Podcast appearances and mentions of christ messiah

Who Is He? G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 10 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! We have looked together at the 8 Covenants in the Old Testament of the Bible, made between God and humanity. Now we fast forward to the time of the Gospels and the start of the New Testament. After the last of the Old Testament prophets spoke, Malachi around 444BC, there was a silence from God for about 400 years. During that time quite a few people came claiming to be the Messiah or saviour that Israel was waiting for and had been promised in the covenants we looked at. They proved to be false messiahs because they could not back up their claims. Israel as a country is now occupied by the Romans. While some people of Israel were in the country, a lot were dispersed throughout the vast Roman Empire. Into this world was a man of such significance that He splits history into two: BC and AD. This man we know as Jesus Christ and He claimed to be the long waited for Messiah. But how was he different from those messiahs before that proved to be false? Let's start by having a look in the stories about His life - the Gospels of the New Testament. What the Gospels are! How do we find out about this Jesus? There are a number of sources outside of the Bible that make reference to this man. However, in the Bible and its section called the New Testament, we have four accounts of His life. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are called Gospels, and they are called that because they gave substance to the Good News of God has promised in the New Covenant! We know that Jesus Christ during his time on earth wrote nothing, yet the stories about him were preserved and passed on by his followers. For the first thirty years or so, these stories were collated and stored together. That would explain the similarity in the four accounts of Jesus' life. They are not an exhaustive biographical detail of all that Jesus did. Similarly they are also not diaries reflecting a daily account of Jesus' life. Rather they are selective accounts of His life, and were probably factual illustrations used by His disciples when preaching about Him. Therefore they would represent the theology of the disciples, as each story about Jesus is told. That is why they are trustworthy accounts as well as rooting Jesus' life in first century Judaism and the Greco-Roman world. Overview of the Gospels The first three of our Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke are what are called the synoptic Gospels. This is based on their great similarity and possibly use of a common source. Mark is probably the first Gospel as it is shorter in length than Matthew or Luke and it would appear that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a guide and elaborated where required. Mark wrote none of the great discourses of Matthew (Mark 13 being the exception), such as the Sermon on the Mount, nor does Mark show the great parables that Luke recorded, such as the Good Samaritan. Surely if Mark had used either the accounts of Matthew or Luke, he would have used those two examples! Matthew is closer in similarity to Mark than Luke. Luke does share large portions of Mark and quite often verbatim, and with a greater use of the Greek language. John on the other hand, while still telling about Jesus' ministry, has vastly different story content. Whereas in the synoptic Gospels Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God frequently, in the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about himself much more often, as in the seven I AM statements. For this reason, John was probably written later than the synoptic Gospels. The Gospels Lets look very briefly now what each Gospel offers about the life of Jesus Christ. As we do so, think through how the covenants promising a messiah or saviour match up with Jesus Christ. Matthew: Matthew wrote primarily to Jews who knew the Old Testament. He wrote to present Jesus as the Messiah to Israel and to record Israel's attitude towards Him as Messiah. Matthew gives us the genealogy, presentation, and the authentification of Jesus as the Christ Messiah. Matthew then shows the nation of Israel's opposition to and rejection of Jesus as the Christ followed by Jesus' rejection of Israel due to her unbelief. He then records the death and resurrection of Christ. He concludes with Christ commissioning the disciples. Mark: Mark presents Jesus as Servant of the Lord, coming in fulfilment of the Old Testament. Jesus offers His credentials, gathers His disciples, offers the Kingdom of God and its message. Jesus' teaching is seen in short parables, which hide the truth from those hardened against Him, yet prepares and instructs those responsive to Him. Overall Jesus calls those who follow him to serve others and to deny themselves by taking up their own cross, just as He took up His. Luke: Luke presents Jesus as the God-Man, as a saviour for the entire world, writing primarily to Gentiles. He does this from a broad vantage point that is compatible with the fact that he is a Greek. Luke traces the incarnation, Christ's introduction, ministry, rejection, subsequent teaching in view of His rejection, the cross, resurrection and ascension. Even though a Gentile, Luke emphasizes the kingdom program with Israel's place in the kingdom. John: John presents the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ so that mankind would believe in Him as the Son of God, Messiah, Saviour of the world. His selective argument portrays Christ as the God-Man. John records miracles and messages that affirm the deity and humanity of Christ. John builds his record around the public ministry of Christ, the private ministry, the cross, and the resurrection. As we go into the life of Jesus Christ, bear in mind what glimpses the Old Testament offered about a saviour or messiah figure. Think through the 8 Covenants we looked at and how they looked forward to that figure portrayed as a saviour or Messiah. As you do so, think just how Jesus Christ was that person! Right mouse click or tap here to download as a MP3 audio file

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.     TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, He will supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Wake Up America!”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

This beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ is offered to ALL people, including both Jewish and Gentile (everyone else). The SCRIPTURES tell us that those who DENY that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) are of an antichrist spirit. (1John 2:22). The SCRIPTURES tell us that those who do not believe that Jesus Christ has come in the FLESH are NOT of God and are of an antichrist spirit. (1 John 4:3) The SCRIPTURES tell us that they are a DECEIVER and an ANTICHRIST. (2 John 1:7) VIDEO SAME MESSAGE

Have you ever witnessed a complete miscarriage of justice? The trial of Jesus stands as history's most profound example of how power, jealousy, and fear can corrupt even the most sacred institutions.As the high priest grows increasingly frustrated with contradicting testimonies against Jesus, he finally asks directly: "Are you the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus's unflinching response—"I am"—provides exactly what they wanted: grounds for execution. The high priest tears his garments (itself a violation of Levitical law) and declares no further witnesses necessary. What follows reveals the cruelty behind religious facades as guards blindfold Jesus, beat him mercilessly, and mockingly challenge him to "prophesy" who struck him.Meanwhile, Peter's story unfolds in heartbreaking parallel. The disciple who hours earlier had sworn he would die before denying Jesus now crumbles before a servant girl's questioning. His three denials culminate in cursing and swearing that he "does not know this man." When the rooster crows and Jesus catches his eye across the courtyard, Peter breaks down in bitter tears. Yet this failure doesn't define his story—Jesus later restores him completely, showing that our worst moments don't disqualify us from God's purposes.The religious leaders, having condemned Jesus for blasphemy, shrewdly change tactics when bringing him before Pilate. Knowing Roman authorities wouldn't execute someone for religious claims, they reframe the charges as sedition: "This man claims to be a king." Throughout these manipulated proceedings, Jesus maintains remarkable composure, speaking only when necessary and embracing the path that leads to our redemption.This ancient narrative mirrors how both secular authorities and religious establishments often deny Christian faith a fair hearing today. The world doesn't understand the profound importance of what happened that day—when the truly innocent One willingly accepted judgment so that we might go free.How might your perspective change knowing that Jesus faced injustice so completely yet without abandoning His mission of love? What does it mean that He doesn't discard us when we fail him like Peter did?Support the showThank you for listening!! Please give us a five-star rating to help your podcast provider's algorithm spread RTTB among their listeners. You can find free study and leader resources at the following link - Resource Page - Reasoning Through the Bible Please prayerfully consider supporting RTTB to help us to continue providing content and free resources. You can do that at this link - Support RTTB - Reasoning Through the Bible May God Bless you!! - Glenn and Steve

Jesus Asks: “But who do you say that I am?” and Jesus Answers: “you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.".  God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Fear. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Faithfulness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Day of Pentecost – The Promise Fulfilled (All Saints Anglican Church; Peachtree City, GA)”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

John 4 deals with the incident between Jesus and the woman of Samaria in which he offers her “living water”. There follows a discussion between Jesus and the woman about the site of acceptable worship – Jerusalem, or Gerazim. Jesus firstly tells her that salvation is from the Jews. Acceptance of God is dependent on two factors sincerity and truth – these have always been the focus at Shechem (Joshua 14 verses 14-15; Judges 9 verses 14-15). The woman accepts Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) and she then has an incredible impact on helping the Samaritans to receive Jesus also. Philip would about 7 years later reap the gathering harvest now being down. That harvest is spoken about in Acts 8. From verse 46 to the end of John chapter 4 our Lord Jesus heals the son of an official from Capernaum – this being the second of the signs recorded by John and resuting in the official and that Nobleman – thought by some to be Herod's keeper of the larder Chuza – and his entire household becoming believers in our Lord.

John 4 deals with the incident between Jesus and the woman of Samaria in which he offers her “living water”. There follows a discussion between Jesus and the woman about the site of acceptable worship – Jerusalem, or Gerazim. Jesus firstly tells her that salvation is from the Jews. Acceptance of God is dependent on two factors sincerity and truth – these have always been the focus at Shechem (Joshua 14 verses 14-15; Judges 9 verses 14-15). The woman accepts Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) and she then has an incredible impact on helping the Samaritans to receive Jesus also. Philip would about 7 years later reap the gathering harvest now being down. That harvest is spoken about in Acts 8. From verse 46 to the end of John chapter 4 our Lord Jesus heals the son of an official from Capernaum – this being the second of the signs recorded by John and resuting in the official and that Nobleman – thought by some to be Herod's keeper of the larder Chuza – and his entire household becoming believers in our Lord.

