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If you've listened to Keeping It Young for long, you've probably heard Dave refer to the "family altar" but what exactly does he mean when he says that? The next few episodes will explain exactly what he means! In this episode, you heard Dave and Bethlie reference a past episode on Deuteronomy 6. Here is the link to part 1 of that 7 episode series. Here are the notes from today's episode. The Family Altar What is a family altar? The family altar refers to the way a Christian family regularly prays together. It is different than grace at a table. It is a daily time that frequently includes Scripture combined with prayers The family altar is: A family altar is a designated space or time in a home dedicated to religious or spiritual practices, often involving prayer, worship, and study of sacred texts. It serves as a focal point for family devotions, fostering a sense of unity, spiritual growth, and connection to faith. The specific elements and practices associated with a family altar can vary greatly depending on the family's religious or spiritual tradition. An “on purpose way” for a family to regularly learn spiritual truth and traditions The family altar — a designated time and place at home where the family comes together to pray, worship and experience the living God — is like a firewall against Satan's schemes. Show me a family altar, and I will show you an atmosphere of faith and a house where God's presence resides.-Samuel Rodriquez, Influence Magazine The term “family altar” speaks to a time when the leader of the home gathers the family together to focus on God. For some families, that may mean once a week. It could be Sunday evening as the family prepares for another week. It could be Saturday evening as they family prepares their heart for worship with their church the next morning. Other families might practice it everyday at the breakfast table or at nighttime prayers. Why is the family altar important? God says so – that's why! Here are just a few of the examples of God's stance on the family altar: Abraham was told to teach his children so that following generations would know the Lord (Gen. 18:19). Moses taught that parents were to teach their children to love the Lord all throughout the day (Deut. 6:7). The psalmist taught the necessity of God's people declaring God's greatness to the next generations (Ps. 78:3-7). Solomon taught that if you trained a child in the Lord, they would not depart from that way (Prov. 22:6). Fathers were instructed to teach children in the instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Why should we have one? It builds unity in a family It teaches Bible truths systematically to our children It makes a statement that our faith is real and valid It focuses our attention on our God It helps to foster peace in the home It is a way to influence our children on a daily basis It provides a way for us to obey the Scriptures regarding our family Links: Want to hear Pastor Dave Young preach? Westwood Baptist Church Westwood Baptist Church Podcast
Almost every Christian denomination accepts that God is sovereign--which is interpreted to mean that He always does precisely what He pleases, and everything that happens on earth has either His explicit or implicit stamp of approval. So when we find ourselves in a crisis--we or someone we love gets a terminal diagnosis, or we don't have enough money to make the mortgage and may lose the house, or we're in the direct path of a natural disaster, etc--we pray for a miracle, because we all know that God can do anything He wants. And who knows? Maybe He'll say yes. But if He says no, the common theology goes, it's because He sees the bigger picture. He knows more than we do, and we have to just trust that He knows best. That sounds so spiritual, doesn't it? Some believers manage to weather these trials of faith, pointing to Job as their example, when he said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21) and "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). (One side note. When you hear of a great saint who loses everything and yet clings to their trust in God anyway, certain that He has a greater purpose for their loss, does that inspire you to praise God--or to praise that great saint? Who actually receives the glory for that?) This theology has its roots in Calvinism, which espouses an extreme form of predestination (meaning that God chooses whether each of us will ultimately be saved, or damned, before we're ever born. He has to do this, they argue, because it is God who gives us the faith even to be saved, Eph 2:8-9, and if He withholds that faith, salvation for that individual is impossible.) So God, in this theological persuasion, decides a priori who will be saved and who will not, and then punishes those to whom He has not given the faith to be saved for their sins. They do have scriptures to back up their argument--if you take them out of context. One of the big ones is Romans 9:18-21, which says: "Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?' But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?'" In this passage, Paul was comparing Israel's hardness of heart in rejecting the Messiah to Pharaoh from the time of the Exodus (Romans 9:15-17). The reason it took ten plagues and the decimation of Egypt for Pharaoh to finally release the Israelites was because Pharaoh's heart was hardened, far beyond reason. Paul's point in this passage was that God did this so that He could display His power to the Israelites, delivering them with great signs and wonders (Romans 9:17). If Pharaoh hadn't resisted, it would not have taken great miracles to do it. (In the same way, Paul argues, the fact that Israel had rejected Jesus gave the Lord the opportunity to bring the Gentiles in to the New Covenant, too.) But if God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, is Pharaoh still responsible for his own actions? If we go back to the original source text, we can see that this isn't quite the whole story. God did tell Moses in advance that He would harden Pharaoh's heart before the plagues ever began (Ex 4:21, 7:3). But for the first five plagues, Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7). It was only by the sixth plague that the scripture says God hardened Pharaoh's heart (Ex 9:12). Pharaoh still made his own choice first; God just enforced it and used it for His own purposes. I love the analogy Charles Capps uses to explain this. If one sets clay and wax out in the hot sun, the sun will harden the clay, but melt the wax. The sun adds the same heat to both, but the substance (wax or clay) determines its effect. A potter chooses whether to make “noble or ignoble” vessels from clay not arbitrarily, but on the basis of the quality of the clay. If the clay is supple and pliable, it can be made into something beautiful; if it is brittle, it might not be fit to shape into something worthy of display. God works with what we give him. In the same way, in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), the sower sows the Word indiscriminately, but it is the condition of the soil that determines the harvest. Luke later writes that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and Peter writes that He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9, more on this later). Likewise, any reasonable person would have been terrified into obedience by the plagues, long before they progressed to the death of the firstborn. And some of the Egyptians did believe and take refuge in Goshen, and the final exodus included “a mixed multitude” (Exodus 12:38), meaning some of the Egyptians were convinced, converted, and left with them. God gave the Egyptians the opportunity to escape the plagues that might otherwise have caused death, telling them to pull their livestock and their servants inside before the hail (Exodus 9:19), and to paint their doorposts with the blood of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:22-23), which was symbolic of and foreshadowing the blood of Christ. Again, the Lord is “not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). He didn't want to harm the Egyptians, but neither did he want them to keep His people in bondage. So, did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Yes, but perhaps only in the sense that God performed the miracles, and Pharaoh’s heart was such that those miracles caused him to dig in his heels. We’ve all met stubborn people like this, with whom any direct attempt at persuasion will cause them to double down on their original position. God does not override our free will, so in this case, He worked with it, using it to His advantage. Our choices do matter. But He's so amazing that He takes those choices and still manages to work “all things together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). As a result of Pharaoh’s stubbornness, God’s people had a legacy of spectacular stories to remind their children and their children’s children of His might on their behalf. My point in saying all that is just that the argument that God sovereignly controls everything that happens is inconsistent with the overall teachings of scripture; even the individual verses that seem to suggest that don't stand up to scrutiny. But a larger problem is that, taken to its logical conclusion, the theological position that God's will is absolute, and will come to pass no matter what we do, leads to a sense of futility. Why pray--why even evangelize--if God is going to do what He's going to do, regardless? To their credit (though against logic), most Calvinist denominations recognize that the scriptures are very clear that we should still both evangelize and pray, and they therefore preach that we should do both, just because God said we should. (Sort of the equivalent of a parent saying, "Because I said so, that's why!") But historically, many Protestant denominations stemmed from or were heavily influenced by Calvinist doctrine. As a result, until about the late 18th and early 19th century, almost all missionary activity around the world came from the Catholic church, which I suspect was precisely because it held no doctrine of predestination, so they thought their efforts could make an eternal difference. Motivation matters. (Protestant missions largely date back to William Carey's work in India in 1793. The London Missionary Society was founded two years later, in 1795, and in 1810, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was founded.) Even if we're not ultimately each predestined for heaven or hell, God is still sovereign, though, right? He knows way more than we do. So doesn't that mean sometimes He'll say no to our prayer requests, and when we all get to heaven, we'll understand why? Yes, God is sovereign in the sense that He is all-powerful, all-loving, and all-knowing, but He is not all-controlling (and I covered this extensively in this podcast https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcasts/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective on why bad things happen, from a biblical perspective). God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; they did anyway. Was that God's will? Certainly not! He did everything He could to keep them from doing it, short of making them automatons, when He told them, don't do it. Likewise, any sovereign can set laws that his citizens may not necessarily obey. The US is a sovereign nation and in 1974 the administration set the "National Maximum Speed Law" of 55mph. But many drivers exceeded that speed limit daily. The New English Translation has the word “sovereign” appear more than any other biblical translation (368 times). Not one of the original Hebrew or Greek words connotes the idea that He controls everything that happens. Most of the time, "sovereign" is just the way they render God’s names. The word sovereign is often translated from Shaddai (meaning Almighty) when it’s part of God’s name (48 times in the OT). Other times it’s translated from ‘elohiym: supreme God, as a superlative, or ‘elyown, meaning High or Most High. Sometimes it's thrown in as part of the transition of ‘Adonay: an emphatic form of the Lord. Sometimes it's translated from tsaba’, also translated the Lord of Hosts, meaning one who commands an army. In some cases the word sovereign is used to describe God's characteristics, but in context, it doesn't mean what we typically mean by the word (that His will always happens). The NET version of 1 Chronicles 29:11 says, "O LORD, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all." Only this translation uses the word sovereign; the others , translate it Head. This word connotes the idea of a supreme ruler, but not of one who always gets His way. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield (magen: shield, buckler, protector).” The same verse is translated in NET: "For the LORD God is our sovereign protector." Clearly the word magen does not indicate that He always gets His way, either. Sovereign power is also translated as holiness from qadash: "to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate." This word is used in Ezekiel 28:25: "'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power (or holiness) over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob." It doesn't mean supreme dictator there either. Micah 5:4 says, "He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD's strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.” Sovereign authority here is the words ga'own (exaltation, majesty, pride) shem (name, reputation, fame, glory): thus, it's better translated “in the majesty of the name” of the Lord. Not a supreme dictator there either. Habakkuk 2:14 says, "For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea." Sovereign majesty here is yada (to know, to perceive, to make known) kabowd (glory, honour, glorious, abundance), also translated “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” Still not indicating ultimate control over everything that happens. Of course God's will does not always come to pass. As I mentioned earlier, the classic example of this is 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance,” and 1 Timothy 2:4: “[He] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Matthew 18:14 also says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Jesus paid for the sins of the whole world, not just those who are saved. 1 John 2:2 says, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world”, and 1 Tim 4:10 says, "That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” This doesn't sound like a God who created anyone for the expressed purpose of eternal damnation to me. On the contrary, He did everything He could possibly do to save us all, short of making us automatons. But not everybody will be saved, because He doesn't force us to choose Him--nor does He make any of our other decisions for us, either. