Podcasts about before jesus

Before Jesus' departure he commanded his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. His love was to be their standard. Additionally, his love would empower the disciples' love for each other. Jesus' love is seen in his laying down his life, enter into friendship with us, revealing God's will to us, and choosing us to bear fruit and have our prayers answered.

Before Jesus comes back, there will be two kinds of people on this earth: those who live life for themselves and those who live life for God.   Today, we will talk about the days of Noah and Lot and what separated them from everyone else.  We will also talk about the importance of persistent prayer in a society where we want everything right now!!

What if your greatest spiritual growth isn't found on the mountaintops, but in the valleys? In today's Crosswalk Devotional, we explore Matthew 5:3 and discover why Jesus calls the poor in spirit blessed. Seasons of loss, uncertainty, and weakness often create the very space where God's presence, grace, and strength become most real. While it's natural to long for life's mountaintop moments, our deepest dependence on God is often formed during difficult seasons. When our hearts are emptied of self-reliance and worldly security, they become open to being filled with Christ. The valleys may not be easy, but they often become the places where our faith grows stronger and our relationship with Jesus grows deeper. Highlights: Discover why Jesus calls the poor in spirit blessed in Matthew 5:3. Learn how seasons of difficulty can deepen your faith more than seasons of comfort. See how Peter's failures revealed his need for God's grace rather than his own strength. Understand why childlike dependence on Christ is central to the Christian life. Be encouraged that God often uses life's valleys to draw us closer to Him. Find hope knowing that when we feel empty, God is ready to fill us with His presence and strength. Join the Conversation Have you experienced a season where God met you most powerfully in the middle of hardship? How has a difficult valley strengthened your faith and dependence on Him? We'd love to hear your story in the comments. Join the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: The Blessing of Being Empty By Hannah Benson Bible Reading:“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3 ESV). Have you ever considered that perhaps the blessing isn’t in the mountaintops but found in the valley? So many of us live our lives longing for the proverbial “mountaintops,” for the moments when everything is perfect. Or, at least, seems to be. It’s not wrong to pray and hope for good things. For good jobs, loving families, great friends. Besides, we know God loves to give good gifts to His children. But what if instead of living our lives longing for the mountaintops and enduring the valleys because we think we have to, what if we saw the valleys as a gift? Now, don’t get me wrong. The valley isn’t a gift because it feels good. If anything, it probably doesn’t feel very good at all. Instead, it’s a gift because the hard times are usually when we grow in our faith the most. Think about it. The disciples walked with Jesus for 3 years. Surely, their time walking physically with Jesus was the “mountaintops” of their faith. Everything was going swimmingly. They saw miracles, witnessed healings, and watched Jesus raise people from the dead. In their minds, Jesus had no doubt come to conquer the Roman Empire (Acts 1:6). But then Jesus died. Those 3 days before He rose again were the darkest days in history, and no doubt, the hardest times in the lives of His disciples at that point (Luke 23:44-45, John 20:19, Mark 16:10). But you know what? They grew more during those 3 days than they had in 3 years. Peter is just one example of this. Before Jesus’s crucifixion, he wrestled with pride and reliance upon his own strength, telling Jesus that “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33 ESV). But in fear, he denied Jesus 3 times (Matthew 26:75). We’ve all made promises on the mountaintops that we realize in the valleys we aren’t strong enough on our own to keep. Peter’s story is a reminder to us that our faith is sustained by God’s strength and grace alone, not anything we could do on our own. For the 3 years of Jesus’s ministry, they walked by sight. They had Jesus physically with them. But after His crucifixion in those 3 days where they didn’t understand what was happening and then later when He ascended to heaven, they had to believe what they couldn’t see. Consider this. When we’re walking with the Lord, and everything seems to be going great, perhaps we landed our dream job, or we were given a relationship that we’ve been praying for, in those moments, we are on the “mountaintops.” While I’m grateful for the “mountaintops” in life, I’ve realized that it’s in the “valleys” where I truly grow. Often on the mountaintops, we find ourselves filled with good things that we struggle to find room in our hearts for God. But in the valleys, when everything might be taken away from us, or we’re struggling, and our hearts are being emptied of the things of the world, that’s when our hearts may be more receptive to the Lord’s presence filling the empty spaces in our lives. It’s like the rich man and the poor man. In Luke 18, a rich man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life (v. 18). When Jesus tells him to keep His commandments, the rich man responds that “all these I have kept from my youth” (v. 21 ESV). Jesus then tells him that there is one thing he lacks: “Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22). The Bible tells us that when the rich man heard this, he became sad because he was extremely wealthy. On the outside, he appeared to have everything he could ever want. He was “full.” Full of worldly possessions, perhaps power, of following his own path. Luke 18:24-25 continues: “Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, ‘How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.’” What is Jesus saying here? That if you happen to be wealthy, you won’t go to heaven? No, of course not. When we’re standing on the mountaintops and our lives are filled with such good things, sometimes, we may find it difficult to open our hearts to Jesus when our hearts are filled with things of the world. Earlier in Luke 18:16, 17, it says: “But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’” Jesus commends childlike faith. In most cases, children are simple, carefree, and completely dependent on their parents to provide and care for them. When we have faith like a child, we recognize the true essence of our faith, which is full dependence on Jesus to accomplish what we cannot. Sometimes, we have an innate tendency to feel independent and empowered, but that way of thinking can be false when it leads us to place an emphasis on our strength above Jesus in us. Yes, God loves to give us good things. To bless us with moments on the mountaintops. But I’ve found that the greatest blessing is found in the valleys, when we realize God’s grace is the only thing sustaining us and we find ourselves empty enough to be filled by Him. If you are in the valley today, instead of viewing it as something you must endure, why not view it as a blessing? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the tragedy we may be walking through may be easy or a gift in and of itself, but the result (which can often be a deeper closeness with God) is the true gift. Why not view our empty places as a gift and an opportunity to be filled with the presence of God? Pray with me: Father, thank You for the valleys that make me like a child again. Thank You for the seasons that strip away my false independence and remind me that I am sustained by Your grace alone. Help me to stop longing for the next mountain and instead look for Your presence right here, even in the empty spaces. Fill me with Yourself today. In Jesus’s Name, Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In Scripture, there is great significance behind a name. A name was much more than a label or a way to identify someone. Today, names often carry little significance beyond what sounded good to our parents at the time. We choose names from baby books, family traditions, or popularity lists. Most people never stop to ask what their name means. It’s simply what people call us. Take me, for example. I’m Pamela. You’ve known me as Pamela for years. You’re probably not sitting there wondering about the deeper meaning of my name. Honestly, I’ve carried this name for over fifty years and had to look it up myself. It means “all sweetness.” I’ll let my family decide whether that’s accurate! But the names in our Bible are of great meaning. Mother’s didn’t pick names based on an internet list of popularity. Names were given to reveal a person’s identity, character, reputation, purpose, and sometimes even their destiny. Names carried meaning, and they often told a story. If you were given a bad name from birth with a bad meaning. Poor kid. Imagine being given a name that meant “sorrow,” “fool,” or “no mercy.” Every introduction would become a reminder of a negative identity. In biblical times, names carried such weight that a person could spend a lifetime either living into that identity or fighting to overcome it. We also see throughout Scripture that when God gave someone a new calling, He would sometimes give them a new name to reflect their transformed identity. Their new names signified that God was doing something new in their lives and inviting them into His greater purpose. That name carried a calling and an identity. Here on this podcast, we spent a few weeks studying the names of God found in our Bible. Through those names, we gained a deeper understanding of His character, authority, power, and love. We encountered Him as: YHWH, the self-existent and covenant-keeping God Adonai, our Lord and Master Elohim, the Creator El Shaddai, God Almighty Yahweh Rapha, the Lord who heals El Roi, the God who sees Abba, our loving Father Jehovah Jireh, our Provider Yahweh Shalom, our Peace The Good Shepherd who faithfully guides and cares for His people What became clear through that study is that God’s names reveal who He is. They unveil His nature, His attributes, and His relationship to His people. Every name teaches us something about His character and His work. So if names matter this much throughout Scripture, and if God’s own names reveal His character, then we should expect the name of Jesus to be overflowing with meaning. Yet many of us hear “Lord Jesus Christ” so often that we stop hearing it altogether. It becomes a familiar phrase. But to the first-century believer, every word in that name carried enormous significance. “Lord Jesus Christ” is not merely a title. It is a declaration. It announces His authority, His mission, and His identity. A few months ago in Venice, Italy, my friend and I knelt beside a woman who spent her days lying face down on the streets begging. I’ll never forget the moment she looked up at me and said in her language, “Jesus Cristo?” Immediately, there was recognition. Immediately, there was connection. Immediately, there was hope. We didn’t share the same language. We didn’t share the same culture. But we shared one name. The name above every name. The Lord Jesus Christ. What is this name … The Lord Jesus Christ? 1. LORD: This word Lord was originally spoken in Greek as Kyrios. Kyrios means master, owner, one who has authority. When Jesus said in Matthew 28:13, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth”, he’s showing that he is the Lord. He has all authority – not some authority, not a little authority. ALL authority. And where is this authority? In both heaven and on earth. He’s in charge of everything. All things everywhere in heaven and on earth are under his divine authority. We call Him Lord because there is nothing above Him, nothing outside His authority, and nothing beyond His rule. So, when you pray to make Jesus the Lord of your life, that’s what you are affirming – Jesus is over everything in your life. He has ALL authority and you bow down to him. Quite honestly, at 15 years old when I prayed and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life, I had no idea what that actually meant. Now I know. And so do you – He is Lord, he is master, he is above all with ALL authority. Do you believe that? Is Jesus your Lord? 2. JESUS: What a holy and sacred name chosen by God and delivered through an angel. In Matthew 1: 20-21, an angel came to Joseph and told him that his fiance Mary had conceived a child through the Holy Spirit. The angel said, “She will have a son, and you are the name him JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.” That’s the very meaning of the name Jesus – Yahweh saves. The name announces his life mission – To save sinners, to reconcile humanity to God, to defeat death, to bring God’s kingdom. In this time, everyone knew the meaning of the name Jesus. It was pronounced Yeshua in Hebrew, Yahweh saves. Who is Yahweh? He’s the God who always has been, and the one who made a covenant with his people to save them. Jesus is the fulfillment of that covenant. Jesus SAVES US! Before Jesus ever preached a sermon, performed a miracle, or went to the cross, His mission had already been announced through His name. Do you call on the name of Jesus knowing he is the son of God sent to save you? Do you know him as your absolute only answer, only way and only source? 3. CHRIST: In Greek, it is spoken Christos and means “Anointed One.” The anointing of oil signified God’s appointment of a specific person. When someone was called to a high position of power such as a priest or King, they were anointed. So, to call Jesus CHRIST, Christos, it says this is God’s anointed one. God’s chosen one. The one God has called to a high position of power. In Hebrew, this word was Messiah. For centuries, Israel waited. Generation after generation looked for the promised Messiah. Prophets spoke of Him. Kings anticipated Him. The faithful longed for Him. Then Paul declares with one word: Christ. The waiting is over. The Messiah has come. He is the promised one. He holds the power of God and is on an appointment. Jesus is the King who’s rule will never end. He holds the eternal kingdom. That’s who our Christ is. So now, when we put all these names together as 1 Corinthians 1:3 does, “Call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” we see the full picture of our Jesus. The order is important. First, he is Lord – the exalted sovereign ruler. Then he is Jesus – the man sent to save. And finally he is Christ – the appointed and promised Messiah King. Together, the Lord Jesus Christ proclaims fully who he is. He is God. He is man. He is savior. And, he is ours!!!!!!!!!! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

