Christian rite of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water
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King Yella joins Justin Anderson in Las Vegas for a raw conversation about getting baptized, feeling like a dark cloud had followed him from the streets, and finally taking steps to change his life.He speaks about trauma and self-medication, turning down a drink for the first time, prison, fatherhood, the message behind drill music, Lil Durk and Pooh Shiesty's situations, why content creation has become bigger than rap, and the new projects he has coming.King Yella also shares several unbelievable childhood stories; including getting hit by a car, falling from a church roof and being struck by a brick that came through a Chicago city bus window.Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations from If This Doesn't Work…Follow King Yella:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingyellamosthated/YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kingyella1300?si=L5A702iBpjDhNnHFFollow the Podcast:
Why are you confident you're going to heaven? Many people place their confidence in a past prayer, church membership, or even water baptism. In this message, Pastor Jay Tyler examines what the Bible actually teaches about repentance, faith, and baptism, revealing that salvation is found in Christ alone and that baptism is the joyful, public declaration of a life already transformed by His grace.
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
In our lesson today, we are going to discuss the importance of whose name you are baptized with. The Scriptures tells us that Jesus commissioned the Apostles to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This is the Chrisitan baptism, a believer's baptism. The apostles were to go out and carry the message of Jesus everywhere in the world, and then, baptize the converts in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Christian baptism looks back to Jesus' coming to die. Looks up to the throne where He now sits at the Father's right hand, and looks toward the end of the dispensation when He will come again. The importance of Paul's question “Unto whose name where you baptized?” was to help people realize that there was something missing in their faith. They needed Jesus Christ as their Savior. Baptism is not required to be saved, but we are baptized in obedience to the Lord's command, and it testifies to the world that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. That we have died to sin, and that we have been raised to walk in the newness of life. Click on the link below to hear a lesson where Paul tells us of the importance of being baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. No other baptism, by any other name, meets this command. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.
Repent, be Baptized and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Being baptized mirrors Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan River, identifying the believer completely with His mission. For us the old has passed away behold all things are new. As believers are baptized, they are welcomed into the family of God, receiving the assurance that they are deeply loved and chosen.
Help Persecuted Christians TODAY: https://csi-usa.org/quickstart/ Christian Solidarity International On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: President Trump declassifies intelligence on election security, orders new investigations into alleged voting vulnerabilities, and renews his push for proof-of-citizenship requirements. Plus, nearly 70 inmates publicly declare their faith through baptism during a powerful revival inside a Florida jail. FOCUS: Naomi Anderson shares why she's dedicating her life to pointing Generation Z toward truth—and how the Verity Collective hopes to make a lasting impact. MAIN THING: The phrase "Judeo-Christian values" is suddenly igniting fierce online backlash. Raj Nair breaks down the controversy, anti-Jewish conspiracy theories fueling the debate, and why Wes Huff and Jordan Peterson are pushing back. BIBLE VERSE: Psalm 31:24 — "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." (NIV) SHOW LINKS Radical Revelations with Raj Nair https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-revelations/id1888511250 Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454
All Praises to the Most High A'HÂYÂH!!!And YASHAYA!!!Yashana in the Highest!!!Call or Text the Prayer, Praise, Testimony and Discussion line!!! 24 hours a day 7 days a week!!!(407)476-7163 !!!We are a Husband and Wife Team!!!Evangelists James and Louise Eads!!!We are Street Evangelists and Online Ministers too. Preaching the Gospel of Christ Yashaya and our Heavenly Father A'HÂYÂH!!!Repent and Follow Yashaya!!! And be Baptized for the Remission of Sins and for the sins of your forefathers!!!Thank you everyone that gives to this Ministry to get the Gosple of Yashaya across the World.We have Pay Pal and Cash App PayPal:Email address is watchmanstreetministry@gmail.com Thank you for your prayers and support https://www.paypal.me/JamesEadsCash App: $Evangelists7
All Praises to the Most High A'HÂYÂH!!!And YASHAYA!!!Yashana in the Highest!!!Call or Text the Prayer, Praise, Testimony and Discussion line!!! 24 hours a day 7 days a week!!!(407)476-7163 !!!We are a Husband and Wife Team!!!Evangelists James and Louise Eads!!!We are Street Evangelists and Online Ministers too. Preaching the Gospel of Christ Yashaya and our Heavenly Father A'HÂYÂH!!!Repent and Follow Yashaya!!! And be Baptized for the Remission of Sins and for the sins of your forefathers!!!Thank you everyone that gives to this Ministry to get the Gosple of Yashaya across the World.We have Pay Pal and Cash App PayPal:Email address is watchmanstreetministry@gmail.com Thank you for your prayers and support https://www.paypal.me/JamesEadsCash App: $Evangelists7
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
We continue our examination of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Fr. Mike explores that interior conversion, or conversion of the heart, is a radical reorientation of our whole life. Conversion is so much more than just going through the motions or checking off the boxes. He emphasizes that interior conversion and repentance requires an active hatred for sin. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1427-1433. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
On this special episode we catch up with Mike Pence and celebrate the life of Lindsey Graham Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
All Praises to the Most High A'HÂYÂH!!!And YASHAYA!!!Yashana in the Highest!!!Call or Text the Prayer, Praise, Testimony and Discussion line!!! 24 hours a day 7 days a week!!!(407)476-7163 !!!We are a Husband and Wife Team!!!Evangelists James and Louise Eads!!!We are Street Evangelists and Online Ministers too. Preaching the Gospel of Christ Yashaya and our Heavenly Father A'HÂYÂH!!!Repent and Follow Yashaya!!! And be Baptized for the Remission of Sins and for the sins of your forefathers!!!Thank you everyone that gives to this Ministry to get the Gosple of Yashaya across the World.We have Pay Pal and Cash App PayPal:Email address is watchmanstreetministry@gmail.com Thank you for your prayers and support https://www.paypal.me/JamesEadsCash App: $Evangelists7
It's Tuesday, July 14th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson, Timothy Reed and Adam McManus Fulani Muslim militia most deadly force against Christians The Observatory for Religious Freedom in Africa has issued a study on terror-related violence on the Dark Continent. The group revealed that the Fulani Muslim militia is by far the most deadly force in the persecution of Christians worldwide. They kill Christians at a rate 4.4 times that of other Muslims. Thus far, they have killed 79,323 people in six years — amounting to 36 people a day. They kill at 3 times the rate of Boko Haram. That's twenty times the number of people that have been killed in the US-Iran war this year. Senegal, Africa: Marriage is between one man and one woman The National Assembly of the West African country of Senegal has defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Homosexuality is still legal in 21 out of 54 African countries. So far, homosexual faux marriage has been incorporated in one nation -- South Africa. U.S.-Iran war is back on America's war with Iran is back on, and the Middle East is in flames. The U.S. military bombed dozens of military targets yesterday. The Saudis also bombed the Yemen airport. The Houthi-controlled Yemeni government is an ally with Iran in the present war. The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports a depletion of one-third to one-half of American Patriot, Tomahawk, and Terminal High Altitude Areas Defense missiles. At current rates, the replenishment will take four years. This does not include the use of missiles during the period of May through July. Trump Meme coin tanked; Bitcoin down by 50% The Trump Meme coin has tanked — costing investors $3.8 billion. The president received $636 million from the venture, according to a recent financial disclosure. However, Bitcoin has also lost half its value since the Trump election in November 2024. Total losses are running about $2.2 trillion for investors. Gold capitalization has increased about 3% since November 2025. 