Podcasts about being saved

4/13/25 message from Pastor Ralph Royea The Paradox is no Problem for the Promise | Touch Heaven Community Church Dead and Dying. Saved and Being Saved. The Paradox is no Problem for the Promise. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. You are New, let the New You come alive, alive to every promise we have in Christ. All of the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus. BAPTISMS this week. It's not too late. We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life. Romans 6:4, AMPC

The post Who is Being Saved appeared first on Living Fellowship.

Join Matt Edmundson on "What's the Story?" as he explores tales of faith and courage with guest Steven Pemberton. Discover Steven's journey from an angry youth to a devoted Christian, husband, and father, and how his faith transformed his life and family. Subscribe for more inspiring stories and visit whatsthestorypodcast.com for show notes and updates.---Timestamps:0:00 Intro3:58 Steven's Early Faith Journey7:04 Clarification on Being "Saved"10:15 Teenage Years and Faith Challenges14:24 Leaving the Church18:34 Forgiveness and Personal Growth23:10 Church's Decision on Marriage27:25 Anger and Personal Development30:42 Marriage Challenges and Overcoming Infidelity33:04 Returning to Church and Renewed Faith36:53 Impact on Family and Community41:23 Surviving Infidelity in Marriage47:51 Lessons from Adversity51:12 Outro---Key Takeaways:1. Embrace Forgiveness: Steven highlights the importance of forgiveness, not just as a religious concept but as a practical tool for personal well-being. He shares how holding onto anger and resentment can manifest physically and emotionally, and how releasing these feelings through forgiveness can lead to a healthier, more peaceful life.2. Value Community and Relationships: Steven discusses his journey from being isolated and angry to valuing community and relationships. He emphasises the significance of surrounding oneself with community because "that's where God does his best work".3. Trust in God During Adversity: Steven's story illustrates the power of faith in overcoming life's challenges. He shares how trusting in God during difficult times, such as marital struggles and career changes, has led to personal and spiritual growth. His experience underscores how faith and God's grace can provide strength, direction, and the means to endure when facing adversity.

This is my 100th episode!! Thank you so much for listening and being along for the ride.Today I wanted to talk about one of my favorite subjects: God. How we speak about God.How we receive God.How we love God.How we live God out in our lives.And the powerful reminder of God's word - that we were not born with or given the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.Who and what is God for you? Thanks for listening! Follow leah on IG, FB & TK @leahthemodernsage for more!

He's an economist who cares more about people than numbers -- and he thinks his field needs more sociology and anthropology in it. Vijayendra (Biju) Rao joins Amit Varma in episode 392 of The Seen and the Unseen to talk about what makes him angry and what brings him peace. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out: 1. Vijayendra (Biju) Rao on Twitter, Google Scholar, The World Bank and his own website. 2. Biju Rao's blog at the World Bank. 3. Localizing Development: Does Participation Work? -- Ghazala Mansuri and Vijayendra Rao. 4. Oral Democracy: Deliberation in Indian Village Assemblies -- Paromita Sanyal and Vijayendra Rao. 5. Can Economics Become More Reflexive? -- Vijayendra Rao. 6. Vamsha Vriksha -- Girish Karnad. 7. ‘I want absolute commitment to our gharana': A tribute to Rajshekhar Mansur and his music -- Vijayendra Rao. 8. The Life and Work of Ashwini Deshpande — Episode 298 of The Seen and the Unseen. 9. Two Hundred and Fifty-Thousand Democracies: A Review of Village Government in India -- Siddharth George, Vijaendra Rao and MR Sharan. 10. Last Among Equals : Power Caste And Politics In Bihar's Villages -- MR Sharan. 11. Lant Pritchett Is on Team Prosperity — Episode 379 of The Seen and the Unseen. 12. National Development Delivers: And How! And How? — Lant Pritchett. 13. The Perils of Partial Attribution: Let's All Play for Team Development — Lant Pritchett. 14. The Rising Price of Husbands: A Hedonic Analysis of Dowry Increases in Rural India -- Vijayendra Rao. 15. The Life and Times of Jerry Pinto — Episode 314 of The Seen and the Unseen. 16. Shephali Bhatt Is Searching for the Incredible -- Episode 391 of The Seen and the Unseen. 17. Jiddu Krishnamurti on Wikipedia, Britannica and Amazon. 18. Biju Rao listens to Jiddu Krishnamurthy. 19. Ben Hur -- William Wyler. 20. Trade, Institutions and Ethnic Tolerance: Evidence from South Asia -- Saumitra Jha. 21. Memories and Things — Episode 195 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aanchal Malhotra). 22. Remnants of a Separation — Aanchal Malhotra. 23. Deliberative Democracy -- Jon Elster. 24. A Life in Indian Politics — Episode 149 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Jayaprakash Narayan). 25. Subhashish Bhadra on Our Dysfunctional State — Episode 333 of The Seen and the Unseen. 26. Caged Tiger: How Too Much Government Is Holding Indians Back — Subhashish Bhadra. 27. Urban Governance in India — Episode 31 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan). 28. Understanding Gandhi. Part 1: Mohandas — Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 29. Understanding Gandhi. Part 2: Mahatma — Episode 105 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha). 30. Accelerating India's Development — Karthik Muralidharan. 31. The Added Value of Local Democracy -- Abhishek Arora, Siddharth George, Vijayendra Rao and MR Sharan. 32. Some memories of VKRV Rao -- Vijayendra Rao. 33. The Foundation Series — Isaac Asimov. 34. Lawrence of Arabia -- David Lean. 35. Gandhi -- Richard Attenborough. 36. The Story of My Experiments with Truth -- Mohandas Gandhi. 37. Bhagavad Gita on Wikipedia and Amazon. 38. KT Achaya on Amazon. 39. The Emergency: A Personal History — Coomi Kapoor. 40. My Varied Life in Management: A Short Memoir -- SL Rao. 41. The Incredible Curiosities of Mukulika Banerjee — Episode 276 of The Seen and the Unseen. 42. Ram Guha Writes a Letter to a Friend -- Episode 371 of The Seen and the Unseen. 43. Terror as a Bargaining Instrument : A Case Study of Dowry Violence in Rural India -- Francis Bloch and Vijayendra Rao. 44. Domestic Violence and Intra-Household Resource Allocation in Rural India: An Exercise in Participatory Econometrics -- Vijayendra Rao. 45. Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative. 46. Narrative Economics -- Robert J Shiller. 47. Culture and Public Action -- Edited by Vijayendra Rao and Michael Walton. 48. The Capacity to Aspire -- Arjun Appadurai. 49. Aspiration: The Agency of Becoming -- Agnes Callard. 50. Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind -- Tom Holland. 51. PV Sukhatme in EPW. 52. India Needs Decentralization -- Episode 47 of Everything if Everything. 53. Deliberative Inequality:  A Text-As-Data Study of India's Village Assemblies -- Ramya Parthasarathy, Vijayendra Rao and Nethra Palaniswamy. 54. A Method to Scale Up Interpretive Qualitative Analysis with An Application to Aspirations among Refugees and Hosts in Bangladesh -- Julian Ashwin, Vijayendra Rao, Monica Biradavolu, Aditya Chhabra, Afsana Khan, Arshia Haque and Nandini Krishnan. 55. Using Large-Language Models for Qualitative Analysis Can Introduce Serious Bias -- Julian Ashwin, Aditya Chhabra and Vijayendra Rao. 56. This Be The Verse — Philip Larkin. 57. Audacious Hope: An Archive of How Democracy is Being Saved in India -- Indrajit Roy. 58. Poverty and the Quest for Life -- Bhrigupati Singh. 59. Recasting Culture to Undo Gender: A Sociological Analysis of Jeevika in Rural Bihar, India -- Paromita Sanyal, Vijayendra Rao and Shruti Majumdar. 60. We Are Poor but So Many -- Ela Bhatt. 61. Premature Imitation and India's Flailing State — Shruti Rajagopalan & Alexander Tabarrok. 62. James Wolfensohn in Wikipedia and The World Bank. 63. Arati Kumar-Rao Took a One-Way Ticket -- Episode 383 of The Seen and the Unseen. 64. Marginlands: Indian Landscapes on the Brink — Arati Kumar-Rao. 65. Amitav Ghosh on Amazon. 66. Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life -- Nicholas Phillipson. 67. Elinor Ostrom on Amazon, Britannica, Wikipedia and EconLib. 68. Jane Mansbridge on Amazon, Wikipedia, and Google Scholar. 69. Albert O Hirschman on Amazon and Wikipedia. 70. Mughal-e-Azam -- K Asif. 71. Samskara -- Pattabhirama Reddy. 72. The Wire -- David Simon. 73. Deadwood -- David Milch. 74. Biju Rao on Democracy, Deliberation, and Development -- the Ideas of India podcast with Shruti Rajagopalan. Biju Rao's Specially curated music recommendations: 1. The Senior Dagar Brothers (Moinuddin & Aminuddin Dagar) performing (Komal Rishab) Asavari and Kamboji. 2. Raghunath Panigrahi performing Ashtapadi from the Geeta Govinda and Lalita Lavanga. 3. Amir Khan performing Lalit and Jog. 4. Vilayat Khan performing Sanjh Saravali and Hameer. 5. Ravi Shankar performing Jaijaiwanti and Tilak Shyam (full concert) and Durga. 6. Faiyaz Khan performing Raga Darbari and Raga Des. 7. N Rajam performing a full concert with Gorakh Kalyan, Sawani Barwa, Hamir, Malkauns. 8. Kumar Gandharva performing Tulsidas – Ek Darshan and Surdas – Ek Darshan. 9. Bhimsen Joshi performing Ragas Chhaya and Chhaya Malhar & Jo Bhaje Hari Ko Sada – Bhajan in Raga Bhairavi (original recording from 1960). The Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana: 1. Mallikarjun Mansur in a guided Listening Session by Irfan Zuberi, and performing Basanti Kedar and Tilak Kamod. 2. Kesarbai Kerkar performing Lalit and Bhairavi. 3. Moghubai Kurdikar performing Kedar and Suddha Nat. 4. Kishori Amonkar performing Bhimpalas and Bhoop(ali). 5. Some performances by Rajshekhar Mansur are linked in Biju Rao's piece on him. Karnatic Music: 1. TM Krishna performing Krishna Nee Begane Baaro, Yamuna Kalyani (Yaman Kalyan) and Nalinakanthi (closest Hindustani equivalent is Tilak Kamod). 2. MD Ramanathan performing Bhavayami – Raga Malika and Samaja Vara Gamana – Ragam Hindolam (Malkauns). 3. Aruna Sairam performing a full concert. 4. Madurai Mani Iyer performing Taaye Yoshade. 5. MS Subbulakshmi performing a full Concert from 1966 and Bhaja Govindam (Ragamalika). 6. TR Mahalingam performing Swara Raga Sudha – Shankarabharanam. Jugalbandis: 1. Ali Akbar Khan and Vilayat Khan performing Marwa. 2. Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar performing Jaijaiwanti. 3. N Rajam with her brother TN Krishnan performing Raga Hamsadhwani. Amit's newsletter is active again. Subscribe right away to The India Uncut Newsletter! It's free! Amit Varma and Ajay Shah have launched a new video podcast. Check out Everything is Everything on YouTube. Check out Amit's online course, The Art of Clear Writing. Episode art: ‘The Iconoclast' by Simahina.

This is a RE-RELEASE of an old series from back in 2019. This was our first time really hitting the ball out of the park on what it really means to be Regenerated! We prefer this term because so many Christians mix up the meaning of their words. They would speak of “Being Saved“, as if it is exactly the same as saying that they got “Born Again“, and then they will also refer to the same experience as when they were “Adopted” as a child of God. But the words and the terms have different meanings. We don't want to separate them, but we do need to distinguish between the meaning of each word. Therefore from a Biblical and Reformed viewpoint we see that once God has Called those whom He has Predestined, then He Regenerates them – this is also known as Being Born Again.Once a person has been Made Alive through Regeneration (Being Born Again), then at that moment God gives that person Faith and enables them to Repent, (which is what Conversion is), which means that they are then Justified (or declared to be righteous in God's sight). The post The Order of Salvation Pt.3 – Regeneration (Being Born Again)! appeared first on Living Rock Church.

