Podcasts about bible they

https://TakingTheLandPodcast.comSUBSCRIBE TO PREMIUM FOR MORE:• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3/month on Supercast⁠: https://taking-the-land.supercast.com/⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe for only $3.99/month on Spotify⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-the-land/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠Subscribe for only $4.99/month on Apple Podcasts⁠: https://apple.co/3vy1s5b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Just one more reason to believe the Bible…    “They shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.”   - Ezekiel 26:4 (KJV) 

What can we learn from Genesis 5? What if…?From Adam to Noah5 This is the written account of Adam's family line.When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male andfemale and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” [a] when they were created.3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named himSeth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adamlived a total of 930 years, and then he died.6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father [b] of Enosh. 7 After he became the father of Enosh,Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, andthen he died.9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 After he became the father of Kenan,Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Altogether, Enosh lived a total of 905 years,and then he died.12 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13 After he became the father ofMahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 Altogether, Kenan lived a total of910 years, and then he died.15 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. 16 After he became the father ofJared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17 Altogether, Mahalalel lived a totalof 895 years, and then he died.18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19 After he became the father ofEnoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962years, and then he died.21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father ofMethuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons anddaughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then hewas no more, because God took him away.25 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26 After he became the fatherof Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27 Altogether, Methuselahlived a total of 969 years, and then he died.28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah [c] and said, “He will comfort usin the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” 30 After Noah wasborn, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31 Altogether, Lamech lived a total of777 years, and then he died.32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.1. Why pause and study this chapter?- Our message series are based on a Book of the Bible and not current events or Life Skills 101,starring Jesus. Genesis 5 is the next passage…it's in the Bible, so it's important.- Our messages are exegetical, not eisegetical…or exegesis vs. eisegesis.Exegesis - objective interpretation of the text to discover it's original meaningEisegesis - Involves reading one's own ideas into the text, and is not concerned with theoriginal context.2. What can we learn from Gensis 5?- Genesis 5 is the beginning of the next major section of Genesis- It documents the faithfulness of God as He preserves what would be the bloodline of Jesus, throughNoah's son, Shem. In that, Genesis 5 presents an early genealogy of the people of God.- Consider the possibility that this genealogy exists for the sake of the Gospel.- For those in Christ, it's an early family tree- It's a wide-angle view of redemptive history after the fall- Genesis 5 connects God's faithfulness from Adam through Noah and ultimately to all of us whobelong to Him through our faith in Jesus.- That's a pretty legit reason for us take a closer look, right?3. Genesis 5 opens by echoing Chapter 1:Genesis 5:1-2When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male andfemale and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” [a] when they were created.- Mankind = the human race- Just a reminder that God created mankind – in His own likeness – male and female and Heblessed them.4. A unique inclusion in this genealogy is verse 3:3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named himSeth. - So just as God fathers Adam and makes humanity in His likeness, so Adam reflects the imageof God by fathering a son who embodies his own likeness and image.o It seems to really emphasize the importance of this bloodline – which we know nowleads us to Jesus5. The most shocking aspect of Genesis 5 is that it bluntly documents a series of deaths – reminding usthat things were not the way they were originally designed to be prior to the fall.Genesis 5:4-54 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adam liveda total of 930 years, and then he died.- So in this chapter, right at the start, we get a heads up to the God-inspired redemption offeredthrough this bloodline – knowing that this genealogy leads to Jesus, while simultaneouslyreceiving a sobering reminder of the fall – the reason why redemption through Jesus wasnecessary.It may be a stretch, but I believe the genealogy in Genesis 5 is a very early reminder – in retrospect, ofthe reality of Romans 6:23Romans 6:23“23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in [a] Christ Jesus our Lord.”- those “…and then he died” statements are chilling compared to the life God intended for Adamand Eve…and all of us.- from the fall forward, humanity is held in slavery…Hebrews 2:14-15“14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he (Jesus) too shared in their humanity so that by his death hemight break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those whoall their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”-As Adam tastes death as a judgement for sin, Jesus comes as a second Adam, who not only tastesdeath, but overcomes it and reverses the curse. “crushes the head of the serpent” from Genesis 3:13Romans 5:12-17“12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this waydeath came to all people, because all sinned—13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone'saccount where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time ofMoses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of theone to come.15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how muchmore did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to themany! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followedone sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and broughtjustification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how muchmore will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign inlife through the one man, Jesus Christ!”This genealogy shows us the very beginning of God's redemptive plan for humanity.5. There are 25 genealogies in the Bible- They recount deaths and births- But uncommon elements seem to stand out – those included people or asides that break fromthe typical script – This should catch our attention because it happens for a reason.- Everyone's family tree has folks who stand out a little more than others – there'ssomething distinct about them.- Even in Amy's and my family trees, there are folks that got a bronze metal in theOlympics (Amy's), busted Al Capone (also Amy's), a former president (naturally Amy's)and a gangster - former Public Enemy Number 1 (OK…my tree)6. Adam's descendent Enoch, born of the line of Seth, was one of those uncommon people…Genesis 5:21-2421 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 After he became the father ofMethuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons anddaughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. 24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then hewas no more, because God took him away.- Up to this point, for each generation, we have a man living a certain number of years,fathers at least the son mentioned, lives longer, then dies.- Yet – we have a pause, or disruption with Enoch – why?- Obviously, Enoch had a close relationship with God. How do we know? Because the texttakes a break from the pattern to tell us that Enoch walked faithfully with Godo It suggests an intimacy unseen since before the Fallo This “walking with God” suggests a righteousness that comes by faith, and shows usthe intimate relationship we, as Christians, should have with God as describedthroughout the New Testament.- Enoch shows us the difference between being welcomed by God instead of facing death –rather than die like Adam's other descendants, Enoch gets taken by God. Hebrews 11:5shines a little more light on what happened with Enoch:Hebrews 11:55 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found,because God had taken him away.” [a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleasedGod.- One could say that the faith of Enoch led to the favor of God…for Christians, this mightmean:- One could say that the Believer's future is not based on his or her work, but his or her walkwhich of course, does include works prepared in advance by God)- A believer's future is not based on credentials, but based on character- It's defined not by pleasing others, but by pleasing God.- In fact, Hebrews 11:6 follows saying:Hebrews 11:66 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe thathe exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.- God is pleased with those who wholly believe what His word says about Him.- Also, God rewards those who seek Him- Enoch also believed that God judges those who reject Him…How do we know this?Jude 14-1514 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands uponthousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts theyhave committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken againsthim.”- What we see in Enoch's walk was that it was rooted in deepest intimacy with God: he knewGod.- His walk rested on great faith – he believed in God with his whole heart- He believed that God would judge and reward all who live- This doesn't describe the high point of his life, but his entire life – over 300 years of aprogressively closer walk with God.- Then “God took him away”When Enoch was just a young man…365 years old…” he was no more, because God took him away.”- What are they saying here? How did God just take him?- Maybe it was similar to how God took Elijah…in a chariot of fire. It DOES sound a littlefamiliar when 2 Kings 2:11-12 says “…and Elisha saw him no more”2 Kings 2:11-1211 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appearedand separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and criedout, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then hetook hold of his garment and tore it in two.- What we can surmise by this, is that Enoch was taken from earthly life to eternal life.- God will do the same for us…probably not the same way, but certainly for the same reasonand the same goal…through JesusSo how does Enoch relate to or inform us as Christians?- What if what happened to Enoch was to encourage all of us to walk with God.- What if what happened to Enoch is intended to awaken all of us to the hope of life afterdeath.- I would think it awakened something in his contemporaries…hey had a LOT of time to thinkabout it.- His son, Methuselah had 969 years to mull this over!- Even as we discuss Chapter 5 as the beginning of the genealogy of Jesus, before Jesus wasborn, we see this hope manifested in some of the greats of the Old Testament:Job 19:25-27- 25 I know that my redeemer [a] lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. [b]26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet [c] in [d] my flesh I will see God;27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!Daniel 12:2-32 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others toshame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise [a] will shine like the brightness of theheavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.- Don't these verses foreshadow the New Testament promises of Christ's return?SO – How do we walk faithfully with God?1. Pray – alwaysa. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-1816 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus for you.- You cannot have a flourishing relationship with someone you don't talk to.- Prayer is a time to tell God what is going on in our lives, to ask for guidance and wisdom, torepent of our sin and to enjoy His presence. It is a time to admit that God is greater than weare and to trust Him-2. Surrender to His will and way of lifea. Galatians 2:2020 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved meand gave himself for me.b. Surrendering your life requires an eternal perspective- Prayer of Darren's friend –o Thank you God for one more day, and thank you God for one less day.- c. This means surrendering everything you are- your job- your family- your money – your security- your past, present and future-3. Read the Bible- The inspired word of God- Psalm 119:105- “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”- You can't walk with God in the dark.4. Live like Jesusa. Obey His commandsb. 1 John 2:6“6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”- “My dad is my hero”5. Confession ad Repentancea. Recognizing and confessing sini. The world doesn't determine what sin is – God doesii. If you pray, surrender your life to Him, read His word, and live like Jesus, you'llrecognize the sin in your life, you'll know what to give Himiii. He's already died for it – give it to Him1 John 1:9“9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and tocleanse us from all unrighteousness.”iv. How many of us are sitting in a prison cell with door already opened?v. Walk out of the cell that Jesus opened, and walk with God.