122,000 American layoffs The website Layoffs.fyi records 122,000 layoffs this year. That's the highest rate in four years. Amazon is leading the pack for corporate layoffs with a total of 30,000 layoffs over the last nine months. America produces more oil than Saudi Arabia and Russia America is now, by far, the largest oil producer in the world — now producing 42% more than Saudi Arabia, and 37% more than Russia. Back in 2008, the United States produced about half of what Saudi Arabia and Russia produced. That has changed dramatically in the last 17 years. GOP Senator Mitch McConnell rejects rumors he's braindead Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky broke the silence and intrigue surrounding his lengthy hospital stay. Rumors had swirled that the senator was braindead or under cardiac arrest after he was transferred to the hospital. The senator has clarified that he had suffered a fall, but he did not break bones or suffer a concussion. Senator Lindsey Graham met his maker Longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina went to meet his Maker on Saturday night. According to the D.C. office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Graham died of a ruptured aorta brought on by chronic heart disease. Graham, age 71, was never married and never had children. SC Gov appointed Lindsey Graham's sister to serve remainder of term South Carolina Republican Governor Henry McMaster announced Monday that he has appointed the late Senator's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve the remainder of his term. When Lindsey Graham was 20, his mother died of Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 50, and his father died 15 months later of a heart attack at age 68. Because his sister, then 13 years old, was left orphaned, the service allowed Graham to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia so he could remain near home as his sister's legal guardian. Here's a portion of Governor McMaster's press conference. McMASTER: “Today, under the law, it's my duty and honor to name someone to serve in the place this extraordinary man for the remainder of his term. “Lindsey took care of his little sister in years long departed. It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darlene Graham, to finish his work for him now. “And by the way, Darlene, I don't know if I told you, but after we spoke on the phone in the wee hours of Sunday morning, and you agreed to serve, through tears. Earlier, I had wondered what you would say, and I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve. “I called the president afterwards, and he thought it was a great idea, and I'm sure that everyone here does as well.” Obamacare premiums going higher Obamacare premiums are jacking up another 14% for next year. That follows a 20% increase last year. The Peterson-KFF organization notes that the program lost three million members so far this year — now at a total of 19.2 million enrollments. The average family of four pays $24,000 into Obamacare for this year, and $27,000 next year. That compares to Samaritan Ministries Christian medical sharing that runs about $8,000 per year. Hospitals treated COVID-shot rejectors as “plagued rats” Psalm 146:3 instructs us: “to not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.” Recent Centers for Disease Control numbers indicate that 80% of Americans got at least one COVID shot. U.S. death rates, based on 2019 numbers, rose 17% in 2020 during the COVID crisis. After the vaccine came out in early 2021, the death rate increased again by 23% over 2019 levels. Then, the death rate increased by 16% in 2022. Death rates did not reduce to 2019 levels until 2024. Last year's death rate actually registered 4% less than 2019. Former trauma surgeon Dr. James Miller told podcast host Alix Mayer that those who did not take the Covid shot, after its rollout, were treated differently in hospitals, and in an inhumane manner, like “plagued rats.” Listen. MILLER: “Absolutely, the vaccinated and unvaccinated were treated differently. They started just denying basic health services to unvaccinated people, which spurned not giving diabetes medicine [and] you can't go see your family doctor. "Now, you could still get emergency care in the ER, but 100% you were treated differently. You were treated as a dirty, plagued rat. And this was common in social media. But it was no different in the hospital. The medical community is no different.” Next, Dr. Miller spoke of The Overton Window referring to the moment when an argument becomes politically acceptable to the mainstream population. In this case, it is more acceptable now, in 2026, for Americans to express their distrust of the medical establishment about how it handled the COVID shot rollout and how it mistreated the unvaccinated 20% of the population. The term, The Overton Window, is named after the American policy analyst Joseph Overton. Listen. MILLER: “I think part of why this is such a good time to talk about this is I think The Overton Window has shifted on the discussion. I think all people have realized the medical care system did not meet their expectations during COVID. “I think most people thought, before COVID, when you go to the doctor, they're going to help you out a bit, and you're going to get better, and they're going to wish you well. I think most people thought when I'm really sick, I'm going to go to the hospital and they're gonna help me out a lot and do their best and get me well. “After COVID, most people realized their doctors were there for themselves. Their doctors were more than happy to give them a toxic substance that would hurt them, like the COVID injection. And I think most people came to see that the hospitals were really killing fields.” 28 Georgia inmates got baptized after Bible studies The Grady County, Georgia Sheriff's department issued an official announcement over the weekend: 28 inmates got baptized! They had been faithfully attending Bible studies throughout the week, and confessed their faith in Christ. The announcement said, “Together, we gathered in prayer, lifted our voices in worship, and celebrated these life-changing decisions. Moments like these serve as a reminder that hope, grace, and redemption are possible for everyone.” Back in March, another 14 inmates were baptized at a Franklin County jailhouse in Florida, according to Channel 7 News. PASTOR: “I'm going to baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And I'm baptizing you in the power of that cross I'm talking about today. All right, ready?” These inmates also attended Bible studies each week and heard sermons from local pastors. Inmate Ethan Vonier became a Christian behind bars. VONIER: “I found Christ in jail. I feel like the good Lord put me here. We're all doing better each day.” And inmate Robert Hill was grateful for a fresh start and a Biblical destiny. HILL: “It's a new beginning. Everybody in here probably wants a new beginning. You know, he gives it to you. You know what I mean? Gives you a fresh start. Jeremiah 29:11 -- He has a plan for me. I know it. I want it. I'm going to get it.” Psalm 107:10-14 tells the story: “Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons—because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High. Therefore, He brought down their heart with labor. They fell down, and there was none to help. Then, they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces.” Worldview listeners weigh in from Virginia and Texas Joseph Holt, age 20, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, wrote me to say, “Thanks for faithfully presenting the news every morning. I like your podcast because it's short and concise. I can get a briefing on the news while I'm brushing my teeth in the morning before work or school starts. You present the facts from a Biblical worldview and do not shrink from condemning evil. Thanks for keeping this up so long. Here's to another great year!” And Richard Powell in Lonetta, Texas wrote, “I appreciate how much time you guys save me by putting the newscast together so I don't have to filter through so much. I also appreciate that it's concise and that you come from a Biblical perspective. I typically read it as part of my morning routine.” 8 Worldview listeners gave $2,760 And finally, on Monday by 8:00pm Central, 8 Worldview listeners had stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year Our thanks to Sarina in Barnwell, Alberta, Canada who gave $25, Janna in Midvale, Idaho who gave $75, and Susan in Timnath, Colorado who gave $100. We were touched by the generosity of Bianca in Manzini, Eswatini, Africa who pledged $15/month for 12 months for a total gift of $180. Since their money is worth one-sixteenth what ours is worth, it's like Bianca donated $2,965. Imagine that! And we're grateful to God for Dwayne and Anita in Moriarty, New Mexico who gave $200, Frances in Beacon, New York who pledged $40/month for 12 months for a gift of $480, Stuart in Zillah, Washington who gave $500, and Tim in Blooming Grove, Texas who pledged $100/month for a total gift of $1,200. Those 8 gifts add up to $2,760. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $23,803 (sound effect of people cheering) That means we need to raise $32,762 to hit our $56,565 goal by this Friday, July 17th. We need to find 8 Worldview listeners, just like Tim did, who will pledge $100/month for 12 months, or give a one-time gift of $1,200, 19 folks who will pledge $50/month or give a one-time gift of $600 and 38 listeners who will pledge $25/month or give a one-time gift of $300. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. If Bianca from Eswatini, Africa can give the equivalent of $2,965, what could you give? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, July 14th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