The Long Game of Being Saved by Matt Rawle

Hey cousins! Welcome to another week of the Double Dose podcast! This week, the twins chat with Stellar Award-winning gospel artist, Pastor Mike jr. Pastor Mike jr. discusses his upbringing as the decedent of a civil rights activist, being authentic and anointed, how his gospel music is trending on TikTok, and making Stellar Award HISTORY by winning "Artist of The Year," for the third consecutive year. Catch Pastor Mike jr. this Sunday at the Stellar Awards, which airs Sunday, August 6th, 8/7c on BET. Follow Pastor Mike jr. Here 4:20- Pastor Mike's family's relation to the civil rights era 5:44- What led Pastor Mike to his call to Pastor? 7:55- Being Saved, Anointed, & Authentic 10:29- Holiness isn't what's on you, it's what's in you! 11:50- The 5 types of people that you should be around 16:29- Being trending on TikTok as a Gospel Artist 18:34 - What inspired Pastor Mike's music 23:13- Advice to other creatives in the gospel industry 26:48- Combining strategy with the anointing. 29:23- Participatory Deliverance JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR OUR EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP GROUP Follow Dr. Chanda on IG: @Paging.dr.chanda Follow Chanelle on IG: @chanellesreynolds Connect with us on our IG @DoubleDosePod Audio Podcast Every Friday on all platforms Video Podcast Every week via Our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Answering Mike Gendron on Eternal Security and Being Saved

*****SCRIPTURES AND REFERENCES IN THIS EPISODE*****https://thedoctrineofchristseries.com/seasons-scripture-references/****DOC Links****DOC Website: http://thedoctrineofchristseries.com*****Support This Channel*****Paypal: https://paypal.me/jimivision?locale.x=en_USMonthly Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JimivisionCash App: https://cash.app/$JimivisionVenmo: www.venmo.com/Jimmy-Cooper-17Mail To:Jimmy CooperP.O. Box 654Hixson, TN 37343*****Links to Podcast Networks*****Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-doctrine-of-christ/id1499184324Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mFiTMRND9DWJIL5Z02Yi8Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jimivision/the-doctrine-of-christ*****Youtube Playlist Links*****https://thedoctrineofchristseries.com/seasons/****Follow Jimivision****Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClUvYf3rZHvqQloMEoEFtlw? ****Follow FOJC Radio****YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0RmdJ0nhShuDLp8Q41BlwgFollowers of Jesus Christ Web Site:http://www.fojcradio.com  or http://www.ritualabusefree.org“NEW” RUMBLE CHANNEL https://rumble.com/c/c-704825Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/overcomerBrighteon The Vault: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/fojcvaultTo receive notices for Friday night Remnant Gathering messages or other programs we are on, send an email to lastdayschurch@cs.com with: “Sign Up” in the Subject line.RADIO PAGE at http://www.fojcradio.com/RADIO.htm#fojc radioWe Are *on Air LIVE *** Every Friday for Remnant Gathering@ 6 PM Central TimePlease Join the Chat Room with other Listeners, where Scriptures & Comments are postedor, Listen to the 24/7 Auto DJ with Teachings, Music, and other Audio.CONTACT INFORMATION: David and Donna Carrico Followers of Jesus ChristP. O. BOX 671Tell City, IN 47586Phone -812-836-2288 Email - lastdayschurch@cs.com

access the full episode notes here: https://www.elizaceci.com/episode/16 In this episode, we talk about the fears that consume you when you're first saved - specifically about sharing the changes that have or are happening to you. But it's also fear of: rejection, isolation, being misunderstood, made fun of, of your life changing in-not-good-feeling-ways... And these are all valid. I'm coaching you today if you have any fear around your faith and who God is calling you to be. Grab a notebook or a fresh note on your phone app and let's explore this together. APPLY for CHOSEN 1-1 faith based coaching here: https://www.elizaceci.com/chosen LINKS Join our broadcast channel on insta for free daily coaching: https://www.instagram.com/j/Aba4THWxAFKozUJp/ Shop my favorite books and Bibles on my Amazon store front here:https://www.amazon.com/shop/elizaceci_        

Saved from Sin Are you Saved ? • Delivered • Rescued • Safe & Secure in Christ Saved is a Biblical word that covey this truth : I Tim 1:15 “ Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners” Luke 19:10 “ the Son of Man came to seek and SAVE that which was lost” John 10:9 “ I Am the door, by Me if anyone enters, he will be SAVED” Acts 4:12 “ No other name, whereby we must be SAVED” Ephesians 2:8 “ By grace you are SAVED through faith, not of yourselves” Romans chapter 8 : 1-3 / 10-15 / 18-23 Romans 8 speaks of 3 ways we have been Saved 1. We have been saved from the PENALTY of SIN • 8:1 “ there is now no condemnation • It was the law that condemned us • God sent his Son to bear our condemnation 2. We are being saved from the POWER of SIN Rom 8: 11, 13,15 • The spirit that raised up Jesus dwells in us, and gives us life (spiritual) • We are not under bondage / slavery anymore • We have the power to put to death sin / the deeds of the body 3. We will be saved from the PRESENCE of SIN Rom 8:18,19,23 • V 19 we wait with earnest expectation / eager longing for the Revelation • V 21 the whole creation itself will be set free from the bondage of corruption” • V 23 we groan, as we wait eagerly for the redemption of our bodies – WE WILL BE DELIVERED The Doctrine of Being Saved from Sin 1. We have been saved from the PENALTY of SIN – The Doctrine of the CROSS • The cross is where our sins were dealt with, where Jesus Christ condemned sin in the flesh • God's condemnation against sin (for the world) was poured out on Jesus at the cross • Isaiah 53:10 / John 12:31 / I Peter 2:24 / Romans 5:8 / I Cor 15:3 • He bore our sins, He gave us His righteousness, we are justified, acquitted of guilt, • Every soul believing in Jesus will never be condemned, never to perish, and never to be ashamed 2. We are being saved from the POWER of SIN – The Doctrine of the RESSURECTION • We died, were buried and raised with Jesus Christ to walk in new life – Free to have POWER over Sin • He has won our VICTORY – abolished (destroyed death) hell and the grave – defeated Satan • Declared the Son of God with POWER, ratified our justification, and guaranteed our resurrection • His resurrection gives us the assurance of all His promises (the power) live life now – eternal hope • Rom 1:4 / Roman 4:25/ Heb 2:15/ 2 Tim 1:10 / John 14:19 3. We will be saved from the PRESENCE of SIN- The Doctrine of The SECOND COMING OF CHRIST • When He comes he will change this vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body – Phil 3:21 • Last enemy to be destroyed is death, this corruption will put on incorruption / immortality I Cor 15:53 • All that are IN CHRIST will be raised / changed / glorified / … at His Coming I Cor 15: 23

Andre, the Tour Guide for SOM, tells the Story about Being Saved from Terrorist Attack in Israel Andre, is a persecuted minority Christian in the Holy Land. Listen to his amazing testimony and how the Lord lead him from a terrorism attack to tourism.  Andre, Co-Founder of Twins Tours Book: One Day in Jerusalem

We have been talking over the past several sessions about baptism in the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 3:27 however we read for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. What does that mean to be baptized into Christ? And what is the relationship of that to water baptism by immersion and baptism in the Holy Spirit? The first thing we need to know is that the benefits of baptism in Christ are dependent, firstly upon receiving the salvation of Christ. In John 3, verse 3 it says Truly, truly, I say unto you except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.Listen for more...Scripture referenced:Ephesians 2:8-9Mark 16:16Romans 3:28, 5:1, 6:4 9:30, 12:22 Corinthians 5:17For more Free books, Sunday teachings and bible studies, or is you would like to make a love offering, please visit us at: https://www.walkinginpower.orgDr. Bern Zumpano is a Pastor and Teacher of the Word of God who has authored several books on Spirit-filled living through relationship with Jesus Christ and walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Bern has not only been a born-again believer for nearly the past 40 years, but also dedicated 31 years of his life to the study and clinical practice of medicine and surgery in the fields of psychiatry and brain surgery. He has held medical school professorships in psychiatry and neurosurgery and worked in private practice in both areas. Bern has an immense background in understanding the physical body, as well as the soul - the mind, will, and emotions - not only from a medical standpoint but also from a spiritual standpoint. With his background and training, he has been led by the Holy Spirit to teach "the Deep Things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10) with an emphasis on Spiritual Warfare (Jer. 51:20), Breaking Generations' Curses (Ex. 20:5; Lev. 26:40-44), walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:12; 1 Cor. 4:20; Luke 17:21) and "the Restoration of All Things" (Acts 3:21). We at Word of Faith Ministries International-Miami hope and pray that these teachings of the Holy Spirit through Bern will edify and regenerate your spirit to gain a deeper understanding of God's Word and His truths so you can have a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. May God bless you all!!

Today on Mushroom Hour we are graced by the presence of woodland spirit Fergus Drennan aka Fergus The Forager. Fergus has been gathering and learning about wild plants, seaweeds, and fungi for over 40 years. His journey begun on Wimbledon Common, aged 3 years, collecting dandelions for the family's pet tortoise. Since those early days, and through much creative and experimental exploration he has continued his foraging practice, not only as a means to understand and to discover the practical relevance that foraging has in the modern developed world, but also in terms of what it means to be an environmentally conscious human in relation to the natural world. “Can foraging ever be considered a truly sustainable practice, and if so how?”, is a question that always orchestrates his foraging activity. So too does a pursuit of foraging's playful and creative possibilities. Truth be told, Fergus just loves being outside, admiring nature as part of nature, living in touch with her reassuring seasonal cycles, awake to her sensuality, her surprises, opportunities, and endless gifts, in pursuit of the good life.   TOPICS COVERED:   Trips with Mom to Wimbledon Common   Tortoise Teacher, I Spy Insects   Play, Creativity and Foraging    Brambles, Pine Pollen & Jelly Ears   Foraging “Nose to Tail”   Foraging as a Subversive Act   Life Stacking   Avoiding Neurosis & Being Saved by Others   Reciprocal Dialogue with the Natural World   Developing a Relationship with Local Open Space   Complicity in Industrial Systems   Amanita muscaria Workshops   Amanita muscaria as Food & Medicine   Foraged Books & Making Paper from Mushrooms    EPISODE RESOURCES:   Fergus the Forager Website: https://fergustheforager.co.uk/ Fergus IG: https://www.instagram.com/fergustheforager/ Pine pollen: https://nutrawiki.org/pine-pollen/ Auricularia auricula-judae (AKA Jelly Ear): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auricularia_auricula-judae Plantago major: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago_major Pascal Baudar: https://www.urbanoutdoorskills.com/ Fergus Henderson (author): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whole_Beast  Jason Hickel (author): https://www.jasonhickel.org/  Katy Bowman: https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/  Fomitopsis betulina (AKA Birch Polypore): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomitopsis_betulina  David Arora article on Amanita muscaria: https://williamrubel.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/rubel_arora_muscaria_economic_botany3.pdf”  Merck Index: https://www.rsc.org/merck-index  Phallus impudicus (AKA Stinkhorn): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_impudicus  

Being Saved and walking with the Lord can feel mundane or monotonous if we don't challenge ourselves to live holy. So do we throw in the towel and live nominal, or do we live as Disciples? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thesimplechristian/support

Why not have courage in the midst of your scary circumstances? God is in charge! Ask him to supernaturally keep up your hope and courage and know that he is trustworthy through it all.

The sermon from the Pentecost Sunday, June 5, 2022, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Jay Burns-Horton, our Director of Community Engagement and Connections. “The Miracle of Being Saved,” in the sermon series “The Gospel in Disney's Encanto.” Sermon scripture: Acts 2:1-21 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition).Support the show

A new MP3 sermon from Independent Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Being Saved Speaker: Mark Dever Broadcaster: Independent Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 8/6/2006 Bible: 1 Peter 1:3-9 Length: 32 min.

A new MP3 sermon from Independent Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Being Saved Speaker: Mark Dever Broadcaster: Independent Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday - AM Date: 8/6/2006 Bible: 1 Peter 1:3-9 Length: 32 min.

Image - Part Six: Time. Today, we wrap up the first part of our series on 'Imaging,' focusing on the words of Ephesians 2:8-10: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Saved is about Space & Time. As Jews thought about the Kingdom Of God, they used two grand eras: The Old Age, which was characterized by sin, death and evil, and the Age to Come, which was characterized by life, peace, justice and love. The Kingdom Of God was another way of talking about the age to come. In some ways, the two ages have overlapped. This is about Now and Not Yet. This is about how we Have Been Saved, We are Being Saved and We Will Be Saved. As we dig into these ideas, we are encouraged to avoid: Any theology that separates us from our bodies Any theology that is escapist Any theology that privatizes the way of Jesus Any theology that overemphasizes the now or the not yet Any theology that overemphasizes or underemphasizes the reality of wrath and judgment As always, we encourage and would love discussion as we pursue. Always feel free to email in questions to hello@voxpodcast.com, and to engage the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the Voxology Podcast Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify Support the Voxology Podcast on Patreon The Voxology Spotify channel can be found here: Voxology Radio Follow us on Instagram: @voxologypodcast and "like" us on Facebook Follow Mike on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mikeerre Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

In this episode, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Melissa Enoch shares what her journey through mental health  looked like and how she is advocating for the community.Trinity Counseling Services, LLC Women of StrengthGet the book:I Got 99 Problems but Being Saved isn't One of Them.BTHP on FacebookBTHP on Insta @betweenatalkandahardplaceFollow Lisette on Instagram @lifelessonsandlovesessionsEmail: info@betweenatalkandahardplace.com Social Media Hashtag #betweenatalkandahardplace

Revelation 2 and 3 reveal that the Lord is walking in the midst of the local churches and speaking to each church according to its condition. At the same time, these messages given to the different churches are what the Spirit is speaking to all the churches as the Body of Christ. In this series of podcasts, we bring you the Lord's speaking in local and regional conferences so that we may hear what the Spirit is speaking to all of us today. This week's message is titled: “Being Saved from the Crooked and Perverted Generation to Be the Corporate Christ as Today's Ark.” This is the final message of a conference given by brother Ron Kangas from August 13-15, 2021 to the churches in central Texas, hosted by the church in Austin. The general subject of the conference is, “Building Today's Ark—the Church as the Corporate Expression of Christ.” The original recording can be found at: https://livingtohim.com/2021/11/ron-kangas-texas-aug-2021/

