Podcasts about Comforter

What do you do when your internal world doesn't match your Sunday theology? When you love God, but trauma, anxiety, or deep pain leaves you stuck?In this episode of Interviewing Jesus, host Kristen Wambach bridges the gap between clinical mental health and supernatural deliverance. Sitting down with licensed counselor Kate Massey, author of Purpose in the Pain, we move past religious platitudes toward raw restoration.Kate shares her journey of surviving trauma and the moments God met her in the mess to rewrite her reality. We tackle why we must stop running from our history, stop pretending the pain doesn't ache, and stop trying to just "suck it up." When we manage our own protection, we block the Holy Spirit from being our Comforter.You do not define your own worth—the Master Artist already settled that on the cross. Your job is to surrender the brush, drop the exhaustion of people-pleasing, and let Him speak your true identity over your life.

What is the Father doing? (Sermon Series on John) - Sunday, 7th June 2026[Episode 22 - John Chapter 5 KJV]1. What is God doing?John 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work What is God doing. 2. Sustaining the universeColossians 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 3. Working in our lives.Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 4. Reaching out to the lost.John 16:7-11 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 5. Comforting the hurting.2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.6. Guiding the hearts of men. Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.7. Setting up and taking down rulers.Daniel 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.8. Ruling in the affairs of men.Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?9. New thingsIsaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Overcomer Covenant Church exists to advance the Kingdom of God, locally and globally, by preaching the Gospel, partnering with other ministries, and planting churches. To support Overcomer and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: https://overcomercc.org/give If you've just made a decision for Christ, click the link today - https://overcomercc.org/saved If this is your first time joining us, click the link today - https://overcomercc.org/newhere —— Stay Connected! Website: https://overcomercc.org YouTube: https://youtube.com/@overcomercc Instagram: https://instagram.com/overcomercc Facebook: https://facebook.com/overcomercc

This week on Beyond The Message, Pastors Caleb Finlayson and Aidan Wivell continue unpacking our Come Holy Spirit series, exploring Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Helper, and Advocate.Together they discuss what it means to live with the Spirit's presence every day, how to recognise His prompting, and the difference between conviction and condemnation. They also reflect on the ways God speaks through His people and why we're never meant to follow Jesus alone.At its heart, this episode is a simple but powerful reminder: you are never alone. The Holy Spirit is with you, guiding, encouraging, and drawing you closer to Jesus every day.Beyond The Message is a podcast where we unpack Sunday's message, answer your questions, share extra resources, and explore how God is speaking to us as a church.

Overcomer Covenant Church exists to advance the Kingdom of God, locally and globally, by preaching the Gospel, partnering with other ministries, and planting churches. To support Overcomer and help us continue to reach people all around the world, click here: https://overcomercc.org/give If you've just made a decision for Christ, click the link today - https://overcomercc.org/saved If this is your first time joining us, click the link today - https://overcomercc.org/newhere —— Stay Connected! Website: https://overcomercc.org YouTube: https://youtube.com/@overcomercc Instagram: https://instagram.com/overcomercc Facebook: https://facebook.com/overcomercc

Jesus may no longer be physically with us, but He did not leave us on our own. In John 14:15-27, we discover the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, Counsellor, and constant Companion. Through Him, we experience the presence, peace, and guidance of Jesus every day. This message invites us to live dependent on the Spirit and confident that God is always near.Get ConnectedWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠vitalpointchurch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vitalpointchurch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Vitalpoint Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sunday's at VitalpointPoplar Hill- 8:30AM, 10:00AM, 11:45AMExeter - 10:00AMClinton - 9:30AMForest - 10:00AMGrand Bend - 4:00PMWant to support Vitalpoint financially?E-transfer accounting@vitalpointchurch.com

What if the help, wisdom, and guidance you've been searching for are already living inside of you? In “God In You: The Indwelling Spirit, Part 2,” Pastor DeWayne L. Wright continues his study on the Holy Spirit by exploring the believer's daily relationship with the Spirit of God and the life-changing benefits of His presence. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 13:14, John 14:15–26, and John 16:12–15, Pastor Wright teaches that the Holy Spirit is more than a doctrine to study—He is a divine Helper, Teacher, Comforter, and Guide who desires intimate fellowship with every believer. Through practical teaching and biblical insight, this message encourages Christians to develop a greater awareness of God's presence, learn to listen for His leading, and rely on His wisdom in every area of life. This encouraging message reminds us that we were never meant to navigate life alone. The Holy Spirit has been sent to strengthen, teach, guide, and transform us as we grow in our relationship with Christ and walk in the truth of God's Word.

