis, and say, “Well, thank God that is not us. There is nothing we need to hear concerning this. There is no warning for us. We are fine.” That would be the worst way you could listen to these six verses. The most powerful tool in the hands of Almighty God for the building of the church of Jesus Christ is a healthy local church, led biblically by godly elders, passionate for the glory of God, preaching the Gospel, proclaiming the Gospel with courage in its community, discipling one another toward holiness and Christ-likeness. That is a fearsome weapon in the hand of God against the spiritual forces of evil; Satan knows this, so he is fighting the battle all around the world at the local church level. Thus, this issue of spiritual deadness is something that we must face. We must study why churches die, and even more, how they live, how they are fruitful, so that FBC can continue to be a weapon for the glory of God in the salvation of lost sinners. II. Christ Describes Himself: Holding the Seven Spirits and the Seven Stars Let’s begin with Christ’s description of Himself. For review, in Revelation 1, the Apostle John, in exile on Patmos, had a vision of the resurrected, glorified Christ moving among seven golden lampstands, which is a symbol, interpreted for us in that chapter, of Jesus’ active ministry to local churches around the world. These seven represent the number of fullness or perfection. Jesus is similarly engaged and active in every genuine local church around the world. He is conducting a priestly ministry. In Revelation 2 and 3, he writes letters to each of these seven churches and addresses their conditions. These were real churches that were active in John’s day, but the lessons in each of these letters are timeless. Each of us is warned and encouraged comes to listen to all seven letters, to take to heart these things. These Are the Words He begins, as he always does, with verse 1: “These are the words of Him who…” referring to the words of Christ by which He seeks to remedy what is wrong. The link between Christ's words and spiritual life is obvious throughout the New Testament: In John 5:24, Jesus said this: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my Word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life, and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” In the very next verse, John 5:25, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” Do you see the link between Jesus speaking and dead people coming to life? He has that kind of power. It says in John 6:63, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” And Moses said in Deuteronomy, “These are not idle words for you; these are your life.” That is the link between Jesus’ words and life; Revelation 3:1 is referring to these words. In the same way, Jesus yearns to speak life into the deadness of the church at Sardis. It reminds me of the powerful image in Ezekiel of the dry bones: The Lord commanded the prophet Ezekiel, “Speak, prophesy to the dry bones and tell them to live.” There is a process, which you can read it in Ezekiel 37, but boils down to this: “As the Word is proclaimed, and as the Spirit moves like a wind, these dead bones come to life.” There is a link between the proclamation of the prophetic Word of God and the activity of the Spirit in bringing individuals from death to life. It is only by the words of Christ that the spiritually dead come to life. Him Who Holds the Seven Spirits and the Seven Stars How does Christ identify Himself? Look at verse 1: “These are the words of Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” As I have pointed out before, in every one of these seven letters, Jesus identifies Himself by some aspect of the vision that He gave to the Apostle John in chapter 1. Christ, the resurrected, glorified Son of man, is moving through the seven golden lampstands, representing seven local churches, but also the totality of all of the local churches around the world, ministering actively. And it's a clear picture of His constant, vigilant, active ministry to every local church around the world. He actively knows about and cares about all of His churches. To the church at Sardis, He describes himself as, “Him who holds the seven spirits of God.” How do we understand “the seven spirits of God”? It must refer to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. We know this, because in Revelation 1, Jesus uses the same expression in a clear Trinitarian formula. Revelation 1:4-5: “Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, [that is God] and from the seven spirits before the throne, [that indicates the Holy Spirit] and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the Earth.” There, He gives us a Trinitarian formula, so the seven spirits must in this case as well refer to the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. We have it again in Revelation 4: “Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.” And in Revelation Five: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the Earth.” These verses make it very clear that “the seven spirits” refers to the Holy Spirit of God. Why would the person of the Spirit, who is usually referred to in singular form, be referred to as “the seven spirits”? I do not know for a fact. As we go through Revelation, I will say again and again, “I don't know.” You can come to me later if you disagree with my studied guesses and possibilities for interpretation, and I will say, “I don't know. What do you think?” There is so much symbolic imagery here, interpretations for which we cannot look to the back of the book in an appendix for the answers — this is the back of the book. And the back of the book asks and creates more questions sometimes than giving answers. There are so many unanswered questions. It is a difficult book to interpret. For this expression, I see good evidence to suggest that we should look at it as the seven-fold Spirit of God, rather than seven individual spirits. Some scholars link it to Isaiah 11, which gives seven designations of the Spirit. First, talking about the anointing of the Messiah, Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him…” This is followed by three couplets of two each; three times two is six, plus the Spirit of the Lord, adds up to seven. Isaiah 11 says: “The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, and the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” In other words, these are seven effects of the activity of the Spirit on Jesus. The number seven is the number of perfection, so we would look on the Spirit’s perfect and powerful effectiveness in bringing about God’s plan. Thinking in terms of the Spirit of God in that way makes sense in our passage in Revelation. The church at Sardis is dead. The evidence of that deadness is a lack of obvious activity of the Spirit of God there. The problem is made manifest by the fact that there was no encounter with the Spirit of God in the life of the church. The Spirit gives life: a Spirit-filled church is alive, crackling with energy. Spiritual energy is defined by the Word of God: the Word of God