Podcasts about Comforter

In John 14:15–27, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our Advocate, Comforter, and Friend—the one who steadies our hearts and keeps us focused on him. Using imagery from The Wizard of Oz, Bret compares the Spirit's quiet guidance to Toto's loyal presence beside Dorothy: alert, faithful, and always sensing what's true. When fear and distraction rise, the Spirit redirects us toward Jesus and fills our troubled hearts with peace—the kind the world can't give or take away.

In a world full of fears, Jesus offers us something extraordinary: His peace. This isn't about escaping troubles, but finding strength in God's presence through the Holy Spirit - our Advocate, Comforter, and Helper.

The Sound Chaser Progressive Rock Podcast is on the air. On the show this time I have new music from Head Spin, an In Memoriam feature for Danny Thompson, and over three hours of entertaining and enlightening progressive music. All that, plus news of tours and releases on Sound Chaser. Playlist1. Ekseption - The Peruvian Flute, from TrinityIN MEMORIAM DANNY THOMPSON2. Danny Thompson - Yucateca, from WhateverEND IN MEMORIAM3. Spock's Beard - Gibberish, from There & Here4. Frédéric L'Épée - Kalimba I, from Vent, Pluie et Sable5. Thermal and a Quarter - Stone Circle, from A World Gone Mad6. Head Spin - Phase Eater, from High Orbit7. Art Griffin's Sound Chaser - Astronomy by Rail, from The Seven Ages of Starlight8. Alex Machacek, Jeff Sipe, Matthew Garrison - Matt's Riff, from Improvision9. Fleet Foxes - Quiet Houses, from Fleet Foxes10. Steve Hackett - The Lovers, from Voyage of the Acolyte11. Moon Safari - Barfly, from Live in MexicoTHE SYMPHONIC ZONE12. David Bedford - The Phaeacian Games, from The Odyssey13. Egdon Heath - Buried Inside, from Nebula14. Jade Warrior - Night of the Shaman, from Distant Echoes15. Jade Warrior - Standing Stones, from Distant Echoes16. Jade Warrior - Village Dance, from Distant Echoes17. Jade Warrior - Spirits of the Water, from Distant Echoes18. Poor Genetic Material - Thin Red Line, from Leap into Fall19. Lisa LaRue - Lament of the Cherokee / Ruins of Home, from Origins (retrospective)20. Marillion - Pseudo Silk Kimono, from Misplaced Childhood21. Marillion - Kayleigh, from Misplaced Childhood22. Marillion - Lavender, from Misplaced Childhood23. Marillion - Bitter Suite, from Misplaced Childhood24. Marillion - Heart of Lothian, from Misplaced ChildhoodLEAVING THE SYMPHONIC ZONE25. 10cc - Johnny Don't Do It, from 10cc26. Rick Wakeman - The Chase Continues (Po's Plan), from The Burning27. Silent Island - King Pirate, from The Curse of Coleodeia28. Boris S.G - In the Distance, from Soft Landing29. Software - Calèche, from Fragrance30. Forrest Fang - New China, from World Diary31. Rocket Scientists - Calm Before the Storm, from Earth Above and Sky Below32. Mildlife - The Gloves Don't Bite, from Phase33. Steven Wilson - King Ghost, from The Future Bites34. Jay Tausig - Key of Night, from Clavicula Nox35. Dewa Budjana - Zone, from Mahandini36. Lyle Mays - Street Dreams 1 & 2, from Street Dreams37. John McLaughlin with The One Truth Band - Desire and the Comforter, from Electric Dreams

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” (Romans 8:26–27 NLT) There will be times when you don’t know what or how to pray. You may be overwhelmed with a burden. You may be discouraged. You may be depressed. You may be afraid. That’s when the Holy Spirit steps in to help you. Referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you” (John 14:16 NLT). The word Advocate also can be translated as Comforter. It comes from the Greek word parakletos, which means “called alongside to help.” The Holy Spirit comes alongside you to assist you in your prayer. He serves as an advocate in interceding for you and pleading your cause before the Father. Let’s face it, some prayer requests are too complex to put into words. Some situations are beyond your ability to fully grasp. Some cause you to confront your self-interests in uncomfortable ways, requiring you to choose between what’s easiest for you in the short term and what’s best for you in the long term. In situations like these, arranging your thoughts and emotions into coherent sentences may seem next to impossible. The good news is that sometimes the most profound prayers are nothing more than a sigh or a groan—an emotional SOS, signaling that you’re overwhelmed and don’t know what to say. I can attest. After my son died, I struggled to come to grips with the reality of his being gone. I prayed to God, but I didn’t always know what to pray. So, sometimes I just said, “Oh, Lord.” Sometimes I just groaned. Sometimes I just cried. Sometimes I just sighed. But that was all I needed to do because I wasn’t crying out against God; I was crying out to Him for help. And His Holy Spirit was ready to assist. The apostle Paul wrote, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will” (Romans 8:26–27 NLT). Don’t let a lack of words keep you from praying. No matter what you’re experiencing, take it to the Lord. Give Him your sighs, your groans, your tears, your anxiety, your rage. Even if you can muster no more than “God, please,” it’s enough for the Holy Spirit to work with. He will make your needs known to the One who can bring ultimate good from any situation. Reflection question: When have you needed the Holy Spirit’s assistance with a prayer? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are targets of the devil because of God's Spirit in us, so it is important for us to try the spirits to discern false teaching from the Word of God. We need to look to the Word and learn the sayings of God, carefully wielding the rhemas as a short sword – in defense and offense against the enemy. VF-2113 Ephesians 6:17, 1John 4:1-3 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on October 27, 2020)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Jesus tells us to lay up treasure in heaven, not on this present earth.  (Matthew 6:19-20)   As we rejoice in the WORD, we keep our minds stayed on the WORD.  The WORD is our treasure and it is treasure on this earth as we live here and it will be stored up for us also in heaven.   So what WORD is our treasure now?   * THE WORD came to this earth in the form of a man, Jesus, to die for us to pay for our sins with HIS blood.   The people of this world try to save themselves by their own works.   But we are saved by THE WORD, by HIS works.   As we live in the Word, we abide in HIM.   *  I'm also grateful that God did not leave us alone on this earth.  God and Jesus are with each of us constantly to teach us and guide us and even show us things to come.  We are not alone.  Jesus is in us and with us at all times by HIS Spirit.   II Corinthians 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?   I Corinthians 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?   I Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?   And the Holy Spirit of Jesus who is in us does the following things for us:   John 14:26  Jesus said ...  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.   John 16:13  Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.   So we are never alone at any time on this earth.  Jesus dwells in us by HIS Spirit to guide us and teach us.  

(This podcast was previously recorded and published on October 22, 2020)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...    The Holy Spirit is in us.   John 14:26  Jesus said ... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.   John 16:13  Howbeit when HE, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide you into all truth: for HE shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever HE shall hear, that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.   The spirit of this world is in the people of this world.   John 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.   Knowing the children of God:   John 4:4-6   Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is HE that is in you, than he that is in the world.   5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.   6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Priscilla Shirer delivers a powerful reminder that the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our own strength. She explains that the Holy Spirit is not only our Comforter but also our Guide, leading us step by step through God's will. With practical examples and biblical truth, she urges believers to cultivate sensitivity to His voice, surrender daily choices to His direction, and trust His power to accomplish what we cannot. When we let the Holy Spirit lead, we walk in peace, clarity, and effectiveness that only He can provide. Jaggy and I are grateful that you have tuned in!

