Podcasts about everything jesus

Most people spend their lives trying to improve themselves externally, better habits, better discipline, better routines. But Christianity is not behavior modification. In Colossians 3:1–4, Paul reminds us that the Christian life begins with a funeral and a resurrection. In this message, we explore what it means to set our minds on things above, find our identity in Christ, and live like people who have truly been raised with Him. What fills your mind shapes your life, and when Christ becomes your life, everything changes.5.31.26 - Message 12

Jesus Over My Freedom takes us through Colossians 2:16–23, where Paul confronts three counterfeit paths to spirituality: legalism, mysticism, and asceticism. In this message, we see that rules cannot make us right with God, hype cannot produce holiness, and self denial cannot truly change the heart. The Old Testament shadows pointed forward to Jesus, and now that Christ has come, believers are not called to live under man made systems of performance, pressure, or spiritual intimidation. Real freedom is not found in religious striving or emotional experiences, but in holding fast to Christ alone. When Jesus is over your freedom, you are finally free.5.24.26 - Message 11

Today we come to the climax of the magnificent passage weread in Philippians 2:11: “that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christis Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Paul has taken us from the heights ofheaven to the depths of the cross, and now back to the throne of grace. What isthe result of it all? It is all to the glory of God the Father. Oneday every voice in the universe will declare the same truth: Jesus Christ isLord. The word confess here means to openly acknowledge, to declare, toagree upon. There will be no atheists then. There will be no skeptics then. Nofalse gods then. No competing kingdoms then. Every tongue will declare whatheaven already knows: Jesus Christ is Lord! Thinkabout what that means. The baby born in Bethlehem is Lord. The carpenter fromNazareth is Lord. The rejected Savior is Lord. The crucified Lamb is Lord. Therisen Christ is Lord. The coming King is Lord. This confession will notdiminish the glory of the Father. It will magnify it, because it is all to theglory of God the Father. Thisis important for us to think about. Jesus never competed with the Father forglory. Everything Jesus did ultimately honored the Father. In John 17:4, inJesus' prayer, He said, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finishedthe work which You have given Me to do.” The entire life of Jesus Christwas centered on the Father's glory. This is the purpose of our lives too. FirstCorinthians 10:31 says, “Whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, doall to the glory of God.” We often ask, “What will make me happy? What willmake me successful? What will make me comfortable?” But the better question is:What will glorify God? When we start asking that question, everything changes. Themind of Christ is not self-centered. It is God-centered. Jesus did not come tobuild an earthly empire for Himself. He came to glorify the Father throughperfect obedience. Now God has exalted Him forever. This is the great purposeof salvation—that we as redeemed sinners would glorify God. Ephesians 1repeatedly mentions that the saved are saved to the praise of His glory.  Whenwe forgive others, God is glorified. When we serve humbly, God is glorified.When we obey in difficult circumstances, God is glorified. When we worshipChrist sincerely, God is glorified. Even suffering can glorify God whensurrendered to Him. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:16, “If anyone suffers as aChristian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” Oneof the clearest evidences of spiritual maturity is a growing desire for God'sglory instead of our own. Pridewants recognition. Humility wants God honored. The flesh says, “Notice me.” TheSpirit says, “Magnify Christ.” That is why John the Baptist expressed this sobeautifully when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Weknow this is the heartbeat of Philippians 2: Jesus willingly humbled Himselfbefore the Father so that the Father would be glorified through His obedienceand exaltation. Now, as believers, we are called to live our lives the sameway. Imaginewhat would happen if every Christian began each day by saying, “Lord, glorifyYourself through my life today.” This could transform marriages, churches,conversations, workplaces, and ministries. Because the focus would shift fromself to Christ. Today, let your words glorify God. Let your actions glorifyGod. Let your attitudes glorify God. Remember this: the day is coming when allcreation will unite in one great confession: Jesus Christ is Lord, to the gloryof God the Father. What a moment that will be. Are you living today in thelight of that future reality? “Father, thank You that one day every tongue will confess that JesusChrist is Lord. Forgive us for living for our own glory instead of Yours. Helpus to magnify Christ in our words, our attitudes, and our actions. May ourlives point others to Jesus and bring glory to Your throne alone.InJesus' name, amen.” 