July 14, 2026Today's Reading: Romans 6:(1-2) 3-11Daily Lectionary: Judges 14:1-20; Galatians 3:1-22“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1–2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.St. Paul is responding to a general vibe of “Well, if all sin is forgiven, then I can do whatever I want.” His “by no means” is a polite way of saying, “That's not how this works. That's not how ANY of this works!” What does it mean, then, when he says, “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” He's talking about Baptism, where the old sinful self is drowned, and the new Adam is raised to life. We have been united to Jesus in a death like His that we might have a resurrection like His. Paul's point is that once a person comes to faith, everything is different. They do not act the same way or think the same way because the Holy Spirit is now working sanctification in them. What he means is this: Christians should act a certain way because Christians look a certain way - they follow a pattern. This pattern is coming from and returning to the gifts of Christ, freely given to sinners. Christians should not live in open sin - nor should they encourage others to do so. We are not competing to see who can be forgiven by God the most amount of times. That won't end well, and it's not a true representation of God's people. We do know that even while the Baptized are sanctified saints of God, we are still sinners, and we will be in need of Jesus' forgiveness until we die. But don't go out trying to be the chief of sinners. Live as one dead to sin and alive to Christ. Live the baptismal grace of God, that all your doings, being ordered by His governance, may be righteous in His sight. You have been made new. The sin and brokenness inherent in you have been paid for by the death and resurrection of Christ. Rejoice, dear Christian, for, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.“Christ Jesus is the ground of faith, Who was made flesh and suffered death; all then who trust in Him alone are built on this chief cornerstone.” (LSB 571:2)Deac. Emma Heinz, registrar for Higher Things.
Homily from June 28, at St. Brendan in Cumming, GA.
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Sermon preached at Sunday School from Acts 2:41-47 on 7/12/2026 by Pastor Henry Funkhouser at First Baptist Church of Easton.Welcome to those joining via Podcast, we are glad to have you join us. If you are ever in the Easton Area, we would love to have you visit us!If you care to support the ministry, visit us at firstbaptisteaston.com, click Donate. https://app.aplos.com/aws/give/FirstBaptistChurchofEaston
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Eleven and Verse Sixteen
SERMON SERIES: Holy Spirit #6 "Poured Out, Baptized, Overflowing with the Fullness of God!" Ephesians 5:18 Pastor Jason Meyer
Thanks for watching our sermon. If you'd like to learn more about Celebration Church you can go to our website. www.thecelebration.church This weeks verses are Acts 21:17-20 & Galatians 3:26-27
Dr. Timothy Gibson1 Peter 3:13-22July 5, 2026, at 10:15 AMWinstanley Baptist Church - Fairview Heights, Illinois.For more information find us at https://www.winbap.org,Facebook, and YouTube.Links to iTunes, Spotify, Youtube Music, iHeart Radio, and more here.https://linktr.ee/winbapchurchCCLI #832789
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Jesus' Works Through Us (Audio) David Eells 12/15/24 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me (Gal.2:20). It is not I, living the Christian life and doing the works of Christ, but it is I accepting my death so that Christ may live and do His works through me. Jesus gave up a natural body in order to take up a corporate body, so that He could continue on a much larger scale His deliverance of this fallen creation. Paul tells us, Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof (1Co.12:27). We are not the body of “another Jesus,” a weak and worthless Jesus. We are the body of the same Jesus, Who walked in that first body, exercising God's power to set the captives free. We know that Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today, [yea] and forever (Heb.13:8). It is sad that most do not agree that Christ's plan is to continue exercising the sovereignty that He had in His first body in His second. We read in (Amos 3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed? We need to be in total agreement with the Word so that Christ may walk in us and exercise His sovereignty through us. A king's sons are princes who grow up to inherit his authority and exercise his sovereignty. (Psa.45:16) Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth. So shall it be with the sons God is manifesting through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The mind of the flesh is the enemy of God and cannot be subject to Him (Rom.8:7). In Adam we all died and were made useless to God. By abiding in Christ, Who is the Word, we become vessels of His reigning authority. (1Co.15:22) As in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (Rom.5:17) For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, [even] Jesus Christ. We were meant to accept God's grace and “reign in life.” As the Adamic man dies in us, the spiritual man comes to life. (2Co.4:16) Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man (the Adamic, nature of self) is decaying, yet our inward man (Christ in you) is renewed day by day. As we read the Word, and repent of our carnal thinking and life to accept Christ's thinking and life, He is able to reign through us. (2Co.4:11) For we who live are always delivered unto death (I.e. to self) for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So, God expects the life of Christ in this earthly body by grace through faith. Through death to self, we can expect the life of Jesus to be manifested in our human bodies. The life of Christ here is not only His fruit but also His ministry, which He will continue through His disciples. Those who teach that we cannot expect the life of Christ in this life are deceivers. Those who preach that as long as we are in this body we will always be in bondage to sin are deceivers. (2Jn.1:7) For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh… When Jesus physically comes again, He will have a glorified body but He is coming now in the flesh of His body of believers. Those who preach that our ultimate hope here is only to be forgiven and not transformed are deceivers. Paul explained that he was revealing a mystery with the words Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27). He said that the wisdom in this mystery was to present every man perfect (complete or mature) in Christ (28). Christ in you has power over sin and the curse around us. As we come to realize the purpose of Christ is to live in us, our faith in what He can do in us and through us grows exponentially. (Phm.1:6) That the fellowship (Greek: “sharing in common”) of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ. As we accept the mind of Christ, which is the Word of God, it transforms us. We read this in (Rom.12:2) And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. If we do not repent (Greek: “change our mind”) when we read the Word, we do not accept the transformation to the life and work of Christ. The first thing we must believe is the Gospel. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me… This means the old me died at the cross and now Jesus lives in me. Faith in this justifies us and entitles us to the power to bring it to pass. Because many do not understand this, they believe we have no hope but to continue in sin and count on God's grace for forgiveness. (Rom.6:1)… Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Notice that because of grace we do not have to live in sin. (3) Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4) We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death (to self): that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. When we were baptized, the old sinner died and was buried so now we can walk in new life. (5) For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection. By faith at baptism we both die and resurrect. Neither a dead man nor a resurrected man can sin. (6) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin. Through faith we died, and now Jesus lives in us. We were delivered… out of the power of darkness (Col.1:13). This is the real good news! We are only free from the power of sin if we believe it. We can now use these promises as a two-edged sword to destroy corruption in our lives. (2Co.7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We are responsible for cleansing ourselves by faith in the promises. Those who believe the promises will bear fruit. As a type, Mary believed the promise that she was to bear the fruit of Jesus in her mortal body (Luk.1:31-35). Jesus said, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it (Luk.8:21). In a type, we who bring forth the fruit of Jesus are His mother. In the second parable of the sower in Mat 13:24,27,32, Jesus sowed the seed (Greek: sperma, “sperm”) to bear His fruit. Since the Word is the spiritual sperm of Jesus, it can only bring forth His fruit. No word from man or religion can do this. Only one of the four types that received the Word bore fruit 30, 60, or 100-fold. Mary was told, Blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord (Luk.1:45). Because she believed the Word, she bore the fruit of Jesus. The Word must be believed for it to be fulfilled in us. Paul writes in (Heb.4:2) For indeed we have had good tidings (Gospel) preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. We can hear the Gospel but make it ineffective by our own unbelief, as Israel did. By bearing the fruit of the same Jesus, we are proving who the true believers are. Jesus said, by their fruits ye shall know them, not by who they say they are. Paul showed us how to exercise this faith with our renewed imagination in (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. If our face is truly unveiled, then we see by faith the finished work of God in the mirror, which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Only seeing the real Jesus of the Word in the mirror will transform us into the image of God. The Jesus we see must be the One Who has power over sin and the curse around us. Most Christians would think us proud to look in the mirror by faith and see Jesus, but in truth, these are the only ones who are humble to the Word. The one who sees his natural face in the mirror will have no power to obey. (Jas.1:23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror. These are the ones who do not unite faith with the Gospel so that it can be fulfilled in them. Paul tells us in (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon (consider it done) ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof. Notice that the way to not let sin reign in your flesh is to reckon yourself to be immune to it because you are dead by faith. It is to believe that Jesus took away your sin and that you are free to obey God. God gives power to save from sin to those who believe the true Gospel. (Rom.1:16) For I am not ashamed of the Gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth… Those who do not accept their power over sin, by faith, will prove themselves tares, and not wheat, when they do not bear fruit. (Rom.6:17) But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; (18) and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. The true teaching, believed and acted on by the heart, sets us free from sin. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (Joh 8:32) If our truth is not setting us free, either it is not THE TRUTH or we do not really believe it. If you have not had victory, study the truth, not religion. I once received a “woe is me” email from a friend who was grieved over his inability to overcome a certain sin. I highlighted in his letter phrases like the following: “I couldn't resist; I'm hooked; my flesh is weak; they really got me; I have no hope; no willpower; I'm defeated,” and “I'm licked,” and sent it back to him with the following note: “Just because you fail, that does not mean you give up faith. You were delivered of this sin 2,000 years ago. Compare what you have believed in these phrases with what you should believe. (I sent him the Gospel message of our deliverance from sin.) You have a lot of faith to stay in bondage. Even in your failure, you must walk by faith in order to get out of bondage.” My friend's will was against the sin so it was not a willful disobedience. His failure was in his faith. He believed everything he should not have and that robbed him of power. Faith that fizzles out at the finish had a flaw in it from the first. If we sin, there are some steps we should take to lay a foundation for our faith. If we say we have no sin, in other words, justify self, we are deceived (1Jn.1:8). If we confess our sins, we will be forgiven and cleansed from all sin (1Jn.1:9). We should first confess our sins. Then, as the Israelites who had been bitten by the serpents turned and set their eyes on the sacrificial serpent on the pole, seeing their sin and curse on Him, we should turn and confess the sacrifice of Jesus (Num.21:8). From then on, we should believe that our sin has been put on Him and we are delivered. As John the Baptist said, “Behold, the lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!” God's complaint about the Old Testament Law was that it could not make perfect them that draw nigh (Heb.10:1)… (4) For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins… (14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. The Old Testament had blood covering and forgiveness but could not deliver man from the sin nature. Many today are preaching only what that covenant offered leaving those who believe them in bondage to sin. Many of you, upon coming to the Lord, experienced total deliverance from certain sins. What the real Gospel teaches is that God wants to continue that process to completion. I hear it commonly preached that we are just sinners saved by grace. It may surprise you to know that there is no such saying in the Bible. A sinner saved by grace is an oxymoron. A man is either a sinner or he is saved from sin by grace. Jesus always made a distinction between His followers and sinners. For instance in (Mat.26:45)…The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Luk.6:33) And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. (34) And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. Notice that He didn't consider the disciples sinners. It has been said that Paul as a disciple claimed to be the chief of sinners. This is false! He said that he was the chief of those that Jesus came to save from sin. Let's read it (1Ti.1:15) Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: (God was showcasing Paul as an example of His power to save anyone.) (16) howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. Paul had just said that his sins were in his past by God's enabling power and that he was now counted among the faithful. Verse (12) I thank him that enabled me, [even] Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to [his] service; (13) though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. Paul included himself when he said that we were sinners but we were made righteous. (Rom.5:8) But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom.5:19) For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. And in (Gal.2:17) But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. The Lord through Paul said that Jesus is separated from sinners in (Heb.7:26) For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Those who justify themselves in their sin, by saying that we are all just sinners saved by grace, will not obtain mercy through our High Priest. It says in (Pro.28:13) He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy. David said that sinners would be separated from among the righteous and would be judged in (Psa.1:1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers. (5) Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. If we believe the deceiver's gospel that we are always going to be sinners instead of “made free from sin,” then that is what we will have. Jesus said, “As thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee” and “According to your faith be it done unto you.” It is important that we believe exactly what the Word says. It is important that we see the Biblical Jesus in the mirror and not “another Jesus” of man's making (2Co.11:4). If in the mirror, we are looking at the humanistic Jesus preached most often today, then that is the only image we can come into. This is a Jesus who has no power. Does the Jesus in your mirror have power over sin and the curse? Does He have power to minister healing, deliverance, and provision? If so, then that is what He will be able to do through you. Now let's go to (Col.1:21) And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, (22) yet now hath he reconciled (Greek: “exchanged”) in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: (23) if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye heard… (I.e. the original Gospel). We are now reconciled because of the cross if we continue in the faith, unwavering from the true Gospel. The Greek word translated “reconciled” here means “exchanged.” On the cross, Jesus exchanged His life, blessings, and power for our old life, curse, and weakness. Our old life and its penalty, the curse, are on the cross, and now Christ lives in us. God exchanges us to present us holy and without blemish, to deliver us from our past evil works. The Christ, Who is blessed with righteousness and power, will exercise sovereignty through us because He lives in us. We are now ministers of this reconciliation (2Co.5:18-21). In other words, it is our job to administer the exchange to those who believe so that other people are saved from sin, healed, delivered, and provided for. This is the great commission. The curse is enumerated in Deuteronomy 28, and it covers everything bad that happens to man as a result of breaking God's laws. Jesus bore this curse so that we would have authority over it, both in our own lives and in the lives of others who believe. (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us… (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus… Jesus became the curse, and now we who believe have the “blessing of Abraham.” He was blessed in all things (Gen.24:1). The exchange was accomplished at the cross but will be manifested as we apply the Gospel by faith to the curse. Before the fall, Adam lived in the Garden of Eden with no sickness, corruption, or lack of any kind. Look around you. The curse is manifested in all of the creation because of the fall. In His life and in His death, Jesus destroyed the curse. He passed on this ministry to His disciples, and they were commanded to pass it on to their disciples, and on down to us (Mat.28:19-20). Eventually this Gospel was totally corrupted by religion so that what was passed on was a form of godliness that denies the power thereof (2Ti.3:5). The Holy Spirit empowers those who have received Him to come into all that Christ is. Paul prays in Ephesians, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend (not comprehend as some translations say.) with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God (Eph.3:16-19). The full scope of Christ, His breadth, length, height, depth, and love, was provided to us through faith. Christ is to be “apprehended” by faith as we are empowered by God's Spirit, “that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.” Does it seem too good to be true? “Gospel” means “good news.” I did not write the Word, I just believe it. Do not let religion stop you, brothers and sisters. Believe it and accept what God says is yours in Christ! Notice the phrase “the fulness of God.” If, as Genesis 1 says, each seed brings forth after its own kind, then what seed has been sown in us? First, by our parents, we were all born of the seed of fallen humanity. Then, according to the second parable of the sower in Mat.13:24,27,32, the seed sown of Jesus in Greek is sperma, “sperm”. That seed of the Word is not the seed of man, but