  By Mary Lindow    WE LIVE IN A CORRUPT WORLD and therefore, have the “effects and affects” of that corruption ever influencing, ever tainting and ever wooing the flesh.  Let's look at the definition of a key word I am going to use in this crucial message. Plumbline: a tool that consists of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope and that is used especially to see if something (such as a wall) is perfectly vertical or in alignment)     A plumbline is a simple but accurate tool used for determining whether or not something is perfectly vertical or upright. The Lord also used, and uses, a "plumbline," His Word, to determine how upright His people truly are in His sight. How upright they think they are, or how upright they proclaim themselves to be, means nothing to God.  "Behold, I WILL set a plumbline in the midst of My people".  -Amos 7:7    A PLUMBLINE SET OUT BY THE HAND OF GOD IS ONE THAT WE CAN ANCHOR OUR HEARTS TO.  It will always, always, ALWAYS, direct us to the truth in a matter; even if it requires pain, loss, persecution and perhaps death in areas we feel we may well have rights to.  It will also be a shield, a balm, a comfort and a teacher to those who will yield to the directive positioning of the Master.   “I will make justice the measuring line  and righteousness the plumbline.”  -Isaiah 28:17    I am by far not an expert on the subject of plumblines and righteousness, so take what I say in the light of one who at time gropes like a child in the dark, ever reaching for the hand of the ONE to lead me into a safe place filled with His Hope, His Mercy, His Light and Life.   LIFE – DISTRESS - AND PERSECUTION  I have found that in my life, distress and persecution do not feel like God's care being poured out on me. My heart is not immediately drawn to thanksgiving and gratefulness for the faithfulness of God on display as I cling to the battered pieces that look like potential “rafts” of hope, only to find out that many of them have gaping holes or slow leaks in them.  Rather, it feels like yet another hurt is being permanently woven into my tattered and war-torn soul. It seems as if another mound of questions are piling up and just waiting for an answer and a true solid REAL anchor of hope.    A Courageous, brilliant, humble servant of God and fellow female Counselor and minister of the Gospel has deeply impressed me and my approach to caring for and ministering to others. She spoke the following words boldly regarding pain, abuse, and the suffering of traumatic events. Quoting Dr. Langberg, "In the midst of the trauma and suffering I have also seen the work of the Redeemer. He fills his people with his life and in ordinary ways, little by little; they bring his hope and healing to a ruined world. Traumatized and caregiver alike are transformed. He works both ways as they bend together to bring his redemption to the ravages of evil. I know this to be true for he has done so in me. I have learned many lessons over the years. I have listened to countless tragedies. Of one thing I am certain: unless we are gripped by the truths of the Cross of Christ in our own hearts and lives, the hope and power of the Cross will not pass from us to others. We cannot give what we do not have.  May love and obedience to the Son of Man so govern our personal lives that he can through us bring his life to this ruined planet." (End of quote)   I CAN REALLY CONNECT TO THE WRITER OF PSALM 42  He said “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” It's at those very times that the words of the Savior are so important. When we are down and in turmoil.  But, how do we connect the dots between what we know is true about God's faithfulness and what our hearts feel? When flipped and flung around by the waves, weary from crying and when no answer seems at hand, what IS the answer?  When my circumstances show many foes and tyrants rising up against me and my heart is prone to wander and fear, what hope is there of peace?  When my feelings start controlling my thoughts, how can I rest in God's promises?    AT THIS POINT… I HEAR THE “GASPS”,  (and perhaps shocked comments of a few who are amazed that someone who "appears" to walk so fervently and intimately with the Lord) would have such difficulties!  Well! Guess what? I do struggle, I do hurt, and yes I do doubt when I have been side swiped or “rammed” by skilled cons and those who, although may have the appearance of godliness and offered friendship or fellowship, end up having private and evil agendas behind their well placed and planned schemes. And boy oh boy! Those skilled players know the wicked art of wounding the heart and causing people to reel in pain!    BUT, THERE IS ONE WHO FULLY SEES IT ALL  The main skill in the issue of dealing with life as a spiritual person, is to know how to handle yourself when things not only crush and grind your heart, but what to do with the anguish and toll of their aftermath.  We have to get ourselves into a place where we hear clearly again.  We need have to address ourselves, preach to ourselves, and ask questions about ourselves.  We must say to our soul: "Why are you cast down –Why are you so anxious and lacking in peace?"  We must urge ourselves, and say ‘Hope in God' – instead of remaining in this paralyzed, aching state!”    AND THEN WE MUST TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER We must go on to remind ourselves just “Who" God is, and what God is, and what God has done, and what God has promised that he Himself said that He would do.  Having done that we can stand up and sing out strongly, defying the torment of the soul, and resist other people's wicked tongues and arrogance, and refuse to go along with the devil and the whole world, and say: ‘Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”    The hope and promise of the fairness of God's justice when dealing with the hurtful things and presumptions of others gives me the confidence to know that God will never turn away from me in my need. No matter how they seem to prosper in the short term, wicked men and women will ultimately pay for their sins, in this life or the next. Jesus died to meet my greatest hardships and sorrows for me, and I need to preach this to myself every day.   His power is greater than my weariness and suffering.  The comforting and instruction that comes from simply running to feed upon His word instead of the toxic poison of the replaying of trauma reminds me that what Jesus has done is strong enough for my soul to rejoice in and to be set into a place where it can rest and regroup, gaining a healthy perspective about what to give out to others and what is simply… …. To be enjoyed by the Lord Himself.    THE NATURAL IMPULSES OF MANKIND ARE SINFUL AND DECEITFUL!  Human willpower alone will never be able to change this.  We need God's help to truly change our hearts.  REMEMBER. You cannot change the heart of anyone else either.  If you try to, you will feel the bite of stinging venom or be laughed out of a room. Only the power of the conviction of the Holy Spirit can permeate and get around the jam-packed hardhearted egos of the self sufficient and bitter.  Jeremiah 17:9 says that the human heart is deceitful in all things and is even beyond cure!   We must be cautious and wise in reproving and warning such types of people about their bad behaviors and wicked actions where there seems to be no appearance or hope of change and where there is danger of experiencing great and heart wrecking retaliation and slander.    THESE TYPES TRAMPLE THE WARNINGS AND URGING FOR REPENTANCE  and humbling of the heart under their feet, and turn again and slash at you, despising the warnings that are “tearfully and fearfully” given, and often hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds.    "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don't throw your pearls to pigs!  They will trample the pearls,  then turn and attack you.”  -Matthew 7:6    “GIVE ME THE FACTS MA'AM JUST THE FACTS” I remember that phrase from a TV show called “Dragnet”. The detective would not allow the details of the case to be skewed by any assumptions or pontificating from those he interviewed. He stoically and firmly demanded only the facts.    And so, here are the “facts” about the heart of a good man or woman. 1.) The good man or woman:  Brings good things out of the good stored up in his/her heart.   And the facts about an evil man or woman.  2.) The evil man/woman,  Brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his/her heart. For out of the overflow of his or her heart his or her mouth speaks.  -Luke 6:45    THE FRAILTY, BRIEFNESS, AND INSECURITY OF LIFE  The frailty, briefness, and insecurity of life should hold down the vanity and presumptuous confidence of all of our projects and boasting about future greatness and bragging rights! We are always to depend on the will and leading of God.    OUR TIMES ARE NOT IN OUR OWN HANDS, BUT ARE INSTEAD IN THE TIMING OF GOD. Our heads may be filled with cares and plans for ourselves, or our families, or our friends; but Divine intervention often throws our plans into bewilderment. All we have in mind, and all we do, should be with a humble and deep dependence on God. It is foolish, and it is hurtful, to boast of trendy “latest happening” things and prospective projects, and it will bring great disappointment and will prove destructive to relationships and meaningful help to others in the end.    “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.  These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”  -1 John 2:16   LISTEN KINDLY - BEFORE SPEAKING YOUR THOUGHTS  People don't need a lecture on the meaning of suffering or to have a barrage of scriptures “machine-gunned” at them as a reprimand for sharing their moment of grief or struggle! (Especially when their hearts are breaking, weary of the battle and if they are fatigued.) Job could have done without some of the self-righteous answers that came from his “well-meaning” friends. All of the answers could have even been true, but Job didn't need to hear any of them.  He needed their love, not their value judgments.  In fact, it appears as if God judged THEM for trying to offer simple solutions to things that were beyond their comprehension. They had never walked in the loss he was in anguish over.    