Podcasts about esv as

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2025

Luke 4:31–37 (ESV) And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.Where are all the demons today? Why don't we see them being cast out as in Biblical times?They Are Common And All Around Us.We Identify Them In Scientific, Medical And Sociological Terms.Mark 9:17–18 (ESV) “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. Luke 13:11 (ESV) And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.Mark 9:17–18 (ESV) “And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.Matthew 17:15 (ESV) For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.Mark 5:4–5 (ESV) for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.Luke 8:27 (ESV) For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.Supernatural Activity (voices) - Acts 16:16–17 (ESV) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”Addicts, Crazy, Homeless, Suicidal, Out Of Control, EvilInstead Of Evicting Them, We Treat Their Host. Counseling. Drugs. Incarceration.We Don't Recognize Our Authority And Lack Power.Luke 4:36 (ESV) And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”AUTHORITY: the legal right to give ordersEx: wedding officiant, property title, law enforcementFailure to take authority allows presencePOWER: the strength to enforce obedienceSome things are simple to enforce, others harderA persona can gain in power or call in reinforcementsJob 1:9–10 (ESV) Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.Job 1:1–5 (ESV) Jobwas blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. His sons and daughters used to “feast and drink”Job would consecrate them, rise early and offer burnt offerings. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.Mark 3:14–15 (ESV) And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.

Immeasurably More // God's Dwelling // Mark Davies // March 02, 2025

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 44:32

Immeasurably More // The Book of Ephesians: God's Dwelling Ephesians 2:11-22 (NLT) “Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” 1. Jesus is Our Unifying Center PointEphesians 2:14 (AMP) “For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups — [Jews and Gentiles]— into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall of spiritual antagonism between us.” 2. You've Been Reconciled to be a Reconciler2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (ESV)From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 3. When We're Unified, God's Character and Nature is Declared to the Whole World 1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10 (ESV)As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Psalm 133:1-3 (ESV)Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. We are called to declare the Goodness of God's character to the whole world through our unity and love for one another. Question: In what ways can you actively live out your calling as a reconciler and ambassador for Christ in our daily lives, so that our unity declares God's goodness to the world?

CONVINCED: What Are Demons?

Primera Iglesia Weekly Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2025

Luke 4:31–33 (ESV) And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority2. And in the synagogue1 there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice3,Jesus ministry is often viewed taking place in a field or at a lake but it was daily in the synagogue or templeLuke 19:47 (ESV) And he was teaching daily in the temple. This is important as Jesus/disciples presence and emphasized the importanceActs 2:46–47 (ESV) And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.Jesus teaching included the unique ingredients, authority and power (see next week)Jesus came in contact with a man, in the synagogue who had the spirit of an unclean demonThe spirit was active in the life of a follower of Biblical Judaism, in the synagogue, the early version of the churchThe spirit was triggered by Jesus' presence, teaching with authority causing an extreme response.Luke 4:34–35 (ESV) “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus1 of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?2 I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!”3 And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.4Demons/spirits recognized Jesus. No other names of recognition were mentioned.Demons/spirits recognized Jesus' role in a future judgement or destruction they would face.Matthew 8:29 (ESV) And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”Jesus was demonstrating and implementing an unexpected judgement by kicking them out of peoples lives.Jesus typically told demons/spirits what to do; and refused to allow them to speak.He did not ask the Father to do it, nor did He ask the demon to comply. He commanded.Anti-sensational approach. One time he asked question, “what is your name” but allowing them to speak was atypical.The demon did not harm the man him but did throw him downTypically demons/spirits function was focused on individual limitation or harmMark 9:25 (ESV) And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”Matthew 17:15 (ESV) said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water.Mark 5:5 (ESV) Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.This encounter was minimized.Luke 4:36–37 (ESV) And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power1 he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place2 in the surrounding region.Authority and power defined Jesus ministry, the ministry of his disciples, and the function of the New Testament Church.Auhtoirty/Power at work generates good news. I believe that there is deficiency in fact based evangelism that is not partnered with power and authority. This is the Church of America's biggest problem.Key Facts About Demons/SpiritsSpiritual Beings With Unknown OriginsThey Oppose God - demons are spiritual entities aligned against God's authority. They are often associated with Satan, the adversary.Matthew 12:24-26 – “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.' … If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself.”They Negatively Impact People To The Level They Are AllowedMark 5:3–4 (ESV) He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.Their Presence Is Marked By Self HarmMark 5:5 (ESV) Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.They Cause Physical AilmentsMatthew 9:32–33 (ESV) As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.”They Lie & DeceiveThey don't just deceive others, they deceive you about them.Most subtle - they are not realEven more subtle - Rosemary's BabyJohn 8:44 (ESV) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.They Impact Adults & ChildrenMark 7:25 (ESV) But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.They Gain Access By Invitation, Proximity & AttackInvitation - partnering with the spirit world, sex with many peopleProximity - around you and allowed to stay, family tree, things you've agreed withAttack - most ofJob 1:8–10 (ESV) And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.Ephesians 4:27 (NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.1 Corinthians 6:15–18 (ESV) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.They Are Alive And Well TodayDemons tend to be a fringe topic for the modern American church and personal recognition tend to be even more so. They are alive and well. We give them medical and genetic assignments and live with them often medicating them. They are present during Night tremorsAddictionsSelf Destructive BehaviorsDiseaseSuicideSelf Harm/Mutilation1 John 3:8 (ESV) The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.Mark 3:14–15 (ESV) And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.Mark 16:17–18 (ESV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Revive My People

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 52:47

Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “Revive My People." Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 7.1-4, 8-16 ESV: “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord. At that time Solomon held the feast for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt. And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they had kept the dedication of the altar seven days and the feast seven days. On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and glad of heart for the prosperity that the Lord had granted to David and to Solomon and to Israel his people. Thus Solomon finished the house of the Lord and the king's house. All that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the Lord and in his own house he successfully accomplished. Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.” If you enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your friends on social media. For more information about PNEUMA Church, visit our website at mypneumachurch.org. Connect with Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/mypneumachurch YouTube: https://youtube.com/mypneumachurch Facebook: https://facebook.com/mypneumachurch Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Welcome 03:53 - 2 Chronicles 7.1-4, 8-16 ESV 06:21 - Revive My People

lord israel chronicles revive lebo key verse esv as thus solomon

Rejoicing in Suffering

Meadowbrooke Church Sermon Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2025

