Podcasts about even christ

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 1060B recorded on February 16, 1986 teaching from Matthew 23:1-24 – One is Your Master, Even Christ. Pastor Cyril A. Stevens critiques the false religious practices of the scribes and Pharisees, who he argues have self-promoted themselves to positions of authority and burdened people with man-made rules, obscuring the more important aspects of…

For decades, conservatives have been plagued by an affliction—an almost allergic reaction to power. It's as if the only way to be truly virtuous is to lose, and to lose gracefully. Political wins are viewed with suspicion, as if governing with authority is somehow unseemly, or worse, un-Christian. But what if that mindset is not just wrong—but harmful?Take a look at Donald Trump. Like him or not, he's leading a populist resurgence that is centered not just on rhetoric, but on wielding power—on winning. Recently, he made headlines for appearing to defy a court order that would have prevented the deportation of Venezuelan gang members. Then, he took aim at President Biden's use of an autopen for signing pardons, questioning the validity of those signatures. Predictably, his critics shriek: "Tyranny!" But is it tyranny—or is it the legitimate use of power for the good of the nation?There is a long and deep conservative tradition that supports the responsible use of authority. Edmund Burke warned that power unused is power lost, and that liberty without virtue is the greatest of all evils. Russell Kirk argued that moral order requires strong governance. Sam Francis lambasted the Right for its obsession with losing honorably rather than governing effectively. Even American history is filled with examples of presidents who who defied courts and insisted on doing what they believed was right. Lincoln, FDR, Reagan, even Andrew Jackson understood that sometimes, the law is wrong, and justice demands action. Yet, modern evangelicals often act as if any use of power is suspect, embracing what Francis called the "beautiful loser syndrome"—preferring to be righteous victims rather than victorious defenders of truth and order. But what does Scripture actually say? Joseph wielded power in Egypt to save his people. Nehemiah rebuilt Jerusalem despite opposition. Even Christ declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."So today, we ask: Is Trump a tyrant, or is he acting within a legitimate and necessary conservative tradition? And more importantly, why do so many conservatives still believe that surrender is a virtue?This episode is brought to you by our premier sponsors, Armored Republic and Reece Fund, as well as our Patreon members and donors. You can join our Patreon at patreon.com/rightresponseministries or you can donate at rightresponseministries.com/donate.Political power is not everything, but it's not nothing either. And when good men refuse to use it, then evil men will pick it up and destroy societies. It's time for Christians to learn to use political power for good ends again. Let's get into it.*MINISTRY SPONSORS:**Private Family Banking*How to Connect with Private Family Banking:1. FREE 20-MINUTE COURSE HERE: ⁠https://www.canva.com/design/DAF2TQVcA10/WrG1FmoJYp9o9oUcAwKUdA/view⁠2. Send an email inquiry to ⁠chuck@privatefamilybanking.com⁠3. Receive a FREE e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown", by going to ⁠https://www.protectyourmoneynow.net⁠4. Set up a FREE Private Family Banking Discovery call using this ⁠link: https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min⁠5. For a Multi-Generational Wealth Planning Guide Book for only $4.99, use this link for my affiliate relationship with "Seven Generations Legacy": ⁠https://themoneyadvantage.idevaffiliate.com/13.html⁠*Reece Fund⁠https://www.reecefund.com/*Dominion: Wealth Strategists* is a full-service financial planning and wealth management firm dedicated to putting more money in the hands of the church. With an education focused approach, they will help you take dominion over your finances.https://reformed.money/

In this episode of The Christ Cycle, Maurice Harker explores the final phases of Christ's journey—Reluctance and Return—and the powerful lessons they offer for navigating our own lives.Even Christ, in His divine mission, experienced moments of hesitation, understanding the immense trials ahead. Yet, His deep-rooted commitment to His Father's will propelled Him forward. We'll discuss how reluctance is not a sign of weakness but an opportunity to reflect, gather strength, and align with our true purpose.The Return phase highlights Christ's unwavering dedication to His mission. After retreating for spiritual rejuvenation, He re-engaged with clarity, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to His divine calling. What can we learn from this? How do we return to our responsibilities and purpose after hardship, doubt, or burnout?Join us as we break down these final stages of The Christ Cycle and uncover how Christ's example can inspire us to overcome hesitation, recommit to our purpose, and move forward with faith.Want to read the book: ⁠https://bit.ly/TheChristCycleAudioBook

