Podcasts about Ephesus

We continue our series on norms in the early church with "The Word." The Word (or a synonym for the Word) is mentioned at least once in every chapter in Acts 1-20. The Word was increasing; the Word was preached boldly, broadly, and consistently; preaching the Word was the main work of sent-out-ones. Whatever we are doing, let's saturate it with the Word.  Three Themes on the Word in Acts:  The Word of God increased and multiplied – in and out of Jerusalem, Samaria, Ephesus, and surrounding regions. The Word is powerful and has a power of its own, almost like the HS. Examples: Acts 6:7: And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem . . . (Jerusalem) Acts 12:24: But the word of God increased and multiplied. (Samaria and beyond) Acts 19:20: So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Ephesus) This should encourage us and build up our faith in the inherent power of the Word, apart from our own abilities! The Word went out broadly and boldly, publicly, and consistently. Many examples of public, bold proclamation (4:13, 29, 31; 9:27, 28; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; 28:31). Paul and his teammates (missionaries) had an extremely high level of commitment to preaching and explaining the Word. This is what Paul did in every place, day after day, for hours, in different contexts. It's very clear in Acts 13-20 – preaching the Word was the work that Paul did. He was persuading and proving that Christ was Lord. He explained the Word with the goal of people responding. 3 Suggestions for application: Make sure everything we do is saturated with the Word. Always make the Word of God your main content! Not your own experience. Yes, you need to connect with your audience and teach in a way that they understand, but you don't have to be super creative. Get them connected to God's Word. Tools: We have tools now that put God's Word into people's hands more easily than at any other time in history. Do a heart check. Paul's heart was very involved.  Is my goal to just share the gospel so I can feel like I'm doing my job? Or is my heart's desire to see people believe? To convince them to completely change their minds? Am I content to just walk away after a 3-minute conversation? When I have the opportunity, am I willing to share with a nonbeliever daily? Or for a complete hour? How do we get the gospel out more? We must always be asking this question. This is not only or even mainly a pulpit ministry. How do we get the gospel out boldly, broadly, publicly, and consistently? How many people in my city are hearing the gospel today? How often am I preaching the Word? What opportunities are right in front of me? Spirit-filling results in bold proclamation. If you want Spirit-filling, then put yourself in positions of preaching the Word, and the Holy Spirit will be more likely to show up! Book referenced in this episode: Paul's Understanding of the Church's Mission by Robert L. Plummer. Connect with us: The Coworkers Podcast website Instagram: thecoworkerspodcast Email: coworkersstudy@gmail.com  

Acts 19:23-41The Gospel CHANGES peopleChanged PEOPLE change their CITIESThere will be conflict between the WAY and the WORLDThree Responses to the Conflict:-WEAK Gospel-FALSE Gospel-TRUE GospelDo not TRUST the mobDo not FEAR the mob

1 CORINTHIANS  Correction With Confidence Because of The Faithfulness Of God Toward  His Saints!1 Corinthians 16:5–12 (ESV) I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.  10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.MAKE PLANS FOR THE WORK OF THE LORD, TRUSTING THE PROVIDENCE OF GODPLAN INTENTIONALITY FOR THE WORK OF THE LORD (V5-9) PURPOSE YOUR LIFE AROUND THE WORK OF THE LORD (V5-12) PERCEIVE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR PLANS AND GOD'S PLAN (V12)

1 Corinthians 16:5-95 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia.6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

When the gospel came to Ephesus, it didn't just become one more religious option. It transformed lives, exposed idols, and even disrupted the city's economy. Join us this Sunday as we discover how the gospel doesn't just add something to our lives. It reorganizes everything.

The Church at Ephesus - Revelation 2:1-7 Jim Otto

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Acts 19:11-20 As mentioned last week – Ephesus was quite a city. Digging deeper we find the city itself was held in the grip of superstition, demonism, and spiritual darkness. Ephesus was a stronghold for the devil, a bastion of the underworld and occult. Although a wealthy city that sat at the crossroads of the Roman Empire, Ephesus was spiritually bankrupt.

THE WAR between the deep state and President Trump escalated this week when the president declassified documents revealing treasonous acts by elements within the CIA and FBI leading up to the 2020 election.  This is a reminder that presidents don't have as much control over the United States government as we (or they) think. The irony is that the clever operatives in the intelligence community are not the ones ultimately in control of world events. As Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood." In other words, events in the news are simply shadows of the real struggle taking place in the unseen realm. We also discuss the spiritual forces behind Islam and the true iudentity of Allah. And we talk about the outbreak of cyclospora in the US, a nasty parasite that causes severe gastrointestinal distress.  Follow us! • X (formerly Twitter): @pidradio | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunker• Substack: gilberthouse.substack.com | SharonKGilbert.substack.com• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation• Facebook.com/pidradio Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! f you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to this podcast, our weekly Bible studies, and our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker. The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at pidradio.com/app. JOIN US IN ISRAEL (NOTE NEW DATES)! We will tour the Holy Land October 25–November 6, 2027 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store/.