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." God wills it; He paid an enormous price for it; but He won't get all of us, because we get a choice. There are other verses that imply the concept of sovereignty as we typically define it (in the sense that when God decides to do something, He does it, and no one can stop Him). Here are a few of those verses: Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Isaiah 46:10: “I declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” Romans 8:28: “All things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” (i.e. He can use bad and work it for good.) But these verses refers to God’s right and His power -- they say nothing about voluntary restrictions that God has placed upon His own power. Those limitations are defined by the covenants God had in place with mankind at various points in history. Once He gives His word that He will do this and not that, He cannot violate it--He exalts His word even above His name (Psalm 138:2). It's the integrity of His word that literally holds the universe together (Hebrews 1:3). Again, more on this in this podcast: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/podcasts/why-bad-things-happen-from-a-biblical-perspective and extensively more in "Blood Covenant Origins" and "Blood Covenant Fulfilled" from this book series: https://www.drlaurendeville.com/books/biblical-retellings). A quick overview, though: since God gave the earth to man in the garden, and man decided to obey Satan, God had to find a legal entry to get back in. That was the purpose of the covenants—first the Adamic, then the Noahic, then the Abrahamic, then the Mosaic, and now finally, the New Covenant. In the middle three there were stipulations of what we had to do, and therefore what God would do for us, if we kept up our end. But there were provisions for blessings even in those. For instance, a common Old Testament example I've heard preached to back up the idea that we never know what God's going to do, but we should have faith in Him anyway, is Daniel 3:18. Here's how that verse is preached: "If you throw us into the fiery furnace, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not save us, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." Except that's not what that verse actually says. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego, the Hebrew kids in Babylonian exile in that story, were under the Mosaic covenant, and they were on the right side of it--so they had a right to the blessings (Deut 28:7), and they knew it. They knew God’s promises. That’s why they were able to stand up to the king—just like David could call Goliath that “uncircumcised Philistine,” absolutely convinced of the outcome, because he had a covenant, and Goliath didn’t. In the story in Daniel, what the verse actually says is, “If you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” The Jewish captives respond saying, “If that is the case” (implying, if you will throw us in to the furnace, the subject of the previous verse). Then they say, “But if not”—and the Hebrew never qualifies if not what. People tend to assume they are saying “but if God doesn’t deliver us” (the end of the previous thought). But it could just as easily have meant, “If it is not the case that you will throw us into the fiery furnace,” just like it did in previous verse. This would change the entire meaning of the verse, and would be far more consistent with the rest of scripture. I can think of no instances anywhere in scripture where someone put faith in God’s covenant promises, and God did not come through. He can’t not come through—because again, He exalts His word above His very name (Ps 138:2)! In the New Covenant, Jesus paid to make sure we are always on the blessing side, having fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf, and become the curse for us (Gal 3:13). Because of that, every single promise is now Yes and Amen in Him (2 Cor 1:20). When Christ saved us, the word in Greek is sozo—that word appears 110 times in the New Testament. It includes spiritual salvation, but it also means physical healing, to rescue from physical danger, and to deliver from the penalties of judgment. All of these things are accessed by faith. Scripture doesn’t say that sometimes God says no to physical healing; on the contrary, every time someone came to Jesus for healing, they got it—and He was the exact image of the Father (Col 1:15), doing nothing but what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). He turned no one away, saying, “Nope, this one is God’s will for you, to bring glory to Himself.” What brings God glory is healing, not sickness (John 9:1-4), and the “fruit” of answered prayers (John 15:7-8). It’s the blessings of God on our lives that are supposed to get the attention of the world around us. So back to the issue of praying for miracles. The theological position of most Christian denominations is that God can do anything, but there’s no guarantees that He will. Because of course, we can look around and see so many good Christians (some of the best!) who pray, and don’t seem to receive. What are we to do with that? Shouldn’t we adjust our theology to account for all of these practical examples… no matter what the Bible actually says? My dad died of cancer when he was 48 years old. We had lots of people praying. I had several well-meaning believers after the fact try to console me with the idea that God “allowed” this to happen for some inscrutable reason of His own… maybe someone might come to the Lord as a result of our loss, someone suggested. (What actually happened was that I became a religious Pharisee for about 10 years, going through the motions, but I didn’t trust God at all. I figured, based on that theology, that God was like an army general who made sacrifices for the greater good, and sometimes—sorry!—it’s you. The effect on the rest of my family's faith and outlook on the world was similar to mine, or worse.) All of that is predictable in hindsight, because cancer and death are the fingerprints of the Enemy, not of God. The Enemy comes to “steal, kill, and destroy”—Jesus came that we might “have life, and have it more abundantly.” It’s very clear who does what. But the vast majority of the body of Christ today preaches this confused theology, attributing horrific things to God under the strange explanation that because God’s ways are higher than our ways, somehow from His perspective, bad is good, and wrong is right, and once we all get to heaven, we’ll understand. (No wonder I didn’t trust God anymore when I believed this. How could I trust a God like that?) I get why the Church at large preaches this—they’re trying to make the Bible fit our experience. God's supreme sovereignty is a nice, spiritual-sounding explanation which borrows from the long Calvinistic tradition, even if we don't take it quite to that extreme (though some denominations still do even that). But what finally set me free was when I realized that God’s definition of good and mine are actually the same. That my dad’s death at such a young age was never His will. That how God dealt with mankind at various times in history was dependent upon the covenants in place at the time--and today, we're under the best covenant of all, the one where all the curses for disobedience are paid for in full, and all that's left is the blessing, which we can receive by faith. Here's what that doesn't mean: it doesn't mean that faith is a new form of works, that God now watches to see if we reach the critical threshold of faith before He doles out our miracle... and if we don't quite get there, ah, too bad, try harder next time. No! He's not responding in real time to our faith at all, deciding which requests to grant and which to refuse. God already provided every blessing in spiritual form in Christ’s atonement, 2000 years ago (Gal 1:3, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24). We receive all of those blessings now the same way we receive salvation: by faith. It's "in your account" already, as it were, just waiting for you to make a withdrawal--just like salvation is freely available, waiting for you to accept it. But God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). He doesn’t sovereignly say yes to one person and no to another for things that we know are in His will—if we know that we’re asking for something already in His explicit will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us, we know we already have the requests made of Him (1 John 5:14-15). (That is the key, though--we can only have faith that we'll receive things that were already paid for in the atonement of Jesus. We can ask God for other things outside of that, but in those cases, God might say yes, or He might say no, for our own good--James 4:3. So it's quite useful to know scripture, so you can know for sure what you can stand on!) Back to my dad, and so many others besides. At that time, my family didn’t know any of this. We thought, we should pray, we should ask, and maybe God will say yes and maybe He will say no. But that’s not faith—that’s hope. And God didn’t say no—He said yes, 2000 years ago! Jesus paid an incredibly high price for God to say yes. Jesus also gave us the formula of how to receive in Mark 11:23-24: believe, and don’t doubt. If you do that, it’s as good as done. Unopposed faith (without doubt, James 1:6-8) is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1). It’s cruel to tell people that they didn’t receive their miracle because they didn’t believe hard enough, or pray long enough, though. But the solution to that isn’t to blame God’s “sovereignty” instead! (That’s how people lose their faith—who wants to serve a God whom they believe “allowed” the Holocaust, or 9-11, or child trafficking, or etc to happen?) Rather, the solution is to understand that we’re in a war, and that Satan is seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). While he’s a defeated foe ever since the cross (Col 2:15), and we now have authority over him through Jesus (Matt 28:18, Eph 1:17-19), most of us don’t know it. We don’t know that, with the authority we now have, Satan’s only weapon against believers now is deception and fear (2 Cor 10:3-5)—and of course anything he can indirectly control against us that is part of the fallen world. But Jesus has already overcome the world on our behalf (John 16:33). And understanding God’s perfect love for us casts out fear (James 4:18). Because if He loves us enough to send Jesus, how will He not also freely give us all things (Romans 8:32)? But most of us are so focused on what we see, on the things this world says, that a cancer diagnosis, for example (or any other terminal doctor’s report, or insurmountable financial problem, etc), strikes fear into our hearts. Whatever we focus on, we magnify—and if we’re in a church that tells us maybe God will come through and maybe He won’t (for things that He’s explicitly promised in His word), then we’re standing on shifting sand. It’s hard enough to deal with our own doubt and unbelief, without being surrounded by the doubt and unbelief of others. But absolute trust God’s word—even if it means isolating ourselves from well-meaning believers who might cause us to doubt—is the only way. Jesus on numerous occasions got away from the crowds or put everyone out of the house except for his few top disciples before he performed a miracle. Abraham received because he did not consider anything except God’s promises (Romans 4:19). He didn’t have a contingency plan (or at least he didn’t anymore after the whole Ishmael thing was out of the way). Because he didn’t consider any of the natural circumstances, he didn’t waver in his faith. In the same way, today, our lack of fear of Satan’s schemes is proof to him that we’re going to win (Phil 1:28)—and if we stand firm (Eph 6:13-14) and resist the devil, sooner or later, he has to flee (James 4:7). We’ll win, if we don’t quit. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Welcome to Day 2676 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – “Rules of Engagement.” – Supernatural Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2676 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2676 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today, we continue with the 7th of 16 segments of our Theology Thursday lessons. I will read through the book "Supernatural," written by Hebrew Bible scholar, professor, and mentor Dr. Michael S. Heiser, who has since passed away. Supernatural is a condensed version of his comprehensive book, ‘The Unseen Realm.' If these readings pique your interest, I would recommend that you read ‘The Unseen Realm.' Today, we will read through chapter seven: “Rules of Engagement.” Our story so far: God cast aside the nations and their peoples at Babel. The lesser gods assigned to them took dominion (Deut. 32:8–9). When God started over with Abraham, it was clear that he planned to one day reclaim the nations through the influence of Israel (Gen. 12:3). But the gods of the nations would have to be forced to surrender their power and worship (Ps. 82:6–8). That meant conflict—in both the seen and unseen realms. As soon as there was an Israel, she was in the crosshairs of the gods. Who Is Yahweh? It doesn't take long in the biblical story for Israel to wind up in a precarious position. The story of Joseph (Gen. 37–50) explains why Israel went to Egypt. God's providence turned the harm intended Joseph by his brothers to the salvation of Israel from famine (Gen. 46:3–4; 50:20). That God didn't tell Israel to leave Egypt right away was also intentional. God knew the pharaoh who honored Joseph would die and be replaced by an enemy (Ex. 1). He had foreseen that Egypt would put the Israelites into forced labor (Gen. 15:13–16). He also knew he would rescue Israel when the time was right (Gen. 46:4). But why wait? God always has a good reason for suffering. We just can't always see it. In this case, though, Scripture makes it clear. After Moses had fled Egypt and taken up residence in the wilderness, God called him at the burning bush (Ex. 3:1–14) to send him back to Egypt. His orders were simple: Tell Pharaoh “Let my people go” (Ex. 5:1). Pharaoh had other ideas. He was god in the flesh in Egypt, the emblem of all its glory and power. He wasn't going to let some invisible God of Hebrew shepherds tell him what to do. He didn't even know whether the God of Moses was real. He mockingly replied, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?” (Ex. 5:2). He was about to get an answer—one that would hurt. God had set him up. God had told Moses, “I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go” (Ex. 4:21). God had a fight to pick. After they had oppressed the Israelites for centuries, it was time for Egypt and its gods to be punished. Pharaoh's hardening was part of that plot. The Bible tells us the plagues were aimed at Egypt's gods—especially the last one, the death of the firstborn (Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4), which turned out to be a direct assault on Pharaoh's house: “At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of...