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, He will supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “How God Says He Loves Us: Part 2 -- The Covenant with Abraham”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Asks: “But who do you say that I am?” and Jesus Answers: “you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.".  God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Anger. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Forgiveness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Beginnings In Prayer - Part 4: Listening to God Because He Desires to Speak to Us”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

John 1:35-51,35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Can you recall the first time that you really saw Jesus? The first time you truly began to understand who he is? The first time when all his goodness, all his glory, all his worth began to really sink in and you saw him? You saw him. And, in a moment, your entire life recentered around him? For some in this room, that moment may have happened a long time ago. Perhaps when you were very young. For others, it may have happened fairly recently. For still others, you may not recall a specific moment, but perhaps a season, where it just steadily grew more and more apparent to you, “Jesus is King, Jesus is everything.” For some here, you may have no idea what I am talking about right now. You've never seen Jesus this way. Perhaps you want to. Perhaps you're open to it. If that's you, be assured, you are in the right place, because this morning our text is really about two things: Seeing Jesus (in the ways just described), and sharing Jesus.People will see Jesus, really see him. Then, they'll go and share Jesus with someone else. As a result, that someone else will also see Jesus. On and on and onIt is the heartbeat of this text — Jesus seen, Jesus shared, Jesus seen, Jesus shared.It is also the heartbeat of the church. At least, it ought to be. For if we truly are seeers of Jesus, then it only makes sense for us to be sharers of Jesus as well. Toward that end then, we're going to trace this story of Jesus seen and Jesus shared with an eye toward two encouragements for sharing Jesus with others. So, Jesus seen, Jesus shared, and, along the way, two encouragements for sharing Jesus with others.Let's pray and ask God for his help…Alright, so Jesus seen, Jesus shared. And that first one, Jesus seen, has already shown up in John.In John 1:14, John the Apostle writes,“And the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”In John 1:32, John the Baptist says of Jesus, “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.”And in verse 34, John the Baptist says again,“I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”So Jesus has been seen. And now, beginning in verse 35, Jesus is going to be seen by more and more. Look with me at John 1:35.Jesus Seen: Andrew and the Other Disciple“The next day again John [that is, John the Baptist] was standing with two of his disciples…”Two of his followers. Men who, as followers of John, would've already been interested in spiritual matters and expecting John's invitation to go forth as Jesus followers. It's no surprise then that, in verse 36, these two disciples do exactly that. Upon hearing John proclaim, “Behold the Lamb of God!” they immediately turn and go after Jesus… And just imagine the smile upon John's face when they did! “At last, they've found him!”Well, Jesus sees these two former disciples of John now following him and asks, verse 38: “What are you seeking?” “What is it that you want?” What are you following me for? Are they in search of entertainment? Wanting to see impressive miracles and hear captivating speeches?Are they in search comfort? Hoping Jesus will solve all their problems and make their lives easier?Are they hoping for wealth and prosperity, and thinking Jesus is the way to get it? Are they looking for a supplement to an otherwise fairly good life?There's more than one reason to go after Jesus, right?So Jesus asks,“What are you seeking?”Their answer, still verse 38,“‘Rabbi' (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?'”It is a good response. Better, in fact, than they perhaps knew. For the truth of the matter is what these two men most needed in that moment — more than they needed anything else in all the world — was to simply be near to Jesus. Their souls, whether they knew it or not, were dying for nothing less than him. And, indeed, so are ours. Amazingly, Jesus doesn't respond by saying, “Get away from me.” Or, “Show me your credentials.” Neither does he merely give them his address, which alone would've been a kindness to them. Instead, he invites them in. He invites them near. Verse 39,“Come and you will see.”See what? At one level, they were going to see Jesus — a man who looked just like them. Two eyes, ten fingers, ten toes. And they were going to see him in a home — one that looked just like theirs. Small, simple, nothing to write home about.But at a whole other level, while in that home, while listening to Jesus, they were going to see that this was no ordinary man. This, Jesus, was indeed the long-awaited Messiah. The long-awaited Christ. The promised descendant of David, who would defeat God's enemies, build a house for God's name, and sit upon a throne of glory forever and ever.Hence, Andrew's words to his brother following this event: Verse 41,“‘We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ).”That's what Andrew saw in Jesus. And his first thought afterwards was, “I want my brother to see it too.”Verse 40,“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah' (which means Christ).” You catch the flow of the story so far?John the Baptist sees Jesus. He then shares Jesus with his disciples, “Behold [it means look! See!] the Lamb of God.”Those disciples go and see Jesus.At least one of them, Andrew, then goes and shares Jesus with his brother. Jesus Seen: PeterSo, verse 42, Andrew brings his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus. And Jesus says of him, verse 42,“‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas' (which means Peter).”Now, in that moment, did Peter see in the face of Jesus the same Christ, the same Messiah, that his brother Andrew saw? We don't know. The text doesn't tells us. But what we do know, from the rest of the New Testament, is that Peter did eventually see it. In Matthew 16, Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter's answer was remarkably similar to his brother's. Matthew 16:16, “You [Jesus] are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God.”So Jesus seen, Jesus shared, Jesus seen, Jesus shared. But one thing I want to note amidst this continued rhythm is what appears to be just the slightest degree of variance. And the variance is regarding who the particular persons are who are doing the seeing and sharing.For example, the whole thing begins with what we might call the spiritual A-team of that time. John the Baptist sharing Jesus with his disciples. But then it moves to one of those disciples (Andrew) sharing Jesus with Peter (who, unlike his brother, is not labeled a disciple).John the Baptist → one of his disciples → someone who was not a disciple.Now, if we're meant to detect that slight shift, and I believe we are, then it seems we're also meant to detect an even greater shift in what comes next. Namely, the sharing of Jesus by someone who had not been a disciple of John, with someone who, at least initially, puts up some resistance. See it with me in verse 43. Jesus Seen: PhilipVerse 43,“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip…”Again, nothing here about Philip being a disciple of John (like Andrew), nor a sibling of a disciple of John (like Peter). Nevertheless, Jesus finds him anyways, and says,“Follow me.”It's a call much like that of Andrew's in verse 39,“Come and you will see.”And the effect is likewise similar. Just as Andrew, after seeing Jesus, went and shared Jesus with Peter, so Philip, having now seen Jesus, goes and finds Nathanael. Look with me at verse 45:“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote...”That's basically long-hand for we have found the Messiah. The Christ. The one foretold by Moses and the prophets. But then comes a wrinkle. Still verse 45: “‘We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.'” Not Wanting to See Jesus?Now, pause here for a moment. Do you know why those two disciples of John, back in verse 37, went after Jesus in the first place? I know we're moving backward here a little, but stay with me. Do you know what it was that allowed those two disciples of John, as well as Peter, as well as Philip, to see Jesus? To have interest in Jesus? To come to the point of understanding Jesus for who he truly was? Was it the fact that they were living in a time when people commonly thought about and talked about spiritual things? That they had grown up in a context, ancient Judaism, where people commonly anticipated the coming of the Messiah? Do you understand their spiritual interest and spiritual sight to be a direct result of them being pre-conditioned and predisposed towards it?If you do, then you likely already put these men of John 1 into a category far different than all the unbelievers currently around you. Your co-workers, after all, don't seem to ever think about spiritual things. Your neighbors aren't on the lookout for a coming Messiah. And since they're not, then we'd certainly not expect them to, if they were to have Jesus shared with them, actually go after him the way Andrew, Philip, and Peter did, right?Brothers and sisters, could I remind us of something this morning? God is the one who draws the human heart, not worldviews. God is the one who woos people to himself, not cultural contexts.To be sure, God often uses God-conscious worldviews and God-focused contexts to draw people to himself. Hence, the many people in this room who grew up in a Christian home and are now Christians themselves. But remember what God tells us in the Word about the human heart. It is a thing far too dead in sin and far too set on following the course of this world for any mere context — no matter how God-conscious, God-focused it may be — to draw them to Jesus.Do you know why Andrew left John to go after Jesus? Do you know why Philip saw Jesus as Messiah? Do you know why you and I are worshipers of Jesus today?It is because God worked a miracle! Had he not, not one of us — neither you, nor me, nor Andrew, nor Philip — would've ever gone after Jesus, at least not in a way that'd be of any spiritual profit. The truth is that in order for anyone to ever truly see Jesus, God has to work a miracle. God has to draw them in to see. And, that's exactly the work that God has been doing for the last 2,000 years.First TraitAnd so, the first encouragement for sharing Jesus with others: God draws people in to see. People who are far from him, who are initially disinterested in him. People who claim to be dead set against him. God draws people in to see. Because he can, and because he wants to. So, we put in our effort. We still extend the invitation. Andrew got his brother. Philip pursued Nathanael. But God is the one who ultimately draws people in to see. He did so with each one of us who are believers in this room this morning. He did it, and he can do it again. God draws people in to see.Now, back to our wrinkle: Philip talking to Nathanael. Jesus Seen: Nathanael (part one)Verse 45,“We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”Now look right there. Nathanael was not expecting, let alone looking for, a Messiah from the Podunk city of Nazareth. He'd not been pre-conditioned for that. His worldview couldn't seem to put those two details together which is why he responded the way he did in verse 46,“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”Philip does not take that as a sign he should give up. “Whoa, okay man, sorry I brought it up. I guess I'll cross you off my list of potential converts.” No, he doesn't do that. Instead, he just says,“Come and see.”And Nathanael does! Amazing. Second TraitNow, here is a second encouragement for sharing Jesus with others.First encouragement: God draws people in to see.Second encouragement: Jesus is a sight worth seeing.Here's what I mean…Philip did not try and lure Nathanael in with treats and trinkets and balloons, though those things in and of themselves are not bad.Philip did not launch into a philosophical argument or verbal challenge of how Nathanael's worldview was wrong and his own was right, though there may be a place for that. And Philip certainly did not waiver, thinking, “Perhaps Nathanael's right. Perhaps a Messiah from Nazareth really is a bit far-fetched. Unimpressive. Unlikely.” Philip did not do any of those things, and you know why he didn't? Because Philip had seen Jesus! He had seen his glory, seen his goodness, seen his power, seen his beauty. He had seen, in Jesus, the greatest thing he had ever beheld in his entire life.Therefore, his one and only aim in that moment was to just get Nathanael in front of Jesus. Just get him to lift his eyes up to Jesus and see him too! I mean, Jesus can take it from there. His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, is more than sufficient to captivate any unbeliever no matter how seemingly far from him. Jesus is a sight worth seeing.Do we know this? Do we believe this? Are we convinced that if our unbelieving neighbor, our unbelieving co-worker, could just see Jesus, that that'd be enough? Brothers and sisters, Jesus is not a semi-impressive individual. He walks on water. He gives sight to the blind. He heals the paralyzed. He never lies. Never sins. Never disappoints. His love is deep beyond measure. He is God in the flesh! He is a sight worth seeing. So, first encouragement: God draws people in to see.Second encouragement: Jesus is a sight worth seeing.Now, back to Nathanael.Jesus Seen: Nathanael (part two)Philip and Nathanael go to see Jesus. Turns out, Jesus is way ahead of them. Verse 47,“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!' Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?' Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.'”Nathanael's jaw drops. His eyes widen. He then answers,“‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'”Nathanael saw Jesus.Now note: when we see that phrase, “Son of God!”, it sounds like Nathanael is calling Jesus God — calling Jesus divine. And while Jesus is God, fully divine, it's far more likely that what Nathanael meant by “Son of God” in this text was Jesus is Messiah. Jesus is the King of Israel, just as he says next. And the reason for that is because the Messiah, the long-awaited king-figure of the Old Testament is also called a son of God. Psalm 2:7,“I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'”2 Samuel 7:14, God says,“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.”So it seems Nathanael, Andrew, and Philip are all essentially saying the same thing in slightly different ways in this text — Jesus is the Messiah.And Jesus receives all the variations of that title that they give him. It's interesting. Remember earlier when John the Baptist had rejected all his supposed titles… “Are you the Christ? No. Are you Elijah? No. Are you the Prophet? No.” Here, Jesus receives all his titles: Lamb of God, Messiah, One who Moses and the prophets wrote, Son of God, King of Israel. “Yes”, says Jesus, “I am Messiah. And now, watch as I blow the lid off your understanding of who the Messiah really is.” Jesus Seen As GreaterVerse 50,“Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”Greater than the Messiah? Really?Verse 51,“And he said to him ‘Truly, truly, I say to you [and the “you” here is plural, so he's referring to more than just Nathanael], you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” That's incredible. What Jesus just did is take two major Old Testament references, smush them together, and say they're all about him.Let's take that first one, “…you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending…” It's a reference to Jacob's vision in Genesis 28. When Jacob, in his sleep, saw a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels going up and down on it. And it's his interpretation of the event that is truly breathtaking. Listen for the emphasis, Genesis 28:16,“Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.' And he was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.'”The gate. The doorway. The point of entry between earth and heaven. Jesus, taking ahold of that story, is now saying here, “I am that gate. I am that point of entry between heaven and earth. The angels are going to ascend and descend upon me.” “And who am I? Well, I am the Son of Man.” This is a reference to Daniel 7. And I'm going to read it, and what I want you to mainly focus in on is where this scene from Daniel 7 is taking place. Daniel 7:13-14,I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days [that's God the Father] and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.Where is this vision taking place? It's taking place in heaven. The Son of Man is King, in other words, not just of Israel, but all of heaven. And Jesus is saying “that's me.” Jesus can be the gate between earth and heaven because he's come from heaven down, for his people, with the invitation, “I'm going back up to reign as King, and if you receive me, then I will take you back with me to be where I am. Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, you see that I am the Messiah. You will soon see that I am a Messiah far greater than anything you ever expected.”Welcome Others to See Him TooFriends, have you seen Jesus? Has God drawn you in to see Jesus? Has he been revealed to you through God's Word and in God's church? Has the sight of Jesus changed your life? Changed your eternity?Be encouraged, share Jesus with others. Share Jesus with others. Invite your neighbor, though he may not care two cents about Christianity, to come and read the Bible with you. Invite your co-worker, though she thinks little if ever upon spiritual matters, to listen to a sermon on the gospel. Invite your family member, though they may be dead set against all forms of organized religion, to hear what you so love about Jesus.And invite people here. Invite them to see Jesus in the book of John. I know there aren't often a lot of empty seats left, but look, I've been around this church enough to know that if you come even just 15 minutes early you'll have plenty of seats to choose from. Invite people to see Jesus. They will not be disappointed. Jesus is a sight worth seeing, and God can draw them in to see him.The TableNow, what brings us to the table this morning is the fact that Jesus, Messiah, King of Heaven came down to earth, ultimately, to die for the sins of the world. He shed his blood, had his body broken, so that forgiveness of sins could be made possible for those who receive him — so that forgiven people could rise with him into heaven for all eternity.