is powerfully proclaimed. The worship of God is energetically flowing; the people are passionate about it. The fruit of the Spirit is obvious in the people: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness. The power of the Spirit is on them for bold, risky proclamation of the Gospel in their community and to the ends of the earth. All of these things are produced by the Holy Spirit. Thus, it is the Spirit of God alone who can revive a dead church. It is because the Spirit of God was grieved through sin and quenched in some way that the church has grown dead. How does Jesus hold the seven spirits of God? This does not indicate ownership. Rather, there is an intimate connection between Jesus and the Spirit of God, in terms of His messianic ministry. He was Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), same idea, meaning “anointed.” His anointing, it is clear, was with the Holy Spirit — in other words, the Spirit came upon Jesus. It says in Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” There is a strong connection between Jesus and the Spirit. Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert and was tempted by the devil. He returned out of the desert filled with the Spirit. This is a great picture for those of us who face temptation: Enter the temptation filled with the Spirit; leave the temptation filled with the Spirit. It says in Luke 4:14, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through the whole countryside.” Peter, to Cornelius, said in Acts 10:38, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.” At the end of Jesus’ ministry, He promised His disciples that He would pour forth the Holy Spirit of God from the Father — the Father and the Son together pour out the Spirit. John the Baptist said in Luke 3:16, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” And Jesus Himself said, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me.” The Spirit comes from the Father, through the Son, to the churches. Jesus holds the seven-fold spirit of God because it is in His power to pour out His Spirit on the church. He also holds the seven stars. The seven stars represent seven messengers of the churches — some interpretations say they are perhaps pastors or preachers. A godly proclamation ministry sets the tone for the entire life of the church. I believe the most significant thing that happens in the life of any church is the preaching of the Word. It does not matter who does it; what matters is what is preached. You can measure the health of the church, first and foremost, by the preaching ministry, and then all the things that flow from it. He holds the seven stars in His right hand; He owns them and He protects them. Who Was the Church at Sardis? We do not know much about the church at Sardis. It was probably part of the church planting movement that started out of Ephesus. This movement is mentioned in Acts 19:10, where it says that the whole region heard about the Word of the Lord because Paul was there for two years. He and those with him were sending out teams of people throughout Asia Minor, and we can assume that all seven of these churches were planted in that way. Sardis the city has a long history that you can look it up. III. Christ Presents the Shocking Diagnosis to the Church at Sardis Christ diagnoses the church at Sardis and He says, “You are dead.” “I know your deeds. You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” It just, even now, that brings chills to me, goose bumps. Imagine Jesus saying that to a church. How Does He Know? Jesus knows this by looking at their deeds. He can read their hearts, but even on the surface, He sees the deeds, the fruits — dead. There is always a link between the heart — the nature — and the fruit. “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good.” All Jesus has to do is look at the deeds. Revelation 3:2: “I know your deeds; you are dead.” “I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.” Some years ago, as many of you know, I built a tree house. That is where I write my sermons and practice them. It is a place of prayer for me. I had big plans for this tree house. It was going to be a big tree house — someone who knew my plans once called it the Taj Mahal of tree houses. It has a baseboard heater and a picture window, and all kinds of cool things in it. But when I put the first board in it, a 2x10, I secured it to a tree with a lag screw that was 5/8 of an inch in diameter and 5 inches long. That thing was not going to move. It had a sheer strength of something like 150,000 pounds, and I drove that screw right into the heart of the tree. Apparently, the tree didn't like it. In the following months and years, the tree did not flourish. Finally, in spring a few years ago, I was anxiously looking at this tree, which was holding up one quarter of the tree house, and there were no leaves at all, nothing. I had killed the tree. I knew by looking for evidence of life. Over the next two years, the tree gradually rotted, until soon after, I realized the tree was dead. I put in two 4x4s to support the tree house, and I think it will be fine, but that tree is gone, literally gone. It rotted straight down and is entirely removed. The way I knew, is just by looking for evidence of life. The same principle is going on here: there is no life, no evidence. It says in John 15:2, “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,” and those branches are collected and thrown into the fire and burned. That is a picture of hell. There are works that show life, and the works that mark a healthy, living church are obvious, as we have already mentioned: clear and powerful proclamation of the Word of God from the pulpit; vigorous, spirit-filled worship; committed, sacrificial, loving community among the members of the church; bold, consistent proclamation of the Gospel in that community and, when possible, to the ends of the Earth; sacrificial ministry to the poor and needy. In addition, each individual Christian has his own unique special set of good works “which God has prepared in advance, that [they] should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10.) Healthy churches prepare the members individually to be fruitful themselves in good works that they all are doing. That is a sign of an alive church, isn't it? Do you not want to be part of a church like that? A living church produces fruit corporately and in individual members. They Had a NAME of Being Alive, But Were Actually Dead The church at Sardis had a name — a reputation — of being alive, of containing life, but they were actually dead. Perhaps all the works that gained them that name and reputation had been done many years before. Past heroes who had planted that church in Sardis and led it early on were perhaps gone. Instead of the remaining members filling their places with vibrant works, the absence of those heroes has left deadness. I love church history. I have visited the churches of many of my heroes of the faith. This is a sad exercise. I have been to Geneva to the St. Pierre Cathedral where John Calvin preached; it is effectively