We recommend listening to the teaching, Repentance (It's more than just saying sorry) | Part 8, before listening to this episode.Afterburn: also known in the fitness world as the “afterburn effect.” Simply put, the more intense the exercise, the more oxygen your body consumes afterward. This effect could occur spiritually after Rabbi Berkson's intense teachings each week. This Afterburn Q&A session allows your mind and soul to consume more understanding (oxygen).Some of the topics covered are:• Intro• What did the magician see that made him want to buy in?• I popped my cork! • My wife and I have never been closer• My parents never apologized for anything!• Unchecked bitterness will expand• Possessed by an emotion?• Looking for clarity? • Addressing my struggles to connect with the community • They laid hands on them…? • Bitterness connection to idolatry? (Deut 29:16-20)• I made it about me • Am I not surrendering everything?• Is being filled with the Holy Spirit practicing Torah observance?• What's your motive? • I told you so - not a good reaction?• Receiving the Holy SpiritSubscribe to take advantage of new content every week.To learn more about MTOI, visit our website, https://mtoi.org.https://www.facebook.com/mtoiworldwide https://www.instagram.com/mtoi_worldwidehttps://www.tiktok.com/@mtoi_worldwide You can contact MTOI by emailing us at admin@mtoi.org or calling 423-250-3020. Join us for Shabbat Services and Torah Study LIVE, streamed on our website, mtoi.org, YouTube, and Rumble every Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and every Friday for Torah Study Live Stream at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
An episode from Seneca Bible Baptist Church, a conservative, independent body of King James Bible believers located in Seneca Falls, New York. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical historical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Phil. 2:58). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:910). We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins 1 Pet. 1:1819). A message from Seneca Bible Baptist Church: “We would love to have you visit! “If you are looking for a church in the Seneca Falls, New York area that preaches the Truth from God's Word, reach out to us at any time. We would love to hear from you at (315) 568-9100 or on our website https://www.senecabiblebaptist.org/ You may also write to us at:Seneca Bible Baptist Church1859 Auburn RdSeneca Falls, New York 13148 Our video messages are also available for you at the following locations:YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo4STuljw68fWAhrlwC0CmwFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064601297462 Be sure to Subscribe to our channel and/or Like and Follow SBBC on Facebook so that you will be notified the next time we are live. Have A Blessed Day, Seneca Bible Baptist Church” The KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast is directly supported by Doss Metrics LLC | Ministry Services based out of Cleveland Texas. If you have any questions regarding this podcast, or the churches hosted on the podcast, please reach out to us directly at dossmetrics@gmail.com or write to us at: Doss Metrics | KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast1451 McBride Rd.Cleveland, TX 77328 God Bless#KingJamesPreaching #KJVPodcast #SenecaBibleBaptistChurch #PastorTerryFenton #BaptistChurches #PreachingPodcast #Churches
Fr. Chase preaches Deut 30:9-14 Ps 25:1-14(15-21)v Col 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37
Fr. Eric reflects on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37) in speaking about how we are meant to find salvation in Christ. Fr. Eric speaks also about an invitation from the prophet Moses to look inward in reflecting on Deut 30. As a key example, Fr. Eric refers to the film "The Bourne Ultimatum" (2007) starring Matt Damon. Major spoilers. Watch Catholic Latte on YouTube and Facebook. An audio version of the podcast is available also on Spotify, iTunes and Podbean.
An episode from Seneca Bible Baptist Church, a conservative, independent body of King James Bible believers located in Seneca Falls, New York. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical historical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Phil. 2:58). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:910). We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins 1 Pet. 1:1819). A message from Seneca Bible Baptist Church: “We would love to have you visit! “If you are looking for a church in the Seneca Falls, New York area that preaches the Truth from God's Word, reach out to us at any time. We would love to hear from you at (315) 568-9100 or on our website https://www.senecabiblebaptist.org/ You may also write to us at:Seneca Bible Baptist Church1859 Auburn RdSeneca Falls, New York 13148 Our video messages are also available for you at the following locations:YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo4STuljw68fWAhrlwC0CmwFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064601297462 Be sure to Subscribe to our channel and/or Like and Follow SBBC on Facebook so that you will be notified the next time we are live. Have A Blessed Day, Seneca Bible Baptist Church” The KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast is directly supported by Doss Metrics LLC | Ministry Services based out of Cleveland Texas. If you have any questions regarding this podcast, or the churches hosted on the podcast, please reach out to us directly at dossmetrics@gmail.com or write to us at: Doss Metrics | KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast1451 McBride Rd.Cleveland, TX 77328 God Bless#KingJamesPreaching #KJVPodcast #SenecaBibleBaptistChurch #PastorTerryFenton #BaptistChurches #PreachingPodcast #Churches
Did fallen angels make babies with women to make giants?! You may not be aware of the Nephilim, but these are giant humans mentioned throughout the Old Testament…but where did they come from? Why don't we see them today?On today's podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the controversial origin story of the Nephilim that is first mentioned in Genesis 6. We spend time looking at a couple different popular schools of thought on the issue, where we land on it, and examples of Nephilim throughout the Bible (hint: they show up more than you think!) The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:32-33; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:4-7; Jude 6-7; Gen. 6:5-7; Gen. 7:21-23; Josh. 11:21-22; Judg. 1:20; 1 Sam. 17:4; 2 Sam. 21:15-22; Deut. 3:11; Deut. 2:10-11.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com or tweet at us @1717pod on Twitter. God bless!
Did fallen angels make babies with women to make giants?! You may not be aware of the Nephilim, but these are giant humans mentioned throughout the Old Testament…but where did they come from? Why don't we see them today?On today's podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the controversial origin story of the Nephilim that is first mentioned in Genesis 6. We spend time looking at a couple different popular schools of thought on the issue, where we land on it, and examples of Nephilim throughout the Bible (hint: they show up more than you think!) The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:32-33; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:4-7; Jude 6-7; Gen. 6:5-7; Gen. 7:21-23; Josh. 11:21-22; Judg. 1:20; 1 Sam. 17:4; 2 Sam. 21:15-22; Deut. 3:11; Deut. 2:10-11.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com or tweet at us @1717pod on Twitter. God bless!
Gen 2:5-7; Col 2:9-13; Deut 16:1 • Stephen Petiti
An episode from Seneca Bible Baptist Church, a conservative, independent body of King James Bible believers located in Seneca Falls, New York. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical historical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Phil. 2:58). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:910). We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins 1 Pet. 1:1819). A message from Seneca Bible Baptist Church: “We would love to have you visit! “If you are looking for a church in the Seneca Falls, New York area that preaches the Truth from God's Word, reach out to us at any time. We would love to hear from you at (315) 568-9100 or on our website https://www.senecabiblebaptist.org/ You may also write to us at:Seneca Bible Baptist Church1859 Auburn RdSeneca Falls, New York 13148 Our video messages are also available for you at the following locations:YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo4STuljw68fWAhrlwC0CmwFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064601297462 Be sure to Subscribe to our channel and/or Like and Follow SBBC on Facebook so that you will be notified the next time we are live. Have A Blessed Day, Seneca Bible Baptist Church” The KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast is directly supported by Doss Metrics LLC | Ministry Services based out of Cleveland Texas. If you have any questions regarding this podcast, or the churches hosted on the podcast, please reach out to us directly at dossmetrics@gmail.com or write to us at: Doss Metrics | KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast1451 McBride Rd.Cleveland, TX 77328 God Bless#KingJamesPreaching #KJVPodcast #SenecaBibleBaptistChurch #PastorTerryFenton #BaptistChurches #PreachingPodcast #Churches
Summer at City A Consuming Fire & An Unshakeable Kingdom Hebrews 12:25-29 25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” Deut. 4:24 ESV "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Consuming: completely filling one's mind and attention; absorbing. "It's not that we don't want God; it's that we've found a thousand things we want more than God." - Ravenhill God's fire produces missional clarity “yet there is a spiritual force which may well be described as a shaking. It is only when the tree of the nation has a thorough shaking, that at last the prime, ripe fruit will drop down into the great Master's lap. He shakes by Providence, by the movement of the human conscience. He shakes by the impulses of his Holy Spirit; he shakes the human spirit, and as a result persons out of all the nations are brought to himself. Stones that he would have, come at last out of the quarry, and he builds them up into a temple.” -Spurgeon Haggai 2:6-7 NIV “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty" Chemdah: the desire/desired of all nations 2:7b Revelation 5:9 NIV "And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." Titus 2:13-14 KJV "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works" God's fire emphasizes eternal stability v28a. Questions: Are you building your life on the unshakable Kingdom? Does the way I'm living my life in this moment make sense in light of eternity with Jesus? God's fire propels us towards intimacy v28b
Msgr. Roger J. Landry Chapel of the Vincentian Seminary, Krakow, Poland Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C July 13, 2025 Deut 30:1-14, Ps 69, C0l 1:15-20, Lk 10:25-37 To listen to an audio recording of today’s homily, please click below: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/catholicpreaching/7.13.25_Homily_1.mp3 The following points were attempted in the homily: The question of […] The post The Way of the Good Samaritan, 15th Sunday (C), July 13, 2025 appeared first on Catholic Preaching.
Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Genesis 18:25; Deut. 10:17; Ps. 19:9; Ps. 97:2; Rev. 16:5-7 Genesis 18:25 PP 25 ….Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Deuteronomy 10:17 PP 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. Psalm 19:9 PP 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 97:2 PP 2 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Revelation 16:5-7 PP 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: “You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, “Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
God's Word for Today10 Jul, 202513 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.-Prov 27:13 ESV A RESPONSIBLE ACT OF GENEROSITYThis is a repeat of Prov 20:16. A lender should be cautious when lending to an unreliable person. He must practice prudence [see v.12] A believer who chooses to "lend" to unreliable people is a gamble. When lending, there should be a much prudent approach that puts great accountability on the borrower to repay. Believers must be cautious about how they handle God's resources. Generosity and sacrificial giving do not mean Christians should be gullible or senseless (2 Thess 3:10; 2 Tim 3:6). "Loaning" to an underserving, immoral person who seems likely to abuse the gift is not showing good stewardship, is it not? Believers ought to recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from God and should be managed wisely (Jas 1:17; 1 Tim 4:4). Ultimately, our financial resources belong to God. Squandering God's gift of money is tantamount to showing ingratitude and an understanding of the faithfulness God demands of stewards.In the Old Testament times, real help and compassion must be done only to the deserving helpless people. "If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep?" (Ex 22:26–27). In a similar tone, Deut 24:10–13 says that lending to those who are truly in need should be done with respect for their dignity.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPuuvKVODmgListen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Audible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audibleFollow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio#gospellightfilipino#godswordfortoday
An episode from Seneca Bible Baptist Church, a conservative, independent body of King James Bible believers located in Seneca Falls, New York. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical historical meaning. The King James Version of the Bible shall be the official and only translation used by the church (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We believe in one Triune God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each coeternal in being, co-identical in nature, coequal in power and glory, and having the same attributes and perfections (Deut. 6:4). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (Phil. 2:58). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through his death on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice; and, that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:35). We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven, and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:910). We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins 1 Pet. 1:1819). A message from Seneca Bible Baptist Church: “We would love to have you visit! “If you are looking for a church in the Seneca Falls, New York area that preaches the Truth from God's Word, reach out to us at any time. We would love to hear from you at (315) 568-9100 or on our website https://www.senecabiblebaptist.org/ You may also write to us at:Seneca Bible Baptist Church1859 Auburn RdSeneca Falls, New York 13148 Our video messages are also available for you at the following locations:YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo4STuljw68fWAhrlwC0CmwFacebook -https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064601297462 Be sure to Subscribe to our channel and/or Like and Follow SBBC on Facebook so that you will be notified the next time we are live. Have A Blessed Day, Seneca Bible Baptist Church” The KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast is directly supported by Doss Metrics LLC | Ministry Services based out of Cleveland Texas. If you have any questions regarding this podcast, or the churches hosted on the podcast, please reach out to us directly at dossmetrics@gmail.com or write to us at: Doss Metrics | KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast1451 McBride Rd.Cleveland, TX 77328 God Bless#KingJamesPreaching #KJVPodcast #SenecaBibleBaptistChurch #PastorTerryFenton #BaptistChurches #PreachingPodcast #Churches
What happens in the tragic event that an unborn child dies? What about a young child who doesn't have an understanding of the world? Do we have any assurance of salvation for them?On this episode, we address the question, "Do babies go to heaven?" This question is a tough one for many because our gut wants to say yes, but what does the Bible actually say about it? We know that Jesus is the way, truth, and life, but if a child doesn't understand, does that still apply? We also discuss the concept of the age of accountability and whether that concept is biblical or not. We also touch on how this applies to those who are mentally disabled. Many doctrines, including infant baptism, were adopted hundreds of years ago because the church has had trouble answering this exact question. Our hope is that as you listen, you grow in a knowledge of God and his Word as well as helping you to see this topic from a biblical framework.The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Psa. 51:5; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 5:12; Jer. 1:5; Psa. 139:13-16; 2 Sam. 12:22-23; Rom. 1:20; Jam. 4:17; Rom. 7:9-11; Rom. 2:11-16; John 9:41; John 15:22; Deut. 1:39; Num. 14:38-42; Luke 2:41-42; Isa. 7:15-16; Rom. 9:11; Luke 18:15-16; Matt. 18:3; Deut. 6:6-7.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com or tweet at us @1717pod on Twitter. God bless!