READ: Matthew 16:13-19   MEDITATE: Jesus led his disciples to this place to ask them who they believed He was. Peter's response was, “You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.” Who is Jesus Christ to you? Reflect on that. Consider what the Bible tells us about him. Share those truths with others.   PRAY: Holy Spirit, continue to reveal to me more of yourself. Help me to apply biblical truths and revelations in my life. Grant me opportunities to share with others who Jesus is in my life so that you will be glorified.   Need prayer? Submit a prayer request online: https://mountparannorth.com/prayer-request/   21 Days of Prayer & Fasting website: https://mountparannorth.com/21-day-prayer-fast/   Contributors: Lance Pierce, Worship Pastor & Brett Mayes, Administrative Pastor and Missions Director

In ancient times a rock symbolized something secure and God was the ultimate rock!  David wrote in the Psalms, as we read 2 days ago, “To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me” [Psalm 28 v.1]  He also pleads with God, “when my heart is faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I” [Psalm 61 v.2]    In today's reading in Matthew, Jesus seems to call Peter a “rock” [16 v.18], but read the context carefully; among the people there is increasing speculation as to who Jesus is – and he asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am? [v.15]  Peter declared, ‘You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.” [v16]    This declaration is the “rock”! The possession of true insight and real faith. It is “on this ‘rock” says Jesus, “that I will build my church and the gates of hell (hades, i.e. the grave) will not prevail against it” [v.18] It is true faith that makes death but a sleep with a wonderful waking – as David believed – see Psalm 17 v.15.   We recall it was Jesus who added the name ‘Peter' to Simon (Luke 6 v.14) when he called him to be a disciple. The name Peter means a rock – petros.  Yet human rocks have to prove themselves; Jesus was, and still is, looking for such rocks; those who have the true insight of faith – on which “I will build my church” [v.18] As the early chapters of the book of Acts reveal Peter became the rock around which the first community of believers in Jerusalem was built.  But before then he failed disastrously!  The next verses tell us that “from that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem … and be killed.” Peter reacted in an astonishing way; he “began to rebuke him, saying ‘Far be it from you Lord! This shall never happen to you.'” [v.22]  Jesus responded by saying “to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan!  You are a hindrance to me … you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” [v.23]  The “set” of our minds is vital!  If they are wrong we end up being opposed to God and to Jesus. At the end of his life the set of Solomon's mind became wrong and God raised up “adversaries” to him and this word in the Hebrew is the word ‘satanas' as in 2 Kings 11 v.14,23,25, which names the ‘Satans' that opposed Solomon.        Those who develop a true faith become, in Christ's eyes, a ‘rock' on which, even today, he can build.  Let us make sure the ‘set' of our minds is on godly ways with a readiness to become a ‘rock' with a true faith in his service – and never a satan..