In this episode of The Christ Cycle, Maurice Harker explores two critical phases of Christ's journey: Reluctance and Return. Even Christ, in His perfect divinity, experienced a moment of hesitation in the Garden of Gethsemane, recognizing the immense suffering ahead. Yet, He submitted to the will of the Father and moved forward with unwavering commitment.We'll examine how reluctance plays a role in our own lives—how feelings of hesitation, fear, and self-doubt can either paralyze us or refine our purpose. We'll discuss how Christ's example teaches us to acknowledge vulnerability, seek divine guidance, and ultimately embrace the path ahead.In the Return phase, we see how Christ re-engaged with His mission, not out of obligation, but from a place of renewed strength and purpose. By understanding this cycle, we can learn to overcome hesitation and recommit to our own divine purpose with greater faith, clarity, and resolve.Want to read the book: ⁠https://bit.ly/TheChristCycleAudioBook

Christians believe that the story of Jesus Christ doesn't end with his death on the cross or with his burial in a borrowed tomb. Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead three days after he died on a cross, and it may be one of the most challenging beliefs of Christianity. Even Christ's disciples didn't believe it when they first heard the news. But it's a cornerstone of the Christian faith.   Learn more about Mountaintop Church at https://mountaintopchurch.com 

By Jay Ledbetter in London, KY - July 13, 2024 - Each day, there's a battle raging for your emotions. If we allow him, Satan will use all his diabolical techniques to thwart your peace of mind. Even Christ's followers aren't immune to depression. Join our study as we walk through Psalm 13 to witness and learn how David successfully navigated emotional struggle finding peace and comfort in the end.