7 takeaways from this study Guard your heart more than your rituals. Regularly ask: “Am I trembling at God's word, or just going through motions?” (Isaiah 1:11–17; 66:2). Let your practices flow from repentance, justice, and mercy. Treat approach to God as a privilege, not a right. The Levitical pattern of טָהוֹר (tahor, clean) vs. טָמֵא (tame, unclean) reminds you to examine what in your life is “fit” or “unfit” to bring into God's presence — habits, media, speech, relationships. Live as light, not as a mirror of the culture. Israel was called to be a “light to the nations,” not a copy of them (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). In daily decisions — ethics at work, how you handle conflict, how you speak online — ask, “Am I leading or just blending in?” Hold religious symbols and traditions loosely, but God's character tightly. Isaiah and the idol passages (e.g., Isaiah 44) warn against turning aids into objects of trust. Use traditions, liturgy, and symbols as tools to focus on God, not as things with power in themselves. Expect God to work suddenly after long seasons. Zion's “birth before labor” (Isaiah 66:7–9) teaches that God can move in a moment after years of apparent delay. Stay faithful in “ordinary time” — prayer, Scripture, obedience — so you are ready when He acts quickly. See yourself as part of a priestly calling. If God can take some from the nations as “priests and Levites” (Isaiah 66:21), then every believer has a bridge‑building role. Practically, that means: carry others' burdens, pray for them, and help them “draw near” to God through your words and presence. Read judgment passages as invitations, not just threats. The flood, destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Isaiah's warnings all include advance mercy. When you encounter hard texts or hard providences, respond with, “What is God inviting me to change or trust right now?” rather than only fear or speculation. The central claim of Isaiah is simple. God seeks a people whose worship arises from a humble and obedient heart. He restores such a people through His chosen Servant. He then gathers peoples from all nations into one worshiping family in Zion. The language of holiness Leviticus 12 addresses childbirth and resulting ritual impurity. Leviticus 13 addresses the condition often translated as “leprosy,” but much broader in scope. The text uses a cluster of holiness terms. From the root ק־ד־שׁ q-d-sh (to set apart) comes the word קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh (“holy”; set apart). It stands opposite the concept חֹל khol (common; profane). Between these poles stand two further categories. טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (clean; fit to approach God). And טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ (unclean; unfit to approach God). Leviticus teaches a movement from “far” to “near.” The noun קָרְבָּן qorbān (offering; literally “that which draws near”) comes from the root ק־ר־ב q-r-v (to approach). Offerings teach how an unclean or distant person may draw near to the presence of God. This Heaven-directed ritual framework (Exodus 25:9, 40; 26:30; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5) becomes a living parable. It shows how God takes a people from טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ and חֹל ḥol and moves them toward טָהוֹר ṭāhôr and קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh. Isaiah will later apply this pattern to Israel's spiritual condition. The book of Isaiah presents a consistent call for God’s people to embrace genuine worship that flows from humble, obedient hearts rather than empty religious observance. From beginning to end, Isaiah contrasts true devotion with outward ritual that lacks faithfulness. Israel’s failure to fulfill her calling is ultimately answered through the Servant of the LORD, whom Messianic believers recognize as Yeshua the Messiah. Through His work, God brings restoration, redemption, and covenant renewal to His people. A central theme throughout Isaiah is the restoration of Zion. Though nations rise and fall and mighty empires appear powerful for a season, they are temporary in comparison to God’s eternal purposes. Isaiah foresees a time when God will redeem Zion with astonishing power and timing. In Isaiah 66, the imagery of a child being born before labor pains symbolizes a sudden and unexpected act of divine redemption. Yet Scripture also teaches that birth pangs often accompany God’s redemptive work, establishing a pattern in which suffering and restoration are closely linked. The remarkable image of “birth before labor” emphasizes the surprising nature of God’s intervention. His promises are fulfilled according to His timetable, often in ways that surpass human expectations. This theme echoes Yeshua’s teaching that His coming will be like a thief in the night, catching many by surprise. Ultimately, Isaiah’s vision extends beyond Israel alone. God’s purpose is to gather people from every nation, tribe, and language into a worldwide community of worshipers who honor the God of Israel through His Messiah. In the end, Zion’s restoration becomes a blessing to all nations as God’s kingdom is established and His glory fills the earth. Isaiah as an arc Some interpreters describe Isaiah as a χίασμα chíasma (chiasm). This common biblical literary structure mirrors themes between the beginning and end of a passage. Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 66 reflect each other. Isaiah 1 opens with a rebuke of corrupt worship. God rejects sacrifices offered by a people whose hearts remain far from Him: “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams…” Isaiah 1:11 NASB95 He continues: “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.” Isaiah 1:13 NASB95 Yet the text does not condemn sacrifices as such. It condemns the moral condition behind them. Thus, we see right afterward the beginning of Heaven’s prescription: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:16–17 NASB95 The problem lies not in קָרְבָּנוֹת qorbanot (offerings), but in the לֵבָב lēvāv (heart: mind and emotions) of the people. The sacrifices prescribed in Torah were holy. The problem is that worshipers were simultaneously practicing injustice. Isaiah 66 returns to this issue. It contrasts corrupt religion with humble, trembling reverence. God declares: “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2 NASB95 The book thus starts and ends with the same concern. God weighs the inner posture of worshipers. Ritual without repentance remains unclean. The Servant of the LORD and Israel's failure Between Isaiah 1 and 66 stands the figure עֶבֶד יְהוָה ʿeved YHWH (servant of the LORD). The servant songs (especially Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52:13–53:12) show how God will restore true worship, purify His people, and ultimately gather the nations to Himself through the work of the Servant of the Lord. At times, the servant appears to be Israel itself (Isaiah 41:8–9; 49:3). Yet Israel is also the problem. She has not fulfilled her calling as a holy nation and a light to the nations. “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1 NASB95 Here the Servant brings מִשְׁפָּט mishpāṭ (justice) to the nations. This language exceeds what Israel, in its disobedience, has done. The Servant realizes Israel's ideal calling. Isaiah 49:6 deepens this role: “I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” NASB95 The phrase אוֹר גּוֹיִם ʾōr goyim (light of the nations) recalls Israel's vocation in Exodus 19:6 and is later echoed in Matthew 5:14–16 and Acts 13:47. The servant becomes the concentrated expression of Israel's mission. Isaiah 53 then marks a turning point. The Eved Adonai is connected to Israel but it no Israel, as the Prophet Isaiah's entire ministry rebukes how the people of Israel are failing to serve God properly. The servant bears Israel's iniquities. He takes on the very sicknesses and uncleanness that have filled the preceding chapters. The Eved Adonai is not and was not synonymous with the Jewish people. “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities….” Isaiah 53:5 NASB95 “…the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 NASB95 Here the Servant functions as an ultimate קָרְבָּן qorbān (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10; 1Peter 3:18). He embodies the movement from far to near. He carries the uncleanness of the people and opens the way for restoration. Seeing, hearing and the ‘fear of the LORD’ Isaiah links uncleanness with spiritual blindness and deafness (Isaiah 6:10; 11:3; 32:3; 37:17; 64:4). The prophet sees the LORD and cries: “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5 NASB95 He lives among a people with טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם ṭemēʾ sefatayim (unclean lips). God then cleanses Isaiah's lips with a coal from the altar. This scene parallels Leviticus. What is טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ becomes טָהוֹר ṭāhôr by God's initiative. The prophet may then speak. Isaiah frequently plays with the verb רָאָה rāʾāh (to see). In Leviticus 13, the priest “looks” again and again at the suspect skin condition. The text uses rāʾāh to mark careful discernment. The priest must distinguish between tahor and ṭāmēʾ. Isaiah extends this idea to the heart. Does Israel live as if God “sees” all (Isaiah 29:15; Psalm 14:1; Ezekiel 8:12; 9:9)? Later rabbinic tradition notices a verbal pun between יִרְאָה yirʾāh (fear; reverence) and יִרְאֶה yirʾeh (he sees). The יִרְאַת יְהוָה yirʾat YHWH (fear of the LORD) arises when one knows that God truly sees everything we’re doing. Yeshua alludes repeatedly to Isaiah's diagnosis. In Matthew 13:13–15, He cites Isaiah 6 to explain why He speaks in parables. The people think they see and hear, yet they neither perceive nor repent. In John 9:39–41, He challenges leaders who claim to see but remain blind. The same spiritual uncleanness persists. Corrupt worship and empty religion Isaiah condemns worship that has divorced ritual from righteousness. In Isaiah 1:13–14, God says He hates the people's festivals and new moons. Many have taken this as a repudiation of Torah itself. Yet at the end of the book, the same prophet writes: “‘And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me,' says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:23 NASB95 The same festivals now mark universal, purified worship. The problem, then, never lay in Shabbat (Sabbath) or the festivals, nor in sacrifices. The problem lay in those who practiced them without justice, mercy and humility. Earlier in the chapter, the prophet sharpens the rebuke. Proper sacrifices become abominable acts when offered from a corrupt heart: “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”” Isaiah 66:3-4 NASB95 The qobanot remain the same. Yet their spiritual value reverses. Worshipers treat God like a vending machine. They treat offerings like tokens to manipulate blessing. In Levitical terms, they bring a קָרְבָּן qorbān while their לֵבָב lēvāv remains far away. Their approach becomes טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ. Israel's call as light to the nations Isaiah repeatedly returns to Israel's mission among the nations. God did not set Israel apart merely to be different. He appointed Israel as a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6 NASB95). The priestly role stands at the center. Priests draw near to God and help others draw near as well. Israel, then, should serve as a corporate priesthood for the nations: “I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.” Isaiah 42:6 NASB95 In Isaiah 49:6, this light extends “to the end of the earth.” The servant manifests the ideal vocation of Israel: He embodies what a faithful Israel would look like. He restores justice. He brings revelation. He draws people from the nations into the worship of the true God. Yeshua (Jesus) adopts this Servant of the LORD language: “I am the Light of the world.” John 8:12 NASB95 He then says to His disciples: “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 NASB95 The pattern flows from master to disciples. The Servant as ultimate Israel enables a remnant to share His role. They become אוֹר עוֹלָם ʾōr ʿolam in Him, a light to the world. The nations, vanity and the rise and fall of Empires Isaiah places Israel's story against the backdrop of world empires. Assyria, Babylon, and others rise and fall under God's hand. The nations and their glory are transient. Isaiah 40:6–8 compares humanity to grass that withers, and later in the same chapter makes a similar analogy to empires: “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket…” Isaiah 40:15 NASB95 The word הֶבֶל hevel (vanity; vapor) captures this theme, as in Ecclesiastes. By contrast, God's word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Therefore, it is folly for Israel to trade covenant identity for the approval of passing empires. When Israel follows the nations instead of leading them, it loses its priestly calling. Israel was called to be a light to the nations and a leader among the peoples of the earth, demonstrating God’s wisdom and righteousness. Yet too often, the nation followed the ways of the surrounding cultures instead of leading them toward the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As a result, the Lord raised up foreign powers as instruments of discipline, using them to correct His people and call them back to covenant faithfulness. Idolatry expresses this exchange at its most obvious. Isaiah 44 mocks craftsmen who shape idols and then bow to their own work. He mocks idols fashioned by human hands from the very same wood used to build fires and bake bread. The second commandment forbids such images (Exodus 20:4–5). Israel must not reduce God to the likeness of created things. To do so reverses the proper order and empties worship of truth. These false gods cannot save, speak, or act; they are burdens rather than deliverers. The false gods are made in the image of their creators, while we are made in the image of God Almighty. To worship our own creation is a desecration of God's image in us.  Zion: Birth, restoration and surprise Isaiah 66 introduces a striking image of Zion's rebirth. The prophet asks: “Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once?” Isaiah 66:8 NASB95 The text amazingly describes a birth that precedes labor pains: “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.” Isaiah 66:7 NASB95 This reversal of normal sequence has drawn commentary across centuries. Many Jewish interpreters see here the sudden redemption of Jerusalem and the rapid return of exiles. Others see a future, climactic restoration. Still others recognize multiple layers — a near-term fulfillment after the Babylonian exile and a further, eschatological horizon. The unifying theme remains clear. Zion is ultimately a work of God. צִיּוֹן Tziyyon does not arise merely from human strategy or political will. God brings it to birth. He asks: “‘Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?' says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:9 NASB95 Zion's restoration thus follows the same pattern as individual cleansing. God moves what is טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ (unfit to approach the Presence) toward טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (fit to approach). He takes a profaned city and reconstitutes it as קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh. Zion and the nations: From judgment to pilgrimage Earlier in Isaiah, Zion stands under judgment. The city has become corrupt. The temple has turned into a place of empty ceremony. Yet the end of Isaiah presents a transformed picture. Nations now stream to Zion, not to conquer, but to worship. Isaiah 66:19–21 describes a mission outward and a gathering inward. Survivors go “to the distant coastlands” to “declare My glory among the nations” (NASB95). These nations then bring Israel's exiles back “as a grain offering to the LORD” (NASB95). Then comes the shocker of the restoration: “I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:21 NASB95 Here, cleansed Gentiles are made fit for priestly service. Those once טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ and חֹל khol become טָהוֹר ṭāhôr and קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh. God Himself reassigns their status. This anticipates later language where non‑Israelites become “fellow citizens” and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:11–22 NASB95). Isaiah thus anticipates a priesthood enlarged beyond ethnic Levi. Yet it preserves the priestly pattern. God draws people from afar and gives them access to His presence. Birth pangs, judgment and the Day of the LORD The imagery of birth and labor pains widens into the theme of the “day of the LORD.” Prophets like Joel and Zechariah describe cosmic signs. The sun darkens. The moon turns to blood. Nations gather for judgment. Yeshua engages this imagery in Matthew 24. He lists wars, famines, and earthquakes, then says: “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” Matthew 24:8 NASB95 The Greek phrase ὠδίνων ōdinōn (birth pains) parallels the Hebrew חֲבָלִים ḥăvālim. These events signal a coming climax, but they do not yet constitute its fullness. Yeshua also stresses suddenness. He compares the coming of the Son of Man to the days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26–30). People ate, drank, married, and conducted business. Judgment then arrived swiftly. Those outside God's refuge “did not understand until the flood came and took them all away” (Matthew 24:39 NASB95). The pattern remains consistent. God often gives extended warnings. Yet when the decisive moment arrives, it still surprises the unprepared. The image of “a thief in the night” (1Thessalonians 5:2 NASB95) fits here. The redemption arrives with both long buildup and sudden impact. In this frame, the birth of Zion before labor pains underscores divine initiative and surprise. New creation, New Jerusalem and lasting transformation From a Messianic Jewish perspective, the relationship between Isaiah 66:7–9, Yeshua's teaching on the “birth pains” (ὠδίν, ōdin) in Matthew 24:8 and Mark 13:8 preceding the coming of the Son of Man, and the rabbinic concept of the “birth pangs of the Messiah” (חבלי משיח, ḥevlei Mashiaḥ) reflects complementary dimensions of the same redemptive process. In the flood narrative, Noah and his family are the minority who remain after divine judgment is executed on a corrupt world. Noah preached to the people for 120 years until God shut the doors of the ark and even after the doors were shut, God waited an additional 7 days before the waters started coming down. While the “taking away” occurs through the floodwaters that remove the majority of humanity, Noah is preserved through the ark and emerges onto a renewed earth. In that sense, the decisive removal is experienced by those who are judged, while Noah's family is “left” to inherit a cleansed world and participate in a new beginning of human history under God's covenant. A similar pattern appears in the account of Lot. Lot and his immediate family are removed from Sodom prior to its destruction, while the cities themselves are “taken away” through fire and brimstone as an act of judgment. Lot tried to warn his in-laws to come with him to safety and they laughed him off. Although Lot and his family are physically led out by the angels, the narrative emphasizes that what remains after judgment is not the old order but a radically transformed landscape. In both accounts, the contrast is between those preserved through judgment and those removed by it, highlighting a consistent biblical theme of separation between the righteous and the judged as God brings about renewal. These are both harbingers of the new heavens and the new earth. Isaiah 65–66 extends this pattern to a cosmic level. God promises “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 NASB95). The old order passes. The new emerges. Revelation 21–22 echoes this vision with the image of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven. In both Isaiah and Revelation, Jerusalem is both a place and a people. It has geographic coordinates, yet it also symbolizes the gathered people of God. The city's restored holiness corresponds to the purified hearts of its inhabitants. The Servant's work and the Spirit's presence make this possible. The Greek term παλιγγενεσία palingenesía (regeneration; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5) captures the idea. God does not merely repair. He recreates. He brings about a new beginning that includes both individuals and creation. The role of the Spirit and the ongoing mission The Spirit is Heaven’s continuing presence on Earth. In John 14–16, Yeshua calls the Spirit ὁ παράκλητος ho paráklētos (the Helper; Comforter; Advocate). This term parallels Hebrew נָחַם nāḥam (to comfort), from which מְנַחֵם Menachem (comforter) derives — a name that came to be associated with the Messiah. The Spirit applies the Servant's work to individuals and communities. Romans 8 presents the Spirit as the power who leads believers, intercedes for them, and conforms them to the image of the Son. The same Spirit who inspired Isaiah's vision now drives the mission that Isaiah foretold. He sends emissaries to the nations. He gathers a people who tremble at God's word. Heaven’s search for the humble and contrite In our journey through Scripture we see a coherent message. Leviticus introduces the language of holiness, cleanness, uncleanness, and approach. Isaiah applies that language to the spiritual condition of Israel and the nations. The prophet exposes corrupt worship and empty religion. He then presents the Servant of the LORD as God's answer to Israel's failure. Through the Servant's suffering and vindication, God restores Zion and opens priestly access to the nations. He transforms people from טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ (unfit to approah) to טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (fit), from חֹל khol (profane) to קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh (set apart). He brings forth in a day this new nation of priests for the world. He surprises the world with a redemption that arrives like a birth before labor and like a thief in the night. At the heart of it all lies God's search for a humble and contrite people who tremble at His word (Isaiah 66:2). Their worship, purified by the Servant's work and empowered by the Spirit, fulfills the ancient vision. Zion becomes a light to the nations. And from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, “all mankind will come to bow down” before the LORD (Isaiah 66:23 NASB95). The post Can a nation be born in a day? Exploring Zion's sudden birth in Scripture (Isaiah 66; Leviticus 12) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

(This podcast was previously published on April 17, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   The world:   1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  

(This podcast was previously published on April 21, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.  2 Timothy 1:14   This means:   Be diligent to focus on that which the Holy Spirit brings to our minds.   For this is what the Holy Spirit does for each of the elect of God.   John 14:24  Jesus says:  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 (from God), that shall HE speak: and HE will shew you things to come.  