Palestinian Covenant G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 7 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Let's read together Deuteronomy 29:12-18; You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses. By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses. I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today. "You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left. You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold. I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you-no man, woman, clan, or tribe-will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit. Deuteronomy 30v15-18 "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. "But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy. Covenant or not? This, the Palestinian Covenant, is the third of the theocratic covenants (those which pertain to the rule of God). Some people say there is no such covenant and others say that there is. Some say that the covenant has not been fulfilled in its entirety yet and some say that is has. Others say that it is merely Moses reiterating and elaborating the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai. I put it here so you can make up your own mind. Link to the Past The first thing we can say is that you will note that it is tied to the covenant given to Abraham (Deuteronomy 29v13). This Palestinian Covenant adds details to the giving of the land to Israel as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. Since the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai, the nation had wandered in the desert for 40 years until that generation died out because they had refused God and been disobedient to Him. This covenant is a call for a new beginning as a nation under the rule of God! Link to the Future The nation of Israel is about to change hands from the proven leader, Moses, into the unproven hands of Joshua! As a nation, they were sitting on the plains of Moab, waiting to enter the land of Canaan, which was given to them by their God. As they waited, they would reflect that their God is a living God who was not made of wood, stone, silver or gold! He was alive and living amongst them! As they waited, no doubt they were reflecting upon the validity of the promises made to them via Moses at Sinai. They could easily reflect on the lessons learnt from the disobedience of the previous generation who had been disobedient to God, found to be unfaithful and were never to enter the land promised to them! It served as a reminder of how one generation obedience or disobedience would affect the next generation. Recognizing this as God doing as He said he would do under the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants - punish Israel for unfaithfulness and disobedience. So this covenant, while being additional to the Mosaic covenant, serves also to remind this generation of Israelites of their special relationship with God. It is also abundantly clear that it is not just for the then current generation of Israel when it was given but for future generations of the nation of Israel to come after. Covenant Features This covenant has two main features to it. Legal features which are immediate and conditional Grace features which are without condition The enjoyment of the immediate blessings is initiated by the conditional principle "if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God ... the Lord your God will set you high about all the nations of the earth" (Deut 28v1). Some say that this, the unconditional grace facet of this Palestinian Covenant is initialised but set for a fulfilment in the future! The covenant also gives a glimpse of a future messiah or saviour who would come from within the nation of Israel. Be warned! There is a final warning to the nation of Israel (both at the time of the covenant and future generations) which is also a challenge: obedience to the LORD God alone! The nation of Israel is warned that unfaithfulness and disobedience has multiple consequences! If they are unfaithful and disobedient, then as a nation they can expect to be scattered and exiled before eventually being restored to the land following sincere national repentance. Overall Overall this Covenant adds details to the giving of the land to Israel as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. It gives glimpses of a generous and holy God who is filled with majestic mercy and abundant grace who seeks obedience and faithfulness from His people so He can live intimately with His people. As a nation, they were to reflect this and be a light to all nations of the glory of their God, Jehovah! It shows the continuity from Eden to Adam to Abraham to Moses. Where are we off to next in this line of continuity? Where do you think? 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David did some crazy things but he always knew how to turn His heart back to the Lord. - Friendship is built on honor & reverence. The Lord is holy, sacred & honored. John 15:11-17 / Prov 13:20 / 2Chr 20:7 / 1Cor 13 / Ps 25:14 / Deut 29:29 / Prov 27:6 / Prov 27:9 / Eph 4:25-32 / Prov 22:11
Teaching Text - Deuteronomy 15At the end of every seven years you must declare a cancellation of debts. 2 This is the nature of the cancellation: Every creditor must remit what he has loaned to another person; he must not force payment from his fellow Israelite, for it is to be recognized as “the Lord's cancellation of debts.” 3 You may exact payment from a foreigner, but whatever your fellow Israelite owes you, you must remit. 4 However, there should not be any poor among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land that he is giving you as an inheritance, 5 if you carefully obey him by keeping all these commandments that I am giving you today. 6 For the Lord your God will bless you just as he has promised; you will lend to many nations but will not borrow from any, and you will rule over many nations but they will not rule over you.7 If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the Lord your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition. 8 Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be regarded as having sinned. 10 You must by all means lend to him and not be upset by doing it, for because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. 11 There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open your hand to your fellow Israelites who are needy and poor in your land.12 If your fellow Hebrew—whether male or female—is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let that servant go free. 13 If you set them free, you must not send them away empty-handed. 14 You must supply them generously from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress—as the Lord your God has blessed you, you must give to them. 15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore, I am commanding you to do this thing today. 16 However, if the servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you, 17 you shall take an awl and pierce a hole through his ear to the door. Then he will become your servant permanently (this applies to your female servant as well). 18 You should not consider it difficult to let him go free, for he will have served you for six years, twice the time of a hired worker; the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.19 You must set apart for the Lord your God every firstborn male born to your herds and flocks. You must not work the firstborn of your bulls or shear the firstborn of your flocks. 20 You and your household must eat them annually before the Lord your God in the place he chooses. 21 If one of them has any kind of blemish—lameness, blindness, or anything else—you may not offer it as a sacrifice to the Lord your God. 22 You may eat it in your villages, whether you are ritually impure or clean, just as you would eat a gazelle or an ibex. 23 However, you must not eat its blood; you must pour it out on the ground like water.
The nearer we draw to God, the nearer God draws to us. 1. We draw near to God with all our hearts and this is seen in our lives. (v.145-146) 2. We draw near to God first thing each morning, and even through the night. (v.147-149) 3. When difficulties are near to us, the Lord Himself is near to us. (v.150-151) Where is God when we need Him? How self-seeking are our prayers? Mt. 6:33 How should Christians start each day? Phil. 4:7-9 In what way does God help with difficulties? Deut.4:7
In this study we will take a look at the miracles that Yahweh performed on the Egyptians, when Israel was held in bondage, during this period in Exodus. We will see that those miracles were against the Egyptian deities or gods that they worshipped.The story of Moses is not just the story of the freedom of a group of slaves from Egypt in the second millennium BCE. It is the blueprint of the Plan of Salvation of the world as seen from the structure laid down in the Bible. Moses was the prototype of the Christ or Messiah. More importantly, the nation of Israel saw Moses as a prototype and the Bible record illustrates that point. Moses said: ‘And Yahweh said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.' (Deut. 18:17-18,).In this study I continue in chapter 7. I read from the Legends of the Old Testament, Moses before Pharaoh, I also read from THOMAS HORNS BOOK “THE GODS” Beginning with verse 14 to Chapter 10 verse 29 we have Moses and Aaron with the first nine plagues.7:14-25 First Plague ‘Water Turned to Blood' There is no warning!14 Pharaoh's heart is hardened = כבד ‘cabed', is become heavy or stupid; he receives no conviction, in spite of the clearness of the light which shines upon him. 15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning =The next morning, a time in which the mind is most composed and calm, and fit to attend to what may be suggested lo, he goeth out unto the water = the river Nile, either to take his morning's walk, and to refresh himself at the waterside, as the Jerusalem Targum; and thou shall stand by the river's brink against he come = over against the brink of the river Nile, in order to meet him: and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand = as a terror to Pharaoh,16 let = “eth” Aleph = (ox) strength, strong, power, leaderTav = (cross) sign, covenant seal, mark and crossBy placing the “eth” in front of ‘my people' this locks in the fact that it is truly Yahweh/Yahshua Messiah's Elect! There is no mistake that He wants to deliver His people out of bondage! 17 know that I am Yahweh = Pharaoh had boldly and wantonly said at his first interview with Moses, “I know not this Yahweh', verse 2. He is now told that he shall soon know the Yahweh of the Hebrews.I will smite = The may be Moses, but Aaron preformed the act at the command of Moses.and they shall be turned to blood = and if this river was their god, it would abundantly appear that the Elohim of the Hebrews was Yahweh, and above all gods, and particularly above theirs. 18 And the fish that is in the river shall die = Their element being changed, and they not able to live in any other but water. and the river shall stink = with the blood, into which it should be solid, and with the putrefied bodies of fishes floating in it: 21 And the fish that was in the river died = Which was a full proof that the conversion of it into blood was real; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt = in the river, wherever it flowed, in all its streams and channels,This is the first plague executed on the Egyptians, and a very righteous one by the law of retaliation for shedding the blood of innocent babes, through casting them into this river; and this will be the second and third vials of Elohim's wrath, which will be poured on antichrist, or mystical Egypt, who will have blood given to drink because worthy, see Rev. 16:3. Have any questions? Feel free to email me keitner2024@outlook.com
Greetings dear listeners! Today Kate and Sheila recap the fifth book of the Bible, Deuteronomy. “…for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.”(7:21) God called Moses from a burning bush and Moses obeyed and led God's people. They are often referred to as ‘stiff-necked' people which means Moses' job was far from easy. Moses' main goal was to get God's people to love Him with all their hearts and with all their souls and with all their might (6:5). Notice ALL is used repeatedly, just as a house divided will not stand neither will a heart divided remain faithful.Deuteronomy might possibly be the most quoted Old Testament book by Jesus. He used texts from it 3 times when He was tempted by the devil in the desert… Deut. 8:3, “Man does not live by bread alone…” 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord you God require of you, but to fear the Lord you God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments…”Deuteronomy is a book of beginnings and endings. Moses has taught and retaught God's commandments because holiness doesn't just happen. Moses instructs the people to serve God wholeheartedly and to teach their children what God's done for them in the past and to be strong and courageous moving forward. Moses passed the torch to Joshua after seeing the Promise Land and blessing the people. “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” 34:10Please join us as we dive into the dynamic book of Deuteronomy! Check out our website for past episodes https://recapbookchat.com/2025/06/30/pivotal/
A devotional with over 38 million copies sold to date...It's gotta be great, right? In today's episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question about the popular devotional titled "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. We look at her unique writing style and a few issues with the content within the devotional. Our hope is that as you listen, you can have a mind that seeks the Lord, but in a discerning way, always testing "words of God" by the true words of God in Scripture.The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Deut. 4:2; Deut. 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19; Jer. 14:14; Jer. 23:16; Ezek. 13:2-3; Matt. 7:15; Matt. 24:11; 1 John 4:1; 2 Pet. 2:1; Psa. 19:7-11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com. God bless!