Philippians4:11: "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned inwhatever state I am, to be content.” Immediately Paul wants the Philippiansto understand something. He is not thanking them because he was desperate formoney. He says, "Not that I speak in respect of want." Paulcertainly appreciated their generous gift, but his joy did not depend uponwhether he had plenty or little. His happiness was not tied to his bankaccount, his circumstances, or his physical comfort. Thenhe makes one of the most remarkable statements in Scripture: "For Ihave learned...".  Noticecarefully what Paul does not say. He does not say, "I was borncontent." He does not say, "I have always been content." He doesnot say, "Contentment came naturally to me." No. He says, "Ihave learned." That one word is full of encouragement. Contentment is nota personality trait. It is not something only optimistic people possess. It isnot the result of favorable circumstances. It is something that every believermust learn in the school of God. Justas a child learns to read one lesson at a time, so God patiently teaches Hischildren contentment one experience at a time. Each circumstancebecame another classroom where God taught Paul to trust Christ.  Godoften teaches us His greatest lessons in the classrooms we would never choosefor ourselves. None of us naturally enjoys trials. None of us asks forsuffering. Yet many of the deepest truths we know about God's faithfulnesscould never have been learned any other way. James tells us in James 1:2-3: “Mybrethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that thetesting of your faith produces patience.” Peter reminds us that the trialof our faith is more precious than gold in 1 Peter 1:6-7: “In this yougreatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have beengrieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much moreprecious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found topraise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Godis never wasting our hardships. He is teaching us something that prosperityalone could never teach. Notice the next phrase. "...in whatsoeverstate I am..." Paul is not talking about geography. He is not speakingabout whether he is in Philippi, Ephesus, Corinth, or Rome, North Caolina orVirginia. He is talking about every circumstance of life. Whether life is easyor difficult. Whether his needs are met abundantly or barely. Whether he isfree or imprisoned. Whether he is applauded or criticized. In every situation,God had been teaching him. Thencomes the great lesson. "...therewith to be content." The word"content" carries the idea of being inwardly sufficient, satisfied,and at rest. For the Christian, however, our sufficiency is not found inourselves. Our sufficiency is found in Christ. As Paul wrote elsewhere in 2Corinthians 3:5, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves... but oursufficiency is of God." The world says, "You will be content whenyou get more." God says, "You will be content when you discover thatChrist is enough." The world constantly tells us that happiness is justone purchase away. One promotion away. One new possession away. One bettercircumstance away. But once we obtain those things, we soon discover that theycannot satisfy the deepest needs of the heart. Only Christ can do that. Augustinewrote many centuries ago, "Our hearts are restless until they find theirrest in Thee." How true that is!Perhapstoday God has enrolled you in the school of contentment. Maybe your lessoninvolves waiting. Perhaps it involves illness. Financial pressure.Disappointment. Or unanswered questions. Do not despise the classroom. YourHeavenly Father is an excellent Teacher. Every lesson has a purpose. Everyassignment has eternal value. Every trial is designed to make you more like HisSon.

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In Acts 19, the spread of the gospel in Ephesus begins to threaten the idol-making economy built around Artemis worship. Demetrius and the craftsmen oppose Paul because obedience to Christ is now costing them financially. This episode reminds us that Satan often uses selfish gain to justify disobedience, but no profit is worth rebellion against the Lord.