Pastor Tim outlines the reasons we should baptize our children. They need salvation that Jesus offers there Infants can have faith (so says the Bible) They are vulnerable to sin and death

If we know one thing about moms it's that we're busy. And if we know anything about this time of year it's that the busy ramps up. So we are kicking off our back to school series we are calling The Busy Mom's Guide. We're starting by talking about how to engage with Scripture in the middle of parenting chaos. As our guest Hunter Beless says, there is no quiet these days for the "quiet time." Hunter is the author of the children's book Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible. Those approaches work for moms too. We can place Scripture where we'll read it. On the steering wheel of our car, next to the kitchen sink, in our pocket. If we can see it, we can read it. We can also listen to it. Often the best approach to engaging Scripture when we never sit down is to have it playing over us and around us. Hunter understands that this is a unique time in a woman's life and it requires unique approaches. From Scripture memorization to dinner time readings to habit stacking (you'll want to hear this one), we talk about what it means for busy moms to eat from the bread of life. We need to nourish our souls on God's good word and the busier we are, the more we need it. So how are you going to engage with Scripture today?   A Few Things Mentioned: Hunter's podcast The Journeywomen Podcast Hunter's children's book, Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It: Knowing and Loving the Bible "They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” -Deuteronomy 32:47 "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”Matthew 4:4 "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:6 "How sweet are your words to my taste,     sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103 SEEDs Family Worship The Dwell Bible app Scripture Typer app Atomic Habits by James Clearr "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.     He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,      he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths     for his name's sake.  Even though I walk     through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,     for you are with me; your rod and your staff,     they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows.  Surely your goodness and love will follow me     all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord     forever." Psalm 23 “Let us consider if we're not spending time with God, why we're not.” –Dallas Willard Things Hunter Said: “If I really want to know that God is who he says he is, I'm going to open up this book and ask him to show me…to show me who he is.” “We need the Gospel. And we don't just need it one time, we need it every day.”   Thank you to our sponsor: 2 Free Weeks of Meal Plans HERE~ http://prepdish.com/sisterhood Subscribe - PrepDish.com prepdish.com We know that busy moms need help getting dinner on the table. This is why we've invited Prep Dish to partner with us to bring you The Busy Mom's series. Their weekly meal plans offer you meals that are -quick & easy -delivered straight to your inbox -adaptable to your family's needs (gluten free and dairy free options available) -answer the question "What's for dinner?"   And the BEST NEWS: Open Door Sisterhood get two weeks free. Just go over to prepdish.com/sisterhood to sign up.

Our 14th phrase as we travel through the Bible: They were Naked and Not Ashamed. READING: Genesis 2:25Receive Reading Between the Lines as daily videos at https://www.facebook.com/SpeakLifeUK/Please LIKE, SHARE and SUBSCRIBE