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous personthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Rom 5:1-11 ESV) As we begin a new year, many of us are filled with hope and expectation. We set resolutions and goals in anticipation of making even more of the year ahead. However, we dont really have control over the actual outcomes. Illness can beset us. We may experience the sudden loss of someone close to us. National or global events beyond our control can intrude upon our lives, affecting our businesses, jobs, or financial situations. On top of the uncertainty of life, we are constantly bombarded with stories of what could potentially go wrong. Will the stock market crash and take your retirement fund along with it? Will the economy enter a recession and cause my company or department to downsize? What if this country goes to war with that country? Now, the question that I want to address today is: how do we, as Christians, think about and address the uncertainty of this world and suffering when it happens to us and those close to us? When contemplating this passage in Romans, I thought of a story and what it means to rejoice in suffering as a believer in the risen Messiah. This story is about a Chicago lawyer and businessman named Horatio Spafford. Now, Horatio had invested much of his wealth in real estate in the city. Unfortunately, most of these properties, and thus much of his investment, were reduced to ash during the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. The fallout from this loss and the work that he and other property owners in Chicago had to undertake to rebuild and restore would take years. The scale of this tragedy cannot be overstated. Over 17,000 buildings were destroyed, and more than 100,000 people (1/3 of Chicagos population) were homeless. If this were not enough, the Spaffords young son died of scarlet fever at the age of four not long after the fire. A couple of years after the fire, Horatio decided to take his family on a trip to Europe to escape the constant work and stress of rebuilding. Who wouldnt want to get away after all that had happened? He and his family were also going to meet up with and help the famous evangelist D.L. Moody, who was working on the continent at the time. However, some urgent business came up that needed his attention as the trip neared, so Horatio sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him. One week after the ship set sail, it was violently struck in an accident by another boat at two in the morning. Because of how the ships collided, the vessel the Spafford family was on sank within 12 minutes. Of the 313 people on board, 226 perished. All four of Horatios daughters perished that night. His wife, Anna, was found unconscious, held up by floating debris. Nine days after the accident, Anna landed in Europe and sent a telegram. It read, Saved alone. What shall I do? Upon receiving the message, Horatio booked the first passage he could find. However, this was during the 1800s, so this was far from a rapid process. One night, the captain called Horatio aside and informed him that they were currently sailing over the location where the ship carrying his family had sunk. As I contemplate this situation, I cant help but ask myself how I would have responded. Would I be overcome by anguish or anger? Would I have broken down and wept or shouted out words of rage at God for allowing such a thing to happen? Instead of either of these things, Horatio returned to his cabin to attempt to try to sleep and felt a sense of comfort and hope overcome him. He wrote down these words, It is well; the will of God be done. These words would soon become his timeless hymn that resounds with so many gospel truths. The name of that hymn is It Is Well with My Soul. It is worth reflecting on that there is a similar story in the Bible. Job, the man God Himself called blameless and upright, lost everything he owned in a single day. Additionally, his sons and daughters all died that very same day. Job responded to these events with the statement, Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD (Job 1:21). Notice the similarities? These are not words of quiet resignation or defeat. The LORD may give, and He may take away. In the words of Horatio, the will of God will be done. However, regardless of what happened to these two men, their response is instructive and encouraging beyond belief. Despite what comes, the believer can say, Blessed be the name of the LORD, and It is well with my soul. Now, these stories may be inspiring, but youd be right in asking, How do I develop that kind of abiding faith and trust in God? It is so easy to marvel at the faith of others. But the reality is that knowing the stories is not enough. These same types of tragedies, and many more besides, can happen in our lives. Thankfully, as in all things, God does not leave us alone. And I know this because the verses we are looking at today have been my anchor through the most challenging times in my life. They acted as my north star, the way that God guided me through trials and kept me traveling on the path that leads to Him. So, lets dive in. 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The chapter opens with the word, therefore. This means that what Paul, the apostle who wrote this letter, is about to say directly follows what he has already said. It is essential to keep this at the forefront of our minds as we read scripture; what is the context? Uncountable numbers of irresponsible teachings have come through taking verses out of context and misapplying them. So, lets take a high-level view of what was said in the letter before our passage today. Paul was writing to the believers in Rome in anticipation of him traveling there, something he had long wanted to do. He wanted to accomplish several things. The letter to the Romans primarily concerns the gospel; Paul wanted to unify the church in Rome around the good news of Christ. Romans is a great place to start if you want a comprehensive understanding of the gospel message. Additionally, Paul wanted to prepare for the missionary journey he was planning to Spain; he wanted the Roman believers to help him on his way after he was able to visit them. Finally, Paul wanted to get in front of a growing division in the church between Jewish and Gentile believers. The focus for our study today aligns with the primary purpose for which Paul was writing: the good news of what Jesus has done. Or, as we more commonly call it, the gospel. Paul starts his letter by pointing to the grandeur of the universe as proof of Gods existence and that we can even learn some things about Him through creation. However, many, instead of worshiping the God who created everything, worshiped the things He made. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but theybecame futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22Claiming to be wise, they became fools,23andexchanged the glory ofthe immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24ThereforeGod gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, tothe dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,25because they exchanged the truth about God fora lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,who is blessed forever! Amen. (Rom 1:20-25) Paul addressed this because pagan worship was the norm in the Roman Empire. It is important to note here that the people Paul is talking about were the ones who exchanged God for created things in nature. God allowed them to choose and gave them up to what they wanted. N.T. Wright perhaps sums up this concept best. You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship. N.T. Wright This is a critical point that Paul made. It spoke directly to the heart of Roman culture and society. And it speaks directly to ours as well. The Romans, like the Greeks, worshipped a pantheon of gods who were very human in nature. They were spiteful, filled with lust, and sought their own pleasure above the good of others. Paul was saying that if you venerate that type of activity, you will act the same way. Now, consider our culture today; we may not wrap it up in religious language and ritual, but it is the same. Think about the lyrics of many of the most popular songs today. Consider the lives and actions of celebrities and others that our society lifts up and puts on a pedestal. Reflect on how often we are told in advertising by the rich, powerful, and famous how if we only buy this item or consume this service, we will be as happy and fulfilled as they are, or supposedly are. Think about how society as a whole treats marriage as trivial or that it is entirely ok to objectify other human beings, especially with what is deemed acceptable to view on the internet for our own pleasure. Paul then addresses those who did know about the one true God, namely the Jewish nation. However, instead of commending them, Paul has a very different message. What he said was precisely what Jesus did. It doesnt matter that you come from the line of Abraham or how well you know the Old Testament Law. God cares about and judges people based on what we actually do. 12For all who have sinnedwithout the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.13Forit is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Rom 2:12-13) And if we stop for a minute and honestly look at our own lives, this is what we see. We know at our core that there is an absolute standard for good and evil. We know that saying one thing and then doing another is both hypocritical and wrong. We have all, myself included, done things that genuinely hurt other people, damaged relationships, and were contrary to what we know in the deepest parts of ouor being are good and right and holy. Paul quoted the Psalms to sum up this point. 10None is righteous, no, not one;11no one understands;no one seeks for God.12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;no one does good,not even one. (Rom 3:10b-12) Now, this is a pretty bleak letter so far. This is not something that you read at the beginning of a year to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Were left with all of these questions that seem pretty important and rather urgent. What if there is a creator of the universe? Spoiler alert: there is. And what if He genuinely cares about right and wrong and how we treat each other? Another spoiler alert: He does. If weve all fallen short, and there are consequences for that, is there something that can be done to restore ourselves to God? And here is the best spoiler alert: There is. Paul tells us how this happens. 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of Godhas been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.22This righteousnessis given through faithinJesus Christto all who believe.There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,23for all have sinnedand fall short of the glory of God,24and all are justifiedfreely by his gracethrough the redemptionthat came by Christ Jesus.25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,through the shedding of his blood (Rom 3:21-25a, NIV) And there it is, the gospel, the good news that Paul based his entire letter around. There is a God who created both us and the universe we live in. He is perfectly good and, therefore, has made a moral law that we all are to live by. However, all of us fall short and sin. This causes a separation between us and God. However, God did not see fit to leave us as we are. He sent Jesus to live the life we never could and die the death we deserved so that we could be reconciled to Him. This is the good news that Paul was proclaiming. So, we return to the opening verses of our passage today. 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We now see what the therefore is there for. We were separated from God, but we can now be justified before him by faith. And because of this good news, that we have been justified by faith, certain things happen in the believer's life. First, we have peace with God. You see, it wasnt that we were just separated from God. We were, in fact, working against Him and were enemies. In another letter, Paul said, 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemiesin your mindsbecause ofyour evil behavior. But now he has reconciledyou by Christs physical bodythrough death to present youholy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Col 1:21-22, NIV). We just wrapped up an extremely deep study of the book of Ephesians here at Meadowbrooke. Remember what we were told in that letter about the state we were in before being saved? And you weredead in the trespasses and sins2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, followingthe prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work inthe sons of disobedience3among whom we all once lived inthe passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, andwere by naturechildren of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Eph 2:1-3) When Paul says that we now have peace with God, he doesnt mean that we have a tranquil state of mind or something like that. Instead, when we become followers of Jesus, we go from being against God or an enemy of God to having peace with Him. Remember what Paul said earlier in the letter. Nobody is righteous; nobody does good. But it doesnt stop there. We arent just in some truce or ceasefire with God. What has happened is so much more glorious and incredible than that. We also, through Jesus, have obtained grace. Now, grace can be a mysterious-sounding religious word. All it means is that somebody has received unmerited or unearned favor. It means we dont deserve the favor or good things God freely bestows on us. Remember, we all sin and fall short of the glory of God; we all were, by nature, children of wrath. The Greek word that is translated here as access literally means to approach or to bring into. We are brought into Gods grace and can actually have a personal relationship with Him. How much has changed because of what Jesus has done for us. We who were enemies not only have peace with God but also can draw near to Him and have a personal relationship with our Creator. Finally, we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And given what we have just read, there is so much to rejoice in. But again, there is something even more glorious behind these words. We rejoice not just in our newfound peace with God or our ability to be brought into His grace. We rejoice in the hope of something else. The word hope in our English language is quite weak. Typically, it means something like, I hope this year is better than the last or I hope my team wins the Super Bowl this year. It expresses the desire for something to be true, but with the realization that it may not turn out that way. However, the Greek word employed here means something more like joyful and confident expectation. Our hope is in something that we are confident and sure of. Tim Keller remarked on this passage that, Christian hope is not a hopeful wish it is a hope-filled certainty. But what is it that we are hopeful for? If we were to poll random people about what they most hoped for or were most looking forward to regarding the promises of God, we would likely get a broad range of answers. Many would almost certainly revolve around seeing loved ones again or being eternally happy and without pain or suffering. However, notice what Paul says here. His focus is on the glory of God. More than his own happiness or desires, the reason for Pauls rejoicing is in the hope of being in the presence of Gods glory. John Murray remarked on this passage, [Believers] are interested in the manifestation of the glory of God for its own sake. The glory of God is their chief end and they long for and hasten unto that day when with undimmed vision they will behold the glory of God in its fullest exhibition and vindication. What this means is that the hope of the Christian is not in the hope of our wants, desires, and comfort. Instead, our hope is in being with and living within the glory of God. The focus is on God, not on us. John Piper put this better than anybody else I have heard. He said, The critical question for our generationand for every generation is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? Pauls answer would be a resounding no. What makes the restored heaven and earth what they will be is that we will finally be with God in all His infinite glory. Everything else pales in comparison to that. And any heaven without that is no real heaven at all. Now, Paul has covered a lot of ground in his letter so far. The people listening to this being read for the first time would have been on a real rollercoaster of a ride. First, they heard about this God who is powerful and mighty enough to create the entire universe in which we live. But then they heard that this God is also perfectly good and, therefore, has a moral law. They, just like all of us, broke that law. And they, just like us, broke it repeatedly. They heard about how this created a separation between humanity and God, a chasm we could not overcome ourselves. However, when everything seemed lost and without hope, they heard about how God, through Jesus, redeemed them, and they were now justified. This justification was not through anything they had done but what Jesus had done for them. They heard that they did not have to try to earn Gods merit, and in fact, they never could. They heard that what God really sought after was their hearts and faith in Him. Finally, because of that faith, the believer has peace with God, access to Gods grace, and the hope-filled certainty of witnessing God in His full glory one day. What an experience it must have been to be the first people to hear this letter being read. Can you imagine hearing this fantastic news? Then, the church in Rome would have heard the words, Not only that Wait! There is more!?! What more could there be after being told this fantastic news? I can only imagine sitting there and anticipating new promises and hopes the apostle was about to relay. Instead, the audience heard, Not only that, but werejoice in our sufferings. Wait what? We rejoice in our suffering? Werent we talking about drawing close to God and witnessing His glory? But this is reality, isnt it? When we decide to follow Jesus, all the hardships and suffering weve experienced dont magically disappear. We still get sick. Our finances dont magically improve; we all dont suddenly receive private jets and mansions. We still lose loved ones, and we all certainly still experience getting older and all the wear and tear that comes from that. As I reflect upon this past year, the single word that comes most to mind is difficult. This was a challenging year for our church family, and we had to go through things, including church discipline and the termination of a staff person in a pastoral role. Individuals and families in our church have also been going through extremely difficult things. There have been cancer diagnoses, losses of family members, struggles with chronic illnesses, sudden visits to the ER, heart issues, urgent and completely unexpected surgeries, and many, many more things besides. Personally, this last year, especially the past six months, has, if Im being completely honest, been extremely difficult. Due to an autoimmune disease, my health spiraled to a place I have not experienced in over a decade. This resulted in a 10-day stay in a hospital after losing 15% of my body weight and a substantial amount of internal bleeding. But, more importantly, it put a lot of strain on my marriage and meant I was less present as a father