Preaching and Praise Luke 2:8-20Angels and shepherds occupy center stage on this Christmas day. They provide interpretations of and model responses to Jesus' birth.The stage is not the emperor's palace nor the Jerusalem temple. It is a “nothing-place,” fields “in the region” of Bethlehem (2:8). Shepherds were of low social status. They had no social prestige or power. They were suspected of being dishonest in letting flocks graze in fields belonging to other people.An angel preaches the first Christmas sermon that announces good news of a savior born in David's city, Christ/Messiah the Lord (2:9-11). The language of “good news” and “savior” was used for emperors and their actions. But in the midst of the empire, in David's city, another “savior” is born. Jesus is “anointed” to carry on David's agenda to transform the unjust status quo.A host of angels praises God, and announces divine favor and peace (2:14). The Roman empire declared it brought peace through conquest. Angels pronounce a different peace comprising just societal structures and access to resources.The shepherds respond by becoming godly disciples. They discern a word from God (2:15). They go to Bethlehem. Like missionaries, they bear witness to what the angels have told them (2:17-18). They praise God and celebrate the word about Jesus (2:20).That's a Christmas celebration comprising proclamation of God's justice-working actions and a celebration of what God is doing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, We Are Reminded of the Genealogy that Isn't Just a List of Names; It's a Testament to God's Faithfulness Throughout History MESSAGE SUMMARY: As we journey through Advent, we're invited to explore the profound lineage of Jesus Christ, tracing His roots from Adam to the Messiah. This genealogy isn't just a list of names; it's a testament to God's faithfulness throughout history. We see how God worked through imperfect people - from Rahab to King David - to bring about His perfect plan. This reminds us that our own flaws and failures don't disqualify us from being part of God's story. As we reflect on this lineage, we're challenged to consider our place in God's ongoing narrative. How might God be using our lives, with all their complexities, to further His kingdom? Let's embrace the truth that in Christ, we too are part of this grand story of redemption. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, God is working His will in my life. (Philippians 2:13). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: 1) Matthew 1:1-17 - This passage contains the genealogy of Jesus Christ as described in the sermon, tracing from Abraham to Jesus; 2) Luke 3:23-38 - While not directly mentioned, this passage provides another genealogy of Jesus, tracing back to Adam; 3) Ruth 4:18-22 - This passage mentions some of the names in Jesus' lineage, including Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David; 4) 2 Samuel 12:24 - This verse mentions Solomon's birth to David and Bathsheba (referred to in the sermon as "Uriah's own wife"); 5) Matthew 1:18-25 - These verses describe Joseph taking Mary as his wife and the birth of Jesus; 6) Luke 1:26-38 - This passage describes the annunciation to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus; and 7) John 1:41 - This verse refers to Jesus as the Christ (Messiah). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S SERMON VIDEO: www.AWFTL.org/watch DONATE TO AWFTL

Today, We Are Reminded of the Genealogy, Leading to Jesus Christ, which Stretches from Adam to Jesus and Revealing God's Intricate Plan for Your Redemption MESSAGE SUMMARY: As we journey through Advent, we're reminded of the profound lineage that leads to Jesus Christ. This genealogy, stretching from Adam to Jesus, reveals God's intricate plan of redemption woven throughout history. We see how each name in this family tree, from Abraham to David to Joseph, played a crucial role in God's grand narrative. This reminds us that our own lives, however ordinary they may seem, are part of a greater story. As we reflect on this lineage, we're challenged to consider our place in God's ongoing work. How might our faith and actions today contribute to His eternal purpose? Let's embrace the wonder of being part of this divine storyline, recognizing that the birth of Christ is not just a historical event, but the culmination of generations of faith and the beginning of our own spiritual journey. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, God is working His will in my life. (Philippians 2:13). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: 1) Matthew 1:1-17 - This passage contains the genealogy of Jesus Christ as described in the sermon, tracing from Abraham to Jesus; 2) Luke 3:23-38 - While not directly mentioned, this passage provides another genealogy of Jesus, tracing back to Adam; 3) Ruth 4:18-22 - This passage mentions some of the names in Jesus' lineage, including Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David; 4) 2 Samuel 12:24 - This verse mentions Solomon's birth to David and Bathsheba (referred to in the sermon as "Uriah's own wife"); 5) Matthew 1:18-25 - These verses describe Joseph taking Mary as his wife and the birth of Jesus; 6) Luke 1:26-38 - This passage describes the annunciation to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus; and 7) John 1:41 - This verse refers to Jesus as the Christ (Messiah). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S SERMON VIDEO: www.AWFTL.org/watch DONATE TO AWFTL

Jesus' Conception and BirthLuke 1:26-45; 2:9-11It's Christmas week. Conception leads to birth. Angels are prominent.Several contrasts mark the angel's announcement to Mary about her pregnancy and the angel's announcement to the shepherds about Jesus' birth. While an angel and shepherds greet Jesus' birth with joy (2:10), that emotion is missing from the conception story. Mary is perplexed not joyful (1:29, 34), submissive not celebratory, meditative not exuberant (1:38). An unplanned pregnancy for an unmarried young woman in a culture where virginity was expected until marriage hardly merits joy. It does not seem like divine favor (1:28, 30). Mary rightly protests in naming the obvious obstacle (1:34). At Jesus' birth, the angel identifies him as “Savior, who is Christ/Messiah, the Lord” (2:11). Talk of a Messiah is missing from the angel's conception announcement. This absence is not surprising since expectations for a Messiah were neither universal nor univocal among first-century Jewish folks.Rather, in announcing Mary's pregnancy, the angel locates Jesus in relation to God (son or agent) and to David (1:33-34). The angel declares that God has anointed or commissioned Jesus to be the agent of God's purposes. Jesus is presented as another figure entrusted with the tasks that God has committed to David. These tasks include ensuring justice for all, especially for the poor and needy. He is to destroy oppressors, protect against the violent, and ensure peace and food security (Psalm 72). Mary will elaborate these tasks in her Magnificat (1:46-56). As followers of Jesus committed to living the ways of Jesus, we inherit these tasks. In our frequently broken world, damaged by exploitation, hostility, division, inequal access to resources, and selfishness (to name just a few of our challenges), we inherit these roles. And there is no shortage of opportunities for us to work for the world of justice and good life for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the God truly cleanse and restore us from our deepest faults? Join us as we explore this profound question through the symbolic narrative of Zechariah 3. We focus on Joshua the high priest, whose transition from filthy to festal garments symbolizes Israel's journey from sin to redemption. This powerful transformation is orchestrated by the Angel of the Lord, whom we identify as the pre-incarnate Christ [Messiah]. By listening, you'll discover how this ancient story speaks to us today, offering timeless lessons on the authority of God's forgiveness and the promise of a purified state for believers. Join us for a rich, spiritually uplifting exploration of biblical themes, designed to inspire and deepen your journey of faith.Support the show

December 1, 2024 - Pastor Phil Henry - Matthew 2:1-6

New Testament Book of Matthew Summarised in 1 Minute Key Verses Matthew 16:15-16 - He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 28:18 - Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." Summary Matthew wrote primarily to Jews who knew the Old Testament. He wrote to present Jesus as the Messiah to Israel and to record the Israel's attitude towards Him as Messiah. Matthew gives us the genealogy, presentation, and the authentification of Jesus as the Christ Messiah. Matthew then shows the nation of Israel's opposition to and rejection of Jesus as the Christ followed by Jesus' rejection of Israel due to her unbelief. He then records the death and resurrection of Christ. He concludes with Christ commissioning the disciples. Right mouse click or tap here to save this Podcast as a MP3.

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, He will supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Turkeys and Eagles, Part 5: Following Jesus Changes Everything in Our Families”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Asks: “But who do you say that I am?” and Jesus Answers: “you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.".  God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Hatred. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Love. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Turkeys and Eagles, Part 1: Called as an “Eagle” But Saved as a “Turkey””, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus would look at His young ambitious disciple, full of passion and zeal… not that long ago this disciple would declare in Matthew 16 when Jesus asked… “ who do you say I am? ” … it would be this disciple that declared boldly without hesitation!!! … “ You are the Christ (Messiah). the Son of the Living…

Pope Francis said just a few days ago that Muslims and Jews are our brothers and sisters. That is not the first time that he said that. The question a TRUE born-again believer in CHRIST (MESSIAH) must ask is how could that possibly be? The Islamic Koran teaches that God does not even have a Son, and most of the Jews do NOT believe that Jesus is the Son of God or Messiah either. In fact they ultimately turned Jesus over to the secular authorities to have him crucified. So how can a TRUE Christian be linked to people who flat out REJECT Jesus Christ? . . . Here is a LINK to the YOUTUBE VIDEO

Series: Discovering Jesus of NazarethService: Sun AM WorshipType: SermonSpeaker: Bill Sanchez

The issue that lay at the heart of this debate between Paul and these synagogue leaders was the question of how God deals with sin. Paul was trying to convince them that God requires a payment to be made for our sins, one that goes far deeper than anything we humans could even provide. But most of those elders appear to have believed that God can simply ignore our sins if He chooses to. And that difference of opinion likely determined whether or not any elder believed what Paul was telling them: that God's Messiah had to die. They were asking themselves: Is sin really a problem, or is it something God can dismiss with a wave of His hand? Probably everyone in that room believed that God would someday send the Messiah to save them, but they differed greatly on what they thought He would do when He arrived. Most had been raised to believe the Messiah would be an extraordinarily gifted human being who would rise up to lead Israel to world dominance. To support their position they could point to an abundance of promises in the Bible which picture the Messiah arriving in glory to destroy enemy armies, re-gather the people of Israel into their land, prosper them, and bring peace to the whole world. Paul, on the other hand, was showing them in passage after passage that sin always produces death, and unless that sin is transferred to someone else there can be no forgiveness. Then he would have shown them that God had appointed the Messiah to die for our sins, and also had promised that He would raise Him from the dead. Paul was trying to convince them that God cannot simply ignore human sin. His justice demands that our sins be paid for, not ignored. And if it isn't, we stand condemned before God, and instead of blessing us, when the Messiah arrives in glory, He will have to condemn us.  To make his point, Paul undoubtedly reminded those elders of all the images of blood in the Old Testament and explained that those symbols were intended to teach us about the cross of Jesus. He was doing with those elders in Rome the same thing Jesus did with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Listen: “And He said to them, ‘O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ (Messiah) to suffer those things and to enter into His glory?' Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Lk 24:25-27). Later on, Jesus said this: “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Lk 24:46-47). Even after He rose from the dead Jesus had to talk to His disciples about this same issue. Do the Scriptures really say the Messiah must die, and if so, why? And if they do, why is it so hard for people to accept that fact? Let's join this discussion and try to answer those questions.