Jesus who is God. In (Joh.1:1)…The Word was God. (Joh.3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew (Greek: “from above”). When Jesus told the Jews that He was the Son of God, they tried to stone Him, saying, Thou, being a man, makest thyself God (Joh.10:33). They knew that if God had a son, He would be God, also. (Joh.10:34) Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods? (35) If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken) (36) say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am [the] Son of God? In the original language, there were no capital or lower case letters for words such as “gods” or “spirit.” Jesus was saying that the Jews, who had received the Old Testament Word of the letter, were by position gods. How much more then are we who have received the New Testament Word of the Spirit? We are gods, not in the flesh for that is the seed of man, but in the spirit for that is the seed of God. Jesus said, “The words that I have spoken unto you are spirit.” Since each seed brings forth after its own kind, the son of a dog is dog, the son of a man is man, and the son of God is god. The more of God's seed that we give good earth to, the more God manifests Himself in us. We read in (Rom.1:3) concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (Jesus was Son of man in the flesh.) (4) who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness (Son of God in the spirit), by the resurrection from the dead; [even] Jesus Christ our Lord. We, as Jesus, are son of man in the flesh but son of God in the spiritual man. (Heb.2:17) Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren… Jesus was made like us in everything. (18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor (Greek: “come to the aid of “) them that are tempted. As Son of man, Jesus knew temptation and is therefore able to help us. Our Jesus is the “only begotten (or born) Son of God,” and we are reborn sons of God through Him. Now let's go to (Eph.4:11-13) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers (The Nicolaitan error [Rev.2:6,15] teaches that some of these ministries are done away with, but the Word says no such thing. The five-fold ministry is:); for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Wow, we are to grow into the fullness of Christ. All of His righteousness and ministry, are provided for us. The apostate church tells us that this stature is unattainable because they count on man's ability, not God's. They are saying that God is unable or unwilling to completely save us from the power of sin and corruption. (Heb.7:25) Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost (Greek: “completely”) them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. I can hear some say, “David, I do not see any of these people around. How can this be?” First of all, without a mind completely renewed by the Word, we could not discern them. Jesus was discerned by very few as being in the fullness of God. The leaders of Israel did not recognize Him. Even His disciples questioned Him: Peter rebuked Him, and Thomas doubted Him. Secondly, He has saved the best wine for last. (2Th.1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. Paul believed there was a day coming when the saints would have grace to believe His teaching and manifest Jesus. This declares that the Lord would come when this happens. His crop has come to maturity, ready for the harvest. (11) To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and [every] work of faith, with power; (12) that the name (Greek: “character and authority”) of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. God's grace, through the faith of the saints, will manifest the character and authority of Jesus in preparation for His work and His coming. The prophet Joel declares full restoration of all that the curse and religion have taken from God's people. (Joel 2:23) Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he giveth you the former (or early) rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first [month]. (24) And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil (bearing much anointed fruit). (25) And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you. These insects represent the curse on God's crop or His people, which was to motivate them towards His salvation. God said the early and latter rain would restore His people from the years of tribulation. This rain was identified in Joel 2:28-29 as the outpouring of the Spirit on God's people. Peter quotes Joel 2:28-29, declaring that the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost was a fulfillment of this prophecy. (Act.2:16) But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel: (17) And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams. The “former rain” of the Spirit came “in the last days” of the Old Testament people of God, and the “latter rain” will come “in the last days” of the New Testament people of God. This former rain came to the Jews that believed, to restore them after a great falling away, and then it was passed on to the Gentiles. Those disciples, who received that power of the Spirit, walked as Jesus walked and did His works. The pagans called them “Christians,” meaning “Christ-like.” There is little evidence to convict many of that today, but the story is not over. For almost 2,000 years, only a few have been partakers of the former rain. The latter rain will come to believers, to restore the fallen Church to Christlikeness, and then it passes on to the Jews. When will the latter rain come? Both the Jews and the Church have fallen away from what was given in the Gospels and Acts for 2,000 years. The Spirit of God says in (Hos.5:15) I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly. This is clear that the Lord left Israel and the Church to their own self-will and false leadership. In the midst of affliction, which has already begun, there will be repentance. His people will say, (Hos.6:1) Come, and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (2) After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. (3) And let us know, let us follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. The Lord will come as the latter rain. The Holy Spirit will manifest in those who receive Jesus Christ. We see, on the morning of the third day, the latter rain outpouring will come to empower and restore after a two-day (2,000 year) falling away period. What are these two days, and when is the morning of the third day? Peter writes in (2Pe.3:8) But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Having read the writings of the early Church fathers, I can tell you that they commonly believed in the 1,000-year prophetic day and that after six of these days, from the beginning, the end time would come. The Hindus, Muslims, and the Jews also believed this. Gibbon in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire said that the early Christians believed this. I have found in the Scripture over a dozen astounding revelations, using the 1,000-year days, pointing to this time in which we live. The Bible is laid out in seven prophetic 1,000-year days. These days are always numbered from the creation of the first Adam, or the birth of the “last Adam”, Jesus Christ (1Co.15:45). There were 4,000 years, or four days, between the Adams. Since the days of Jesus, the calendar has been tampered with extensively, but most believe we have come to the morning of the third day or the beginning of the third 1,000 years from the last Adam's birth. It is also the morning of the seventh day, or the beginning of the seventh 1,000 years from the first Adam. This is when the end time begins, and God finishes His work. (Gen.2:2) And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. According to this type, God is about to finish His new creation work on this morning of the seventh day, also called the third day in some types, and rest. This soon coming latter rain outpouring will restore the true believers to the holiness, power, and ministry of Jesus. As Solomon said, That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done (Ecc.1:9). What happened with the former rain in Acts will also happen in the latter rain acts of our day. The apostate people of God will fight against this move of the Spirit and be rejected. The persecuted, Spirit-filled remnant will, by signs and wonders bring revival to lovers of truth worldwide. The former rain was first offered to Israel, but as many blasphemed, it was given to the Gentiles. The latter rain will first be given to the Church, but when many blaspheme, it will be given to a remnant of Israel. I thank my God that by His grace I was not stubborn but received His early rain. By it, I have been given a miraculous life of God's provision, but the latter rain will be far greater. Praise God! Do all believers have the former or early rain of the Holy Spirit? Jesus said to His disciples, Ye who have followed me, in the regeneration (Mat.19:28). Regeneration comes from the Greek word meaning “new birth.” The disciples were born again but did not have the Holy Spirit because Jesus told them, He abideth with you, and shall be in you (Joh.14:17). He later told them, But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses… unto the uttermost part of the earth (Act.1:8). When the Spirit comes, we receive the power needed to be witnesses of Jesus. The disciples were called Christians by the lost because they did the works of Jesus. The apostate church of our day has separated many from this infilling power by saying that all who are born again automatically have the Holy Spirit. Obviously, Jesus did not teach this, nor did the disciples teach it later. Paul did not believe it. (Act.19:1)… Paul… found certain disciples: (2) and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they [said] unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was [given]. These disciples had not experienced the infilling of the Spirit. (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Why would believers need prayer to receive the Spirit if it was automatic? As with every New Testament case, they knew when they received the Spirit from the signs and gifts. We have another example in (Act.8:14) Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: (16) for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Baptized believers did not receive the Holy Spirit until the Apostles came and prayed for them. Our spirit must be born again before the Holy Spirit will come to dwell in it. The lost cannot receive the Spirit for Jesus said, The Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive (Joh.14:17). The promise of the covenant is clear that those who have “a new spirit” can have “My Spirit.” It says in (Eze.36:26) A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them. When God's Spirit comes to dwell in our born-again spirit, He will empower you to obey the Word. Jesus had two spirits, a born-again, human spirit and the Holy Spirit, or Spirit of God. When we are saved, we receive a born-again spirit in His image called the “Spirit of Christ.” Only then are we capable of receiving the “Spirit of God” into the holy, born-again temple for power. Notice the clear difference between these two states. (Rom.8:9) But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. (The Spirit of God empowers us to be spiritual.) But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. If we do not have the Spirit of Christ we are not born-again. (10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. The Spirit of Christ does not empower our fallen body but gives us His Spirit of life. (11) But if the Spirit of him (God) that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. When we receive the Spirit of God, He empowers and gives life to our bodies as He did with Jesus. We see an example of this with the woman who had an issue of blood in (Mar.5:30) And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power [proceeding] from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? This is the power of the Spirit of God coming out of Jesus' body to heal. We read in (Act.5:32) And we are witnesses of these things; and [so is] the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Obey, dear friend, and receive. If you are born-again, ask God for His Spirit. (Luk.11:13) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? God only gives the Holy Spirit to those who belong to Him. (Act.2:18) Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. With this power of the latter rain anointing, God is going to completely destroy the curse of sin and death in the most faithful of His people. (1Co.15:51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Notice that we shall all be changed at the last trump, which is at the end of the Tribulation when God takes over the world. (Rev.11:15) And the seventh angel sounded (last trumpet); and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. Who are these people who will not die but be changed at the last trumpet? The Bible says ‘all that sin will die.' (Eze.18:4,20)… The soul that sinneth, it shall die… Jesus told His disciples that they would have to lose their life to find life. (Mat.16:25) For whosoever would save his life (or soul) shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life (or soul) for my sake shall find it. The Greek word for “life” in this verse is psuche or “soul.” Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. Jesus was saying we must lose our fleshly mind, will, and emotions to gain our spiritual mind, will, and emotions. Even though all of God's elect will lose their lives, all will not physically die. Some will be changed without dying because they have already put their old life to death. (Rom.8:6) For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. Those with the mind of the flesh must die so that the mind of the Spirit can live. Everyone who has not overcome sin in the mind, will, and emotions must die. (Rom.6:23) For the wages of sin is death… Sin must be overcome before physical death can be overcome. Jesus died to empower us to lose our old life, to gain His life, and to have a blood covering so we would be accepted during the process. This process can be finished in a fruit-bearing disciple, at physical death, should he not completely crucify the old life while still alive. This process can also be finished in this life as we die to self through faith in what Jesus did at the cross. There is no curse of death in the Bible on those who do not sin. Enoch and Elijah symbolize these people who will not die because they walk by faith in God. Jesus overcame in His first body so that He could do it in His second body, which is made up of those believers who take up their crosses. He abolished all of the old life, even the last enemy, death. (2Ti.1:10)… Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. After God abolishes the rule of the beast, harlot, and the old life over His people, death will be abolished. (1Co.15:24) Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. (25) For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. (26) The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. One enemy in power that rules over God's people is the old life of flesh. (Rom.8:7) Because the mind of the flesh is enmity (enemy) against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. Jesus conquered these enemies for us at the cross, but we must walk by faith to see it manifested. The resurrection and rapture, both of which abolishes death, are at the end, when He will have abolished all other rule over His people, not seven years before the end while these still reign. Jesus said, I will raise him up in the last day (Joh.6:44), or at the last day (39). There is one more resurrection of the righteous dead at the end so all are included (Rev.20:4; 1Co.15:22-24). The rapture happens at that same time (1Th.4:15-17). Now let's go to (Joh.11:25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live (resurrection); (26) and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die… If the first part of this sentence is speaking of physical death, certainly the last part is. In order to prove the power of God's salvation, He will restore in these last days the faith to believe that Jesus abolished sin and death. Then some will escape death. (Heb.11:5) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God. The faith to be an overcomer will be restored by the latter rain. (2Th.1:10) When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. When will these things happen? Jesus gave us a clear clue in a type and shadow in (Mat.16:28)… there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Notice He said that some who stand “here” will not die till they see the coming of the Lord. Where is “here”? In type, they stood before the end of six days, or 6,000 years, which is proven by the next verse. (Mat.17:1) And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: (2) and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light. Some alive today will see the coming of the Lord because we just passed the end of six days, or 6,000 years. We are now “after six days,” on the morning of the seventh day, when Peter, James, and John saw the coming of the Lord in His glorified body. In type, three disciples saw the coming of the Lord without dying. Peter, James, and John, who were the closest disciples to the Lord, and also prefigured we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord (1Th.4:15). The two witnesses represent the martyrs who are resurrected at the last trump (Rev.11:12,15). These two groups account for the resurrection and rapture at the coming of the Lord, fulfilling the Word. Now I'd like to share some revelations with you. Just a Closer Walk with Thee Anonymous (David's notes in red) In my dream, my husband and I were given some sort of tour. (Our walk through this world.) When we were in a particular room I became interested in the floor tile. I seemed to forget about everyone else. I seemed fixated with the tile. (God has drawn you to be interested in how and where you walk.) It was dull looking and had a film build-up. But I kept trying to see past the film. (Wanting to see the true walk without all the buildup and corruption of the past.) I looked and there was a white dab of what looked like polish and then I looked again and saw a long piece of material that looked like the wrap-around tie of a terry robe. (This symbolizes girding yourself with the majesty and strength of the Lord. Psa.93:1 Jehovah reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; Jehovah is clothed with strength; he hath girded himself therewith... With this terry cloth girdle you can wash the disciples feet or cleanse their walk. Joh.13:4 He riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Many towels are made of terry cloth. 