Occupy Meaning: To take or fill up, to take or hold possession  Possession: the state of having, owning or controlling something. An item of property: something belonging to one.  When I see Occupy, it's a verb, it's an action. It's not a spectator sport, you can't be an armchair quarterback.  It's being intentional, engaged, and doing.  It is taking ownership of what belongs to you.  The Bible is full of promises, but we often don't Occupy them. Promises of full health - “By His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:5 NLTPromises of prosperity - “A Greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” Proverbs 28:25 ESVPromises to be with us always - “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:20 NLT Even after everything we still struggle with grasping that we must Occupy and take possession of all His promises.  We are good with the promise of salvation, and we Occupy that, by declaring Jesus Lord of our life.  But we seem to not hold tightly to the many others, why?  To jump in let's look at Genesis 17:8 NLT. God gives a promise to Abraham. Doesn't have any kids in his old age, but the Lord changes his name to Father of Nations.  Genesis 17:8 NLT “And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.” God speaks promises into our lives, but we still need to walk them out. We need to Occupy and take possession of those promises.  Although Abraham lived in the land promised, he never truly Occupied, he was a foreigner in the land promised to him. It wasn't his possession; he was just staying there cohabitating with others.   If you came to live with me as a guest… you are living there, staying there, or renting space… but you do not Occupy because it is my house.  We think Occupying is simply being in a space, but as we saw for the definitions, it's not, it's taking ownership.  God wants us to Occupy, not be renters or bystanders in the promises He gives us But Gods word is never void, He kept His promise to Abraham, but it was years and generations later.  The people that could claim the promises ended up wandering and waiting until a man named Joshua walked in and truly Occupied as God intended.  Moses is ready to Occupy the promises of God and sends 12 spies into the land that God promised to Abraham.  After 40 days the spies came back and gave a report.  It was favorable report, a land flowing with Milk and Honey… There were 2 of the 12, with a positive report Joshua and Caleb that knew when God says it is yours, it is yours, they were ready to go that moment. Numbers 13:30 ESV “But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” It's yours, you just have to go and occupy, go and Posses it… You have to walk in the fullness that God has spoken in your life.  But we as people trust what our eyes see and not the word of God.  Then in the next breath there was a BUT….  How often do we let that BUT stop the power of God.  We get this vision for something , a great idea, a new job BUT How can I afford itBUT I am not smart enoughBUT it will take too much time  The other 10 in the group added their but, and put a stop to Caleb and Joshua's faith and tells the community a bad report and paints a picture of impossibility.  They started to filter the situation with their head and not the promise that God had given them The land was being given to them.  They then start to talk about how strong the people in the land were, how fortified the cities were. They will be destroyed if they enter. Doubt sets in, fear takes over, and they operate in what their eyes see and not what God is saying.  Sound familiar… Back in the garden the serpent asked Eve, did God really say?  All he needs to do is get us to doubt God and he has us.  Another generation of people lost out on the promise God had given to Abraham, it could have been a 40 day journey, but the promise was held from them for 40 years, because they would not Occupy what God had spoken.  When God says it, you can take it to the bank… It's settled….  Key words in the Bible. I am, I will, You are, I have given you…. All key indicators we have it, we got to Occupy it!  But it's not going to fall into your lap, you got to step into it.  Even if it doesn't look possible, you have to trust that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me The only roadblock that stops God and His promises in our lives is us, our unbelief, our inaction, our complacency  God has given us gifts and blessings to walk this out. Do we trust Him? Do we have faith in Him?  Even Jesus spoke of Occupying in His parables. We have all these wonderful things given to us, we simply don't occupy and walk in the fulness He has given us!  Parable of the Ten Servants:  A noble man leaves to be crowned king. Before he left, he divided 10 pounds of silver Among them and told them to invest it while he was gone.  Matthew 25:13 KJV - “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Matthew 25:13 NLT - “Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.'” When he returned, he brought them in to see what they did with the money.  The 1st one invested and made 10 times the amount The king was pleased with this response and put him in charge of 10 cities The 2nd one invested and made back 5 times the amount The king was pleased with this response and put him in charge of 5 cities The 3rd one hid the money and returned it in full but made no profit.  The king was not pleased with this, he ordered the money be taken from the third and give it to the one that made 10x the amount.  Let's read Matthew 25:26 “Yes,' the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” I kind of see it as 2 paths we walk down based on the decisions we make Occupy and we take ownership and more will be given to us Or be a foreigner and have a renter's mentality, and things will be held from us You know the old saying if God can get it through you, He will get it to you!  The king was not upset that 3rd servant for not making a profit. He was upset that he was given the money and did nothing with it. He buried it in the ground and ignored it.  Sounds familiar? God gives us gifts, opportunities, time, finances and often times we bury them in the ground and don't use them for Him. Or we use them for our own benefit.  We are not meant to be here and coexist with the world.  We are meant to bring change to it. We are meant to share Jesus and His love with those we come in contact with. We are meant to Occupy.  