Here it is—today we study the final fruit of the Spirit. And isn’t it just like God to save a grand lesson for last? The one fruit every one of us knows we desperately need: Self-control. In mentoring women to pursue their God-given goals and live the life they were created for, I hear this all the time: “Pamela, I just don’t have any willpower. I have no self-control.” Have you ever said that about yourself? But let’s stop and ask a deeper question. Is that really true? Can someone who has been filled with the Holy Spirit truly say they have no self-control? I believe that’s one of the enemy’s favorite lies. It’s a limiting belief designed to keep us striving in our own strength instead of living from the power already at work within us. It’s a lie that makes us buy our own excuses and settle for a little life, all while we were created for a BIG Life. The very presence of God living within you PRODUCES self-control. Let me show you how I know. Most of us refer to Galatians 5:22-23 as the “fruits” of the Spirit—as though Paul is giving us a basket filled with different kinds of fruit. Maybe you’re naturally patient but struggle with kindness. Maybe you have joy but not peace. Maybe you have love but not self-control. It’s like saying, “the basket I was given has grapes, but no strawberries. I just have to struggle through this life with never getting strawberries because I wasn’t given any.” But that’s not what Paul wrote. Look closely. He doesn’t say, “The Holy Spirit produces these fruits.” He says, “The fruit of the Spirit is…” Let’s read it for ourselves, Galatians 5: 22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces THIS KIND OF FRUIT in our lives: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Fruit is singular. Paul isn’t describing 9 separate fruits we can pick and choose from. He is describing one Spirit-produced life that reveals itself in 9 beautiful expressions: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Think of it like sunlight passing through a prism. It’s one light, yet it displays many colors. If a prism has sunlight, then it has all the colors. There’s not one defective prism just lacking pink. There’s not another just lacking yellow. They’re all there if the prism has sunlight, just turn it to see. The fruit of the Spirit works much the same way. It is one supernatural life produced by the Holy Spirit, expressed in multiple ways. That changes everything. Self-control isn’t an isolated virtue reserved for naturally disciplined people. It isn’t a personality trait. It isn’t something God gives to a select few while withholding it from everyone else. Yet somehow we believe only the super fit get self-control. Only the ones losing weight, or saving money, or with a clean house have self-control. Only those who consistently meet their goals have self-control. Isn’t that what you’ve believed? And haven’t you dismissed yourself at some point because you just don’t have the same self-control they do? Girl, don’t let the enemy twist this. Don’t let him convince you that you’re lacking the fruit. Are you a believer and follower of Jesus? Have you placed your faith in him and surrendered your life to him? Yes? Then you have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence dwells within you. And just like when sunlight hits the prism, all the lights are present when you turn it – all 9 expressions of the Spirit are growing in you! You’re not missing one. You weren’t just left out. Self-control is part of the very character the Holy Spirit is growing in EVERY believer – and that means YOU. Self-control is growing in you right along side love and joy, and peace and patience, kindness, goodness and gentleness. Now, does that mean every Christian demonstrates perfect self-control? Of course not. Fruit grows. No one plants an apple tree on Monday and expects a harvest by Friday. Growth is gradual. It is cultivated. It is nourished. It matures over time. The question isn’t, “Do I already have perfect self-control?” The better question is, “Am I yielding to the Spirit who is producing it in me?” That’s an entirely different conversation. You may feel like someone who lacks self-control because you’ve looked at your failures more than God’s promises. But your failures don’t define what the Holy Spirit is capable of producing. If you belong to Christ, the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That means the seed of self-control has already been planted. The issue isn’t whether God has given it. The issue is whether we’re allowing Him to cultivate it. This life isn’t about gritting our teeth and trying harder. It has always been about surrendering more deeply. Now, let’s study self-control and see what it really means. The Greek word translated as ‘self-control’ means power and strength within. What this means is the Holy Spirits gives every believer an internal ruler stronger than external temptation. No matter what temptation you’re facing, there’s an internal ruler stronger! There’s a power within you that can turn away, resist, and overcome. Y’all this past weekend I was at my Mama’s house and she made her award winning, best thing you’ve ever eaten in your whole life, blackberry cobbler. She had gone out and picked the fresh blackberries herself. She had made her secret pie crust that’s thick and perfectly flaky and buttery. Then, she made homemade icrecream to go with it. BUT I am committed with a healthy meal plan right now that does not include cobbler or ice cream, dad-gum-it! So, how do you think I did? Do you think I was able to withstand the temptation of this culinary perfection? You bet your butt I did, and here’s how – I HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN ME and I KNOW THERE’S AN INTERNAL RULER STRONGER THAN THAT TEMPTATION. (I just have to listen to the right voice.) Does God really care if I eat mama’s blackberry cobbler and homemade icecream? Nahhh, I don’t think so. But I do believe God cares about my health because this body is a vessel for his Holy Spirit. And I do believe he cares about the commitments I make and my willingness to tap into the power he has given me to follow through with those commitments. What the Holy Spirit is growing within us isn’t the absence of desire. (I still really wanted a very large bowl of that greatness.) What the Holy Spirit is growing within us is proper rule OVER DESIRE. It’s the internal governor that says, “You don’t have to do every little thing you feel like doing. You don’t have to get everything you think you want. You don’t have to have immediate gratification. You’re not a victim to your every desire. Yield to God’s power within you.” 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” That’s what God has given you. Now it’s up to you to abide in him and surrender to the power he has put within you! Before Jesus saved us, our flesh ruled. We set on our throne, our desires issued commands and our minds justified them. Our bodies obeyed. But with Jesus we have the Holy Spirit, now we’re under a different command. There’s a different ruler on the throne. Jesus sits in authority. The Spirit empowers new desires. And yes, our flesh still speaks, but it is not longer the king. Self-control is evidence there’s a new king governing our heart and life. We become a new person with the fruit of the Holy Spirit growing in us! Now, understand this, the Holy Spirit does not merely hand us extra strength. He reshapes our loves. God’s commands come with God’s enabling grace. The Spirit writes God’s law on our hearts, creating new desires that increasingly align with His will. As we grow in Christ, we don’t just have stronger disciple, we actually grow to WANT WHAT GOD WANTS. The deepest direction of our heart is changing!!!!!! You can’t will yourself into that change – that’s a direct result of the Holy Spirit working within you. Now here’s what I hope you’ll never forget – Self-control is not about becoming a stronger version of you. It’s about becoming a more surrendered version of you. The world says, “Try harder.” Jesus says, “Abide in Me.” The world says, “Get more disciplined.” The Holy Spirit says, “Walk with Me.” Maybe you’ve spent years telling yourself, “I just don’t have any self-control.” Maybe you’ve believed that’s just the way you are. Maybe you’ve looked at other women and thought, “They’re disciplined. They’re organized. They’re healthy. They’re financially wise. They have self-control…I just don’t.” Sweet friend, that’s not your identity. If you belong to Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within you. And if the Holy Spirit lives within you, then He is producing His fruit within you—including self-control. The question isn’t whether God has given it. The question is whether you’ll believe it’s there…and begin partnering with Him instead of arguing with Him. Every time you’re tempted to quit… Every time you want to say something you’ll regret… Every time you want to give in to fear… Every time you want immediate gratification instead of God’s best… Pause. Remember who’s on the throne. Remember there is an internal Ruler who is stronger than every external temptation. Then choose to listen to His voice instead of the voice of your flesh. Will you still have moments where you fail? Absolutely. But failure is no longer your identity. It’s simply another opportunity to turn back to the One who is faithfully growing His fruit in you. Fruit doesn’t grow because we strain harder. Fruit grows because it stays connected to the vine. Jesus said in John 15, “Abide in Me.” He didn’t say, “Impress Me.” He didn’t say, “Perform for Me.” He said, “Remain in Me.” That’s the secret. As you remain with Him, the Holy Spirit keeps doing what only He can do. He changes your desires. He renews your mind. He strengthens your resolve. He reminds you of truth in the moment you need it. He gives you power to say “no” to what steals life so you can say “yes” to what leads to life. And one day you’ll look back and realize something remarkable. The things that once mastered you… don’t anymore. Not because you finally found enough willpower. But because the Spirit of God has been faithfully transforming you from the inside out. That’s the fruit of self-control. Not a life of white-knuckled striving. A life that is increasingly ruled by Jesus. And isn’t that what we’ve been studying all along? Self-control is simply Jesus ruling where our flesh used to. That’s the fruit the Holy Spirit is growing in you. So don’t leave here saying, “I need more willpower.” Leave here saying, “Holy Spirit, have more of me.” Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