a museum. Worship services may happen and there may even be an evangelical congregation there, but there is an old feeling there, and the culture in the surrounding area does not seem to take notice of or know anything about about John Calvin. I have been to Wittenberg, where Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door; I do not know the health of that church. One church I do know the health of is Jonathan Edwards’ church in Northampton, Massachusetts. Many years ago, that church went theologically, aggressively liberal, and they wrestled with the heritage of Jonathan Edwards, whose doctrines they do not hold at all. When we were there on sabbatical a few years ago, that church had a Buddhist monk coming on Wednesday night to talk to the people about meditation. It is sad. Churches can be on fire for Christ, and then things cool off, and then within a generation, or two, or three, there is nothing there, nothing going on at all. Why Were They Dead? The question is, why? Why does this happen? Why was the church at Sardis dead? The cause of death is always the same — it is not a shock to you — it is sin. Romans 6:23: “… the wages of sin is death.” James 1:14-15 said, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” That is how death happens. The specifics of how and why are not as important as the state of death; we know because the specifics are not mentioned. Perhaps there was false doctrine there. Perhaps there was some immorality. It does not say anything about Balaam, or the Nicolaitans, or Jezebel. However, there is a mark in Verse 4: “…you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.” This gives a sense, perhaps, of immorality, but it could be referring to false doctrine as well. Perhaps it was a matter of persecution, except, as one commentator said, “Why would Satan persecute a dead church?” (I can answer that — he does not; there is no need. They are not doing anything; they are no threat to his dark kingdom.) Perhaps it was some combination of the same problems. But what we do know is that they were dead. Little by little, spiritual vigor can drain out of a local church. Godly leaders can get old and die. The next generation comes along, and they do not share the same passion, the same vision, and it fades away. The world starts to encroach with its relentless appeal to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the boastful pride of life. The church can stop preaching the clear Gospel of Christ to the surrounding community, or it can alter certain aspects of the message to tailor them to popular tastes, so that they can be more amenable to the surrounding community. The witnesses can increasingly fear persecution and pull back on the vigor and the frequency of their witness. Thom Rainer’s “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” Thom Rainer, in his book Autopsy of a Deceased Church, listed his own post-mortem analysis. I meditated on this list and mixed it together with some of my own thoughts to compile an autopsy report for a dead church: The church lost its zeal for local outreach. They had become insular. They cared more about what made them happy and peaceful than what Christ wanted them to do. The church turned its back on solid and careful teaching of the Word and chose to tickle the ears of its members with skillful public speakers that were little more than entertainers, rather than those who exegete the Word. The church ceased disciplining sin but tolerated more and more worldliness on the part of its members. The church ceased praying together. (Please, those who are in home fellowships, do not underestimate the prayer time you have together.) The church stopped developing godly men as future leaders. The church spent more of its resources — its time, energy, money — on itself, making itself comfortable and apparently prosperous, than on the spreading of the Gospel. The church became more and more worldly in appearance, and fit in with the surrounding culture, especially in key moral issues. In the 21st century, we are not pressed to burn a pinch of incense to Caesar, but we are pressed on other issues, like sexual issues, marriage issues, things like that, where we are being forced to conform to the love of “diversity” according to the world’s definition. We are being pressed into a worldly mold, and if we yield, then we, as a church, will be heading toward death. The church became increasingly listless, lifeless, cold, and weak. Little was happening in corporate worship. Passion and zeal were lacking. They clung to traditionalism, celebrating the bygone era of past heroes, putting plaques up on walls to celebrate achievements. They held on to old patterns of ministry long after they were not fruitful anymore. Finally, they shrank in number, growing smaller and smaller in number; the median age, decade by decade, inched slowly upward. There were fewer and fewer children — they were missing out, among other things, on the joy of listening to children sing in worship. (Dead churches may have grandchildren visiting occasionally but generally do not have many children regularly attending.) There were no youth, no young families. The church became old. (An aging church is not necessarily an indication of a dying church but it does depend on the zeal of all generations for growth and vibrancy; if you have very zealous older people with the younger generations being spiritually lifeless, then the church will not survive.) IV. Christ Commands the Remnant: Wake Up! Christ commands the remnant in verses 2-3, “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent.” He calls on them to wake up. Jesus has the power to give life to the dead. In Revelation 1:18, He says, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” All Christians, individually, were dead at one point, were we not? Ephesians 2:1-5 says, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But God, because of His great mercy with which He loved us, made us alive in Christ Jesus even when we were dead in transgressions and sins. It is by grace you have been saved…” God has the power, Jesus has the power to bring the dead to life, and He calls on this church to wake up. I love the mental images of Jesus raising the dead during His earthly ministry. In Mark 5, He comes in where the little girl who died had been placed; and He kneels by her bed and takes her hand so tenderly, and He says to her, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, get up,” and she opened her eyes, and woke up. That is the kind of power that Jesus has to raise the dead, as though they are sleeping. He says, “Wake up!” and they obey His command. It is not clear at all that He will give that kind of power to this church, however. When He said to Lazarus, “Lazarus, come forth,” He gave a resurrecting power to him. But here, it seems that they have chosen a tomb for themselves. They have willfully walked into deadness. He was calling on them to repent and walk out of their tomb, to wake up out of that spiritual deadness, and strengthen what remained and was about to die. Strengthen What Remains and