Armored Against Demon Invasion (audio) David Eells – 7/15/26 Bundle of Serpents Attacks  John David Feagin - 10/31/2011 (David's notes in red) In the brief dream I had, there was a bundle, like the old-fashioned bundle of wheat that was being passed down from two others in line to me, only this bundle was a bundle of serpents. I could tell that they were very venomous serpents, like sea snakes, cobras, mambas, or coral snakes. They tried to bite my arm and, naturally, I did not like this. I did remember that we are immune to the bites of serpents if we are covered in the Blood of Jesus, so this is where I put my trust. I was no longer so concerned and set them aside. At the time I awoke, this was puzzling to me, but now, after some thought, I believe I understand it more fully. The snakes involved have neurotoxins, which attack the brain, that is, our thoughts. We are strictly warned to take captive our every thought (that is, against the knowledge of God's Word) and this now means much more to me than it ever has before. I am certainly no expert with such things or spiritual warfare, but I do know that demons associated with pornography, bitterness, criticism, faction, etc., are very powerful and deadly. I also know that demons can be transferred by men, and inadvertently opening doors, even with the best of intentions, can invite personal attack. I personally believe this was a warning to be very careful, but it may also be a general warning to others as well, and may be applied to all sorts of demonic or thought influence. If the enemy can truly read our thoughts and insert them, as has been shown in a previous UBM study, then this is particularly devious. It is difficult to reject such thoughts if you think they are your own.  Then, this morning, as a sort of confirmation, I saw the UBM update about the bug detector and casting such thoughts to hell immediately in the name of Jesus. I also noticed that when I was praying, in the Word, and seeking wisdom in such matters, my thoughts were clear, but when my guard was down, my own thoughts and emotions in the matter, no matter how well-intended, were somewhat intoxicating. So, forewarned is forearmed. God bless always in His service.  Be careful of slander and criticism for the purpose of making disciples. It comes only from demons, and those they can use, and it comes for only one reason -- to impart demons and poison minds against someone the devil hates. Demons impersonating aliens to turn the world to the mark of the beast to destroy Christianity. The Word for “heresies” or “parties” in Galatians 5:20 means “a self-willed opinion leading to division”. The word for factions among these works of the flesh means separating followers through selfish ambition. Demons impersonate righteous indignation but are actually criticism or new revelation. {Jas.3:14} But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth. {15} This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. {16} For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.   Bluffing Demons & Spiritual Authority  Sandy Shaw 11/09/2011 (David's notes in red) The way this dream starts is that I'm walking into this room, and I'm watching a group of men (some I know, some I don't know) who are turning around and leaving the room. I ask the ladies there, “Where are the men going?” (These men are the chosen.)  The women who are there tell me not to worry because they need to go -- they have to go. The Lord wants them to go. When this happens, I feel like all the women are in unity that the men needed to go. (The spiritual catching up to the throne anointing of those who will return as the Man-child reformer ministry.) I then grab Tina's hand and ask, “Don't you feel the winds of change?” She answers, “What?” Then I say, “The change. The winds of change. Don't you feel the winds of change?” (From this point on, everything will change both positively for those who love God and are called according to His purpose and negatively for the wicked; a separation of the wheat from the tares. Tina ended up going factious, the opposite of Sandy.)  Then I go from there to an ancient-looking town square or plaza. People are walking all around. There are archways all around the square leading into different hallways, buildings, or rooms. It looks and feels like it's an ancient city. (Archways were made famous by the ancient Romans, who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures. We are seeing a revival of the iron and clay of Daniel's end-time vision of the 10 toes of the world beast kingdom. There is no dispute that the iron is the seed of the Roman Empire.) As I'm walking slowly through this square, I'm praying. I'm praying continuously because I can feel the presence of evil so strongly there. (Great darkness is about to descend as the principality of the old Roman Empire prepares to take charge and make the covenant with many, as spoken of in Daniel 9:26,27.) As I'm looking at some of the people, they look human, but for a brief moment, I can see certain demons that are controlling them. (As we watch this progressive revelation, the people who belong to the body of the beast become less and less human and more and more demon, just as those who belong to the body of Christ become less and less human and more and more sons of God. Those from among the people of God who do not forsake their evil will go with the wicked. {Rev.22:11} He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still. In the days before the coming of the Lord, at the end of the tribulation, Jesus will come in and then with His saints. {2Th.1:7} and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, {8} rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: {9} who shall suffer punishment, [even] eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, {10} when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.) As I'm praying, some man grabs my arm and pulls me into one of the hallways. As he is pulling me into the hallway, I hear someone in the square saying, “We gotta find her. We gotta find her. We have to stop her. Her prayers are reaching the throne of Heaven!” (These voices are the demons speaking through men). (Our prayers do reach the throne when sent by faith, and the demons' plans are thwarted. {Psa.10:17} Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. {Rom.10:13} for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. {Jer.33:3} Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.) So the man pulls me into this room, and there are mostly men and a few women there. This room is full of uniforms of all different kinds. The people are trying to figure out which uniform to put on. Some of the uniforms are military. As they are excited about finding the right uniform to wear, they are trying them on. I know in the dream that these people are Christians. (The “Christians” will be worried about how to appear to the world in this dangerous time and what lifestyle to put on besides Christ's. A military uniform indicates a militant lifestyle in dealing with this beast system, which will be disastrous since “they who take the sword will die by the sword”. We must put on the uniform of the new man, who is in the image of Jesus and His actions, according to the knowledge of the Word. {Col.3:9} lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, {10} and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him.)  I tell them that they have it wrong and that the full armor that they need to put on is the full armor of God, not one of these physical uniforms made by man. The people just look at me, not receiving anything I'm saying (as apostate patriotic Christians). A man asks me to sit down and take a look at this uniform. Then this man puts on some kind of uniform with a jacket. The jacket and uniform cover his legs, feet, and everything. There is a hood to the jacket that covers his whole head with a face-covering mask. The material of the jacket is a material I've never felt before. They then pour chemicals over it, resulting in no damage. Then they turn a blowtorch on it, and the torch doesn't burn or damage it. (As a volunteer fireman for Exxon, they gave us shirts that had metal woven into them to reflect heat.  Our government is allying with alien impersonating demons like the galactic federation or alliance in hopes of profiting from their “higher technology.” But these hate Christians and will help to bring about the mark of the beast to be rid of them.) They are really excited about the uniform/jacket and are picking it to be the one they will use. (There is no safety outside of God's will. He sent the curse, and no man can defend from it. {Jer.17:5} Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah. ... {7} Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is. {8} For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.) I tell them again, “No, you have it wrong; it's the full armor of God that you need to put on. There is nothing manmade that will help you. You only need the full armor of God”. I then get up and walk out of there into the long hallway. As I walk down the hallway, it is full of men lining up to put on the uniform they think is going to help them in the battle ahead. {Psa.33:16} There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. {17} A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power. {18} Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness; {19} To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. {20} Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield. ... {Psa.34:7} The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them. {8} Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.) After leaving the “Christians” in their false confidence, I kept walking and went back to the square. The ground in the square has changed: it's all dirt now, and I could see through the dirt. I see under the dirt different piles of bones all over the place. No one knows that those bones are there, and no one sees them either. I'm not quite sure why I'm seeing them. (The hidden bones represent those who are martyred behind the scenes because they are not prepared for the battle by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ, as in Romans 13:12-14. Notice that putting on Jesus IS putting on God's armor or protection. Notice that it is always called the “armor of God” because it is God Himself. {Eph.6:11} Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. {13} Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.  {14} Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, {15} and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; {16} withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. {17} And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: {18} with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Notice that putting on all of these attributes: truth, righteousness, the Gospel, and salvation are manifestations of the Word, Who is Jesus. Putting on Jesus is putting on God. It is the armor of GOD Himself.) I'm walking through the square again, and I'm praying because I need to get to the other side of the square. (Contrary to popular opinion, we will all have to pass through this time of the revived Roman beast with America at the head.) As I'm walking and praying, the people that I saw with demons controlling them, I now see as full-blown demons, but to the natural eye, they still looked human. (The worldly people will be totally possessed, though they appear to each other as normal, and we are seeing more of this happening now. The D.S. can only be picked out by their leftist demon doctrines.) There was one demon that would walk really fast. So fast that it seemed as if he was flying. This demon went right in front of my face, standing right in front of me but he could not see me. He was really angry and talking with authority, telling the other demons, “We have to find these people who are praying! NOW! NOW, I say! Find them! (Prayer by those who believe in its power will be both destructive to Satan's kingdom and defensive to those who walk in the Lord's Kingdom. {Jas.5:16} Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working. {17} Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. {18} And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.)  I was standing right in front of him, praying, and the demon had no clue that I was there. (In other words, I was hidden in Christ.) So, I keep walking and when I get to the right-hand corner of the square, I look. I stop, turn around, and I'm looking! I'm watching these people. And the room is not really a room. The way that it feels is completely off, like when you walk into a room, and you can see the light, yet you can see shadows behind things. This was now completely reversed. There was light where shadows would normally be. There were bits and pieces of light. It was completely off, completely out of order. It just didn't feel or look right. (When the light is dark, and the dark is light, it is when good is called evil and evil is called good. This is where demon-possessed society is and has been going. {Isa.5:20} Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! We see this with demon-possessed people now.) After I walked through there, I saw what looked like some kind of old train depot-type thing. I know it's some kind of old transportation system. I'm in this room where there are two big fences with gates -- a cement-type fence. There is a gate, and people are going in and out of the gate. And then there is like a middle part where a lot of people are walking -- a lot of traffic. (To get where they want to go, Christians can't walk where the masses do in their bondage, spiritually speaking. {Mat.7:13} Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. {14} For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. We must be conformed by the Word within.) On the other end is the same kind of gate that people are entering this place from somewhere else. When I go there, I'm waiting for Tina, Sam, and my mom. I feel like Tina and Sam went to get my mom wherever she was to bring her here. I knew that it hadn't been very long since I had seen Tina and Sam, but that I hadn't seen my mom in a while. Tina and Sam were getting ready to go through the gate that's on the other side to go to the middle. My mom stopped them and said, “No, we can't go that way. We have to go the other way”. (Sandy said that she felt that if they had gone into the middle, they would have died. This warning was not taken seriously by them and they spiritually died. They did not listen. This is where the people of God need to go from the worldly to the spiritual; there cannot be ‘a halfway', ‘a lukewarm'. This would mean spiritual death to them in this time and a spewing out of the body of Christ. {Rev.3:15} I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. {16} So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.) If you walked all the way around to the end, there was another part that was covered by the fence. They did not walk in the middle part. They had to walk all the way around to where I was. (The path of least resistance, or the shortcut, is the wrong way. The worldly church offers many of these. Just listen to them, and they will show you the quick and easy way to get saved and fly away, but the end is death.) They were almost down to that part, and there was another little gate to walk to the middle. My mom stopped and turned around and told Tina, “Grab Sam. He cannot walk in the middle. There is no middle; he can't walk in the middle”. (None of those who are lukewarm, middle-of-the-road walkers will spiritually survive.) As Sam goes toward the middle, Tina grabs him and they walk all the way around to where I was. I greet them and hug them. (This awakening was temporary.) Then I tell them, “Things are not what they seem to be”. My mom then says, “It's okay, it's okay, because everything that is happening is according to God's will. We just need to stay in constant prayer. {Pro.14:12} There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death. We just need to stay in constant prayer”. (In the days of strong delusion and deception, there's much advanced technology now using AI, CGI, and programming through drugs, mind control and manipulation, etc., we cannot walk according to our carnal mind or senses, or we will stumble. Prayer without ceasing is our command.) So, I'm walking ahead of them. Tina is walking on one side, my mom on the other side, both holding Sam's hand. Sam was not as old as he is now. He looked to be eight or nine years old. (We will have to help guide those Christians who are not yet mature in discernment. God will hear their prayers, too. Samuel is Hebrew for “God heard” or “God's name”. Shem is a variant of Sam, meaning “name”. Shem was the father of the people of the name, as Christians are now. Shem was the father of the Israelites.) Sam was trying not to act afraid when there was the presence of evil all around us. Even amongst all the evil, we knew we were under the protection of the Lord. There was no safe place other than the arms of God. I bent down to talk to Sam in his ear, saying, “It's okay to be afraid; you just fear the Lord. Don't fear anyone else or anything else. Nothing can harm you because they have to go through the Father first. Don't be afraid”. (Fear permits faith to be robbed and the enemies to take advantage of us. It is faith in reverse. {Psa.23:4} Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod [of correction] and thy staff [of direction], they comfort me. {5} Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over. (With this anointing of the Holy Spirit, we should give the good confession.) {6} Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever.) Then we started walking back to the square. The dirt has changed again. The dirt now seems like it's a mud-like consistency. But to the natural eye, it looks just like dirt. I still see the piles of bones now with the mud going between the fingers, toes, etc. But now I also see something like a circle; it's a tunnel and I can see it at weird angles and kind of far. The things that I'm seeing in these tunnels are body parts with the flesh. I'm seeing arms cut off, legs, face, head, all different kinds of body parts. They look to be freshly cut off from the body because I can still see the blood. The blood is still wet. I can see the nerves on some of these parts still shaking and moving. (The ‘powers that be' have made many underground tunnels connecting cities, where the military and special forces have found remains of countless people who were murdered by satanists. According to other dreams and prophecies I have seen, it is in these tunnels that the saints will be expected to renounce Jesus or die. It behooves us to walk carefully so we fill out both our days and our ministry.)  I'm getting ready to step, and I stop. I put my hand out to stop my mom, Tina, and Sam as I watch the details of the body parts freshly cut off. It was gross. I then asked them if they saw those parts. Tina and my mom saw it; Sam closed his eyes. He didn't want to see it. I then asked, “But it's not there?” My mom said, “Oh, but it is there under the dirt”. We stopped then and there, and we started praying. We were praying in tongues. While we were praying, I told Tina to take my mom and Sam to the outer part of the square, find a place, and begin praying and interceding. And that's what they did. (As with the Nazi persecutions in the death camps of World War 2, many will deny for the sake of soothing their own conscience that these persecutions are happening, but they will be out of sight and out of mind, “under the dirt”.) I was taking very small steps as the Lord was guiding me and telling me to. (Every step in these days will need to be according to the Father's will because of the dangers. {Eph.5:15} Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; {16} redeeming the time, because the days are evil.) And I was just praying and praying and praying. As I was starting to pray, I saw the people in the square now completely as demons. I no longer saw them as humans. (The righteous will be able to see in the spirit realm those who have been displaced by demons.) As I was walking, I felt as if they were trying to find me, and they were bumping into me, but didn't know they were hitting me. I kept praying more and more. I prayed out loud, and they could hear me but couldn't see me. (Invisibility in the spirit realm makes for peace from the flesh realm.)  That big demon I saw earlier that walked really fast was now there, and there were more demons of his stature and size. They were frantic, upset and mad. One of them said, “Now there are more praying. Do you hear them praying? We have to find them NOW! I'm telling you, their prayers are reaching the throne room of Heaven. Things are going to change. Find them NOW!” There was such an urgency to find us. I walked all the way to the end of the square and I turned around and asked, “Okay, Lord. What is it that You want me to do?” (Truly, “things are going to change.” Walking to the end of the square represents that the saints will go through this beast tribulation and bring the Gospel to the whole world. Watch volume one of Hidden Manna for the End Times.) I don't know where the Lord took the men whom I saw at the beginning of the dream or what had happened, but I just knew that they were coming back. The demons were still looking really hard for the people who were praying. Not just us, but they were looking to stop everyone everywhere from praying. The Lord told me to step a foot back in the square, and I did. When I stepped back in the square, I was speaking the Word out loud. Everything that the Lord was saying to me, I was speaking out loud. The demons could now see me and were in my face, trying to intimidate or scare me. I knew that they could not touch me. They were telling me to shut up, be quiet, that my prayers were dead, and I was doing no good. “Don't you know we can kill you? We can take you out! You are nothing!” Many of them kept saying those things to me over and over. (Demons are full of threats to discourage the prayers and works of God, but most Christians don't recognize them as coming from demons, but feel they are their own thoughts and are defeated. The knowledge of God's Word will enable them to defeat the deceivers. {2Co.10:3} For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh {4} (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), {5} casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.) I said to them, “I am nothing, but through Christ Jesus He is everything. He is my all and all. Everything that I need, God is. God is the source. God is the strength. God is the great I AM! One of the demons was so close to my face that I could smell his stench. So close that he was almost touching me. I told him, “You are nothing! You can't do anything other than what my God allows. You are nothing! (God is sovereign over all, but He will allow many things that we allow because He has delegated authority over all the power of the enemies. {Mat.18:18} Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. {19} Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven. ... {Luk.10:19} Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. {20} Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. I heard a noise behind me, and I turned around and saw all the men who had gone out, and there were more with them coming, and with what looked like Christ in the middle. Everyone was dressed in white. When Christ and all those men came on the scene, some of those demons became smaller and smaller. The ones that were already small were trying to run, but they couldn't go anywhere, as you have seen in cartoons, only this was not a cartoon; they were liquefying before me into a puddle on the floor, and then they were gone. I was backing up as the men were going forward. I went with Tina, Sam, and my mom to this place where I saw a lot more people who were praying and interceding. Then I woke up. (Who are these men whom the demons fear? The Lord is in the Man-child ministry to raise up many in the image of the Lord. These are coming to wreak havoc on the spiritual hosts of wickedness. Hallelujah!)  After I woke up from the dream, I heard the Lord say, “Write this down: “You have all power and authority in the name of Jesus Christ. Understand and know the power of His blood. For you are adopted, therefore you are entitled to everything. Hear Me! Understand Me! Know Me! For then the enemy cannot deceive you for what's ahead.”   The Men Whom the Demons Fear Seven spiritual shepherds who are sent by the Man-child to minister to the seven Churches, which is mentioned in Hidden Manna for the End Times. First, Jesus is coming to be manifested in the Man-child ministry. (Mic.5:2) But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. Obviously, this is Jesus. (3) Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth (the man-child body): then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. Jesus left because of rebellion and will return in the Man-child who is born of the travailing woman in Revelation 12. As Jesus fed the former rain woman in a body of flesh, so He will feed the latter rain woman in a corporate body of flesh. (Mic.5:4) And He shall stand, and shall feed [His flock] in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God: and they shall abide; for now shall He be great unto the ends of the earth. The Jesus of the former rain was revered by the disciples and feared by His enemies, but because of apostasy, this has not been true for many centuries since because they have had “another Jesus.” The Man-child body and those disciples who follow in His/their steps will restore this, and He shall be “great unto the ends of the earth”. The Man-child's teaching will bring peace to the seven churches that are at war with the beast and harlot. (5) And this [man] shall be [our] peace, When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal (Hebrew: “princes among”) men. The corporate body of the Man-child is “this man” who brings peace to the corporate woman with his teachings, which enable her to resist the beast invasion. He brings peace because the “Prince of peace” is in his heart. Spiritually speaking, we are the “land” with the “palaces” that the corporate beast is trying to invade. (1Co.3:9) For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry (Greek: “tilled land”), God's building (“palaces”). As we shall see, the beast is a corporate spirit from the abyss (Rev.17:8) that inhabits the body of the wicked (3) and seeks to inhabit the righteous and mark them. Notice that the “Assyrians” are called “him” which shows that they are seen as the corporate body of the beast. Since the Assyrian beast kingdom passed away over 600 years before Christ, they could not have been connected with Jesus or the Man-child. Therefore, God, as usual, was using the beast of that day to represent a particular aspect of the end time beast. As the Assyrian beast did not conquer Jerusalem, so the end time beast will not conquer those spiritually abiding in the New Jerusalem. (Mic.5:5) ...Then shall we raise against him seven shepherds and eight principal (Hebrew: “princes among”) men. The Man-child Jesus raised up twelve apostolic shepherds primarily to restore those of the “twelve-tribes of Israel” who would listen (Mat.10:5; Act.26:7; Jas.1:1; 1Pet.1:1). In exact parallel, the corporate Man-child will raise up “seven” corporate apostolic “shepherds” primarily to restore the “seven churches”. The Man-child's primary job is to feed the unleavened bread of the Word to disciples in order to manifest Christ in them. These will be the new leadership for the seven churches in the last 3 1/2 years. These “seven shepherds” are not sectarian religious leaders but one man in Christ and are inhabited by one “prince of peace”, Jesus, hence “eight princes among men”. In the next chapter of Micah, we will see that even after the Man-child Jesus' 3 ½-year ministry, He promised to be with the shepherds in spirit “unto the consummation of the age,” (Greek: Mat.28:20) hence “eight princes among men”. These princes are sons of the King and have authority over His realm of the seven churches. The seven churches of Revelation are a type of seven different types of Christians in the Church. (Isa.4:1) And seven women (the Church) shall take hold of one man in that day. The “one man” here is Jesus manifested in the Man-child. Then He will be manifested in the seven shepherds and then in the true Church. One of God's solutions to the apostasy in the Church is new leadership. (Isa.1:26) And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning. The same type of counselors in the former rain will be given in the latter rain. Here is another confirmation of the Man-child giving His revelation to seven shepherds, who passed it on to the seven churches. When the Man-child Jesus sent His shepherds out, He called them “apostles”, meaning “one sent forth”. In other words, the shepherds were the Man-child's messengers to the churches. As a type of the Man-child, John on the Isle of Patmos was “a partaker with you in the tribulation” (Rev.1:9) when he was caught up to the throne of God and given a revelation of the coming tribulation to give to the seven churches. (4:1) After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, [a voice] as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter. (2) Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne. Like Jesus, he was given a revelation of the apostasy in the Church and told to send it to the seven churches by the hand of seven angels. (1:11) ...What thou seest, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches.... (Rev.2:1,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14) To the angel of the church in Ephesus (and so with Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea) write.... “Angel” in these cases is the Greek word angelos meaning “messengers” and is also used of ministers in the New Testament (Example: Luk.4:24,27; 9:52). The equivalent Hebrew word in the Old Testament is translated “messenger” when speaking of priests (Mal.2:7), John the Baptist, and Jesus (Luk.3:1). Since it doesn't make sense that John sent the revelation by angels, he must have sent it by seven minister messengers to the seven churches. This is exactly what Jesus did as Man-child. He shared His revelation with minister messengers, who shared it with the seven churches.