than I should be. The stark reality is that suffering is still a part of our lives. It has real impacts on us and those around us. But, as well see, faith in Jesus is not about the cessation of pain and suffering but instead giving that suffering over to God in faith that He will use it for good. Paul lays out how this looks for us: 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Notice here that Paul says we rejoice in our sufferings, not because of our sufferings. Paul does not say that suffering suddenly becomes pleasurable for us or trivially easy to endure. He does not say that God is giving us a way to prove ourselves to Him or earn His favor by persevering through hardship. Instead, we rejoice in our sufferings because of something we know. We know that suffering can produce something within us. That something is endurance. For most of my life, and by that, I mean since I was eight, I have participated in endurance sports. This has included distance running, cycling over 100 miles in a day over multiple mountain passes, and summiting 20,000 ft peaks. I bring this up because I have learned a lot about myself and quite a bit about endurance through these activities. The first is that endurance is not something magical you hope to have on the day of your event. It is something that you train for diligently. It may take months or even years in some cases to train your body and mind to accomplish the goal you have set before yourself. It is possible to train and not reach the goals you set. However, if you dont train, the goals will forever remain out of reach. And the thing about training is that a substantial amount of suffering can be involved. Mile repeats hurt. Hill training on a bike can be painful. Interval sessions have left me draped over the handlebars of my indoor trainer like a rag doll. Watching cyclists or other endurance athletes achieve the incredible can be awe-inspiring, often making it look easy. However, it isnt. What we witness when we watch world-class athletes is the outcome of a lifetime of training and preparation. And I can tell you from experience, every day Ive had where Ive looked like this, cycling up mountain passes feeling in great shape and like I could tackle the biggest of obstacles, Ive had many more days where Ive looked a bit more like this. The key here is that, like in athletics, in life, endurance is not something that happens automatically or magically. It is something that is produced. And often, the production of endurance happens through the crucible of suffering. But, unlike endurance training for sports, the type of endurance Paul talks about is not the end goal. It serves a greater purpose. You see, our character is also changing when we develop spiritual endurance. Now, this word in Greek doesnt just mean something like, He is a really good person and has good character. Instead, it is about something proven, or something tested and found to be approved. An example of this can be seen in Pauls letter to the Philippians concerning his protg, Timothy. 22But you know Timothy'sproven worth, howas a sonwith a fatherhe has served with me in the gospel.(Phil 2:22) The phrase proven worth is the same word that is translated as character. And to some extent, weve all experienced this. If we have endured something before, when we have to endure it again, there is a confidence we didnt have before. Or, thought of in a different way, if you had to go into battle with somebody, would you rather go with a special forces soldier who had been on multiple deployments or somebody who has never been through military training but plays their fair share of Tom Clancy video games? The choice is easy, right? What Paul is saying here is that when we go through suffering, endurance is produced. And when we endure our trials and tribulations, we are tested successfully or, as Paul says, our worth is proven. But Paul does not stop there. He says that this testedness produces something else: hope. And here we return to this idea of hope. Remember, this idea Paul is talking about can be best thought of as a hope-filled certainty. As we go through suffering, the endurance and character that result produces an ever-greater certainty that God is exactly who He has said He is and that His promises are sure. Paul then offers a proof of this. He states that hope will never put us to shame because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. In fact, the relationship between the believer and the Holy Spirit is so close that he has been poured into our hearts. I had mentioned earlier that these verses have been my anchor verses through suffering. That is not an understatement in any way. I had grown up in the church. In fact, I heard hymns and the words of the Bible before I was born. As I grew up, I did all the church things, camps, and confirmation; I even started participating in lay-level leadership roles in my church. If any of those things sound a bit foreign, it is because I grew up in the Episcopal tradition. Ultimately, instead of letting God into my heart and being the Lord of my entire life, I was going through the motions. Especially in college, my life looked no different than anybody elses. Remember those verses from Ephesians about living in the passions of our flesh and carrying out the desires of the body and the mind? That was me. Until that is, God got ahold of my heart. A group of us in ROTC decided that we wanted to start getting serious about our faith and started going to church together. We formed our own Bible study and as a small community of college-aged believers, we began trying to figure out what it meant to be Jesus followers. To make a long story very short, one of the members of this group would ultimately become my wife. As we deepened in our faith together as a group, I was drawn to what God was doing in her life. However, two weeks after we started dating, I started noticing an immense amount of pain in my abdomen and, even more concerning, evidence of internal bleeding. I started losing weight at an alarming rate and was ultimately diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called ulcerative colitis. Effectively, my immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking and causing ulcers and a crazy amount of inflammation in my large intestine. Unfortunately, I have a rather severe form of the disease that affects not just a part of the intestine, but the entire thing. As is common with autoimmune diseases, finding the therapy that worked for me took a long time. Because of the severity of my diagnosis, this ultimately led me to being hospitalized seven times in the first 18 months following the onset of my symptoms. In addition to the pain, frustration, and confusion over what was happening, other things also started falling apart. A military career was now no longer an option for me. Because of the impact the disease was having on my body, I was sleeping 12-16 hours a day and was unable to continue pursuing my master's program. What is more, because of how the insurance I had purchased through the university was structured, it did not cover costs from chronic illnesses beyond $20,000. But through it all, God was working on my heart and my mind. He was showing me things about himself that I would likely never have learned had it not been for this. He was teaching me that my future job was not what defined me. Who I am in Jesus is what defines me. He was teaching me that the highest goal in life is not academic or professional achievement (Im a bit of an A-type personality and struggle with making my life about accomplishments). Instead, He showed me that following Him is the highest purpose in life. Now, perhaps the most incredible thing about this entire story is that Michaela stayed by my side throughout all of it. We had only recently started dating, but she was there for everything. I can still remember her voice as I was coming out of anesthesia after the scoping procedure that resulted in the diagnosis of the disease. I was insanely sick, my planned career was completely shattered, treatments werent working, and I had a sum of medical debt that was growing increasingly large. There were so many times when I felt absolutely lost and without hope. Yet, because of this community of people, especially Michaela, I was constantly reminded of God's goodness and how He works all things for the good of those who love Him, even if we dont see it in the moment. The Bible was my source of refuge, reminding me of the eternal promises of God that transcend our momentary afflictions. Things ultimately improved for me, and through a lot of help from my doctors and a lot of prayer, my condition was able to be controlled. There were still some rough points, and I experienced the occasional flare-up, but things returned to normal. Michaela and I got married, we found a way to pay off the medical debt, and life seemed to be going just fine. But what I didnt know at the time was that as I was going through all my medical issues and seeing Michaelas character displayed, God was showing me what it means to stand beside somebody as they are suffering. About two years after we got married, Michaela started showing symptoms of something, but the doctors couldnt figure out what it was. Finally, they had her stay on a heart monitor for an extended time, and the results were so concerning that the hospital in Laramie told us that we needed to come to the hospital here in Cheyenne because they were not prepared to deal with whatever the issue was. When Michaela arrived here, they took an Xray, and they found out that there was a mass about 12cm in diameter in her chest next to her heart. We were once again told that she needed to go to another hospital because the one here had no idea what was going on. However, this time, she had to travel via ambulance. We had come in the same vehicle, but as she was leaving in an ambulance, I followed in the car we brought over. It was such a good thing that it was the middle of the night because I was an absolute mess. If there had been any traffic whatsoever, I probably would have crashed. On that drive, I was confronted with an absolutely petrifying truth. There was nothing I could do for my wife but pray. I was helpless in the face of whatever it was that she had to face. I could not protect her, and I could not save her. And this was an earth-shattering realization for me. Of course, we all intellectually know that our time here is limited and that when it is time for us to leave this world, there is nothing we can do to stop it for ourselves or those we love. However, facing that reality directly is an entirely different notion. The radical realization that I had was that in this situation, she was entirely in the Lords hands. The even more radical realization I would only have reflecting later on, was that this is true every moment of every day. I just dont live like it. To capture this idea in his book The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis wrote, God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. This has been precisely my experience. The eternal truths that God exists, that we desperately need Him, and that He alone is sufficient for all our needs are sometimes most clearly heard when we are in our most desperate times of need. Upon arriving at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, we learned that the mass was a tumor, and it was an advanced stage of lymphoma. The doctors recommended that she start an aggressive form of chemotherapy immediately. We didnt have time to go home and talk about it. We didnt have time to prepare in case the therapy made it difficult or impossible to have kids. It was almost as if everything had been put onto tracks, and we were just along for the ride. Now, soon after all of this happened a good friend of mine who has been a mentor in many ways to me came by and prayed with us. Her prayers included pleas for healing, comfort, and everything else we typically lift up to God during these types of events. However, she prayed something else as well. She prayed that our hearts and minds would be open to what God had to teach us during this time of trial. It literally felt like a physical switch turned in my head. Despite all that I had been through, and all God had done in my own heart during my battles with illness, I had not stopped to consider that God may have something to teach us here as well. And teach He did. I learned how incredibly strong of a woman He made when He created my wife. I learned that I am not sufficient for her; only Jesus is. I learned that life can be extraordinarily fleeting and what we consider normal and act like will go on forever can end in an instant. Michaela spent the following months going to Denver for a week of treatment every three weeks. I tagged along and slept on the pullout bed on the couch in her room. That was our lives for almost four months: two weeks at home and one in the hospital. When I had to travel for work, her mom took my place. Now, you may be wondering who the better caretaker in our relationship is when the other is undergoing adversity. The answer is Michaela. You may also be wondering who deals with suffering better. The answer is also Michaela. Ultimately, Michaela completed the chemo regimen and has been in full remission for almost 10 years. Despite not being able to make alternative preparations, we have two incredible boys who are miracles in the fullest sense of the word. It can be easy to praise God and extol His greatness when things work out the way we hope and pray they will. However, there will come a day when I and everybody else whom I love will draw in their last breath. And in those moments, God still deserves all the glory and all the praise. I want to relay one more story before I wrap up about one of those times. My stepmoms father, my grandfather, or as we called him, Papou (that part of my family is Greek), had been extremely sick for a long time. He was born in Alexandria, Egypt. His wife, my Yaiyia, was a missionary in Kenya when he proposed to her in a letter. After starting their young family, they moved to Athens so he could pastor a church while they served as missionaries. When they moved back to the States, their home was always a place of love where all were welcome. Toward the end of his life, he was unable to care for or even feed himself and had to be placed in a home to receive the care he needed. As the end of his life was drawing ever closer, he came down with a severe infection that left him almost entirely incapacitated. One day, some of our dearest family friends were visiting him. As they prepared to leave, everybody gathered to pray, potentially for the last time, over this man who had lived his life faithfully for God. However, before anybody else had a chance to speak, this saint (by the way, if you are a follower of Jesus, you are a saint as well) who could not feed himself or even sit up started to pray. I was not there to hear these words, but they still reverberate in the deepest part of my being more than a decade later. Our precious heavenly father, he said, we just cant thank you enough. You have been so good to us. That is the strength that a life lived in the service and love of God bestows upon a person. The Christian lives not in quiet resignation in the face of a world that can be so cruel and cause so much suffering. Instead, the Christian can raise a triumphant cry that in our weakness, the strength of the Lord will be made perfect, and that is enough. We can, as Job did, bless the name of the Lord, come whatever may. We see this in the letter to the Corinthians: 9But he [God] said to me [Paul],My grace is sufficient for you, formy power is made perfect in weakness.Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so thatthe power of Christ may rest upon me.10For the sake of Christ, then,I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. Forwhen I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:9-11) This is why Paul ends this passage with a reiteration of the gospel message. Even though each of us who follow Jesus has the real experience of having the Holy Spirit residing within us, there also is an objective truth for all to see. Christ came and died for us while we were still sinners. And this point is even more important than the point that we are physically broken and endure sufferings in this world. That point is that we are spiritually broken and separated from God, desperately in need of a Savior. Reflect with me on these closing verses. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous personthough perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Jesus did not wait until we were perfect and had everything figured out before he came to die in our place. Instead, he came when we were still in sin, weak, and enemies of God. Unlike us, who so often act out of self-regard or do something because we view somebody as good and deserving, Jesus came to save us while we were still standing in complete opposition to God. This is the incredible news of the gospel. As much pain and suffering, as much physical brokenness that we may experience in this world, it is nothing compared to the spiritual sickness we suffer because of our separation from God. We all were far from God before coming to Christ, but he died in our place regardless and rose again, conquering death. We are justified, reconciled, and saved by what he did. And if you dont know Jesus yet, all you must do is accept him as your Lord and Savior and begin walking with him. Before we leave, I wanted to review some of the things I have learned from other believers and scripture about how to endure times of suffering. None of this is groundbreaking, but it works. Dont wait until you are in suffering to prepare If you wait until the morning of a marathon to train, it wont go well for you. The same is true here. If you wait until the moment of your trial to prepare, you are too late. Be in your Bible daily The stories of those who suffer in scripture are incredibly instructive and helpful. The principles you will learn from this book will help you in your time of need. But I never would have had these verses constantly in my mind and nourishing my soul if I had not read them. God uses scripture to help His followers in their time of need. Build relationships with fellow believersWhen Michaela and I have experienced times of suffering, it is the people of God, the Church, who have helped us more than anybody else. I have experienced the benefit of having somebody just come sit with you. Recently, while I was in the hospital, several friends visited throughout my stay. Mostly, we talked about the goodness of God. It helped me raise my eyes above my situation and stay focused on my Lord and Savior. Pray without ceasing Pray for those who are going through trials. Ask others to pray for you as you endure suffering. The Church was designed so that each member could help one another. And as you pray, follow Gods Spirit in how you can help. If you feel drawn to visit somebody who is ailing, go. If you feel called to cook them a meal, do it. Look for what God is trying to teach you Until our dying breath, we are running our race. As believers, we are walking down that narrow path that leads to Jesus. That path can be difficult and filled with obstacles sometimes. But even in our worst suffering, God is faithful, and He works all things for the good of those who love Him. If you let Him, He will develop in you: endurance, character, and a hope which will never be put to shame. Even in our greatest trials, He is still so incredibly good.