Romans 12:2 NLT “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. There are two areas we can be different.  Ways we can Occupy. God as Lord, God as provider. These are great places to build faith!  Let's start with Occupying God as Lord?  When He is Lord, He has all of us not the leftovers We give Him the first and best of our time and resources  We often don't do this though we say, I am so busy, I don't have the time  I get it we got to sleep, we got to work, we got the kids, we got this thing called life to do.  But could we afford another 15 minutes or another 1 hour a day to dedicate to our Lord?  Let's take a look at how our time is spent in a week. PUT UP PIE GRAPH In a week we have 168 hours to invest. It's not all usable as we got to sleep and do other things... But let's use 79 hours as what we have left to spend.  The list on the right are some items that we can fill the 79 hours up in a week.  In 2021 the average person spends 2.5 hours on social media a day… There goes 17.5 hours.  For TV this is 3.5 hours a day or 24.5 hours in a week  Just these 2 items cost us 42 hours of our time a week. But we don't have to, we choose this…  So instead of saying I don't have the time, we should start saying, I would, but it's not that important to me.  I am not saying that to see God as Lord we need to cut all of the extras out.  Simply could we be honest with ourselves and how we choose to invest our time and give God a little more?  In the little more He refines us, and a little more becomes a little more, and that becomes a little more until you find yourself finding rest in Him and not all these others that really are not adding value to our lives.   You know it takes 72 hours to read the Bible from front to back? At 1 hour a day we could read the Bible 5 times in a year. TAKE DOWN PIE GRAPH There is so many ways we can honor God, but do we give Him the time and energy?  What about Occupying God as Provider?  This area snags so many Christians up  Like the word money and giving are a 4-letter word  But often we miss the point of giving…  We think it's to keep the church doors open, to support local ministries, to pay the preacher man.  All of those are byproducts of giving… Great byproducts… but what if God means it to be more?  I believe when you give or if you don't give, we are expressing our faith of who our provider is.  Is God your provider, or are you?  God wants us to be cheerful givers and to see Him as provider and source of all.  See giving today has lost a little bit of its luster since it is $ now… PUT UP SPENDING GRAPH But think about it from the days of the Bible… They had to give the first and best. Not only are they giving to God their first harvest, but anything that could have come from it also.  They truly trusted God that the other 90% would be far greater than the 100% We often think if God blesses me, I will give then… If He would increase, I would start...  Notice something wrong with those statements, we are expecting God to move first, but He has, it's our turn  Finances should be a resource, not and umbilical cord.  It should be a tool we pick up and use not something we put our full reliance in. The Bible is full of promises, but we miss it by not Occupying and marching forward. TAKE DOWN PIE GRAPH I love what Craig Groeschel said last week- If you want to be more generous when you have more, learn to be generous when you have less. – Craig Groeschel Giving is not the action of writing a check, it's the posture of our heart, and the faith that He is our provider and source.  None of what I have shared can be done without Faith Without faith we are lost and succumb to our sinful ways.  We establish our will our ways, our plans, instead of the perfect and pleasing plan that God has.  Hebrews is a great place to camp out to build faith!  Hebrews 11:1 NKJV “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:6 NKJV “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” Faith doesn't just happen, it takes walking as close to God as possible, through His word, through pray… Simply spending time in His presence.  I look at faith like a muscle, we have to work it out to get stronger.  We have to get uncomfortable and stretch ourselves a bit.  In this growth happens, and when we grab on to these truths, no matter what is thrown at you, we stay locked in on Jesus and no storm will cause us to sink…  I have spoken a lot of personal promises, but there is also Corporate promises As a corporate body we have promises that God has given to us.  1st our Purpose here is to Help people discover and develop their life in Christ. If we believe this and have faith that God will give us everything, we need to meet this purpose.  Guess what happens… God shows up, God delivers, but we cannot have our hands in our pockets, we got to putting in the work!  2nd our new building. Notice how I said our new building, not we may get a new building.  When God says it, it is a done deal.  It is ours; we just have to Occupy it.  We just have to take possession of it.  We need to walk into the lands God has promised us.  Maybe some of you are the finance for this new building…. But you need to Occupy it.  Maybe some of you are going to give time and expertise to it…. But you need to Occupy it.  Let's not be like the 12 Spies with some that have huge faith and dragging everyone else, “come on you all…. IT IS AMAZING… LETS GO…..” Or are you the renters, the neigh sayers, or negative Nancies to think of every obstacle to come in the way of the promise…  THERE WILL BE OBSTACLES.  There is a real enemy that doesn't want us to Occupy, he wants us to be foreigners in the promises God has given us.  I am so glad we serve a God that is bigger than all that stuff.  All we need to do is be attentive, be obedient, and keep moving forward….  In this season we are going into… we need some faith giants to stand in the gap.  This season will be a journey, but let's not neglect the now for the tomorrow.  Why are you putting in new carpet, because until the Lord tells us to move we will Occupy Why are you updating the decor, because until the Lord tells us to move we will Occupy Church will you Occupy the promises He has for us...  Will you stand boldly with the faith that God is at the helm and we are rowing in the same direction.  Let's walk in the fullness he has for us and stop living as foreigners in what He has given to us.  Let's occupy all he has for us and draw closer to Him.  