WHEN WE SUFFER UNJUSTLY WE HAVE A MAJOR CHOICE TO MAKE How will we respond? We can feel sorry for ourselves (and understandably so, for a while), become bitter and cynical, get drawn into a war of words, or even become mixed up in a major conflict. On the other hand, we can take our suffering to the cross and allow our pain to draw us into a deeper place of understanding of what Jesus went though in his sufferings. This does not remove the pain, but does help us to know what to do with our hurt.    THIS IS THE 'FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS (Philippians 3:10), one of the gateways to closeness with God and the release of his power in our lives. The weight of heartbreak shared with a loving friend cuts it in half. When the burden is shared with many friends, we can cope with almost anything. We never feel more revitalized than when a friend loves us enough to walk with us in our pain. Not lecture us.    The apostle Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth:  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God". -1 Corinthians 1.3-4    SOMETIMES GOD GETS INVOLVED WITH DIRECT MIRACLES,  Giving supernatural strength to those in need. But for the most part, he depends on us, his people, to do his work in the world. We love each other, work for healing, and suffer with those who suffer.  The next time you see a friend who is suffering, Jesus may just invite you to be the warm embrace! We comfort each other with the comfort we have received in Christ. And when we do, we become the Body of Christ and he receives the glory!    THE BIBLE IS CLEAR!  We are to bear one another's burdens.  We are to comfort others as Christ has given comfort to us.  Your hard time becomes my hard time.  We join hands in the journey.  When you succeed, I succeed.  When you suffer, I suffer. But we do it together. We share it together.  And we do it, not so much in our wisdom or our words, but in our availability, our understanding, and through our presence.    THAT'S WHAT FELLOWSHIP IS ALL ABOUT!  But not “bland” fellowship. It is CHRISTIAN fellowship. It is the business of burden bearing. Authentic CHRISTIAN fellowship says that when you need me . . . I'll be there. Support in suffering is at the core of what it means to share life together in Christ. The word for "comfort” is the same root word as the name Jesus used to describe one of the functions of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Paraclete). “I will be a comforter, one who comes alongside to give help.” And so as God comes alongside you, now you are able to come alongside another. As the Comforter is at work within you, so you also can be of comfort to those around you.    WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS.  To mourn with those who mourn. To be a follower of Jesus means to come alongside people who are hurting and find ways to help them walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. We are called to do this, as the word of God and care of God is shared with the intention of stirring, plowing up hardened hearts, creating a place for repentance and challenging saints to hope again.  I know and believe that as we learn again as believers, to care, to truly listen and to hope fully again, that the sweet and heavy weight of HIS Glory will be made known and will manifest in unfettered and uncontrolled waves of worship and spontaneous adoration of the King of Heaven.    MY FRIENDS IN CHRIST… …LISTEN TO THESE NEXT WORDS I SHARE WITH YOU VERY CAREFULLY. Toleration of sin, pretense, and crookedness do not reveal the character of God, even if they bear his name.  Arrogance is never godly.  Covering up sin is never godly.  Abuse of power is never godly.  Shepherds who feed on sheep are abusive.  Leadership that preserves and protects the system, rather than the people, turns the house of God into a safe place for predators. Exposure brings hope, because it brings the cancer to the light.  To hide sin by cover-up or silent complicity is spiritual abuse.   HE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT HE WANTS Let's focus on bowing low and seeking His heart and plans in what matters to Him. Indeed, HE is the Plumbline. Jesus demonstrated in the flesh what a human being is to be like who bears God's image. He pursued the vulnerable, protected the little ones, and poured out compassion on the least of these. Any dismissal of abuse, any baptizing of evil, any cover-up or denial is nothing like Him.  Any discarding of the least of these or trampling of the vulnerable is an assault on God Himself—no matter the spiritual words used as an excuse.   AGAIN, I will share another phenomenal insight from Dr. LANGBERG regarding this matter. She said these words in an article; “You see, this Jesus had a passion for redeeming.  For those who have been abused, and are suffering from its debilitating aftereffects, listen hard.  There is hope for you-hope for healing and transformation. I know; I come to you from the frontlines and have seen it happen countless times. It takes courage, hard work, and there is no quick fix. Such redemption was Jesus' master passion. This God came to seek and redeem what has been lost. We must acknowledge and tell the truth about these things. Great damage is being done to God's sheep, in his name.  He weeps over such leaders and the sheep they harm. Be watchful.  Recognize coercive and manipulative behavior.   CALL IT BY ITS RIGHT NAME WHEN SOMEONE IN POWER USES SPIRITUAL WORDS AND IDEAS TO SILENCE, CONTROL, AND INTIMIDATE.  Be discerning about those who hold power—including yourself.  Do not be deceived.  May we, with Daniel, call out to God: “O Lord, hear! O Lord forgive. O Lord listen and act. For your own sake do not delay, because your church and your people are called by your name” (Dan. 9:19).   SO FRIEND. WHAT HAVE YOU LOST?  Your voice? The truth, drowned out by lies?  Your life and its vibrancy, its strength, its giftedness?  Your hope?  God has said He is making all things new... and that includes you. Devastation is, bit by bit, redeem-able. I know. I have had a front-row seat to God's redemptive power in my life, and for the record, one of the people He has done redemptive work in, is me. My work with victims in ministry as well as teaching in schools has revealed to me who God is. Evil can be transformed in the life in which it occurred. That work is also redemptive in the one who walks alongside the broken vessel. Evil is then twice crushed. May the Church of Jesus Christ repent of her pursuit of human externals and bend down, listen, and walk alongside trauma, abuse, racism, hatred, and a blind eye as did her Lord.  In doing so, we will bring joy to the heart of the Father.    I'D LIKE YOU TO PRAY WITH ME BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I am sure that this touched several hearts, and maybe even made some fear come into some of you who are hiding things or who have abused others, and it's time to come clean.  It's time to get the help that you need.    So, I'd like to pray with all of you listening today.  I ask you to stop and be still.  Position your heart before the Lord as we bring this to him.   Prayer  God, I ask in Jesus' name, that you comfort, strengthen and encourage all who are hurting deeply right now and are going through so much pain and heartache.  Don't allow them to give up in the heat of the battle.  Let them feel your arms wrapping around them and your love overflowing and filling them up. Lord, I will pray often and I know that you will hear my voice, even when I speak to You in my silent thoughts.  To You, I am crying out and my prayers are now before You.  Father, I give to You my problems, I do not want them.  Father, please restore them to You. I know that you have compassion for your children. Father, show them your ways and teach them your paths. Lead them in your truth and teach them you are the God of our salvation and on you we will wait.  Protect them from the evils of this life and guide them through all of their days. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer Father and for considering and for having compassion on all who hear and read these words, and all who hurt, in this troubled world we live in.  Keep them in the center of Your love.  In Jesus' Name~ Amen    I KNOW THAT THIS WAS MOST LIKELY A DIFFICULT AND PROBABLY PAINFUL PODCAST FOR SOME OF YOU,  BUT IT'S A FREEING PODCAST. It brings out into the light the reality that we need to speak up when we see harm being done and we need to get help when we have been harmed so that the stopping of the sorrow when the grief in the trauma can begin and a new pathway can be created in our lives.    I look forward to sharing my next podcast with you! I do want to thank those you are so kind and so gracious.  I have a few very faithful individuals who do support and partner with me to produce these podcasts and I want to let you know I'm always amazed at how many places these go to, because I don't really do a lot of promoting! They just get picked up by other podcast groups and it goes out all across the world, so somewhere in this, the Holy Spirit is using it to glorify the name of Jesus, and for that I am so grateful that he would find something in me that is worthy of sharing. So, thank you again to those of you who help me.   I look forward to being with all of you again and in the meantime, stand firm, call upon the name of the Lord, and tell the truth, in Jesus name.  Goodbye for now!   Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete article, podcast link and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You Copyright © "2025 " -   "THE MESSENGER  - The Advocate of Hope" ~ Mary Lindow  www.marylindow.com https://marylindow.podbean.com Your Gracious Support and Donations Are So Very Helpful And Assist Mary In Publishing Her Teaching Podcasts and Audio Messages. THANK YOU! Please go to PAYPAL to donate or support this blog: Donate to the tax-deductible ministry name of: paypal.me/mlindow     mary lindow @mlindow Mary Lindow - His Beloved Ministries Inc. Or You Can Mail a Check or Cashiers Check to: His Beloved Ministries INC PO Box 1253 Eastlake CO 80614