In this study we will take a look at the miracles that Yahweh performed on the Egyptians, when Israel was held in bondage, during this period in Exodus. We will see that those miracles were against the Egyptian deities or gods that they worshipped.The story of Moses is not just the story of the freedom of a group of slaves from Egypt in the second millennium BCE. It is the blueprint of the Plan of Salvation of the world as seen from the structure laid down in the Bible. Moses was the prototype of the Christ or Messiah. More importantly, the nation of Israel saw Moses as a prototype and the Bible record illustrates that point. Moses said: ‘And Yahweh said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.' (Deut. 18:17-18,).In this study I continue in chapter 7. In verses 8- 13 we have Moses, Aaron and the Magicians9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, etc. = The king would naturally demand some evidence of their having been sent from Elohim; and as he would expect the ministers of his own gods to do the same worksTake = “lâqach” “law-kakh'” “lamed-quph-chet” “Aleph-Tav”lamed – (shepherd staff), teach, yoke, to bindquph = (sun on the horizon) condense, circle, timeChet = (tent wall) outside, divide, halfAleph = (ox) strength, strong, power, leaderTav = (cross) sign, covenant seal, mark and crossAaron you take that shepherds staff (symbolic of Yahshua Messiah) for the time is coming that I Yahweh/Yahshua Messiah will divide MY Elect from this bondage!10 cast down = “shâlak” “shaw-lak'” “shin-lamed-kaph” “Aleph-Tav”Shin = (two front teeth) sharp, press, eat, twolamed – (shepherd staff), teach, yoke, to bindKaph = (open palm) bend, open, allow, tameAleph = (ox) strength, strong, power, leaderTav = (cross) sign, covenant seal, mark and crossThis wasn't any ordinary wooden shepherd's staff, but the true Shepherd Himself, Yahshua Messiah that took on the bondage of Satan and allowed that staff to become a serpent showing Pharaoh that He was the creator of all things!It became a serpent = תנין tannin. What kind of a serpent is here intended remains a debate among the so-called scholars. From the manner in which the original word is used in Psa. 74:13; Isa. 27:1; 51:9; Job 7:12; some very large creature, is probably meant; some have thought that the crocodile, a well-known Egyptian animal, is here intended.If we assume that the rod was changed into a crocodile, then we ask why a crocodile?The ancient goddess of war, Neith, was revered as the goddess of wisdom. At different periods she was identified with Athena, noted as the sister of Isis, and named the protector of Duamutef. Neith was the mother of Sobek, known as the crocodile god.11 wise men = wizards, who possessed a knowledge of many secrets of nature which were unknown to the people.Sorcerers = men who are adept in altering the external appearance of things by their artsMagicians = ‘sacred scribes', versed in magic lore and practice; jugglers of marvelous skillSecret arts = their spells and sleight-of-hand. Snake charming is widespread in the East, ancient and modern.Have any questions? Feel free to email me keitner2024@outlook.com
Feeling overwhelmed by the battles you’re facing?In “God’s Protection for Times of Crisis,” Jennifer Slattery shares a powerful reminder that we’re never alone in the fight. Drawing from Deuteronomy 3:21–22 and her family’s personal story of workplace adversity, she shows how God not only walks with us—but fights for us. Just like the Israelites in the wilderness, we can anchor our faith in the truth that our God is trustworthy, present, and powerful in times of trouble. Key Takeaways: Why hardship often grows our faith more than comfort How God uses crisis seasons to build deeper trust and freedom Encouragement to move forward even when fear creeps in The importance of remembering God’s past faithfulness to fuel present courage
Study 28-Luke 22: 47 – 23: 25 The arrest and trials of Jesus. The story now moves steadily towards the death of Jesus. It is told with remarkable economy and simplicity in all four gospels. Not even the failure of the leading apostle and founder of the early church is left out. Read Luke 22: 47 – 53. Question 1: Would you be thinking more or less of the eleven now if they had NOT tried to defend Jesus with their two swords (22: 38, 49 ) probably against an overwhelming force? Why? Their reaction to the approach of the crowd, which Mark describes as ‘armed with swords and clubs’, is an entirely natural one. It shows that they were not cowards. It also shows that they had not taken all of Jesus’ message really into their hearts and minds. Few of us have. Presumably the clash of one or two swords could easily have led to a more general skirmish in which Jesus could have been killed. But in the purposes of God his Son had to be tried, falsely accused, condemned and judicially killed. Without the legal decision of “guilty” Jesus would not have been dying for our sins. The universal responsibility of everybody for his death, symbolised by those directly involved, would not have been incurred. A great many prophecies, such as hanging on a tree (Deut 21: 23), would not have been fulfilled. Read Luke 22:54–62. Question 2: Peter lied - and lived to do much good work for his Lord. Was he justified in doing so? Should we do the same under certain circumstances? What circumstances? Is a life more important than the truth? When, and when not? In a way it is impossible to answer this question. We do not know, and neither did Peter, what would have happened if he had not lied. A life is more important in many ways than telling the truth yet the truth or the lie will define the life for ever. In the history of the church many, many people have refused to deny Christ and died. Let’s hope we never have to answer this question for real. Hebrews 6: 4 – 6 could be taken as a comment on what Judas did. Question 3: In the light of those verses what was the essential difference between the actions of Judas and Peter? What warning should we take from this? And what encouragement? The action of Judas was taken completely deliberately; Peter stumbled unwillingly into his denials. So many of our sins occur when we too stumble unwillingly into error. It is a great relief for us that Peter was not cast away from his position but lived to do so much good and die for his Lord in due course, about 30 years later, in Rome. Read Luke 22:63–23:25. There seem to have been many meetings that night in the effort to find grounds to condemn Jesus. Luke only records a ‘trial’ at daybreak (22: 66); Mark records one in the early part of the night; Matthew and John add further details. Luke was writing to Theophilus, a senior Roman citizen, and that probably affected which episodes he was most interested in. Question 4: In that case what things in the trials is he most likely to have wanted to concentrate on? It was important to him to try and show the Romans in as good a light as possible. Pilate had a very bad reputation in the Roman world anyway so he was not concerned with putting him in a good light. But he did want to show that there was a fair trial and that Jesus was condemned partly as a result of Jewish agitation and partly for Roman political reasons. His main concern was to establish who Jesus really was. So we have 3 titles in these verses: Messiah (or Christ, or Expected and Anointed One) (22: 67; 23: 2), Son of Man (22: 68) and Son of God (22: 70) Question 5: When Peter looked back at these events he was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 2: 22 – 36). What made him so sure? If the council had accepted that Jesus was the Messiah what would that have meant for them? What actions would it have committed them to take? Peter remembered the resurrection above all. That was the ultimate proof that Jesus was who he said he was. If the council had recognised Jesus as the sort of Messiah they expected they would have been in immediate revolt against Rome. They thought they would have had to take up arms and tackle the Roman army, which no one could do successfully. Read Daniel 7:7, 13, 14, 17 – 28 again. How would the council have understood what Jesus said in 22: 69? How would the Roman authorities have understood his claim if they had known the background? A previous Caesar, Augustus, was the (adopted) son of Julius Caesar. After Julius was killed he was venerated as a god, which made Augustus a “son of god”! What would the idea that Jesus was the Son of God have meant to the council? What implications would it have had for the Roman authorities? The crowd of 23: 13 must, in part at least, have been the same one we read about in 19: 37, 39. How can you account for such a major turn around? What should this caution us against? Who was most responsible for the condemnation of Jesus: the crowd, the Jewish leaders, the Roman authorities, or Jesus (Jn 10: 17, 18!)? Were we also responsible as those needing redemption? Another obvious question we can ask ourselves, but never really answer until it happens, is: the trial exposed the forces, commitments and loyalties of all those involved: the council members, Pilate, the crowd and Jesus. Faced with similarly difficult choices how will we react? Will we cling to our securities and dreams and avoid moving out of our comfort zones, or will we ‘take up our cross’ and follow him? It would have mattered a great deal as without the legal decision of “guilty” Jesus would not have been dying for our sins. The universal responsibility of everybody for his death, symbolised by those directly involved, would not have been incurred. A great many prophecies, such as hanging on a tree (Deut 21: 23), would not have been fulfilled. Of course, it could never have happened that way anyway (Jn 7: 30). 5) The action of Judas was taken completely deliberately; Peter stumbled unwillingly into his denials. 7) The Resurrection. 9) Angels, Israel as a people, and the king of Israel (Ps 89: 26, 27) are called sons of God in the OT. The last of these is the meaning implied here. The council would have understood him to be saying that he was the King of Israel (see 23: 2). The Romans would have thought him to be claiming to be one of the many gods of those days and probably would not have been too concerned by that. 10) As Messiah he was the representative Israelite and is now the representative Christian (Rom 5: 15 – 17). We are in Christ (the Messiah). As Son of Man he is a human being standing in our place (Heb 2: 17 – 18). As Son of God he is the Saviour who, being God, is able to die for us all (Heb 1: 3; 2: 9). 12) This has been much argued about through the centuries. The best answer is probably all of them, and us. 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Study 27-Luke 22:1-46 Joys and Sorrows In this chapter Jesus is a source of great strength and joy to his disciples as they gather to eat the Passover together. At the same time betrayal, misunderstanding and desertion surround him. Read Luke 22:1–6. Question 1: If ‘Satan entered Judas’ how responsible was Judas for what he did? When is it permissible for us to say ‘Satan entered somebody? To answer the second part of the question first:it is very doubtful whether we should ever say this. Judas was fully responsible as he eventually recognised; Matt 27:3, 4 says ‘When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. I have sinned, he said, for I have betrayed innocent blood. What is that to us? They replied. That's your responsibility. There is an interesting and important parallel in Isaiah 10 where we read:“Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my (the Lord’s) anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath! I send him against a godless nation (that is Israel), I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.” But this is not what he (Assyria) intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations. When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, I will punish the king of Assyria for the wilful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says:'By the strength of my hand I have done this, and by my wisdom, because I have understanding.’ So we see in that passage it is true both that the Lord in his sovereign power used Assyria to punish Israel and the Assyrians were completely responsible for what they did. Here Judas was completely responsible for what he did even if in so doing he fulfilled the greater purposes of the Lord. That may not agree with our logic but that kind of both God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility at the same time is the common teaching of the word of God. As with the arrangements for the triumphal entry it seems likely that Jesus had pre-arranged the hire or loan of the room. We read Luke 22:7–23. Question 2: Luke is not interested in the detailed arrangements for the meal, which must have included things like the sacrifice of a lamb in the temple. What is he interested in? Can you think of any reason for that? He is only interested in the human aspects of the story, the depth of fellowship it showed and the inauguration of the Lord’s Supper. He draws attention to the way this celebration was repeated in the very early church in his account in Acts. He expected the church to follow the main points of what Jesus did down through the centuries. Question 3: What is the intended symbolism of the bread and the cup? What are the intended symbolisms in the way the elements must have been handled? How many of these symbolisms are lost the way your fellowship do it? Bread was the common essential of life in those days. It was nothing special that Jesus used. The loaf had to be forcibly broken, as was the body of Jesus to be. The cup was poured out but none was spilt as the blood of Jesus was. It represented blood and therefore (life-giving) death. In addition this was a Passover meal so it also carried the symbolisms of Exodus 12, particularly perhaps the redemption under the covering blood and the sense of a meal to be eaten in haste, prepared to go on a great journey of faith. It is up to you to think through how that relates to what your fellowship do when they celebrate this meal. Question 4: Sadly the communion service/breaking of bread/eucharist/ mass has become the chief symbol of division in Christendom when it should have been the great symbol of unity. Why do you think this has happened? Unfortunately men have sort power by claiming they, by reason of some office they hold, and they alone, have the right to dispense the elements and control the procedure. Very sad. There is surely no justification for any church or group of churches preventing Christians who are not of their fellowship from participating at the Lord’s Table. Jesus called it the feast of the ‘new covenant’. Gen 17:3–8 is the original covenant with Abraham. Deut 5:1–4 records the covenant with Moses and the Israelites at Siana. Jer 31:31–34 promises a new covenant which this is. Many churches never really talk about covenants, new or old. They lose by not doing so. Read Luke 22:24–38. The dispute of v24 must have filled Jesus with dismay as it contradicted all that he had tried so hard to teach his disciples. Question 5: In what ways are we most likely to contradict all that the communion service is meant to achieve in us even before we leave it? What should we learn from the words of Jesus responding to that dispute (v25–30)? The tendency of men and women to want to feel superior to other people is always present where people gather together. Jesus reiterates his teaching that we are not to seek that superiority for ourselves remembering that such things will be reversed in the Kingdom anyway. Question 6: The instruction to buy a sword (v 36) is very strange. There is no evidence that the early church ever did this. Should they have? How can we understand these verses? Read Luke 22:39–46. Luke’s account of Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives (v 39–46) is considerably shorter than Matthew’s (26:36–46) and Mark’s (14:32–42) accounts. What does Doctor Luke tell us to emphasise the importance of the event? What can we learn about prayer from this account? And so the scene is set for the final hours of Jesus and the beginning of new possibilities in human life. That will be in our next study. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file
TODAY'S TREASUREAnd there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.Deut. 34:10Send us a comment!Support the show
“Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord!” (Deut 33:29).