We are Jonah

Central Christian Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2024 54:27

We are Jonah Updated: Dec 28, 2024 Jonah 1:1-3 NIV 1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Psalm 139:7-12 NIV Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. Jonah 1:4-17 NIV 4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.” 7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” 9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” 12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. 17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 2:1-10 NIV 2 1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. 7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them. 9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.'” 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 3:1-3 NIV 3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 2 Chronicles 32:9 ESV 9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem Isaiah 36:1 ESV In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. Isaiah 37:1 ESV As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. Isaiah 37:36-37 ESV 36 And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh. Jonah 3:4-10 NIV 4 Jonah began by going a day's journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When Jonah's warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 4:1-3 NIV 4 But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall (prevent) by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:4-11 NIV 4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.6 Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I'm so angry I wish I were dead.” 10 But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

A Liturgy for Those Battling Anxiety - Liturgy for the Moment

City Church Tulsa Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2024

LITURGY FOR THE MOMENT: Part 7 A LITURGY FOR THOSE BATTLING ANXIETY Prince of Peace, we come with restless hearts and racing thoughts. The weight of worry presses down, and we are consumed by what-ifs and worst-case scenarios. As the deer pants for streams of water so our souls thirst for You, the living God.You are the God who calms the storm, The Shepherd who leads us beside quiet waters. Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls Let waves of grace break over me.Teach us to cast our cares upon You. When fear rises, remind us of your steadfast love. When we falter, anchor us in Your unshakable presence. Oh God our rock, meet us in the chaos and lead us into Your rest. Amen. Psalm 42:1-11 ESV “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” What the anxious need from themselves: • Look back • Look forward • Look around What the anxious need from those around them • Comfort • Care • Encouragement 2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 ESV “which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” What the anxious need from God • Everything he has promised and all he has given!

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THE END: The End Is Near

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2024

Matthew 24:3 (ESV) As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”The End Told From The BeginningGenesis 3:15 (ESV) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”Acts 2:16–21 (ESV) But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “ ‘And in the last days…John 6:40 (ESV)…and I will raise him up on the last day.” (x3)2 Timothy 3:1 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days…2 Peter 3:3 (ESV) …scoffers will come in the last days…SIGNS: False Saviors - Matthew 24:5 (ESV) For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.More than spiritual, this is also politicalSIGNS: Increased Wars - Matthew 24:6–7 (ESV) And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,SIGNS: Increased Natural Disasters: Matthew 24:7 (ESV) …and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.SIGNS: Increased Persecution For Believers - Matthew 24:9 (ESV) “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.SIGNS: Departure From Faith Matthew 24:10 (ESV) And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.SIGNS: Increased Deception - Matthew 24:11-13 (ESV) And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.This is not just the churchProphets OT delivered the news on behalf of GodModern Day - news SIGNS: Increased Knowledge - Daniel 12:4 (ESV) But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”SIGNS: Gospel Preached Worldwide - Matthew 24:14 (ESV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.SIGNS: Restoration, Regathering of Israel, Rebuilding of Temple Ezekiel 38-39; Zechariah 12-14, Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 11:1-2SIGNS: Mark of the Beast - Revelation 13:16–18 (ESV) Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.SIGNS: One World Government - Revelation 13:6–8 (ESV) It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.1 Corinthians 15:24 (ESV) Then comes the end…