A Sunday Sermon edition of Wilderness Wanderings!  The text is 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. Dive In discussion questions are below for further reflection! To see this sermon in the context of the worship service it comes from, find it here on YouTube.  Or, head to our website to connect with the worshiping community of Immanuel CRC: immanuelministries.ca What is your favourite ‘comforter'? How is God's comfort more? How does God usually bring his comfort? What does it mean to praise God during suffering?

This week, we look at the role of the Holy Spirit as our helper, comforter, and advocate.

Jesus teaches us one of the functions of the Spirit is Comforter. In this message Pastor Aaron addresses our need for comfort and where we turn to in difficult times.

In this sermon, Pastor Chris Meads unpacks the central question of Revelation: who wins in the end? Through John's vision of Christ the Conqueror and Comforter, we see that Jesus stands with His church, reigning in victory and calling His people to endure. No matter what we face, Revelation assures us that if we have Christ, we already share in His eternal triumph.

"We believe that Sanctification is the process by which, according to the will of God, we are made partakers of His holiness; that it is a progressive work; that it is begun at regeneration; and that it is varied on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the Sealer and Comforter, in the continual use of the appointed means- especially the Word of God, self examination, self denial, watchfulness and prayer." ~The New Hampshire Baptist Confession 1833

The Bible is the greatest book for all times and all seasons. It is justifiably called the Book of Books for there is no other book in the world like it. The Bible is the very foundation of Judeo/Christian civilisation. It has shaped the identity of Britain, the USA and many other nations.    At this current moment in history where so many seek to destroy those foundations, it is the unchanging truths of the Bible that hold the keys to our future destiny. The Bible declares itself to be the very Word of God which can rescue and restore us as individuals, as families and whole societies.    In the coming weeks we will be looking afresh at some parts of scripture that provide great light and hope when we face darkness and uncertainty from the second part of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is one of the greatest prophets in the Bible if not the greatest, well known to both Jews and Christians. His name means ‘God is salvation' and he lived in the 8th Century BC. The traditional view is that all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah were written by one man, Isaiah, possibly in two periods around 700 BC and around 681 BC.    The book of Isaiah has been described as the Bible in miniature. There are 66 books of the Bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah. As the Bible is divided into two Testaments, so Isaiah may be divided in two parts. The first 39 chapters correspond to the Old Testament's 39 books and cover similar themes. The last 27 chapters correspond to the New Testament's 27 books and also contain material crucial to our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus.      The first part of Isaiah, in 39 mainly depressing chapters, deals with God's judgement of persistent sin and rebellion against God and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews into captivity in Babylon. In Babylon the people of God would be depressed, dispirited and despairing of anything ever going right again. They would seem to have lost everything: their culture, their temple, their spiritual focus, their national identity, their hope. Hostile foreign forces had conquered.    But all was not lost…just as all is not lost for you, for your family, for the Christian church and for this nation and the nations of the world. For in Isaiah chapters 40-66 there is a dramatic change. Against all expectations, the prophet begins to speak words of hope that promised a great reversal of fortunes. The exile would end. The Persians would overthrow the Babylonians. Cyrus, the Persian leader of a world power, would look favourably on them. He would help the Jews return to their homeland and assist in the re-building of the Temple…a temple that would, in fact see greater glory than the previous one.    So, despite their bleak past and uncertain present, their future was bright. They would know recovery and restoration. God had not abandoned them. He was for them, and though it seemed hard to believe, He would work an amazing turnaround for them.    These chapters then in this second part of Isaiah point forward not only to a new hope for the Jews, but to the future hope for the whole world through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and ultimately an eternal new Messianic age of righteousness and peace. For us living in the times that we do the powerful prophecies of Messiah could not be more relevant or applicable. We see from Isaiah 40:1-5 that: 1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2; Lamentations 1:2,16; John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26) 2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4; Luke 3:2-3) 3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 60:1-3)  Apply  1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2). Both God and His prophet knew that the people were shaken by their tough experiences. They were carrying great pain and hurt. They were anxious and uncertain (Lamentations 1:2,16). They couldn't have taken any more hits. It would have finished them off. They needed comfort and help. That is like so many people today. Millions of people are hurting. Life has been hard and harsh. Today, behind many a composed outward appearance, are people who feel inwardly ripped apart, whose smiles and varied attempts to find some happiness disguise an aching heart. Maybe you identify with this. Life has not been easy. Your family has all kinds of problems and complications. Your marriage has not worked out. You have been bereaved of loved ones. You have been badly treated by others. You have been let down and you have let yourself down. Maybe you have made some big mistakes, and you have taken wrong turns that have been very painful. Maybe you acutely feel a sense of guilt for sins you have committed. God's attitude here is that He wants to comfort you. He wants to speak tenderly not harshly to you. He wants to declare forgiveness to you. The comfort we can receive stems from the message that “her sin has been paid for.” This is the heart of the gospel. God loves you so much He didn't just feel something for you, He did something for you. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the price of your sin, to bring you out of exile and free you from whatever has held you captive. The comfort we can receive stems from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew his followers would face a hostile world, but He promised them He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26). Today if you need to be comforted, you can be comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can feel the love of Jesus that drives out fear. You can know an inner peace because you know that God is with you.  2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4). In the harshest of circumstances when even whole nations can think that they are in a barren wilderness, God prepares a way for people to receive Him, just as John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:2-3). So often God prepares individuals and even nations to know Him through wilderness times of great difficulty and even tragedy. He wants to prepare us for what He plans to do to restore us. In some cases, preparation means being lifted up. You may be down in life, but you are not out. God wants you to stop seeing yourself as a victim, a nobody, a failure. He wants to show you how much you are loved and valued and how much you can accomplish in life with His help. He wants to raise you up to be blessed and a blessing in your generation. In some cases, preparation means being brought low. The Bible says God resists the proud. To be truly blessed and used by God you need to stop being so independent and self-sufficient and learn to submit to and rely on the Lord. Since every mountain and hill needs to be made low without exception, everyone needs to take care to humble yourself rather than having to be brought low by God. In some cases preparation means being healed and made whole. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life, you will be amazed how much He can heal your heart and smooth out your circumstances. Whatever you and your family, or even whole nations, are going through, be sure that God is at work preparing the way of the Lord.  3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5). God's glory and manifest presence have been experienced in many revivals. But the greatest displays of His glory are ahead for the church and the world. It will happen and it will affect everyone. His supernatural glory will totally surpass any human glory. And it can happen in a moment as the shepherds in Bethlehem's fields discovered when the ‘glory of the Lord' so suddenly shone around them. God's glory will be seen in our very dark world and we must arise and shine that light for all to see (Isaiah 60:1-3). You may have been in captivity, but you don't have to stay there. God has a destiny for you, to rescue you and restore you. You may feel very bruised and tender, but His love is toward you. You may need to be built up in your self-esteem or brought down in your pride or healed in your heart, but God wants to prepare you to know His glory, goodness and grace. Today, open your life fully to the Lord. Ask for and receive His forgiveness. Seek and receive comfort through the presence of The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