5 Questions Asked Of Jesus Wk 2 | June 22nd, 2025 Matthew 22: 34-40 - Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest? Matthew 22:34-36 Matthew 22:37-40 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt 22:37) Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Do I ACKNOWLEDGE God and his word throughout my day and in all components of my life? (Deut. 6:6-9) 1 Samuel 15:22 Do I AGREE with God and obey his word? (1 Sam 15:22) Matt 22:39 Do I ACTIVATE my love of God by loving my neighbor? (Matt 22:39, 25:40) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:39) Luke 10:29 Luke 10:33-37 Am I AWARE of who God places on my road? Am I AVAILABLE to be used by God when he asks me to love those on my road? Do I ASK God how he wants me to love those on my road? Matthew 22:40 Action Steps: Find a way to acknowledge God and His Word throughout the day. Converse with God about these six questions. Pray daily that God makes you more aware of and available to those on your road.
Every man follows something. So the question is—who or what is shaping you?In this episode, Casey Wilson, Travis Shook, and Justin Bonner begin the final section of our series The Making of a Godly Man, focusing on devotion to God's Word. This isn't about checking a box—it's about building your life on the only foundation that will never fail.We talk about:• Why God's Word is your lifeline• The danger of false lights and worldly advice• How Scripture shapes fatherhood, leadership, and identity• Why “I'm not a reader” doesn't excuse you• Taking every thought captive to ChristThis episode is a call to get serious. The Bible is not an accessory—it's survival.“Indeed, it is not an idle word for you; it is your life.” — Deut. 32:47
Today, I want to talk to you about “The Power of Holiness.” For some people, that is not an exciting topic. You don't hear many messages on holiness. The word “holy” means “set apart for God.” As believers and as His children, we have been set apart for Him and Him alone. Deuteronomy says, “Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you…” (Deut. 6:18). Everything we do, say, and post should be right and good. If it doesn't honor God, don't do it. That is the message. The problem is, our culture is at war with the Word of God. We've decided we can describe morality without religion. But Scripture calls us to be holy, even when it's hard.
To BELIEVE in Jesus is to BE a Christian. What I mean by believe is not agreeing that the Bible is true and Jesus is who He claimed to be. What I mean by believe is that you are all in on what the Bible teaches and who and what Jesus claimed to be and do. Genuine belief begins with your intellect, but it does not stop there. Genuine belief affects your daily actions and life choices. So, to believe in Jesus is to live in a state of being as a Christian. To BE is to EXIST. You can believe certain things that do not affect your state of existence. An example of this is how I view the reality of math. I believe that math is both real and good, but my belief goes no further than my intellect. It is possible to BELIEVE in Jesus and not BE a Christian. If you are a Christian, your Christianity is more than a religion or something you believe, but who you now are. Think about what the apostle Paul wrote: And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world.... But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ... (Eph. 2:1, 4-5). If you are a Christian, you were once dead, but now you are alive with Jesus. Because you are now alive with Jesus, Paul continued in Ephesians 2:10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. To go from death to life requires a change in your DNA. By the time Jesus arrived at Lazarus grave, he was dead and in his tomb for four days (John 11:17). What that means is that decomposition had already started, his body was bloated, his bodily fluids were already seeping out of the orifices of his body, his internal organs were already breaking down, and because of the breakdown of the tissues of his body there was already an overwhelming stench that was present in the tomb. When Jesus asked for the stone of the tomb to be removed, Lazarus sister, Martha, said to Jesus: Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead for four days (v. 39). For a dead Lazarus to become a living Lazarus, his body would have to go through a complete DNA change, and that is exactly what happened when Jesus raised him from the dead when He shouted: Lazarus, come out (v. 43)! Lazarus body experienced an immediate DNA change, he then got up, and then he walked out of the tomb. Christian, you experienced spiritually what Lazarus experienced physically the day you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and believed. This is why Paul was compelled to remind the Ephesian Christians who they were with these words: I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-3). So, how do you do that? Paul tells us: So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:1516). Okay, but what does that look like in the home? It looks like husbands loving their wives in the same what Jesus loved His church and gave Himself up for her (Eph. 5:25-33). It also looks like wives, subjecting themselves under the headship of their husbands (vv. 5:22-24). Oh... but how does one walk in a manner worthy of our calling in the way we parent our children or in the way we respond to our parents? I struggled if I should address parents and children in the reverse order than how the apostle Paul did it but decided to follow in the same order he chose. Responding to Our Parents in a Manner Worthy of Our Calling Paul addresses children by reminding us of the fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the Lord your God gives you (Exod. 20:12). For some parents, this commandment is abused; for some children, this commandment is ignored. For a lot of people in the church, I suspect that the fifth commandment is confusing. Just so you know, the first four commandments concern our relationship with God; the last six commandments concern our relationship with people. The first commandment states: You are to have no other gods before Me (Exod. 20:3). How you yield your mind, life, and heart to the first commandment will affect how your respond to idols, how you use the name of the Lord in what you say and do, and what kind of time you spend with the Lord in worship. Concerning the final six commandments, I suggest to you that how you yield your mind, life, and heart to the fifth commandment will affect how value your neighbors wife/husband, that which does not belong to you, your integrity, and what you think you need or do not need. It all begins with what kind of relationship you have with God. Show me how a young man or woman treats their mother or father, and I will show you what kind of husband or wife that person will most likely be. If you cannot honor the person who is responsible for sheltering you, providing food, clothing, and an education for you... then when it comes to the other people in your life... you probably will not be a very honorable person (unless something changes, such as a spiritual DNA change). Now, for the big question many of you may be asking: At what age does the fifth command expire? When you are eighteen? Twenty? How about when you are on your own? How about after you are married and have a family of your own? The commandment doesnt even indicate an age, but the word the apostle Paul uses is Ephesians 6:1 is children. The Greek word for children is teknon and it means exactly the way every English translation translates the word, and that is children. The point Paul is making is that if you are a child, then you have a command from God to obey, and that is to give your parents honor. Notice the order Paul address regarding the family. He begins with wives, then moves on to husbands, then children before he addresses fathers. Why? Because if you are alive today, then you are a child of someone. Not everyone is a parent, but everyone is a child. In the context of Ephesians 6:1, Paul is speaking to non-adults, and the way they are to honor their parents is by obeying them. However, this does not exempt every person who has a parent from honoring their parent(s). So there are two things going on with Ephesians 6:1-3. First, for every non-adult in the room, if you are unwilling to obey your parents, then you are not walking in a manner worthy of your calling as a Christian. Second, if you are a son or a daughter with a living parent, you are not walking in a manner worthy of your calling if you are not giving them honor. Let me help you understand what exactly is being said in these verses. Walking in a manner worthy of your calling as a Christian as a non-adult means that you honor your parent(s) by obeying them so long as what is asked of you does not violate your primary obligation to obey Christ. If a father or mother askes their Christ-following child to sin, then that child is obligated to respectfully disobey. Honoring your parents by obeying them does not mean that you must endure sexual or physical abuse, nor require you to lie, cheat, or steal because your father or mother told you to do something immoral or wrong. But when it comes to the things your parent(s) ask you do such as the rules of the house you live in, you are to honor your mother and father by obeying and respecting them. Non-adult children, listen to me. Paul states that the fifth commandment has a promise tied to it: Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth. Obeying your parents who want you to thrive and succeed will help protect you from the kind of friends and habits that could ruin or shorten your life. The other way it will turn out well for non-adult children who honor their parents through obedience and respect for them, is that you will most likely develop honorable and healthy character traits. So, how old until you do not have to obey all the rules of the home your parents pay for? Until you can pay rent and/or move out on your own. However, when you do move out of the home of your parent(s), to does not mean you are no longer obligated to honor your parents. So, what about those of us who are adults? The fifth command does not state obey although throughout the Bible, non-adult children are expected to be obedient. The fifth commandment is also a principle to live by. Notice what the commandment does not say. It does not say Love, admire, agree with, trust, or drop everything that you are doing for your parents. No, what the fifth commandment states is to Honor your father and mother. The relationship I had with my sons when they were toddlers was very different then, than it is today. How I relate to my 24-year-old son is very different than how I relate to my 14-year-old son. If the day comes that they should ever get married, my relationship with them will be very different than it is today. So what does it mean to honor my father and mother as an adult? I am commanded to honor them no matter where they live, how old they are, what physical condition they are in, or how they feel about me. Tim Keller provides a clear answer that honors the tone of all of scripture when it comes to our parents: Honor is a decision to treat your parents with dignity and with courtesy, and its also a decision to provide long-term loyalty to their best interests.[1] To walk in a manner worthy of my calling as a son or daughter must include seeing my father and mother as individuals created in the image of Almighty God, and that He entrusted my life into their care, and regardless of their sins and faults, I am to honor them by treating them with dignity and to do all that I am able to do to make sure that their best interests are provided for in a way that glorifies God and serves them well. Parenting Children in a Manner Worthy of Our Calling Now to the parents in the room. Paul is addressing dads, but moms are not exempt. The word that Paul uses for discipline is the Greek word, paideia and it also includes instruction, teaching, and training. The other word that is used is instruction which can also mean admonishing, warning, or even counseling. To discipline your children is to enforce boundaries and to provide instruction is to bring your child along guiding and persuading into a person of character because you love them. To be honest with you, parenting is difficult! It is especially difficult in the culture and day that we find ourselves in. To raise your child in a way that protects them from the idols of both our culture and their own hearts is hard work and if it is done poorly or in a way that is heavy on law and light on grace... or heavy on grace and light on law... the consequences can be devastating to watch and experience as a parent. The danger in striving to raise your child well with rules is to be overbearing where truth and the rules of the house leave little room to experience love and grace for your child. This is how you can provoke your children to anger... If you want to raise a resentful, frustrated, and angry child, make sure you leave little to no room for your child to experience the love that you have for him or her. Creating rules and enforcing them is easy and important, but to do that and at the same time making space and time to pay attention to your childs heart, to listen to your child, to be safe enough so that your child feels free to speak to you, to respect the way God put your child together in terms of their personality... takes time and energy. Your children do not only need you be their parent, but they need you be present in their life. However, Paul does not end with his charge to fathers not provoking their children to anger. Our responsibility as parents is to, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. If you want to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in which you have been called, then you must bring up your child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. What does it look like to bring up your child, and what does it involve? Check out what God instructed His people to do in order to pass on the faith of the parents to their children: Hear, Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. And you shall repeat them diligently to your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. (Deut. 6:48) This passage in Deuteronomy is known as the Shema, and it was recited often as a prayer. Orthodox Jews take the Shema literally in the sense that they literally tie the word of God onto their arms and their foreheads. The scribes and Pharisees in Jesus time did the same thing, what they wore on their foreheads and arms were called phylacteries, and they made sure they were big enough so that everyone could see how religious they were. Listen to what Jesus said about the scribes and Pharisees: The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on peoples shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. (Matt. 23:35) Some of you grew up in homes with parents like this. The scribes and Pharisees missed the entire point of the Shema! The point is not to look and act religious, but that what you say you believe in and your relationship to God is actually who you really are. If you are really a Christian, then it should be who you really are when no one is looking, and especially in your home with those who know you better than anyone else. So, when you are walking, when you are shopping, when you are mowing the lawn, and when it comes to the culture of your home... you really are who you say you are. When it comes to the rules in your home and the time you share with your child, and how you interact with the members of your family, consider what it means to love: Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:47) When it comes to the culture of your home, consider what the fruits of the Spirit are in the life of a Christian: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Gal 5:2223). What does it look like to, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord? It is the kind of disciple-making Jesus commanded us to be about, and it must begin in the home out of a love for God and a love for the closest neighbors you will ever have, namely the members of your own family. [1] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).