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In 1 Timothy 1:1–11, Paul instructs Timothy to confront false teaching and guard the gospel within the church at Ephesus. Pastor Caleb Cole explains why sound doctrine matters, how speculation and hidden knowledge can distract believers from Scripture, and why Christians must carefully evaluate what they hear against the Word of God. Real love protects what saves, and Jesus is the only one who can save.Guarding the gospel is not about winning arguments or correcting people from a place of pride. Correction must come from a pure heart, a good conscience, sincere faith, and genuine love. This message also explores the proper purpose of the law, the grace that saves us through faith in Jesus, and the responsibility every believer has to share the good news that transforms hearts, families, and lives. (00:00) - Introducing the Book of 1 Timothy (01:00) - What Basketball Defense Teaches Us About Guarding (04:01) - Paul, Timothy, and the Church in Ephesus (06:56) - 1 Timothy 1:1–11 (08:53) - Real Love Protects What Saves (09:39) - Sound Doctrine Matters (11:23) - Myths, Genealogies, and Hidden Knowledge (12:21) - The Danger of the Bible Code (14:55) - When Spiritual Practices Drift from Scripture (16:56) - Stewarding the House of God (18:27) - Love Is the Goal of Correction (21:44) - The Law Exposes Sin (23:28) - Grace, Righteousness, and Spiritual Pride (28:37) - The Law Is a Mirror, Not a Savior (29:28) - The Gospel Has Been Entrusted to Us (32:54) - How the Gospel Transforms a Family