Topics:  Students of Jesus, Widow Mite, Breaking Animal News, Disciples, Welcome to the Show BONUS CONTENT: Desperation, Information & Matter, Students of Jesus Follow-Up   Quotes: "I believe everything is held together by God's word." "Many people have a church affiliation but don't have a relationship with Christ." "Everything Jesus told us is for our own good."

In a world filled with competing voices, shifting truth, and endless distractions, Paul reminds believers to stay rooted in Christ and grounded in truth. We explored the danger of “plausible arguments” and empty philosophies that pull people away from Jesus, and why a shallow faith cannot carry a heavy life. Whether you are a graduate stepping into a new season or someone simply trying to faithfully follow Christ in today's culture, this message is a call to watch what is shaping you, deepen your roots, and remember that the safest future is not found in knowing every lie, but in knowing Jesus deeply.5.17.26 - Message 10

In this message from Colossians 1:24–29, we explore what it means for Jesus to be over our ministry. Paul describes ministry as costly, sacrificial, and exhausting, yet deeply joyful when it is surrendered to Christ and used for the good of others. This Mother's Day message reminds us that ministry is not just for pastors or missionaries; every Christian is called to help people move toward Jesus, and some of the most important ministry in the world happens at home. From spiritual maturity to stewarding our families well, this sermon challenges believers to prioritize what matters most and depend on Christ's strength in every season.5.10.26 - Message 9

Read OnlineThe Way to the Father“Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:4–6In addition to His parables and moral teachings, Jesus revealed to His disciples deep mysteries in a direct way that they did not immediately comprehend, especially when He spoke to the Twelve in intimate settings, such as the Last Supper, the context for today's Gospel. In this discourse, Jesus explains, in veiled form, that He will soon ascend into Heaven where He will prepare a place for His followers. He explains that because they know Him, they know the way to where He is going—the way to the Father—because He Himself is that Way. As Jesus spoke these mysterious truths, we can imagine the Twelve listening attentively, yet with confusion.Everything Jesus taught was true. His words, recorded in the Gospels, reveal to us the deepest divine mysteries. Within the Scriptures, we find all we need to know to attain perfect holiness and the eternal life of Heaven. Yet we cannot quickly digest Jesus' words as we might an intriguing novel or history book. There are many layers of depth to what He says, and we can only understand those layers through prayer.As the conversation continued, “Philip said to him, ‘Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.' Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'?'” (John 14:8–9).Jesus' response likely surprised Philip and the other disciples because they did not understand what He was saying. Their intention was good—they wanted to understand—but Jesus' words were more than they could comprehend at that moment. Despite this, Jesus gently rebuked Philip as a way of drawing him deeper into the mystery He was revealing.God often treats us the same way. There are many things that we do not understand. Why do innocent people suffer? Why doesn't God heal my loved one in answer to my prayers? Why do my children no longer practice the faith? What am I supposed to do with my life?Just as Philip struggled to understand Jesus' words, we, too, face moments of confusion when God's ways seem beyond our grasp. God's answer to life's most challenging questions is rarely straightforward or immediate. Why? Because such an approach can never fully satisfy the depth of our hearts. Instead, God reveals a kernel of truth to us and then invites us to ponder it, revealing the divine mystery we seek to understand little by little, to the degree we are open.The answers we seek come only as we conform our wills to God's, patiently opening ourselves to His Wisdom. Divine mysteries can only be understood through prayer and deep attentiveness to the truths in God's mind. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only by uniting ourselves to Him in prayer will we discover the path we must walk, the truth we need to hear, and the life we are called to live.Reflect today on anything you struggle to understand. See yourself as one of the Twelve, listening to Jesus speak, but failing to comprehend. Do not be discouraged; instead, allow the fullness of Jesus' divine Truth to sink in gradually. Spend time in prayer, read the Gospels, be open, and listen from the depths of your heart. Seek out His gentle voice and know that He is your Way, Truth, and Life. Let Him lead you and reveal to you the mysteries of His divine Wisdom so that you, too, know the way to the Father in Heaven.Most glorious Lord, everything You have revealed to us is pure truth, yet my mind is often incapable of fully comprehending Your Wisdom. Draw me into the many mysteries You wish to reveal, and teach me to pray so that I will more fully comprehend the way to You and to Your Father in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: NateBergin, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons  Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