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THE END: Died But Not Dead

Primera Iglesia Weekly Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2024

Matthew 28:1–7 (ESV) Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” Jesus Wasn't The Only Or The First ResurrectionThe Shunammite's Son - 2 Kings 4:33–35 (ESV) So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.The Unnamed Man & Elisha's Grave - 2 Kings 13:20–21 (ESV) So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.Jairus' Daughter - Mark 5:41–42 (ESV) Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.Lazarus - John 11:43–44 (ESV) When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”The Graveyard Near Golgotha - Matthew 27:50–53 (ESV) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.Dorcas (Tabitha) - Acts 9:40–41 (ESV) But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.ONE DIFFERENCE: Every one of these went on to die again.Jesus' Resurrection Was DifferentHe Wasn't Easily Recognized - John 20:14–16 (ESV) Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).He Was Able To Appear/Disappear - Luke 24:36 (ESV) As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”He Maintained His Scars - John 20:27–28 (ESV) Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”He Didn't Die But Ascended Into Heaven - Acts 1:9 (ESV) And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. He Promised To Return By Descending - Acts 1:10–11 (ESV) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”Our Future:Resurrection or… - 1 Corinthians 15:21–23, 47-49 (ESV) For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.Transformation - 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Momma From The Rock

Courageous Radiance

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2024 15:03

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬As a momma of 4, it remains a challenge to build my decisions from the solid foundation of Jesus. In this episode, the Psalm 84 reading inspires all to find hope and joy in our position to God. God is our light and protection, especially in hard decision-making situations.Let's remember Jesus's words in Matthew 7:24-27 and practice the imagery of building our lives on the rock vs. sand.Cheering for you!➡️Let's connect!!Instagram: @courageousradiancePodcast FB group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/DcbMo6Bb2q43zzgY/?mibextid=K35XfPwww.courageousradiance.com

god jesus christ rock psalm momma cheering esv as

Power to Influence

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 44:31

Pastor John Ryan Cantu brings this week's message, “Power to Influence." Key Verse: 1 Samuel 18:1-9 ESV: “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.” Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Sermon Topics: Influence, Humility, Maturity If you enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your friends on social media. For more information about PNEUMA Church, visit our website at mypneumachurch.org. Connect with Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/mypneumachurch YouTube: https://youtube.com/mypneumachurch Facebook: https://facebook.com/mypneumachurch Time Stamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:30 - Welcome 1:12 - 1 Samuel 18.1–9 ESV 3:08 - Power to Influence

power israel influence humility ephesians philistines king saul esv for key verse esv as

Genesis 50 – What Leads to Healthy Living?

Podcast Audio Feed | Alpine Bible Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 43:02

A healthy life depends on a close and trusting relationship with God. We see how Joseph depended on God and trusted in God's plan and purpose for him though it wasn't always clear. Joseph did not lose faith in adversity, but rather looked to serve the Lord through the adversity. God was faithful, and we see this displayed in the life of Joseph. Though the actions of individuals in Joseph's life (e.g. his brothers, Potiphar's wife) were meant to harm Joseph, God used these events to bless not only Joseph, but nations. Genesis 50:20 (ESV) “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

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Istrouma Baptist Church Ascension, Acts, July 21, 2024

Istrouma Baptist Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2024 43:09

Istrouma Baptist Church (ASC) Jul 21, 2024 ========== July 21 l Acts Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo "The Founding of the Church at Philippi" Acts 16:11-40 ACTS 16:11-15 ESV So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. GOD IS AT WORK EVERYWHERE ACTS 16:16-24 ESV As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. OUR FOCUS IMPACTS WHAT WE SEE ACTS 16:25-34 ESV About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. FAITH + ACTION = CHANGED LIVES Self-sacrificial action often opens the door for Gospel-sharing moments. ACTS 16:35-40 ESV But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. GOD IS AT WORK EVEN IN OUR TOUGHEST MOMENTS

THE TRUTH ABOUT: Love

god love jesus christ father lord parents christians loving corinthians jews fall in love falling attraction eros nt truth about love niv love esv as esv whoever esv for god

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭4‬-‭8‬, ‭13‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”4 Greek Words For LoveStorge - familial love or natural affections, especially between parents and childrenPhileo - deep friendship or brotherly loveJohn 11:34–36 (ESV) And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”Eros - (not in the NT) - romantic or passionate loveAgape - highest form of love referring to sacrificial love seeking the well-being of others (referring to God's love for us and the love Christians are called to have for one another)Experiencing The Love Of God Equips You To Give/Receive True Love1 John 4:19 (ESV) We love because he first loved us.Parents, children, spouse, friends, neighbors and enemiesTrue love for God is possible in response to His loveReligion is created when we try to love God without the revelation of his love.“God grant me a revelation of your love for me.”The revelation of God's love is something we walk in. It is a status, It is something we wear. It is like a superpowerRomans 8:35, 38-39 (ESV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.Self love is a poor substitute for the revelation of God's love.The revelation of God's loves enables us to love correctlyThe love you have experienced prior to that is incomplete, possibly even poisoned.Loving others out of a broken experience will be limited.In choosing a potential spouse, choose someone who loves God firstMatthew 10:37 (ESV) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.LOVE: The Sacrificial DECISION To Seek The Well-Being Of Others1 Peter 2:4 (ESV) As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.God chose to love you.God would not command you to do something that you could not chooseMatthew 22:39 (ESV) And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.Matthew 5:44–46 (ESV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?Falling into love leads to falling out of loveThat type of love is emotionThat type of love is attraction“You can't help who you love” is not a true statement. “You can't help who you are attracted to” is the correct response.Attraction is often impacted by brokenness and traumatic experiencesChildhood traumaBroken relationshipsGroomingIn marriage, attraction is important, but the decision to love is paramount.Fall in love means you can fall out of love.At moments it will feel like being trapped.The decision will unlock the emotion LOVE: The SACRIFICIAL Decision To Seek The Well-Being Of OthersJohn 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.John 15:13 (ESV) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.LOVE empties its vault to increase the value of someone else.Anyone who demands things under the umbrella of love is likely manipulation.If you loved me then you would….God will deal with your narcissism through others.“Oh, this is how you feel God…”LOVE: The Sacrificial Decision To Seek The WELL-BEING Of Others1 Corinthians 13:6 (NIV) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.“Well Being: God's BestSome forms of love are out of alignment with AGAPECare for feelingsCare for comfortCare about being likedCare about being acceptedEx: During the pandemic, riots, and current woke agendas “how will that show the world the love of God?”Love in spite of sin, but we can never affirm sinIllus: the man sinking because of the concrete block he is holding needs someone to love him without affirming the block.True love does not pull people out of the boundaries of God's Word. True love seeks to center others within God's Word, sometimes at the expense of:Their feelingsTheir comfortTheir cultural There are more important things than how people feelRejoices with the truthEphesians 4:15 (ESV) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Leviticus 23:23–25 | The Feast of Trumpets

CrossPointe Coast | Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2024 46:32

Leviticus 23:23–25 | The Feast of Trumpets from CrossPointe Coast on Vimeo. Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe Leviticus 23:9–13 THE FEAST The Seventh Month A Day of Solemn Rest A Memorial Trumpet A Food Offering THE MEANING OF THE FEAST Rosh Hashanah A Memorial Day Prepare for the Day of Atonement THE FEAST AND THE GOSPEL The Call to Worship Prepare for the Lord's Work of Atonement Preparation for the Coming of the Lord Preparation for Resurrection Numbers 10:10 (ESV) On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. Mark 1:2–4 (ESV) As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,' ” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 12:35–37 (ESV) Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 (ESV) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (ESV) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

god jesus christ lord work blessed corinthians sermon feast thessalonians behold leviticus trumpets vimeo feasts leviticus 23 feast of trumpets esv for esv as

Red States in the $15 BILLION Market for Selling Babies and a Chris Cuomo Update Ep-1638

The Todd Herman Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 44:34

Red states are among the states helping to build the marketplace to sell babies. It has skyrocketed over the past three years to reach a $15 billion dollar industry. You'll remember that in a recent episode, my friend Katy Faust told us about pedophiles acquiring babies through these means. I examine the data in states around the nation and take a look at women who have decided to become surrogate mothers. How do we put a stop to industrial surrogacy?What does God's Word say? Psalm 127:3-5 ESV Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.Psalm 103:13 ESV As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.Episode 1,638 Links:Chris Cuomo gets absolutely bodied after he says he "didn't like what people did to Joe Rogan" when he came out in support of Ivermectin. Journal of Law and Ethics at the University of Richmond looked at surrogacy Alan's Soaps https://alanssoaps.com/TODD Use coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price. Bioptimizers https://bioptimizers.com/todd Use promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Sharpen your edge and reach your potential with Mushroom Breakthrough by Bioptimizers. Bonefrog https://bonefrogcoffee.com/todd Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions. Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com) Call 866-779-RISK or visit online to get their FREE Common Cents Investing Guide. EdenPURE https://edenpuredeals.com This week only! Get Buy One Get One free pricing on the Thunderstorm Air Purifier with code TODDBOGO. GreenHaven Interactive Digital Marketing https://greenhaveninteractive.com Your Worldclass Website Will Get Found on Google! Liver Health https://getliverhelp.com/todd Order today and get your FREE bottle of Blood Sugar Formula and free bonus gift. Renue Healthcare https://renuewellcation.com Register today for your Wellcation with Todd Herman June 7-11, 2024. See site for details

Meeting Jesus | A Man Born Blind

Bethany Lutheran Church

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024 29:12

Jesus meets a man born blind and miraculously heals him. The man is later interrogated about who had done this act on the Sabbath. The man could only answer by saying, “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” The man's answer infuriated the religious leaders and they began a debate about who Jesus was. Jesus quickly revealed that they were indeed the blind ones. When we meet Jesus he often opens our eyes to see and experience life and God in new ways that may not make sense to the world around us. How do we give testimony to God's action in our lives? John 9:1-41 (ESV)As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a ma