 Audio recordingSermon manuscript:One of the unusual features of the times we are living in is how many different beliefs there are. Perhaps you had a taste of that at your Thanksgiving gathering. Your cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws might have very different understandings about what is right and wrong, the present state of things in the world, or what we should do about all of it. There have always been differences of beliefs. No two human beings have ever had the exact same thoughts about everything. But in the last few years the sheer number of beliefs available to be believed has increased dramatically. Sometimes you might hear of people applauding this development. More free speech and more diversity is automatically good. But many of the new beliefs contradict older beliefs. For example, either we have been made to be male and female—and that means something, or gender is just a fluid social construct. Either male and female is something intrinsic and natural, God-given, or what I've just said is judgmental and hateful. It is impossible for both views to be good. They contradict each other. So despite what people might say about diversity—that it should be welcomed, the more diverse the better—they either aren't seeing the contradictions or they aren't being totally honest. If they were being honest they would say that those who hold the older beliefs are deplorable and have no business holding any power or authority in our modern life. They should be run out of the government, run out of our universities, run out of our schools. They don't go so far as to want to kill people, but they most certainly want certain beliefs and ideas to die. The reason why they are so passionate for their beliefs is because they genuinely believe that the death of these old ideas will make the world a better place. I wouldn't be surprised if some of you had some vigorous debates on Thanksgiving whether these newer ideas would make the world a better place. I could take up the rest of this sermon time by giving you arguments for why this or that belief is bad and will lead to worse conditions rather than better ones. That might be an enjoyable way for us to spend our time. I suspect that most of us are pretty much on the same page about the various issues. But glorying in how right we are and how wrong they are would give the impression that we—with our debating, with our fighting—we are what is indispensable for Christianity and for the furtherance of Christ's kingdom. This is a very common, false assumption, which is held to particularly in our circles. Being a Christian is assumed to be the same thing as being a “conservative.” Being a Christian means that you fight for the old beliefs as opposed to the new beliefs. Christianity is us versus them. We're right; they're wrong. And what needs to happen is that either they need to shape up so that they adopt our position, or they must be eliminated. Their beliefs and ideas need to be eliminated. They must be run out of the government, run out of the schools, run out of the libraries. Being a Christian means that you are a cultural warrior. This is not Christianity. This is one of the devil's tricks. We know from St. Paul that the devil likes to dress himself up as an angel of light. There's nothing that the devil likes more than to play around in religion. What a harvest of souls the devil can collect for himself if he convinces people that Christianity is a matter of being either conservative or progressive. Then people will fight with each other over whether we should be conservative or progressive, believing thereby that they are being ever so pious, ever so religious, when in fact they will be accomplishing nothing that lasts into eternity. There is only one way for us to last into eternity, and that is by becoming a new creation. Paul says a couple of times in his letter to the Galatians that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision—an issue hotly debated at the time—counts for anything. What is needed is a new creation. I don't think I am going wrong by modifying that statement to say, “Neither conservatism nor progressivism is strong enough to accomplish anything. What is needed is a new creation.” And what is this new creation? John speaks of this at the beginning of his Gospel. He says, “To those who received the light [that is, Christ,] to those who believed in Jesus's name, he gave the right to become children of God. They were born, not of blood, or of the desire of the flesh, or of a husband's will. They were born of God.” That's how you become a new creation. You are born again through faith in Jesus's name. This is very much tied up with baptism. One of the simplest answers to the question of how to become a Christian is that you should be baptized. Jesus speaks of baptism as being “born again by the water and the Spirit.” Unless we are born again we cannot see the kingdom of God. And why is it so necessary to become a new creation? It is because the change that is needed is too great. Neither conservatism nor progressivism can save anyone from death. Neither conservatism nor progressivism can reconcile sinners with God. Neither side can exorcise evil spirits to make way for the Holy Spirit. Neither side can make anybody truly love. If anything it seems that the more we fight the more we hate, the more we dehumanize our opponents. And to what end? For greater diversity, equity and inclusion on the one side? To make America great again on the other? However grand these ideas might seem to be to people, they are far too small and temporary. Christ our Lord operates on an entirely different plane of existence. This is something that our readings today about the end of the world point out so forcefully that it strikes me as being almost brutal. We think the stuff that we deal with is so important, so consequential. The future of our country or the future of the world depends on us winning the cultural war. What our readings today reveal is that it isn't about us at all. The most outstanding thing is Jesus Christ being Lord and God. In our reading from Matthew we hear about how this King comes with magnificent splendor and power. All the souls born of Adam and Eve are gathered before him. Each and every one of you are one of those souls. The most powerful person who will have ever wielded the reins of government will be one of those souls. The most lowly—the retarded, the aborted, the slave—will be one of those souls. And how are they judged? They are judged by the presence or absence of the chief and foremost fruit of faith, which is love. Did they love? And who did they love? Did they love only their own, and to hell with everybody else or did they love the least of these? Our epistle reading is also supremely grand. Paul speaks about the resurrection and what will happen at the end. Paul is correcting the Corinthians, some of whom didn't believe that the resurrection from the dead was likely or possible. Paul says, no, there is most certainly a resurrection from the dead. If there is no resurrection from the dead then Christianity is a joke. It's simply not true if there is no resurrection. But what I find so captivating is what he says towards the end of our reading. He says that at the end Christ will bring to nothing every rule, every authority, every power. All his enemies must be put under his feet. Then he will deliver the kingdom—all those who have been raised together with Christ—he will deliver them to God the Father. Even Christ himself will be subject to God the Father. Then God will be all in all. To be honest, I'm not sure I understand everything that Paul has said. One thing is clear though: Christ's kingdom is what is extraordinarily important and there is no alternative. There is no alternative universe for DEIers, or for Trumpers, or for never-trumpers. “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.” This inclusivity is extreme! It is only in Christ that there can ever be true unity, true oneness. And there will be oneness, because either you will be in him, and one with him, or you will depart from him. This inclusivity is extreme. It seems brutal—harsh, even. But this is where it is important to remember what kind of Lord and King Jesus was. When you are tempted to believe that this is all too extreme, nasty, brutal, and so on, you must remember the way that Jesus was in the Gospels. His disposition towards us has not changed. What the Gospels reveal is that Jesus is an extremely strange king—so different from those who have earthly power. He did not enslave the world so that everybody would serve him. Just the opposite: He poured himself out for the benefit of all. He healed, he set right that which was wrong, he cast out demons, he forgave. And the works didn't need to be extraordinary or grand. On the night when he was betrayed he got out a basin, put water in it, tied a towel around his waist, and washed the disciples feet. What kind of king does that? And, of course, as you are well aware, Jesus was king in a supreme way when he was nailed to the cross, suffered God's wrath for our sins, and died. Because he died, we will not die. Because he is risen, we will rise too. This is the stuff that Paul talks about in our Epistle reading. It is going to happen to us. We will rise at his coming. Death will be destroyed forever. We will be caught up in this whirlwind of Christ's kingdom where all things will be brought to nothing and Christ will rule over everything. Then we will be delivered to God the Father so that God will be all in all. In light of all of this we must all repent and believe the Gospel. Whatever improvement projects we might have for ourselves or for others are futile. They can never reach deep enough. Nothing that we do can ever change the human heart. Only God, through the death and resurrection of his Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit can make us new creatures. This is where the extreme inclusivity, the seemingly brutal oneness, should not be seen as being as brutal as it first appears. It seems brutal because God does all this without asking for our permission or our approval. He's going to do what he's going to do whether we like it or not. Losing control, losing our say about what we think is good or what should happen, is frightening. But what if none of us is good at knowing what is good and evil? What if all our hearts are evil and in need of redemption? Then it is much better for the King, who is wise and good, to take the reins. He continues to set right that which is wrong, to cast out evil spirits, to forgive. Nobody can do what he does. He does all things well.