The Holy Spirit still speaks, guides, comforts, and anchors believers in truth today. In this devotional on listening to the Holy Spirit, Michelle Lazurek reflects on a frightening health scare that led her into fear, anxiety, and catastrophic thinking—until God’s gentle voice broke through the lies. Rooted in Psalms 37:23, this message reminds us that God establishes the steps of those who delight in Him and that the Holy Spirit helps believers discern truth in difficult seasons. Through personal testimony and biblical encouragement, this devotional explores spiritual discernment, obedience, and learning to recognize God’s voice amid fear and uncertainty. It highlights how Scripture, prayer, and Christian community help believers test what they hear and grow more sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. As we mature spiritually, the Holy Spirit becomes not only our Comforter but also the One who silences lies and strengthens our identity in Christ. Highlights The Holy Spirit often speaks peace into moments filled with fear and confusion. God’s voice will always align with Scripture and His character. Spiritual maturity grows through consistent prayer, obedience, and time in God’s Word. Fear and negative thinking lose power when replaced with biblical truth. Christian community helps believers discern and confirm God’s leading. God—not circumstances or diagnoses—holds authority over our lives and future. Listening to the Holy Spirit requires intentional stillness and spiritual attentiveness. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Listen to the Holy SpiritBy: Michelle Lazurek Bible Reading:“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” - Psalm 37:23 A couple of years ago, I started a new medication. This medication had side effects, one of which was nausea, and I had a lot of it. In addition, I felt it was affecting my throat, as I kept feeling a lump there. Because I have had hypothyroidism for many years, my doctor wanted to check to see if it was causing harm to my thyroid, and she wanted to see if it was cancer. She ordered an ultrasound to check it. No cancer! But the test results revealed I probably had an autoimmune disease that had gone undiagnosed for some time. This was difficult news to hear, to say the least. After I visited with the doctor, I got into my car and drove to the grocery store. Just as I was getting into the car after getting some groceries, I hit my head on the rearview mirror. I bawled my eyes out for the next half hour in my car. A myriad of thoughts ran through my head: I won’t live long enough to see my kids grow up or their grandkids. God didn’t care about my health. God didn’t care about me. All I had done was for nothing. After I had my emotional meltdown, I went back into the store. Walking down the aisle, I sensed the Holy Spirit speak to my heart: “I tell you when you’re done. Doctors don’t tell you when you are done, I tell you when you are done.” Immediately, all those lies that filled my head were gone. Because I regularly practice listening for the Holy Spirit, I was in tune and aware enough of how God speaks to me that when He spoke, I knew it was Him. I not only knew from my previous encounters with the Spirit, but also being anchored in God’s word, that when I tested the words I heard, they aligned with Scripture. Those words inspired me not to give up. I changed my diet and tweaked my exercise routine. I started taking supplements, upped my water intake—anything I could do to live as healthily as possible. If you are unsure whether you are hearing from the Holy Spirit, ask yourself these questions: As you read Scripture, does a verse speak to your soul in a way it hasn’t before (especially if you’ve read the scripture before)? Do you sense the Holy Spirit speaking to you during your prayer time? If he does, write down what you believe he is saying. If you have experienced either of these things, test what you are hearing with others you trust (they can be in your church or not). Community is key to sharpening your ability to hear from the Holy Spirit. When we mature in our spiritual walks, we rely more on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's voice becomes clearer to us the more we listen to it and obey what it says. Not only is it important to listen to the Holy Spirit, but it also helps to dispel the lies that Satan plants in our minds. Just as I believed the lie that my life was over simply because of a doctor's diagnosis, the Holy Spirit had more to say to me on that subject. The minute I heard those words in the spirit, all those lies disappeared. I was able to replace the truth of the above verse with the lies that my life would be cut short. Are you someone who hears from the Holy Spirit? Have you had encounters like this where the words you hear from him align with Scripture, changing not only your life but the lives of those who hear them? Vow to be more attuned to the spirit. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you in ways that only you will understand. When you hear those words, be obedient to do as they say. When we align our minds and hearts with the Holy Spirit, we solidify our identity in Christ and can respond to the still, small voice in our lives. Father, let us listen to you. Make your voice unmistakable in our lives. Let us be people who are known to obey you rather than the lies in our minds. Amen. Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you heard from the Holy Spirit? What did he say? Were you obedient to what you heard? Further Reading: John 14:26 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit | Pentecost Sunday at Cornerstone ChurchWhat is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?Is speaking in tongues biblical?Why did Jesus tell His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father?In this powerful Pentecost Sunday message, Pastor Jonathan Morgan and Trevin Durant teach on the person, power, and purpose of the Holy Spirit. From Acts 1 and Acts 2 to the ministry of Jesus Himself, this sermon explores what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and how the Spirit empowers believers to live beyond empty religion into a supernatural life of boldness, power, intimacy, and transformation.Jesus didn't only come as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world — He also came as the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.In this message:• The difference between salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit• Why Pentecost still matters today• What the Bible says about speaking in tongues• How the Holy Spirit empowers believers• The purpose of spiritual gifts and supernatural power• How to receive the Holy Spirit by faith• The role of the Holy Spirit as Comforter, Teacher, Counselor, and HelperScriptures referenced:John 1:29–34Acts 1:4–8Acts 2:1–181 Corinthians 6:19____________________________ Sundays at 8:30 & 10:30 AMWe are branded by the fire of God. We carry the fire of God to ignite our generation to burn for Jesus. Find us:www.fuquayrevival.comwww.facebook.com/cornerstonefuquayig: @cornerstonechurch.fv

Every believer is becoming one of two things: driftwood, carried aimlessly by the currents of culture, offense, and emotion, or dynamite, an earthen vessel filled with the explosive supernatural power of God. Apostle Raley preached a powerful message, drawing from Acts 1:8, unpacking 5 reasons we desperately need the Holy Spirit: He is our Comforter and Advocate, He helps our weaknesses in prayer, He teaches and illuminates truth, He gives us miracle-working power, and He tames the one thing no human strength can control, the tongue. The promise of the Holy Spirit is not for a past generation but for every hungry believer today, because God never called us to drift through life; He called us to carry fire! Visit https://calvaryfl.com for more!

Welcome to week 2 of our Holy Spirit Series. We all come to a place in our lives where we need to be comforted. The Holy Spirit is a comforter to those who are hurting and broken. We hope you are encouraged to move into a deeper relationship with God through discovering more about the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Thanks for listening. 

In this passionate Pentecost message, Pastor Art challenges believers to seek a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit rather than relying on past spiritual experiences. Drawing from Acts 2:1–4, the sermon emphasizes that the armor of God and the Christian life are only effective when empowered by the Holy Spirit. The message explores the significance of Pentecost as both a historical event and a present-day call for revival. Just as the believers in the upper room were filled with the Spirit and empowered for ministry, Christians today are urged to seek the same spiritual power, boldness, and transformation. Pastor Art highlights that Pentecost is not merely a denominational identity but an experience with God that equips believers to live holy lives, witness effectively, and overcome spiritual battles. Throughout the sermon, listeners are encouraged to examine their hearts through repentance, prayer, and the renewing of their minds. The Holy Spirit is presented as the believer's Comforter, Helper, Guide, and source of strength. The message warns against having a form of godliness without the power of God and calls the church to contend for genuine revival rather than settling for routine religion. Ultimately, Fresh Fire is a call to spiritual renewal, urging believers to welcome the Holy Spirit's presence, pursue holiness, and be empowered to impact their families, communities, and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1. The Need 2. The Comforts 3. The Delight The sermon centers on the truth that even in the midst of suffering, affliction, and overwhelming questions, God's people find lasting joy and comfort in His faithful presence. Drawing from Psalm 94:17–19, it emphasizes that true blessing is not found in the absence of hardship but in the assurance that God is near, especially when His people feel abandoned or chastened. The psalmist's turmoil, marked by a flood of anxious thoughts and despairing questions, is not dismissed but transformed through the realization that God's mercy, covenant faithfulness, and sovereign love remain constant. These comforts, rooted in God's unchanging nature and revealed supremely in Jesus Christ, the ultimate Comforter, bring deep soul-delight not by removing suffering, but by anchoring the believer in divine nearness and grace. The message calls believers to rest in God alone, recognizing that His presence, not the resolution of every question, is the source of peace and joy in life's darkest seasons.

On Pentecost Sunday, Mike Coetzer shares a practical and heartfelt message on The Person of the Holy Spirit: our Helper, Comforter, and Guide in everyday life. Through simple yet powerful illustrations, this message reminds us that the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our own strength, but through the continual help and presence of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Spirit is available and willing to help us.”

This is message 47 in Gospel Record of John John 14:16-31 Believers are never left alone, because God Himself comes to dwell within them through the Holy Spirit, bringing continual fellowship, guidance, strength, and peace. The presence of the Spirit becomes most evident in a life that loves Christ enough to obey His Word, as obedience deepens awareness of His nearness and truth. While the world searches for peace through outward means, true peace comes from trusting the finished work of Christ, resting in His promises, and living with confidence that He remains present and will one day return for His own. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through PushPay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

Pastor Colins Nwosu began a new teaching series titled The Trinity of the Godhead, leading the church into a deeper and more enriching understanding of our relationship with the Triune God. Drawing from several scriptures, we explored the biblical foundation of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit existing distinctly yet perfectly united as One God. From the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3, we saw all three persons of the Godhead revealed together: the Father speaking from heaven, the Son being baptised, and the Spirit descending like a dove. This teaching emphasised that the Trinity is not merely a theological concept, but a revelation of God's nature and His desire for relationship with humanity. From the absolute unity of creation in Genesis 1:1–3 and John 1:1–5, to the ongoing ministry of the Comforter in John 14:26 and John 16:5–11, we see the perfect harmony and cooperation of the Godhead at work. Pastor Colins explained that understanding the Trinity strengthens our faith, deepens our worship, and enriches our walk with God because we are invited into fellowship with the fullness of who He is. The message also pointed us toward unity, reminding us from John 17:21 that just as the Godhead exists in perfect oneness, believers are also called into unity and communion with God and with one another. Confession: Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to me as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Deepen my understanding of who You are, strengthen my walk with You, and help me live daily in fellowship with the fullness of Your presence and love.

"Leprosy"; tzedek-resh-ayin-tav; Modern disease - Hanson's disease?; Destruction of the Temple; Pharisees rejected Jesus; "Religion"; Priests; Spaniard's story; Healing from Priests? Or doctors?; Tree of Knowledge vs Tree of Life; Organizing in Tens, Hundreds and Thousands; Abandoning common purse; Pilgrims; Socialism; Free men under God; "Theos"; Bring ancient scripture into modern time; Degeneration of society; How to use knowledge; Revelation; Bible misinterpretation; Squelching truth; The divine solution; Reserve fund; Gen 2:15; Dress and keep the garden; Dominion; "Eating" of the trees; Organization of knowledge; Caring for others; Loving truth; Two trees; Hiding from God; Substitute solutions; Opened eyes; Treacherous clothing?; Torah vs Torat; Guidance from Tree of Life; Deception; Accepting Jesus?; Mt 7:20 By their fruits; Kingdom of Heaven/God; Foundation on the "rock"; Divine revelation; Foolish men; Not to be that way with you!; Winning back your government?; Becoming merchandise; "We the People"?; Biblical constitutions; Deut 17; Christ's COMMANDS; Voluntaryism; Being doers of the word; Responsibility; Rev 18:11; 1 Cor 16:9; Adversaries; Deut 6:12; Rom 11:9 Welfare snares; 2 Pet 2:3; Covetousness; Sureties for debt; Your relationship to government; Wars and rumors of wars; Debt notes; The rule of force and violence; vs Freewill offerings; Sharing; Charity; US Notes vs Just weights and measures; God of agreements; Allegiance?; Exercising authority; Addiction to benefits; Caring about your neighbor; Usury; License plates?; Use tax; Legal title; Lacking knowledge; Wanting to see the truth; The right way; Government of, for and by the people; "Tens"; Taking back your responsibilities; Love = Charity; Bondage of Egypt; "Israel"; Eating habits; Not wanting to change; Today's "Rome" (image of the beast); Changing of the courts - Equity; The Comforter; Fervent charity; Livestock?; Setting the captive free; "Idolatry"; "Socialism"; Finding God's heart in others; Choose truth!

Doesn't it seem like the older you get, the sadder visiting Las Vegas becomes? Bryan just went there and returned with some wonderful examples of the sadness. Let's talk about that, having a giant black sex toy glued to your forehead for five years, drawing on fake mustaches in order to bypass age requirements online, raising money for brain cancer treatment through a lemonade stand, and more on today's episode of Can You Don't?!*** Wanna become part of The Gaggle and access all the extra content on the end of each episode PLUS tons more?! Our Patreon page is LIVE! This is the biggest way you can support the show. It would mean the world to us: http://www.patreon.com/canyoudontpodcast ***New Episodes every Wednesday at 12pm PSTWatch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/YbHL_2K6678Send in segment content: heyguys@canyoudontpodcast.comMerch: http://canyoudontpodcast.comMerch Inquires: store@canyoudontpodcast.comFB: http://facebook.com/canyoudontpodcastIG: http://instagram.com/canyoudontpodcastYouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3wyt5rtOfficial Website: http://canyoudontpodcast.comCustom Music Beds by Zach CohenFan Mail:Can You Don't?PO Box 1062Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816Hugs and tugs.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We read John 15 in Greek and sit with Jesus' “order” to love, the move from slaves to friends, and the promise of fruit that lasts. We also wrestle with persecution, conscience, and how translation choices like logos, paraclete, and “no cloak for sin” shape what we think the text is really saying. • Reading John 15:12-17 and the meaning of love as self-giving • “commandment” versus “order” and what obedience implies • Logos as message and reasoning not just “word” • “slave” versus “servant” and why older English can mislead • Why Friends may resonate with “I have called you friends” • John's persecution theme and being in the world not of it • “no excuse” for sin and the role of conscience and refusal to listen • Sowing seeds over time and how people change gradually • Comparing Bible translations including “cloak” “pretext” and amplified notes • Paracletos as comforter helper advocate and how context guides meaning • Trinity language developing later and how creeds reflect later debates • Revelation as encouragement and hope under oppression A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

Jesus Gave His Followers the Holy Spirit to Walk with Them in Their Personal Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: Isaiah tells us about Jesus Followers' communications with the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 30:21: "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.". We know, from the New Testament, that Jesus Followers are given the Holy Spirit to walk with them -- "a voice behind you". Since the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you, the way the Lord speaks to you is through the inward witness of the Holy Spirit -- the Spirit will speak, and you will know that it is the Lord. In John 14:26, Jesus reminds us about His promise, to His followers, of the “Helper” (Holy Spirit): “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”. Additionally, in John 16-7, Jesus tells us that not only will the Holy Spirit be your “Helper”, the Holy Spirit will be your “Comforter”: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I now take a deep breath and stop. So often I miss your hand and gifts in my life because I am preoccupied and anxious. Grant me the power to pause each day and each week to simply rest in your arms of love. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 132). 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): Ezekiel 22:30-31; Isaiah 30:21; John 14:23-27; John 16:7-13; Psalms 134:1-3. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Come Holy Spirit”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Pastor Andy continues his series, "Foundations For Faith" with Part 4 - 'The Spirit and the Promise'. This message is about the fundamentals of the Holy Spirit, that He is the 3rd Person of the Trinity and has always been, and always will be, God. He was there at the beginning of creation and has been revealed throughout history and recorded in the Bible. The Promise is that the Holy Spirit now resides in the heart of every believer and is our Guide, our Comforter and our Councillor.