God tells us not to be afraid BUT to trust Him--so fear and faith are opposites. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Josh 1:9). "Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you'" (Isaiah 35:4). "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10). "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you" (Isaiah 43:1-2). "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Tim 1:7). "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deut 31:6). "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps 27:1). "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." (Ps 34:4). Faith (and trust) work through love, and when we understand His love, we cannot also fear (or doubt): "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32). "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27). "...but faith work(s) through love" (Gal 5:6). "...cast(ing) all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Heb 11:6). "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Prov 3:5-6). If you REALLY believe that you have what you ask when you pray, there will be no fear... because you believe you already have it. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Matt 11:23-24). "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1). So you should be in rest, no matter what happens between when you ask and when you see it. Even if trials arise, you should still be in rest: "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work. that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:2-8). "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Heb 4:9-10). When Satan comes to try to steal from you, resist: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (1 Peter 5:8-10). "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones" (Prov 3:7-8). "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore" (Eph 6:13-14). Lack of fear (and thus, faith) is evidence to Satan that you're going to win: "and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God" (Phil 1:28). "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 5:4). If it's been a long time coming, do not give up: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life" (Prov 13:12). "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal 6:9). But instead, keep your eyes on the Lord, and not on your problem: David did this, when he encouraged himself in the Lord after Ziklag and his men threatened to stone him: 1 Sam 30:1-8 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt 11:28-30, Msg translation) "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb 12:1-2). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Study 18 - Luke 13: 10 – 14:35 The Great Reversals We read Luke 13:10–17. Question 1: In these verses how do the Lord, and Luke, heighten the contrast between the woman before and after? By emphasising the ‘bent’ and the ‘straight’, we may well be meant to see these as metaphors for sin and righteousness. We read Luke 13:18–21. Question 2: The two small parables about the mustard seed and the yeast) say something obvious about size. What else do they say? Growth is a major factor in both little parables. And the fact that birds could perch in the tree suggests there will be unclean – non-Jewish people - in the Kingdom. What sort of tree Jesus had in mind is not clear; mustard seeds do not normally grow into a tree. Was Jesus, with his great sense of humour, deliberately suggesting that the impossible would happen? Yeast too is unclean, with the same suggestion. We read Luke 13:22–35. Isaiah 25 & 60 provide the background for the first story here. There we read: On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that men may bring you the wealth of the nations— their kings led in triumphal procession. Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land for ever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendour. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the LORD; in its time I will do this swiftly. The Jews of Jesus’ day were inclined to forget the bit about ‘all nations’ and think they were the only privileged people who would see the Kingdom. Jesus is saying that the situation will be much reversed if they are not careful – as they weren’t. We read Luke 14:1–14. Question 3: Why does Jesus not say something like ‘If you come back tomorrow I can give you proper attention and not offend anybody.’ Instead of (Luke 14:3–5)? Jesus is using the situation as a teaching opportunity. He is saying that the human situation, demanding the healing of the man, is more important than the religious duty of keeping the Sabbath. At first glance Luke 14:7–14 reads more like advice than a parable. There are two hints that it is a parable: the word translated ‘honoured’ near the end of v 10 is the same one usually used for ‘grace’, so it is literally ‘get grace’; and the saying in v11 is obviously like Luke 13:30, which refers to the kingdom. Question 4: Necessarily, some are Chief Executive Officers, bishops or head teachers. How does the teaching (Luke 14: 8 – 11) apply to them? They must be careful not to exalt themselves. If others exalt them that is alright. Once again Jesus is emphasising the importance of motive in all that we do. Other people can not see our motives but we know what they are, if we think about them, and the Lord knows anyway. Jesus breaks the accepted social conventions of good behaviour (Luke 14:4,7 & 12). Question 5: Why does Jesus do and say things that so offend people? Does this give us as ambassadors of the gospel a licence to offend people? Jesus places the rules of his Kingdom above the social conventions of his day. He wants people to understand that. We should only offend people for the same reason and then not if we can avoid doing so. We read Luke 14:15–24. The background to the implied question in 14:15, who will be at the great feast in heaven, is interesting. Isaiah clearly thought Gentiles would be present in his prophecy of that event that we have already looked at. Jews of the time of Jesus could not accept that and suggested things such as - that the angel of death would be present to destroy the Gentiles, forcing the believers to wade through the blood to reach the banquet! Jesus is being asked for his opinion. Question 6: People don’t buy fields or houses without seeing them, oxen or motorcars without trying them out (Luke v14:18-19). What is Jesus suggesting by his imagery? People make excuses for not doing what they know they ought to do. That is true here in our world. It is true even when the decision taken here in this world has implications in the age to come. Curiously, the third excuse (Luke 14: 20) is much better than the others! (Deut 24: 5) We read Luke 14:25–35. Question 7: There are 3 conditions here (Luke 14:26, 27, 33 and in 18, 20) for discipleship: renouncing family ties, being prepared for suffering and forsaking possessions. Which is the hardest, which the easiest of these? The answer to that question is up to you. Even allowing for the fact that the ‘hate’ of Luke 14:26 is another example of exaggeration for effect few are prepared to renounce family ties as completely as this suggests. To do so seems to run counter to all other NT teaching. Question 8: When I was at university, a long time ago, the Gospel sermons on a Sunday evening were expected to include a section on ‘counting the cost’. It did not appear to lessen the number of converts. How does that compare with what you hear as the preaching of the good news? That was a tremendously good thing to do and fully in agreement with what Jesus taught in these verses. That has been the second successive long passage with many small episodes, stories and parables. Since you have got this far – well done. The next study includes the parable of the prodigal son so it is rather easier to understand what it is all about. Look forward to it! Tap or click here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file
Special Pentecost Sunday Sermon
A practice brought up a ton in Scripture and hotly debated today...what do we do with circumcision? Does the Bible prescribe it still? What are the medical ramifications?In today's episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question around circumcision and how Christians should think about it today. We look at the origin of circumcision in the Bible, how Christians dealt with the issue through the New Testament, and medical research and opinions on the matter today to help listeners determine what may be the right steps for their family on this issue.The 17:17 podcast is a ministry of Roseville Baptist Church (MN) that seeks to tackle cultural issues and societal questions from a biblical worldview so that listeners discover what the Bible has to say about the key issues they face on a daily basis. The 17:17 podcast seeks to teach the truth of God's Word in a way that is glorifying to God and easy to understand with the hope of furthering God's kingdom in Spirit and in Truth. Scriptures: Gen. 17:10-14; Exo. 12:48; Lev. 12:2-3; Gen. 21:4; Luke 2:21-22; Deut. 10:16; 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 5:6; Gal. 6:15; Gal. 5:1-14; Rom. 2:25-29; Rom. 4:9-13; 1 Cor. 7:18; Acts 15:1-2, 4-6, 9-11, 19-21; Gal. 2:1-3; Acts 16:1-3.If you'd like access to our show notes, please visit www.rosevillebaptist.com/1717podcast to see them in Google Drive!Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review the podcast so that we can reach to larger audiences and share the truth of God's Word with them!Write in your own questions to be answered on the show at 1717pod@gmail.com. God bless!