God's Eternal Judgment starts after death and it's vital we are ready for it. He will judge us all individually & seal our eternal destiny, based on our response to Him in this life. We go through 3 Phases of Existence. *(1) THIS LIFE, where our inner man lives in a mortal body - a temporary state, for when we die our spirit leaves our body. *(2) The INTERMEDIATE STATE, when we continue to exist as a disembodied spirit. This is also temporary, ending with our resurrection. *(3) The ETERNAL STATE starts at our resurrection, when our spirit puts on an immortal body. All men are ultimately divided into 2 groups, with 2 opposite eternal destinies, either everlasting glory in God's Presence, or everlasting separation from God in Hell. This is decided at death, when a permanent separation between the saved & unsaved takes place –Stage 1 of man's Eternal Judgment. The condition of each soul at death determines its destiny for eternity (Ecc 11:3). Only in this life do you have the chance to get right with God. After you die, your eternity is fixed forever (Rev 22:11). A man either dies under condemnation or in grace. Man is born in a state of sin & guilt before God (John 3:17-18, Eph 2:1-3). Jesus is our only hope of salvation (Acts 4:12). We have a choice to accept or reject Christ & His salvation. Those in Christ will be with Him forever in Heaven. But those who reject Him will die in their sins & be lost forever in Hell (John 8:24). So, Stage 1 of man's Eternal Judgment happens right after death (Heb 9:27). When his spirit leaves his body, he faces a private judicial sentencing from God. If he dies in his sins, (1) he is found guilty and sent to a place of punishment in Hades. Then later, at his resurrection, (2) he'll stand before God a 2nd time for final sentencing at the Great White Throne & dismissal into the Lake of Fire, the degree of his punishment determined by the degree of his rebellion (Rev 20:11-15). But, Christ made another eternal destiny possible. Those who trust in Him don't face damnation when they die, for Jesus took it for us. They'll be found to be righteous in Him & go to Heaven. So, at death, God sends a man to one of 2 locations - a place of punishment or a place of blessing (Paradise). At this point his eternal destiny is fixed. When God reunites man's spirit with his body in the resurrection, we'll stand before God for the 2nd & final stage of Eternal Judgment, when we'll be released into our final Eternal State, either in glory or in the Lake of Fire. He who dies in his sins will be sent to a place of initial punishment in Hades, to await his resurrection to his final Eternal Judgment. But he who dies in the Lord has passed from death to life (John 5:24-25, Rom 8:1). So, when we die, we'll be released to go to Paradise to await our resurrection, when we'll stand before Christ's Judgment Seat, to receive our eternal rewards and be released into our eternal state, with a corresponding measure of glory. God's Eternal Judgment operates like our court-system: in 2 Stages. Stage 1 at death determines guilt or innocence. At death, God separates mankind into 2 groups. Saved spirits go to Paradise, but the wicked go down to a place of punishment in Hades, a holding cell, where they're kept until their final judgment. Then Stage 2 after his resurrection, decides his sentencing (degree of punishment or reward), based on his works. (1) The righteous will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged to determine the degree of their eternal rewards of glory, according to their works, and then be released into their eternal state of glory. (2) When the unsaved are resurrected at the end of time, they'll stand before the Great White Throne for final sentencing & dismissal into their eternal state & place of punishment, the Lake of Fire (Rev 20). They'll be judged according to their works, to determine the degree of their everlasting punishment. We have 2 appointments with God we can't miss, which determine our eternal future. (1) After our death, to determine if we go up to Heaven or down to Hades. (2) After our resurrection, to determine the degree of our eternal reward or punishment. Before Jesus' resurrection, the departed spirits of all men went down to an invisible realm under the earth (SHEOL or HADES), a holding cell, where all men awaited their final judgment. The true story of the rich man& Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) describes life after death in Hades, for the saved & lost, before Christ's resurrection. It proves men's souls are conscious after death. All went down to HADES, but to different compartments. The saved went to PARADISE (Luke 23;43) or ABRAHAM'S BOSOM, but the wicked to TORMENTS, a place of punishment. By His resurrection Jesus overcame the power of Hades for His Church (Matt 16:18), and when we trust in Him our spirits are born again & made perfect by our union with the resurrected Christ (1Pet 1:3), so at death our spirits no longer go down to Hades, but up to Heaven.

God's Eternal Judgment starts after death and it's vital we are ready for it. He will judge us all individually & seal our eternal destiny, based on our response to Him in this life. We go through 3 Phases of Existence. *(1) THIS LIFE, where our inner man lives in a mortal body - a temporary state, for when we die our spirit leaves our body. *(2) The INTERMEDIATE STATE, when we continue to exist as a disembodied spirit. This is also temporary, ending with our resurrection. *(3) The ETERNAL STATE starts at our resurrection, when our spirit puts on an immortal body. All men are ultimately divided into 2 groups, with 2 opposite eternal destinies, either everlasting glory in God's Presence, or everlasting separation from God in Hell. This is decided at death, when a permanent separation between the saved & unsaved takes place –Stage 1 of man's Eternal Judgment. The condition of each soul at death determines its destiny for eternity (Ecc 11:3). Only in this life do you have the chance to get right with God. After you die, your eternity is fixed forever (Rev 22:11). A man either dies under condemnation or in grace. Man is born in a state of sin & guilt before God (John 3:17-18, Eph 2:1-3). Jesus is our only hope of salvation (Acts 4:12). We have a choice to accept or reject Christ & His salvation. Those in Christ will be with Him forever in Heaven. But those who reject Him will die in their sins & be lost forever in Hell (John 8:24). So, Stage 1 of man's Eternal Judgment happens right after death (Heb 9:27). When his spirit leaves his body, he faces a private judicial sentencing from God. If he dies in his sins, (1) he is found guilty and sent to a place of punishment in Hades. Then later, at his resurrection, (2) he'll stand before God a 2nd time for final sentencing at the Great White Throne & dismissal into the Lake of Fire, the degree of his punishment determined by the degree of his rebellion (Rev 20:11-15). But, Christ made another eternal destiny possible. Those who trust in Him don't face damnation when they die, for Jesus took it for us. They'll be found to be righteous in Him & go to Heaven. So, at death, God sends a man to one of 2 locations - a place of punishment or a place of blessing (Paradise). At this point his eternal destiny is fixed. When God reunites man's spirit with his body in the resurrection, we'll stand before God for the 2nd & final stage of Eternal Judgment, when we'll be released into our final Eternal State, either in glory or in the Lake of Fire. He who dies in his sins will be sent to a place of initial punishment in Hades, to await his resurrection to his final Eternal Judgment. But he who dies in the Lord has passed from death to life (John 5:24-25, Rom 8:1). So, when we die, we'll be released to go to Paradise to await our resurrection, when we'll stand before Christ's Judgment Seat, to receive our eternal rewards and be released into our eternal state, with a corresponding measure of glory. God's Eternal Judgment operates like our court-system: in 2 Stages. Stage 1 at death determines guilt or innocence. At death, God separates mankind into 2 groups. Saved spirits go to Paradise, but the wicked go down to a place of punishment in Hades, a holding cell, where they're kept until their final judgment. Then Stage 2 after his resurrection, decides his sentencing (degree of punishment or reward), based on his works. (1) The righteous will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged to determine the degree of their eternal rewards of glory, according to their works, and then be released into their eternal state of glory. (2) When the unsaved are resurrected at the end of time, they'll stand before the Great White Throne for final sentencing & dismissal into their eternal state & place of punishment, the Lake of Fire (Rev 20). They'll be judged according to their works, to determine the degree of their everlasting punishment. We have 2 appointments with God we can't miss, which determine our eternal future. (1) After our death, to determine if we go up to Heaven or down to Hades. (2) After our resurrection, to determine the degree of our eternal reward or punishment. Before Jesus' resurrection, the departed spirits of all men went down to an invisible realm under the earth (SHEOL or HADES), a holding cell, where all men awaited their final judgment. The true story of the rich man& Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) describes life after death in Hades, for the saved & lost, before Christ's resurrection. It proves men's souls are conscious after death. All went down to HADES, but to different compartments. The saved went to PARADISE (Luke 23;43) or ABRAHAM'S BOSOM, but the wicked to TORMENTS, a place of punishment. By His resurrection Jesus overcame the power of Hades for His Church (Matt 16:18), and when we trust in Him our spirits are born again & made perfect by our union with the resurrected Christ (1Pet 1:3), so at death our spirits no longer go down to Hades, but up to Heaven.

Before Jesus was born, how were people saved? Did Abraham, Moses, David, and the other faithful men and women of the Old Testament go to heaven another way? In this episode, we explore one of the Bible's most important questions and discover that God has always had one plan of salvation. From Abraham's faith to the sacrificial system, every page of the Old Testament points to Jesus Christ. Learn why the cross didn't just save those who came after Christ—it also secured the salvation of those who trusted God's promises before He came.