In this message, we explore who the Holy Spirit truly is. The Holy Spirit is not a force or a feeling, but the personal presence of God actively involved in our daily lives. Using the analogy of a GPS, we discover how the Holy Spirit guides, reroutes, comforts, and strengthens us along the journey of life. We see how God's Spirit meets us in our mess, our guilt, our weakness, and our desperate prayers. Whether you're new to faith or have walked with Jesus for years, this message is an invitation to welcome the Holy Spirit into every area of your life as your comforter, advocate, helper, counselor, and intercessor.0:00 - Welcome & Series Introduction1:42 - The Car as a Sanctuary3:29 - The Holy Spirit as God's Positioning System5:09 - Who Is the Holy Spirit? (John 14:16-17)7:25 - "I Am With You Always" (Matthew 28:20)9:10 - David's Story Begins10:29 - Out of Place: When Trouble Finds Us11:25 - David and Bathsheba13:58 - Psalm 51: "Do Not Cast Your Spirit From Me"14:43 - The Spirit as Our Comforter15:48 - The Spirit as Our Advocate16:21 - The Spirit as Our Helper16:56 - The Spirit as Our Counselor17:43 - Jesus, Our Intercessor18:22 - David's Cry From the Cave (Psalm 142)24:20 - The Way, the Truth, and the Life25:15 - An Invitation to Daily Life With God26:42 - Closing PrayerSupport the showMade a decision to follow Jesus? We want to know about it! Fill out our connect card here: https://local.churchcenter.com/people/forms/115766Thank you for your generosity. For information on how to give, visit https://localvineyard.church/give.

This message explores Jesus' promise in John 14 that we are never left alone. In this message, we reflect on the gift of the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, and Advocate—God's presence with us in every season of life. Through personal stories, the power of Pentecost, and Jesus' call to love God and love others, this sermon reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not distant or mysterious, but active, personal, and available today. If you've ever wondered where God is in difficult moments, this message offers hope: you are not abandoned, and you are not alone.

The Comforter and Sasse's Farewell Speech Pastor Cogan John 14:15-21‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.' What would you say on your deathbed, your last lecture, your farewell speech? Would you offer sage advice? Share your favorite stories? Or maybe crack a few jokes you've learned along the way? We don't get much of any of that from Jesus' farewell to his disciples. That's what we hear from that passage from John. We are still in the season of Easter, but today we return to the words he spoke to his disciples just before his crucifixion. At first he seems like he is doing something you're told not to do on a deathbed and that's asking for promises. It's as if Jesus is saying, “if you love me, promise me you'll keep my commandments.” Talk about manipulation and guilt?! But that's not what Jesus is after. It's not a conditional, if/then. He's not asking for a promise. Rather, Jesus is saying you'll know your love for me when you keep my commandments.More importantly, Jesus is the one making promises on his deathbed. “I will give you another Advocate and he will be with you forever”. That word for Advocate can be translated in many different ways: counselor, helper, but also comforter. Jesus is offering assurance to terrified disciples, telling them, “I cannot stay here with you, but don't worry. I am giving you the Holy Spirit, who will be a comforter to you.” Now that's a beautiful promise. I'm sure the disciples needed it. I'm sure some of you need it today! But what does that mean or look like? I mean how is the Holy Spirit going to give not just the disciples, but give you and I comfort here and now, in this life? Well I think I've seen that comfort in Ben Sasse, who is also giving his farewell speech. Sasse, as you may know, was senator from Nebraska, serving from 2013 to 2023. He left under his own volition and became the president of the University of Florida. Before all that, he was the president of Midland University, a small ELCA college in Midland, NE. Since early February, Ben has been doing interviews and podcasts at breakneck speed because he's dying. In December of 2025 Ben found out he had cancer. Actually, he found out he had five different types of cancer that had metastasized into 47 tumors, tormenting his torso and the rest of his body. They gave him 90 days to live. Which is perhaps why you have seen clips of him or his name on your social media feed. When asked why he's spending so much time with interviewers and journalists, he said, “I did not decide to die in public. But even with three to four months left to live, you have to redeem the time. There's only so many bits of unsolicited advice I can give my children. So, you journalists want to talk, and if you don't have anybody better, I'm your huckleberry.” From all I've seen and heard in the talks and interviews, Ben is doing a bit of everything in his farewell speech. He cracks some jokes, he tells great stories like one explaining what's happening in this photo of him, looking like he's a bit hungover or had a workout (you decide), and Chuck Schumer holding a giant cig in his right hand. And as expected he gives sage advice. Advice that comes with the clarity that, according to Ben, only comes with having a terminal diagnosis. For him, his cancer has clarified what matters and he feels a responsibility to use whatever time is left for the good of others. And while Sasse and I may be on different ends of the theological spectrum, his clarity on a number of issues is compelling.He speaks about everything from AI to politics and the way our screens, addictions, and tribalism are reshaping us. But what I find most compelling from his farewell speech is not the advice, stories, or hot takes. Rather, it's his regrets.He wishes he hadn't worked so much. He laments how much he traveled. He would have locked away phones and turned off screens at the dinner table, because you don't get that sacred time back. He would have taken sabbath more seriously, undistracted by sports or the ever present lure of work. He would have strengthened bonds with family: siblings, cousins, parents. And somehow he says all this without despair… , even though he has regrets, even though he knows deeply the mistakes he made, he still has comfort in these last days. In all the interviews I have seen and heard, Ben is noticeably weak, doped up on morphine and nauseous, yet something strengthens him. I mean look at him here with this interview with the NYT. He is literally bleeding from his face because he can't grow skin as a result from his chemo, yet he doesn't hide it one bit! How can he have such comfort in the midst of such regret, pain, evil, and death?I can't help but think this is the Comforter at work in one's life, the Holy Spirit giving comfort today in the here and now. Because what I hear in Ben Sasse is that he can name these regrets, these mistakes because he knows, he trusts that he is forgiven. Not only by his family, but by God, too. He can call cancer evil, but at the same time, sanctifying because he now has a divine dependence he never knew before and likely wouldn't have, had this not happened to him. He can call death the enemy, but also trust in the full healing that comes after it. Such comfort I can only understand as coming from outside of himself, from God at work through the Holy Spirit, assuring him of his forgiveness, giving clarity about what matters most, and supporting him when he can't support himself.It's tempting to hear comfort and imagine soft sheets, fluffy pillows, or simply a calmness. But I don't think that's the comfort Jesus promises nor what the Spirit gives. Comfort is not the removal of suffering, but the freedom to tell the truth. It's not emotional numbness but courage to face regret. And it certainly isn't empty platitudes, but the ability to face death without despair. The Spirit gives more than just coping skills.And I see that in Ben's farewell speech. He is still grieving. Still suffering. Still regretting. Still dying. And yet something holds him. Strengthen hims. Comforts him. And when I look at him and hear him, I can't help but believe that is the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the promise of Jesus manifested in this life. How this comfort comes? Or what exactly the Holy Spirit does to cause it? I don't know and Jesus doesn't explain it. Nor do I think Jesus is all that concerned in the mechanics. He is more interested in the promise, to the disciples, to Ben Sasse, and to you and I; that when you face regrets, when you are confronted by pain and evil, when death is inevitable, because it is, you will not be orphaned, left to face any of it alone. You have a comforter.I pray you know that comfort. I pray I offer it to you. I pray the Holy Spirit works through you to offer it to someone else.Because the truth is, we are all moving toward a farewell speech of our own. One day there will be regrets we cannot undo, suffering we cannot avoid, and a death we cannot outrun. And when that day comes, Jesus does not offer explanations. He does not provide escape. He promises this: you will not be orphaned.And maybe that is the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Not the removal of pain, but the assurance that even there, in grief, in weakness, in death itself, you are not abandoned.That is the work of the Father who promises, the Son who assures, and the Holy Spirit who abides with us still. Amen.

Pastor Mich Michener - Sunday 05/10/2026

The sixth Sunday in Easter - Pastor James Pierce

May 10, 2026Today's Reading:John 16:23-30 (31-33)Daily Lectionary: Numbers 3:1-16, 39-48; Numbers 4:1-8:4; Luke 14:25-15:10“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ‘So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.'” (Numbers 6:22-27)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.There was an unwritten code in my college dorm room kitchen. If you didn't want someone absconding with your leftover microwave pizza or swiping those tasty homemade cookies mom sent you, you had better put your name on it. The name was a signal to my roommates. “This is mine. This belongs to me. This is something important and precious to me. Step away from the pizza!”Something similar, though in a far greater and gracious way, is happening when the Lord instructs Moses to declare to Aaron and his sons His words of blessing. We call it the Aaronic Benediction because it was given by God to Moses. And from Moses to Aaron. And from Aaron to his sons, the priests of Israel. And from the priests to the people of Israel. This benediction is more than a greeting, like sending someone a “get well” card or shooting off a quick text to your friend when they're sick: “Feel better, bro!” No. This is far better. For what the Lord says, he gives. What he promises, he delivers. When he tells Moses and Aaron to speak these words, his people are blessed as they hear them. The Lord's words bring His blessing, grace, and peace even while they're being spoken. You see, when our Lord wants to preserve, protect, and bring his promise to someone or something, He puts his name on it.The words and promises of this benediction are the Lord's way of sending a signal to Moses, Aaron, to all Israel, and to you. Our Lord poured his liquid benediction over you on the day of your Baptism. By water, word, and the Spirit, God placed his Holy Triune name upon you. And now, whenever you hear these words of benediction, the Lord says to you what he said to Israel: “You are mine. You belong to me. You are important and precious and beloved in my sight. You are holy. And you have my word and my name to back it up.” “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.I the Lord will bless you and keep you And give you peace; I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace: I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother. Go, My children; I will keep you And give you peace. (LSB 922:4)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz, pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Milton, WA.

May 7, 2026

John 14:18 - 15:11We slow down over John 14 and the opening of John 15, letting the Greek text sharpen what Jesus means by trust, love, and peace. We also face how translation choices around pronouns and gender can either widen the invitation or allow some people to incorrectly interpret them as being not included.• The plural “you” in Greek and what it implies for communal and individual life in Christ• Pisteuo as trust rather than mere belief and why that matters spiritually• John 14:18-24 on keeping Christ's word and the indwelling presence of God• The intrinsic male/female inclusivity of masculine pronouns in biblical Greek regarding gender• Parakletos as Advocate and Helper, and peace not given like the world gives• Agape compared with other Greek words for love and what kind of love to which the Gospel points us• John 15's vine and branches image, abiding as remaining within, and pruning as purification• Prayer as alignment with God's will rather than “asking for favors”A complete list of our podcasts,  organized into topics, is available on our website.To learn more about Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative) of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), please visit  ohioyearlymeeting.org. Those interested in exploring the distinctives of Conservative Friends waiting worship should consider checking out our many Zoom Online Worship opportunities during the week here. All are welcome! We also have several Zoom study groups.  Check out the Online Study and Discussion Groups on our website.   Advices read in these podcasts can be found on page 29 in our Book Of Discipline.We welcome feedback on this and any of our other podcast episodes.   Contact us through our website.

Picture the night before the cross: Jesus, surrounded by those who gave up everything to follow Him, drops a startling truth—He must go so someone greater for their daily life can come. In John 16 we follow that moment as He unveils the Comforter: a Person who will live in them, guide them into truth, empower their prayers and worship, and be the seal of their salvation. This episode tells their story and ours, turning sorrow into advantage and the loss of a presence into the gain of a constant, guiding companion. Join us as we unpack Scripture, witness the Holy Spirit's practical work, and learn how to recognize, speak to, and rely on the Helper living within you. Listen, share, and take your next step at cfccampusministry.com.