Sermon Text: Revelation 7   Today we celebrate All Saints Sunday, and we are brought face to face with the reality of death. And while death is all around us, and can make us lose hope, we don't have to. Even Christ died, and so there is no place we can go where Christ has not already gone. And Revelation shows us, in images and suggestions, how we can draw hope for our lives from the lives of those who have walked the way of Christ.   Want to support the work of St. Mary's? https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-...

On todays show its a follow up to Sept 17 edition of THE END OF DAYS... however... can Christ followers be FALSE PROPHETS and TEACHERS.... well the bible says so... how can we counter act this both believer and non believer? Well stop by and find out!

The body of christ needs business to expand the Kingdom of God. Even Christ understood this. If faith without works is dead a church depending only on faith is in trouble.

The body of christ needs business to expand the Kingdom of God. Even Christ understood this. If faith without works is dead a church depending only on faith is in trouble.

Apr 2, 2023   What makes someone the greatest? In sports terms, only a few are deemed the “G.O.A.T.” (greatest of all time). Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and so on. Even Christ's disciples were concerned with this question. How is the greatest? Listen in as Jesus gives an answer that continues to challenge our notions of greatness. As you listen in, you will be: 1. Challenged to see greatness not as how many serve us but as how we serve others 2. Encouraged to see Jesus as the primary example of greatness  

REVIVE : Minor Moment, Major Movement, Part 2 – The Selfie Life (Jonah) We live in an age where our society is geared towards a “me” mentality. Whether we realize it or not, we are all being shaped to look out only for ourselves. It's all around us – in our social media, Amazon orders, or curbside service, we believe others are here to cater to our needs. Even Christ-followers think of God being here for what they want by saying, “Lord, bless me.” “Lord, promote me.” or “Lord, give me.” God becomes sort of a means to an end. This was the story of the famous prophet Jonah. And in his walk with God, he was taught that a life devoted to God is not about us but serving Him and others. Join us for this message to learn how to avoid the dangers of the selfie life.