Pack your bags and join us for Summer Road Trip, a journey through the life and teachings of Jesus. Each week, we'll explore key moments from His ministry— from the preparation to the arrival in Jerusalem. Along the way, we'll discover practical lessons for navigating faith, relationships, purpose, and everyday challenges. Whether you're new to following Jesus or have been walking with Him for years, this series will help you on your journey though life and challenge you to travel closer to Him. Before Jesus began His public ministry, He spent forty days in the wilderness, preparing for what was to come. Jesus sets the example and teaches us to rely on scripture, depend on God's provision, and remain faithful even when the path is difficult. Our journey starts with the preparation.

Summer on the Mount — Week 1: The Upside-Down Good Life | Matthew 5:1–12 Texts: Matthew 5:1–12What if the life the world calls blessed is not actually the good life?In Week 1 of Summer on the Mount: A Better Way to Be Human, Pastor Kevin begins walking through the Sermon on the Mount by looking at the Beatitudes. Before Jesus teaches about anger, desire, prayer, money, anxiety, or obedience, He begins with blessing. He answers the question everybody is asking in some form: Who is really living the good life?This message shows that the Beatitudes are not a ladder to climb so we can earn God's favor. They are an announcement that the Kingdom has come near. Jesus blesses people the world does not know what to do with: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted.If you have been chasing a version of blessing built on success, control, comfort, image, or comparison, this message is an invitation to let Jesus redefine the good life—and to come to Him honestly, poor in spirit, hungry for righteousness, and ready to receive.Broad River Church | Norwalk, CT Join us Sundays: 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM (English) | 1:00 PM (Español) Learn more or take your next step: https://broadriver.church/nextstepsFollow us on Instagram: @iambroadriverchurch

Before Jesus told His disciples to go into the harvest, He first taught them how to see.In Matthew 9, Jesus looked at the crowds with compassion because they were "harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Rather than viewing people as interruptions or labels, He saw individuals who desperately needed hope, healing, and a Savior.In this second message of The Invitation series, John Gunter challenges believers to slow down, notice the people God has already placed around them, and begin praying for opportunities to simply invite others to encounter Christ.Sharing our faith doesn't begin with having all the answers. It begins with having the eyes of Jesus.Key Themes: Seeing people through the eyes of Christ  Compassion before invitation  The harvest is people, not projects  Prayer prepares our hearts to reach others  God provides the growth while we faithfully invite Key Scriptures: Matthew 9:35-38  1 Samuel 16:7  Romans 15:7  1 Corinthians 3:6-7 Eagle Community Church of Christ Mont Belvieu, TexasLoving God. Loving People. Following Jesus.

Before Jesus teaches us what to pray, He teaches us why and how to pray.

Today's Promise: John 16:7 Before Jesus returned to the Father, He made a promise that must have seemed impossible for the disciples to understand. He told them it was actually better for Him to go away because He would send the Holy Spirit. How could anything be better than walking beside Jesus Himself?   In this episode, we'll discover why Jesus called this promise "to your advantage" and what it means for your life today. The same Holy Spirit who transformed a fearful group of followers into bold witnesses now lives in every believer, comforting, teaching, guiding, and empowering us each day.   If you've ever longed to experience God's presence more deeply or wondered how to live the Christian life with confidence, this promise is for you. Join me as we explore the incredible gift Jesus has given us and celebrate the truth that, through the Holy Spirit, Christ is with you every moment, every day.

What will it look like when Jesus actually returns? Most of us picture a Rambo-style hero charging in with a sword, but the Bible paints a very different picture, and it changes everything about how we live right now.This week at 2|42 Community Church, we walk through Revelation 19 and the moment the hero finally steps into the story. Jesus returns on a white horse, eyes like fire, wearing a robe dipped in blood but here's the thing most people miss: it's His own blood. Before there was a white horse, there was a cross. Before a crown, there were thorns. Before Jesus was the conquering King, He was the sacrificial Lamb. And He's not riding back alone,  there's an army behind Him, dressed in white, following Him into final victory. The question this passage leaves us with isn't "is Jesus coming back?" It's "when He does, where will you be?"Support the show

Before Jesus went to the cross, He promised His disciples they would not be left alone. The Holy Spirit would come to dwell with them and in them. Our hope for change is not found in trying harder, pretending better, or becoming more disciplined by sheer willpower. Join Matt Ritchey in discovering the hope that lives with us and in us!

This week we’ve studied what our lives looks like without the Holy Spirit. Without God’s influence, without God’s direction over our life, we naturally drift toward dysfunction, selfishness, broken relationships, and sin. Left to ourselves, our sinful nature becomes the driving force behind our decisions, our attitudes, and our actions. That’s exactly what Paul describes in Galatians 5. He paints an honest picture of what life looks like when the flesh is in control. It’s not a list meant to shame us – it’s a mirror showing us what every one of us is capable of apart from God. But thank God, we’re not left there. The good news is that God didn’t simply save us from our sin; He gave us His very presence. When we place our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. We are no longer left to navigate this life in our own strength. We have a Helper, a Guide, a Teacher, and the very power of God at work in us. So before we can understand the fruit of the Spirit, we have to understand the Spirit Himself. Who is the Holy Spirit? Why did God give Him to us? What is His purpose in our lives? And what does it actually look like to live under His influence every day? The fruit of the Spirit isn’t about trying harder to become a better person. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. I spent many years not understanding who the Holy Spirit is and what it mean to have this influence in my life. Maybe you’re in that place. This doesn’t quite make sense to you. It can be a little confusing, so lets slow down to understand. Quite simply, the Holy Spirit is God HIMSELF. God reveals himself to us in 3 ways which we call the trinity. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – all God. Think of it this way, the Father loved us, the Son saved us, the Spirit changes us. The Holy Spirit is God’s very own presence dwelling within us. Before Jesus returned to Heaven after his crucifixion, he made an incredible promise. In John 14: 16-17, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. You will know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” In verse 23, Jesus says, “We will come and make our home in each one who loves me.” Jesus had been walking with his disciples. He had been living with them, teaching them, guiding them. In flesh, he was there with them. Now, before he returns to Heaven, he is promising for everyone who loves him, they will be given ANOTHER who will actually live in you and never leave you. The Greek, word translated “another” means another of the same kind. So we have been given someone exactly like Jesus in nature and purpose to live inside of us. That’s the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit makes God’s presence permanent in everyone who believes in him. As real as Jesus walked this earth as God in human form, God now lives within us in Spirit form. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live like Jesus. So this isn’t about trying harder and harder, this is about allowing God to live through us. In the Old Testament, God’s Spirit dwelt in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Occasionally his Spirit would come upon specific people for specific purposes. Through the cleansing power of Jesus to make us holy and righteous, God Spirit is now available to each of us and we become his temple. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God.” For real, God now lives within us! My mind can’t comprehend that, but by faith I choose to believe it. Do you? Let’s look at 3 things the Holy Spirit does: He teaches us, empowers us and transforms us. The Holy Spirit teaches us. When you read the Bible and actually understand it, that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. When you listen to this podcast or a sermon and it hits just right, that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. When you’re living your regular life and you remember what God said about it, that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. What a lot of people describe as a “gut feeling” is actually the prompting of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit empowers us. Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Have you ever been stronger than you ever thought you could be? Girl, that was the Holy Spirit. Have you ever had the power to do things you never thought you could do? That’s the power from the Holy Spirit. We’re so quick to think we’re weak and incapable, but as a believer, remember who is living within you. God himself is inside of you! His power is in you! So yes, you do have the strength for this through the Holy Spirit. Yes, you are good enough. Yes, you are capable. Remember what’s in you! And ultimately what the Holy Spirit does within us is he transforms us. That’s where the Fruit of the Spirit comes in in Galatians 5. WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, we are changed naturally. This change isn’t something we have to force and will, it’s a change that grows in us and makes us more like Jesus. That’s the goal of the Holy Spirit, to make us more and more like Jesus. As we move to the right side of our list and begin to see what it looks like to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit, rather than without him, think of it like this: If you are under the influence of alcohol, you think different, you talk different, you walk different, you have different emotions, and you make different decisions. Why? Because you’re under the influence of that alcohol so you operate different. Now, think of the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life. It changes everything. You think different under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The way you see things changes. The way you see people changes. Your thought process is changed. You talk different under the influence of the Holy Spirit. You don’t even want to be in the conversations you were once in. You walk different with different emotions, making different decisions. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, your desires are literally changed. Your heart begins to align with God’s heart and you begin to pursue the things he created you for. And what happens when there’s a different life within us – FRUIT! Fruit is evidence of life. An apple tree doesn’t struggle to tape apples to its branches to look more like an apple tree. An apple tree just naturally produces apples. When the Holy Spirit lives within us, we don’t have to struggle and strive, we just surrender and then we naturally produce the Fruit of the Spirit. This is what makes us more and more like Jesus. Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