Live Sunday SERMON. Father's Day 2025! Love & Honor God. Leave a Godly Legacy Deut. 6 by Patrick Rhodes
When Faith Fathers a Generation 06/15/25 Happy Father's Day Deut 5:29 kjv –O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Ex 20) in Deut 6 Moses goes on […]
Worship, Wilderness, and the Way to RighteousnessThis episode focused on biblical worship, the importance of submitting to God's authority, and the contrast between earthly and heavenly people. Drawing from stories and verses from Psalms, John, and Revelation, the message emphasized the believer's identity as part of Christ's heavenly bride. Listeners were exhorted to worship in spirit and truth, remain tenderhearted, and grow in righteousness through Christ as the Chief Shepherd. It closed with a call to thanksgiving, joy, and the enduring power of God's justice and love.Themes:Worship and submission to God as Creator (Psalm 95; John 4:23)Lessons from the wilderness and unbelief Jesus as the one who draws all to God (John 6:44; Eph. 5:25–27)Earthly vs. heavenly people: understanding true IsraelChrist as Messiah, Prophet, King—and our Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4–6)Finding joy, peace, and righteousness in Christ (Matt. 5:6; John 16:33)The power of thanksgiving and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16; Psalm 19)The dangers of a hardened heart and resisting God's callThe process of sanctification and growing in graceGod turns curses into blessings (Deut. 23:5)Scripture References: Psalm 95; John 17:14–16; John 4:23; John 6:44; John 16:33; Ephesians 5:25–27; Colossians 3:16; Revelation 21; Matthew 5:6; 1 Peter 5:4–6; Deuteronomy 23:5; John 1:1–3; Psalm 19
Women of Faith in Leadership - Kingdom Leadership, Workplace Organisational culture, Christian women
Want to Learn How to Lead Like Jesus? Join the Confidence Kickstart Challenge! This is a free 1-hour live workshop where you'll learn how you can gain confidence in leading like Jesus. We'll cover: What's holding you back from leading like Jesus? How Jesus modelled confident leadership How you can start leading like Jesus. Date: June 25th (US Participants); 26 June (Australian Participants) Even if you can't make it, register so that you can receive the recording! I can't wait to share what I've learnt with you! Go to https://events.womenoffaithinleadership.com to register! ........................................................................... GUEST: Mia Perez Mia is a transformational speaker and resilience consultant who captivates audiences with her powerful storytelling, heart-centred approach, and deep insights into overcoming life's toughest challenges. As an author and master storyteller, she's become a sought-after speaker for events and podcasts, sharing her journey of healing, empowerment, and feminine embodiment. Mia's transformative approach has helped countless women experience breakthroughs in emotional resilience, mindset shifts, and self-love. Her ability to help women move past limiting beliefs, reclaim their royal identity, and embrace a life of elegance and abundance has been life-changing for many. Notes from the show: Why do you feel you can't speak up? When did this begin? Mia's notes regarding rest: Rest is worshipping God - Psalms 46:10, the 4th Commandment, to remember the Sabbath Rest is a sign of trust Rest is Rhythmic Rest is for remembrance - Rest is biblical. Deut 5:16 5 quick ways to rest Unplug from social media Go for a walk, enjoy God's creation Get sleep Spend time with God, be intentional Unload everything at the feet of Jesus daily Connect with Mia Instagram Websites: Miaperezspeaks.com Myqueenwithin.com Mia's Book: Lead With V.I.V.A Have a listener question? Submit it at https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com Next steps: 1. Navigate to https://www.womenoffaithinleadership.com where you can: Join the community of like-minded female Christian leaders. This is where I will be hanging out if I'm not on the podcast chatting to you all. Come share and support each other here. Subscribe to my newsletter so you can stay up to date with all upcoming episodes and any other exclusive or special offers. 2. Book your Confidence Coaching session: https://tidycal.com/rikawhelan/coachingcall 3. Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rikawhelan
====================================================SUSCRIBETEhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNpffyr-7_zP1x1lS89ByaQ?sub_confirmation=1==================================================== LECCIÓN DE ESCUELA SABÁTICA II TRIMESTRE DEL 2025Narrado por: Miguel PáezDesde: Bogotá, ColombiaUna cortesía de DR'Ministries y Canaan Seventh-Day Adventist ChurchMARTES 10 DE JUNIOBOOZ COMO REDENTOR Booz se enamora profundamente de Rut y desea casarse con ella, pero existe un obstáculo importante para ello: hay un pariente más cercano que también tiene derecho a ella y a la tierra. Si consideramos a Booz como un tipo de Cristo, esta situación puede revelar una cuestión que está en juego en el Gran Conflicto. Cristo nos ama, pero hay un “pariente más cercano” que también tiene cierto derecho: Satanás. ¿Qué revelan los siguientes pasajes acerca de la pretensión de Satanás respecto de la humanidad? (Job 1:6-11; Mat. 4:8, 9; Jud. 1:9; Luc. 22:31). Cuando Satanás apareció en el concilio celestial, dijo a Dios que venía “de rodear la tierra y andar por ella” (Job 1:7), y cuando Dios le preguntó si se había fijado en el justo Job, Satanás lo reclamó como uno de los suyos, sugiriendo que el corazón de Job no pertenecía realmente a Dios. Es decir, que Job solo seguía a Dios por conveniencia. Según Satanás, Job dejaría de ser leal a Dios si el Señor dejaba de ser benévolo con él. El libro de Judas contiene una breve referencia a una historia muy conocida en Israel, según la cual Moisés resucitó después de haber sido sepultado por Dios mismo (Deut. 34:6). Aunque no tenemos todos los detalles, la disputa por el cuerpo de Moisés da a entender que Satanás estaba reclamando algún derecho sobre él. “Por primera vez Cristo iba a dar vida a uno de los muertos. Cuando el Príncipe de la vida y los ángeles resplandecientes se aproximaron a la tumba, Satanás temió perder su hegemonía. Con sus ángeles malos, se aprestó a disputar la invasión del territorio que llamaba suyo. Se jactó de que el siervo de Dios había llegado a ser su prisionero. Declaró que ni siquiera Moisés había sido capaz de guardar la Ley de Dios; que se había atribuido la gloria que pertenecía a Jehová –había cometido el mismo pecado que hiciera desterrar a Satanás del Cielo–, y que por su transgresión había caído bajo el dominio de Satanás” (Elena de White, Patriarcas y profetas, p. 511). Cristo refutó la afirmación de Satanás, y Moisés fue resucitado (ver Mat. 17:3). En Rut 4:1 al 12, Booz viaja hasta el portal de Belén, la ciudad donde Cristo vino al mundo como nuestro Pariente cercano. Los ancianos se reúnen y finalmente se intercambia una sandalia (símbolo de pertenencia, o propiedad). La puerta de un pueblo era el lugar donde se decidían los casos. Por lo tanto, la escena de Belén es un tipo o representación del Juicio Celestial, ya que refleja la escena del juicio registrada en Daniel 7:13, 14, 22, 26 y 27. No debemos pasar por alto un aspecto crucial del Juicio, y es que este se realiza “en favor de los santos”, pero solo porque Cristo pagó el precio por nosotros, así como Booz lo pagó por Rut para que fuera su esposa.
We're coming back to our study in the gospel of Matthew, reading chapter 4:1-11 this Sunday. In stepping into the human experience, Jesus faces temptation to leave God's intended path for him. In fact, the account of his temptation in the desert is a sweeping overview of the nature of our temptations. Do you ever feel bad for being tempted by things you feel you should have conquered by now? Remember this: Jesus was tempted too. What does that tell us about how we should understand our own temptations? There's an old saying, attributed to Martin Luther, that states we're not responsible for the birds that fly overhead, only the one's we allow to nest in our hair.The first temptation that is presented to Jesus is found in v1-4. It wasn't wrong or evil for Jesus to be hungry. He certainly was given power to do miraculous things with bread – he'll supernaturally provide enough bread to feed thousands of people out in the desert later on in this story. Why was this suggestion to make bread from stones a temptation to sin? Jesus quotes Deut 8:1-3 – read the whole context. Did Israel go hungry in the wilderness? Who provided for them? How does that help us understand what “living by God's word” means?Next Jesus is tempted to jump from the highest point in the temple (v5-7). Again, this is similar to something Jesus will do later on – he won't walk on air, but he'll walk on water, defying the laws of physics. What is the temptation to sin in this suggestion of stepping out in faith that God will rescue him? What clue do we get from Jesus' response in v7?The final temptation recorded in this account is in v8-11. Once again we have the contrast of human kingdoms with God's kingdom. Worship me, the devil says, and you will be King of kings. Interesting, since that is ultimately what Jesus is called – and the last book of the Bible says in Revelation 11:15 that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord. Why is this a sin if it's the fulfillment of his destiny anyway? What does Jesus have to go through in order to be exalted? What sort of King of kings and Lord of lords does it make him when he was willing to die for us?In each of these temptations there is a forecast of something Jesus will ultimately do. The difference is in how it gets fulfilled, and by whom. Where do we look for our fulfillment as human beings? A lot of things in this world promise fulfillment and wholeness – but Who holds the true source of wholeness? What has your experience been in looking for fulfillment in the things we can grasp for in this broken world? How can that instruct us?I think this will be a challenging, yet hopeful study! Hope you can join us on Sunday!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.
Psalm 144A Psalm of David“Herman Gunkel once proposed that this poem was an ‘imitation' of Psalm 18, but, especially because some of the topics it touches on are unlike anything in Psalm 18, it seems more accurate to speak of certain citations from the earlier psalms woven into a different poetic context” Alter, 495. Psalm 144 is often called by form critics a royal psalm. This is because of the mention of David within the psalm-144:10 and because of the connections to Psalm 18. “The psalm may be divided into two major sections, based on the switch from first person singular language in vv. 1-11 to first person plural language in vv. 12-15” NICOT, 985. This psalm incorporates Psalms 18, 8, 39, and 33. “Our circumstances change, but the words that sustained us in the past continue to sustain in the present and will continue to sustain us in the future. For that is the nature of Scripture- indeed ‘old, tried, and true,' but ever new in changing circumstances” NICOT, 989.144:1 Blessed be the LORD, my rock- Ps. 18:2, 31, 46; 19:14; 28:1; 62:2, 6, 7; Deut. 32:4, 13, 15, 18, 30, 31.Who trains my hands for war- Ps. 18:34; II Sam. 22:35. Vs. 1 deals with the Psalmist's hands, vs. 7 God's hands, vs.7, 8, 11, 11 the alien's hands. The word trains was translated teach in 143:10.And my fingers for battle- The fingers may be mentioned because “the fingers refer to the pulling of the bowstring” Alter, 495. The only other mention of fingers in Psalms is God's finger in Ps. 8:3.144:2 My lovingkindness and my fortress- Speaking of God as my lovingkindness “is not unique: cf. Jonah 2:8 (9 Heb.), where it should against be taken as a designation of the Lord and His loyalty, rather than of man's loyalty to Him” Kidner, 478. Similar uses of this word in Psalm 59:10, 17; 89:28 emphasize God's lovingkindness to us and not man's response to God. Lovingkindness in Ps. 143:8, 12 and Pss. 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31, 43; 108:4; 109:12, 16, 21, 26.Fortress in Ps. 18:2; 31:2, 3; 71:3; 91:2. God's defense of him is because of God's love. My stronghold- Ps. 9:9; 18:2; 46:7, 11 and my deliverer- Ps. 18:2; 40:17; 70:5My shield- 3:3; 5:12; 7:10; 18:2, 30, 35 and He in whom I take refuge- 141:8; 142:5; 7:1; 11:1; 16:1; 31:1.Who subdues my people under me- Ps. 18:39, 47 “The violence of the verb suggests that ‘my people' is not intended. A plural ‘peoples' appears in the seemingly basis 18:48 (47) and II Sam. 22:48. “Every virtue he possesses every victory won…are His alone (I Cor. 15:10)” Laymen, 698. 144:3 O LORD, what is man that You take knowledge of him?- Ps. 8:4; Job 7:17. His view of God is exalted in 144:1-2, 5-8 leads him here in vs. 3-4 to humble himself and be astonished that God cares for him. This contrast between God's greatness and man's dependence on Him is seen in II Cor. 4:7. “What is man, king or commoner, that he should be worthy of such glorious beneficence from God?” Alter, 496. 144:4 Man is like a mere breath- Ps. 39:5-6, 11; 62:9; 90:9; 109:23 “The word breath is hebel, the same word used by the author of Qoheleth to describe life in this world” NICOT, 987.His days are like a passing shadow- Job 8:9; 14:2; Psalm 102:11; 109:23. “The line moves from mere breath to something still more insubstantial, a passing shadow” Alter, 496. Write for more notes
I continue teaching on Pentecost here, specifically looking at what is counted as commanded in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy. I also go into some points concerning lunar vs. Saturday sabbath.
Acts 2; Deut. 16:16 with Pastor Greg Denham