We're starting 2022 out for our new REBORN Believers. This series will focus on discussing what we believe to be the 3 most fundamentals of being a Christian. The anchor scripture for the series is John 3:3. In this episode Shá will cover an In Depth bible study on John 3:1-21. Discussing what it really means to be Reborn. So get ready to grab your bible, your notepad, and your coffee for this discussion. Reborn Workbook Link— https://www.etsy.com/ObediencePodcast/listing/1156151831/reborn-workbook-for-the-new-believer?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1641618700610 Confirming God's Instructions Tip Sheet- https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c1_Cm7Difbv5UMpUD_5ZiUiZdC0NJQuh/view?usp=sharing 10 Scriptures to Memorize https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tUhWfzWbLB8h9b4LuTOx12jjqzIdzTjZ/view?usp=sharing Join our Life Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/688443268538777 Right Way Christian Center Church----- https://www.facebook.com/rightwayccc If you have any questions or prayer request contact us at: obediencepodcast@gmail.com If you would like to donate please send any donations to CashApp - $obediencepodcast Google Pay- obediencepodcast@gmail.com PayPal- paypal.me/obediencepodcast ----FOLLOW US---- Facebook: @obediencepodcast https://www.facebook.com/obedience.pod.1 Instagram: @obediencepodcast https://instagram.com/obediencepodcast?igshid=tzbswgx1xmnp Pinterest: @obediencepodcast https://www.pinterest.com/obediencepodcast/_saved/ Snapchat: @obediencepod https://www.snapchat.com/add/obediencepod Tik Tok: @obediencepodcast https://vm.tiktok.com/wQyym1/ Timestamps 0:00-01:13 - Hey Ya'll 01:14-02:54 - Introduction 02:55-04:56 - The Conversation 04:57-09:18 - Baptism 09:19-12:29 - Live Forever 12:30-17:36 - Being Saved 1 7:37-19:38 - Still Saved? 19:39-22:52 - Will You Accept? 22:53-24:58 - The Next Steps 24:59-26:21 - Reborn Workbook & Free Printables 26:22-28:58 - Outro #reborn #newbeliever #obediencesaturdayz --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/obedience-podcast/support

It appears that the first 9 chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans sets the foundation for theology and worldview.  Now that we have reached Chapter 10 Paul changes gears and calls on the Roman people to claim the Salvation that Jesus died for us to have.  So we examine the steps to salvation, but Paul doesn't stop there.  He gives a series of events that leads us wondering... Should we preach Jesus? Are we responsible for sharing the Gospel?To find more "Uncensored Christian" content including Video versions of the podcast, Social Media links, and more use the Link down below!https://lnk.bio/dantewIf you would like to support this podcast financially you can give online by clicking here https://paypal.me/uchristianpod?locale.x=en_US . Your gift helps this podcast reach more people around the world!If you have questions or would like to reach out, email uchristianpod@gmail.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/dantebwill/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UChristianPodcast 

Dr. Carl Mosser has done a fair amount of work on the subject of Theosis/Deification. In the video we discuss the history and some of the implications of this important theological view. Works by Dr. Mosser https://www.academia.edu/13567372/Deification_A_Truly_Ecumenical_Concept https://www.academia.edu/45654945/Deification_and_Union_with_God https://www.academia.edu/185246/_The_Greatest_Possible_Blessing_Calvin_and_Deification_ https://www.academia.edu/4785954/An_Exotic_Flower_Calvin_and_the_Patristic_Doctrine_of_Deification https://www.academia.edu/44951664/The_Gospels_End_and_Our_Highest_Good_Deification_in_the_Reformed_Tradition https://www.academia.edu/43251663/Recovering_the_Reformation_s_Ecumenical_Vision_of_Redemption_as_Deification_and_Beatific_Vision https://www.academia.edu/37456539/Two_Visions_of_Being_Saved_as_Deiform_Perfectability https://www.academia.edu/185244/_The_Earliest_Patristic_Interpretations_of_Psalm_82_Jewish_Antecedents_and_the_Origin_of_Christian_Deification_ https://www.academia.edu/13567372/Deification_A_Truly_Ecumenical_Concept Support Us: Website: https://www.apologiacenter.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApologiaCenter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/apologiacenter Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/apologiacenter --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/apologiacenter/support

05-16-2021 Pastor Jeffrey Harpole - The Serious Business of Being Saved

05-16-2021 Pastor Jeffrey Harpole - The Serious Business of Being Saved

Welcome to Class 84 of "The Ramp" to the Highway of Success course for young women. I am Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society, working in partnership with the Martin Luther King Senior Institute for Young Men & Young Women. The Institute aims to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Sr., commonly referred to as "Daddy King", whom God used to raise the great leader, Martin Luther King Jr. Our purpose is to guide young men and young women, and help them get on the path to becoming kings and queens for the glory of God. Today, we will begin our study, “IF YOU DESIRE TO GET MARRIED, HERE IS HOW TO GET A GOOD MAN” (Letter Twenty-Seven). -------------------- In the next class, we will begin our study, “THE CASE FOR NEVER GETTING MARRIED.” ---LET'S PRAY--- *** Now, like many of you, I grew up in a very religious and church-going family, and during that time, I often heard the phrase "Being Saved." Now, much of what church people said "being saved" was back then especially, in my community, is wrong according to the Bible. I wrote an article about it titled "On ‘Being Saved' in Black America" which is available for you to read free of charge on our website, gospellightsociety.com. Right now, I want to share with you very briefly what the Bible says "being saved" really is. First, understand that you need to be saved because you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Second, understand that a horrible punishment -- eternal Hell -- awaits those who are not saved. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus Christ said that God will say to those who are not saved, "depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Third, realize that God loves you very much and wants to save you from Hell. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." If you want to be saved from Hell and be guaranteed a home in Heaven, simply believe in Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose from the dead for your sins, and then call upon Him in prayer and ask Him to save your soul. And believe me, He will. Romans 10:9-13 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." That is the most important decision you will ever make. God bless you and keep you until we meet for our next class.

Join myself and other as we discuss, "Don't Wait Too Late." As a Believer many individuals believe that they have time. However time waits for no one. I have heard individuals say that they are waiting for God. Such statement can be applied for a variety of situations. What are you waiting for? Let's talk about it live 5/11/21 at 11:30am Pacific. To join in on the conversation call 516.387-1914. Hosted by Jeanette Abney LMFT.

Getting Saved is different then Being Saved or Living Saved. They are NOT the same thing.

The Blessing of Being Saved

Disclaimer: The views expressed do not reflect the views of baobulb.org YouTubeAmazing vocalist and loop station artist. We talk about everything from her childhood and dealing with many struggles as a teenager to finding herself and learning how to enjoy and love life. Warning: This episode discusses complex themes such as coming out and suicide. Disclaimer: The views expressed do not reflect the policy of Baobulb.org. Please be advised that this episode does contain some swearing. The Other Side of the Sun is a podcast by Solarkidd. It’s a journey of self discovery. With eclectic tastes. Ranging from Ancient History to Music. And likewise, astronomy and language. Similarly, ancient alien theories. For more podcasts, visit Spudcaster. Yazmyn Hendrix Links:Facebook Instagram Twitter Website YouTube CreditsIntro music produced by solarkidd (the A Team) @abstractsunpro. Outro music produced by @st4x_music (the A Team) @abstractsunpro. Video Edited by @optimizevisuals.

Today we answer a listener question about the pushback around the use of the word “queer” and how their pastors […] The post Safety vs. Being Saved – Philippians 3:4-14 appeared first on Queer Theology.

Pastor Robert Esh delivers the sermon "Being Saved" for Valley View Mennonite Church in Spartansburg Pa.

Being Saved by Dr Anne Barker (To hear this sermon, click on the title directly above)Believing what God is able to do in your life and not speaking doubt.The words we say the enemy uses to fight us!The language of God creates, so we must learn the power of the tongue!The fruit produced by careless words.Faith Tabernacle World Ministries www.FTMinc.org 206.725.9962  email: Office.Staff@ftminc.org Podcast Powered by Genuine Life MediaFaith Tabernacle World Ministries www.FTMinc.org 206.725.9962 Office.Staff@ftminc.org Podcast Powered by Genuine Life Media

The tenth episode of Spooky Squad: A podcast where two dudes, Sinjin and Gatsby discuss all things horror: video games, movies, and horror stories of our own This Week: Movie Discussion Train to Busan (2016)- Sinjin Saw III (2006)- Gatsby News 1. 'Someday You'll Return Getting Some Content Updates 2. Death of Rose being Completely Reworked 3. System Shock 3 is Being Saved by... Tencent? 4. Blumhouse and ‘Tigers Are Not Afraid’ Director Issa López Join Forces for Horror Movie ‘Our Lady of Tears’ 5. ‘The Wretched’ signals a change for the new norm for movies 6. New ‘Antebellum’ Trailer Forces Janelle Monáe to Travel Through Time 7. Jamie Lee Curtis Set to Direct Horror Film ‘Mother Nature’ for Blumhouse 8. Universal Pulls ‘The Forever Purge’ from Summer Release 9. USA Network Cancels Annual “The Purge” tv series 10. Brand New Netflix Original Series “Ju-On: Origins” Returns to the Cursed House from The Grudge in July Haunted Location Discussion: Franklin Castle (Gatsby) Question of the Cast: Have You Ever Had A Paranormal Experience? If so, what happened and have your beliefs changed since then? Outro music: -Melancholia by Adrian Croitor (https://www.instagram.com/adrian_croitor/) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Daily Bible Study- Fr. Simon explains today’s first reading and the question that Paul and Barnabas sought answers to.   Caller Question – When Jesus comes again, will there still be fallen angels? Caller Question – She grew up Jewish, is now Catholic. Why do Jews not like Christians? Word of the Day – As […] All show notes at Father Simon Says May 13th – Being Saved - This podcast produced by Relevant Radio