is About to Die Verse 4 indicates that there was a remnant of people “who had not soiled their clothes.” He says, “They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.” They were not blameless. They were part of the slide into deadness, but they managed to keep themselves from defilement of doctrine and lifestyle. They were worthy, meaning they were genuinely born again. They were made worthy or qualified through Christ and would walk with Christ dressed in white, meaning they would be seen to be righteous in the sight of God. However, they were in great danger. He was warning them to strengthen what remained and was about to die. I picture a car accident, a person lying in the road, with wounds that are not immediately life threatening, bleeding rather significantly. There was a window of opportunity for this small remnant to wake up and take seriously what was happening. By the Word and the Spirit, “strengthen what remains and is about to die.” Remember and Repent He says in verse 3, “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent.” What had they received and heard that they needed to obey? Go back to the Gospel; saturate yourself again in God-Man-Christ response: Remember that there is a Holy God who created heaven and earth. Remember that He created you in His image, to have a relationship with Him — you are fearfully and wonderfully made; you are unique and special as a human being, but you have sinned. You have violated God’s laws, broken His Ten Commandments, broken His two Great Commandments to love God and love your neighbor. Remember that you have sinned, and therefore you deserve death. Remember that God sent His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, born of a virgin, who lived under the law and perfectly obeyed every command of God His whole life, who never sinned; who did great signs and wonders to show His deity and power and compassion; and most of all, who died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, in our place. Remember Isaiah 53:5: “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed.” This is the Gospel, and if you simply repent of your sins, acknowledge that you are a sinner, and turn to Christ, all of your sins will be forgiven. Remember and repent; start being the Church again. I am saying this to all of you: they had received and heard and needed to obey this same Gospel that we have received and heard and need to obey. You may have been a Christian for decades, a genuine Christian, but you still need to hear that message again and again, to drink it in and hear it in your heart. Remember what you heard and repent of ongoing sin in your life. If you are here and you are still “dead in your transgressions and sins,” — i.e., you are not a Christian — you now know what the Gospel is; I just gave it to you. I am calling on you to come out of darkness into light; come from death to life by believing in Jesus. Warning: Verse 3: “But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” In Matthew 24, Jesus warns, “My coming is like a thief in the night who comes to steal; the owner of the house does not know at what time of night the thief is coming. You had better be ready at all times.” Revelation 3:2 is not talking about the Second Coming in which Jesus will come as a thief in the night. This is more individual, coming as a judge to that local church. This is similar to the warning He gave to the church at Ephesus that had forsaken their first love: “If you do no repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Or to the church at Pergamum: “I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” Or like Jezebel: “I will strike you and your children dead.” He has that power to come at the time of His choosing. He says, “You had better wake up and repent and do it quickly, or I will come to you; and you do not know when I am coming.” V. Christ Promises Rewards to the Overcomers As with all of these letters, Christ promises rewards to the overcomers. Look at verse 5: “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and His angels.” The overcomers, those who by faith in Jesus are more than conquerors, will receive the same cleansing from sin and will be covered in white robes of righteousness. A Name that will Never Be Blotted Out Jesus says, “I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life.” The Book of Life, which we will see again in Revelation 20, is where He writes the names of all of the elect who have repented and trusted in Christ and who will spend eternity with God in Heaven. He is saying, “I will never blot out your name; you have eternal life and you will most certainly live forever.” Some, inferring the opposite based on what He says, twist this to say, “Yes, but He does sometimes blot out some people’s names.” There is no verse in Scripture that teaches that those who are genuinely born again, have crossed over from death to life, and have been justified and forgiven by Almighty God can later cross back over from life to death, be unjustified, and consequently condemned. That cannot happen. He is actually promising the opposite: “I will never blot out your name from the Book of Life, but you will live forever.” Furthermore: “I will give you a name, and I will speak that name to my Father, and to the angels.” Think about that. Isn’t that awesome? “I will give you a name that will never be blotted out. Do not care about your reputation in the community. Do to care what other people think. That does not matter. What matters is what I will say about you. I will give you a name and a reputation that will live forever. I will speak your name to my Father. I will not be ashamed of you. I will pronounce your name to the Father and I will tell the angels what you did. I will tell the angels and my Father your history and your works.” What an honor. That is the reward to those who overcome. VI. Applications Be Fearful, Fight Deadness! Understand Deadness Can Happen to Us First, be fearful and flee deadness, oh, church. It is vital for us to hear and tremble at God’s Word. Do not ever say, “That could never happen to this church.” Oh, it could happen. We must be on our guard constantly. Step by step, we can slide into apostasy. We can give up our personal prayer time. We can start to cut corners in the prayer closet and taking in the Word of God. We can start playing bit by bit, more and more with sins, little sins, and then, bolder and bolder. Last week, I talked about secret sexual sin. That will do it — that will kill a church. We can lose our taste for genuine Christian fellowship. We start to pick holes in the garments of other Christians, to find flaws in them, and make excuses for not going to church. And that happens a little at a time. We slide into apostasy and it can happen. Instead, we must keep before us the marks of a healthy church. I will not review them again today, but you can look them up. Rely on the Holy Spirit Second, pray. Pray that the pulpit ministry here would be vigorous and not shrink back from proclaiming the whole counsel of God’s Word, all of it. Pray that we would be vigorous in sharing