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God's Mission For His Church (Matthew 28:18-20) - Michael Davis

Downtown Church: Memphis, TN

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2024 30:43

Big Idea: Because of God's infinite authority we are sent out to the nations to make disciples. John 17:18 (ESV): “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:20–21 (ESV): “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

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The Simple Man - 1/14/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Tabernacle Today

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 53:40

The Simple Man - Assorted Proverbs Passages So that's why the first 20 years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; then for the next 40 we toil in the sin to support our family; the next 10 we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and the last 10 years we sit on the porch and bark at everyone. Proverbs 1:1-7 “Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else.” - Lynard Skynyrd, Simple Kind of Man There's a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” - Proverbs 14:12 (NHEB) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give to every man according to the fruit of his deeds. - Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV) The word for simple in the Bible in the Hebrew language is pethi (H6612); it occurs 19 times in the Old Testament (15 in the Proverbs). It carries the idea of being simple, naïve, and seducible. Biblically, a simple man is 3 things: First, he doesn't know what God wants him to know and act on yet. Secondly, he won't take the time and commitment necessary to find out what what God wants him to know and act on. Third, he is easy prey to the temptations of Satan. Here's the instruction Proverbs gives us about being a simple man: We all start simple To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. - Prov. 1:4 (ESV) The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. - Psalm 116:6 (ESV) The simple are called to learn and apply God's word so they can become prudent. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. - Psalm 19:7 (ESV) The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. - Psalm 119:130 (ESV) You call yourself a simple man; God's word calls you a seducible man, ready to give in to the same kinds of temptations that ruin testimonies and hold entire churches back as you choose your ‘ease' over knowing and serving God. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight. - Prov. 9:6 (ESV) The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. - Prov. 14:15-16 (ESV) To stay simple is willful rebellion against God How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? - Prov. 1:22 (ESV) The fool rejects the things of God, the simple man simply won't do the work to become prudent. Those who stay simple are not ready to face battle with the Devil. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. - Proverbs 14:18 (ESV) The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. - Proverbs 27:12 (ESV) As we age, being simple is no excuse for disobedience. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge. - Prov. 19:25 (ESV) What part of commitment to God have you ignored, scoffed at, etc…? God won't bless what He can't bless in your life; He will judge what He must judge (discipline). SIMPLE – Satan Intentionally Manipulates People Loving Ease. Or is the problem that you are ashamed of Jesus Christ? You don't want to alienate those ‘simple man' friends of yours who don't know, won't learn, and don't obey Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. - Hebrews 6:1-2 (ESV)

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S4, Ep. 9: Back to Basics II: Liberty

Coffee With Jesus

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 21:10

"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. " (Romans 14:5-6, ESV)As the end of the year approaches, people all over the world start to reflect on the past year and on the future. Join us as we reflect on the fundamentals of Christianity. Our host will show how we have freedom and liberty through Jesus Christ. There are a plethora of different doctrines and dogmas throughout the Body of Christ. For most of them, it is ok to disagree. It is ok to hold differing viewpoints on various doctrines and dogmas. Our host will show how it is not only ok to disagree, but how we have a responsibility to accept our brothers and sisters in Christ.Listen and learn about the freedom and liberty we have in Christ, as well as the responsibility we have to uplift our brothers and sisters.Podcast Host: Todd UebeleCoffee With Jesus Website: https://coffeewithjesus.info/Coffee With Jesus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cwj2011/Coffee With Jesus YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsQBybBdPxlSxvmWYfcMzQCoffee With Jesus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/CoffeeWithJesus

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1 Corinthians | The Way

Bethany Lutheran Church

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 23:25

There are a lot of clanging cymbals and gongs in this world and we easily add to the noise. However, things done with love and in love are enduring and powerful. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (ESV)If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.John 15: 9-17 (ESV)As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

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2 Chronicles 6:18–21 | Will God Dwell With Man?

CrossPointe Coast | Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2023 49:52

2 Chronicles 6:18–21 | Will God Dwell With Man? from CrossPointe Coast on Vimeo. Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe Scripture: 2 Chronicles 6:18–21 SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON NO! YES! YES, INDEED! 2 Chronicles 2:6 (ESV) But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? Arthur Pink “In the beginning, God.” There was no heaven, where His glory is now particularly manifested. There was no earth to engage His attention. There were no angels to sing His praises. There was no universe to be upheld by the word of His power. There was nothing, no one, but God; and that not for a day, a year, or an age, but “from everlasting.” During a past eternity God was alone—self-contained, self-sufficient, in need of nothing. Psalm 113:4–6 (ESV) The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113:7–9 (ESV) He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord! 2 Chronicles 6:24–25 (ESV) If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their fathers. Deuteronomy 30:1–3 (ESV) And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 2 Chronicles 7:1 (ESV) As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. John 1:14 (ESV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 2:19 Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Colossians 3:1–4 (ESV) If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV) Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? Revelation 21:3 (ESV) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Christ is King – Your Response to the Kingship of Christ // Jason King // August 20, 2023

jesus christ lord closer stay connected esv find god esv therefore esv as new tampa

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 39:42

Your Response to the Kingship of ChristLuke 6:46 (ESV)“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?”Matthew 13:23 (ESV)“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” John 12:24 (ESV) “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)“...If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)“...walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”Galatians 2:20 (NIV) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

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Closer

Bay Chapel

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 35:48

Current Series Resources: https://baychapel.churchcenter.com/pages/prayerBay Chapel is a life-giving church in the New Tampa community. We meet Sundays at 10:00 am and you are welcome to come anytime in person or online. Find out more at baychapel.com —---Subscribe to receive our latest messages. ——Stay Connected, ask for prayer and find out more.http://www.baychapel.com/connect——Bay Chapel exists to help people ‘Find God and Find Life' through a relationship with Jesus Christ. To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: http://www.baychapel.com/giveMessage Notes:DRIFT PT. 2 | Sunday, August 13thPastor Bria GilmoreHebrews 2:1 ESV - Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.Isaiah 53:6 NIV - We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.✓ FEAR✓ CURIOSITY✓ DISTRACTED LEADERS John 10:11 ESV - I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.CLOSERI. FOLLOW HIM John 10:3-5 ESV - “...The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”II. KNOW HIS VOICEJohn 10:27 ESV - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.HIS WORDPRAYERFASTINGIII. TRUST THE GOOD SHEPHERDEzekiel 34:12 ESV - As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.

When All the Stars are Gone | Pastor Jacob Sheriff

Sermons – Victory Life Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 45:39

When All The Stars Are GoneVictory Life Church — Sunday, August 6, 20232 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) For we live by believing and not by seeing.Jeremiah 12:5-6 (MSG) “So, Jeremiah, if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”The Storm-Tossed Ship: Acts 27:1-44Acts 27:7-10, 18-20 (ESV) Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Faith sees the world through the reality of God's Kingdom.Acts 27:20 (ESV) When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.Romans 8:5–6 (ESV) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.Acts 27:20-26 (ESV) Faith is living surrendered to God.Acts 27:23 (ESV) For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,Faith aligns with God's will.Acts 27:24 (ESV) and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Faith trusts in the authority of God's word.Acts 27:25 (ESV) So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”Acts 27:33-36 (ESV) As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves.Support the showThis podcast is brought to you free of charge through the donations of generous people.If this content blessed you and you would like to help us reach more people, please take a few minutes to rate our podcast and leave us a review.If you'd like to support us financially, you can make donations hereIf you'd like to learn more about us you can visit our website.If you'd like to contact us directly follow this link. If you enjoyed this teaching, Pastor Jacob has another conversation-style podcast that we think you'd really enjoy. Check it out here!

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When All the Stars are Gone | Pastor Jacob Sheriff

Sermons Archive - Victory Life Church

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2023 45:39

god jesus christ spirit kingdom stars romans acts corinthians faith in god caesar sheriffs esv hereif esv for nlt for showthis esv so esv as msg so

The Life of Paul - Anchored // Mark Davies // June 25, 2023

A Bigger Life Prayer and Bible Devotionals with Pastor Dave Cover

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 44:14

Anchored 1. Nothing Matters More Than Knowing ChristPhilippians 3:7-9a (ESV)“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him...”Knowing: GREEK: gnōsis - A first-hand experiential knowledge of Christ.1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (ESV)“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”Galatians 6:14 (ESV)“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”Three BeliefsJuly 2, 2023 // Pastor Mark Davies It's All Grace Philippians 3:9b-12 (ESV)“...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” 1 Corinthians 15:9-10a (ESV)“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” Eternity Is Home Philippians 3:13-16 (ESV)“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV)“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Lord: GREEK: kyrios (Coo Ri Os) the owner, the decision-maker 1 Corinthians 15:48-58 (ESV)“As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written. ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”2 Corinthians 5:4-6a (ESV)“For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage.”Remaining Anchored in Eternity Pray - Read - FellowshipEphesians 3:14-21 (ESV)“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Acts 19v1-7 // "The Holy Who?" by Billy Heather

gospelchurchco

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 37:11

Lets share Good News together. To partner with us financially visit www.gospelchurch.co/give or text the word "FRESH" to 94000 Message Notes: 1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland[a] country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. – Acts 19v1-7 (ESV) As the world gets more like the empire of Rome, the church has to get more like the book of Acts Three Things in the book of Acts Demonstration of the Holy Spirit Evident fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) The “Church” started as a prayer meeting 1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power— 1 Corinthians 2v1-5 (ESV) about the Holy Spirit… 1. The Holy Spirit comes in you to save you, and He comes on you to use you 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. – Isaiah 61v1-3 (ESV) 2. The Holy Spirit has moods, but He's not moody The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. — ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ (‭NIV‬‬) What matters is not the different ways He comes, but that He knows how YOU need Him to come. 3. The Holy Spirit is an untapped relationship for many 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. – 1 Corinthians 15v3-6 (ESV) In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) – Acts 1v15 (ESV) 4. The Holy Spirit needs to be honored And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” — Acts 19v2 (ESV) And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. — Joel 2v28 (NIV) And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. — Acts 19v6 (ESV)