2020 LIFE & CHURCH REIMAGINED 2020 will bring vision and clarity! Decades ago, futurists predicted what the world would look like in this milestone-year in human history. They said we would have self-driving cars, vote electronically from home, depression would be a primary disease, people would live on mars, and that we would work 26 hours a week. Some predictions were spot-on, while others have alluded us. Some of us dreamed of “Jetson’s” lifestyles with robot-maids and travel by spaceships. What will be your 2020 predictions for marriage, parenting, business, and church? Will you be happy this year? Where will you be by the end of this decade? Will the derailing compulsions, addictions and unhealthy patterns still haunt you? As a church, what will be the future? Will we reimagine God’s kingdom in church community? Will we find peace, joy and fulfillment? Will we see ourselves with a futuristic clarity? This year will be the beginning of something special!   TODAY’S MESSAGE   WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH?  __________________ WHAT you think about WHEN you think about GOD, LIFE and CHURCH will DEFINE EVERYTHING else ABOUT YOU!  __________________ WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH?  __________________ ASKED IN A DIFFERENT WAY WHAT PURPOSE DOES GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH SERVE? __________________  GOD SERVES A PURPOSE MATTHEW 6:10 TPT [Jesus taught prayer to God the Father] Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause YOUR every PURPOSE to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is fulfilled in heaven. JESUS SERVES A PURPOSE JOHN 6:27 TPT Why would you strive for food that is perishable and not be passionate to SEEK THE FOOD OF ETERNAL LIFE, which never spoils? I, the Son of Man, am ready to give you WHAT MATTERS MOST, for God the Father has destined me for this PURPOSE.” THE APOSTLE PAUL SERVED A PURPOSE PHILIPPIANS 3:12 TPT [Paul said] I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I RUN WITH PASSION into his abundance so that I may REACH the PURPOSE that Jesus Christ has CALLED ME TO FULFILL and WANTS ME TO DISCOVER. YOU HAVE AND SERVE A PURPOSE EPHESIANS 5:15-16 TPT [Paul said] So BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU LIVE, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF EVERY DAY as you SPEND YOUR LIFE for HIS PURPOSES. __________________  PURPOSE IS BEYOND SURVIVAL  Everybody’s got to EAT and live INDOORS. - Charlie Renfroe  __________________ 3 QUESTIONS WE ASK BEFORE PURPOSE AM I SAFE? DO I BELONG? WHAT CAN I LEARN AND DO? __________________  WHAT IS PURPOSE? THE REASON FOR WHICH SOMETHING EXISTS OR IS ACCOMPLISHED.  __________________ THE MYTH OF PURPOSE PURPOSE IS SOMETHING I ACCOMPLISH.  __________________ THE TRUTH OF PURPOSE PURPOSE IS A MEANS TO AN END; IT IS NOT THE END. __________________ QUESTIONS WE ASK WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? WHY AM I HERE? WHAT IS MY CALLING?  __________________ THE STARTING POINT OF PURPOSE IS NOT… WHAT AM I HERE FOR? WHAT IS MY CALLING?  __________________ THE STARTING POINT OF PURPOSE IS … WHO AM I HERE FOR? WHO ARE WE HERE FOR?  __________________ FINDING PURPOSE PURPOSE IS ALWAYS FOUND JUST ACROSS THE BORDER FROM “WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME?”  __________________ POWERED BY PURPOSE PURPOSE IS A MEANS TO AN END. PURPOSE HAS A PRICE. PURPOSE IS THE PATH TO MEANING.  __________________ WHAT YOU DEVOTE YOURSELF TO… THOSE WHO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THEMSELVES WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE NOTHING BUT THEMSELVES TO SHOW FOR THEMSELVES.  __________________ LIFEPOINTE CHURCH PURPOSE IF WE ONLY DEVOTE OURSELVES TO OURSELVES WE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE NOTHING BUT OURSELVES TO SHOW FOR OURSELVES.  __________________ THE REWARD OF PURPOSE IF YOU DEVOTE YOURSELF TO MORE THAN YOURSELF YOU WILL ULTIMATLEY HAVE MORE THAN YOURSELF TO SHOW FOR YOURSELF.  __________________ CHURCH PURPOSE QUESTION HOW WOULD GOD ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM THE CHURCH’S PURPOSE?  __________________ CHURCH WOULD HAVE TO HAVE… •      BONDING WORSHIP – LOVE GOD •      PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – LOVE PEOPLE •      HEALING SKILLS – GROWING IN LOVE   •      VOLUNTEER STAFFING – LOVE WITH GIFTS & TALENTS •      INVITING OUTSIDERS – NEW EXPERIENCES IN LOVE __________________  GREAT COMMANDMENT / COMMISSION… MATTHEW 28:19-20 NKJV [Jesus said] “‘You shall LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your heart, …soul, and …mind.’ … “And [the second greatest command is] like it:” 'You shall LOVE your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF.' 40 "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” MATTHEW 22:37-40 NKJV "Go …MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations, BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE all things that I have commanded you;… 1.    “…teaching them to observe…” – HEALING SKILLS 2.   “…Love your neighbor as yourself…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS 3.   “…Love the LORD your God…” – BONDING WORSHIP 4.   “…baptizing them…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING 5.   “…go and make disciples…” – INVITING OUTSIDERS __________________  HOW THE EARLY CHURCH SAW PURPOSE… ACTS 2:42-47 NIV They DEVOTED THEMSELVES to the APOSTLES' TEACHING and to FELLOWSHIP, to the BREAKING OF BREAD and to PRAYER. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed …. 45 They sold property and possessions TO GIVE TO ANYONE who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ATE TOGETHER with glad and sincere hearts, 47 PRAISING GOD and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER daily those who were BEING SAVED. 1.    “…devoted to apostle’s teachings…” – HEALING SKILLS 2.   “…devoted to fellowship…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS 3.   “…devoted to prayers… praising God” – BONDING WORSHIP 4.   “…gave to anyone who had need…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING 5.   “…added to their number daily… saved” – INVITING OUTSIDERS __________________ HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL SAW PURPOSE… COLOSSIANS 1:28-29 [Paul said] We PROCLAIM Jesus, ADMONISHING and TEACHING everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone PERFECT in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me.   1.   “We proclaim Jesus…” – INVITING OUTSIDERS 2.   “…admonishing…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS 3.   “…teaching everyone…” – HEALING SKILLS 4.   “…present everyone perfect in Christ…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING 5.   “…labor…with all energy” – BONDING WORSHIP __________________  LIFEPOINTE’S PURPOSE EXPRESSION… •      BONDING WORSHIP – SUNDAY WORSHIP / FIREPITS •      PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – GROUPS / RETREATS •      HEALING SKILLS – WORKSHOPS / RETREATS   •      VOLUNTEER STAFFING – SERVE TEAMS / TITHING •      INVITING OUTSIDERS – SUNDAY EXPERIENCES / INVITES __________________  IT IS UP TO YOU! GOD CAN ONLY PROMOTE WHERE WE ALL ARE WILLING TO DEVOTE! __________________  WHAT IF WE ALL… WHAT IF WE ALL DEVOTED OUR LOVE WITH TIME, TALENT, TREASURE AND TUNING FOR  SUNDAYS GROUPS WORKSHOPS / RETREATS TEAMS __________________  QUOTE – POPEYES The point of PURPOSE is to determine how you will SERVE others. If you don’t plan to SERVE, you don’t need a PURPOSE. Cheryl Bachelder – Dare to Serve – CEO of Popeyes __________________  QUOTE – TOM RHODES It’s DIFFICULT just to go back to a NORMAL EVERYDAY SUNDAY once you’ve tasted PURPOSE. - Tom Rhodes __________________  BABY STEPS TO PURPOSE 1.   LOOK AT EVERYTHING THRU THE LENS OF MEANS. 2.   FIND A KINGDOM NEED AND SERVE THERE. 3.   SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PURPOSE-PEOPLE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH? _____________________ WHAT you think about WHEN you think about GOD, LIFE and CHURCH will DEFINE EVERYTHING else ABOUT YOU! _____________________ WHAT SHOULD WE THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH? LOOK FIRST AT JESUS! _____________________  LUKE 4:16–21 TPT JESUS read where it is written (in Isaiah), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has ANOINTED me to be… FREEDOM for the BROKENHEARTED, and NEW EYES for …Then he added, “These Scriptures CAME TRUE TODAY in front of you.” EPHESIANS 5:25, 27, 29-30, 32 NKJV – [The Apostle Paul said] …CHRIST also LOVED the CHURCH and gave Himself for her, ... 27 that He might present her to Himself a GLORIOUS [endoxon] CHURCH, NOT having SPOT or WRINKLE or any such thing, but that she should be HOLY and WITHOUT BLEMISH. ... 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but NOURISHES and CHERISHES it, just as the LORD [DOES] THE CHURCH. 30 For WE ARE MEMBERS of His BODY, of HIS FLESH and of HIS BONES. ... 32 This is a GREAT MYSTERY, but I speak concerning CHRIST and the CHURCH. _____________________ HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? LOVE HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS! _____________________ YOU CAN KNOW THE CONCEPT OF LOVE AND NEVER EXPERIENCE LOVE’S TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING! _____________________ QUESTION: IS IT POSSIBLE TO ORGANIZE FOR LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________ CHURCH - (The Ekklesia ) CHURCH IS AN“ASSEMBLY” A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN DYNAMIC, INTERDEPENDENT, AND TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIPS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES! OR CHURCH IS A BUNCH OF LOVING FRIENDS WHERE WE GIVE EACH OTHER MIRACLE-HEALING EXPERIENCES! _____________________ QUESTION: HOW WOULD GOD ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________ QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________  IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE…   BONDING WORSHIP – LOVE GOD PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – LOVE PEOPLE HEALING SKILLS – GROWING IN LOVE   VOLUNTEER STAFFING – LOVE WITH GIFTS & TALENTS INVITING OUTSIDERS – NEW EXPERIENCES IN LOVE _____________________ HOW THE EARLY CHURCH SAW IT… ACTS 2:42-47 NIV They DEVOTED THEMSELVES to the APOSTLES' TEACHING and to FELLOWSHIP, to the BREAKING OF BREAD and to PRAYER. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed …. 45 They sold property and possessions TO GIVE TO ANYONE who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ATE TOGETHER with glad and sincere hearts, 47 PRAISING GOD and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER daily those who were BEING SAVED. “…devoted to apostle’s teachings…” – HEALING SKILLS “…devoted to fellowship…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS “…devoted to prayers… praising God” – BONDING WORSHIP “…gave to anyone who had need…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING “…added to their number daily… saved” – INVITING OUTSIDERS _____________________ HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL SAW IT… [Paul said] We PROCLAIM Jesus, ADMONISHING and TEACHING everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone PERFECT in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me. “We proclaim Jesus…” – INVITING OUTSIDERS “…admonishing…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS “…teaching everyone…” – HEALING SKILLS “…present everyone perfect in Christ…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING “…labor…with all energy” – BONDING WORSHIP _____________________ QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES?   IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE…  BONDING WORSHIP – SUNDAY WORSHIP / FIREPITS PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – GROUPS / RETREATS HEALING SKILLS – WORKSHOPS / RETREATS  VOLUNTEER STAFFING – SERVE TEAMS / TITHING INVITING OUTSIDERS – SUNDAY EXPERIENCES / INVITES _____________________  IT IS UP TO YOU! GOD CAN ONLY PROMOTE WHERE WE ALL ARE WILLING TO DEVOTE! _____________________ WHAT IF WE ALL DEVOTED OUR LOVE WITH TIME, TALENT, TREASURE AND TUNING FOR… SUNDAYS GROUPS WORKSHOPS / RETREATS TEAMS

2020 LIFE & CHURCH REIMAGINED 2020 will bring vision and clarity! Decades ago, futurists predicted what the world would look like in this milestone-year in human history. They said we would have self-driving cars, vote electronically from home, depression would be a primary disease, people would live on mars, and that we would work 26 hours a week. Some predictions were spot-on, while others have alluded us. Some of us dreamed of “Jetson’s” lifestyles with robot-maids and travel by spaceships. What will be your 2020 predictions for marriage, parenting, business, and church? Will you be happy this year? Where will you be by the end of this decade? Will the derailing compulsions, addictions and unhealthy patterns still haunt you? As a church, what will be the future? Will we reimagine God’s kingdom in church community? Will we find peace, joy and fulfillment? Will we see ourselves with a futuristic clarity? This year will be the beginning of something special!   TODAY’S MESSAGE   WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH? _____________________ WHAT you think about WHEN you think about GOD, LIFE and CHURCH will DEFINE EVERYTHING else ABOUT YOU! _____________________ WHAT SHOULD WE THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF GOD, LIFE AND CHURCH? LOOK FIRST AT JESUS! _____________________  LUKE 4:16–21 TPT JESUS read where it is written (in Isaiah), “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has ANOINTED me to be… FREEDOM for the BROKENHEARTED, and NEW EYES for …Then he added, “These Scriptures CAME TRUE TODAY in front of you.” ISAIAH 61:3, 7 TPT 3  …to STRENGTHEN those CRUSHED BY DESPAIR who MOURN … to give them a BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET in the place of ASHES, the OIL OF BLISS instead of TEARS, and the mantle of JOYOUS PRAISE instead of the spirit of HEAVINESS. …7 Because you received a DOUBLE DOSE OF SHAME AND DISHONOR, you will inherit a DOUBLE PORTION OF ENDLESS JOY AND EVERLASTING BLISS! _____________________ HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? 1 JOHN 4:17-19 NKJV LOVE has been perfected among us in this: that we may have BOLDNESS (parresias) in the day of JUDGMENT (krisis); because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is NO FEAR in LOVE; but PERFECT (teleios - integrity or integrated – wanting nothing to feel enough) LOVE casts out FEAR, because FEAR INVOLVES TORMENT. But he who FEARS has NOT been made PERFECT IN LOVE. 19 We LOVE Him because He first LOVED us. BOLDNESS – Parresias – To speak openly and confidently without fear of embarrassment, retaliation or exploitation – to be fully seen in one’s beliefs. JUDGEMENT - KRISIS - a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change. FEAR – PHOBOS – Plato used as “one concerned with future events” or “concerns with one’s reputation” _____________________ LOVE HAS THE UNIQUE ABILITY TO HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS! _____________________ YOU CAN KNOW THE CONCEPT OF LOVE AND NEVER EXPERIENCE LOVE’S TRANSFORMATIONAL HEALING! _____________________  JOHN 3:16-17 NKJV [Jesus said] For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES in Him should NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE. JOHN 17:20-23 NKJV [Jesus said] I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be ONE, as You, Father, [are] in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in Us, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE just as We are ONE: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made PERFECT in ONE, and THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW that You have sent Me, and have LOVED them as You have LOVED Me. _____________________ QUESTION: IS IT POSSIBLE TO INSTITUTIONALIZE LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________ INSTITUTIONALIZE A group of people established and devoted to the promotion of a particular cause! _____________________  MATTHEW 16:18-19 NLT (Jesus said) Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I WILL BUILD my CHURCH, and all the POWERS OF HELL WILL NOT CONQUER IT. _____________________ CHURCH - (The Ekklesia ) CHURCH IS AN“ASSEMBLY” A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE IN DYNAMIC, INTERDEPENDENT, AND TRANSPARENT RELATIONSHIPS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES! _____________________ QUESTION: HOW WOULD GOD ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________ QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________  IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE…   BONDING WORSHIP – LOVE GOD PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS – LOVE PEOPLE HEALING SKILLS – GROWING IN LOVE   VOLUNTEER STAFFING – LOVE WITH GIFTS & TALENTS INVITING OUTSIDERS – NEW EXPERIENCES IN LOVE _____________________ HOW THE EARLY CHURCH SAW IT… ACTS 2:42-47 NIV They DEVOTED THEMSELVES to the APOSTLES' TEACHING and to FELLOWSHIP, to the BREAKING OF BREAD and to PRAYER. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed …. 45 They sold property and possessions TO GIVE TO ANYONE who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ATE TOGETHER with glad and sincere hearts, 47 PRAISING GOD and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER daily those who were BEING SAVED. “…added to their number daily… saved” – INVITING OUTSIDERS “…devoted to fellowship…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS “…devoted to apostle’s teachings…” – EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE “…gave to anyone who had need…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING “…devoted to prayers… praising God” – BONDING WORSHIP _____________________ HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL SAW IT… [Paul said] We PROCLAIM Jesus, ADMONISHING and TEACHING everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone PERFECT in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with ALL ENERGY, which so powerfully works in me. “We proclaim Jesus…” – INVITING OUTSIDERS “…admonishing…” – PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS “…teaching everyone…” – HEALING SKILLS “…present everyone perfect in Christ…” – VOLUNTEER STAFFING “…labor…with all energy” – BONDING WORSHIP _____________________ QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU ORGANIZE AND/OR PROGRAM CHURCH FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL LOVE EXPERIENCES? _____________________  IT IS UP TO YOU! GOD CAN ONLY PROMOTE WHERE WE ALL ARE WILLING TO DEVOTE! _____________________ WHAT IF WE ALL DEVOTED OUR LOVE WITH TIME, TALENT, TREASURE AND TUNING FOR… SUNDAYS GROUPS WORKSHOPS / RETREATS TEAMS

We discuss what it means to be saved, how it happens, and if we can lose our salvation.Continue Reading022 – How do we get saved?