In the final message of the Jesus Changes Everything series, guest speaker Adam Weatherby unpacks John 21 and the powerful story of Jesus restoring Peter after failure. If you've ever wrestled with shame, regret, or feeling like you've messed up too much, this message will remind you that Jesus isn't done with you. His grace restores, His love pursues, and His calling never expires. Discover how Jesus meets you in your brokenness and calls you forward with purpose. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this message with someone who needs encouragement today. Chapters (00:00:02) - New Life Gillette Church Teaching(00:00:32) - John 21: A Personal Message(00:01:55) - Jesus Restores Everything to His disciples(00:04:52) - John 21: God's Calling on Peter(00:08:56) - Jesus Invites the Disciples to Work Alongside Him(00:12:30) - Why Peter Jumps Out of the Boat(00:17:38) - Jesus Just Wants to Dine With Us(00:22:28) - Jesus Restates Peter's Name(00:25:44) - Jesus Says, But Follow Me(00:30:03) - Jesus Restores Value to Peter

What does it actually mean to follow Jesus—not just outwardly, but from the heart?In this message, we continue through the Sermon on the Mount and see how Jesus raises the standard in a way that challenges all of us. He doesn't just address our actions—He goes deeper, exposing the motives behind them. From anger and lust to integrity and how we treat others, this isn't about behavior modification… it's about heart transformation.If we're honest, His words can feel impossible. And that's the point. Jesus is showing us that we don't just need to try harder—we need a new heart.If He really is King, then His authority matters. This message is an invitation to stop pretending, look beneath the surface, and trust Him to do what only He can do.

What does it actually mean to follow Jesus—not just outwardly, but from the heart?In this message, we continue through the Sermon on the Mount and see how Jesus raises the standard in a way that challenges all of us. He doesn't just address our actions—He goes deeper, exposing the motives behind them. From anger and lust to integrity and how we treat others, this isn't about behavior modification… it's about heart transformation.If we're honest, His words can feel impossible. And that's the point. Jesus is showing us that we don't just need to try harder—we need a new heart.If He really is King, then His authority matters. This message is an invitation to stop pretending, look beneath the surface, and trust Him to do what only He can do.

By Daniel Apartian - What would you do if you knew you only had 3 months to live? Everything Jesus did in his last 24 hours was very intentional as he knew he would die. What he taught was a lesson on Godly love and how we should care for each other and exemplify that love. This sermon covers six lessons on Godly love

You might be breathing, but are you alive? This Easter message explores the reality of sin, the weight of our debt, and the power of the resurrection. From Colossians 2, we see that Jesus didn't just rise from the dead; He raises the dead. And if He is over death, then death is not over you.4.5.26 - Message 5

What if death doesn't get the final word? This Easter, we're celebrating a risen savior who has defeated sin and death! Watch Pastor Rob's Easter message on John 11. We are so glad you've joined New North Church for service today! If this is your first time with us, we are honored to have you and we want to get to know you more personally - please, fill out our digital connection card. http://bit.ly/nncconnect Do you have questions about life or need prayer? We would love to hear from you. Submit a request here: http://bit.ly/nncprayer New North is financially sustained through your partnership. Thank you for your generosity as you consider giving online. http://bit.ly/nncgiveJoin us in person on Sundays at 8:30am, 10am and 12pm in San Francisco! Plan your visit: https://www.newnorth.church/plan-your-visitSTAY CONNECTED:Website: https://www.newnorth.churchInstagram: http://bit.ly/nncinstagramFacebook: http://bit.ly/nncfacebookSpotify: http://bit.ly/nncpodcast

Welcome Graham fam! We are so glad you could watch Sunday morning online with us. Sermon Title: Holy Week: The Resurrection IntroductionHappy Resurrection Sunday! This message concludes our Holy Week series by focusing on the most important event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While Jesus fulfilled prophecies and died as a perfect sacrifice, his victory over death is what proves his ultimate authority and offers us the promise of eternal life. Scripture References* Luke 24:1-12* Matthew 7:7-8* Revelation 3:14* Colossians 2:14-15* John 16:8-10 Sermon Points1. If you seek him, you will find him!2. The living is not among the dead!3. Everything Jesus said, will come to pass!4. It sounds like nonsense! ClosingJesus has done everything necessary for you to have eternal life by canceling the record of charges against us at the cross. He has already paid the price for your sins. The message of the Gospel may sound like nonsense to the world, but it is the clearest truth to those who believe. The only thing that can separate you from God is the refusal to believe in his Son. Watch past services: https://www.gcwesleyan.org/teaching/ Subscribe to Graham Chapel Youth: https://is.gd/grahamyouth Give to Graham Chapel: https://www.gcwesleyan.org/give/ Graham Chapel Wesleyan Church is in Mayo, SC near Cowpens and Chesnee in Spartanburg County. We'd love to have you join us in person on Sundays or Wednesdays for youth! Visit our website to learn more.