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be anxious (Philippians 4:6f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Greetings, Pharaohradio family! In this wonderful and eye-opening episode, Jayratedr talks and gives listeners a much deeper knowledge and historical understanding of who the real Hebrew Israelites are and the almost never mentioned Habiru or Apiru Isolele people of Kongo were/are, the bantu-people (Son of man). Whom the ancient Egyptians enslaved and called Shasu (People on foot-wanderers). Stay tuned-in as Jay talks on deep matters of this lost tribe and the Messiah man of the 20th Century, said to be the reincarnated Christ Messiah, Simeon Toko! #Pharaohradio #BibleProphecies #SimeonToko #HabiruPeople | Email: Jayratedr@gmail.com | Cashapp: $Pharaohradio | Simeon toko - the Messiah PT 1: https://youtu.be/5F9RihoLDsw?si=1dtUtS8P4dOBeLoB | Simeon Toko - the Messiah Pt.2: https://youtu.be/7WDdPmgABsk?si=B6ubayKco0WfOqZg | Simeon toko - Messiah PT.3: https://youtu.be/2QaFWn1vKII?si=LSKYPXz0Hb9GKWOC | Jesus saved this same young brotha: https://youtu.be/3_YS7WeOt7g?si=gv3dFWy9RLf2Cmlb | Whistle-blower reveals black Jesus: https://youtu.be/T79AyTP5Pnc?si=cuGwXL0OrdshTwP7 | David Wilcock on Simon Toko (black Jesus): https://youtu.be/39QAGNjzweM?si=MOgZfw_xqUrc7Kru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/larry-holloway-jr/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/larry-holloway-jr/support

Jesus Asks: “But who do you say that I am?” and Jesus Answers: “you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.".  God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Hatred. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Love. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Be Strong & Courageous”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Sermon preached by David Fullerton on May 5, 2024 at Arlington Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia.

There are more personal interactions recorded concerning Peter and Jesus than all the other apostle's combined. Simon Peter was one the earliest disciples having been brought to meet Jesus by his brother Andrew. After the great confession of Jesus as the Christ -Messiah- the Son of the Living God he and his confession shared by all the apostle's became the rock on which the church is built. Peter was known for his fierce loyalty to Jesus in which at times he expressed ideas contrary to God's will and Jesus' mission. At the last Passover of Jesus and his Twelve he stated that if all the others forsook Jesus and fled he would never do this. Yet when the Jewish authorities and the battalion of Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus after stricking off the ear of the high priest servant and told to put his sword away by Jesus Peter too only followed at a distance. When through the apostle's John personal knowledge of some in the high priest circle Peter gained entrance into the courtyard so he could hear what was happening to his Master Jesus he publicly denied knowing Jesus three times. -I do not know the man.- On the third denial spoken even with a curse a rooster crowed and Jesus looked at him. He was overcome with grief and wept bitter tears. Surely with such a sin he woukd be forver barred from being an apostle. Yet on the day of his rising from the dead Jesus met privately with Peter. Then some possibly 3 or 4 weeks Jesus on the shore cooking breakfast for the small group of 7 disciples. He eagerly wades to shore to meet his Lord. After breakfast Jesus takes Peter on a walk and asked Peter of his love for him in a series of 3 questions. Thus Peter is graciously restored-

There are more personal interactions recorded concerning Peter and Jesus than all the other apostle's combined. Simon Peter was one the earliest disciples having been brought to meet Jesus by his brother Andrew. After the great confession of Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) the Son of the Living God he and his confession shared by all the apostle's became the rock on which the church is built. Peter was known for his fierce loyalty to Jesus in which at times he expressed ideas contrary to God's will and Jesus' mission. At the last Passover of Jesus and his Twelve he stated that if all the others forsook Jesus and fled he would never do this. Yet when the Jewish authorities and the battalion of Roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus after stricking off the ear of the high priest servant and told to put his sword away by Jesus Peter too only followed at a distance. When through the apostle's John personal knowledge of some in the high priest circle Peter gained entrance into the courtyard so he could hear what was happening to his Master Jesus he publicly denied knowing Jesus three times. "I do not know the man." On the third denial spoken even with a curse a rooster crowed and Jesus looked at him. He was overcome with grief and wept bitter tears. Surely with such a sin he woukd be forver barred from being an apostle. Yet on the day of his rising from the dead Jesus met privately with Peter. Then some possibly 3 or 4 weeks Jesus on the shore cooking breakfast for the small group of 7 disciples. He eagerly wades to shore to meet his Lord. After breakfast Jesus takes Peter on a walk and asked Peter of his love for him in a series of 3 questions. Thus Peter is graciously restored!

Very little is heard these days about the Jewish people and their REJECTION of the PROPHECIES that were already FULFILLED by JESUS the CHRIST (MESSIAH). "Palm Sunday" is one of the days that is celebrated concerning a BIBLICAL PROPHECY that was FULFILLED to the very letter by JESUS CHRIST himself. That PROPHECY was FULFILLED hundreds of years AFTER the prophecy was given. WOW . . . THE PROPHECY Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of JERUSALEM: behold, THY KING cometh unto thee: he is just, and having SALVATION; lowly, and riding upon AN ASS, and upon a COLT the FOAL of AN ASS   THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROPHECY Matthew 21:1-5 And when they drew nigh unto JERUSALEM, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent JESUS two disciples, [2] Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find AN ASS tied, and a COLT with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. [3] And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The LORD hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. [4] All this was done, that it might be FULFILLEDwhich was spoken by the PROPHET saying, [5] Tell ye the daughter of SION (ZION), Behold, thy KING cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon AN ASS, and a COLT the FOAL of AN ASS.

Jesus in the Four Gospels In the New Testament, we have four accounts of the life of Jesus Christ that are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These are called Gospels. But what is a Gospel, how are the four accounts different or similar and what were the main points each writer sought to communicate? What the Gospels are! Firstly they are called Gospels, because they gave substance to the Gospel or Good News as described by Paul in Romans 1:16 (The Message): "this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!" We know that Jesus Christ during his time on earth wrote nothing, yet the stories about him were preserved and passed on by Christian teachers and evangelists. For the first thirty years or so, these stories were possibly collated and stored together. That would explain the similarity in the four accounts of Jesus' life. They are not an exhaustive biographical detail of all that Jesus did. Similarly they are also not diaries reflecting a daily account of Jesus' life. Rather they are selective accounts of His life, and were probably factual illustrations used by His disciples when preaching about Him. Therefore they would represent the theology of the disciples, as each story about is Jesus is told. That is why they are trustworthy accounts as well as rooting Jesus' life in first century Judaism and the Greco-Roman world. The first three of our Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke are what are called the synoptic Gospels. This is based on their great similarity and possibly use of a common source. Mark is probably the first Gospel as it is shorter in length than Matthew or Luke and it would appear that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a guide and elaborated where required. Mark wrote none of the great discourses of Matthew (Mark 13 being the exception), such as the Sermon on the Mount, nor does Mark show the great parables that Luke recorded, such as the Good Samaritan. Surely if Mark had used either the accounts of Matthew or Luke, he would have used those two examples! Matthew is closer in similarity to Mark than Luke. Luke does share large portions of Mark and quite often verbatim, and with a greater use of the Greek language. John on the other hand, while still telling about Jesus' ministry, has vastly different story content. Whereas in the synoptic Gospels Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God frequently, in the Gospel of John, Jesus talks about himself much more often, as in the seven I AM statements. For this reason, John was probably written later than the synoptic Gospels. Four Different Portraits The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 16:16 - Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 28:18 -Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Matthew wrote primarily to Jews who knew the Old Testament. He wrote to present Jesus as the Messiah to Israel. He also records Israel's attitude towards Him as Messiah. Throughout this Gospel, Matthew gives us the genealogy, presentation, and the authentification of Jesus as the Christ Messiah. Matthew then shows the nation of Israel's opposition to and rejection of Jesus as the Christ, followed by Jesus' rejection of Israel due to her unbelief. He then records the death and resurrection of Christ. He concludes with Christ commissioning the disciples. Throughout, this Gospel is a well ordered and balanced account. The Gospel of Mark Mark 8:34 - "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 10:45 - For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark presents Jesus as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, coming in fulfilment of the Old Testament. Jesus offers His credentials, gathers His disciples, offers the Kingdom of God and its message. Jesus' teaching is seen in short parables, which hide the truth from those hardened against Him, yet prepares and instructs those responsive to Him. Overall Jesus calls those who follow him to serve others and to deny themselves by taking up their own cross, just as He took. Early tradition states that Mark's Gospel had a connection with the Apostle Peter, and was therefore written to preserve some of Peter's memories before his death. The Gospel of Luke Luke 1:3-4 -Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Luke 19:10 -For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke presents Jesus as the God-Man, as a saviour for the entire world, writing primarily to Gentiles. He does this from a broad vantage point that is compatible with the fact that he is a Greek. Luke traces the incarnation, Christ's introduction, ministry, rejection, subsequent teaching in view of His rejection, the cross, resurrection and ascension. Even though a Gentile, Luke emphasizes the kingdom program with Israel's place in the kingdom. This Gospel is not complete in itself, but is rather the first of two parts, with the Book of Acts being the second section. Both are addressed to Theophilus (Luke 1:1-4 & Acts 1:1). The author is probably the Luke identified by Paul as a doctor, and was one of Paul's travelling companions (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). The style and language used are those of a native Greek speaker. The Gospel of John John 1:9 & 12: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world... Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 20:31: - These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John presents the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ so that mankind would believe in him as the Son of God, Messiah, and Saviour of the world. His selective argument portrays Christ as the God-Man. John records miracles and messages that affirm the deity and humanity of Christ. John builds his record around the public ministry of Christ, the private ministry, the cross, and the resurrection. For more to think about please do ask yourself the following questions and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. Q1. Read Mark 8:34 and Mark 10:45. How strongly am I encouraged to carry my own cross, knowing that Jesus carried His cross? Q2. Read Luke 1:34 and Luke 19:10. If Jesus gave up everything to seek me, what more can I give, in order to help spread the good news of Him? Q3. Read Matthew 16:16 and Matthew 28:18. If Jesus is still living and has authority, how is that a help to me as I live a life worthy of His name? Q4. Read John 1:9-12 and John 20:31. As a Christian Disciple and therefore a child of God, how is Jesus working on and changing me? Right mouse click or tap here to save this podcast episode as a mp3