You were not created to live as an orphan, searching for identity, striving for approval, or carrying life's burdens alone. God created you to live as His beloved child—secure in His love, established in His Kingdom and confident in who He says you are. Before Jesus began His ministry, the Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Identity came before assignment. In the same way, God desires for you to know that you are loved, accepted, and called by Him. Download Our New Apps: EC App - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/empower-church/id6775955900 Empower Church EC App - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.empowerapp EBI App - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/za/app/empower-bible-institute/id6775867966 Empower Bible Institute EBI App - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.empowerschool.ebi In this message, we explore: 1. THE REVELATION OF SONSHIP True identity is discovered through the Father's voice. Sons know who they are because they know who their Father is. 2. BELOVED BEFORE THE BEGINNING Jesus was called “Beloved” before His ministry began. God's love is not earned through works; it is received through relationship. 3. THE HEART OF THE FATHER The Father does not wait to condemn His children—He runs toward them with compassion, restoration, and grace. 4. FROM ORPHAN THINKING TO KINGDOM LIVING Orphans ask, “What can I get?” Sons ask, “What can I give?” Sons carry peace, purpose, and responsibility in the Kingdom. 5. SLAVES HAVE LOCKS, SONS HAVE KEYS Jesus has entrusted His children with the keys of the Kingdom. We are called not only to receive God's promises but to advance His purposes in the earth. Receive today: 1. IDENTITY as you discover who God says you are. 2. HEALING as you encounter the Father's love. 3. FREEDOM from orphan thinking and striving. 4. PURPOSE as you embrace your calling as a son or daughter of God. 5. AUTHORITY as you walk in the keys of the Kingdom. You are deeply loved by the Father. You are not abandoned, forgotten, or rejected. Through Christ, you have been brought into the family of God and invited to live as His beloved child. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” — 1 John 3:1 #empowerchurch #gebhardtberndt #sonship #identityinchrist #beloved #fatherslove #faith #jesuschrist #holyspirit #christianliving #purpose #healing

No one can share God's glory, right? Actually, the exact opposite is true. God's people are even named “partakers of the glory” and “the house of His glory”! Before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed, “Father, the glory you gave Me, I have given them.” So, this has already been established by a divine decree! This revelation is glorious!Ministry website: www.shreveministries.orgComparative religion website: www.thetruelight.netThe “Catholic Project” website: www.toCatholicswithlove.orgVideo channel: www.YouTube.com/mikeshreveministriesAll audio-podcasts are shared in a video format on our YouTube channel.Get Mike Shreve's book revealing the spiritual identity of the sons and daughters of God:WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in ChristMike Shreve's other podcastRevealing the True Light—a study on comparative religion subjects, as well as mysterious or controversial biblical subjects: https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/revealingthetruelight

For this Father's day and our 60th anniversary, we at Cross Points Church have Pastor Don Lewis preaching today. He led our church from 2000-2012, and we are so grateful to have him preach this Sunday.Pastor Don Lewis reminds us of the life-changing words the Father spoke over Jesus at His baptism: “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Before Jesus performed a miracle, preached a sermon, or began His public ministry, the Father marked Him with identity, love, and affirmation. Pastor Don teaches how every person needs to know they are marked by the Father, not by shame, failure, rejection, or the labels of the past, but by the love of God.To learn more about Cross Points, check out our website:http://crosspointschurch.comTo stay up to date, check out our social media:Instagram: @crosspointskcFacebook: Cross Points ChurchYoutube: CrossPointsKC

Before Jesus performed a single miracle, before He preached a single sermon, before the cross — the Father had already spoken. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Many of us spend our lives trying to earn a voice that has already been spoken over us. Today on Father's Day, we're stepping into that moment at the Jordan River to discover what the Father truly says — about identity, about direction, about belonging. Whether your earthly father gave you strength or left you with wounds, this message is for you.

As we study through the book of Deuteronomy, we repeatedly encounter the brokenness of sin and the need for atonement through sacrifice. Our sin separates us from God, and the only way we can draw close to Him is to have our sin removed. Before Jesus, this system required repeated sacrifice. Every new sin required a new sacrifice. But, as Pastor Dan will remind us in today's message, Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was once and for all. When you trust in Him for salvation, He offers eternal atonement.

In John 11, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and reveals one of the most powerful “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John: “I am the resurrection and the life.” This message from The Source series looks at the seventh public sign in John's Gospel and shows how the resurrection of Lazarus points to the authority of Jesus over death, the hope of eternal life, and the freedom He brings to those who believe.Before Jesus raises Lazarus, He delays, He weeps, and He enters the grief of Mary and Martha. This passage reminds us that Jesus is not distant from our pain, but He is also not defeated by it. He is the Source of life, and when He calls our name, dead things come alive.In this sermon, Pastor Josh Brown teaches through John 11 and explores what it means to live the resurrected life. The resurrected life is not only about a future resurrection; it is about hope, freedom, and new life in Christ right now. Jesus does not simply promise resurrection someday. He is resurrection and life today.If you are walking through grief, delay, disappointment, fear, or spiritual bondage, this message will encourage you to believe again. Lazarus walked out of the tomb still wrapped in grave clothes, and Jesus told the people around him, “Unbind him, and let him go.” In Christ, we are raised to life and called into freedom.Join us as we continue The Source series through the Gospel of John and discover how Jesus is the living water, the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, and the resurrection and the life.Scripture: John 11:1–46Series: The SourceSpeaker: Pastor Josh BrownChurch: Overflow ChurchTopics: John 11, Lazarus, Jesus raises Lazarus, I am the resurrection and the life, resurrection power, living hope, freedom in Christ, Gospel of John, the seventh sign in John, Jesus has authority over death, The Source series, Overflow Church, Pastor Josh BrownSupport the show

Before Jesus does a single miracle or wins a single debate, His Father declares, “This is my beloved Son.” The Breastplate of Righteousness if first received, not achieved. Jesus lives from His identity and not for it. In a culture obsessed with proving ourselves, righteousness becomes either self-righteousness or despair but in Jesus it becomes protection. When we armor up like Jesus, we stop performing for approval and begin living from the truth that we are approved. The battle is not to impress God, but to rest in the righteousness He gives and then live through that righteousness leading to a life of character and integrity.  

Before Jesus does a single miracle or wins a single debate, His Father declares, “This is my beloved Son.” The Breastplate of Righteousness if first received, not achieved. Jesus lives from His identity and not for it. In a culture obsessed with proving ourselves, righteousness becomes either self-righteousness or despair but in Jesus it becomes protection. When we armor up like Jesus, we stop performing for approval and begin living from the truth that we are approved. The battle is not to impress God, but to rest in the righteousness He gives and then live through that righteousness leading to a life of character and integrity.  

June 11, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 6:7-13Daily Lectionary: Proverbs 9:1-18; John 13:21-38“And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” (Mark 6:7) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Disciples are followers of Jesus - literally. Before Jesus' ascension, the disciples went where He went. They did what He did. He taught, they listened. In this account in Mark, Jesus sends out the Twelve apostles. These men were disciples, but being an apostle meant that they were sent out to teach and to preach. They were given authority by Jesus and were given directions by Jesus. Today, we remember the Apostle Barnabas. This is the guy who ‘vouched' for Saul. In the early church, after Jesus ascended into heaven, there was a lot of persecution. You may remember that Saul was a high-ranking Jewish leader who had made it his mission to hunt disciples of Jesus and punish them, even to death. And yet, Jesus comes to Saul and confronts him about his sins. Jesus calls Saul to be one of His disciples—and even more—to be an apostle. Saul (later named Paul) was going to preach about Jesus; he was called out of darkness into God's light. We sinners tend to be skeptical; the disciples in the early church did too. Did Paul *really* meet Jesus? Was he *actually* a believer? The disciples in Jerusalem, at the time of Paul's conversion, were afraid. Paul wants to join these disciples, but they don't believe him. However, Barnabas is not going to stay silent. Barnabas greets Paul, brings him to the other disciples, and witnesses to what he knows happened. He teaches his fellow disciples (and apostles) the truth that Jesus does indeed change hearts and minds. He declares that Jesus did, in fact, call Paul to be an apostle. You probably aren't an apostle, but you are a disciple of Jesus. You get to continue learning from His Word, receiving His Gifts, and witnessing about what is true. In your Baptism, you are safely tucked into God's family, and nothing can take that away. From that place, then, you can be bold to speak about Jesus. You can declare that He does forgive sins, He does keep His promises, and He is the Savior of the world. You can be like Barnabas - speak of what is true and real. Point to Jesus' Death and Resurrection. Speak of yourself as a redeemed sinner. Speak to the neighbors you have been given - in your school, your home, your neighborhood, your community - and tell the Good News of Jesus for sinners. You get to be a disciple; you receive God's good Gifts, and you get to then share His love with all that you meet. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.How clear is our vocation, Lord, When once we heed your call: To live according to Your Word And daily learn, refreshed, restored, That You are Lord of all, And will not let us fall. (LSB 853:1) Deac. Sarah Longmire, Curricula Curator for Higher Things and Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee's Summit, MO.

The Holy Spirit is one of the most talked about (and least understood) persons in the Church.Some see Him as a force.Others see Him as an experience.Jesus revealed Him as a Person.In this message, we unpack the Promise of the Father and discover who the Holy Spirit is, what He does, and how He transforms everyday life.Using passages from John 16, Acts 1, Acts 2, Romans 8, and Galatians 5, we explore:• Why the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a power• How He convicts, comforts, and guides believers• What it means to be filled with the Spirit• The difference between spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit• How the Spirit empowers us to live holy and bold lives• Why revival has always been connected to the Holy Spirit• Practical ways to cultivate a daily relationship with HimThis message isn't just about learning about the Holy Spirit.It's about knowing Him.Before Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world, He told them to wait for one thing: the Promise of the Father.“Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you...” John 16:7

Mark begins the gospel with a wilderness voice calling people to prepare the way of the Lord. Before Jesus steps into public ministry, John the Baptist calls people to repentance, reminding us that the good news often begins with conviction before it brings comfort.Mark 1:1-3 ESV — “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”'”In this Cross Walk devotional, Pastor Jeremy reflects on how the Holy Spirit prepares our hearts for the presence of Jesus. Repentance is not condemnation; it is God's mercy inviting us to turn, surrender, and clear the road for the King.Today's encouragement is to let the Lord straighten what has become crooked, remove what has been hidden, and prepare our hearts for fresh obedience. When Jesus draws near, the best response is surrender.