In this message from Colossians 1:9–14, we see that spiritual growth starts with what fills our minds, because what fills you shapes you.As we grow in the knowledge of God, it changes how we live, producing a life that pleases Him and bears fruit. And that same growth strengthens us to endure hard seasons with patience and joy.But at the foundation of it all is this: we grow because of what Christ has already done. He has rescued, redeemed, and forgiven us.So the question is: Are you truly growing in Christ? Because when Jesus is over everything, He is over your growth.3.29.26 - Message 4

In this message, we begin looking at what it means for Jesus to be over our growth from Colossians 1:9–14.Paul prays that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God's will, not just so they would know more, but so they would grow. Because here's the key truth: What fills your mind shapes your life.God's will isn't hidden. He's revealed it in His Word. And in a culture that tears down truth, we're reminded that what God says is not restrictive, it's protective. So the question is simple: What's filling your mind? Because whatever fills you will shape you.3.22.26 - Message 3

We would love to hear from you!The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wild and the devil aims to disqualify Jesus from being Saviour. Everything Jesus says in response to this testing is wisdom from God written in the scriptures. In the same way, God uses these kinds of testing experiences to empower us and enable us to remain faithful throughout all seasons of life. God's love never lets go of us, even in the times of the wilderness. 

Everything Jesus did had purpose. The purpose of His first miracle was not just to save the bride and groom from shame but to announce that he was doing something new. The old ways were changing and the best was yet to come.

Continuing in Colossians 1, Paul points to the evidence of the gospel at work in the lives of believers: love for others and hope in eternity. When our faith is placed in Christ, it begins to change how we see and treat people. Genuine faith produces love for the family of God and a confident hope that is anchored beyond this life.When Jesus is truly over everything, the gospel doesn't just change what we believe; it changes how we live.3.15.26 - Message 2

At the heart of the gospel is a simple reality: Jesus + Anything ≠ the Gospel. Jesus + Nothing = Everything. Jesus is not meant to be one part of our lives; He is meant to be preeminent, first above everything. Saving faith transfers our trust from ourselves to the Savior, and when Jesus is truly over everything, it becomes visible in how we live.In week one of Jesus Over Everything, we begin our journey through Colossians by looking at Colossians 1:1–5. Paul reminds the church that his message carries authority because he was sent by Jesus Christ. Christianity is not built on opinion but on God's revealed truth.3.8.26 - Message 1