This is our second to last reading! This week we are reading the 58th number from "Way to Inner Peace." Easter is the end-all and be-all of our Christian Faith. I have met a few people in my life who deny the Resurrection of Christ while calling themselves a Christian. But, to be a Christian, you must believe in the reality of the Resurrection. Bishop Sheen is going to talk about how even the Apostles doubted the Resurrection, at first, because they weren't expecting it. They had to be convinced of it. Even Christ's closest companions struggled with it at first.  Three Key Points: Doubt, trust, and truth

12/18/22 - The strong ought to use their strength in Christ to assist the weak, as Christ submitted himself to lift the burden of sin from us.

Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 1060B recorded on February 16, 1986 teaching from Matthew 23:1-24 – One is Your Master, Even Christ.

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1406-1411. Have you ever felt abandoned by God? I'm willing to bet that many of us have felt that way. Even Christ, Himself, cries out from the Cross, "My God, My God, why have You abandoned me?" The very human side of Him felt the weight of the suffering and sin and He felt abandoned. But, the important thing to remember is that God never abandons us. He is always right there holding us together if we invite Him into our suffering.   

Series: N/AService: Lord's Supper EulogyType: EulogySpeaker: Ron Drumm

Even Christ followers will have doubts and needs to process through and grow in their faith.

In today's episode, the guys talk about biblical hospitality. As Christians, we have the wherewithal to be the most hospitable people on the face of the earth. In a sense, hospitality is really a reflection of the gospel as it is the Golden Rule in practice. Listen as the guys share their best hospitality experiences. In Scripture, the word hospitality speaks of being a person who has given over by loving other people. The Dictionary defines it as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors and strangers. God calls on us to be hospitable to everybody, even those we find difficult. Hospitality is meant to be a form of evangelism. The other side of hospitality is discipleship. As demonstrated in the Bible, hospitality is a key characteristic of a good leader. Similarly, Christians showing kindness and hospitality is the best form of advertising.  God does not bless us financially to raise our own standard of living, but so we may have more to give to others. We must not give only from the overflow while keeping the bulk of our belongings to ourselves. Romans 12 says “Contribute to the needs of the saints and sake to show hospitality. This is the way the Christian responds.” The real key to practicing hospitality is to do so without grumbling or complaining. Hospitality does take a certain amount of discomfort. To truly be hospitable means you're going to put yourself in a place of sacrifice and discomfort. The reason why we do it is because Jese was hospitable to us. Even Christ, who was entirely self-sufficient, became dependent on other people's hospitality. All of us have found ourselves in situations where we need someone to lean on for help. If you are in a situation where you don't have much to give, you can turn to God's grace. We must open out homes no matter what, but having a clean and pleasant home helps people to feel comfortable and welcome.  Thanks for listening! If you've been helped by this podcast, we'd be grateful if you'd consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Reading 1 Corinthians 15:12-15 where Paul lays down a negative argument for the resurrection of Christ and therefore our resurrection. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Today's readings are from Notebook 5, numbers 1406-1411. Have you ever felt abandoned by God? I'm willing to bet that many of us have felt that way. Even Christ, Himself, cries out from the Cross, "My God, My God, why have You abandoned me?" The very human side of Him felt the weight of the suffering and sin and He felt abandoned. But, the important thing to remember is that God never abandons us. He is always right there holding us together if we invite Him into our suffering. 