In this sermon, Jordan Funderburk walks the congregation through the second half of Paul's third missionary journey in Acts 19-21, using Paul's experiences as a lens to answer one central question: what is the cost of following Jesus? Jordan opens with a relatable illustration — weighing the cost of a car repair or a vacation — before anchoring the big idea in Luke 14:27, where Jesus himself says that whoever does not carry his own cross cannot be his disciple. Following Jesus, Jordan makes clear, is the biggest decision a person will ever make, and it is never without a price. As Paul moves through Ephesus, Troas, and toward Jerusalem, Jordan draws out several specific costs that surface along the way. The riot stirred up by Demetrius and the silversmiths in Ephesus illustrates that radical change often provokes radical opposition, and that following Jesus may cost you your popularity, your finances, and even your health. The all-night gathering in Troas — where a young man named Eutychus falls from a window and is raised back to life — highlights the cost of time and convenience. And Paul's tearful farewell to the Ephesian elders, paired with his unwavering resolve to press on to Jerusalem despite certain danger, shows what it looks like to obey God despite unknown outcomes. Jordan closes by pressing the congregation with a challenge rooted in Luke 14:33, where Jesus says that anyone who does not renounce all that he has cannot be his disciple. Drawing on the image of Jesus as both Savior and Lord — two sides of the same coin — Jordan reminds the church that we cannot accept one side while rejecting the other. Quoting John MacArthur, he leaves the congregation with this: it costs nothing to become a Christian, but it costs everything to live fully as one. The good news, however, is that as Luke 18:29-30 promises, whatever is surrendered for the sake of the kingdom will be repaid many times over, both in this life and in the life to come.