In this powerful episode, Bishop Mark J. Brown explores the life and message of John the Baptist through Luke 3:4 and reveals why God's chosen voices rarely fit comfortably within the systems of their day. Before Jesus appeared publicly, God sent a voice. John the Baptist's lifestyle was a message before his words ever were. Clothed in camel's hair, wearing a leather girdle, sustained by locusts and wild honey, John embodied a prophetic identity that challenged culture, comfort, and religious tradition. This message examines how God often uses voices that look different, think differently, and operate outside established systems to prepare the way for His purposes. Just as Israel had to adapt when the manna ceased after crossing the Jordan, every move of God requires a willingness to embrace change and leave behind familiar patterns. Discover the spiritual significance of John's prophetic mantle, his discipline and readiness, his dependence upon God rather than institutions, and the revelation that sustained him in the wilderness. Learn why system change is often necessary before spiritual transformation can occur and why God frequently raises voices that do not fit the expectations of the culture around them. If you've ever felt misunderstood, out of place, or called to challenge the status quo, this episode will encourage you to embrace the unique assignment God has placed upon your life. You cannot prepare the way for what is holy while living like what is common. Before God sends a move, He sends a voice and that voice rarely fits the system it was sent to change.

Before Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, there was a path that led to it.In this episode, we examine Matthew chapters 3 and 4—the preparation, testing, and early ministry of Jesus that set the stage for one of the most important sermons ever preached. From the ministry of John the Baptist, to the baptism of Jesus, to His temptation in the wilderness and the calling of His first disciples, every event points to the authority and mission of Christ.The Sermon on the Mount did not appear in a vacuum. Understanding what happened before Jesus opened His mouth to teach helps us better understand the message He delivered.Join me as we begin a verse-by-verse journey through the Sermon on the Mount by first exploring the foundation upon which it was built.The Rocky Brown Podcast—Biblical teaching for everyday life.Send us Fan Mail Support the show

Your net can only hold what it's been prepared to carry.Before Jesus called fishermen to catch people, He found them washing their nets after a disappointing night. Yet what felt like failure was actually preparation for one of the greatest invitations ever given: "From now on, you will fish for people."Before God changes your assignment, He often repairs your net.

God doesn't bless disorder—He blesses order. Before Jesus fed the 5,000, He told them to sit down. Miracles follow structure. Watch Pastor James explain why order in your life, your home, and your heart is the key to experiencing God's blessing.ABOUT THIS SERMONIn this eye-opening message, Pastor James teaches that God always establishes order before releasing blessing. Using the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, he illustrates that even miracles require structure. God does not bless chaos—He blesses order that begins with personal discipline and extends to families, communities, and society.This sermon addresses how the breakdown of honor and respect in the home has led to wider dysfunction in culture. Pastor James challenges us to restore order by living with intention, teaching honor, and understanding that true success is measured by what we leave behind.If you're praying for breakthrough, it might start with bringing order to your life. Watch now.KEY VERSES Luke 9:14 1 Corinthians 14:40 2 Kings 20:1 Romans 13:1-2 ABOUT WORD OF GOD MINISTRIESIt is the vision of WOGM to preach Jesus as the manifested Word of God! Our passion is to share the love of God to all people, to spread the hope of the gospel, and the power of faith to more people, in more places, in more ways than ever before. We are dedicated to winning the lost to Jesus and making disciples of the saved (John 8:30-32). Through the anointing of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, Pastor James seeks to expound on the Word of God, bringing clarity, and making it applicable to the hearer.

Today's Promise: Colossians 1:13 What if you realized you are no longer living under the power of darkness? In this powerful episode, we explore the life-changing promise of what it truly means to be transferred into the Kingdom of Christ.   Before Jesus, we were trapped in sin, separated from God, and living under the influence of a broken world. But through faith in Christ, everything changed. God rescued you, set you free, and gave you a brand new identity as a citizen of His kingdom. Join us as we talk about spiritual freedom, victory over sin, and the incredible truth that Satan no longer has authority over your life. You are no longer a slave to darkness. You belong to the King of kings.   If you have ever struggled with your past, your identity, or spiritual battles, this episode will encourage your heart and remind you that you now live under the love, protection, and authority of Jesus Christ.

Why does God feel painfully late on the prayer you have been praying for years? The one for the marriage, the child, the healing, the door that still has not opened. If you have ever wondered whether God is even listening, this sermon was made for you.In this message, Pastor Josiah walks through John 11, the story of Lazarus, and asks a question almost no one wants to admit they are sitting in. How do we trust Jesus when his timing breaks our expectations? Most of us have a version of that question quietly running in the background of our lives. We have prayed. We have trusted. We have stayed faithful. And yet the relationship is still in pieces. The diagnosis still came back the way we feared. The child still has not come home. The anxiety is still here.Pastor Josiah pulls three honest, freeing truths out of this chapter. First, delay is not denial. Verse 6 says Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, so he stayed. Not so he rushed. So he stayed. That single word reframes everything. The love of God is not always measured by the speed of his response. Sometimes it is measured by what he is producing in the silence.Second, do not forget who he is. When Martha runs to Jesus, disappointed and grieving, he does not give her a five step plan. He gives her himself. I am the resurrection and the life. Faith is not built on outcomes. Faith is built on a Person. Some of us have become so consumed with what God has not done that we have forgotten who he still is.Third, gratitude comes before the movement. Before Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb, he stops and thanks his Father. The stone is still in place. The body is still inside. And Jesus is already worshiping. Pastor Josiah points out that anyone can worship after the resurrection. Mature faith worships while the grave is still in front of you.The sermon lands somewhere most preaching does not dare go. Jesus, knowing exactly what he was about to do, still wept at the tomb. He is not emotionally disconnected from your pain. He is fully God and fully human, and he enters in. Faith is not pretending you are okay. Faith is bringing your real pain to a real Savior who already knows the end of the story.And the end of this story is the gospel itself. Lazarus, whose name actually means God is my helper, was dead, wrapped, sealed in a tomb, with every reason gone. And Jesus stood at the entrance and called him out. That is what Pastor Josiah reminds us he still does today. To every person sitting in their sin, their past, their addiction, their shame, Jesus is on the other side of the wall calling, come out. The barrier is already gone.

God doesn't bless disorder—He blesses order. Before Jesus fed the 5,000, He told them to sit down. Miracles follow structure. Watch Pastor James explain why order in your life, your home, and your heart is the key to experiencing God's blessing.ABOUT THIS SERMONIn this eye-opening message, Pastor James teaches that God always establishes order before releasing blessings. Using the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, he illustrates that even miracles require structure. God does not bless chaos—He blesses order that begins with personal discipline and extends to families, communities, and society.This sermon addresses how the breakdown of honor and respect in the home has led to wider dysfunction in culture. Pastor James challenges us to restore order by living with intention, teaching honor, and understanding that true success is measured by what we leave behind.If you're praying for breakthrough, it might start with bringing order to your life. Watch now.KEY VERSES Luke 9:14 1 Corinthians 14:40 2 Kings 20:1 Romans 13:1-2 ABOUT WORD OF GOD MINISTRIESIt is the vision of WOGM to preach Jesus as the manifested Word of God! Our passion is to share the love of God to all people, to spread the hope of the gospel, and the power of faith to more people, in more places, in more ways than ever before. We are dedicated to winning the lost to Jesus and making disciples of the saved (John 8:30-32). Through the anointing of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, Pastor James seeks to expound on the Word of God, bringing clarity, and making it applicable to the hearer.

For two chapters, Matthew has been building his case that Jesus is the Messiah. He has shown us the genealogy, the fulfillment of prophecy, the story of Joseph's obedience, the virgin birth, Bethlehem, Egypt, and God's protection through incredibly complicated circumstances. Today, everything changes. Almost thirty years have passed since that last scene. Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He learned a trade, lived under authority, and did what His Father asked in the hidden, ordinary, unrecorded years of His life. But now, the silence breaks. Before Jesus steps into public ministry, God sends someone ahead of Him. A voice in the wilderness. A voice with one clear message: The King is coming. Ready or not.

Watch the Devotion Based on John 14:15-21  You Need Help Deployments come, schedules shift constantly, uncertainty hangs in the air—who holds things together? Who carries the weight at home? Who steadies the children, manages the household, bears the worry? Military spouses do.  You live a life of quiet sacrifice. Of constant adjustment. Of strength that often goes unseen. You step in again and again to help your family endure and thrive under pressure. And that matters. It reflects something deeper. Because every act of patient love, every moment of selfless service, every quiet sacrifice—points to the greater help we all need. Even the strongest mother cannot carry everything. Even the most faithful spouse needs support. Because no matter how capable, how resilient, how determined—we all come back to the same truth: You and I, we need help.    And that's where Jesus' promise meets us all— single or married, mothers, fathers, children, war fighters, civilians. He promises help.   Before Jesus goes to the cross and rises from the dead and the ascends into heaven, he reminds his disciples, and us, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth . . . I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-17a, 18). Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to all of us, to you. To remind you that your strength isn't what saves you. Christ is. To remind you that all of the guilt you carry for not doing enough, it isn't enough to save you, but Christ is. To remind you that peace isn't found when the bills are paid on time, the kids are well behaved, the yard is mowed and you found quiet time for yourself with a glass of wine and Netflix – peace is found in Christ, his forgiveness for you, his life for you, his resurrection for you. Peace is found in the truth that your eternal home is secure, no matter what a hot mess your house looks like today.  You – you and I – we need help, and Jesus gives it, by sending his Holy Spirit to you.   Prayer: Heavenly Father, in his incarnation your Son took on our human flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary. He submitted to his mother, honoring and obeying her, so fulfilling the commandment where we have not. On this Mother's Day, graciously accept our thanksgiving for our mothers, whom you have given to us. Teach us to honor them aright — loving, obeying and giving thanks for them. Strengthen all women with child and give them safe delivery. Comfort all women who long to have children but cannot, that they may find their consolation in you and your unfailing love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.     Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.