the Gospel in this community, sacrificially bold in sharing with lost people right around here. Pray that we would continue caring about unreached people groups and missions. Pray that we would have a heart for the poor and needy, that we would be sacrificial toward those who are struggling and suffering, not just in our part of the world, but even, for example, in East Africa with the famine happening right now, that we would sacrificially give to care for them. Pray that we would care about holiness and be fighting sin by the power of the Spirit, vigorously active in each other’s lives. Pray that we would be vibrant in prayer; and that when we come together for corporate worship, it is an electric time of celebrating — not just Easter, but every week — the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Closing Prayer Close with me in prayer. Father, we thank you for the time that we have had to look at this warning of a church that was alive and had a reputation for being alive, but became dead. God, I pray, protect us from that. I pray for the elders of this church, myself and the other elders, that you would help us to be vigilant over ourselves and over the flock which the Lord has entrusted to our care. I pray that we would not be arrogant. I pray that we would be humbled, that we would be on our knees and our faces, saying, “Oh, God, we could die. If you don't strengthen us, we will.” Please, you are the vine, Lord Jesus; we are merely the branches. Help us to abide in you and bear much fruit. God, I pray for more evangelistic fruit. I pray for more baptisms. I pray that the church, the people in this church, would be courageous and share the Gospel with lost people. And, oh, Lord, lead us to people who are ready to hear. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This Weeks Broadcast Was LIVE And This Podcast Is The Recording Of The Show. A Sweet Treat Of Soulful, Uplifting, Inspirational House Music #SUIHouse Sakura + Co – “Rejoyce” (Sean McCabe 4 Floor Dub) Bryon Stingily – “It’s All Jesus” (Sean McCabe Remix) Danny Clark, Michelle Weeks – “He Keep’s Me” (Danny Clark Vocal Mix) […] The post Candice McKenzie’s Dolly Mixture 19th Sep 2015 appeared first on SSRadio.

Pastor Jeff Williams: April 17, 2011 Living Debt-Free, Part VIII, "When NOT to Reconcile." Today, we are going to talk about when it's not wise to reconcile. This is not an inspirational message. I'm not pretending that it is. This isn't one of those messages where you'll walk out of here going, "Oh! I don't get to reconcile! It's awesome!" This is a necessary message. This is a message where I think it's important for us to have permission from God's Word in certain circumstances not to reconcile. I think sometimes as Christians, we think everybody should like us. We should like everybody; we should be friends with everybody, and we can't stand it when anybody is mad at us or upset with us. We want to get along with everyone, so sometimes we do that to a fault. We do that, and we stay in relationships that are harmful. We're going to see what God's Word says about that. From time to time, we find ourselves walking through a cemetery. We were on a vacation in New England, and we said, "There could be some pilgrims buried there. Let's check that out." One time when I was a youth pastor, I took our youth group to a cemetery. I didn't tell them where we were going, and for a half hour they had to walk around the tombstones looking at them without saying a word. Then they came back and we talked about it. In a cemetery, you realize the brevity of life. There are life lessons learned there. I want to take you on a little tour this morning of your relational cemetery. You have one-you know that, right? You all have a relational cemetery. As you walk through that relational cemetery, there is your name; the name of that person you were in a relationship with; there is the date it was started, and there is the date it was ended. Around some of the graves, the dirt is hardened. Those graves have been there for a long time, and the names have been worn away from the stone through the season of life. You've almost forgotten the event. You've almost forgotten the name and the circumstances. Other graves are fresh; the dirt has very recently been shoveled. The memory stands out very vividly in your mind; but other graves have been there for a long time. Even though a long time has passed, when you look at that marker, you recall the events of that day like it was yesterday because that person had significance in your life. That person was a friend; that person might have been a spouse; that person might have been somebody in your family, somebody of significance, maybe somebody you worshipped with. You recall that when you took the shovel and you buried that relationship, you did so in tears and your heart was broken. They betrayed your trust; they betrayed your confidence. They totally blindsided you when you least expected it. You had no idea you'd ever bury that relationship, and yet you did. The memories of that moment, the memories of that day, stand out and are replayed in your mind. Other times you go to a different grave, and you have a sorrow of a different kind because you're the one who ended that relationship. It was your wrongdoing; it was your fault. You were the one who broke the confidence. You're the one who betrayed the relationship. You're sorrowful, and you're thinking, "This did not have to die. It's my fault." That's added to and exacerbated when a person is gone, no longer with us and "now I can't reconcile with them." Then you deal with regret and remorse over the loss of that relationship. Some of those relational gravestones you look at, and it's interesting because there's a time it was born and a time it died; and then there is another date where it was reborn, and it's still alive. There was a resurrection through reconciliation. Reconciliation means to restore. You have friends in your lives and relationships in your lives. Where there was a rebirth through the process of confession and forgiveness, you are now in a relationship again that was once gone. Through some of the markers through this series, there will be reconciliations where it is healthy and wise to do so. There are going to be resurrections. You're going to get the shovel out, and you're going to say, "We're going to restore what was lost." When that can happen and it's healthy and good, it's a beautiful thing. Sometimes we try to resurrect relationships that should not be resurrected. We built friendships that are better left where they were. How do we know the difference? Sometimes we have an empty hole ready for a relationship to be buried in. It's there, and we're deciding, we're contemplating, we're holding the shovel. We say, "Do I throw dirt on this? Does this relationship have hope? It's on life support. Is it going to make it?" We're contemplating what to do, so how do we know when the time is to pull the plug or when to pray, to act, and to work towards reconciliation? That's our focus today. Since it's Passion Week, I thought we