What if the church is trapped in the same invisible loop as an addict — and doesn't know it? What does addiction science have to do with the body of Christ? More than you'd think. In this follow-up conversation, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma build on their interview with Dr. David Van Dyke (Wheaton College Marriage & Family Therapy) to explore how systems thinking unlocks a deeper understanding of church health, Christian formation, and why faithful people keep repeating the same destructive patterns. Drawing on Kent Dunnington's groundbreaking work Virtue and Addiction, the conversation reveals that the opposite of virtue isn't simply vice — it's addiction. Both are habit-formed, systems-shaped realities. The hosts then turn this lens on the church: from organizational cultures stuck in toxic loops, to single-issue political formation, to Pharaoh's fear-driven decision-making in Exodus — and what it all reveals about how invisible systems shape us without our awareness. This is a rare conversation: calm, theologically rigorous, and genuinely challenging for anyone who wants to think clearly about what it means to be the body of Christ in the world today. Key Takeaways: Why addiction is the true opposite of virtue — not vice — according to philosopher Kent Dunnington How invisible systems shape our habits, reactions, and identities without our awareness Why single-issue political engagement may be forming us into political animals rather than disciples The Pharaoh principle: how fear-driven, system-bound thinking causes us to miss what God is doing The Ephesus problem: the danger of being doctrinally right but missionally withdrawn What Jeremiah 7 and Acts 7 reveal about mistaking second-order goods (doctrine, temples) for first-order realities What does a multi-denominational coffee shop Bible study teach the church about unity? Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

What happens when God opens a door, and how should believers respond when the way forward becomes uncertain? Alan Smith examines Acts 19 through the themes of divine protection, spiritual discernment, accountability, and obedience. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, Alan offers an opinion piece on a teaching from Acts 19 and explains why open doors are also tests of character. Paul had a significant opportunity in Ephesus, yet wise counsel kept him from entering a dangerous situation. The account shows how God can protect His people through the guidance of fellow believers. The discussion also covers:  * How to test teaching against Scripture instead of building faith on personality  * Why Charles Finney's revival preaching still matters  * How wider access to the Bible increased personal responsibility  * Progressive revelation and reading Scripture as one unified story  * Predestination, free will, and God's promise to conform believers to Christ  * The meaning of baptism in the Holy Spirit as immersion into the life of Christ  * Spiritual gifts, healing, revival, and the need for discernment  * Why influence and anointing require accountability  * How Acts 19 helps believers respond wisely to open doors Alan encourages viewers to remain teachable, search the Scriptures personally, listen to the counsel of the body of Christ, and obey the truth God has already revealed. Watch Alan Smith: Divine Protection & Open Doors, then share your thoughts in the comments. What has God entrusted to you, and how are you handling the responsibility that comes with it? Subscribe to The Smith and Rowland Show for more biblical teaching and discussion. Join the Kingdom Prophetic Society: https://kingdompropheticsociety.org  #Acts19 #DivineProtection #OpenDoors #HolySpirit #BiblicalTeaching #ChristianPodcast #KingdomPropheticSociety

Rev. Walt Marcum

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Rev. Walt Marcum

Who are those who "have ears to hear" according to Jesus? Am I a "lone ranger Christian," and should I be concerned? If I don't speak in tongues, do I not have the Holy Spirit? What's the meaning of the Revelation 2 warning to the church of Ephesus about forgetting their first love? Are we as believers regarded as "sinners" or "saints" or both? Is the doctrine of original sin (sin and death through Adam) biblical or not? What does the word "word" (logos and its forms) mean in Acts (and James): the law, the gospel, or either depending on the context?