The Bible is the greatest book for all times and all seasons. It is justifiably called the Book of Books for there is no other book in the world like it. The Bible is the very foundation of Judeo/Christian civilisation. It has shaped the identity of Britain, the USA and many other nations.    At this current moment in history where so many seek to destroy those foundations, it is the unchanging truths of the Bible that hold the keys to our future destiny. The Bible declares itself to be the very Word of God which can rescue and restore us as individuals, as families and whole societies.    In the coming weeks we will be looking afresh at some parts of scripture that provide great light and hope when we face darkness and uncertainty from the second part of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is one of the greatest prophets in the Bible if not the greatest, well known to both Jews and Christians. His name means ‘God is salvation' and he lived in the 8th Century BC. The traditional view is that all 66 chapters of the book of Isaiah were written by one man, Isaiah, possibly in two periods around 700 BC and around 681 BC.    The book of Isaiah has been described as the Bible in miniature. There are 66 books of the Bible and 66 chapters in Isaiah. As the Bible is divided into two Testaments, so Isaiah may be divided in two parts. The first 39 chapters correspond to the Old Testament's 39 books and cover similar themes. The last 27 chapters correspond to the New Testament's 27 books and also contain material crucial to our understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus.      The first part of Isaiah, in 39 mainly depressing chapters, deals with God's judgement of persistent sin and rebellion against God and prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews into captivity in Babylon. In Babylon the people of God would be depressed, dispirited and despairing of anything ever going right again. They would seem to have lost everything: their culture, their temple, their spiritual focus, their national identity, their hope. Hostile foreign forces had conquered.    But all was not lost…just as all is not lost for you, for your family, for the Christian church and for this nation and the nations of the world. For in Isaiah chapters 40-66 there is a dramatic change. Against all expectations, the prophet begins to speak words of hope that promised a great reversal of fortunes. The exile would end. The Persians would overthrow the Babylonians. Cyrus, the Persian leader of a world power, would look favourably on them. He would help the Jews return to their homeland and assist in the re-building of the Temple…a temple that would, in fact see greater glory than the previous one.    So, despite their bleak past and uncertain present, their future was bright. They would know recovery and restoration. God had not abandoned them. He was for them, and though it seemed hard to believe, He would work an amazing turnaround for them.    These chapters then in this second part of Isaiah point forward not only to a new hope for the Jews, but to the future hope for the whole world through the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, and ultimately an eternal new Messianic age of righteousness and peace. For us living in the times that we do the powerful prophecies of Messiah could not be more relevant or applicable. We see from Isaiah 40:1-5 that: 1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2; Lamentations 1:2,16; John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26) 2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4; Luke 3:2-3) 3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 60:1-3)  Apply  1. God is a God of consolation (Isaiah 40:1-2). Both God and His prophet knew that the people were shaken by their tough experiences. They were carrying great pain and hurt. They were anxious and uncertain (Lamentations 1:2,16). They couldn't have taken any more hits. It would have finished them off. They needed comfort and help. That is like so many people today. Millions of people are hurting. Life has been hard and harsh. Today, behind many a composed outward appearance, are people who feel inwardly ripped apart, whose smiles and varied attempts to find some happiness disguise an aching heart. Maybe you identify with this. Life has not been easy. Your family has all kinds of problems and complications. Your marriage has not worked out. You have been bereaved of loved ones. You have been badly treated by others. You have been let down and you have let yourself down. Maybe you have made some big mistakes, and you have taken wrong turns that have been very painful. Maybe you acutely feel a sense of guilt for sins you have committed. God's attitude here is that He wants to comfort you. He wants to speak tenderly not harshly to you. He wants to declare forgiveness to you. The comfort we can receive stems from the message that “her sin has been paid for.” This is the heart of the gospel. God loves you so much He didn't just feel something for you, He did something for you. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to pay the price of your sin, to bring you out of exile and free you from whatever has held you captive. The comfort we can receive stems from the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew his followers would face a hostile world, but He promised them He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:16-18,26-27; John 15:26). Today if you need to be comforted, you can be comforted by the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can feel the love of Jesus that drives out fear. You can know an inner peace because you know that God is with you.  2. God calls us to preparation (Isaiah 40:3-4). In the harshest of circumstances when even whole nations can think that they are in a barren wilderness, God prepares a way for people to receive Him, just as John the Baptist ministered in the wilderness to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:2-3). So often God prepares individuals and even nations to know Him through wilderness times of great difficulty and even tragedy. He wants to prepare us for what He plans to do to restore us. In some cases, preparation means being lifted up. You may be down in life, but you are not out. God wants you to stop seeing yourself as a victim, a nobody, a failure. He wants to show you how much you are loved and valued and how much you can accomplish in life with His help. He wants to raise you up to be blessed and a blessing in your generation. In some cases, preparation means being brought low. The Bible says God resists the proud. To be truly blessed and used by God you need to stop being so independent and self-sufficient and learn to submit to and rely on the Lord. Since every mountain and hill needs to be made low without exception, everyone needs to take care to humble yourself rather than having to be brought low by God. In some cases preparation means being healed and made whole. When you allow the Holy Spirit to work in your life, you will be amazed how much He can heal your heart and smooth out your circumstances. Whatever you and your family, or even whole nations, are going through, be sure that God is at work preparing the way of the Lord.  3. God will give great revelation (Isaiah 40:5). God's glory and manifest presence have been experienced in many revivals. But the greatest displays of His glory are ahead for the church and the world. It will happen and it will affect everyone. His supernatural glory will totally surpass any human glory. And it can happen in a moment as the shepherds in Bethlehem's fields discovered when the ‘glory of the Lord' so suddenly shone around them. God's glory will be seen in our very dark world and we must arise and shine that light for all to see (Isaiah 60:1-3). You may have been in captivity, but you don't have to stay there. God has a destiny for you, to rescue you and restore you. You may feel very bruised and tender, but His love is toward you. You may need to be built up in your self-esteem or brought down in your pride or healed in your heart, but God wants to prepare you to know His glory, goodness and grace. Today, open your life fully to the Lord. Ask for and receive His forgiveness. Seek and receive comfort through the presence of The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. 