5 Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. ...14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.) I took the material and began to rub the polish into the tile. It became very shiny and I was pleased to see that it indeed was beautiful. (A glimpse of the true walk with Jesus.) Then I found myself seated in an auditorium of some sort. I was smiling, looking around, and observing everyone. There was a young girl seated beside me on my right (This is your spiritual, born-again man who Jesus places as a sheep on the right) and a woman about my age on my left. (This is your natural man who is like a goat to the left.) I saw that the young girl had a portable radio with her and I believe I remember she was listening to the radio through earphones. (This was hearing the voice of the spirit which cannot be heard by the natural man.) As I looked around I realized that other people were also carrying a portable radio. There was what looked like a helicopter or some sort of vessel that was parked up above and across from me on the opposite side of the auditorium. (Flying vessels represent those who overcome the world.) I could see the occupants inside the vessel clearly. There was a young girl seated with an older woman inside. I smiled at both of them. The young girl was wearing an army helmet. (The helmet of salvation. Your spiritual man is ready to go to war with the enemy after overcoming the world.) She was obviously filled with excitement. She kept a broad smile on her face and could not sit still. (Overcoming the world by conquering the enemy is exciting and joyous.) This young girl looked at me and mouthed the words, “Thank you”. I wondered why she was thanking me, when I realized that she was wearing my helmet. I wondered how she had come to have it. (It is you who gives authority to your spiritual man to conquer and overcome the mind of flesh.) I asked the young girl seated on my right if she had given my helmet to the girl in the vessel and she told me she had. (The spiritual man had put on the armor of Christ.) Seeing how full of excitement the young girl in the vessel was, I remembered to myself how excited I had been when I had gotten my helmet. (A helmet is to protect the mind from the thought attacks of the enemy.) I looked and noticed that the girl seated on my right was dozing. (The spiritual man rests in the power and works of the Lord.) I observed her and continued to take in the place, when the older woman seated with the young girl in the vessel got my attention and nodded towards the young girl on my right and said, “She is asleep.” I looked at the girl again and answered the woman, with, “Yes, she is asleep, but, only lightly sleeping; she is still listening”. (Spiritual rest can only be accomplished by hearing the voice of the Word of the Lord.) The woman seemed displeased and shook her head. (…The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; they are foolishness unto him…. 1Co.2:14.) I ignored it and continued to look around. I seemed to know that she was okay and there was no need for concern. Then a man appeared in the center of the auditorium. He was holding an open bible in his hand. He said he was about to teach us the real truth. (The truth is the only thing that will guard your mind, conquer your enemy, and set you free from this world.) At that point, I lowered my head and blocked everything and everyone out except the voice of the speaker. I said to myself something like, “I hope he is teaching the truth.” or “I had to ensure that he would be teaching the truth.” (Yes, we must be careful that he is speaking the truth or we will be deceived and polluted with the earthbound ideologies of men.) Feed on the Word, Christ in You William Steenland - May or June 2013 I dreamed I was at a huge white table, a huge feast, a celebration. I looked to my left and right there were people fellowshipping and laughing together and rejoicing. (The Marriage Feast of the bread and wine or the body and blood or Word and nature of Jesus.) It was a great and happy event. I was eating out of a huge white bowl; there was meat and potatoes and rice all in a bowl. I ate it very fast and when I was done, I took my white handkerchief and placed it over the top of the empty bowl. I was still hungry and wanted more food. I looked down at the end of the table. I was at the opposite end looking down at the head of the table. It was Jesus or at least I thought it was Jesus. The man at the end of the table kept changing. I looked with a puzzled look on my face, as Jesus changed from Jesus to my friend Ernie Miller and then back to Jesus, then to Albert Golt, and then back to Jesus. (If you feed on the Word, you turn into Jesus. :o) I said to Jesus, “Can I have some more food?'' He just looked at me with loving, kind look, the way you would look at a naive child who needs a lot of help, wisdom and understanding. He had a pleased look on his face. It was a look of love, peace and joy. He had a lot of knowledge in His eyes and He knew more about me than I knew and about my future, too. He nodded His head up and down to my question as if to say ‘yes.' I suddenly looked down at the bowl with the white handkerchief and took the handkerchief away and the bowl was full again! I began to eat and eat. I was interrupted by a group of black beings at another table (demons). They said, “Hey, we're going to come over there!” I said, “That's not up to me. You have to ask the man who paid for the feast”. (Jesus gave it all.) They then said, “Hey, come over here! We want you to come over here”. I said, “No”. I didn't want to go over there. They said, “Hey, let's switch”. (The demons want you to feed on their word so you won't turn into Jesus and won't be a threat to them.) I said, “That's not my decision to make. I didn't pay for the banquet or meal”. They were persistent with the questions and the one who stood up was angry with me that I was at this table, but I didn't leave. I knew enough not to go over there with them. 1Co.10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ? 17 seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar? 19 What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? Is anything more important to us than doing the will of God? 20 But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? More Light For More Christ Anonymous - 08/19/2007 (David's notes in red) I had this dream and I saw myself in a white room; the ceiling was very high. (The house is the house of the Lord.) There were white stairs with gold banisters on them. (The staircase represents Jacob's ladder [Hebrew: staircase] to heaven and represents following in the steps of Jesus as “the way” [Gen.28:12; Jn.1:51].) I saw a fair lady and she looked to me to be pregnant. (The pregnant woman represents the woman church of Rev. 12 who is pregnant with the fruit of Christ.) She had the keys to unlock the door above the ceiling. As she was climbing to unlock that door, she told me that I could only enter that door above my head until I changed the bulb (a very huge round fluorescent bulb with white light), otherwise, I would not be permitted to enter through that door in the ceiling. (The key is the key of knowledge and the light is the light of understanding that we need to go through the door to the next level which is Christ fully birthed in us. The first-fruits of these will be the man-child.) She came down. (The pregnant woman represents those believers whose sphere of authority stayed below the door.) She seemed to be the keeper of that door and keeping records. I started to climb those white stairs which were very steep and very high. The floor of that room was quite small when I was up there. Of course, no room in reality is made at this height. When you looked down, it looked quite frightening so you can imagine the height. I am not a height person myself and surely it was only by the grace of God I was able to climb up those steep white stairs holding those golden banisters by faith. (Our hands represent our works, which must be holding on to those things that represent the highest heavenly value of gold and must be increasingly more heavenly as in climbing the staircase.) When I reached the ceiling, I had to leave those banisters and reach for the light to change that bulb. It was not easy because that light was situated at the center of the room. It was only by His grace that I managed to balance myself without the banister and change that light quickly. (By grace we will be balanced enough to go to the next understanding level and manifest Christ.) The light was a blinding white light. Then I entered into open heaven through that door. Ancient Man-child and Bride Seen Again K. H. - 07/06/2008 (David's notes in red) My mom and I were house-sitting for my grandparents, but it was at a different house than they live in right now. The setup was very similar to what they have now but the arrangement of the rooms was different and all of the rooms were a little larger. They also had this enormous and luscious garden in the backyard; it was absolutely breathtaking. I was given a list of things that needed to be done while they were gone and I was given another list to do to prepare for their return. I knew that I had a week, seven days, to do all the things on the list so I wasn't worried about it. I knew that it would get done but to my surprise, my grandparents came home a week early. When my grandpa saw that the house and the garden weren't ready for their return, he became upset. I just kept telling him that I was so sorry; I thought that I had another week and told him that I would get everything done. Then, I saw myself going down the list, one by one, and getting everything done with the help of other brethren. My mom and I talked about how once again the Lord reminded us that we need to be diligent in preparing for the coming times. Also, my grandpa coming home early and finding his house wasn't prepared for his return, I believe, is a warning for the body of Christ to be prepared for His return. This speaks of the return of the ancient Bride and Groom as they were almost 2000 years ago. Their house, the Man-child and Bride of our day, need to be ready for their return, not at the end of the 70th week but at its beginning. Many post-trib saints are not expecting this pre-trib appearance of Jesus in an Epiphaneia, or His shining forth from His saints. Jesus will be manifested in His Man-child company through His Word and Anointing that will live in them. His Bride will be manifested in a modern-day body, as she was then, full of power and holiness. Won't it be awesome? Joh 14:12-14 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 the Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do. Eph 3:19-21 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.