This is one of the MOST important AUDIOS that I have ever made. Either JESUS was the CHRIST (MESSIAH) or HE was NOT. The Scriptures clearly show us that the Old Testament prophecies were FULFILLED in NONE other than the person of Jesus Christ.

Listen to me here folks. This is a study in the SCRIPTURES where you will read the ACTUAL WORDS that JESUS the CHRIST (MESSIAH) spoke regarding the DWELLING PLACES in HEAVEN that HE is preparing for THOSE who LOVE HIM! keep in mind that it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE for GOD to LIE

John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. — Revelation 1:4-5 John is writing a letter, so he begins here with a greeting. Though he is writing to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia (present-day Turkey), this letter is not limited to those seven churches. Written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, this letter is meant for the entire church of Jesus Christ. The church is made aware of God's grace in Christ to strengthen its faith in times of challenge and hardship, including physical persecution that will come its way. God has provided Jesus as the Savior, “the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Knowing this helps us to put all things into perspective as history unfolds. John greets his readers with grace and peace from the God who is, was, and always will be—in the name of Jesus, the Christ (Messiah). Jesus is the faithful witness to all that God provides for the church. Jesus alone is the “firstborn from the dead,” and he is the exalted King over all kings (see also Colossians 1:15-20; Psalm 89:27), whether they be emperors, monarchs, presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, or chairs of the board. To Jesus, “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” belong all glory, power, and praise forever! Lord and God, thank you for helping us know you as our Savior and King. May we rest in you alone and honor you each day. Amen.

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, My citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Beginnings of Prayer -- Part 3: Prayer is Not About Us, It Is About Others”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Key Verses: John 4:25-26 Christ is his title: Anointed One, Messiah, Son of Man

John's gospel; Mark's gospel as a template?; "Q" gospels; Ancient wonders; Loss of knowledge; Ten-family congregations; Networked together; Climate change; Charity; Defining "religion"; Public vs Pure religion; Who wrote "John"?; God's revelation; Gnosticism?; "logos" = "word" = truth; Trees of Knowledge and Life; Humbling your heart; Secret knowledge?; Choosing to live in darkness; Born again?; "Wisdom"; Importance of context; Light = good; Darkness is not an opposing force; John 1:1 "logos" more than just "word"; Rev 1:8 "Beginning"; Verifying Jesus as Messiah; Help with unbelief; Denying Satan; James vs Paul; Gospel of James?; Relying on Holy Spirit; 4 Gospels in bible = 4 witnesses; Blaming others; Understanding the gospel; Darkness can't receive light; Bringing the light; Comfort of ignorance; Which "world"?; Loving fellow man; Kingdom at hand; Family = God's government; Father?; v12 "power" - to choose = liberty; Will of God = logos; Being fruitful; John the Baptist?; Cause/effect; "Grace"; Forgive to be forgiven; Knowing God; Sacrifice; Baptism; Corban of the Pharisees; Sin of world government; "Lamb of God"; National adultery?; Which "law" done away with?; US Constitution not a biblical document; "Israel"; Hebrew; Spirit descending on Jesus; Son of God?; Conflict with Caesar; Roman welfare; Temples; "Rabbi"; Introducing apostles; Christ = Messiah = anointed king; Convincing Nathanial; Nazarene? Your judgement; Jn 10:34; Acts 19:26; gods many; May your eyes be opened.

Jesus Asks: “But who do you say that I am?” and Jesus Answers: “you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.".  God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Fear. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Faithfulness. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Struggle with Time -- Until I Determine How I Want to Use My Time, Others Will Determine How My Time Is Used”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

March 22 Jesus Teaches About Himself 2   Welcome back to our Easter 2013 series, AGOG – A Glimpse of God. We are on Day 22 of our adventure, looking together at the life of the most amazing person in human history - Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Matthew 17:1-13 After six days Jesus took only Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.Jesus' appearance changed in front of them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them and were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it's good that we're here. Let's put up three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Peter didn't know how to respond. He and the others were terrified.) Then a cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Suddenly, as they looked around, they saw no one with them but Jesus. On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life. They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.” So they asked him, “Don't the experts in Moses' Teachings say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus said to them, “Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully? Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him.” Jesus has now taken Peter, James and John with him on a trip up a high mountain. When they arrived there, as if to confirm their confession of Jesus as the Christ Messiah, Jesus transfigures into the glorified Son of God! Moses, the first great law-giver of Israel and Elijah the first great prophet of Israel also appear with Jesus! WOW that must have been an amazing moment! According to Luke's account, they talk with Jesus about his coming death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. The yeast talked about by Jesus was their hypocrisy and evil. This was seen in evidence in our last study where they asked Jesus for a sign. Yeast in the New Testament is often used to illustrate evil. A little evil can spread a long way, much like yeast can in bread. Just as false teaching can decimate a church. Jesus was also warning his disciples to be convinced of the signs they had already seen, without coveting yet more signs! On the way back down the mountain to join the remaining disciples, conversation ensues. Again they were not to tell anybody else about what happened on the mountain top. If knowledge had become widespread, chaos would have ensued around Jesus. He would be surrounded by excitable crowds of people wanting to make Him their political King. All this happening, when He wanted to concentrate on his final preparation of his disciples. Jesus tells them again about his resurrection –his coming back to life after his death. Still Peter, James and John have difficulty grasping it and squabble amongst themselves. They go on to raise some of the teachings of the scribes about how Elijah would return before the Messiah Christ would come anoint the Messiah as King and then everything would be restored back to perfection. Jesus affirms what they are saying, but not that he agrees with it. Still the disciples don't understand the correlation between suffering and glory. Jesus also affirms that the Elijah prophesied about was indeed John the Baptist! The religious teachers had missed this as had the disciples. Just as John the Baptist was rejected and killed by the religious authorities, so would the Christ. Jesus explains that the road to glory for the Messiah was through his death and suffering. Come back tomorrow for Day 23 of our series AGOG, as we continue to look together at that extraordinary man, Jesus Christ, through the Gospel accounts! We shall see together Jesus preparing His disciples for when He leaves them! See you soon at Partakers! Right Mouse click or tap here to save this as an audio mp3 file  