Specialization in the post industrial age leads to excessive trust on professionals. We feel insecure in our abilities, so we look to others to form our opinions and support our decisions. Christians, however, have a more sure word of prophesy (more sure than tradition or observation). Interested? You should be. The Bible is a gift to modern man, subject to a sovereign God, which should be read in context, not in extracted sound bites that tickle our ears. Let the recorded witnesses encourage you; let the Son of God teach you. A giant step toward equity. *** Chapter 9: Jesus Heals the Nobleman's Son (Part 1) Jesus returned to Cana in Galilee, the place where he had made the water into wine at the marriage feast.  Hearing that Jesus had come back to Galilee from Judea, a nobleman, whose son was sick to the point of death in Capernaum, went to meet him.  He besought Jesus to heal his son. To the nobleman Jesus said: “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” The nobleman replied: “Sir, come down ere my child die.” Jesus responded: “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” The man believed the promise Jesus had made to him and started toward home.  While still on his way he was met, the following day, by his servants, who said: “Thy son liveth.” The nobleman inquired as to the hour his son began to amend and his servants replied: “Yesterday at the seventh hour [1 o'clock] the fever left him. So, the father knew that it was at the same hour Jesus had told him his son lived.  Accordingly, he believed as did all others in his house. ***

One Is Your Master, Even Christ - Bethel Tabernacle by Jason DeMars

We dissect Paul's command to be kind, compassionate and forgiving with the reality that men, as leaders, often need to use "tough love" in our parental and managerial relationships. Even Christ saw virtue in directness: "Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no,' no." (Matt. 5:37) How do Christian leaders set high expectations yet do so with love and kindness? Also, the fellows talk about the Boy Scouts and whether the program is still relevant in 2020.

Welcome to today's devotion time with Kenny Russell in Caesarea. One Life – Getting Back to the fruit! Share testimonies kenny@bulldozerfaith.com To give https://www.bulldozerfaith.com/give?fbclid=IwAR0lDqlRlq6s3MgYeJuABfWTcecCUftCOCuQYt6vwv49Fdr2EyIEMP5aW-s (https://www.bulldozerfaith.com/give) Support this podcast

Bottom Line: Christian leadership is “servant leadership” and it must start with a foundation built on scripture. Takeaways The Bible has high praise for King Josiah, "Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him." (2 Kings 23:25) These accolades are because Josiah led with a foundation built upon scripture. And, in this way, he's an example of how we should strengthen our leadership skills. We may be tempted to go to Barnes and Noble to buy the latest leadership book, but, as Christians, we should be guided by the commands given to us by God. We need scripture to give us a good foundation for servant leadership just as Jazz musicians need music theory to play beautiful solos. Even Christ built his leadership skills upon the Bible. When he was tempted by the satan in the desert, Jesus responded with words from the Old Testament. Jesus was able to carry out the Father's will because he knew his Bible.  Our task, if we want to be Christian servant leaders, is to begin by reading and obeying the Word. This is how we begin our walk on the Way.  If you'd like to learn more about servant leadership or more about the Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative, click here. 

This task-filled life is overwhelming me. I’m not sure I can do it much longer. I need a superhero to carry me away — away — away — away!This is session 3.5 of The Task-Filled Life. Download the printable Bible study at www.lwml.org/life.This is part of a series with a slightly different format. It's broken down into cycles of 6 weeks: one longer episode followed by 5 weeks of shorter devotional ones.Even Christ is from the Bible study The Task-Filled Life, by Jan Brunette, originally published by LWML.

George Floyd question; More die from doctors than police; Police are not the solution; Function of police; Gullibility of the people; What God wants; vs What you want; What to do about it; South Africa situation; Where is the solution?; Resistance is futile; Example: Kingdom caring for needy neighbors; How much will satisfy?; "Mammon" defined; Even Christ was tempted; Avoiding politics?; Christ's answer; Your choices; What your actions say about you; Becoming zombies; Cain and Abel message; Getting your rights back; Individualism; Learning by experiencing; Worship; Why do you go to church?; "Religion defined"; The true oppressors; Single-parent family problem; Degenerating society; How to recover; Anarchy; Laws are already in place; Our job!; What made America great?

During this unique season of Great Lent this year, because of the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID19), the Church has asked us to stay home. The Church has asked us to not come to Church during some of the most holy days of the year. This goes against our normal thinking, but for the good of our neighbors and society in general, we must stay away from the Church. Christ invites us, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” When we are obedient to our Church Fathers and leaders, we learn to sacrifice our will. Only after we learn to sacrifice our will, will be able to take up our cross. When we learn to be obedient to the Church, we learn to be obedient to God. Even Christ welcomed the cross because He loved us. When we sacrifice our will for God, we show our love for Him.