would take a look at a relationship that Jesus had that did not end well. There were many relationships that Jesus had where there was a break in the relationship, but the relationship wasn't mended. There was a time He went to His hometown, and the people became angry with Him. Some of those relationships were hurt and damaged. There was a time when Peter confessed his sin after denying Jesus three times. That relationship had been broken, and that mended. There were times when He had breakdowns in His family. Remember it says His brothers and sisters did not believe in Him, and they sort of mocked Him. They said, "Well, if You want to be famous, why don't You leave? Go away. Nobody who wants to be famous should be here. You think You're something special? You want to be well-known? Then go." Even His own family didn't believe in Him, but we know there was reconciliation with His family. Two of His half-brothers wrote Books in the Bible. His half brother, James, wrote the Book of James. Judas, His other half-brother, wrote the Book of Jude. Why didn't Jude call his Book Judas? That was his rightful name. We don't have 1 Pete and 2 Pete. We don't have 1, 2, 3 Jack. Why does Jude use the nickname of his name? We know why, don't we? We don't want a Book in the Bible that is the Book of Judas, the betrayer. That name is cursed. I want to look at that relationship. I want to look at this one who followed Christ's miracles and heard His teachings. Yet, that relationship ended badly, as badly as it possibly could; and there was never a record of any kind of reconciliation. Why? Let's turn in our Bibles to the Book of John 12 (page 1065 of pew Bibles). Let me give you a little bit of a background on what's going on in the life of Christ at this time. The resurrection of Lazarus was a game changer. The resurrection of Lazarus was a miracle that no one could deny, not even the staunchest enemies and critics of Christ. They knew he was dead, they knew he was buried, and they knew he was very much alive; so even the most hardcore enemies and skeptics were becoming Christians. There was a wave of conversions at this time, so much so that it was a very strong threat to the powers that be, to the religious aristocracy. To those in control, Jesus was a threat. The Jews were living under the control of the Romans, but they had free reign. They could worship as they pleased. They could have their temple; they could have their sacrifices, observe the Sabbath. They could even have their own court of law. They couldn't carry out capital punishment, but pretty much anything else they could do. They were loosely-governed, and the main stipulation was to maintain the peace. Rome would let you live as you pleased as long as you maintained the peace. If you did not maintain the peace, they would come and crush you, and you would lose your freedom. What they were afraid of was that Jesus was going to lead a rebellion. So many people were following Him; so many people were on His side, and [those who opposed were saying], "He is against us. He is going to lead a rebellion, and a riot will start. When He starts a riot, Rome will crack down; and we are going to lose our position. We're going to lose our power. We're going to lose our authority." It was not for religious reasons that they crucified Jesus. It was not because of blasphemy or any other thing. Those were all trumped up charges. The reason they crucified Christ, earthy-speaking, was they were going to lose their power and control. The high priest, Caiaphas, stood up and said, "It is better that one Man die for the nation than that the whole nation perishes." From that moment on, they began to plot for a way to remove Jesus. They sent out an all-points bulletin. Jesus was public enemy number one. His mug shot, His poster, was going up in every post office. He was on every milk carton. Everywhere you'd turn, there was Jesus. There was rumor of reward involved as well "if you'll help us find this Man." Jesus and His Disciples, for a brief period of time, moved to a wilderness city called Ephraim to be away from the crowd, to be away from the threat of being captured and killed. The Passover was about to happen. It was the most important holiday of the year. Most people believed Jesus wouldn't come, but He did because He was carrying out the Will of the Father. Before He entered into Jerusalem for the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday, the night before, He had dinner at the home of His friends-Mary, Martha, and the resurrected Lazarus. At that party, it says in John 12:3, Mary took "a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume." Ladies, how many of you like perfume, Estee Lauder or whatever? I don't even know how I know that (congregation laughing), but I guarantee you you've never bought perfume that cost you thousands of dollars. This pint of nard cost a year's salary. It was so rare, and this plant had such an exquisite aroma that it filled the room with a smell some had never even smelled before. It was a beautiful fragrance. They would breathe it in and say, "Ahhh." She was so grateful to Jesus because He brought her Truth. He brought her brother back from the dead. She was so grateful that she didn't care about how much she used. She just was pouring the whole bottle out. Everybody was thinking, "Wow! She sure loves Jesus." It was an act of worship, and everybody was overwhelmed with the sacrifice except one person. The Bible tells us that man was Judas. Verse 4, "But one of the Disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, 'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.'" It sounds righteous, doesn't it? It sounds holy. Then there is a little bit of commentary, a little insert from John. He tells us, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used it to help himself to what was put into it." He was a thief. That's all he cared about. He thought, "Wow! If we would have had a year's salary, I could have really dipped into that." That's all he cared about. Jesus rebuked him. He said in Verse 7, "'Leave her alone,' Jesus replied. 'It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of My burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.'" Jesus rebuked him, and he was offended at that. He was embarrassed by that. He was angered by that. The Bible tells us that at that moment, he left the party. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. You see, Judas knew that his cash cow was about to run dry. He knew that Jesus was a wanted man, and there was only so long that He could hide. If the most powerful men in the country wanted you dead, and they had sent out an APB for your arrest-every scoundrel and hitmen in the region knows about you and is looking for you-and you were about ready to go to Jerusalem for the biggest holiday of the year, it was only a matter of time before Jesus was caught. It was going to be sooner than later, and the money bag was going to be gone; so Judas said, "I'm going to cash in while I can. I'm going to get while the getting is good. I'm going to get the last bit of money out of this Jesus that I can." All Jesus was to Judas was a dollar sign. From that moment on, he left. Matthew 26 tells us that. Matthew 26 tells us the story, and as soon as that happened, that rebuke, it said, "Then Judas went to the chief priest," immediately. He said, "My name is Judas. I'm a follower of Jesus. I can give you what you need if you give me what I want." The deal was arranged; the price was reached for an agreement, and they shook hands. Judas went back, and they had the Last Supper together. Jesus announced, "One of you will betray Me." Judas had the audacity to ask the question: "Is it I, Lord?" after he'd already betrayed Jesus. Jesus said, "The one who dips his bread with me will betray Me." Judas dipped his bread, and Jesus turned to him and said, "Go and do quickly what you must do." Judas left and said, "I have the plan. Tonight in the Garden of Gethsemane, away from all the people, you will find Jesus. He will be the One I kiss. Whoever I kiss, seize Him." That night, Jesus was in the Garden. He knew His betrayer was coming, and He said, "Our betrayer is coming. Arise, let us go." He doesn't say that for them to run; He says that in order to meet the betrayer. He says that to meet the ones who are coming to take Him away. You see, they weren't tiptoeing through the tulips that night. As they were coming in the quiet of the night, there were almost 800 men. Did you know that? The Bible tells us it was a cohort of soldiers-that's 600 men-plus the chief priests, the Pharisees, and Judas, which was over 200 men. They came with clubs, torches, spears, and swords; and they didn't come quietly. They think they're going to have to hunt, comb, breakup, and look all through the Garden. They came down the Kidron Valley near Jerusalem. If you're in the Mount of Olives, there is a valley that lasts a mile between the two. You could look across from the Garden of Gethsemane, and you could watch those 600 torches coming down the mountain; so He knew they were coming, but they didn't have to find Him. He found them, and He said, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said, "I am." Judas kissed Him on the cheek, and He said, "Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" and you know the rest of the story. From there, He was taken away and beaten. He would be given a mock trial, and He would be crucified. Judas began to realize what he had done. Rather than go to Christ and beg for His forgiveness, Judas took the money, threw it back in the palace, and said, "I've done a terrible thing!" They said, "We don't care. We don't care how you feel about it." He gets no support there. Judas found a rope and found a tree, and he took his life. He hanged himself. It was a very unhappy ending. There was no reconciliation. There's soon to be not even a hope of it. It did not end well. When we have relationships that don't end well; when we are betrayed; when confidence is broken, should we reconcile? When should we reconcile? We're going to continue to look at this story, but I want to give you some questions that will serve like a grid. We don't have time to address every single scenario that you can come up with about reconciliation and forgiveness, so I want to give you a grid. I want to give you some questions to ask. The number one question when I'm determining whether or not to reconcile is has there been closure? Has there already been closure? Have we moved on? Maybe it didn't end the way we wanted it to, but sometimes we can do more damage trying to repair a relationship where we're not enemies, we're not out to get one another, but we've kind of moved on. Sometimes we try to resurrect that and resurrect those issues when there has already been closure and forgiveness has been given. "I don't know if they've forgiven me, but really we need to move on." So I ask you the question, "Has there been closure?" Maybe it's not a relationship that really needed to continue. It could cause more harm than good by revisiting those circumstances. Use your discernment there. Secondly, do both parties want to reconcile? If more than one person does not want to reconcile, then you are wasting your time. Sometimes you can even do more harm than good. You can push the person even further away. Wait until they are ready, if they are ready. Sometimes you just have to wait and say, "You know what? For right now, this relationship is not going to reconcile. Maybe down the road it will." Paul said in Romans 12:18, "As far as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men." Sometimes you try to be at peace with all men, but maybe sometimes you can't. Maybe sometimes it isn't possible. They don't want to reconcile. It doesn't matter what you say; there isn't going to be reconciliation because reconciliation requires at least two. Forgiveness requires just one. Thirdly, and this point I want to linger on-this question I want to linger on-is it safe to reconcile? This is very important, and there are three criteria that we're going to use to determine if something is safe. Number one, what is the motivation? Number two, what is their method? And number three, what is their mindset? I think it's important to talk about all three of these. Number one, what is the motivation? What is this person wanting out of reconciliation? What do they want out of the friendship? What did Judas want out of Jesus? Money. Jesus was simply something that Judas used for himself. There are still people who use Jesus today. Judas was only concerned about Judas. Judas' motivation in their relationship was how he could take care of himself. Friends, there are people out there who want a one-sided relationship. They want it to always be about them and them only. They're only concerned with what they can take, what they can have. They're really not concerned about you. You are disposable. When they have what they want, if they no longer need you, they will get rid of you. Some of you can attest to that; some of you have been in relationships and friendships where you felt used. A person used you to get information, intimacy, or whatever it was they were looking for. When they got what they wanted, they moved on. I will not ask for a raise of hands on that one because it's all of us. We've all been used; we've all been taken advantage of. What is the motivation? These all blend together because the way I know the motivation is by looking at the method. What is their pattern? How do they conduct themselves? How do they normally interact with me? Is there a pattern there? Was this harm that was done to our relationship a one-time shot, or is this something that's being repeated? Is this something that's ongoing? Is this something that just seems to happen in a cyclical manner? If I see that it's repetitive and they are repeating this behavior again and again and it's causing me harm, is it wise to reconcile with that person? You see, Judas didn't just steal once from Jesus. For Judas, this was a lifestyle. John is clear. He said Judas did this all the time. From the time he took over the purse strings until the time he got the