I don't know if the events of the last two weeks are a harbinger of the last days, or if they are a chastisement from God to give us a time to repent and turn our lives around. I don't know the answer to that; only time will tell. If God really meant for us to know, he'd have told us. I've learned something, though, over the years: that the reading of the Bible conveys a great advantage to men and women who attend to its words. It makes a difference in people's lives. You do realize, don't you, that every one of the founders of this country were readers of the Bible? They were men who took the Bible seriously; and who, in the founding document of this country said, We hold these truths to be self-evident... (We think everyone knows this.) ...that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with unalienable rights: Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. The knowledge, the awareness of the Creator was important to them; and it's upon the foundation of that statement that this nation, with all its freedoms and all that it means to us, was built. And these men, in their speeches, would often quote the Bible; and it was clear they knew the Bible—knew what it said, knew the context, knew what it meant; and that their lives and their directions were informed by the Bible. I know that they didn't always do what the Bible said; I know that they didn't always understand everything that the Bible said; but their conscience and their value system was informed by the Bible and the awareness that it is our Creator that guarantees our rights. And one of the things that I feel encouraged by today as I stand before you is that we have a man sitting in the Oval Office who reads the Bible and takes it seriously. It means a lot to me to know that. And there was something about that speech that the president gave that made me think that he was familiar with a Bible story that has informed my actions at key points in the past in my ministry, and I think should inform our plans for the future of the church. The story begins with bad news...