"This is the way of Christ, who divinely embodies co-regulation. He is the warm and responsive presence who companions us in our storms. He is the Comforter who brings calm to our chaos."Leave a comment: https://incourage.me/?p=254495--No matter what season of life you're in, prioritizing and planning helps make the most of your time. Inspirational content and Scriptures throughout DaySpring's 18-month Agenda Planners will help you keep your eyes on Him. Choose from several unique designs, each one with different content to encourage you and fun surprises included to keep you organized! Shop planners at DaySpring.com.The (in)courage podcast is brought to you by DaySpring. For over 50 years, DaySpring has created quality cards, books, and gifts that help you live your faith. Find out more at DaySpring.com.Connect with (in)courage: Facebook & Instagram for daily encouragement, videos, and more! Website for the (in)courage library, to meet our contributors, and to access the archives. Email us at incourage@dayspring.com. Leave a podcast review on Apple!

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49) As Jesus stood with His disciples in those final moments before ascending to the Father, He did what only He could do – He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. These were men who had walked closely with Him for three years. They had heard His teachings, seen His miracles, and witnessed His death and resurrection. But they still needed Him to help them truly understand the Scriptures. We are no different. The Bible is not a book to be mastered by intellect alone. The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and it must be spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Without the illuminating work of Christ, the Scriptures remain like a sealed book – factual, perhaps even interesting, but void of power in the life of the reader. We must come to Jesus, accept Him as Lord of our life and Savior of our soul, and then He will open our mind to help us see and know and believe what He has written. The Promise of the Father And what's even more amazing is that Jesus didn't stop there. He continued by commissioning them as His witnesses when he told them, “You are witnesses of these things.” And then came the promise that He had spoke of earlier when he told them He wouldn't leave them as orphans: “Behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” That promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit descended with power, filling and equipping the disciples to boldly proclaim the gospel to the nations. And that same Spirit lives in every believer today. We are now the continuation of this mission – the ones entrusted to carry the good news of Christ's death and resurrection to the ends of the earth. But just as the first disciples needed the Holy Spirit's power, so do we. We can't walk in truth, speak with boldness, or love with sincerity apart from the Holy Spirit. He is our Helper, our Comforter, our Teacher – and He clothes us with power from on high so we can be faithful ambassadors of Jesus. It's not about striving in our own strength. **It's about living surrendered, with open minds and willing hearts, walking daily in the Spirit – truly denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily as we follow Jesus. A Final Note After speaking these words, Jesus led them out and ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50–51). Jesus will return one day soon – but until then, we have work to do. Let's be found faithful, busy with our Father's business, with minds opened by Christ and hearts empowered by His Spirit. As we close this journey through the Gospel of Luke, may we hold fast to this calling – to know Him through His Word and in prayer, to walk in the power of His Spirit as we serve with joy and purpose, and to be ready and watching for the return of our King Jesus. P.S. We'll be going through the book of Colossians next!

Many denominations have erroneous traditions about what it means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  The scriptures reveal that not all who received the Spirit spoke with tongues, but all were quickened with the equipping to hear the Word of God and to proclaim it.  The Father sent a Comforter, one alongside the called, to His church, the out-called ones.  The mark of a Christian is the out-raying of God's nature in us, which is the fruit of the Spirit, not the crazy acts people use to try to prove they have the gifts of the Spirit. VF-2103 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2025 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

In this “How-to” and “Issues” episode you will learn how to cooperate and allow the Comforter to heal your emotional issues.    We will look at the role of the Comforter and how He leads you to the peace that surpasses understanding promised in the Bible.  Learn more about God's language of the heart to help you better connect with Jesus.  See Jesus in three ways in order to walk through the steps with Him that will diagnose, heal and maintain the healing of emotional wounds.  Dr. Patty shares her own story that shows you how this process plays out in a real-life example.  You will learn about the spiritual power of forgiveness, and why and how it works to release you from your emotional pains.  Then the Comforter will reveal the areas of your heart that He wants to heal and show you what your healed heart will look like in a wonderful in your Experience Jesus encounter. Links referenced in this episode: New to the Podcast?  Check out the Trailer Episode for the Biblical Foundation for Experiencing Jesus!  https://PattyEJ.Podbean.com/e/trailer-episode-experience-jesus-with-dr-patty-sadallah The Special Place Encounter Exercise   https://tinyurl.com/j742vpz4 Check out our two workshop opportunities at https://SpiritLifeWorkshops.com/Upcoming-Workshop   Get Two Free Chapters of the Experience Jesus Book Series  https://pattysadallah.com/free-gift/   Check out all of Dr. Patty's books, journals, and downloadable resources at her bookstore, and don't forget to use the code EJPOD to receive 10% off everything, even the things on sale.  https://PattySadallah.com/shop/     Check out Dr. Patty's latest book- Encountering the POWER  of God: Experience Jesus Book 4 https://pattysadallah.com/product/encountering-the-power-of-god-experience-jesus-book-4/           Check out the Encountering the Healing of God: Experience Jesus Book 2: https://pattysadallah.com/product/how-to-encounter-the-healing-of-god-experience-jesus-book-2 And please make sure you share this podcast and share how you were blessed by this episode by commenting below!  THANKS!  

⚔️ Being a real man isn't about status, comfort, or approval. A real man was designed to demonstrate the glory of God on this earth. Byron teaches us that: A real man discovers his mission in the Kingdom of Heaven — and he does it. A real man becomes a son of God, operating in the same Spirit Jesus promised through the Comforter. A real man moves with faith and obedience, like Abraham, without hesitation. This is the hardest, most masculine journey you will ever take — chasing after your God-given destiny. Just like David facing Goliath, a real man steps up because he knows who his God is. ⚜️ That's Man of Peace masculinity. That's what a true man looks like. To see more, subscribe

Apostolic Fellowship Church of Christ Jesus Sunday Morning Service - 8/31/2025 1153 Blue Hills Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002 We can be reached by contacting us at AFCMedia@AFC-ct.com or calling us at (860) 242-3518

"The Comforter Will Teach You" A message preached by Pastor Mike Henry at Royal View Baptist Church.Worship Guitar - 100 Beautiful Hymns - Instrumental - Peaceful Gospel Music --- Used by the permission of the artist Josh Snodgrass

On today's episode, we look at how Jesus prepared his disciples for persecution by promising the Holy Spirit. He describes him as the Comforter, an indwelling presence for believers. This episode explores the Holy Spirit's role in sealing salvation, guiding into all truth, empowering believers for victorious living, and partnering with us in evangelism. 

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

✨ Ever felt unseen, forgotten, or left behind? Today's devotion reminds us of the One who notices when no one else does. Discover the God who sees you, even in silence. Listen and be blessed.This devotional was first aired on Radio HCI Today via the WeLove Radio App. 