Start reading and learning with us today! Sign up at www.WalkingAsChrist.com. Share with your friends & family so we can all grow in our knowledge of the Word of God together! -Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and snapchat @WalkingAsChrist to stay connected.

We all experience pain. Even Christ experienced pain. None of us are exempt. But we don’t need to get stuck in our pain. Christ endured the cross for the joy set before him. We can see the joy in the midst of the pain. We don’t have to move from death to death. We can move from death to life as our pain produces joy and leads us to wholeness. Enjoy this conversation between me and my good friend, Rebeca Villatoro. Get your FREE Alive Living Field: https://sarahrgautier.com Let's stay connected on IG and FB https://www.instagram.com/sarahrgautier/ https://www.facebook.com/sarahraquelgautier/

Pastor B talks about the importance of surveying your circle. Even Christ had an intimate 3 that He stuck with. Is there someone in your circle that you can be honest with and they will point you back to the Cross? Christ centered friends, godly friends, friends who genuinely want you to grow in Christ. --

In a world with the scientific method and a worldwide, searchable knowledge base we rarely stop to wonder at God and his creation. Even Christ's birth is an intellectually, theologically significant story that we don't often wonder at. Let's take some time to wonder at Christ's birth again.

'For one is your Master, even Christ'

> We have been introduced to the big name of God - Yahweh. The name that Moses took to the Jewish people in Egyptian slavery. The name that connotes eternality, independence, and immutability - an eternally self-sufficient and unchanging God. He, who simply is.> We have come to know the jealousy of God - El Qanna -, which stands up to defend the relationship when sin threatens. This name speaks of His commitment in relationship. He is moved by our relationship.> We have studied the gracious and merciful God. The God who forgives and places limits on the natural consequences of sin (3 generations). Patient, loyal and generous and responding to every heart that turns to Him.> We have been encouraged by El Roi - the God, who sees. He sees our past, our mess, and our escape and yet still moves in comfort us with His presence.This morning we will consider another one of God's big names. In fact, El Shaddai is the name by which Job and Abraham knew God. Not until Moses does God introduce Himself as Yahweh.Scholars are not entirely sure what Shaddai means. The verb comes from to be strong and likely refers to the strength of God as it relates to His keeping His covenant promises. In Genesis 17 God reveals Himself to Abram as El Shaddai and says: walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” (Gen 17:2) In Job 13, he appeals to the shaddai of God and wants to appeal his case before El Shaddai. Job struggles with the suffering he has to endure when he has not sinned and makes His appeal to the God, Who is strong enough to keep His promises.El Shaddai, then, is best translated “God, the Almighty” or in a more modern vernacular: The strongest of all. Theologically we refer to His omnipotence. This divine strength guarantees that He can make true on His promises.I've drawn three biblical conclusions concerning God's omnipotence:His plan cannot be thwartedHis decisions cannot be stoppedHis might cannot be overcomeBiblical history has proven this very truth. Through all the epocs of man God has moved forward with His plan. According to Paul His plan was framed before the foundations of the earth. It was this plan that hinted at with Adam and Eve and it was the only plan to survive the flood. It was the plan that was promised to Abram, confirmed to Isaac and reaffirmed to Jacob. It was this plan that was lived out by Joseph to save Judah and took Moses and the people through the Red Sea to Mount Sinai. It was this plan that permitted Joshua to invade the Promised Land, prompted prophets to warn and Judges to fight and it was this plan the Kings forgot. It was this plan that brought the people back after the captivity. It was this plan that was revealed to a 14 year old girl in Nazareth, announced by shepherds and sought by wise men. His plan came to fruition in Bethlehem and was finished at Golgatha. God is powerful enough to ensure that His plan unfolded through some 5000 years of human history. That is might.God has proven that when He begins something or when He promises something it will come to pass. Paul underlines this confidence in Philippians 1:6.In Psalm 91 the writer builds on this confidence in El Shaddai. This Psalm brings us to a natural response to God's omnipotence. I draw three practical insights:Run to His refugeTrust in His omnipotenceRest on His plansJohn and Anna Kay had a tackboard in their bathroom with many sayings. One of those sayings captures the truth of this Psalm: God never promised a calm voyage, but he guarantees a safe arrival.Even Christ encountered this unmovable and unstoppable plan in the Garden, but through His finished work on the cross nothing can separate us from the love of God… His plan all along.