Before Jesus leaves, he promises an "advocate." But what is an advocate? How would Jesus' disciples have heard this term? What does it look like to try to block out what we know about the Holy Spirit, or think we know, and hear about this advocate anew? Jonathan and Seth try to do just that. They ask what the role of the Advocate is and what might be the role of people who advocate for others today. We're glad you're with us. Do you have a distinct memory of someone being an advocate for you? We'd love to hear about it. While we didn't plan it this way, this episode naturally leads into next week's episode about solidarity. So, be sure to tune in then, too.

Today's Promise: John 7:39 Before Jesus returned to the Father, He made a powerful promise that still transforms lives today. In this episode, we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit given to every believer. Discover what it truly means to have God's Spirit living within you and actively working through your life.   You will explore seven key ways the Holy Spirit moves in you, from making you God's temple to empowering you to share your faith with boldness. Learn how He gently convicts, restores, and produces spiritual fruit that reflects Christ. Be reminded that you are a child of God, led and guided by His Spirit every day.   Many overlook or misunderstand the Holy Spirit, but He is not to be feared. He is God's presence in you. This episode will encourage you to embrace Him fully, walk in His power, and celebrate the life-changing promise Jesus made.

Before Jesus can use you, He has to disrupt you — and that's actually good news. We all love the version of Jesus who comforts us, encourages us, and comes alongside us. But what do we do with the Jesus who confronts us? Because that's exactly who we meet in Mark chapter 11. This story is situated in Holy Week, and as Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, everything is about to shift. The crowds are cheering, palm branches are flying, and people are crying out Hosanna — God, save us! It's a high moment. And then Jesus walks into the temple... and turns it upside down. Here's what I want you to see today, because this is the passage that gets misused more than almost any other: you are not Jesus in this story. You are the temple. Before Jesus can use any of us for anything, He has to come in and disrupt the systems inside of us that keep us from real worship — the appearances, the transactions, the religion-without-transformation that can look perfectly healthy on the outside while bearing zero fruit. We also dig into the curious moment when Jesus curses a fig tree — and why that's not about Jesus needing breakfast. It's a prophetic symbol, pointing to the same problem in the temple: the appearance of life without the substance of it. Looking good on the outside, but not actually connected to God at all. And we sit with something I find both hard and beautiful: as the story enters Passion Week, Jesus doesn't just overturn tables — He goes on to suffer. He allows things to happen to Him because He knows what it's accomplishing. And because He went ahead of us in that suffering, we are never alone in ours. We can't have a life that's Jesus plus anything. It's Jesus plus nothing — and that actually ends up being everything. Want More?

Do you ever feel like your life isn't really making a difference?In this message from the Kingdom People series, we explore Jesus' powerful words in Matthew 5:13–16 where He calls ordinary people the salt of the earth and the light of the world.Before Jesus tells us what to do, He tells us who we are.Your life carries more influence than you realize.Discover how Jesus invites us to bring flavor to a fading world, reflect His light in the darkness, and live from the identity He has already given us.✨ You are salt. You are light. The question is—will you let it shine?

Before Jesus left his followers and ascended back to heaven, he gave them a promise — that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. What did this mean? In this sermon, we look at why the Holy Spirit such an important part of our relationship with God, and how we can depend on him as we live. Key Verses: Acts 1:1-5

Then [Jesus] said to [Peter], “Follow me!” — John 21:19 Peter had made some hurtful mistakes. And our text for today shows how Jesus gently addressed them.Before Jesus was arrested and crucified, Peter had promised never to disown or abandon Jesus. He had even said, “I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:37; see Mark 14:31). But then, soon after Jesus was arrested, Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus (Mark 14:66-72; John 18:15- 27). He was afraid to be connected with Jesus.After his death and resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples, including Peter, several times—and in our text for today he is with the disciples at the Sea of Galilee. Three times Jesus approaches Peter, the three-time denier, with this question: “Do you love me?” And each time Peter says yes. Then Jesus tells him, each time, to care for his sheep.Just like that, Peter's denials are graciously forgiven, and Peter is powerfully recommissioned. Jesus even repeats to Peter what he had said to his disciples when he had first called them three years earlier: “Follow me!” (see Mark 1:17). It's as if Peter's denials had never happened.Peter's restoration shows us that if anyone is in Christ, there is not only a new creation but also a new commission: to follow Jesus into whatever work he calls us to in our context, in our lives.The old has gone. The new has come! Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see what you are calling us into today, and guide us to obey. In your name, and in the hope of the new creation, Amen.

Have you been hurt by Church? Me too. Is it a reason to pull away from God? It could be, but it shouldn't be. You know what Church is? Church is a gathering of totally imperfect people who claim to know they need Jesus. They're not always going to get it right. They're not always going to teach it right. And maybe they didn't treat you right. I grew up not knowing Jesus because as a little girl, the country church where my family went didn't quite do things right. My parents were hurt, so they stopped going. When they stopped going, my access to the Bible was cut off. From the time I was 5 to the time I was 15, I heard nothing of God. Church isn't always going to be right. One denomination says it has to be this way, while another denomination says it has to be their way. We create division and differences and make our own rules on the path to Jesus. People are hurt in the process. Families walk away. Little girls grow up not knowing about God. So, what if instead of getting our doctrine from a gathering of imperfect people who need Jesus, or a person who has been hurt by people who need Jesus, or the Google or ChatGPT, or any other source of any kind … what if instead we look directly at God's word for truth today. What does it take to be saved? What is required to gain salvation? What can we do to gain access to eternity in Heaven with God? What are the steps? What is the right way? How can we be sure? And have you screwed up so much for so long, you're now out? We find our answer at the cross. Yes, the cross we just remembered on Easter. And it's so simple, so pure, so powerful. For some reason, we've spent lifetimes twisting and contorting simple truths into rituals, rules and guidelines which Jesus came to fulfill and lift from us. Before Jesus, the way to God was complicated. There were rituals. There were rules. There were people who could talk to God and people who could not. There were certain clothes that had to be worn, sacrifices that had to be made, words that had to be spoken. A temple was built to house the Spirit of God. Within the temple, there was thick curtain that kept ordinary people out of the holy space where God's Spirit dwelt. Only the high priest could access this space of God's spirit, and only once per year. A blood sacrifice was required for that yearly entry. So many ceremonial rules and regulations. Back then, following God was scary. If you did it wrong, you would be struck dead. So of course we're confused on how we could ever be made worthy of access to God. Of course we're uncertain of our right to approach God with our brokenness. Of course we question if we could ever be good enough to be guaranteed God's spirit to guide us and God's forgiveness to cover us for eternity. But Jesus made everything so simple. We don't have to complicate this. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, in his final breath, something happened. We often read the story and miss the life altering change that happened in that moment. But today, we're not going to miss it. We're going to see it. We're going to understand it. And we're going to receive it. Luke 23, Jesus is hanging on the cross between two criminals. Verses 44-46, “By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.” Tucked in between the miracle of the sky going completely dark from noon to 3, and Jesus breathing his last breath, is the sentence that changes everything. “Suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.” This was the curtain that separated us from God. The curtain that only the high priest was allowed to go behind once a year to gain access to God. This curtain is what kept us out. The curtain was laws, rules and rituals. The curtain was separation and division. And that curtain was torn right down the middle while Jesus was giving his life on the cross. The fact that this curtain was torn was a miracle in itself. Scripture is very specific that this was a massive curtain that could not be torn. It was 60 feet long, 30 feet wide and it was the thickness of the palm of a hand. The palm of a hand is about 4 inches. Have you ever seen a curtain 4 inches thick? This curtain was so heavy, it took 300 priests to move it. And miraculously, when the sky went dark and Jesus breathed his final breath, that curtain was torn right down the middle! The curtain in the temple. The curtain that separated us from God. What happened? ACCESS WAS GRANTED. Access for you and I. Laws were fulfilled. Rituals and rules were torn down and the way was made for you and I, as messed up and unholy as we are, to approach God. Everything changed when the curtain was torn. Once Jesus fulfilled all the laws, then everything else could be lifted. The rituals were gone. The separation removed. Jesus changed it all. On the other side of the cross where we are now, what do you have to do to receive God's forgiveness and salvation and be guaranteed an eternity in Heaven with him? Jesus showed us on that cross. He showed us while he hung there suffering and had a conversation with the two criminals who were being crucified with him. Luke 23: 39-43, “One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you're at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” This criminal hadn't gone to any classes. He hadn't joined a church. He hadn't gone back and corrected any of his wrongs. He hadn't cleaned himself up and fixed his life. He hadn't memorized any scriptures. He hadn't prayed on his knees for 30 consecutive days. He hadn't stopped drinking or cussing. It doesn't say he was sorry for the crimes that had brought him to his death. He had done absolutely nothing, other than BELIEVE IN JESUS. It was his belief, and his belief alone, that qualified him to be in paradise with Jesus that very day after he died. The enemy wants to confuse us and divide us. He wants to keep us feeling like what we can do will never be good enough to qualify us for forgiveness and salvation. And he's right … nothing we could ever do would be good enough, outside of our faith. What the enemy of your soul doesn't want you to know is the curtain has been torn. You are not separated from God by any rule or ritual. You have full access because of Jesus. And just like the criminal who had a lifetime of wrongdoing was guaranteed eternity in paradise with Jesus because of his faith, so are you and I. That's it, Sis. Your faith. Not your perfect faith. Not your complete understanding. Not the scriptures you can quote or the rules you follow. It's simply believing in Jesus. After that, well, Jesus has a way of working in our lives to change how we think and how we live. That happens naturally as a result of God's spirit dwelling within us through that split curtain. But that's not the most important thing. Your track record as a Christian isn't anything God is counting on. He's not counting up your failures and ready to cancel your admission to paradise. Your faith in Jesus covers you completely. Being covered changes you. But that's just icing on the cake, baby! That's gravy. What matters most is the fact that, just like the criminal hanging on the cross, all we need is to believe in Jesus. Do you believe? Have you told him you believe in him? You have full access and he accepts you exactly as you are! Follow Pamela on Instagram – https://instagram.com/headmamapamela Or Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pamela.crim Find out more about BIG Life – http://biglifehq.com