Some Christians are skeptical about empathy, mistakenly assuming that it coddles others and reinforces sinful behavior. Yet genuine empathy (even when we sin) helps us understand our struggles and strengthens us to grow in Christlikeness. Thankfully, loving and healthy empathy is modeled all over the Bible and not only comforts us but leads us toward truth and responsibility.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi address concerns you might hear about empathy in some Christian circles. You'll discover fresh insights from the empathy scriptures they teach in their new book, Deeply Loved, and learn the importance of holding others in God's empathy while the Spirit draws them toward transformation.Resources for this Episode:Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for YouAttend a Soul Shepherding RetreatDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks

Navigating social media today can feel like a no-win situation—say too much and you're criticized, say too little and you're ignored. In this devotional, Deidre Braley reflects on Matthew 11:16-19, where even Jesus and John the Baptist faced relentless judgment from their generation. Just like in biblical times, our world is filled with strong opinions, constant debates, and digital noise. But Jesus offers us a better way forward: to repent, draw near to God, and find rest in Him as we engage the online world with grace and truth.

Pastor Natalie reminds us that Jesus, our great High Priest, fully understands our weaknesses, was tempted yet without sin, and invites us to approach God's throne with confidence to receive mercy and grace. She points to Jesus' honest, surrendered prayers as our model in seasons of pain.

August 27, 2025

August 27, 2025Today's Reading: Luke 13:22-30Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 9:1-9; 10:1-13; 2 Corinthians 5:1-21“Strive to enter through the narrow door… And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:24a, 29)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. St. Monica encouraged her son, Augustine, toward the narrow door. She lived out her faith as an example. She prayed for her son and sought advice from her pastor and bishop, St. Ambrose. Yet it felt like nothing she did could move her son to faith.Meanwhile, Augustine seemed to stray further from the narrow door of Christ and into the wide open perils of the day. His education introduced him to unbiblical and anti-Christ philosophies. In our times, we might say that he went off to school and partied, never checking out the campus ministry. He even fathered a baby outside of marriage.There was nothing Monica could do to make Augustine go to the narrow door. For that matter, nothing that Augustine could do or say or think would get him to that door either. But that's the point.The Holy Spirit is the One who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies. God answered Monica's countless prayers favorably and eventually brought Augustine to faith. He turned him around and crafted Augustine into one of the greatest pastors and teachers of the faith in the history of the Church. But all of that had nothing to do with Augustine's or Monica's choices. It was the work of God.The Spirit led Augustine, as He has led you, to the saving Gospel of Christ. The broad and easy road of this world is tempting and looks fun, but it only leads to death and destruction. Looking for other paths and entrances only leads to “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” It is the narrow door of Christ alone that brings you salvation.  Be comforted, dear friends in Christ! In this passage, Jesus tells you that you have already been called to faith. You don't need to look any further. The Holy Spirit has gathered you and multitudes from east and west, from north and south, to recline at table in the kingdom of God. As you receive the Holy Eucharist at His Table, He gives you the forgiveness and strength to continue the way to and through the narrow door of Jesus to be resurrected and live with Him eternally. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, who is the Comforter of those that mourn, and the Salvation of those that hope in You, who graciously regarded the tearful pleading of saint Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine: grant, we implore You, that we may truly lament our sins and be made worthy to obtain Your gracious pardon; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowell, IN.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Study the early Church Fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME's conversational voice to see for yourself why their teachings from Scripture are important to study, and live out, today.

Your times of distress call the Comforter to your aid. From the comfort He provides you, three invaluable things will be revealed in your life. Check out my blog, my other podcasts, my books, and so much more at http://linktr.ee/craigtowens  ►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Title: Who is the Holy Spirit? | The Person and Power of God's SpiritSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In this first message of a three-week series on the Holy Spirit, Pastor Nate Holdridge examines the fundamental question "Who is the Holy Spirit?" He addresses three common church errors regarding the Spirit—abuse, rejection, and neglect—while establishing from Scripture that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, fully God and co-equal with the Father and Son. Through biblical evidence, he demonstrates the Spirit's divine attributes and personal nature, challenging believers to relate to him not as an impersonal force but as the divine Person who serves as our Helper, Comforter, and intercessor. The message calls Calvary Monterey to pursue biblical balance while maintaining genuine spiritual hunger for the Spirit's work in their lives and ministry.

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:7-1121 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.James 1:21-25CONVICTION AND COMFORT7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:7-1126 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,John 14:26 (NIV)26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,John 14:26 (CSB)26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,John 14:26 (KJV)HOW DOES THE COMFORTER COMFORT US?8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:7-11Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.Proverbs 3:5The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?Jeremiah 17:9Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.Proverbs 28:268 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8MOVIE CLIP***10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[a] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.Revelation 12:108 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:John 16:8elegchō: declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.“The Spirit is the ‘advocate' or helper of those who believe in Jesus, their counsel for the defense. But in relation to unbelievers, to the godless world, he acts as counsel for the prosecution.”F.F. BruceBefore the convicting work of the Holy Spirit one may say, I make a lot of mistakes. Nobody's perfect. After the convicting work of the Holy Spirit one may say, I'm a lost rebel, fighting against God and His law – I must rely on Jesus to get right with God.David Guzik13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…John 16:138 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8THE ACCUSER LEADS US WITH COMFORTTHE COMFORTER LEADS US WITH TRUTHTHE ACCUSER LEADS WITH COMFORTThe devil will sometimes come to men's souls as a false comforter.Charles SpurgeonIn the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.2 Samuel 11:1THE COMFORTER LEADS US WITH TRUTH“The Holy Spirit never comes merely to make us feel good; He comes to make us holy, and that requires conviction before comfort.”A.W. Tozer“When the Holy Spirit comes, He is like a refiner's fire. He burns away the dross, but never destroys the gold; He convicts to cleanse, and cleanses to comfort.”Charles Spurgeon5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!2 Samuel 12:5-7“When He rebukes, He wounds only to heal; when He pierces the conscience, it is to pour in the balm of comfort.”John Chrysostom

How important is the Holy Spirit to you? What do you know about Him? He is important to you, whether you are an unbeliever or a believer. He is the one knocking on the door of the unbeliever, trying to get them to come to Jesus. He is the one who convicts you, challenges you, guides you, teaches you, and shows Christ in your life, if you are a believer. Have a listen...