It's possible to look faithful on the outside while slowly drifting from Jesus on the inside.As part of our Summer of Revelation series,, “Don't Fake It Til You Make It,” explores Revelation 2:1–7, where Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus. Though they were known for their hard work, perseverance, and sound doctrine, they had abandoned their first love. This message challenges us to examine whether our passion for Christ has been replaced by performance, busyness, or cultural approval. Jesus isn't looking for perfect behavior—He's calling us back to genuine intimacy, wholehearted devotion, and a love that fuels everything we do.Scripture: Revelation 2:1–7Speaker: Pastor Kyle HornerDid you make a decision to follow Christ today? We'd love to support you—email us at info@theconnectchurch.com.Learn more about The Connect Church and stay connected: https://linktr.ee/theconnectchurch

This week, Pastor Chris continued our series on the seven churches of Revelation by examining Jesus' letter to the church in Ephesus. Through their example, we are reminded that Jesus deserves the first place in our hearts and that loving Him above all else is the foundation of the Christian life. While Jesus commends the church in Ephesus for its faithful service, perseverance, and commitment to sound doctrine, He also rebukes them for abandoning their first love and calls them to remember, repent, and return to the devotion they once had. The message challenges Christians to examine their priorities, guard against spiritual compromise, and cultivate a growing, wholehearted love for Jesus above everything else.

REVELATION 2:1-7

Paul is now in the beginning stages of his third missionary journey and finds himself in the city of Ephesus. Here we see him come face-to-face with the forces of Satan as the gospel is preached, people believe and there is a demonic push back. In all of this, we see the attempts to mimic the power of Christ in the gospel by those who are not believers. We see the material cost to repenting from false practices and we see how the gospel creates tension and hatred from those who refuse to bow in faith to Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Jewish and Gentile believers who were members of house churches located in and around the ancient city of Ephesus.

Wednesday Night Teaching by Rose Colon July 8th, 2026  

In this message, Pastor Jeff Young begins a deeper study through the book of Ephesians by diving into Ephesians chapter 1, and looking at the city of Ephesus in Acts 19 and the culture that surrounded the early church. Discover what it means to be the ekklesia—God's people called out and gathered together—and why unity, biblical identity, and faithfulness are essential for every believer. As we explore the background of Ephesus, you'll gain a richer understanding of Paul's letter and God's design for His Church.

What happens when you use the name of Jesus without actually knowing Him? In this episode, one of our students, Brayson, flips the format and asks the questions, walking Pastor Dallas through Paul's ministry in Ephesus, the strange story of the sons of Sceva, and the riot that broke out when the gospel started costing people money. We talk about whether there's a time to stop pouring into someone who won't receive it, why imitating faith isn't the same as having it, and how to preach truth even when it disrupts people's lives. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & the new studio built by our student film school 1:32 – Brayson takes over: introducing Acts 19 2:06 – When do you stop trying to reach someone? (Acts 19:8-10) 6:06 – The Sons of Sceva: what went wrong when they used Jesus's name (Acts 19:11-20) 11:21 – The Ephesus riot: preaching truth even when it's a hindrance (Acts 19:23-27) 16:08 – Closing thoughts & how to reach us

⚕️ Soranus of Ephesus (c. 98–138 CE) stands among the most important physicians of the ancient world—especially for women's health. A leading representative of the Methodic school, he practiced in Alexandria and Rome, wrote with unusual clarity, and left a lasting mark through his great treatise on gynecology and midwifery. His work addressed pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, bandaging, fractures, and acute and chronic disease with a practical, disciplined voice.

This lecture focuses on Revelation 2:1–7, the message to the church in Ephesus. Jesus commends the church for hard work, endurance, doctrinal discernment, and for rejecting false apostles and the evil practices of the Nicolaitans.The central concern is that the Ephesians have abandoned their first love. The speaker explains that the passage warns against a faith where service and orthodoxy remain, but love for Christ and others has cooled.The sermon then emphasizes Jesus' call to remember, repent, and return. Believers are urged to remember their former closeness to Christ, repent of divided affections and spiritual drift, and return to the works they did at first, now rooted in love rather than duty.The speaker also connects this passage to the question Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me?” He argues that Christianity is not mainly about performance, but about delighting in the Lord, with good works flowing from love.The lecture closes with practical suggestions: set aside time to remember one's story, identify competing affections, confess spiritual drift, and return to practices that cultivate communion with Jesus.

What if the person you're holding captive through unforgiveness is actually you?This week we explored a powerful truth: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free and to realize that the prisoner was you." Like Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Inception, we often trap ourselves in the prison of unforgiveness, thinking we're holding others accountable when we're really holding ourselves hostage.The early church in Ephesus struggled with this too. Paul reminded them: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). Here's the key—we can't offer forgiveness until we truly receive God's forgiveness. At your worst moment, Christ died for you. That's where freedom begins.Forgiveness isn't about feelings—it's about truth. Step into the truth first, and trust the feelings will follow. Otherwise, you'll stay trapped in an anger prison forever. So which do you choose: freedom or vindication? Freedom or being right?

Pastor Drew Zylstra preaches from Revelation 1:19-2:7, “Our First Love.” —————————— More from Oostburg CRC Sermons: https://www.firstcrcoostburg.org/sermons Bible Study Resources: https://www.firstcrcoostburg.org/resources Original Music: https://open.spotify.com/album/4P7JbJlHzabPNW8GpdxKcB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJSouYxM1rwWZ4cYAvTIqVA

What you consume shapes who you become—so what happens when a mind constantly absorbs outrage, conspiracy, and empty philosophy instead of truth? Pastor Dorrell examines Paul's charge to young Timothy, a timid pastor surrounded by false teachers in ancient Ephesus, showing how spiritual health begins with guarding what enters the heart. Unlike bodily exercise that has limited value, Paul insists godliness—reflecting the character of Christ in word, conduct, love, and purity—profits in every way, both now and forever. Listeners are challenged to examine their daily intake, replace spiritual junk food with Scripture, and pursue a quiet, authentic life that convincingly resembles Jesus Christ.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join UsFind service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join.Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