Crystal Rivers | Open Book | Apr 28, 2026 Come before God with a heart that is fully present, aware that fellowship is not a casual gathering but an opportunity to stand before the King of kings, receive His Word, and be shaped into His likeness. Every time the Word of God comes to you, it is proof that God is inviting you to grow, to be discipled, to think like Him, to speak like Him, and to walk in His ways. Do not receive the Word as information only; receive it as life, as strength, as correction, as cleansing, and as the substance by which the Holy Spirit builds you up. The purpose of hearing is not merely to quote scriptures or admire deep teaching, but to become a doer of the Word, someone whose hands handle holy things, whose eyes look for holy things, whose tongue echoes the voice of God, and whose life bears visible fruit. Understand that the evidence of belonging to Christ is not the power of your preaching, the depth of your revelation, or the impressiveness of your speech, but the life you live daily. A tree is known by its fruit, and God is looking for fruit-bearing sons and daughters. When you fall, do not remain in shame or agreement with sin; the blood of Jesus has power to cleanse, restore, and make your garments white again. The enemy may know the weak areas where he can provoke, tempt, discourage, or defile you, but the Holy Spirit has been given to build those very places until you no longer fall where you used to fall. Say with faith that you will be built up. The liar will lie no more, the thief will steal no more, the fearful will stand strong, and the weary will receive strength. Give yourself to the Word of God because it is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified. The Word is not only for comfort; it is for construction. It builds strength into your spirit, renews your mind, disciplines your body, and prepares you for the day of adversity. Learn to labor in the Word, meditate on it, and allow it to pass from your hearing into your members until it becomes practice. Watch over your life, remember the truths you have received, and refuse every distraction, oppression, or torment that keeps your mind from attending to the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit for help sincerely and specifically, because He is your Helper, Comforter, Teacher, Corrector, and Strengthener. Do not try to overcome darkness by your own virtue. No one defeats the adversary by personal strength alone. Cry to the Lord when you need help. Call on the Holy Spirit when you are weak. Ask Him to comfort you, strengthen you, rescue you, and give you supernatural energy for the journey ahead. Just as Elijah needed divine strength to continue his assignment, you also need the power of the Spirit to finish what God has ordained for you. Let discouragement be silenced, let weariness be broken, and let the breath of God bring strength into your spirit, soul, and body so that you can run and not be weary, walk and not faint. Honor the name of Jesus. Do not treat it casually, reduce it to a religious phrase, or mature away from its use. The name of Jesus is an inheritance given to believers through His death, resurrection, victory over darkness, and exaltation by the Father. It is not mere sound, yet it works through sound when spoken with faith. There is power in using the name of Jesus, and there is also power in living by that name. Some may use His name for miracles without living in obedience, but you are called to both: use the name in prayer, warfare, healing, deliverance, and authority, and also live out the righteousness, character, and holiness that the name represents. When you ask the Father, ask in the name of Jesus. Let your confidence rest not in the desperation of your request, but in the authority of that name. Meditate on the name of Jesus until faith rises in your heart. Speak it over oppression, darkness, sickness, fear, confusion, and every mountain that stands before you. There are things that will not move until you speak. Faith must work in the heart, but it must also be released through the mouth. Say what God has said. Declare the name. Proclaim the blood. Speak to the mountain without doubting in your heart, and believe that what you say in alignment with God's will shall be done. Let the testimony of God be greater to you than the testimony of men. What you see, feel, hear, or experience must not become more authoritative than what God has spoken. The enemy often brings contradictions against the Word of God, and if you agree with those contradictions, you submit your heart to the witness of man instead of the witness of God. Fight the fight of faith by calling every contradiction a lie when it opposes what God has declared. God has testified concerning His Son, and those who believe in the name of the Son of God carry eternal life. Continue to believe in that name, continue to speak that name, and continue to live by that name.

The Fire That Remains Life in the Spirit After the Collapse of the Religious Self Week IV — The Heart That Bears the World Love, Intercession, and the Hidden Life in the Spirit ⸻ Opening Invocation O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, Come and dwell in us, Cleanse us from every impurity, And save our souls, O Good One. ⸻ I. The Return — But Nothing Is the Same At the beginning, the Spirit leads a man inward. Into exposure. Into poverty. Into silence. And it can seem as though the path is one of withdrawal. A leaving behind. A diminishing. But this is not the end. Because the same Spirit who leads a man into the desert of his own heart leads him back again. 1 Not outward in the old way. Not into activity rooted in self. But into a different kind of presence. The man returns to the world. But he does not return as he was. ⸻ II. The End of Living for Oneself Something has been broken. Quietly. Deeply. The constant reference to self. The need to interpret everything in relation to oneself. The subtle movement of: How does this affect me? What does this mean for me? Where do I stand? These begin to loosen. And with this a space opens. A freedom. Where others can begin to exist without being filtered through the self. This is the beginning of love. Not as an emotion. 2 Not as an effort. But as a way of being. “Love seeketh not her own.” (1 Corinthians 13:5) And for the first time this is not an ideal. It is something that begins to happen. ⸻ III. The Heart Enlarged by the Spirit The heart changes. Not outwardly. Not visibly. But in capacity. It begins to hold more. Not by effort. But by grace. You begin to feel: The weight of others. The pain of others. The confusion of others. Not in a way that overwhelms. But in a way that includes. The boundaries of the self soften. And the heart becomes... spacious. 3 “My heart is enlarged.” (Psalm 118/119) This is not sentimentality. It is not emotionalism. It is participation. A sharing in something greater than yourself. ⸻ IV. Intercession That Is Not Chosen Prayer changes again. Not in method. But in direction. Before, you struggled to pray. Then prayer began to live within you. Now something else happens: Others begin to appear in your prayer. Not because you decide to pray for them. But because they are given to you. A face. A name. A burden. And it remains. Quietly. Persistently. 4 You carry them. Sometimes without words. Sometimes without understanding. And this is intercession. Not as an activity. But as a participation in the love of Christ. “I could wish that myself were accursed for my brethren...” (Romans 9:3) A love that does not calculate. A love that bears. ⸻ V. The Hidden Nature of This Life And yet, outwardly, very little may change. You may still live in the same place. Do the same tasks. Speak with the same people. There is no need to appear different. No need to manifest anything. Because this life is hidden. Deep within. And this hiddenness is essential. Because the moment it becomes something seen something recognized something affirmed 5 the old self begins to stir. So the Spirit preserves this life in obscurity. In simplicity. In what appears to be ordinariness. “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) And this hiddenness is protection. ⸻ VI. Love Without Self-Consciousness There is a further purification. Even love becomes purified. Because at first we can become aware of loving. We notice it. We reflect on it. We take some subtle satisfaction in it. But here, even this begins to fall away. Love becomes unselfconscious. It acts without referring back to itself. It gives without knowing that it gives. It responds without constructing meaning. 6 And this is freedom. Because the self is no longer at the center even of what is good. ⸻ VII. The Bearing of Suffering As the heart expands so does its capacity to suffer. Not in a destructive way. But in a participatory way. You begin to feel more. To see more. To carry more. And yet there is no resistance. Because this suffering is no longer meaningless. It is no longer isolated. It is held within something greater. Within the life of Christ. “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) This is not something you choose. It is something you are drawn into. ⸻ 7 VIII. The Absence of Claims At this point something remarkable appears. Or rather something disappears. The need to claim anything. You no longer need to: Define your state. Explain your path. Assert your identity. Even inwardly. You do not need to know where you are. You do not need to measure. You do not need to conclude. You simply live. Before God. With others. And this simplicity is a great freedom. ⸻ IX. The Life That Becomes Prayer Everything begins to unify. Prayer is no longer separate from life. Life is no longer separate from prayer. 8 Silence speaks. Speech can remain rooted in silence. Action flows from stillness. There is less division. Less fragmentation. More wholeness. And this is not something you maintain. It is something given. Sustained quietly. By the Spirit. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) Not as an idea. But as a mystery slowly becoming real. ⸻ X. Closing Exhortation Do not seek this. Do not attempt to become this. Do not imitate what has been described. Remain faithful to what has been given to you. Remain in poverty. Remain in prayer. Remain in truth. And the Spirit will do His work. 9 Quietly. Hidden. Beyond your understanding. And what will emerge will not be something you have made. But a life. A heart. Capable of bearing others. Because it is held within Christ. ⸻ Closing Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou who didst bear the sins of the world in Thy Body, grant us the grace to bear one another in love. Enlarge our hearts. Purify our love. Deliver us from ourselves. And grant that, hidden in Thee, we may become a place where others are held in Thy mercy. For Thou art the Lover of mankind. Amen. 10