PRAYER AND PRAYER REQUESTSCol.  4:2-4 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."There are several things I want us to look at in these verses about prayer.THE INTENSITY OF PRAYERWe see in Paul's exhortation to the Colossians a vital key to answered prayer.  The word “Continue” means, “to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one; to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing.” This verb is a present active imperative.  The present tense represents a continuous action in the present tense.  The active voice is where the subject does the acting.  In this case I believe Paul is referring to the entire body of believers in Colossae.  The imperative mood is a command that expresses urgency.  Putting this verb in the imperative mood will have the effect of urgency on the believers there.John Gill comments: “This is not said particularly to masters, as in the foregoing verse, but to all the members of the church in general; for the apostle having taken notice of some special duties relating to persons in different stations of life, returns to such as were common to them all; as this of prayer to God is, for such prayer is intended; for though the object is not expressed here, he is in the following verse, and the Mediator Christ is supposed, and also the Holy Spirit, whose assistance is necessary to it.”We should pray fervently. James 5:16 says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."We have an example of this kind of praying in Colossians 4:12, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."THE ALERTNESS IN PRAYERThis is brought out in the words, of verse 4, "...and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" The word “watch” means “to give strict attention to.” It is easy for the Christian to see the need for prayer but difficult for him to believe that prayer really changes things.The man who prays fervently will stay at it until the answer comes.  I cannot pass judgment upon those who do not practice in the Christian lives the thing taught by Paul in this verse.  It is not for us to pass Judgement.  Even Christ did not come to pass judgment. John 3:17, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."Our lack of convictions concerning the outcome of prayer is measured by the lack of testimony to answered prayer.  Next,THANKSGIVING IN PRAYERColossians 4:2, "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;" Is thanksgiving to be offered in gratitude for past answers to prayer, or, is thanksgiving to be offered in faith that what we are praying for is already on the way.One of the things that is absolutely necessary in our relationship to God is thanksgiving. Luke 17:12 18, "And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:  And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." Jesus commented on the Samaritans attitude of gratitude.  We take so many things for granted.  Next,

Upon suffering, we cannot help but ask the question, "Why?" Even Christ asked it from the cross. In the book of Job, there are seemingly endless words from people trying to answer "Why?" for Job... but within their own purely human wisdom. The question has risk. We're prone to hold onto the answer itself more tightly than God. And in this, we can miss significant opportunities to grow in Christ. Listen or watch, and explore this universally human predicament.

Upon suffering, we cannot help but ask the question, "Why?" Even Christ asked it from the cross. In the book of Job, there are seemingly endless words from people trying to answer "Why?" for Job... but within their own purely human wisdom. The question has risk. We're prone to hold onto the answer itself more tightly than God. And in this, we can miss significant opportunities to grow in Christ. Listen or watch, and explore this universally human predicament.

None are without temptation. Even Christ was tempted. What do we do when we are tempted to use food for the wrong reasons? Rita discusses strategies to handle the misuse of food.

None are without temptation. Even Christ was tempted. What do we do when we are tempted to use food for the wrong reasons? Rita discusses strategies to handle the misuse of food.

Margins: do you have them in your life or is everything in your life maxed out. Even Christ had to have downtime. Simplify your life with Christ's plan.

Margins: do you have them in your life or is everything in your life maxed out. Even Christ had to have downtime. Simplify your life with Christ's plan.