Why do so many people reject out of hand the message of the Bible- They see it as outdated or mere foolishness. Whereas others gladly receive it as the truth of God, it then changes their lives for good and for all eternity. Paul explains that it depends on the state of the human heart, whether it thinks purely as a Natural human being or Spiritual.

On today’s episode the group tackles the second part of a question they never got around to finishing earlier - should we consider other specific perspectives on the Bible? They reflect on whose interpretation of scripture we tend to acknowledge more and explore what the practice of reading scripture in different environments does to our perspective. Don't forget to send in your Lent questions! FMHouston.com/AMA

On today’s episode the group tackles the second part of a question they never got around to finishing earlier - should we consider other specific perspectives on the Bible? They reflect on whose interpretation of scripture we tend to acknowledge more and explore what the practice of reading scripture in different environments does to our perspective. Don't forget to send in your Lent questions! FMHouston.com/AMA

Have you ever heard someone say, "God allowed that in the Bible?" They didn't understand that culture doesn't negate God's command. We can live and adopt different things in our society. However, God's law is greater and consequences come as a result of doing things our way. We must remain unstained from the world and how we treat others. Click to listen to Jacob's saga.

Have you ever heard someone say, "God allowed that in the Bible?" They didn't understand that culture doesn't negate God's command. We can live and adopt different things in our society. However, God's law is greater and consequences come as a result of doing things our way. We must remain unstained from the world and how we treat others. Click to listen to Jacob's saga.