Speaker: Keath Gaitskell Text: Colossians 1:19-23 Description: God has called us into an incredible story but sometimes we can feel like an impostor and lack the boldness and confidence that God desires of his children. The best antidote to this, is the wonderful Good News of Jesus Christ - that he has taken all our sins and in return we have received his righteousness.

We’ll delve into the multifaceted theology of salvation (aka soteriology).  We’ll look at all three tenses of salvation: how we were saved, are being saved, and will be saved.  Now, I realize this can be a very sensitive and controversial subject, depending on what your preexisting doctrinal commitments are.  However, I simply ask that you Read more about Theology 21 — Conditional Salvation[…]

We’ll delve into the multifaceted theology of salvation (aka soteriology).  We’ll look at all three tenses of salvation: how we were saved, are being saved, and will be saved.  Now, I realize this can be a very sensitive and controversial subject, depending on what your preexisting doctrinal commitments are.  However, I simply ask that you Read more about Theology 21 — Conditional Salvation[…]

Thursday, 06.06.2019: Commemorating the 75th #Anniversary of #D-Day, Hear #WorldWarII & #KoreanWar #Veteran, MAJOR ROBERT (Bob) OTTO, of the 731st #Bomb #Squadron at 96 Years Young, Speak to His Experiences During the War Years! Also Hear #President Trump's Moving Opening Remarks on this 75th #D-Day #Commemoration Regarding the 10,000 Men Who Sacrificed Their Lives to Fight for their Country, the Survival of #Liberty, and America's #Judeo-Christian Civilization! You Will Also Appreciate a Story of Tremendous Courage Shown by an Army Medic in the 16th Infantry Division Who While Shot in the Arm and with a Gaping Wound in his Leg and a Broken Back, Continued to Drag Men Out of the Water Who Still Had a Chance at Being Saved.... Hear More!

Being Saved in Life to Reign in Life / February 2011

Being Saved to Reign / February 2011

Msg. Title: Living for God's Eternal Purpose and Being Saved from the Crooked & Perverted Generation, Part 1 (Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2018)

Msg. Title: Living for God's Eternal Purpose and Being Saved from the Crooked & Perverted Generation, Part 2 (Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2018)

The Writers' Guild of Alberta is happy to present Let's Get Lit: A Drunk Poetry Podcast. Edmonton poets Rayanne Haines and Matthew Stepanic talk with guest poet Lisa Martin about her poetry and wine pairing. Lisa's latest book is Believing is Not the Same as Being Saved. Published by University of Alberta Press. It was shortlisted for an Alberta Literary Award for poetry as well as the Edmonton Book Prize.

In this episode, we wrap up our conversation on Being Saved and what it means for all of us. Things Mentioned in this Episode: Everett’s $5 Word – Salvific! BOOM!

In this episode, we continue the conversation on Being Saved and what it means for all of us. Things Mentioned in this Episode: 2 Peter 1:3 Yom Kippur information on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur After Virtue - Alasdair MacIntyre - https://smile.amazon.com/After-Virtue-Study-Moral-Theory/dp/0268035040/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517874478&sr=8-1&keywords=after+virtue+alasdair Peaceable Kingdom - Stanley Hauerwas -  talks about how we’ve “lost the ideas of the virtues and how it is present in scripture” - https://smile.amazon.com/Peaceable-Kingdom-Primer-Christian-Ethics/dp/0268015546/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517874512&sr=1-1&keywords=peaceable+kingdom+stanley Find us on Twitter and Facebook at @fundrainpod We’d like help in steering our topics so feel free to let us know what topics you would like us to explore. If you enjoy what we do, please go and give us a review on iTunes. Thank you for listening.  We enjoy these discussions and hope you do as well.  Peace.

In this episode, we begin the conversation on Being Saved and what it meant for us and possibly still today in some Christian cultures.  Then we’ll begin to get into what it means for us now and that’s where we decided a Part 2 is necessary.

I was not raised in religion. My interest in spirituality is entirely self-motivated. When I was seven years old, I asked to attend a Vacation Bible School, so I could ask questions like "Is Mother Nature God's wife?" MENTIONED IN THE SHOW The Magicians Drawing Down the Moon - Margot Adler The Jungle Book (1967) God’s Eye Trust in Me - Siouxsie and the Banshees HOST LINKS - SLADE ROBERSON Slade's Books & Courses Get an intuitive reading with Slade Automatic Intuition BECOME A PATRON https://www.patreon.com/shiftyourspirits TRANSCRIPT INTRO Hey, thanks for listening to the Shift Your Spirits podcast. I’m your host Slade Roberson. For eleven years, I’ve been a professional intuitive and the author of the blog Shift Your Spirits, where I try to write about spirituality with fewer hearts and flowers than most New Age blather. I also mentor emerging intuitives, psychics, and healers in a program called Automatic Intuition. Today’s introduction is probably not going to be as lengthy as the last one — I’m recording these episodes close together, so I’m not sure how much more original insightful life experience has occurred in my world in such a short span of time. We’re on the backside of Hurricane Irma, as I record this, in a lovely cold drizzling rain. We lost power here only briefly from about 10 pm at night to 7 o’clock this morning. I mean, if you’re going to lose power, that was an ideal window. I can’t really complain about it at all, but I am stunned to experience the winds we had last night, this deep inland, in the mountains of Tennessee. I really truly hate it for all of you who are still without power across the Southeast. Or suffering from lack of the basics. I cannot even imagine. I am truly grateful for my luck and privilege. If there is anyone in our community in need with like a GoFund Me page or another organization they’d prefer we support, please contact me if you can and I will lend whatever I can in terms of sharing your needs with my platform and audience, helping to expand the reach of your requests and messages. I hope everyone and their pets came through this okay. I have absolutely no wacky supernatural meanings or godly messages to attach to these storms. Because I’m not Kirk Cameron. But I do have an oracle message for you at the end of the show. So stay tuned after the final links and credits. I do have one new tool I started using in the last few days. My friend Matt posted this on Facebook: "My serenity is inversely proportional to my expectations. The higher my expectations of other people are, the lower is my serenity. I can watch my serenity level rise when I discard my expectations.” He has a personal note: try also replacing "expectations" with “attachment.” I looked it up to find the source, and it is actually from the Alcoholics Anonymous handbook. Page 452. That’s cool. I’m not in AA but I love a good re-framing technique. Remember my not-complaining for a month back in the spring? I continue to fail at this, pretty miserably. I have to admit it. It’s really hard not to complain. People are frustrating and disappointing. They are. So, I like this idea that lowering my expectations, increases my sense of peace. When I notice my internal chatter critiquing something (especially someone) I just say “Lowering my expectations. No expectations. Just doing my thing. Just moving through here.” And it’s pretty powerful in the short term. It’s an almost immediate interruption of negative internal dialogue. You can refer back to the show notes and try it out. I always like to tweak these mantras and make them personal, my own words, in my own voice. Since I am recording again back to back, I don’t have a lot of new patrons to call out. But I see Wendy Bassett did just slip in with a pledge. Thanks Wendy! If you started supporting the show this week, between the last few episodes, I have not forgotten you. I will thank you personally next time. It’s a time delay issue between recording and publishing. I appreciate all of you who have pledged your support and I’m really excited to see the new names each week. It demonstrates that you’re enjoying the show and want it to continue. That’s very encouraging to me, so thank you. You can support my time in producing this show by pledging on Patreon. For as little as $1 a month, listeners who support on Patreon can also access bonus Q&A episodes, where you send in questions, I record answers to them, and they go out to patrons of the show exclusively. There is also a level of support that includes a free download of the guided meditation “Messages from your Spirit Guides." So, if you want to find out how you can become a patron, and access some of this extra audio content, please go to patreon.com/shiftyourspirits Today, I want to tell you a story about when I went to Vacation Bible School where I infamously posed the question: “Is Mother Nature God’s Wife?”. I am proud to say I became a full blown heretic before I even got to third grade. SEGMENT As I’ve talked about before, I was not raised in religion. My interest in spirituality is entirely self-motivated. I’m sure my parents must have kind of wondered where this little mystic kid came from. Because nobody had to shove it down my throat, I was into it! I can make a case that I was into it in a completely authentic way that never would have happened if I had been indoctrinated by adults. When I was seven years old, I asked my parents to let me attend a Christian institution known as Vacation Bible School. We have to take a minute to talk about this diploma or "certificate of recognition," as it’s technically called. I snapped a pic of it with my phone from my mother’s archives and I’ve posted it on my blog so you can check it out. The Jesus in this illustration is giving me Kris Kristofferson. With maybe a little Kenny Loggins/ Dan Fogelberg… You know, singer-songwriter vibe. He’s a white guy, of course, bearded, pretty ruddy complexion actually. He could almost be related to the Brawny paper towel guy. He looks like a young guy from a 1950s Boy Scouts of America pamphlet grew up to become a hippie. He’s wearing a creamy hemp poncho with a hood and he’s got this far away expression on his face, faintly smiling at whatever he’s seeing in the distance. And he’s making this complicated hand gesture. He’s working magic, I guess. I mean, the hand positioning reminds me of something you’d see Quentin do on The Magicians. But then there’s this small guy in the foreground in a leather skirt and sandals with a do rag who looks a little Native American at first glance - and honestly, as a kid, I thought he was and wasn’t really sure what the connection was supposed to be. Now I see this guy is tossing handfuls of seed from a fanny pack contraption onto this barren looking ground with gnarled and twisted plants. So I guess Jesus is working some crop magic for this guy. Maybe for someone who’s more educated in children’s bible stories, this will ring a bell, or when you see it, you see all my misperceptions and know what it’s truly intended to be … but I still for the life of me can’t imagine what this scene has to do with Vacation Bible School. But. It is pretty. And there’s something delicious and utopian about these campy mid century church illustrations that I admit appealed to me. As a kid I was as an easy recruit (initially) for Church-sponsored functions. Beyond the promised hype of craft projects and pizza socials, I was hungry for hard-core religious experience. My serious dedication is evidenced by this certificate that I was just describing, which has a little gold foil seal on it that says "Perfect Attendance." CHURCH-SANCTIONED SPIRIT POSSESSION Someone had explained to me the Southern Baptist phenomenon of Being Saved, in which any average child on Earth can experience a life-long form of holy possession by the Son of God Himself — simply by asking for it to happen. This was incredible news! I already knew I was protected by an enormously tall lady who looked like Catwoman in a nightgown and no child ever believed in, stalked, and engaged with fairies more than me. Not only did I applaud my belief in fairies to save Tinkerbell when Peter Pan came on TV, I dressed up in full green Peter Pan attire — green tights and felt elf shoes — one of a handful of "Halloween" costumes that I found reason to wear on several other occasions throughout the year. Considering I never set foot in a Catholic Church until I was 19, my intense longing from the age of 5 to "go as" a Catholic Priest or a Franciscan Monk for Halloween does make me open to the traditional notion of past-life memories. In her incredible work on modern Neo-Paganism Drawing Down the Moon, Margot Adler finds a common thread among the witches she interviewed — an instinct for engaging in spontaneous ritual theater at a very early age, despite socialization toward any particular religious tradition. I certainly built enough henges in the woods behind our house, charged enough mystical paraphernalia — wands, crystals, arrowheads, amulets, potion bottles — and entertained an audience of invisible spirit guides and guardian angels with an artistic commitment and devotion only rivaled by my current will to podcast… And while all these mystical experiences would be quickly dismissed or, at best, patronized by adults — and I knew not to discuss such things with unsympathetic audiences — here was a similar magical experience that was not only socially-acceptable, it was praised, encouraged, an absolute sin if you missed out on it. You didn’t need to tell me twice — sign me up! As if that wasn't promising enough, the Baptist Church attended by most families in our neighborhood was called Mars Hill — which I took as an affirmation of my desire to one day be part of the future mission to colonize the Red Planet. At the time, I really thought Being Saved could propel me in my aspirations to become a Priest and an Astronaut — simultaneously! It would be a few years before I came to understand that in polite white Christian America, there is a thin line between piety and stigma. You're supposed to be a good Christian — but you're not supposed to be too good at it. The same behavior that defines the believer also damns the mystic. Believe in God, pray every day — just don't tell anyone if He answers you Stand up in church and sing — but without emotion or fervor — do not speak in tongues or writhe in ecstasy — if by chance you really feel something, for God's sake, keep it to yourself Do not rest until you've forced your belief on everyone you encounter — but don't make the mistake of behaving like you mean it. Ask What Would Jesus Do? and if all else fails, set an example of what not to do by reminding everyone what judgment feels like I took the school in Vacation Bible School pretty literally. I came with some challenging philosophical questions. I genuinely thought this teacher — Miss Alice something, it’s noted on the certificate — might have some answers for me. She required you to stand up in the class to ask your questions. I opened with “Is Mother Nature God’s wife?” She tittered and kinda laughed it off, and talked about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And I was like “Yes, exactly. Where’s the mom? Everybody has a mom…” She waved me back down into my chair and tried to change the subject. Looking back, I’m sure she didn’t know what to say or how to handle it, she probably was philosophically challenged—she was probably, what, in her twenties? That seems old to a child, but to most of us, now, she was a child herself, parroting some Bible School teachings to a room full of six- and seven-year-olds. I remember feeling put out and angry that she wouldn’t call on me anymore, but I was able to channel my emotions into creating a really intensely colorful God’s Eye out of yarn and popsicle sticks. An object I was not surprised to discover years later is actually a ritual tool, magical object, and cultural symbol evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations of for the indigenous people of western Mexico. I waited a day or two and she finally called on me again to stand up and ask another question: "If God didn't want Adam and Eve to eat that Tree, why didn't He plant it somewhere else?” She exhaled in loud exasperation, pursed her lips and, again, waving for me to sit down, shot me a glare as she continued on with her Rated-G version of naked people, forbidden fruit, and Original Sin. That day’s arts and crafts project was drawing scenes from the Garden of Eden story. I was a huge fan of Disney’s original animated film of The Jungle Book, which came out a few years before I was born. People used to tell me I looked like Mowgli, probably because I was skinny and tan and had long brown hair. One of the most compelling scenes for me was when Kaa, the serpent, hypnotizes Mowgli while singing “Trust in Me.” (Sidebar: Siouxsie and the Banshees recorded a great cover version of that song.) I envisioned the serpent tempting Eve with its evil magic had to look something like this, so I drew a big close up of a colorful snake with psychedelic eyes. Miss Alice whoever she was actually confiscated this illustration before I even finished coloring it in. I’m actually pissed that it’s not in my mother’s child art archives. It was a really pop art concept piece. She whispered to me the snake was not an appropriate subject and suggested I draw something “prettier” because, you know, it’s the Garden of Eden; it’s full of animals and plants and... (Honestly, it’s hard for most people of any age, let alone kids, to get past the nudity in the Garden of Eden myth. Am I right?) So, I drew a picture of Adam and Eve, buck ass naked, picking fruit and surrounded by cute animals beneath a lush jungle canopy. Now, as I saw it depicted in a television miniseries, the crotch region was artfully blocked by bushes and waist high plants. I went with that coverage for both figures, but the Eve in my picture is reaching for an apple overhead (of course) and I rendered her knockers in full detail. What? She’s picking fruit. She’s naked. It would look stupid to put her entire body behind a bush. But, that is exactly what Miss Alice demanded I do in a furious whisper. You can tell by looking at the finished drawing that the full body bush in front of Eve was an after the fact censorship bar. It ruined the picture, if you asked me. I made it to the end of the week, but I wasn’t leaving without putting forward one of my biggest beefs with Christianity. Fortunately, we were discussing Heaven. Unfortunately, Miss Alice would not call on me. I finally just stood up and blurted out “How can it be Heaven if our pets aren’t there?” She told me to sit down, that I had not been called on. “If you can have anything you want in Heaven that makes you happy, then why can’t you have your pets there?” She actually bared her teeth at me at this point. “Sit. Down. And shut up." As I slowly lowered myself into my chair I said "I don’t want to go to Heaven if my pets aren’t going to be there.” I remember looking around the room at all these kids staring at me, their faces masks of shock and anxiety. And when Miss Alice asked for another question, every hand in the room shot up. Guess what everybody wanted clarified? But you won’t believe what happened next. I was sent to a church psychologist. Immediately. Right then. Removed from class and sent to someone in the building who ran “tests to see how smart I was.” Looking back, these activities resembled those assessments for kids with behavioral issues — or possibly “gifted” designation. Pictures where you describe the emotional dynamic taking place, etc. At one point, the lady gave me one of those eight-pack jumbo crayons sets, like the ones for really little kids, and asked me to draw a picture of God. Well, I thought about the old bearded man in a robe sitting on a throne of clouds… I could visualize it, but honestly, rendering that much white, in crayon, is problematic. It was too ambitious for the circumstances. So I went with my Starry Night technique. I had discovered if you drew with two or three crayons of similar or complementary hues as if they are one crayon, you can achieve a kind of Vincent Van Gogh effect. I took the yellow, the red, and the orange, and drew a big, thick stroke sun in the center of the page. Not the son like Jesus, s-u-n like the big fiery globe of molten life-giving light and heat at the center of our natural existence. Sun worship. The ultimate pagan religious expression. I pretty sure they called my parents in and just asked them not to bring me back. I remember feeling like they were insulted after meeting with that church psychologist. But believe it or not, I still chose to be saved and baptized there and went through with it. I’m pretty sure it happened that Sunday after the close of Vacation Bible School. And that’s a whole other tale of disappointment and disillusionment I’ll have to share another time. Ultimately, with the odd exception of a Halloween party where I technically didn’t make it past the parking lot, we never really went back to that church. But as I sit here right now thinking back on that time, without malice or disgust, I am 100% positive if Jesus had been teaching that class, I would have been his favorite person in the room. OUTRO Thanks again for listening to the Shift Your Spirits podcast. For show notes, links, transcripts and all the past episodes please visit shiftyourspirits.com You can subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher or whatever app you use to access podcasts. If you’d like to get an intuitive reading with me, or download a free ebook and meditation to help you connect with your guides please go to sladeroberson.com and if you’re interested in my professional intuitive training program, you can start the course for free by downloading the Attunement at automaticintuition.com BEFORE I GO I promised to leave you a message in answer to a question or a concern you may have. So take a moment to think about that — hold it in your mind or speak it out loud. I’ll pause for just a few seconds….right…now. 1…2…3…4 MESSAGE Go back in time. What were your original thoughts and intentions? Return to your earliest authentic impulses. Recommit to those. Shed everybody else’s noise. Everyone else’s opinions and advice and judgments — even though they may be coming from a good place — it’s all too much. You need to tell the world to shut up so you can hear yourself think. Turn off the radio and drive with just your thoughts. Get back to you. To your truth. And I’ll talk to you later.