What if there's a divine "olive leaf" of peace from God, revealing profound truths about Christ, our eternal potential, and how to prepare for His glorious return? This video unlocks D&C 88! Summary: Doctrine & Covenants 88, often called the "Olive Leaf" plucked from the Tree of Paradise, is a comprehensive revelation offering God's message of peace and preparation for the last days. This video delves into its multifaceted teachings: The Light of Christ (88:3-13, 40): Discover Jesus Christ as the omnipresent "light of truth," the "other Comforter," and the very "life, law, and power" that governs all things in the universe—from the sun and moon to the earth itself [cite: 88:6-13]. This light enlightens our understandings and helps us see everything else, truly revealing that "light cleaveth unto light" [cite: 88:40]. The Spirit and the Body (88:14-20, 28-31): Learn the profound truth that "the spirit and the body are the soul of man" [cite: 88:15], emphasizing the vital importance of the physical resurrection for a fullness of joy. We explore how even "Mother Earth" will be sanctified and crowned with glory, prepared for celestial beings, and how our resurrected bodies will be quickened by the glory we are willing to receive [cite: 88:17-20, 28-31]. Willingness to Receive (88:32-33): Understand that God gives according to our willingness. We often limit the infinite goodness of God by our own unwillingness to open our arms and hearts to His gifts, preventing us from rejoicing fully in both the gift and the Giver [cite: 88:32-33]. The Power of Law (88:22-26, 34-39): Explore how divine law governs, preserves, perfects, and sanctifies all things. Only by abiding in celestial law can we abide celestial glory. The earth itself serves as an example, fulfilling the measure of its creation by obeying celestial law [cite: 88:25-26, 34]. Every kingdom in the universe operates by its own specific laws, emphasizing that there's no escaping the principle of law [cite: 88:36-39]. A Universe of Other Sheep (88:45-62): Gain an expanded vision of God's vast creations. Through a profound parable, learn that Christ not only created and redeems "worlds without number" but also visits them all in "his hour, and in his time, and in his season" [cite: 88:56-58]. This highlights God's personal attention to all His children across the immensity of space. House of Glory (88:87-120): Discover the Lord's blueprint for preparing for the Second Coming. This includes a call to solemn assembly, diligently seeking wisdom from "best books" by study and faith, and organizing and establishing a "house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" – ultimately referring to the Temple and its transformative power [cite: 88:117-120]. The School of the Prophets (88:77-81, 122-133): Understand God's command to teach one another diligently the doctrine of the kingdom, encompassing both religious and secular knowledge. This "celestial curriculum" prepares us to "magnify the calling" whereunto we are called and to warn our neighbors. The video concludes with the beautiful order of the School of the Prophets, emphasizing that true education is a relationship built on prayer, salutation, and an "unchangeable" bond of charity [cite: 88:77-81, 122-133]. This video is a powerful invitation to embrace God's expansive truths and prepare ourselves for the glory that awaits. Call-to-Action: Which aspect of D&C 88 resonated most deeply with you? How will you apply these principles to draw nearer to God? Share your insights in the comments below! If this message brought you peace and expanded your understanding, please like, share, and subscribe to "Unshaken" for more revelatory insights into God's word.   Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 3:36 The Light of Christ 20:23 The Spirit and the Body 34:15 Willing to Receive 43:54 The Power of Law 1:02:45 A Universe of Other Sheep 1:15:24 House of Glory 1:35:09 The School of the Prophets 1:57:59 One Liners

When you're stuck in porn addiction, it often feels like there's a war going on inside your own mind.One part of you wants to be strong, productive, loving, and aligned with your values. The other part just wants comfort, ease, and escape. Most recovery programs tell you to kill off the "bad" part. To deny it, starve it, or fight it.But what if that approach is actually fueling your addiction?In this episode, I'm going to show you a completely different path—one rooted in psychological integration, spiritual clarity, and masculine leadership. We'll break down why you keep relapsing despite your best efforts, and why your inner war is the real reason you're stuck.You'll learn how to apply the Internal Family Systems (IFS) framework to porn addiction recovery, using what I call “archetypal parts”—the Achiever, the Comforter, the Dreamer, the General, and more. These parts of you aren't evil—they're trying to help. But until you learn to lead them instead of fight or suppress them, you'll keep falling back into the same old cycles.

The Holy Spirit's mysterious work is often hidden from our physical sight. Yet He's working powerfully in the world and among believers. In this message, Pastor Lutzer contrasts mere behavior modification with genuine inner transformation. The Spirit Himself comes as our Helper, Comforter, and Teacher. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/172/29

The Holy Spirit's mysterious work is often hidden from our physical sight. Yet He's working powerfully in the world and among believers. In this message, Pastor Lutzer contrasts mere behavior modification with genuine inner transformation. The Spirit Himself comes as our Helper, Comforter, and Teacher. This month's special offer is available for a donation of any amount. Get yours at https://rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. 

Job 3-27, 32-37 - The narrative opening of Job concludes with 3 of Job's friends arriving to comfort him. At first, they employ a quiet and compassionate ministry of presence. However, in chapter 3, Job's speech kicks off a series of cyclical dialogues that reveal just how short-sighted, falsely rationalizing, and insensitive the friends' verbal attempts at comfort are. In chapters 16-17, Job gives them his assessment: they are "miserable comforters" who simply can't provide either the full answers or the existential comfort that Job needs in his agony. But in his longing, Job gestures at the possibility of One to come who will embody perfect truth and perfect compassionate presence--the true Comforter, Friend, Lord and Savior. A sermon by Cameron Heger. [Part 2 of our series "God, Goodness & Suffering: The Wisdom of the Book of Job"]

the Holy Spirit: God? Yes definitely! Comforter? Absolutely! Well known? Not really.. Come listen to Pastors Joel & Chase as they teach on the Holy Spirit and how we can all be submitted to Him!

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Have you ever felt lost trying to understand the Book of Revelation? Or wondered how God guides us, step by step, even when we feel like "little children"? This video reveals profound answers from Doctrine & Covenants 77-80! Summary: This comprehensive lesson unpacks the rich teachings of Doctrine & Covenants 77-80, offering insights into God's methods of revelation, personal development, and church organization. We begin by tackling the symbolic language of the Book of Revelation (D&C 77), exploring the meaning behind the "sea of glass," "four beasts," and the significance of "eyes" (knowledge) and "wings" (agency). Discover the purpose of the seven seals and the identity of the angels, including Elias, who gathers Israel and places the "seal of the living God" upon the foreheads of the faithful. Next, we delve into the practicalities of building Zion (D&C 78) through the establishment of the United Firm (later the United Order). Learn how this organization regulates the "storehouse for the poor," fosters "equality in the bonds of heavenly things," and prepares God's people to "stand independent" amidst tribulation. This section emphasizes the crucial role of commandments, councils, and unbreakable covenants in achieving unity and protecting against spiritual blindness. We then focus on personal growth (D&C 78), understanding that while we may often feel like "little children," God patiently leads us along, knowing we "cannot bear all things now". This highlights the importance of receiving all things with thankfulness and becoming "faithful and wise stewards". Finally, we explore the sacred nature of mission calls (D&C 79-80). Whether serving abroad or at home, we are assured that "it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss" as we declare the things we have heard, believe, and know to be true. This process of gaining testimony, coupled with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, empowers us to fulfill our divine assignments. Call-to-Action: What insights from these revelations resonated most with you? How have you experienced God patiently leading you along? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below! If this video brought you greater understanding or hope, please like, share, and subscribe to "Unshaken" for more illuminating scriptural discussions. Tags D&C 77, D&C 78, D&C 79, D&C 80, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Revelation, Revelation explained, Last days, Elias, Gathering of Israel, 144,000, United Order, Storehouse, Spiritual growth, Divine guidance, Mission call, Missionary work, Spiritual power, Holy Ghost, Comforter, Faithfulness, Testimony, Zion, Church organization, Commandments, Councils, Covenants, Unshaken, Celestial law, End times prophecy. 0:00 Introduction and Overview 3:05 Eyes & Wings 20:57 Sealed for the Seventh Seal 37:45 The Lord's Storehouse 49:36 Commandments, Councils, & Covenants 1:00:32 Just Little Kids 1:08:43 Your Mission Call 1:17:38 Mission Calls and Companions 1:31:04 One-Liners

God is advancing His Kingdom across the whole world, His power is behind it, and He uses His people to do it. But we are not alone. We have received His power through the Holy Spirit—the Helper and the Comforter—to carry out this work.

Allow the Holy Spirit to be your Comforter as He fills you with the fruit of the Spirit.