On this holiday in which we celebrate independence and the courage of our revolutionary heroes, a word about a different kind of revolutionary, and her exercise of the free speech and religious practice the founders fought for.Elizabeth McAlister has lived at Jonah House, on the West Side of Baltimore, for most of the last 50 years. She and her husband, the anti-war activist Philip Berrigan, founded Jonah House as part of a network of Catholic Worker Houses across the country. Philip was one of the Catonsville Nine, who burned draft records in 1968, setting-off a series of similar actions across the country. He died in 2002, but McAlister has continued to protest against violence and war, in particular, nuclear weapons.In April, on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination, McAlister and six others cut through a fence and entered the King’s Bay Naval Submarine Base in Camden County, GA, which is home to a fleet of Trident Submarines, which carry nuclear war heads.The group’s purpose was to commit what they call a Ploughshares Action, based on a phrase from Isaiah in the Bible:“They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”The first Ploughshares Action took place in 1980. Since then, more than 100 similar protests have occurred in the United States and around the world.  When Elizabeth McAlister and her fellow activists entered the King’s Bay Naval Base, they were arrested, as they hoped they would be. They want a trial, so they can introduce evidence that contends that nuclear weapons are illegal, and that the United States is in violation of American and International law by using them, or even threatening to use them. It’s not a widely held legal theory.In a world that presents the kind of threats it presents, making an argument for complete nuclear disarmament is a tough sell, and many abhor the group’s strategy of breaking the law in civil disobedience. But these activists are afforded the right under our constitution to press their case, and they do so, animated by an intense faith in God, and their understanding of the message articulated by Jesus in the Christian New Testament.A pre-trial motion is scheduled for early next month. I spoke with one of their lawyers, who thinks that a trial might take place in November or December. Three of the activists posted bond, and were released from Federal prison. They are wearing ankle bracelets and are confined to their homes. McAlister and three others chose to stay in jail, in Brunswick, GA, and as they await trial, they’re engaging in prison ministry, helping their fellow inmates communicate with lawyers and families, and deal with the stress of incarceration.We’ll have updates as this case proceeds in the courts. And on this holiday when we celebrate the conviction and commitment to the democratic principles of our revolutionary forbearers, let’s pause to consider Elizabeth McAlister, a former nun, who at age 78 is so completely committed to her principles of non-violence that she is willing to forego her own physical freedom, and exercise her right to freedom of speech to make a point about the world’s right to be free of the threat of nuclear destruction.As we celebrate the courage and sacrifice of our founders, let’s also acknowledge the courage and sacrifice it sometimes takes to make use of the freedoms those revolutionaries fought for. I’m Tom Hall. Happy holiday.

Moses built an altar don’t want to give you the kind of sense of it be like a flag. The True Banner Over Me is the Lord. Because he is love me with an everlasting love. He is the king of Kings and Lord of Lords and he’s who’s kingdom I’m looking forward to being it’s. And so, we build an altar and he said the Lord as warm. The Lord will have or against ... from generation to generation. I want to conclude this message by simply saying this. We have seen God provide his people with water be seen bread and meat. We see him fight their enemy’s interval. He tells Joshua to write it in a book. Remember, it. To remember what everybody else will forget. So, I’m going to ask you. Testimony of what God has done for you. Did God deliver from that circumstance so this time? As a Memorial Anazeh statement of faith. I’m going to see what God is going to do rather than be worried about my situation. I’m not much of their some people who love to keep journals, and that’s a wonderful thing is, you can write down a number of things that God has done to bless. You and just testing you I’m just saying. If you’re not a journalist. Just take a sheet of paper and if you’re not him in our congregation, you’re hearing this message. The various make me that we have Jacob or blank sheet of paper. Will you have access to it and when you see God doing something right, it down as a memorial? And I suspect. 2 things. I suspect it will help you get your eyes off of the circumstances in under God. I also think what may happen is many, many days from now. When you’re in his presence. And your love ones are coming through your Bible? They will see a personal testimony of what God has done for you, not just what God has done for Israel not just what God has done for Joshua and Moses. And Ezekiel and Ezra and Nehemiah and Esther and Ruth not just the people in the Bible. But people that they knew the people that they were hopefully that they loved and said. My father’s face was genuine. Because he saw the hand of God in his life. So, please, please, please let you and me. Not be like, those people who have to fifth verse same as the first. May we sing a new song that says, I know whom I believed. And I’m more than I’m convinced days able to keep me. No matter what the circumstances I’m going to ask the band to come. And we’re going to sing. A little more up temple song for A. Invitation song name of it is This Is It.

How the Bible foretold WHEN Jesus would come. Looking for good reasons to believe the Bible? They have been here all along. A thoughtful study of prophecy has convinced many skeptics to put their faith in Jesus. Daniel chapter 9 gives a detailed account of how to know when the Messiah was to show up, and Jesus came right on time. This is the famous "70 weeks" prophecy.

How the Bible foretold WHEN Jesus would come. Looking for good reasons to believe the Bible? They have been here all along. A thoughtful study of prophecy has convinced many skeptics to put their faith in Jesus. Daniel chapter 9 gives a detailed account of how to know when the Messiah was to show up, and Jesus came right on time. This is the famous "70 weeks" prophecy.

What do you think of when you think of the kings of the Bible? They were certainly a mixed bag, just like us. We cannot help but see ourselves in their inconsistencies and faults. Thankfully our models aren't the kings of the Bible but our true...