At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Think about the magnitude of your direct and personal access to God that your prayers give you, through Jesus, if you will only pray. Before Jesus, ordinary people did not have direct access to God, through the Throne Room of God, with a direct personal relationship with God. In Old Testament times, people would come to the priests; and the priest would offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The priests, and not the people, were communing directly with God. On Good Friday and at Jesus death on the cross, the “Temple Veil” was torn from top to bottom (i.e. “Temple Vail” was a large, very thick, and very heavy barrier that divided that portion of the Temple accessible by those wishing to sacrifice for prayer and the “Holy of Holies” where the only the High Priest could meet with God and pray on behalf of the people of God.). At Jesus Resurrection, no longer was an intermediary (e.g., a Priest) required for direct prayer with God by the people in Christ (i.e. Jesus Followers).  Because Jesus created a New Covenant relationship with His followers, now your prayers are in direct communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Everyone, who is in Christ, may have access to the Throne Room of God in the name of Jesus. What a privilege this direct access to God is for those who are in Christ. The author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:16, tells Jesus Followers that, because of the Gospel, you have direct access to God's “throne of Grace” for your needs: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Philippians 4:1-13; John 15:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2; Psalms 69c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “He Is Risen: From Good Friday To Easter” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Before Jesus gave His life for the world, He gave His body and blood to His friends. In the Upper Room, He kneels. He washes. He serves. And He truly gives Himself—His body, His blood. He knows Judas will betray Him. Peter will deny Him. The rest will run. Still, He sets the table. Still, He calls them "friends." This isn't a meal for the worthy—it's for the weary. Jesus unplugs the myth that you have to clean yourself up before coming to Him. Come as you are. The table is set.Support the show~ Changing lives with Jesus! Facebook | YouTubeInstagram @dscsienna

In this message, guest speaker Dustin Woodward walks through the baptism of Jesus and what it reveals about how we're meant to live. Before Jesus ever performed a miracle or began His ministry, God spoke over Him, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” His identity and approval were already established. So often, we live trying to earn God's approval through what we do. But this message reminds us that we don't work for God's approval, we live from it. Because of Jesus, we are already loved, already chosen, and already accepted. When we truly understand that, it changes everything about how we live, lead, and follow Him.

Episode Summary Brian Miller reflects on a growing ache he feels in both the church and the wider culture: we do not seem to know who to trust anymore. Trust in politicians, pastors, institutions, even the police has eroded. In that setting, Brian turns to Jesus — not as an abstract doctrine, but as a real person whose life reveals why he can be trusted. Drawing especially from Matthew 4, Brian frames Jesus' temptations in the wilderness as a test of trustworthiness. Jesus is tempted through need, fear, and power — the very pressures that often cause leaders and ordinary people alike to betray their mission, their values, or the people who depend on them. But Jesus does not yield. He refuses to put his hunger above his calling, his fear above his trust in God, or his desire for kingship above the path of the cross. Brian connects this directly to coaching. Trust is the real currency of coaching relationships. Clients do not open up unless they believe they are safe. And coaches cannot become trustworthy people unless they themselves are grounded in something secure. Brian's central claim is simple but weighty: because Jesus can be trusted, my life is secure — and only then can I become someone who is trusted. Big Ideas & Takeaways 1) Brian wants to talk more directly about Jesus Brian opens with a personal longing: he hears people talk about God, the Bible, and Paul, but not enough about Jesus himself. He compares it to his wife's grandmother after her husband Hugh died — people avoided mentioning Hugh because it made her cry, but Brian sensed that what she really wanted was for someone to remember him. His point: there is something powerful about speaking of Jesus as if he is real, present, and worth remembering. 2) We are living through a crisis of trust Brian names trust as one of the defining problems of the present moment. In his view, trust in public life is at a lifetime low: people do not trust politicians people do not trust churches or pastors people do not know whether to trust the justice system even formerly stable sources of authority now feel suspect This loss of trust is not just political or institutional. It is personal and spiritual. People feel alone, uncertain, and abandoned. 3) Matthew wants us to know early: Jesus can be trusted Brian argues that Matthew's Gospel is intentionally anchored in trust. Before Jesus begins his public ministry in full, Matthew shows us who Jesus is and whether he can be trusted with our lives, our hearts, and our eternity. The wilderness temptation is not random. It is a revelation of Jesus' character. 4) Jesus was tempted by need — and did not abandon his mission The first temptation is hunger. After forty days of fasting, Jesus is in real physical vulnerability. Brian emphasizes that this is not symbolic discomfort; Jesus is nearing the limit of human survival. The temptation: meet your own need first. But Jesus refuses to place his hunger above his calling. Brian connects this to conflict and relationships: many people make decisions based on unmet needs, short-term relief, or self-protection. Jesus does not. He can be trusted because he will not put his need above his mission to reconcile people to God and to one another. 5) Jesus was tempted by fear — and did not let fear direct him The second temptation places Jesus in a position of danger. Brian imagines Jesus' human nervous system reacting like any other person's would: fear, survival instinct, the urge to escape. This matters because if Jesus did not really feel fear, the temptation loses its force. Brian's insight here is especially strong: Jesus can be trusted not because he never faced fear, but because fear did not move him away from his mission. He did not test God, take the shortcut to safety, or let panic govern his choices. 6) Jesus was tempted by power — and refused the shortcut Brian calls the final temptation "the one that ends all men." The devil offers Jesus power over the world, but without the cross. That is the real temptation: the crown without the cost. Brian suggests that many religious traditions major on fleshly temptations while underestimating the temptation of power. But power is the deeper danger. It is what undoes leaders, distorts motives, and creates illusions of security and control. Jesus refuses it. He will not grasp power in a way that violates God's will. That refusal reveals a kind of trustworthiness no human leader fully possesses. 7) Trust is the real currency — especially in coaching Brian brings the reflection back to coaching. No meaningful coaching happens without trust. Clients must believe: they are safe they will not be judged they will not be exposed the coach will not use their vulnerability against them And for the coach, trustworthiness begins with security. Brian's line here is central: I have to have trust in order to offer trust. Because Jesus can be trusted, Brian says, his life can become secure enough that he does not need to manipulate, protect, or elevate himself in the coaching relationship. 8) Because Jesus can be trusted, I can become someone who is trusted This is where the whole episode lands. Brian is not saying coaches become perfect or immune to temptation. He says the opposite: he knows he will often succumb to need, fear, and power. But Jesus does not. So the coach, leader, or Christian can rely on Jesus: to meet needs to steady fear to expose the illusion of power And only from that secure place can trustworthiness begin to grow. The Three Temptations Brian Names 1. Need Will Jesus put his own hunger above his mission? 2. Fear Will Jesus abandon trust when safety is threatened? 3. Power Will Jesus take the kingdom without the cross? Brian's answer to all three: No — and that is why Jesus can be trusted. Memorable Lines / Ideas "I just want to hear stories about Jesus." "Trust is at a lifetime low for me." "Jesus can be trusted not to put his needs above his mission." "Fear was not going to move his trust away from his mission." "The temptation was to rule without the cross, to take the crown without the cost." "Trust is the only real currency." "Because Jesus can be trusted, my life is secure." "I have to have trust in order to offer trust." Timestamped Highlights (based on your transcript) 0:00–1:18 Intro + Brian's desire to talk more directly about Jesus 1:18–4:56 Story of Imogene and Hugh → why remembering and naming someone matters 4:56–6:36 Trust as the core issue in coaching and counseling 6:36–9:39 Brian names the broader crisis of trust in politics, church, and public life 9:39–12:20 Matthew's Gospel and why the wilderness story matters for trust 12:20–16:24 Temptation 1: need / hunger / mission 16:24–20:58 Temptation 2: fear / danger / survival instinct 20:58–24:44 Temptation 3: power / shortcut / crown without the cross 24:44–27:18 Why trust is the real currency in faith and coaching 27:18–end Wrap-up + Brian's hope to keep telling stories about Jesus Core Theme Jesus can be trusted in the places where every other leader eventually fails: need, fear, and power. And that matters not only for faith, but for coaching, leadership, and becoming the kind of person others can trust. Links Mentioned Coach Approach Ministries: coachapproachministries.org

Catch the message "Pray The Jesus Way: Before You Ask" by Pastor Scott Jones.Before Jesus teaches us what to ask for, he teaches us who prayer is for. Prayer begins with relationship (Our Father), reverence (hallowed be Your name), and surrender (Your kingdom… Your will). This message reframes prayer as alignment and surrender, where God's will and purposes take precedence over our own.