IntroductionThis guide covers the four Revised Common Lectionary readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year A (May 10, 2026). Ascension Thursday falls four days later (May 14), and these texts are shaped by the awareness that Jesus is preparing to leave — and that what he leaves behind is not a void but a presence. Acts shows the gospel reaching into Athens. The psalm testifies to coming through hard places intact. First Peter calls the church to be ready to explain its hope. And John 14 promises the Spirit to people who are afraid of being left alone.From Art in the Christian Tradition, Vanderbilt Lectionary PageThe ReadingsActs 17:22–31The First Lesson — Paul at the AreopagusSummaryStanding before the Areopagus in Athens, Paul addresses a sophisticated audience of philosophers and civic leaders. He opens by observing that the Athenians are clearly a religious people — he even found an altar inscribed ‘To an Unknown God.' That unknown God, he says, is the one he has come to tell them about. This God made the world and everything in it, does not live in human-built temples, and does not need anything from us — God is the one who gives life and breath to all people. God made every nation from one source and set their boundaries, so that people might search for God, who is never actually far from any of us. Paul quotes their own poets: ‘In him we live and move and have our being,' and ‘We are his offspring.' If that is true, then God cannot be represented by gold or silver or stone carved by human hands. God has overlooked times of ignorance, but now calls all people everywhere to turn around, because a day of judgment is coming — appointed through a man God raised from the dead. At that, some laugh, some want to hear more, and a few believe.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The Sixth Sunday of Easter falls just before Ascension, and this reading from Acts, while jumping ahead in the timeline a bit, bridges the two: it shows the gospel already moving outward into the wider world, beyond the familiar territory of Jerusalem and Judea. Paul is standing in the intellectual capital of the ancient world and holding his own. We may want to use this as a moment to reflect on what it means for faith to travel into unfamiliar places.2. Paul finds common ground before he makes his central claim. He does not begin by telling the Athenians what they are missing — he starts with what they have already built and what they are already reaching toward. That approach is worth examining as a posture for the church's engagement with people outside it.3. The description of God in this passage is notable for what it does not say as much as what it does. God needs nothing, is not confined to a building, and is closer to every human being than they realize. This is a picture of God that many in a congregation may not have fully absorbed. A sermon could simply dwell in it.4. The mixed response at the end — mockery, curiosity, belief — is a realistic picture of how proclamation lands in the world. Not every sermon ends with a packed altar call. As preachers, we may need to remind ourselves — and help congregations hold this reality — with some peace rather than treating every unresolved response as a failure.Significant Cautions⚠ This passage overlaps significantly with last week's NL reading (Acts 17:16–31 is the same text). Preachers who used the Narrative Lectionary last Sunday should be aware their congregation has just heard this passage. Consider either going deeper into a specific element they did not explore, or framing the repetition as an opportunity to return to something worth sitting with longer.⚠ Paul's opening compliment about Athenian religiosity has limits — he goes on to call them to turn from what they have built toward the God he is proclaiming. Preachers should hold both moves together rather than presenting Paul as simply affirming whatever spiritual seeking people are doing.⚠ The phrase ‘times of ignorance God overlooked' needs care. It is not a blanket dismissal of all religious life outside Christianity, but it does signal that Paul sees this moment as a turning point rather than a continuation of business as usual. There is truth, even truth about God, that can be learned outside of our religious traditions.Psalm 66:8–20The Psalm — Tested, Tried, and Brought ThroughSummaryThis portion of Psalm 66 shifts from a call to general praise into something more personal and hard-won. The speaker describes a period of severe testing — God allowed the community to be burdened, passed through fire and water, and brought to what felt like a breaking point. But they came through to a spacious place. The psalmist then moves to personal testimony: I cried out to God, and God listened. If I had held on to anything wrong in my heart, God would not have heard — but God did hear, and did not take away steadfast love. The psalm closes with praise for a God who kept listening.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The testing described in this psalm is not metaphorical softness — it involves being ridden over, fire, and flood. This is real hardship, and the psalm does not apologize for naming it. We may use this as an opening for honest conversation about seasons of life that feel like they are breaking something in us.2. The movement from ‘you brought us through' to ‘I cried out and was heard' — from communal memory to personal testimony — mirrors what often happens in a healthy congregation. Corporate faith provides the framework; personal experience fills it in. Both matter, and neither replaces the other.3. The conditional in verse 18 — ‘if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened' — is worth addressing carefully. It is not a claim that only morally perfect people get heard. It is an observation that a life turned deliberately away from God is also a life turned away from the relationship that makes prayer possible.4. The phrase ‘brought us out to a spacious place' is one of the most evocative images in the Psalter for what deliverance feels like. It is not just relief — it is room. We can use this image to describe what life on the other side of a hard season can look like.Significant Cautions⚠ Verse 18 — about God not hearing those who cherish wrongdoing — has been used harmfully to tell people whose prayers seem unanswered that they must have some hidden sin. That is a pastoral minefield. The psalm is a personal expression of gratitude, not a theological formula for how prayer works.⚠ The testing in this psalm is framed as something God allowed or even directed. That raises honest questions about theodicy that, as preachers, we should not sidestep or resolve too quickly. It is fine to acknowledge that the psalm holds this tension without resolving it neatly.⚠ The call to ‘bless our God' at the opening of this section can feel jarring if a congregation is in the middle of the fire rather than on the other side of it. Preachers should be aware that not everyone in the room is at the thanksgiving end of this psalm's arc.1 Peter 3:13–22The Epistle — Ready to Give a Reason for Your HopeSummaryThe letter addresses people who are vulnerable — outsiders in their communities, prone to mistreatment for no good reason. The writer asks: who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if they do, you are blessed for it. Do not be frightened. Instead, set Christ apart as holy in your heart, and be ready at any moment to give anyone who asks a clear, gentle account of the hope that lives in you. Keep your conscience clear so that those who slander you will be put to shame. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Christ himself suffered once for sins — the just person for the unjust — to bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit. The passage ends with a reference to Noah and the flood, connecting that rescue through water to baptism, which the writer describes not as the removal of dirt but as an appeal to God from a clear conscience, made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The phrase ‘always be ready to give an account of the hope that is in you' is one of the most practical calls in the New Testament. Many people in a congregation have never been asked to articulate what they actually hope in, or why. We can use this as an opportunity to help the congregation practice that clarity — not as a debate technique, but as an honest personal testimony.2. The instruction to give that account ‘with gentleness and respect' is often overlooked. The call to be ready is not a call to be aggressive or combative. The manner of the answer is part of the witness. We can explore what it looks like to speak about faith in a way that invites rather than shuts down.3. The passage puts suffering for doing right in the context of Christ's own suffering. This is not abstract — the writer is speaking to people who know what it is to be mistreated for no good reason. The solidarity offered here is not a philosophical argument but a shared experience.4. The Noah and baptism connection at the end of the passage is compressed and a little hard to follow, but the key idea is worth lifting out: what saves is not the water itself but the resurrection of Jesus, to which the water points. Baptism is described as an appeal — a turning toward God. We can use this to open up what baptism means in practice for people who were baptized long ago and may not think of it often.Significant Cautions⚠ The question ‘who will harm you if you are eager to do good?' can sound naive to people who have experienced serious harm despite living with integrity — victims of injustice, discrimination, or abuse. We need to acknowledge this rather than letting the verse imply that right living guarantees protection (the Job Principle).⚠ Like last week's epistle text, this passage has a complicated history of being used to demand passive endurance from people in genuinely harmful situations. The same cautions apply: this is not a command to remain in danger. Naming that history explicitly can be a pastoral gift.⚠ The Noah passage has been used in Christian history to make exclusivist claims about who gets saved — only eight people, and so on. I think we should resist this reading. The writer's point is not about the narrowness of rescue but about its reality and about what it points toward.⚠ The reference to Christ preaching to spirits in prison is one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. Preachers do not need to resolve what it means, but they should not pretend it says something it does not. It is fine to acknowledge the difficulty honestly and keep the focus on the surrounding text.John 14:15–21The Gospel — The Promise of the SpiritSummaryThis passage continues Jesus' farewell conversation with his disciples on the night before his death. He tells them that if they love him, they will keep his commandments — and he will ask the Father to give them another Advocate who will be with them forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees nor knows the Spirit. But the disciples know the Spirit, because the Spirit lives with them and will be in them. Jesus then says something that sounds paradoxical: he is going away, but he is also coming back. He is not going to leave them as orphans. On that coming day, they will know that Jesus is in the Father, they are in Jesus, and Jesus is in them. The passage closes with a restatement of the love-obedience connection: whoever has and keeps Jesus' commandments is the one who loves him, and that person will be loved by the Father and by Jesus himself, who will make himself known to them.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The word translated ‘Advocate' or ‘Comforter' or ‘Helper' (depending on the translation) is the Greek word paraclete — literally, one called alongside. The image is of someone who comes to stand next to you in a difficult situation. We can explore what it means in practice to live as though that presence is real and active.2. Jesus says he will not leave them as orphans. That word — orphans — is striking in this context. It captures the specific terror of being left without the primary person who oriented your life. This is the emotional reality Jesus is addressing, and it is one many people in the congregation may know in various forms.3. The connection between love and obedience in this passage runs both ways: love leads to keeping Jesus' commands, and keeping his commands is itself the expression of love. This is not about earning anything — it is about the natural relationship between genuine love and the way it shapes behavior. Preachers can help the congregation feel the difference between obedience as duty and obedience as the overflow of a real relationship.4. The mutual indwelling described at the end — Jesus in the Father, believers in Jesus, Jesus in them — is one of John's central images for what resurrection life looks like. It is not a distant, transactional relationship. It is something more like being woven into one another. This image can do real pastoral work for people who experience faith as mostly external obligation.Significant Cautions⚠ The love-obedience connection has been used to make people feel that any struggle or failure in keeping Jesus' commands is evidence that they do not really love him. That reading turns the passage into a source of shame rather than invitation. The context is encouragement, not accusation — Jesus is promising the Spirit precisely because he knows his followers will need help.⚠ The statement that the world cannot receive the Spirit because it does not see or know the Spirit should not be used to draw a sharp line between insiders and outsiders in a way that produces contempt for those outside the church. The passage is about the disciples' particular relationship with the Spirit, not a verdict on everyone else.⚠ The ‘coming back' Jesus describes in this passage is not straightforwardly about the second coming. In John's Gospel it more likely refers to the post-resurrection appearances and/or the coming of the Spirit. Watch out for confident claims about eschatological timelines.Thematic ConnectionsAll four texts this week are, in different ways, about what sustains people when familiar support is removed or threatened. Paul speaks to people whose religious frameworks offer them something real but incomplete. The psalmist has come through fire and flood and has a story to tell about it. First Peter speaks to scattered, vulnerable people and tells them to hold their hope clearly and gently, ready to name it when asked. And John 14 speaks directly to the fear of being left — promising that what comes next is not abandonment but a new and closer kind of presence.John 14:15–21 is the natural preaching center this week, especially with Ascension approaching. The promise of the Spirit — the one who comes alongside, who will not leave the disciples as orphans — is exactly the word that the season calls for. But First Peter's practical charge to be ready to give a gentle account of one's hope is an equally powerful angle, especially for congregations who want to think carefully about how they talk about faith with people outside the church. Either text rewards a sermon that takes its time.Narrative LectionaryIntroductionThis guide covers the Narrative Lectionary reading for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year 4 (May 10, 2026). The primary text is from Paul's letter to the Philippians — one of the warmest and most personal letters in the New Testament. Paul is in prison when he writes it, and he opens by telling the Philippians how grateful he is for their partnership with him in the work of the gospel. Even his imprisonment has turned out to be good news of a kind, and he finds himself genuinely glad no matter what. The supplemental text from Luke 9 gives a sharp image from Jesus about what greatness looks like in the kingdom of God — it looks like a child.The ReadingPhilippians 1:1–18aThe Primary Text — Partnership in the GospelSummaryPaul writes from prison — we do not know exactly which one — to the congregation at Philippi, a community he clearly loves. He opens with warmth and unusual candor: every time he thinks of them, he gives thanks. He is confident that the good work God began in them will keep going until the day of Christ. He holds them in his heart, and he longs for them with something that sounds almost like homesickness. He prays that their love will keep growing in knowledge and discernment, so they can tell what really matters and arrive at the day of Christ full and unblemished.Then Paul gets honest about his situation. His imprisonment, far from shutting down the gospel, has actually spread it — the whole imperial guard has heard about Christ, and other believers have been emboldened to speak more freely. There are people preaching Christ out of goodwill toward Paul, and there are others doing it out of rivalry, trying to stir up trouble for him while he is stuck in prison. But Paul does not seem to care much about their motives. Christ is being proclaimed, he says, and in that he rejoices.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The tone of this letter from the very first lines is worth naming. Paul is in prison. His situation is objectively bad. And he opens by saying he gives thanks every time he thinks of the Philippians, that he holds them in his heart, that he longs for them. This is not forced positivity — it is a picture of what genuine community does for a person in a hard place. Preachers can open up the question of what it means to be the kind of congregation that someone in trouble thinks of with that kind of warmth.2. Paul's confidence that God will complete what God began is stated simply and without qualification. He is not worried about the Philippians' spiritual state. He trusts that the God who started something in them will see it through. Preachers can explore what it looks like to hold people in that kind of faith — not anxiously checking whether they are keeping up, but trusting that God is at work in them even when you cannot see it.3. The imprisonment has spread the gospel rather than stopped it. The whole imperial guard knows about Christ because of Paul's chains. This is a striking reversal — the attempt to silence him has given him a captive audience. Preachers can use this to explore the theme, repeated across Acts and the epistles, that what looks like a setback for the church often turns out to be a door.4. Paul's response to people preaching Christ out of bad motives is remarkable: as long as Christ is proclaimed, he is glad. He does not pursue the rivals or try to correct them from prison. He chooses to focus on what is actually happening — the name of Jesus is getting out — rather than on the impurity of some people's intentions. This is a mature and somewhat counterintuitive posture, worth examining honestly with a congregation.5. The prayer in verses 9–11 is one of the most beautiful in Paul's letters. He prays not that the Philippians will be protected or comfortable, but that their love will grow in knowledge and discernment — that they will be able to tell what really matters. That is a prayer worth sitting with. What would it look like for a congregation to grow in that specific kind of wisdom?Significant Cautions⚠ The joy and gratitude in this letter can be preached in a way that makes suffering sound easy if you just have the right attitude. Paul's joy is real, but it is the product of deep relationship with God and with this community — it is not a technique anyone can simply adopt. Preachers should present it as a witness to what is possible rather than a standard people are failing to meet.⚠ The people preaching from rivalry and selfish ambition are a real presence in this passage. Paul dismisses their motives but celebrates their message getting out. Preachers should not use this as a blanket endorsement of any and all Christian proclamation regardless of how it is done. Paul is making a specific observation about his specific situation — he is not saying that motives never matter.⚠ The confidence that God will complete what God began can become a way of avoiding accountability — if God is going to finish it anyway, why does anything we do matter? That is not Paul's intent. (cf. “God forbid” in Romans 6.) His prayer for growing love and discernment assumes that the Philippians have real work to do. God's faithfulness and human responsibility sit alongside each other in this letter without one canceling the other.Luke 9:46–48The Supplemental Text — Greatness and the ChildSummaryThe disciples have been arguing about which of them is the greatest. Jesus, knowing what they are thinking, takes a small child and stands the child beside him. Whoever welcomes this child in my name, he says, welcomes me — and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Then comes the line that turns the argument upside down: the one who is least among all of you is the one who is great.Key Ideas for Preaching1. Placed alongside Paul's letter to the Philippians, this passage reframes what Paul's partnership and humility actually look like in practice. Paul is grateful, generous with his affection, and completely uninterested in asserting his own status in this letter. The disciples are arguing about rank. The supplemental text makes the contrast sharp: the way of the kingdom runs in the opposite direction from the way of competition.2. The child in this passage is not a symbol of innocence or charm — in the ancient world, a child had no social status whatsoever. Welcoming a child meant extending care to someone who could give you nothing in return. That is the act Jesus holds up as the measure of greatness. Preachers can use this to ask who the equivalent of that child might be in the congregation's own context.Significant Cautions⚠ The image of the child can easily slide into sentimentality — a cute child as a feel-good illustration. The passage is actually quite pointed. It is addressed to people who are in a dispute about their own importance. Preachers should let the sharpness of the original moment come through rather than softening it into a general lesson about being kind to children.⚠ The phrase ‘the least among all of you is the greatest' has been used to romanticize powerlessness — as if suffering itself confers spiritual status, or as if people with no power should be content with their situation because they are actually the greatest. That is a distortion. Jesus is speaking to people with power about how to use it. He is not telling people who are already marginalized that they should be grateful for their position.Thematic ConnectionsBoth texts this week describe what a life shaped by genuine partnership and genuine humility actually looks and feels like. Paul in prison is more concerned with the Philippians' flourishing than with his own circumstances. He rejoices when Christ is proclaimed even by people who mean him harm. He prays not for his own release but that his friends' love will keep growing in depth and discernment. The disciples argue about who is the greatest, and Jesus answers by standing a powerless child in the middle of them. These texts hold together a vision of community where status is not the organizing principle — love and welcome are.The Philippians passage is substantial enough to anchor the sermon entirely. Paul's joy from prison is one of the most compelling images in the New Testament, and there is more than enough in verses 1–18a for a full message. The Luke text works best as a brief bookend — either opening with the disciples' argument to frame what kind of community Paul is describing, or closing with Jesus' answer to let it land as a final image. Either way, the two texts together press the same question: what does it look like to care more about others' flourishing than about your own standing? This is a public episode. 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In this message, Samuel Goulet unpacks the biblical meaning of “Paraclete” (Paraklētos)—the Holy Spirit as the One who comes alongside as helper, teacher, comforter, and advocate—and shows how Jesus models this role for us. Walking through key passages in John 14–16 and 1 John 2, he invites listeners to trust the Spirit's guidance, correction, and encouragement in everyday life, from overcoming insecurity to receiving conviction without condemnation. The sermon closes with a practical challenge: don't let God's grace “pool up,” but let it flow outward as we comfort, strengthen, restore, and bear burdens for one another in real community.