last amount of money out of the Romans, Judas took advantage of his position of trust. It was not an event; it was a pattern with Judas. It is very hard to reconcile with somebody who is in a harmful pattern of behavior. If you feel a strong need to reconcile with somebody who has had a pattern of abuse in your life-and I'm not saying this to be sarcastic or a smart alec-but get professional help. Something is wrong somewhere. I'm serious. Something is wrong with you. There's been some need that hasn't been met if you are seeking out of the approval of a person who only means to harm you. That is not healthy; that is not natural, and there is something wrong somewhere. You need to find out what that is. You should seek some professional counseling and find out what is going on inside of you, what it is that needs this dysfunctional relationship in your life, that needs the approval of this person that you never seem to get. Thirdly, the mindset-the mindset is the present. How did they respond when they were confronted? When there is a discussion about the wrongful behavior, how do they deal with that? Do they say, "I'm sorry. That was wrong. I shouldn't have done that"? Are there tears of remorse and regret, or do they justify and excuse or continue the behavior? That tells me their mindset. How do you reconcile with somebody who doesn't see anything wrong with behavior that has hurt you. I have a little scab right now on my finger. I have a little cut, and I can't get this blasted thing to heal because I keep knocking it off. I'm going to have to put a Band-Aid on it today. It's getting me really frustrated. This thing should be healed and gone, but I keep reinjuring this spot on my finger. How do you heal a wound when somebody is continuing to hurt you? You need space, and you need time away from that person. Sometimes, that is a permanent situation. If their mindset is such that there is a strong chance of the hurt reoccurring, then you need to set boundaries in that relationship. I want you to turn in your Bibles to a rather obscure Passage in the Book of 2 Timothy 4 (page 1180 of pew Bibles). We're not only going to look at what Paul says here but at what Paul does not say. This letter was written to Timothy who was the pastor of the church in Ephesus, a church Paul started. He was a pastor Paul mentored. He wrote to warn him of a man named Alexander. Verse 14, "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm," but I want you to invite him to lunch. Use the company credit card. Tell him all is forgotten; all is well. We just want to be friends with him. Give him a warm hug from me, and tell him I love him. Is that what Paul says? He says, "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm." Alexander the metalworker hurt me really bad. Chances are we know why this happened. Remember there was idol worship in Ephesus, and they worshipped the goddess Diana in the temple? These silver and bronze metalworkers made these necklaces and statues in various sizes for people to worship, to buy and take home as souvenirs? It was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Well, when they converted to Christianity, they no longer wanted to worship the idols; so the metalworkers were run out of business. It was what drove the economy of the whole city. When Paul started preaching the Gospel, they said, "Well, we're going to worship the true God. We don't need Diana anymore," and the metalworkers lost their jobs. This guy was livid and wanted to know, "Who is responsible for this? Paul?" Maybe he even physically assaulted him, but he attacked Paul personally and he attacked the message of the Gospel. "The Lord will repay him for what he has done." That is not a statement of unforgiveness. That is not a statement that is vindictive. He is simply stating it matter-of-factly. Paul is saying, "I'm not going to deal with this man anymore. I'm not having a relationship with this man anymore. God knows what he did. He knows what he did. He'll have to answer to God." Maybe you have somebody [in your life] who got away with something. They hurt you, and they got away with it. What do you say? "They have to answer to God. They're going to have their day before the Lord. I'm not going to get my revenge. I'll let God deal with them." You said that. That's all Paul is saying. He is saying, "He has to answer to God." "You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message." He is not telling him to reconcile. He says, "Stay away from him. Don't reach out to him. His motivation is to do harm. His pattern has been to do harm, and his mindset is to continue doing harm. He's not sorry for what he has done. Stay away from him." That grave and that dirt remains the way it is. Now should he have a change of heart, then that changes my response. Should there be a true repentance and Alexander decides, "I've become a Christian. I want to serve Jesus Christ, and I want to make amends with you," and we observe over time that he can be trusted, [then there's room for reconciliation]. Paul was a person who was an enemy of Christ and had a radical encounter and change of heart. He said, "Now I'm a Christian," and the church was like, "Ah, not so sure." They learned they could trust him, and then they reconciled with Paul who was once their enemy; but his mindset (Alexander) was such that it was not time to reconcile with this individual. Friends, there are some Alexanders in your lives that you are wise to not reconcile with. What I want to share with you this morning is from a Biblical perspective, you have permission. You don't have permission to go on a rampage and start burying all these relationships. Your first obligation is forgiveness and reconciliation. When it is healthy and right to do so, that's what we should do-forgive one another, reconcile, and move on. That's what God prefers, but there are instances. May God give wisdom and discernment to when those instances are that we do not reconcile. Let's pray: Father, give us wisdom and counsel in the friendships and relationships in our lives. Lord, in the song, we talked about someone who was possibly a spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend. In the testimony, we heard from a woman who was estranged from her father. In the Scripture, we saw the betrayal of a friend. From every angle, every aspect of life, there can be these breakdowns in relationships. Father, when it is healthy to do so, You always want forgiveness and reconciliation, but sometimes it's not healthy. Sometimes there is closure; sometimes a party does not want to reconcile; and sometimes it is not safe. Grant us wisdom and discernment from Your Word, the Spirit, and the council of Godly friends to be able to make those decisions. Let us not be quick to bury, but let us know sometimes we need to. Sometimes it's healthy to get the shovel out. Sometimes we just have to say, "I have to draw a line. I can't be abused by this person or risk abuse or pain from this person any longer. I need to heal." Grant us that knowledge. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.