The word of the cross contains the power of God that brings us complete salvation.

The word of the cross contains the power of God that brings us complete salvation.

A Sermon on Being Saved in Our Bodies, Not from Our Bodies

The History of Black Americans and the Black Church   Welcome to episode #1 of the The History of Black Americans and the Black Church podcast. My name is Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International. Since it is hard to separate Black American history and Black Church history I am combining the two. Though it will sometimes seem as if we are on two different tracks, I am combining the two because they are so intertwined. As many of you know, the church and religion has played and continues to play a big role in the African-American community. Yet, many of us who grew up in the traditional black church do not have an understanding of how our faith evolved under the duress of slavery and discrimination to be and to represent what it does today. The purpose of this broadcast is to provide that background knowledge while also pointing out the dividing line between what is just tradition and true faith in Jesus Christ.   Our Scripture verse for today is Luke 23:26 which reads: “And as they led [Jesus] away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.”   Our BA and BC quote for today is from the educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. She said, “Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.”   In this podcast, we will be using as our texts From Slavery to Freedom, by John Hope Franklin, The Negro Church in America/The Black Church Since Frazier by E. Franklin Frazier and C. Eric Lincoln and The Black Church In The U.S. by William A. Banks. Let's begin with John Hope Franklin's book, From Slavery to Freedom as he deals with early Christianity in Africa:   Christianity became entrenched in North Africa early. It was there when Islam made its appearance in the seventh century, and these two great faiths engaged in a life-and-death struggle for the control of that area. In West Africa, where the population was especially dense and from which the great bulk of slaves was secured, Christianity was practically unknown until the Portuguese began to establish missions in the area in the sixteenth century. It was a strange religion, this Christianity, which taught equality and brotherhood and at the same time introduced on a large scale the practice of tearing people from their homes and transporting them to a distant land to become slaves. If the Africans south of the Sahara were slow to accept Christianity, it was not only because they were attached to their particular forms of communal worship but also because they did not have the superhuman capacity to reconcile the contradictory character of the new religion.   Now, our main topic for today is titled, “The Religion of the Slaves: the Break With the African Background”. Frazier writes:   In studying any phase of the character and the development of the social and cultural life of the Negro in the United States, one must recognize from the beginning that because of the manner in which the Negroes were captured in Africa and enslaved, they were practically stripped of their social heritage. Although the area in West Africa from which the majority of the slaves were drawn exhibits a high degree of cultural homogeneity, the capture of many of the slaves in intertribal wars and their selection for the slave markets tended to reduce to a minimum the possibility of the retention and the transmission of African culture. The slaves captured in the intertribal wars were generally males and those selected for the slave markets on the African coasts were the young and the most vigorous. This was all in accordance with the demands of the slave markets in the New World. One can get some notion of this selective process from the fact that it was not until 1840 that the number of females equalled the number of males in the slave population of the United States! Young males, it will be readily agreed, are poor bearers of the cultural heritage of a people.   But the manner in which the slaves were held for the slave ships that transported them to the New World also had an important influence upon the transmission of the African social heritage to the new environment. They were held in baracoons, a euphemistic term for concentration camps at the time, where the slaves without any regard for sex or family and tribal affiliations were kept until some slaver came along to buy a cargo for the markets of the New World. This period of dehumanization was followed by the "middle passage," the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to the slave markets of the West Indies and finally the indigo, tobacco, and cotton plantations of what was to become later the United States. During the "middle passage," the Negroes were packed spoon-fashion in the slave ships, where no regard was shown for sex or age differences, not to mention such matters as clan and tribal differences. In fact, no regard was shown for such elementary social, or shall I say human, considerations as family ties.   In the New World the process by which the Negro was stripped of his social heritage and thereby, in a sense, dehumanized was completed. There was first the size of the plantation, which had a significant influence upon the extent and nature of the contacts between the slaves and the whites. On the large sugar and cotton plantations in the Southern States there was, as in Brazil and the West Indies, little contact between whites and the Negro slaves. Under such conditions there was some opportunity for the slaves to undertake to re-establish their old ways. As a matter of fact, however, the majority of slaves in the United States were on small farms and small plantations. In some of the upland cotton regions of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas the median number of slaves per holding did not reach twenty; while in regions of general agriculture based mainly upon slave labor in Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee the median number of slave holdings was even smaller.   Then slaves freshly imported from Africa were usually "broken in" to the plantation regime. According to the descriptions given by a traveler in Louisiana, the new slaves were only "gradually accustomed to work. They are made to bathe often, to take long walks from time to time, and especially to dance; they are distributed in small numbers among old slaves in order to dispose them better to acquire their habits." Apparently from all reports, these new slaves with their African ways were subjected to the disdain, if not hostility, of Negroes who had become accommodated to the plantation regime and had acquired the ways of their new environment.   Of what did accommodation to their new environment consist? It was necessary to acquire some knowledge of the language of whites for communication. Any attempt on the part of the slaves to preserve or use their native language was discouraged or prohibited. They were set to tasks in order to acquire the necessary skills for the production of cotton or sugar cane. On the small farms very often the slaves worked in the fields with their white owners. On the larger plantations they were under the strict discipline of the overseer, who not only supervised their work but who also in the interest of security maintained a strict surveillance over all their activities. It was a general rule that there could be no assembly of five or more slaves without the presence of a white man. This applied especially to their gathering for religious purposes. Later we shall see how the slaves were soon introduced into the religious life of their white masters. All of this tended to bring about as completely as possible a loss of the Negro's African cultural heritage.   - - - - - - - - -   On our next episode, we will look at the loss of social cohesion among the slaves.   In closing, allow me to say that like many of you, I grew up in a very religious and church-going family, and during that time, I often heard the phrase "Being Saved." Now, much of what church people said “being saved” was I now know is wrong according to the Bible. I wrote an article about it titled “On ‘Being Saved' in Black America” which is available for you to read free of charge on our website, gospellightsociety.com. Right now, I want to share with you very briefly what the Bible says “being saved” really is.   First, understand that you need to be saved because you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Second, understand that a horrible punishment -- eternal Hell -- awaits those who are not saved. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus Christ said that God will say to those who are not saved, “depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Third, realize that God loves you very much and wants to save you from Hell. John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you want to be saved from Hell and be guaranteed a home in Heaven, simply believe in Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose from the dead for your sins, and then call upon the Lord in prayer and ask Him to save your soul. And believe me, He will. Romans 10:9-13 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."   Until next time, may God richly bless you.

Can we believe in the Resurrection of Christ? I. It's vital to the Gospel, vv3-4. II. It's Believable because of the witnesses, vv5-8. III. How it Changes us to Believe, vv1-2, 9-11

A new MP3 sermon from Still Waters Revival Books is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: A Possibility of Being Saved is Much to be Preferred to a Certainty of Perishing Subtitle: Jonathan Edwards Messages Speaker: Jonathan Edwards Broadcaster: Still Waters Revival Books Event: Audio Book Date: 6/17/2013 Bible: 2 Kings 7:3-4; 1 Corinthians 9:24 Length: 42 min.