Show Notes The month of May is often referred to as the month of Mary as we celebrate Our Blessed Mother. Mary's May crowning ceremonies are commonly found taking place throughout many Catholic churches. One of the ways we can grow closer to her is through the praying of the rosary. But there are other ways we can get to know Mary, especially under the many titles she has been given over the centuries.In this week's episode, Jennifer has a conversation with Catholic author Maria Gallagher who has written about her devotion to Mary, focusing on Mary under the title of “Comforter of the Afflicted”.Our GuestMaria has worked in radio as a reporter and in television as a news producer. She is a writer, life coach, and a podcaster and loves inspiring crowds with her speaking. Her freelance news reports have aired on outlets including CBS Radio and AP Radio. She has also earned awards from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Cleveland Press Club. Maria loves communicating the beauty of truth!Connect with Our Guest Website: https://www.mariavgallagher.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariavgallagherX: https://x.com/mariaevitaleFB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.v.gallagherEmail: mariaevitale@comcast.netBlog: https://www.mariavgallagher.com/blogMaria's booksMercy's Power: Inspiration to Serve the Gospel of LifeJoyful Encounters with Mary: A Woman's Guide to Living the Mysteries of the RosaryGlorious Encounters with Mary: A Guide to Living the Mysteries of the RosaryHealing Encounters with Mary: A Guide to Living the Sorrowful Mysteries of the RosaryScripturePsalm 23DevotionsConsecration to the Immaculate Heart of MaryNovenas to MaryLitany of LoretoOur Lady of FatimaLinksCatholicmom.comMaria's articles on Catholicmom.comWhy Inner Peace Often Comes After Inner Struggle — Fulton J. Sheen | FULTON SHEEN REFLECTIONSOur Lady of KibehoOur Lady of LourdesPrayer for Maria's daughter, Gabriella during her time of discernment and for the repose of the souls of Maria's parents.Journaling QuestionsWhat resonated with you most or surprised you about this episode about Mary? What inspired you most after listening to Maria sharing about her relationship with Mary?What kind, if any, of a relationship do you have with the Blessed Mother? Do you struggle with having any sort of relationship with her? Take some time to ponder this in your heart and perhaps journal about it Maria spoke candidly about how her devotion to Mary grew through the different mysteries of the rosary. Have you felt more drawn to any of the mysteries more than others? Which one speaks to you most?Where are some places in your life you feel like you could allow Mary to mother you?Have you ever done a consecration before? Why or why not? Do you feel inspired to do one?How do you feel when you hear the phrase, “To Jesus, through Mary” in terms of our prayers and petitions? Take some time to ponder that.What is your mourning glory?We hope you enjoy this episode of the Mourning Glory Podcast and share it with others who are on a journey through grief. You can find links to all of our episodes, including a link to our brand new private online community on our website at www.mourningglorypodcast.com. God Bless!

The Fire That Remains Life in the Spirit After the Collapse of the Religious Self Week III — When Prayer Begins to Live Itself The Emergence of the Heart in the Life of the Spirit ⸻ Opening Invocation O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, Come and dwell in us, Cleanse us from every impurity, And save our souls, O Good One. ⸻ I. After Endurance — Something Begins That You Did Not Initiate There comes a point after long endurance after remaining without clarity after refusing to rebuild when something begins. Not suddenly. Not dramatically. But unmistakably. And the first thing you realize is this: It is not coming from you. You did not produce it. 1 You did not initiate it. You cannot sustain it. It appears. Quietly. Like water beneath the surface beginning to move. This is the beginning of prayer that is no longer merely your effort. But something alive. ⸻ II. The Shift From Doing to Being Drawn Up until now, prayer has largely been something you have done. Even when it was poor. Even when it was dry. Even when it was stripped of feeling. You remained. You turned. You endured. But now something shifts. You begin to sense that prayer is no longer something you initiate. You are being drawn into it. There is a movement within. Gentle. Persistent. Not forcing. Not demanding. 2 But calling. And if you are attentive you will notice: You are not holding prayer. Prayer is beginning to hold you. “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) Even the simplest turning of the heart is not your own. It is given. ⸻ III. The Warming of the Heart There may come a warmth. But it is not like the warmth you knew before. It is not emotional. It is not something you generate. It is subtle. Steady. Quiet. A sense of life within the heart. A softening. A gathering. Where before the heart was scattered pulled in many directions restless 3 now it begins to collect. To come together. To become one. “Humility collects the soul.” — St. Isaac the Syrian And with this gathering comes a new kind of attention. Not forced. Not strained. But natural. As though the heart has found its place. ⸻ IV. The Prayer That Continues Beneath the Surface You begin to notice something else. Prayer does not end when you stop speaking. It continues. Beneath thought. Beneath activity. Beneath distraction. There is a quiet remembrance. A presence. A turning toward God that does not require constant effort. And this can be confusing at first. 4 Because you are used to measuring prayer by what you do. By words. By attention. By duration. But now prayer is no longer confined to those moments. It begins to permeate. To underlie. To become something like breath. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Not as a command to strive. But as a description of something that begins to happen. ⸻ V. The Guarding of the Heart But this is fragile. Very fragile. Because the old patterns are not gone. The mind still wanders. The ego still seeks to reassert itself. The world still presses in. And so a new kind of vigilance is needed. Not harsh. Not anxious. 5 But attentive. You begin to guard the heart not out of fear but out of love. You begin to notice: What disturbs this quiet? What scatters the heart again? What pulls attention outward in a way that dissipates this life? And slowly without rigidity you begin to choose differently. Not because you must. But because you do not want to lose this. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) This is the beginning of watchfulness. ⸻ VI. The Subtle Temptation to Possess Grace And here again a danger arises. Very subtle. You begin to recognize what is happening. You begin to value it. You begin to desire its continuation. And without realizing it you begin to try to preserve it. 6 To hold onto it. To repeat it. To secure it. And in doing so you begin to lose it. Because grace cannot be possessed. It can only be received. And received again. And again. The moment you try to make it yours it withdraws. Not as punishment. But because its nature is gift. ⸻ VII. The Deepening of Humility If you remain faithful here something deepens. Not dramatically. But steadily. A humility that is no longer forced. No longer constructed. No longer spoken about. 7 It simply is. You begin to know not as an idea but as a reality: That everything is given. That you cannot produce even the smallest movement toward God. That without Him you return immediately to dispersion. And this does not lead to despair. It leads to gratitude. And a kind of quiet reverence. “Keep thy mind in hell and despair not.” — St. Silouan the Athonite You see your poverty. And yet you are not crushed by it. Because something else is present. ⸻ VIII. The Emergence of the Heart as Person There is a further shift. Difficult to describe. But unmistakable. You begin to exist not as a collection of thoughts or reactions or roles but as a presence. 8 A person. Not defined by activity. Not defined by identity. But simply present before God. And this presence begins to extend. Into your interactions. Into your speech. Into your silence. You become less reactive. Less driven. More able to be with others without needing to assert yourself. This is not something you achieve. It is something that emerges. As the heart becomes unified. ⸻ IX. The Quiet Joy That Has No Object And there may come a joy. But it is unlike the joys you have known. It is not tied to circumstances. Not dependent on outcomes. Not even dependent on consolation. It is quiet. 9 Almost hidden. A sense of rightness. Of being where you are meant to be. Even if outwardly nothing has changed. Even if difficulties remain. Even if suffering continues. This joy does not remove suffering. It coexists with it. And transforms it from within. ⸻ X. Closing Exhortation Do not grasp at this. Do not analyze it. Do not try to secure it. Remain as you have been taught: Poor. Attentive. Open. Receive what is given. Let it come. Let it go. Let it return. Do not make it into something. 10 Do not make it into yourself. Because what is being formed here is not an experience. It is a heart. Alive in the Spirit. ⸻ Closing Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou who hast kindled the fire of Thy Spirit in our hearts, grant that we may not extinguish it through our grasping and our fear. Teach us to receive what Thou givest. To remain where Thou placest us. And to become what Thou art forming within us. That our hearts may live in Thee and Thou in us. Amen. 11

Things ever feel chaotic, like the world has you upside down and backwards? Join Senior Pastor Richard Crisco for today's message, "The Comforter." He will explore how the Holy Spirit works in our lives in ways that go far beyond comfort. He lifts us when we're weak, directs our steps, and equips us with strength and purpose. His presence is evidence of the Resurrection, reminding us that Jesus is alive and actively moving in and through us. The peace He brings is unlike anything the world can offer!Learn more about who we are at ⁠⁠⁠rochesterchristian.church⁠

In this powerful and faith-building message, we dive deep into the words of Jesus in John 14:16 and John 14:18, where He makes a life-changing promise: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”Jesus knew His disciples would soon face uncertainty, fear, and the pain of His physical departure—but He assured them they would not be abandoned. In this sermon, we uncover the rich meaning behind the “Comforter” (the Holy Spirit) and what it truly means that we are never left as orphans.This message will stir your faith and remind you that God's presence is not distant—it's personal, powerful, and present with you right now. The Holy Spirit is your Comforter, your Advocate, your Standby, and your ever-present help in times of need.

Send us Fan MailIn this verse-by-verse Bible study of Job 4, Reasoning Through the Bible introduces Eliphaz, the first of Job's friends to speak. At first, Eliphaz sounds thoughtful and respectful, but his counsel quickly turns hurtful as he assumes Job's suffering must be the result of personal sin. This session explores why good deeds do not guarantee an easy life and why painful things can still happen to faithful people. This study also examines Eliphaz's use of sowing and reaping, the danger of drawing rigid conclusions from experience, and the callousness of blaming a suffering person without evidence. It highlights a crucial lesson for Christian care: sometimes presence and compassion help more than speeches and explanations. The episode then turns to Eliphaz's mysterious night vision and asks whether Christians should seek supernatural messages. The answer given in this session is clear: any claimed spiritual message must be tested by the written Word of God. Job 4 becomes a warning not only about insensitive friends, but also about half-truths dressed up as spiritual insight. Topics in this episode include: Eliphaz's first speech  does suffering prove guilt  can good people still suffer  sowing and reaping in Job  why friends can make suffering worse  testing supernatural messages by Scripture  bad theology in a time of pain  how to comfort the hurting Reasoning Through the Bible is a verse-by-verse Bible teaching ministry committed to careful exposition, biblical context, and faithful application.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 BiblePlease 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

How can I encourage my friend who is depressed? Her belief system seems to be the source! What do the five spiritual senses represent in your book, "Heaven is Now"? Who is the antichrist? Who is the man of lawlessness? When was the book of Revelation written? Did Jesus return in A.D. 70? Is there "soul sleep" or are we with God immediately upon our death? My friends tell me we are still under the law and that we're fulfilling it as we love people. Is that right? What is grace? When Jesus ascended, whom did He send as the Comforter? Is there a person we should be waiting for?