After summarizing the Orthodox approach to scripture, Fr. Anthony begins a verse by verse examination of Genesis One.  We made it up to "Image and Likeness!" Review. We have to read texts according to their purpose and scope. The purpose of the Bible is to describe the economy of our salvation (i.e. mankind's sin, Christ/Messiah as our savior). The Bible is inspired; God spoke through prophets and scribes who automatically presented His revelations in their own language, with their own symbols, and in a way that their immediate audiences would understand. Our worldview (our language, symbols, and stories) is very different from those of the prophets, scribes, and their immediate audience; mirror-imaging can lead to incorrect understandings of the Bible, God, and His plan for us. Useful Materials Bouteneff, Peter C.. Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives. Louth, A., & Conti, M. (Eds.). Genesis 1–11 (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Series). Walton, J. H. (2009). The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. Genesis One (read the first four days using Septuagint and Hebrew translations; pause to make points). 1. In [the] beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void [Tohu wa bohu]; and darkness was on the face of the deep. 2. And the Spirit of God [!] was hovering over the face of the waters [where did they come from?] 3. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light [!]. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day [?], and the darkness He called Night [?]. So the evening and the morning were the first day [liturgical time!]. 6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven [use of ancient cosmology does not need to be explained away or excused; the explanation is functional, not astronomical/geographical!] . So the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.[imagery of the Nile – agricultural, miraculous, dependable] 11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind [we'll explore this “according to its kind later; order is important in the temple!], whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night [why the ambigious language? De-divinization of creation!]. He made the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day. Some Observations Although there are similarities with the creation myths of surrounding nations, the contrasts are stark; the Hebrews are given a new way of understand God and the world. E.g. The Enuma Elish (Babylon, at least 7th century BC) has Marduk overcoming chaos (personified in Tiamat); he then creates the heaven and earth by splitting her. In the Genesis creation account, creation is demythologized (e.g. deep/chaos, sun, stars). These sorts of things show up later, but the creation account is kept pristine so as to make the distinction between Creator and creation clear. There is a pattern (7 days, 7 “it was good's”; things are “according to their kind”) that speaks not just to poetry, but to liturgical use. Speaking of liturgy, note that evening is the beginning of the day (as with Vespers). You can imagine this being chanted/sung the way we do Psalm 103 at Vespers (creation!). Creation is spoken into being. See also the Gospel of John 1 (“In the beginning was the Word…”) and Amos 8 (fear a famine of the Word). Also see C.S. Lewis The Magician's Nephew. We know that creation is ex nihilo (from nothing), but that is not necessarily being asserted here (although many say it is). This is not a description of a factory of creation (i.e. the “how” of creation), but a functional creation (purpose and meaning). Some Examples of the Functional Creation Day One: The creation of time. Day Two: Room for people to live. Weather. Day Three: Production of food. Some Commentary: St. Augustine, One the Literal Interpretation of Genesis 3:10. Scripture called heaven and earth that formless matter of the universe, which was changed into formed and beautiful natures by God's ineffable command.… This heaven and earth, which were confused and mixed up, were suited to receive forms from God their maker. Basil the Great; Hexaemeron 1.5. It appears, indeed, that even before this world an order of things existed of which our mind can form an idea but of which we can say nothing, because it is too lofty a subject for men who are but beginners and are still babes in knowledge. The birth of the world was preceded by a condition of things suitable for the exercise of supernatural powers, outstripping the limits of time, eternal and infinite. The Creator and Demiurge of the universe perfected his works in it, spiritual light for the happiness of all who love the Lord, intellectual and invisible natures, all the orderly arrangement of pure intelligences who are beyond the reach of our mind and of whom we cannot even discover the names. Rev. Dr. John Polkinghorne (excerpted from On Being) I mean, this is an extraordinary thing, Genesis 1 … things don't quite come in the right order. I mean, it's striking that it begins with energy for light, “Let there be light.” It's striking that life starts in the waters and moves onto the land. But of course … the sun and moon and stars only come on the fourth day. And of course, there wouldn't be any life without the stars, because that's where they make the raw material for life. So that isn't right. And we believe that one of the reasons, we believe in theology, one of the reasons why the sun, moon and stars come downstream, so to speak, is that the writer is wanting to say the sun and the moon aren't deities. They're not to be worshipped…. They are creatures just like everything else. And that shows us that what we're reading is a theologically oriented thing and not a scientifically oriented thing. I mean, you have to figure out, when you read something and you want to read it respectfully, you have to figure out what it is you're reading. Is it poetry or is it prose? If you read poetry and think it's prose, you will make the most astonishing mistakes. [And Genesis 1…] is much more like a poem than like prose. And that's, in a sense, the sadness of the “creationist” so-called position, that these people who are really wanting to be respectful to scripture are, I think, ironically, being disrespectful, because they're not using it in the right way. Walton, J. H. (pp. 49–50). The creation account in Genesis 1 can then be seen to begin with no functions rather than with no material. At this point, however, it is important to establish what we mean when we talk of functions… In the ancient world, function was not the result of material properties, but the result of purpose. The sun looks down on all and is associated with the god of justice. It functions as a marker for time and seasons. When the ancient texts talk about how something functions in an ordered system, the system under discussion is not a cosmic or ecological system. It is a system inhabited by beings…In the Old Testament God has no needs and focuses functionality around people. We will see increasing evidence of this understanding as we move through the remainder of Genesis 1. Consequently, functionality cannot exist without people in the picture. In Genesis people are not put in place until day six, but functionality is established with their needs and situation in mind. Major Points for Discussion Who is God (i.e. what does “Elohim” mean?).  Elohim is a plural noun that can either describe beings from the/a spiritual realm (e.g. gods, angels, maybe even ghosts) or the One Uncreated God (it's obvious which one it is by grammatical context). What does “according to its kind” mean?  It is not an attack on science.  Here's a gem of a quote from St. Augustine's tract against Felix the Manichean (quoted here); In the Gospel we do not read that the Lord said: I send you the Holy Spirit so that He might teach you all about the course of the sun and the moon. The Lord wanted to make Christians, not astronomers. You learn at school all the useful things you need to know about nature. It is true that Christ said that the Holy Spirit will come to lead us into all truth, but He is not speaking there about the course of the sun and the moon. If you think that knowledge about these things belongs to the truth that Christ promised through the Holy Spirit, then I ask you: how many stars are there? I say that such things do not belong to Christian teaching…whereas you affirm that this teaching includes knowledge about how the world was made and what takes place in the world.  The point being made is that 1) there is an order to creation that is logical (and created through the Logos!) and 2) the multitude of creation reflects God's glory and purpose.  God led the Hebrews to make seeing things “according to their kind a virtuous instinct.  What do we lose when we don't? Who is God talking to when He says “Let US make man…”?  Different explanations.  Could be the “Royal We” (not likely).  Could be the Heavenly Hosts (i.e. the Divine Council).  The main explanation (because we read in the light of Christ) is the Trinity. What is “The Image of God”?  Lots of good answers (ask for some).  At the very least, it means that we re-present God in creation (just as Christ does as the New Adam; “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Colossians 1:15). What is the “Likeness of God”?  Again, many good answers.  The usual one is that it is His purity and holiness (theosis).  This is something we have to grow into (more on that once we talk more about mankind). Enjoy the show!

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will think like Jesus (Philippians 2:5f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Jesus the Divider”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus Asks: “But who do you say that I am?” and Jesus Answers: “you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.".  God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Hatred. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Love. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Christians in the Church Must Become Christians in the Marketplace of Unbelievers”, at our Website: https://awtlser.podbean.com/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Jesus, the Lamb of God: Before we get to Jesus, we must be prepared to see him. This was what the ministry of John the Baptist was all about: to prepare the way for the Lord. John did this through a baptism of repentance and his testimony about Jesus, the Lamb of God. But John's ministry is still needed. Why? It's only when we behold Jesus and see him for who he truly is that we can find the life-to-the-full that God created for us to live. Recorded on Jul 9, 2023, on John 1:19-34 by Pastor David Parks. Finding Life in Jesus' Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John's life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God's power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe. Sermon Transcript So, last week, we started the new annual theme of Finding Life in Jesus' Name. As I said last week, normally, we'd have a selection of sermon series under our annual theme from the whole Bible. But this year, we're doing something a little different. For almost the whole next year, we'll go slowly, chapter by chapter and verse by verse, through the gospel according to John. And last week, we kicked off this series/theme by working through the prologue of John's gospel. We met the Apostle John, an ambitious and hot-tempered young man, one of the Sons of Thunder. But John found a new life with Jesus, and eventually, he was changed so much that by the end of his long life, he was known as the Apostle of love. We said that reading through John is like walking through an art gallery. John has curated many different artistic images and portraits under one theme. And the theme is all about who Jesus is, what God has done and is doing through him, and the reality of the new life, eternal life, a life to the full that is possible when we believe. If you missed the introduction, you can always go back and watch it online or listen to the audio podcast if you'd like. But today, we'll meet another man named John, not the Apostle, but the baptizer. And this John, John the Baptist, had the special God-given task to prepare the way for the coming of the Christ (Messiah). And John the Baptist's ministry is fitting for us even to this day. Because before we get to Jesus, we must be prepared to see him. We must first understand that God had promised that Jesus would come. Second, we must have a realistic view of our own sin and struggle that we need help; we need a savior. Third, and finally, as John encourages us to do, we must behold Jesus. We must really look at him and listen to him. We must carefully consider his words and deeds and meditate on what all that says about who he truly is. But if we do this, if we prepare ourselves and if we walk through this gallery that John has prepared for us, we just might find the life-to-the-full that God created for us to live. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 1:19. Let's jump in. John 1:19-23 (NIV), “19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.' ”” Ok, let's pause here. So again, the John in this passage isn't the author, but the baptizer who had a very popular ministry early i...

Christ Messiah; Believing you are a Christian?; Are you with the father?; What does your image of Jesus look like? What Moses taught; The Exodus journey; Wave and heave offerings; Information network; Herding; Self-organization; Social network of charity; Getting out of Babylon; Being ready to leave; Re-learning neighborhood; God's real salvation; Exodus 35; Symbolism of the temple; Why burn sheep?; Abraham's army; Guidance by Holy Spirit; "Congregation" Ayin-dalet-hey (witness); Thought, speech and action; Children of Israel; Honestly consecrating yourself; Strong delusion; Evidence of Christianity; Reputation; Truth vs wishful thinking; Ex 35:2 - sabbath; Working to earn your rest; "Put to death"; Kindling fire?; "Blue" tav-kuf-lamed-tav; Breeches; Exploring the symbolism; Seeing things truthfully; Individual improvement; Babysitter cows; Promised land; Tabernacle; Egyptian social safety net; Heave (moving up) and wave (spreading out) offering; Millionaire ministers/public servants?; Graft and corruption; Burnt offerings; Becoming merchandise/human resources; Ex 35:21; "Contribution"; Freewill charity; Cities of blood; Garments?; What God needs from you; Caesar's title of "son of god"; Practicality; Tabernacles of the congregation; "Worshipping"; Bible for government of, for and by the people; Ex 36; Wise-hearted people; Egyptian bondage; Religion? Or socialism?; Not OK to covet; Constantine's *new* church; Altar of incense?; God writing on your heart and mind; Lycurgus; Sweet savor rising up (freewill offerings); Body of Christ; Jury precedents; Seek His kingdom and His righteousness.