Have you ever seen a JESUS OBITUARY? (No!) Have you noticed that no one ever refers to “the late Jesus Christ”? He died at the cross. But God raised Jesus up in triumph. Death could not hold him. What Satan thought was his greatest victory turned into his greatest disaster. At the cross, God won the victory and Satan was defeated. Two people were talking and one asked, “If you came to a crossroads and saw three people there, Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha, who would you ask for directions?” “Jesus,” replied the other. “Why?” “Well, if you came to a crossroads and saw three people of whom two were dead and one was alive, who would you ask?!” Yet, friends, it isn’t enough to know Jesus is alive. The real question is whether he is alive in you. Paul says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) John says, “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) The great good news of Easter is not that we can be fully alive some day but that by the power of Jesus Christ we can be fully alive today. With that in mind, today we begin a three-part series called “Deeply into Grace.” Transformers (April 8) For Heaven’s Sake, Don’t Stop! (April 15) Being Saved isn’t Enough (April 22) Life doesn’t stop at the empty tomb. It’s where life starts!

Pastor Dunnells preaching a sermon called " Being Saved "

Being Saved: What Does Jesus Want from Me?

Being Saved: What Does Jesus Want from Me?

It is sometimes confusing when a person hears the idea of having faith in the divine because the mind that hears the idea is still a divided mind. This is why it is often so challenging to talk about such ideas. As the mind sees it, there is "me" and something outside of myself that I am going to have faith in. To have faith in what is true does not mean that you do not fully experience what...