What really shapes a city? Buildings, businesses, politics, and culture may be what we see, but beneath every city is an invisible architecture made up of what people worship, trust, and ultimately live for. In Acts 19, Paul arrives in Ephesus, one of the most influential cities in the Roman Empire. It was a center of commerce, emperor worship, the occult, and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Rather than attacking the culture head-on, Paul faithfully preached Jesus, made disciples, and taught people to live under the lordship of Christ. The result? Hearts changed. Idols fell. Culture shifted. In this message, we'll explore: • Why worship always shapes culture • The spiritual battle taking place beneath the surface • The danger of wanting the power of Jesus without surrendering to His lordship • What the burning of the magic books teaches us about repentance • How the gospel still confronts the idols of money, security, power, and identity today The question Acts 19 leaves us with isn't simply, “Do you believe in Jesus?” It's this: Who is actually sitting on the throne of your life? If Jesus truly is King, He doesn't become another priority. He becomes the One who reshapes every part of life. If this message encouraged you, be sure to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Topical Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville Reaching the Lost: Prayer Introduction: In my opinion, the major issue Christians have had when considering the work of reaching the lost would be that most do not understand that everyone has a part to play (Ephesians 4:16). Most have thought that only Christians who know the scriptures well and can teach it, are responsible for doing this work. That understanding is far from true. In fact, a church will have very limited success if the work is left to the few who are considered qualified to teach. Therefore, we want to explore the importance of how every member has a part. Prayer We have already talked partially concerning the important of prayer. Let's note a few more passages that we did not get to in our last lesson. John 15:7-8  Key goal of the text? Bearing fruit. What is “fruit” in this context? See verse 16, “…and that your fruit should abide…” [that's us!]—therefore we also bear fruit—“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Can you think of things you would pray for as you seek the lost? 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you…”  Colossians 4:2-4 [NET: “Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”] Vs. 2: “Continue (be devoted to, attached to, persevere in) in prayer.” A once in a while prayer is not sufficient! We need to be disciplined and committed to prayer. Being “alert” or “watchful” in prayer literally means to stay awake in prayer. Have an awareness of spiritual needs (“your kingdom come”) so that your prayers are effective. “With thanksgiving”: All prayer must include thanksgiving lest our prayers simply turn into personal demands— “Lord give us this; Lord give us that; Lord, I need this…” Thanksgiving presupposes humility.  Vs. 3: The request is to open a door for the word. We should be praying for opportunities. In Ephesians 6:19, Paul adds, “…making supplication also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.” [an open door does not necessarily mean an absence of opposition (1 Cor. 16:8-9, “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”)] Vs. 4: “…that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”  Consider how important our prayers are! Ephesians 6:19, “…making supplication also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”  Ezekiel 36:37-38 What is striking to you about this text? God telling us to ask him to do something that he already wants done.  Why would God tell us to ask? Why wouldn't he just do it? We know how important it is to him. So just do it!  We are his servants. Are we going to serve him in all the ways that he asks of us? God wants us to work together with him (2 Cor. 6:1-2). Conclusion: All members should participate in prayer for lost souls. Let me encourage all prayer leaders to ask God for help in having and utilizing our opportunities.  Berry Kercheville The post Reaching the Lost: Prayer appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:29-5829 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink,  for tomorrow we die.”33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”55 “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Timothy 4:12-16 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin discuss the need for Timothy to devote himself and the congregation to Scripture.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=26064The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

July 1, 2026 Wednesday night teaching by Rose Colón Website: www.lighthouseontherockky.org Facebook: https://facebook.com/lotrchurch

This episode explains the church of Ephesus message: although they did many good works, they had left their first love. We explore how good things and busy service can quietly replace a deep love for God and call listeners to repent and return to the foundational relationship with Christ.  

Acts 19:23-27 New King James Version   23 And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 25 He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 26 Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 27 So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

After confronting the church in Ephesus about leaving their first love, Jesus gives a command to respond, repent, and return. In this message, Nathan examines Revelation 2:4–7 and Jesus' exhortation to return to your first love and His incredible promise if you do.------------» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

2 Timothy is the second of two letters written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, a young pastor and leader at a growing church in Ephesus. This letter is filled with lessons and tools that apply to every believer and to pastors alike, and has been used for centuries to guide the lives of believers and ministries.   Join Jerry as he dives into 2 Timothy, helping us see how we can apply this book, and to "fight the good fight of faith" today.   You can take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann—so grab your Bible and let's get started!   LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

In a world constantly chasing the next trend, how do we stay anchored to the truth? In 1 Timothy 1, the Apostle Paul writes to a young pastor named Timothy with one clear charge: keep the gospel at the center. As Timothy leads the church in Ephesus, Paul reminds him that the health of the church depends on faithfully guarding the truth of God's Word.

In Jesus' letter to the church in Ephesus, he gives a commendation—a list of “well dones”—and yet the church is lacking something significant: they left their first love. Rather than an insignificant issue, this is at the center of what the Christian life is supposed to be. In this message, Nathan examines Revelation 2:2–4 and discusses both the good and the bad of the Ephesian church, and how they relate directly to our key issue in today's Church.------------» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

Full Text of Readings Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 376 The Saint of the day is Saint Cyril of Alexandria Saint Cyril of Alexandria's Story Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril of Alexandria, recognized as a great teacher of the Church, began his career as archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt, with impulsive, often violent, actions. He pillaged and closed the churches of the Novatian heretics—who required those who denied the faith to be re-baptized—participated in the deposing of Saint John Chrysostom, and confiscated Jewish property, expelling the Jews from Alexandria in retaliation for their attacks on Christians. Cyril of Alexandria's importance for theology and Church history lies in his championing the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius, who taught that in Christ there were two persons, one human and one divine. The controversy centered around the two natures in Christ. Nestorius would not agree to the title “God-bearer” for Mary. He preferred “Christ-bearer,” saying there are two distinct persons in Christ—divine and human—joined only by a moral union. He said Mary was not the mother of God but only of the man Christ, whose humanity was only a temple of God. Nestorianism implied that the humanity of Christ was a mere disguise. Presiding as the pope's representative at the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the “God-bearer”—the mother of the one Person who is truly God and truly human. In the confusion that followed, Cyril of Alexandria was deposed and imprisoned for three months, after which he was welcomed back to Alexandria. Besides needing to soften some of his opposition to those who had sided with Nestorius, Cyril had difficulties with some of his own allies, who thought he had gone too far, sacrificing not only language but orthodoxy. Until his death, his policy of moderation kept his extreme partisans under control. On his deathbed, despite pressure, he refused to condemn the teacher of Nestorius. Reflection Lives of the saints are valuable not only for the virtue they reveal but also for the less admirable qualities that also appear. Holiness is a gift of God to us as human beings. Life is a process. We respond to God's gift, but sometimes with a lot of zigzagging. If Cyril had been more patient and diplomatic, the Nestorian church might not have risen and maintained power so long. But even saints must grow out of immaturity, narrowness, and selfishness. It is because they—and we—do grow, that we are truly saints, persons who live the life of God.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

In Jesus' first letter to the seven churches, He introduces Himself to the church at Ephesus. In this message, Nathan talks about the ancient city of Ephesus, how Jesus introduces Himself to the church there, and what that means practically for our lives today. ------------» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/