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Using Imagination to See Hardships Vertically with Psalm 126:5

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 28:02

My goal in this podcast — Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life — is to help 21st-century Christians in the always distracted digital age — to connect with God with your whole being — including your body — and to wire into your brain the reality of that embodied connection in each moment. And I think most of us as Christians are often living unconsciously anxious and tense lives with a kind of disconnection between our body and mind, and disconnection between our body and God's Spirit. Where our “Christian faith” has become almost exclusively about certain beliefs rather than an embodied experience with God's Spirit who is always 100% present with us and in us in the NOW. If your podcast app is set to skip the silent sections, disable that in your podcast app for this podcast. Psalm 126:5 ESV “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” Psalm 126:2 ESV “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.” Psalm 121:1–2 ESV 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 123:1 ESV “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” Psalm 124:8 ESV “Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 125:2 ESV “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” Matthew 5:3–12 ESV 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter @ABiggerLifePod Our audio engineer is Diego Huaman. This podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.

Using Imagination to See Hardships Vertically with Psalm 126:5

Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life with Pastor Dave Cover

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 28:02

Questions & Reflections

Bethany Lutheran Church

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2022 31:19

We all have questions about faith and following Jesus. In this sermon series we will try our best to speak to what the Bible says about some tough questions that people from Bethany have been asking. Job 1:6–8 (ESV)Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and from on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Luke 13:1-5 (ESV)Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.John 9:1–3 (ESV)As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

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Luke 16:10-111. Understand that Money is a stewardship. Luke 16:10,11 (ESV) “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 2. Commit to earn honestly & work hard.Colossians 3:22–24 (ESV) Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.3. Honor God with First Fruits. Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.4. Stay within my means. Proverbs 22:7The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave.5. Save for the future. Proverbs 30:24-25Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are not a strong people, but they store up their food in the summer;6. Live with financial integrity. Romans 13:7–8 (ESV) Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.7. Live generously toward others.2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV) The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.8. Enjoy what you have with gratitude.1 Timothy 6:17–18 (ESV) As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share

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Biblical Principles for Godly Finances

LifePoint Church Chicopee

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 39:46

Luke 16:10-11 1. Understand that Money is a stewardship. Luke 16:10,11 (ESV) “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 2. Commit to earn honestly & work hard. Colossians 3:22–24 (ESV) Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 3. Honor God with First Fruits. Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV)9Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 4. Stay within my means. Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender's slave. 5. Save for the future. Proverbs 30:24-25 Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are not a strong people, but they store up their food in the summer; 6. Live with financial integrity. Romans 13:7–8 (ESV) Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 7. Live generously toward others. 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV) The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8. Enjoy what you have with gratitude. 1 Timothy 6:17–18 (ESV) As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share

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Persist - Ep. 249

Speak Life Church

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 15:04

Persist persist verb per·sist | pər-ˈsist , -ˈzist persisted; persisting; persists Definition of persist intransitive verb 1: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning 2 obsolete: to remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position 3: to be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (such as a question or an opinion) 4: to continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time Paralyze resistance with persistence. Woody Hayes Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel. Napoleon Hill success is about persistence Persistence is incredibly important. Persistence proves to the person you're trying to reach that you're passionate about something, that you really want something. Norah O'Donnell What is another word of persistence? Some common synonyms of persist are abide, continue, endure, and last. While all these words mean "to exist over a period of time or indefinitely," persist suggests outlasting the normal or appointed time and often connotes obstinacy or doggedness. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 65 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Pray without ceasing, James 1:12 ESV / 52 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him Romans 2:7 ESV / 32 To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ESV We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; Hebrews 10:36 ESV For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Luke 21:19 ESV By your endurance you will gain your lives. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. Ephesians 6:18 ESV Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Giving Links Thank you for listening, downloading and supporting the Speak Life Church and this podcast. https://giv.li/p2nj61 Zelle - pastor@SpeakLifeChurch.net https://www.patreon.com/speaklifechurchpodcast You can support the ministry by check or money order by sending it to Speak Life Church, PO BOX 2, upper Marlboro, MD 20772 Rev. Kenn Blanchard Kenn.blanchard@gmail.com pastor@speaklifechurch.net 240-200-0713

The Revelation of Jesus Christ (audio)

Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Podcast (Sermons)

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2022

The Revelation of Jesus Christ Revelation 1:1-3 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. - Revelation 1:1-3 (ESV) As we begin… 1. The Revelation reminds us that Jesus reveals what we need (1:1). 2. The Revelation beckons us to testify to Jesus and His power (1:2). 3. The Revelation assures us that Jesus controls all of time (1:3). 4. The Revelation promises us blessing for hearing and living by the book (1:3). Two guiding rules for the series: 1. What's most certain and stable in Revelation centers on Jesus. 2. As we hold to Jesus for what's certain and stable, we will grow to trust Him to hold us regardless of how the end times unfold.

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82. And Now What?

Unrelenting Pursuit

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 45:47

In the past few weeks, we have walked you through our individual stories, and what God had to do in both of our lives to bring us to the point of reconciliation. Now we want to take you through the actual reconciliation process and the steps that we learned along the way. On this episode. we talk about the detox process. We found this to be one of the most painful stages to walk through, as we were in a consistent cycle of distrust and failure. We are praying that some of the mistakes we made in this process, will encourage you to BE RUTHLESS in eliminating things in your life that are holding you back from what God has for you, and your marriage. Don't let the flesh win and be willing to do whatever it takes. Don't continue to hold on to facets of your life, places, people, or things that need to be eliminated from your life. And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:8-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬ As always, we would love to hear from you. And if you want more information about Marriage Reboots, Coaching, Speaking events, or Resources...please go and visit our website @https://www.unrelentingpursuit.org You can also email us @info@unrelentingpursuit.org --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/unrelentingpursuit/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unrelentingpursuit/support

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Mark 13:14–31 | The Meaning of Words That Won't Pass Away

CrossPointe Coast | Sermons

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2022 49:05

Mark 13:14–31 | The Meaning of Words That Won't Pass Away from CrossPointe Coast on Vimeo. Preacher: Jeremiah Fyffe Scripture: Mark 13:14–31 THE OLIVET DISCOURSE THREE OBSERVATIONS FROM MY OWN PROCESS OF STUDY This is My Beloved Son. Listen to Him. As it is written … Let the Reader Understand THE INTERPRETATION v14-23 - The Abomination of Desolation v24-27 - The Son of Man v28-31 - The Lesson of the Fig Tree THREE TAKEAWAYS That was a lot of work! Jesus is the Son of Man in Power and Glory God's purpose is not that we would suffer in judgement, but that we would suffer like him in mission. Mark 1:2 (ESV) As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Daniel 11:31 (ESV) Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. Jeremiah 6:14 (ESV) They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Isaiah 13:10 (ESV) For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. Isaiah 34:4 (ESV) All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV) v13 - I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. v14 - And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Mark 9:1 (ESV) Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.

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Romans 14:1-12 – The Weak & the Strong (Pt. 1)

SonRise Community Church » Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 36:39

*Below is Pastor Andrew's teaching outline from Sunday's sermon, not a word for word manuscript. This is meant as aid in seeing the thought and direction of the sermon. In essentials unity, in Non-essentials liberty, in All things charity I. Welcomed: Romans 14:1–4 ESV As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him,…… Continue reading Romans 14:1-12 – The Weak & the Strong (Pt. 1)

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What Does God Want? // Jason King

Ed Newton Ministries featuring Pastor Ed Newton

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2022 51:12

Genesis 11:9 (ESV)“…There the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”Deuteronomy 32:8 (ESV)“…He fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.” Psalm 82:6-7 (ESV)“You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” Deuteronomy 32:9 (ESV)“But the Lord's portion is His people, Jacob (Israel) His allotted heritage.”Genesis 12:1,3 (NIV & ESV)“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.” “…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”Galatians 3:16 (NIV)“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.”Genesis 15:1 (ESV)“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:” Genesis 15:1 (ESV)“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”Genesis 15:2-4 (ESV)“But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.”Genesis 15:5 (ESV)“And He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”Genesis 15:6 (ESV)“And he believed the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness.”Genesis 15:7 (ESV)“I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”Genesis 15:8 (ESV)But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”Genesis 15:12-21 (ESV)“As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.”James 2:23 (ESV)“Abraham believed God…and he was called a friend of God.”Galatians 3:29 (ESV)“…if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.”John 15:15 (ESV)“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

The Battle of Belief

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2022 49:51

Once, Jesus was speaking to a group of Jews and He says this about Satan, "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44 ESV) As believers, we must reject Satan and his lies. Instead, we must focus on God and listen to what He says. What is God saying to you today?