Are you baptized? Is your faith visible to those around you? In this devotion from Words From The Word with Pastor Roderick Webster of Good News Baptist Church, Sint Maarten, we explore one of the clearest evidences of genuine salvation — believer's baptism.Drawing from Acts 9:18, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16, Acts 18:8, and Acts 19:5 in the KJV, Pastor Webster walks us through story after story of men and women who, upon trusting Christ, were immediately baptized — Saul, Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and Crispus among them.You might be asking:- Does baptism save me?- Why is baptism so important if I am already saved?- What if I believe but have never been baptized?- Is baptism a denominational thing or a biblical command?Key points covered in this devotion:- Baptism is not what saves you — it is evidence that you are saved- Every New Testament believer who trusted Christ followed Him in baptism- Baptism is a command rooted in love and obedience, not denomination- You can trust Christ today — salvation has already been fully paid forIf this devotion encouraged you, please like, comment, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss a daily devotion.#WordsFromTheWord #KJV #BibleDevotion #ChristianLiving #GoodNewsBaptistChurchStay connected with GNBC:
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Sunday Morning, June 28, 2026Given by Clay Anderson | Pastor of Youth Ministry, Christ Covenant ChurchBaptized Into ChristHeidelberg Catechism—Lord's Day 26YouTube VideoDownload our mobile app
Heidelberg Catechism—Lord's Day 26
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Consider the Water V : Baptized with Water 06/28/26 by Kenilworth Union Church
Series: N/AService: Sun AMType: SermonSpeaker: Jeff Smelser
Send us a text. If you would like a response, please send us an email to bcoc@suddenlinkmail.com.Jim Laws
Jonathan Murphy
Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Ten and Verse Forty Eight
The Bible tells us that when Jesus was baptized, he heard a voice from heaven declare, "This is my Son whom I dearly love." In the story of Jesus' baptism and temptation, we see the triumph of vulnerability over toxic masculinity and the beginnings of a found family that can survive temptation and thrive as their authentic selves. www.TheLoftLA.org
A wave has crashed over our city, a wave called the New York Knicks that drew everyone together, regardless of borough, background, or whether you even like basketball. This experience has been nothing short of a baptism—and it helps us make sense of what St. Paul means when he says we've been baptized, not into the Knicks, but into Jesus.
Put simply, “[e]very person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized.” The Catechism explains to us the purpose of Baptism for both adults and infants. Fr. Mike doubles down and makes sure we understand that Baptism is for everyone. God wills Baptism for all people. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 1246-1252. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
In baptism, we are named for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, claimed by the triune God to live in His family. Today, Sinclair Ferguson explains what baptism teaches Christians about our fellowship with the Trinity. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/things-unseen-with-sinclair-ferguson/baptized-into-the-triune-name/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
Patrick begins with the Senate hearing clash over white supremacy accusations leveled at pro-life advocates, spotlighting abortion’s disproportionate impact on the Black community and the struggle to answer hard public questions. He shifts quickly, offering advice to help listeners keep their friendships strong when politics or beliefs threaten to tear them apart, and moves on to explore music in the church, the meaning behind “make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” the proper context for blessings at Mass, and the confusion irregular couples face about communion. Catholic tradition, contemporary controversies, and questions about faith’s place in a world shaped by media events—even Spielberg’s forthcoming film on aliens—surface and swirl, with Patrick weaving scripture, pastoral insight, and frank observations into every answer. Audio: Do you believe that pro-lifers are white supremacist - Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX): Your organization said that restricting and banning abortion is a tool that the far right uses to maintain white supremacy. Do you believe that pro-lifers are white supremacist?” SPLC CEO Bryan Fair: “Ummm, I believe that reproductive liberty is... I can’t answer that question yes or no.” - https://x.com/RedWavePress/status/2064412651438972963?s=20 (01:16) Audio: Do you have any advice for not getting angry at people who you genuinely care about, who you want to preserve a friendship with, and not like ruin something over politics? Turning Point with Dana Loesch a well-known conservative radio host, author, and commentator (formerly the NRA's national spokesperson) - https://x.com/TPUSA/status/2063394012791460144/video/1?s=46 (08:30) Irene - What does 'make a joyful noise unto the Lord' mean? (10:51) Janet (email) - Confused About Receiving Blessing as Irregular Couple (18:49) Kevin (email) - Seems to me ALL Protestants have been Baptized, yet they all believe in John 6 31-71, that Jesus was speaking figuratively. What’s the difference between going to heaven and entering Eternal Life? Rick - Would’ve been nice to have you at the prison last night when one of our guys asked if it was okay for him to make a burnt offering of a trophy animal he harvested while hunting as a thank you and honor to God. He believes the Old Testament teaches that God appreciates this kind of offering. He made it clear this burnt offering was not intended as a sacrifice since he recognized Jesus is the one true sacrifice. Is his burnt offering okay? (27:58) Jamie (email) - Steven Spielberg designed his UFO film Disclosure Day to challenge humanity's fundamental religious beliefs (35:30) Tim - My niece is living with someone before marriage and she’s not a Catholic. I’m concerned she’s going to ask me to walk her down the aisle. (43:53)