sermon transcript The Cross: Ongoing Power for “Us Who are Being Saved” Every time that Charles Spurgeon ascended the pulpit, as he went up the stairs, he said, “I believe in the Holy Ghost. I believe in the Holy Ghost. I believe in the Holy Ghost,” again and again, as he went up the stairs. This man may have been the most talented, naturally talented, public speaker that the church has ever seen. Incredible genius. It was said that he was able to carry seven different thoughts going on in his mind at the same time while preaching. I cannot do that. I'll start to make grammatical errors if I try to do anything like that. But he came up, despite all of his talents, his incredible linguistic ability, his knowledge of the Word of God, despite all of that, he said again and again, “I believe in the Holy Ghost. I believe in the Holy Ghost,” because he wanted to focus on the power of God the Spirit in him and not in his own abilities because he knew that apart from Christ, he could do nothing of lasting consequence. I would say there's not a Sunday that goes by that I don't look up at the wooden cross over my head there in the latticework up there and ask the Lord to overcome my own weaknesses and my sin, and enable me to preach to you. I've been here almost 10 years, I'm still not used to it. I don't think I'll ever get used to it. I'm not used to speaking to 400 people, 400 of my closest friends, about the things of God. And the devil is active, and he just hurls fiery darts at me while I sit in the pew and say, “What right do you have?” What's the answer to that question? I have no right. I have no right to get up week after week and unfold the scripture to you. My sufficiency comes from Christ, or it comes from no one at all. I have no right to preach the Word of God apart from the work of Christ on the cross, and I remember that, some weeks much more acutely and emotionally than others. I look to the cross of Jesus Christ again and again, and that's my message to you this morning, is that the moment that you are saved, that you look to the cross, Jesus Christ and him crucified, that was just the first time you did so. For the rest of your life, you need to look to the cross again and again and again. And the cross of Christ will never lose its power to continue that saving work it began in you from the start. But you and I both need to be conscious of it. We need to be aware of our dependence on Jesus Christ. We need to know that we need the cross. And we're not just repentant believers the first moment we walk the aisle, or at a crusade, or when someone led us to Christ, that that was it, and from then on, we were done. We need to come back again and again, and we will find the inexhaustible power of God for the salvation of people like you and me in the cross of Christ. So we're looking at 1 Corinthians 1:18 this morning just as a starting point. I'm not going to give a thorough verse-by-verse exposition of it, though I'd love to do that. But what I wanna do is I wanna take us on themes of the cross, and what the cross does for us as believers, and how we continue to be dependent on the cross of Jesus Christ in some certain specific ways for the rest of our Christian lives. Our Salvation is a Journey It says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Our salvation, as we have emphasized here in this church, is a journey. It's an infinite journey. And I think this verse strengthens that. The Greek participle here is best translated in this way: “To us who are being saved, the cross of Christ is the power of God, to us who are in the process of salvation.” Parallel construction in the same verse: “To those who are perishing, to those who are in the process of perishing for their sins.” And so therefore, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Reminds me of those two roads that Jesus spoke of in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7, he said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” That's journey language. Those are two different roads, they lead to two different destinations, and they come down to us here in this verse. To those who are on the road to hell, those who are in the process of perishing, the message of the cross is just foolishness. It makes no sense. Why would some dead Jewish carpenter 2,000 years ago have any relevance to my life today? It's foolishness. To the urbane philosopher back in Paul's day, those that lived in Athens and debated all the latest ideas in human philosophy. The message of the cross was just foolishness. It made no sense why the only God, the Creator God, would save the world in this way. It made no sense. But for us who are being saved now, for we who are in the process of salvation, it is the power of God. It continues to be the power of God for your salvation, and you must come to it again and again. Now, we've seen the constituent parts, the component parts of salvation: Justification, sanctification, glorification. We've learned these. Justification, the beginning of the Christian life, when by faith, you see yourself to be a sinner, you know that you have no hope, that you're most certainly going to go to hell when you die. If it weren't for the saving work of Christ on the cross, you would. And you look to Christ, to his death on the cross, to his bloodshed on the cross for your forgiveness. And you believe it's ample forgiveness, it's more than enough grace for all of your sins. And you trust in him, and you call on him and say, “Lord, save me,” in whatever way you did. And at that moment, you were justified, you were forgiven of all of your sins. You're given a gift of perfect righteousness that will stand up on Judgment Day. You were adopted into the family of God. You were given the indwelling Holy Spirit. You were given an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, and no one can take it from you. All of these things were once for all, and nothing can change it. So when I say that salvation is a process, a journey, I haven't forgotten all of that. But that's not all there is. The Lord left us here on earth that we might be progressively gradually sanctified, that we might grow in grace in the knowledge of Christ, becoming more and more like Jesus in our thoughts and our actions, to act like him in the world, to be the light of the world. And that's sanctification. Salvation Journey Needs Power And my central message to you today is you need to go back to the cross again and again for sanctification. That's where the power for this journey comes from, this infinite journey, the cross of Jesus Christ. The fact that God has determined to save you in Jesus. Philippians 1:6, “That he who began this good work in you will most certainly carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” But he does it through the cross, not apart from it. That is the power of God for our salvation. And you need that power. Don't you ever feel yourself weak in your salvation journey? Don't you ever feel like you can't take another step? Like sin is gonna master you the rest of your life? It's a lie. You're not a slave to sin, but that's the kind of lie, and only the cross of Christ can give you the power to keep going in the Christian life. And so it is for you the power of God for salvation right to the end. Ongoing Cleansing from Sin and Guilt Sanctification: A Journey into our Own “Heart of Darkness” Now, I wanna look at seven aspects of the cross of Christ and how we need to go back to the cross for each of these. My feeling is the more you think about these seven that I give you, you're gonna find others as well, that's fine. Whatever reason caused you to go back again and again to the cross, may it be. But start with these. Let's begin with ongoing cleansing from sin and guilt. For a long time, I struggled with the book of 1 John, especially in chapter 3, there's a specific verse that says, “In him, there is no sin. Anyone in him does not sin,” this kind of thing. I'm thinking, “Oh, no! I'm in trouble.” Because I continue to sin. And it's so perfect. But then as I noticed that there were no sinless Christians around me, I thought either I have to have a new way of understanding that verse, or there's this secret enclave of Christians hidden in some hills somewhere, and those 179 people are the only ones Jesus is saving because none of the Christians I've met have ever been perfect. So there must be a different way of understanding, but I still struggled with that verse. 1 John 3 seems so perfectionistic. “In him, there is no sin. No one in him sins,” and all this kind of absolute language. Until I understood 1 John 1:7. 1 John 1:7 was a release, a gate opened, and I understood better the whole message of 1 John. And 1 John 1:7 says this, “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from every sin.” Wow! The blood of Jesus, in an ongoing sense, purifies you from every sin as you walk in the light. So that means it's possible to walk in the light as he is in the light and need an ongoing work of purification in your life. And you know you need it. I've likened it before to standing in a hot cleansing shower of grace. And the water of grace just running over your body as sin comes out of its pores, and you are immediately cleansed from all sin. Walking in the light as he is in the light.It seems to me that sanctification is somewhat a guided tour through my own heart of darkness, as the Holy Spirit shows me just how much I needed a savior, how much sin there is still in me. And I believe that the most godly men and women have an acute sense of their own sinfulness, an increasing sense of it, and how much they hated and how much they wanted out. But it's not like they have this sense of perfectionism coming over them as they grow in their Christian life. Look in the Bible, the godliest people in the Bible always had an acute sense of sinfulness. Like Job, after his encounter with God, he said, “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes,” Job 42:6. David said, “I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me,” Psalm 51:3. Daniel said, “We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled. We have turned away from your commands and laws,” Daniel 9:5. Ezra said, “Oh, my God! I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens,” Ezra 9:6. And then the Apostle Paul at the end of Romans 7, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” See, these folks, they were all godly, and they had an acute sense of their own sinfulness. Satan The Accuser: Seeks To Keep Us Out Of Action Now, what Satan the accuser seeks to do is to use that sense of guilt to disqualify you from doing the very good works that God has ordained that you should walk in them. That you should not share the Gospel with a coworker, that you should not grow in your prayer life, that you should not disciple your family, or that you should not do various good works that God has ordained because you're not worthy. No, you're not worthy. Never have been, and you never will be. That's exactly what Moses said. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” And God's answer? A beautiful non sequitur, “I will be with you.” “Who am I that I should go?” “I will be with you.” The question is irrelevant. “I will be with you. I will overcome your inadequacy. I'll overcome your weakness. I will overcome your guilt and your sin.” Where are we gonna get that cleansing? We're gonna get it from the cross of Christ. Do you feel guilty today of sin? Is Satan the accuser accusing you today of sin? And notice his wickedness in this, the very one who enticed you to it, suddenly becomes righteous and accuses you of it. One Simple Answer: Come To The Cross Again The cross of Jesus Christ is the only answer. Hebrews 9:14 says, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Do you need a conscience cleansed from acts that lead death and come again to the cross of Christ? Confess your sin. And if you confess your sin, he is faithful and just, and will forgive you your sin, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Just a few moments ago, we sang that beautiful hymn by William Cowper, “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.” William Cowper is a fascinating man, 18th century believer, lived in the same time as John Newton and Wesley and the others. Struggled all his life with deep feelings of guilt and unworthiness and with mental instability as a result, even insanity. He struggled with the temptation of suicide. Some time, he resolved to do it, but God providentially kept him from it. And he struggled so much with feelings of guilt, a guilty conscience, that it was only when he came to Romans 3, and he understood the death of Jesus Christ, propitiation, the atoning sacrifice of Christ, Romans 3:25 and 26, that he realized that he, a sinner, could be clean before God. And so he wrote this incredible hymn, “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.” Second verse, “The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day, and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, Thy flowing wounds will never lose its power, 'til all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.” Do you not see how these verses are written for Christians as they continue in their own journey, feeling guilty for their sins? “'Til all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more,” that's heaven. There, at last, we will be perfect. Until then, come to the flowing wounds and to the grace that the cross of Jesus Christ supplies. Ongoing Welcome in Prayer Prayerlessness is a Great Danger We also find at the cross an ongoing welcome in prayer. One of the corollaries of feeling guilty is that we stop praying. The very thing that Satan wants us to do is to stop praying. John Bunyan put it very plainly. He said, “Prayer drives out sin, or sin drives out prayer.” Well, if sin has been driving out prayer in your life, come back to the cross. Come back to the blood of Christ. Realize this: If you feel fit for prayer when you've done well in your Christian life, been obedient, done a bunch of good works, now you can pray. But you feel unworthy to pray when you haven't done good works, when you've sinned, etcetera, you don't understand your standing before God. You don't know that it was never based on your good works, never based on your righteousness, but only on the cross of Christ. God’s Holiness Daunting Psalm 24 says, “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” These things we do not naturally have. We don't naturally have clean hands and a pure heart. These are the ones that may stand before God in prayer. And therefore, if you want an ongoing welcome in the presence of almighty God in prayer, you're gonna get it only through the cross of Christ. Christ’s Cross… Not Our Works It says in Hebrews 10, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God.” “Let us draw near,” it says in Hebrews 4, “To the throne of grace.” Let us draw near on the basis of the cross of Christ, draw near to find mercy and obtain grace to help us in our time of need. The welcome, the ongoing welcome in prayer comes from the cross of Christ. Ongoing Protection from Pride and Worldliness Paul Dealt Constantly with Pride We also get ongoing protection from pride and worldliness. In Galatians 6:14, it says, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” You see, the cross isn't just available to cleanse us of existing sin patterns. It's to keep us safe from sin itself, to give us the power to stand in the day of temptation and to say no. But the cross is especially fitted to fight specific sins like pride and worldliness. That's why it says, “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.” Oh, how we struggle with pride! Isn't it a bit ironic? When you look at yourself, really, in the mirror of God's perfect Word and in the light of his perfect holiness, that we should ever boast about anything at all. We are sinners; God is holy. Why would we ever boast about anything? But yet, we're proud. And Paul renounces all human boasting in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I think the Apostle Paul struggled with boasting. He was one of those Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee of Pharisees, one of these ladder-climbing Jews who was seeking to ascend into the heavenlies by his own good works, by his Judaism, by his law-keeping. And so I think he always struggled with boasting. He mentions the theme of boasting again and again in his letters. I think it was an ongoing issue in his life, but he's come down to this: The cross of Jesus Christ destroys any ground for boasting in our lives. I sometimes hear the boasting of people in our age, drunk with the mindset of our present age, and I shudder. We're in the midst of a political campaign. Isn't it nauseating, from a spiritual perspective, to see any candidate get up and trumpet their achievements and their qualities and their character traits? Now you say it's intrinsic to the election, if you don't do it, you won't get elected. Well, the scripture says, “Let another mouth praise you, not your own.” Wouldn't that be something? The candidates never open their mouth, but they just get somebody to come and advocate on their behalf. Well, we get plenty of that. I wouldn't mind some of the candidates never opening their mouths again, but we have a lot of boasting, all of our achievements, the great works that we've achieved. You see it, especially I think in the athletic realm. Athletes will get up and say things like this, “I'm the greatest of all time.” I'm thinking, “My goodness.” And then the announcers, the sports announcer’s gonna do the same thing. I was watching one compilation of an athlete's achievements and the announcer in one important, so to speak, playoff game, said, “You're watching what true greatness is all about.” I'm thinking, “No. True greatness is about the cross of Jesus Christ.” So this athlete scores 20 points in the fourth quarter, who cares? Centuries later, no one will remember his name if the Lord tarries. You wanna know what true greatness is all about? The cross of Jesus Christ. Worldliness Dies at the Cross Too “May I never boast except in the cross of Jesus Christ,” but it says more than that, “Through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Now, that's a battle against worldliness. The world seems empty, it seems meaningless compared to the achievements of Christ on the cross. In one afternoon, in three hours, he atoned for all of my sins, and not just mine, but a countless multitude from every tribe and language and people and nation. That's greatness. And May I never boast except in that. So what does the world have to offer to me? Satan is always trying to sell the world, just like he did to Jesus when he was being tempted. He took him up on a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All of this I will give you,” he said, “If you'll just bow down and worship me.” And Jesus said, “Away from me, Satan, for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” But there's no allure, there was no allure to the world as Jesus looked out on it, but to us, we struggle with it, with its power and with its possessions, and with its prestige and all of the things that it entices us with. John Wesley in his journal, on December 23rd, 1755, he was in the dressing room with the king as he prepared to address parliament. He was in the robe chamber as aged King George II was getting ready to go address parliament. And this is what he wrote in his journal. “I was in the robe-chamber, adjoining the House of Lords when the King put on his robes. His brow was much furrowed with age and quite clouded with care. And is this all the world can give even to a king? All the grandeur it can afford? A blanket of ermine around his shoulders, so heavy and cumbersome he can scarcely move under it. A huge heap of borrowed hair, with a few plates of gold and glittering stones upon his head. Alas, what a bauble is human greatness! And even this will not endure.” Now, last week, I said that the cross of Christ is like a prism. It takes the white light of the character of God and breaks it out into a rainbow of attributes. Well, in a similar way, the cross of Christ is like a magnifying lens. Though, if you look through it one way, it magnifies the greatness of Christ, but if you get on the other side and look the other way, it minimizes the greatness, so to speak, of every human being. It makes us small. May I never boast about myself or anything in this world, except the achievements of Jesus Christ. Ongoing Pattern for Daily Service Christ’s Sacrifice a Pattern for Our Daily Sacrifices We also see in the cross of Christ when we come again and again to the cross for an ongoing pattern of daily service. How are we to serve him? God has left us in this world, how are we to serve him in this world? Come to the cross of Christ again and again to learn. 1 John 3:16-18, it says this, “This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Christ's sacrifice of himself on the cross is a pattern for how we should be toward God and toward each other in our service. One of the most influential missionary leaders in Protestant history was Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. He was born in 1700 in an influential German family of nobility, his father died, his mother remarried, so he was raised by a grandmother and an aunt in a godly pietistic home. And he learned German Pietism from them and was enticed and interested in the gospel, but still struggling as a young man with what his path would be in life. Struggled with his future calling. He went to Wittenberg to study law in preparation for a successful life as a government leader, but there was a pull, an attraction on him, in reference to the gospel. Well, he went on a tour of Europe in 1719 and he was arrested, just stopped dead in his tracks by a painting of Christ in his sufferings. The painting was by the Italian artist, Domenico Feti, was entitled “Ecce Homo,” that's Pilate's statement, “Behold the man.” Look at him in his sufferings. And at the bottom of the painting was an inscription. “All this I have done for you. What are you doing for me?” Now, I think there's a bit of a danger in considering that. John Piper pointed out, “Grace doesn't create debt, it pays it.” But let's look more faithfully, I think a little more closely at 1 John 3. “This is how we know what love is,” verse 16, “Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” That word “ought” is obligation. There's a sense of responsibility in the Christian life. “All of this I have done for you. You ought to live a certain kind of life.” We are debtors, brothers, and sisters, but not to the flesh, to live according to it. We ought to lay down our lives for Jesus and for one another. This is the pattern of service, and this has been a powerful pull again and again in the Christian life. C.T. Studd, who was a successful athlete in his day, he was a cricketer, one of the most popular sports in his time and very, very powerful and successful at cricket, but he gave all of that up, all of his wealth, his influence to go overseas as a missionary in China, in India, and Africa. And this is what he said, “If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” There's a sacrificial aspect of our daily life, the cross of Jesus Christ is the pattern of it. VI. Ongoing Focus of Worship Last Week: Prism As we mentioned last time, the cross of Jesus Christ is also the ongoing focus of our worship. I don't need to belabor this, but I'm just urging you. Did you do it last week? Did you go back to the cross and look at the attributes? Did you find some others too? Did you see his holiness at the cross? Did you see his power? Did you see his righteousness and his justice there? Did you see his wrath? Did you see all of the attributes of God beautifully balanced and mixed and poured out at the cross of Jesus Christ? Heavenly Worship is Throne-centered and Cross-centered Now, Heaven, if you were to go there, if you were to have that opportunity that Apostle John did, of a door standing open in Heaven, and you could go up in the spirit, and at once he was in the Spirit, he went through that door, and there immediately he saw a throne and someone seated on it. The throne is the center of heavenly worship, and around that throne are 24 elders and four living creatures. There’s a very concentric field to heavenly worship. They're all around the throne all the time. The throne of God, of Almighty God, is the center of true spiritual worship. But in Revelation chapter 5, at the center of the throne is the crucified lamb. John saw a Lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, and they're all encircling him and giving him praise. So it says in Revelation 5, verse 11-12, “Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.’” Worthy is the lamb who was slain. The cross of Jesus Christ is the focus of true spiritual worship, and it will be to the rest of our lives. Ongoing Training in Hope-Filled Suffering How Will You Face Suffering? It is also ongoing training for hope-filled suffering. Jesus made many promises to us. In the Christian life, there are many promises. The promise book God, that's the scripture. How is this for a promise? “In this world, you will have trouble.” I don't see people embroidering that one and putting it up on the wall, you know? “Ah, the precious promises of God.” “In this world, you will have trouble.” Well, you will. How will you handle it? How will you carry yourself through your difficulties? The early church, it was said by Tertullian, “The blood of martyrs is seed for the church.” You know why it was seed? It's because of how the martyrs died. Justin Martyr, 2nd-century believer, became a Christian by watching Christian martyrs die. This is what he wrote, “I watched them stand fearless in the face of death and of every other thing that was considered dreadful.” Where did that courage come from? I think it came from the exact example of Jesus Christ on the cross. Suffering Inevitable in Life Suffering is inevitable in this life. It's inevitable for Christians, it's inevitable for non-Christians. Nobody can escape. You can't escape physical suffering, you can't escape disease, you can't escape little bumps and bruises and scratch and nicks, you can't escape the flu and similar other minor illnesses, neither can you escape dying. The question I wanna ask is this, are you ready to die? Are you ready not just to die, but I mean to die well, to the glory of God, to die well? I've seen people die well. I've also seen people not die well. I've seen people who were church members for decades, die, it seems, with no assurance whatsoever of salvation. I saw one woman in particular who was sedated and thrashing around in great anguish, and I talked to the nurse and they said, “This is non-physical pain. It's impossible, the amount of sedative given.” There's some kind of psychological thing going on. Well, right before she had gone into a coma, she basically told me that she had no assurance of her salvation. I had shared the gospel with her, I talked to her very plainly from John's gospel, she had no assurance. And it was a scary thing for me to watch her thrashing around there in that coma, and I thought, “Lord, give me the grace to die well. Give me the grace to put my faith on display. This is too much for me. It's too hard for me to do it.” But I know this, and I believe this with all my heart, that little trials we go through throughout life prepare us for that dying day. And how you face economic adversity, how you face difficulties relationally in your family or with others, how you face these things, the courage you show, the ability you have to go back to the cross again and again to get from Jesus what you need, enables you, prepares you for the day when you will leave this world to the glory of God. Jesus showed us how to do it. It says in Hebrews chapter 12 that “Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.” Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Fix your thoughts on Jesus. Do you realize how other-centered he was on the cross? “Father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing,” he says. He sets up a relationship between John and his mother so that his mother is well cared for after he departs. He says to the thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” He's very others-centered on the cross. How are you when you suffer? Are you others-centered when you suffer? When you get sick, when you're hurt, who do you think of? Fix your eyes on Jesus and learn how to be others-centered, learn how to be glory-of-God-centered from the cross of Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote this, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” Light, momentary troubles, just like a mist, and they're gone. For the joy set before you, endure them well. Go like Jesus did at the cross to beyond what God has in store for you. For the day when you will see him face-to-face and know that your trials are achieving for you a glory that far outweighs them all. Ongoing Center of Evangelism The “External Journey” is Essential to Our Internal Journey And finally, I want you to go to the cross again and again when you share the gospel. It troubles me when I look at modern evangelism and how non-cross-centered it is. We have all kinds of new theories on evangelism, all kinds of new approaches. And some of them, I think are helpful for getting us into relationships with people like servant evangelism and things like that, where you go into certain areas that are needy and do physical things to help people, but I think it's just old liberalism to do that and not share the gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified. We need to put the cross at the center of any good work we do for anybody. The cross should be at the center of evangelism. Now, our internal journey of sanctification, I have argued, and I still believe is indivisibly linked with the external journey of missions and evangelism. You will make no progress in your Christian life if you're not witnessing, if you're not sharing the gospel. So just a simple step, that little card that you have on the pew, grab it, take it and give it to somebody. Give it to a non-Christian this week, invite them to church. And as you do, you know you're gonna find yourself having to overcome yourself. You're gonna have to overcome, you're gonna have to kind of crucify yourself, but for the joy set before you, you're gonna do it. You're gonna overcome and you're actually gonna give that card to somebody, and you may get into a conversation with somebody about Easter. “So do you ever think about Easter, about the resurrection?” I think something. “What do you think about the empty tomb? Isn't it exciting that Jesus destroyed death? That we don't need to fear death anymore.” When you say these things, put a smile on your face and say, “The cross of Jesus Christ has made me free from sin and guilt. I'm not a guilty man anymore. I'm not a guilty woman anymore. I'm free.” And they'll catch something in the way of your disposition and they'll say, “I want some of that.” And the center of it's gonna be the cross of Jesus Christ. You can't save yourself, come to the cross. Trust in Jesus who shed his blood on the cross. And you'll be forgiven. The cross should be the center of all of your efforts at evangelism. Now listen, we've just looked at a handful of reasons why we as Christians need to come back to the cross again and again. Think of 30 more this week. Or don't, just come to the cross. We don't need an icon, we don't need the physical cross up there, we don't have to have a physical thing in front of us. Just know that Jesus Christ and him crucified is the power of God for your salvation and mine. And rely on it day by day, until the day he takes you out of this world and you are saved to sin no more. Close with me in prayer.

Join us in participating in an Apologetics Panel presented to a Life Teen group in February 2007. Topics discussed include Being Saved, Women Priests, The True Presence, Confession to a Priest, Celibacy, Papal Infallibility and much more.

Join us in participating in an Apologetics Panel presented to a Life Teen group in February 2007. Topics discussed include Being Saved, Women Priests, The True Presence, Confession to a Priest, Celibacy, Papal Infallibility and much more.

Join us in participating in an Apologetics Panel presented to a Life Teen group in February 2007. Topics discussed include Being Saved, Women Priests, The True Presence, Confession to a Priest, Celibacy, Papal Infallibility and much more.

Join us in participating in an Apologetics Panel presented to a Life Teen group in February 2007. Topics discussed include Being Saved, Women Priests, The True Presence, Confession to a Priest, Celibacy, Papal Infallibility and much more.

Join us in participating in an Apologetics Panel presented to a Life Teen group in February 2007. Topics discussed include Being Saved, Women Priests, The True Presence, Confession to a Priest, Celibacy, Papal Infallibility and much more.