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R5 Revival Wk 5 // JOY

LifePoint Church Chicopee

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 29:22

How to have a revival of joy!Philippians 4:4 (ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ESV) Rejoice alwaysHow do I become a rejoicing christian? 1. Repentance brings joyPsalm 51:2 (ESV) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sinPsalm 51:12 (ESV) Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.2. Reconciliation brings joyPsalm 133:1 (NLT) How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!3. Spiritual renewal brings joyPsalm 16:11 (ESV)You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.John 15:9 (ESV) As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.John 15:11 (ESV). These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.4. Reaching out with the good news brings joyPsalm 126:6 (ESV) He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 (KJV) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

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100th Podcast Episode Special ft. TOPH: Top 10 Melee Moments of 2021!

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 71:02

— 02x68 Notes — Toph and I share our lists of top 10 Melee moments of 2021 (In October yes, but it's my 100th podcast episode so I wanted to make it extra special with a top 10 and Toph who graciously made time for me)! Toph's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/tophbbq Toph's Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/tophbbq Toph's Twitter: https://twitter.com/toph_bbq — About the pod — Bottom of the Smash Mountain is a podcast created, hosted, produced, edited, and otherwise run by Jesse “cyfer003” Wall (he/him), aka yours truly. That's right, I even write this whole thing out. A couple of things about me: I love the Super Smash Bros. franchise, especially Melee. My wife, Jen, is my biggest supporter and I would not be here without her. To our two children, Ellie and Ezra, I'm proud to be your Daddy. Jen and I believe in the gospel of Jesus, which declares: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ESV‬ As of the beginning of Season 2, this is what my relationship to Melee looks like: I am only a spectator and podcaster. I have no internet at the apartment, so until we move I shall spectate and support via podcasting about Melee and the community. One of my main goals for this podcast is to emulate what I hope to see in the Smash Community at large: a welcoming and safe environment. One example is that I'm not going to swear that much, although my guests might swear slightly more often so that is why this podcast is marked as explicit content, or at least it should be. Anchor is confusing sometimes. The point is, I want listeners and guests alike to feel welcome and safe while they're here, so aside from occasional swearing I will try to limit explicit content to accomplish that. Trigger warnings and heads-up type stuff will be used as I see fit. Don't get your hopes up for time-stamps, because this is a bit of a lazy podcast as well. Despite that, I try my best to give credit where credit is due in regards to sources and such. I also make a concerted effort to avoid ripping other people's content, but if anyone feels that I did that kind of stuff, my DM's are open on Twitter; we can get it figured out. Did I say something that offended you? Usually I am trying not to be offensive to anyone, but my attempts at humor might result in that. Either that or I'm being dumb. Either way, feel free to reach out and educate me so that you and I can level up :) Jesse's Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/cyfer003 BSM Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsmpod?s=21 #BSMPod #Interview #SSBM #Melee — Credits — Podcast Logo: original artwork by Blake Wall; used with permission. If you want him to do art for you just DM me on Twitter, because Blake has no social media presence. Intro: Travelogue by Chords of Orion, off of the Rumination album. Used with permission. Please support Chords of Orion by visiting their website: http://chordsoforion.com Outro: Travelogue by Chords of Orion, off of the Rumination album. Used with permission. I already linked the website, so please check out the YouTube as well: https://youtube.com/c/chordsoforion This podcast was made with an iPhone using Anchor, which you can download onto your iOS here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchor/id1056182234 I have been using Discord and Craig to record interviews for most of Season 1 and now Season 2. Here is a link to discord: https://discord.com And to Craig: https://craig.chat/home/ I also have a windows laptop, Samson Q2U microphone, and Audacity, which you can install on your computer by following this Link: https://www.audacityteam.org Shiggles did the YT overlay for interviews: https://twitter.com/shig_bot?s=21

It Only Takes One Melee Set ft. Fire

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 58:26

— 02x67 Notes — Fire aka That Original Kid talks to me about playing Melee as a 13 year old, plans for being a voice in the community, and more! Fire's Twitter: https://twitter.com/thatoriginalki1?s=21 Fire's twitch: https://twitch.tv/musichits — About the pod — Bottom of the Smash Mountain is a podcast created, hosted, produced, edited, and otherwise run by Jesse “cyfer003” Wall (he/him), aka yours truly. That's right, I even write this whole thing out. A couple of things about me: I love the Super Smash Bros. franchise, especially Melee. My wife, Jen, is my biggest supporter and I would not be here without her. To our two children, Ellie and Ezra, I'm proud to be your Daddy. Jen and I believe in the gospel of Jesus, which declares: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ESV‬ As of the beginning of Season 2, this is what my relationship to Melee looks like: I am only a spectator and podcaster. I have no internet at the apartment, so until we move I shall spectate and support via podcasting about Melee and the community. One of my main goals for this podcast is to emulate what I hope to see in the Smash Community at large: a welcoming and safe environment. One example is that I'm not going to swear that much, although my guests might swear slightly more often so that is why this podcast is marked as explicit content, or at least it should be. Anchor is confusing sometimes. The point is, I want listeners and guests alike to feel welcome and safe while they're here, so aside from occasional swearing I will try to limit explicit content to accomplish that. Trigger warnings and heads-up type stuff will be used as I see fit. Don't get your hopes up for time-stamps, because this is a bit of a lazy podcast as well. Despite that, I try my best to give credit where credit is due in regards to sources and such. I also make a concerted effort to avoid ripping other people's content, but if anyone feels that I did that kind of stuff, my DM's are open on Twitter; we can get it figured out. Did I say something that offended you? Usually I am trying not to be offensive to anyone, but my attempts at humor might result in that. Either that or I'm being dumb. Either way, feel free to reach out and educate me so that you and I can level up :) Jesse's Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/cyfer003 BSM Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsmpod?s=21 #BSMPod #Interview #SSBM #Melee — Credits — Podcast Logo: original artwork by Blake Wall; used with permission. If you want him to do art for you just DM me on Twitter, because Blake has no social media presence. Intro: Travelogue by Chords of Orion, off of the Rumination album. Used with permission. Please support Chords of Orion by visiting their website: http://chordsoforion.com Outro: Travelogue by Chords of Orion, off of the Rumination album. Used with permission. I already linked the website, so please check out the YouTube as well: https://youtube.com/c/chordsoforion This podcast was made with an iPhone using Anchor, which you can download onto your iOS here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchor/id1056182234 I have been using Discord and Craig to record interviews for most of Season 1 and now Season 2. Here is a link to discord: https://discord.com And to Craig: https://craig.chat/home/ I also have a windows laptop, Samson Q2U microphone, and Audacity, which you can install on your computer by following this Link: https://www.audacityteam.org Shiggles did the YT overlay for interviews: https://twitter.com/shig_bot?s=21

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Flying in Melee ft. gwm420

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 72:22

— 02x66 Notes — How do you fly in Melee? Today you will find out with me as gwm420 talks with me about that, Taylor vs Kage, and more! gwm420's Twitter: https://twitter.com/gwm420?s=21 — About the pod — Bottom of the Smash Mountain is a podcast created, hosted, produced, edited, and otherwise run by Jesse “cyfer003” Wall (he/him), aka yours truly. That's right, I even write this whole thing out. A couple of things about me: I love the Super Smash Bros. franchise, especially Melee. My wife, Jen, is my biggest supporter and I would not be here without her. To our two children, Ellie and Ezra, I'm proud to be your Daddy. Jen and I believe in the gospel of Jesus, which declares: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ESV‬ As of the beginning of Season 2, this is what my relationship to Melee looks like: I am only a spectator and podcaster. I have no internet at the apartment, so until we move I shall spectate and support via podcasting about Melee and the community. One of my main goals for this podcast is to emulate what I hope to see in the Smash Community at large: a welcoming and safe environment. One example is that I'm not going to swear that much, although my guests might swear slightly more often so that is why this podcast is marked as explicit content, or at least it should be. Anchor is confusing sometimes. The point is, I want listeners and guests alike to feel welcome and safe while they're here, so aside from occasional swearing I will try to limit explicit content to accomplish that. Trigger warnings and heads-up type stuff will be used as I see fit. Don't get your hopes up for time-stamps, because this is a bit of a lazy podcast as well. Despite that, I try my best to give credit where credit is due in regards to sources and such. I also make a concerted effort to avoid ripping other people's content, but if anyone feels that I did that kind of stuff, my DM's are open on Twitter; we can get it figured out. Did I say something that offended you? Usually I am trying not to be offensive to anyone, but my attempts at humor might result in that. Either that or I'm being dumb. Either way, feel free to reach out and educate me so that you and I can level up :) Jesse's Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/cyfer003 BSM Twitter: https://twitter.com/bsmpod?s=21 #BSMPod #Interview #SSBM #Melee — Credits — Podcast Logo: original artwork by Blake Wall; used with permission. If you want him to do art for you just DM me on Twitter, because Blake has no social media presence. Intro: Travelogue by Chords of Orion, off of the Rumination album. Used with permission. Please support Chords of Orion by visiting their website: http://chordsoforion.com Outro: Travelogue by Chords of Orion, off of the Rumination album. Used with permission. I already linked the website, so please check out the YouTube as well: https://youtube.com/c/chordsoforion This podcast was made with an iPhone using Anchor, which you can download onto your iOS here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/anchor/id1056182234 I have been using Discord and Craig to record interviews for most of Season 1 and now Season 2. Here is a link to discord: https://discord.com And to Craig: https://craig.chat/home/ I also have a windows laptop, Samson Q2U microphone, and Audacity, which you can install on your computer by following this Link: https://www.audacityteam.org Shiggles did the YT overlay for interviews: https://twitter.com/shig_bot?s=21

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Melee Content Creation FOMO ft. Ninji