This week Pastor Val continues our Marked series teaching on The Holy Spirit as Comforter. We also heard a video message from Pastor Michael praying over the ladies that are heading out on their Discipleship Hiking Trip in Tennessee this week. Romans 12:2, Joel 2:28-29

Erika is back with SeaJay and Deborah, bringing a much-needed spiritual perspective as they dive into the comfort of the Holy Spirit. This conversation centers on what it truly means to relate to God as our Comforter and how different our lives might look if we actually embraced that truth. Too often, we take comfort into our own hands, but what happens when we surrender that instinct and allow God to meet us right in our pain and our need for peace? Follow along on social media for new episodes and updates or to connect with us. We'd love to hear from you! Authentic You Women’s Community https://www.instagram.com/authenticyou.ay Jesus Culture Podcast Network https://www.instagram.com/jcpodcastnetwork To learn more about our Authentic You Women’s Community, check out our website: https://jesusculture.com/sacramento/communities/authentic-you For access to helpful resources, visit: https://jesusculture.com https://www.youtube.com/@jesusculturepodcastnetwork

The Fire That Remains Life in the Spirit After the Collapse of the Religious Self Week II — Remaining in the Fire Without Rebuilding the Self The Spirit as the One Who Teaches Us to Endure ⸻ Opening Invocation O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, Come and dwell in us, Cleanse us from every impurity, And save our souls, O Good One. ⸻ I. After the Collapse — The More Dangerous Work Begins Last week we spoke of the fire. Of illumination. Of exposure. Of the collapse of the false life. But there is something more dangerous than never entering this fire. It is entering it and then leaving too soon. Because once a man has begun to see once the structures begin to loosen once the illusions begin to fall there arises an almost irresistible need: 1 To stabilize. To regain footing. To become something again. Even if that “something” is humbler. Even if it is quieter. Even if it uses the language of repentance. The self does not disappear easily. It adapts. It reforms. It survives even inside what appears to be its own death. And so the second work of the Spirit is not simply to expose. It is to keep a man in the place where exposure continues. ⸻ II. The Subtle Rebuilding of the Religious Self You will begin to notice this almost immediately. A thought arises: “I understand now.” “I see more clearly.” “I am different than I was.” And these thoughts feel true. They feel justified. They feel like the fruit of grace. 2 But hidden within them is the beginning of reconstruction. Because the ego does not need grand illusions. It can build itself out of something very small. Even the awareness of one's own brokenness. Even the language of humility. You begin to identify yourself as: The one who sees The one who has suffered The one who is being purified The one who understands the deeper life And without realizing it you have become something again. Subtler. More refined. But still centered in yourself. “Do not trust in your own righteousness.” — cf. Luke 18:9 The Pharisee was not condemned for sin. He was condemned because he became something in his own eyes. And this is the danger now. ⸻ III. The Spirit Leads Into a Place With No Ground The Spirit does something that feels unbearable. 3 He removes not only falsehood but also the ground beneath your feet. You cannot rely on what you once knew. You cannot return to previous ways of praying. You cannot even take comfort in what seems like progress. Everything becomes unstable. And this is not confusion. It is purification. Because as long as a man has ground he stands on himself. Even if that ground is spiritual. Even if it is noble. Even if it is built on real experiences. The Spirit removes this. So that a man learns something new: To stand without standing. To remain without possessing. To live without securing himself. ⸻ IV. The Poverty of Not Knowing There is a kind of darkness here. 4 Not the darkness of sin. But the darkness of not knowing. You no longer know: Where you are. What is happening. Who you are becoming. You cannot interpret your life. You cannot explain your interior state. And the mind resists this violently. Because the mind wants clarity. It wants to define. It wants to grasp. But the Spirit teaches a man to let go of knowing. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 45/46) Not: Understand and know. Explain and know. Analyze and know. Be still. And this stillness feels like death to the mind. Because the mind loses its authority. ⸻ 5 V. The Prayer That Remains When Everything Else Falls At this stage, prayer changes. It becomes poorer. Simpler. More fragile. You may find that you cannot pray as before. Words feel empty. Thoughts feel forced. Even spiritual reading feels distant. And what remains? Often only this: A cry. Or even less than a cry. A turning. A presence. The Jesus Prayer begins to take on a different character. Not as something you do. But as something you cling to when everything else has fallen away. “Prayer is the refuge of help... a haven that rescues from the tempest.” — St. Isaac the Syrian Not a method. Not a discipline. But a lifeline. 6 And even this may feel dry. And still you remain. ⸻ VI. The Temptation to Interpret the Process One of the greatest dangers here is the need to interpret what is happening. To name it. To define it. To place it within a framework. You begin to say: “This is purification.” “This is the dark night.” “This is growth.” And while these things may not be false they become a way of regaining control. Because once something is named it is contained. And the Spirit resists this containment. He leads a man into something that cannot be mastered. Cannot be reduced. Cannot be explained. Because the goal is not understanding. It is transformation. 7 And transformation often happens in a way that the mind cannot follow. ⸻ VII. The Hidden Work of Endurance What, then, is required? Very little. And everything. Not effort in the way we understand it. But endurance. To remain in prayer even when it feels empty. To remain turned toward God even when nothing is felt. To remain in truth even when it exposes you again and again. This is not passive. It is a quiet, fierce consent. A willingness to be worked upon. A refusal to flee. “In your patience possess your souls.” (Luke 21:19) The fathers speak of this as long-suffering. But we often misunderstand this. It is not merely enduring hardship. It is enduring the work of God within us. 8 ⸻ VIII. The Fear of Losing Everything At some point, a deeper fear emerges. Not just the fear of being seen. But the fear of losing everything. Your sense of self. Your sense of direction. Even your sense of God. Because God Himself may seem hidden. Silent. Distant. And this is where many turn back. Not into sin. But into something safer. Something more defined. Something more manageable. But the Spirit leads further. Into a place where even God is not grasped. But only trusted. “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Not: Lord, I understand. Lord, I feel. Lord, I possess. 9 But: To whom shall we go? There is nowhere else. So we remain. ⸻ IX. The Beginning of True Freedom And slowly, something begins to change. Not dramatically. Not in a way that can be grasped. But subtly. The need to define begins to loosen. The need to possess begins to fade. The need to be something begins to weaken. And a different kind of freedom appears. Not the freedom to act. But the freedom not to construct yourself. A quietness. A simplicity. A lightness. You begin to exist without constantly referring back to yourself. And this is the beginning of life in the Spirit. 10 Not power. Not experience. But freedom from the tyranny of self. ⸻ X. Closing Exhortation Do not flee this place. Do not rush to understand. Do not rebuild what is being taken from you. Remain. Even when you do not know how to remain. Even when prayer feels empty. Even when God feels distant. Remain. Because the Spirit is not absent. He is working more deeply than you can perceive. And what He is forming in you cannot be formed in any other way. ⸻ 11 Closing Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Thou who didst endure the silence of the Cross, grant us the grace to endure the silence within our own hearts. Teach us to remain when all else falls away. Deliver us from the need to grasp, to define, to become something. And grant that, in losing ourselves, we may find our life hidden in Thee. Amen. 12

By Lewis VanAusdle - The message uses Job's suffering to ask what kind of comforters we are when we're the ones in pain, contrasting outward encouragement with the tendency to turn inward and become “miserable comforters.” It points to our Christian hope (future glory and resurrection) as the basis for real comfort

The Fire That Remains Life in the Spirit After the Collapse of the Religious Self Week I — The Fire That Reveals the False Life Pentecost and the Beginning of the Dismantling in the Spirit ⸻ Opening Invocation O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of blessings and Giver of life, Come and dwell in us, Cleanse us from every impurity, And save our souls, O Good One. ⸻ I. The Fire Has Come — And Nothing Remains Hidden Pentecost is not comfort. It is fire. And the tragedy is that most Christians have learned to speak of the Spirit as though He were gentle in a way that leaves us intact. As though He were a consolation that confirms what we already are. But the Spirit who descends at Pentecost is the same Spirit who drove Christ into the wilderness. The same Spirit who descends as tongues of fire rests upon men and begins to undo them. Not improve them. Not refine them. 1 Undo them. Because what we call “the spiritual life” is often nothing more than a refined version of the same self we have always been. Religious. Structured. Disciplined. Even devout. But still centered in itself. Still subtly seeking itself. Still preserving itself. And the Spirit does not come to decorate that life. He comes to expose it. ⸻ II. The First Work of the Spirit — Illumination That Wounds When the Spirit comes, He brings light. But this light is not what we expect. It is not merely the light of understanding. It is not simply insight or clarity. It is the light that shows you what you are. And this is why so many turn away from it. Because the first gift of the Spirit is not consolation. It is truth. “For everyone who does evil hates the light... lest his deeds should be exposed.” (John 3:20) 2 And the truth is unbearable to a heart that has built itself on illusion. You begin to see: That much of your prayer was self-seeking. That your devotion was mixed with vanity. That your desire for God was entangled with a desire to feel something, to be something, to be seen as something. You begin to see how deeply rooted the self is even in your most sacred actions. And this is the moment where everything is decided. Because at this point, a man either: Steps back into illusion and begins again to construct a spiritual identity Or He remains. He allows himself to be seen. And wounded. ⸻ III. The Religious Self Cannot Survive the Spirit The Lenten work began the dismantling. But Pentecost intensifies it. Because now the dismantling is no longer external. It is interior. The Spirit enters the heart and begins to uncover the hidden foundations of the self. 3 Not the obvious sins. Those are easy. But the deeper things: The need to be right. The need to be secure. The need to be recognized. The need to feel that one's life has coherence and meaning. Even the need to feel that one is progressing spiritually. All of this is brought into the light. And slowly, painfully, it begins to collapse. This is why the fathers speak so rarely of “experiences.” Because the true work of the Spirit is not the giving of experiences. It is the removal of illusions. “The Holy Spirit... shows man his sins.” — St. Silouan the Athonite And this feels like death. Because it is death. ⸻ IV. The Terror of Seeing Without Defenses There comes a moment when the usual defenses no longer work. You cannot console yourself with prayer in the same way. You cannot rely on your thoughts. Even spiritual thoughts begin to feel empty. The structures that once held your life together 4 begin to loosen. And you are left with something you did not expect: Yourself. Not the self you imagined. But the self stripped of its justifications. The self without its narrative. The self that cannot explain itself or defend itself or present itself. And this is terrifying. Because the ego does not fear sin as much as it fears exposure. It would rather remain sick than be seen as it is. But the Spirit does not allow this. He brings a man to the place where he can no longer hide from himself. And this is the beginning of true repentance. ⸻ V. Repentance as Ontological Collapse Repentance is often misunderstood. It is not simply sorrow for sin. It is not even a change of behavior. It is a change in being. A collapse. 5 A realization that what I have called “myself” is not stable, not whole, not real in the way I thought. That it has been constructed through fear, through desire, through imagination. And that it cannot stand in the presence of God. This is why repentance feels like dying. Because something is dying. “A heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.” (Psalm 50/51) The illusion of self-sufficiency. The illusion of spiritual competence. The illusion that I can come to God as something. The Spirit dismantles all of this. And leaves a man empty. ⸻ VI. The Poverty the Spirit Creates And here is the paradox: This emptiness is not abandonment. It is the first true gift. Because only a poor heart can receive God. As long as a man is full of himself even in subtle ways he cannot receive the Spirit. He can speak about Him. He can think about Him. He can even feel things that he attributes to Him. 6 But he cannot receive Him. Because the Spirit does not dwell in a heart that is occupied. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) So the Spirit empties. Gently at times. Violently at others. But always with precision. Until a man stands before God without pretense. Without claims. Without identity. Simply present. ⸻ VII. The Refusal to Escape At this stage, the greatest temptation is escape. Not into obvious sin. But into something far more subtle: Reconstruction. You begin to rebuild. A slightly humbler version of yourself. A more “spiritual” identity. A narrative that explains your suffering and gives it meaning. 7 And this is where the process is lost. Because the ego can rebuild itself even out of its own dismantling. “He who trusts in himself is a fool.” (Proverbs 28:26) It can take the language of humility and turn it into a new identity. It can take the experience of emptiness and make it into something to possess. And so the call here is severe: Do not rebuild. Remain in the poverty. Remain in the not-knowing. Remain in the exposure. This is where the Spirit works. ⸻ VIII. The Spirit Does Not Hurry We want resolution. We want clarity. We want to arrive. But the Spirit does not work according to our timelines. He is patient. Because He is not forming an experience. He is forming a person. 8 And this cannot be rushed. So there are long periods where nothing seems to happen. Where prayer feels dry. Where understanding does not increase. Where the heart feels empty. But something is happening. Deep beneath the surface. The roots of the self are being loosened. Attachments are being severed. The ground is being prepared. “Without temptations no one can be saved.” — St. Isaac the Syrian And this hidden work is more real than anything we can perceive. ⸻ IX. The Beginning of Life in the Spirit This is where life in the Spirit begins. Not in power. Not in clarity. But in poverty. A heart that no longer trusts itself. A mind that no longer clings to its own thoughts. A will that begins to soften. This is the beginning. And it is fragile. 9 Because everything in us wants to return to something more solid. Something more definable. But the Spirit leads us into a different kind of life. A life that is not built on possession but on dependence. Not on certainty but on trust. Not on identity but on relationship. ⸻ X. Closing Exhortation Do not be afraid of what the Spirit reveals. Do not turn away when you begin to see yourself. Do not rush to rebuild what He is dismantling. Remain. Even if it feels like death. Especially then. Because this is not destruction. It is purification. It is the beginning of truth. And the heart that endures this fire 10 will come to know something that cannot be taken away: Not a constructed self. But a life hidden in Christ. ⸻ Closing Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, send down Thy Holy Spirit upon us. Burn away every illusion. Expose every falsehood. Strip us of everything that is not of Thee. Grant us the courage to remain in the poverty Thou givest. That, emptied of ourselves, we may be filled with Thy life. Amen. ⸻ 11