God Is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, and You Pray to One Triune Being – God, the Creator of the Universe MESSAGE SUMMARY: In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His Disciples the question He asks you: “And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ {Messiah}.'". As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-6: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”.  God IS Father, IS Son, and He IS Holy Spirit. Jesus told the crowd in the Temple; and He tells us, as it is recorded for us now by the Apostle John, in John 10:25,30: “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me . . . I and the Father are one.'”. Also, Jesus provides more insights to your Trinitarian relationship with God in John 14:18-20: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.". God is one God, but He is in three natures: God is Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, when you pray, you are praying to one triune being – God, the Creator of the Universe.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to be still and to wait patiently for you in silence. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 125). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will proclaim him (Philippians 1:15f). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 4:1-8; John 10:24-30; Mark 1:9-11; Psalms 139a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Upper Room Part 1: The Promise of the Spirit (Apostles Anglican Church; Knoxville, TN)”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

This episode is a review of the recently published paperback edition of the book called, The Restitution: Biblical Proof that Jesus is not God, by Kermit Zarley*.   What? Biblical proofs that Jesus is NOT God? The average Christian has heard only the biblical proofs that supposedly declare that Jesus IS God.   But anyone who thinks that the Bible claims that God is a Trinity, or that the Bible claims that Jesus Christ is God, should read this book. The Restitution: Biblical Proof that Jesus is NOT God is a comprehensive study of biblical Christology. What does the Bible say about who or what Christ (Messiah) is? For some 1700 years Christian churches have answered that question by saying that Jesus is God, or a God-Man. Zarley challenges that answer. He maintains that the biblical view is not “God is Christ”, but “God in Christ”. That is, the One God of the Bible, Yahweh, worked in and through His human Messiah, Jesus, to reveal Himself to mankind (John 1:18, Heb. 1:1), and to reconcile the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19).   *Kermit Zarley is a retired professional golfer and Christian author.  In 1965 he co-founded the PGA Tour Bible Study group which continues to this day.   Links for this episode:   The Restitution: Biblical Proof that Jesus is not God https://www.amazon.com/Restitution-Biblical-Proof-Jesus-Not/dp/1735259160   Kermit Zarley webpage: https://kermitzarley.com/   For a text of this podcast see here. https://landandbible.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-restitution-of-jesus-christ-signs.html   April 21-23, 2023, Cornerstone Church 2023 Bible Conference and Heritage Sunday 338 State School Rd, Gatesville, TX 76528-2921, United States Kermit Zarley, former golf pro and founder of the PGA Tour Bible Study will present four sessions on theological and prophetic topics. Other presenters include Kegan Chandler, Kevin George, Albert Valdez, David Ash and Dennis Smith. We expect a fun and profitable time of Bible study and fellowship. Meals provided include: sandwich lunch and spaghetti dinner on Saturday; carry-in dinner on Sunday. Please RSVP to greg@cornerstonetx.tv. https://www.facebook.com/events/2548372141984249/?ref=newsfeed   Zarley, tied for lead with Jack Nicklaus, last round, 6th hole, US Open at Pebble Beach, 1972 https://youtu.be/84p_Cb8ijXA?t=573   ONE GOD REPORT 37) "I came down from heaven": Discussion with Kermit Zarley on Metaphors in the Gospel of John, and if Jesus "Pre-existed" https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/F0G9djgJZyb   #deityofchrist, #trinity, #biblicalunitarian, #unitarian, #kermitzarley, #billschlegel --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/onegodreport-podcast/support

I.    Truth and Religion  A.    Framing the great debate on religion and spiritualityTaking objective truth seriously in a pluralistic, postmodern setting B.    The appeal of the oneness claim (all religions teach basically the same thing): religious strife is eliminated. But this must be logically tested. II.    What are Truth Claims in Religion? A.     Defining the nature of truth: that which corresponds to  objective reality. For more on this, see Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay (InterVarsity Press, 2000), chapter four. B.    Defining a truth-claim: a statement that claims to describe objective reality C.    The logic of truth-claims—rules of the intellectual system, rational analysis 1.    The law of noncontradiction: A is not non-A (contradictory statements cannot both be true; nothing possesses contradictory properties) 2.    Examples of the law of noncontradiction in religious  truth-claims a.    Buddha cannot be enlightened and not enlightened at the same time; the claim is that he became enlightened. b.    Jesus cannot be the Christ (Messiah) and not be the Christ (Messiah). The claim is he always was the Messiah. c.    If what Buddha affirms about reality contradicts what Jesus affirms about reality, then both Buddha's and Jesus' view of reality cannot be true. They could both be false if some other worldview is true. A.    This fundamental law of logic is a necessary assumption for all rational discourse. III.    Similarities Between Jesus and Buddha A.    Both are world-historical founders of major religions B.    Their lives are enshrined in sacred texts C.    Both exhibited profound compassion and gathered followers D.    Both emphasized the need to find enduring peace E.    Both taught basic ethical teachings on love and respect, versions of the Golden Rule IV.     Jesus and Buddha: Key Differences of Worldview A.    Do two major religions agree on core issues or disagree?  If they disagree, they cannot be one in essence; cannot both true B.    Documents on Jesus and Buddha 1.    Buddha: Large body of texts far removed in history from life of Buddha. Miracles are not central to the message (dharma) of Buddha. 2.    Jesus: Four Gospels (and the rest of the New Testament) are written a few decades after Jesus' time on earth by eyewitnesses or those who consulted them. Miracles are central to the message of Jesus. See Douglas Groothuis, On Jesus, chapter two. C.    The worldview of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha (ca. 566-486 BCE) 1.    Ultimate reality or the sacred—atheistic or agnostic on God; but nirvana exists 2.    The human condition—suffering is due to craving and ignorance 3.    Spiritual liberation/salvation a.    “Four noble truths”—freedom from craving through insight into the cause of suffering  1.    Life is suffering2.    Suffering is caused by craving3.    The cessation of craving leads to liberation4.    The way of liberation is through the Eightfold path b.    The Eightfold path—wisdom, ethical conduct, mental discipline c.    The afterlife: reincarnation/karma or nirvana (release from reincarnation) D.    The worldview of Jesus, the Christ (Messiah) 1.    Ultimate reality—a personal and moral Creator God (Matthew 22:37-39) 2.    Human condition—image bearers of God estranged from God (Mark 7:21-23; See Romans 3:14-26 also) 3.    Spiritual liberation/salvation a.    Repentance; turning from self-centeredness (sin) to God's authority (Matthew 4:1: Luke 24:45-47) b.    Belief and trust in Jesus himself for eternal life (John    1:12-13; 3:16; 14:6; Romans 10:9). You have to do something with Jesus c.    The redemptive power of the suffering death (Cross) of   Jesus Christ (Matthew 20:28; 25-28; Romans 5:6-8) 4.    The afterlife: Either fellowship with God and the redeemed or eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46) E.    Two momentous lives compared    1.    Buddha—a sage, teacher, and reformer. Sought          enlightenment through knowledge and experience;         shared this with others 2.    Jesus—claimed to be God in human form (unrepeatable) a.    Never sought enlightenment, but began ministry in power and confidence (Matthew 4) b.    Offered to provide forgiveness for sin against a holy God (Mark 2:1-12; John 3:16-18) c.    Claimed to be one with a personal God (John 8:58; John 10:22-31) IV.    Conclusion: Between Jesus and Buddha— Gospel or Dharma? A.    Buddhism and Christianity cannot both be true; they contradict each other on crucial matters of worldview and spirituality: A cannot be non-A (the law of noncontradiction) B.    Objective truth and spiritual reality should be the overriding concern for spiritual seekers C.    Final reflection on suffering and hope (crucial test for any worldview) 1.    Buddha: transcend suffering through mental discipline and dehumanization (nirvana) 2.    Jesus: embrace redemptive suffering because of the fallen nature of the world. Jesus' own suffering on the Cross provides the way of liberation for individuals. a.    Jesus and the death of Lazarus (John 11) b.    Jesus on the Cross: “My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) c.    Resurrection of the body and the afterlife (1 Corinthians 15) D.    Jesus offers meaning in suffering and purpose in life through his life, death, and resurrection Recommended Reading 1.    Douglas Groothuis, On Jesus. Wadsworth, 2003. Looks at Jesus through the lens of philosophy.2.    Douglas Groothuis, Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith, 2nd ed. InterVarsity Press, 2022 3.    Bart Gruzalski, On Buddha. Wadsworth, 2000. Looks at Buddha through the lens of philosophy.4.    Stuart Hackett, Oriental Religions: A Westerner's Guide to Eastern Thought. University of Wisconsin Press, 1979. A philosophical analysis, including Buddhism.5.    David L. Johnson, A Reasoned Look at Asian Religions. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany Press, 1985. A philosophical analysis, including Buddhism.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.