John 14:6-14,Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.The goal of this sermon is that we would love to pray and not lose heart. And we're gonna get there, God willing, in three steps — these are three things I want to show you as we work through the passage: What Philip OverlooksWhat Jesus EmphasizesWhat Jesus IntroducesLet's start with Philip. Step #1 …1. What Philip OverlooksWe see Philip speak up in verse 8, and before we talk about what he says, there's something bigger going on here I need to mention: it's that Philip is the fourth disciple who's been named in the last two chapters. And that might not seem like a big deal — because we know Jesus had twelve disciples (and then eleven) — but you may have noticed that for a long stretch in this Gospel, we've not heard much about them.John first tells us about the disciples way back in Chapter 1 — he mentions Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathaniel by name — and they start to follow Jesus. But for several chapters, we don't hear anything about them. Apart from a brief mention in Chapter 6, the focus in this Gospel so far has been Jesus's ministry to the crowds and how he confronts the Jewish leaders. Now the disciples have been present for all that Jesus is doing, but not prominent — they're present, not prominent — until we get to Chapter 12. That's when we see these names reemerge: We hear first about Judas. Then Andrew and Philip say a few things. Then Peter speaks up in Chapter 13. Then Judas again. Then at the end of 13, we see Peter again. At the beginning of 14, we see Thomas. And now, today, we see Philip.So my question is: Why has John gone so many chapters without mentioning these guys by name, and now, all of a sudden, they come into focus?And we don't just hear their names, but we see their foibles. The weaknesses of the disciples are on display.Why does John tell the story this way?The true answer is that we're not exactly sure, but here's my hunch …One thing we learn from how John features the disciples in this section is that the only kind of disciple there can be is an imperfect disciple. Now Judas doesn't count — because Judas wasn't a real disciple — but we see that even among the closest friends of Jesus, his truest disciples, they all have flaws. They all have feet of clay. They all have imperfections. I think that's meant to be a comfort to us. Because at least for now, until we're finally glorified, we're not yet glorified. We are not yet perfect. And so we need to beware the mistake of thinking that faithfulness means ‘getting every single thing right every single time.'Now, of course, we'd like to do that, and there's no excuse for sin. But I'm talking about daily discernment and navigating complexities, especially in troubled-heart situations. I want you to know that impossible standards will crush us. Let me just remind you, church, that: we are saved by the blood of Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, heaven is our home, and, we're just people — each of us is as human as any disciple there has ever been, and Jesus loves us because he loves us. So take a deep breath. We are not going to get every single thing exactly right — and that is okay … as long as we don't do what Philip does here.Devastating MiscalculationNotice what Philip says in verse 8. Jesus says, first, verse 6:I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him. 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”And if we only had what Philip says in verse 8, it's easy to see that he's off.In light of what we've already seen Jesus say in this Gospel, in light of what Jesus has just said in verse 7, Philip is overlooking who Jesus is. That's clear if we only had verse 8, but now notice how Jesus responds, in verse 9:Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'?I think that's the tone Jesus has here. This is a rebuke from Jesus. And it's a stronger rebuke than Jesus had for Peter and Thomas. We saw those guys last week. They were off too, but Jesus did not respond to them with the same intensity he does to Philip. Now why?Well, it's because Peter and Thomas — in their stubborn resolve and paralyzing uncertainty — they miscalculated themselves, but Philip has miscalculated Jesus. Peter and Thomas got themselves wrong, but Philip gets Jesus wrong. And look: if you get Jesus wrong, you end up getting everything wrong (including yourself).So church, listen up. Do not make Philip's mistake. Do not overlook Jesus. That's step #1.Step #2 …2. What Jesus EmphasizesWe see this in what Jesus says back to Philip. The questions that Jesus asks are more like statements. He asserts two truths about himself in relation to the Father: we can call them revelation and unity. (Revelation is in verse 9; unity is in verses 10–11.)Revelation of the FatherFirst, for revelation, Jesus says (as plainly as you can) that Philip doesn't need to see God the Father because Philip has seen him. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” God the Son has revealed God the Father.And John has been telling us this from the very start. He says in Chapter 1, verse 18 that “No one has ever seen God” — and you can't see God the Father because he's immortal and invisible; he dwells in unapproachable light whom no one has ever seen or can see (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16). “No one has ever seen God” but Jesus “has made him known.” We saw last week that Jesus is our way to God, that's because first Jesus is God's way to us. Jesus is God's word to us about who he is. In these last days, Hebrews 1:2, God has spoken to us through his Son. And his Son is such a perfect word — Jesus is such the perfect, definitive revelation of God — that literally to see the visible Jesus is to see the invisible Father. That's verse 9, and there's no good illustration for this. It's just facts, Philip! If you see Jesus, you see God. And of course we're getting into the depths of the Trinity here, which is exactly where Jesus takes us in verse 10.Unity with the FatherThe reason Jesus truly reveals the Father is because Jesus truly shares in the Father's own life. The Father and Son have this wonderful unity.Verse 10:“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” [In other words, you should believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.] The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.Okay, we gotta bend our brains here. Hold on tight! We're talking Trinity — that we worship one God in trinity and the trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence. The Father is not the Son; and the Son is not the Father — but their divinity is one; their uncreated glory is equal; their majesty is coeternal. We can say it this way: although the Father and Son are distinct persons, the Father and Son have never not been on the same page. One commentator nails it. He writes, Everything Jesus is, has said, and has done is itself also an expression not only of or about the Father but even by the Father. (Klink, 621).And Jesus has shown us this! Jesus has not only said this, but he's lived this way. Every miracle that Jesus performed — turning the water into wine, healing the official's son, healing the paralytic, feeding the five thousand, healing the man born blind, raising Lazarus from the dead — every single time that Jesus did something, it was the Father doing it too.The acts of Jesus are also the acts of the Father.This is unity! To see Jesus is to see the Father, and to have Jesus is to have the Father!So there's no belief in Jesus without also belief in the Father. That's why Jesus says 14:1 — “Believe in God, believe also in me.” There's no other way.If you have Jesus, you have the Father. The only way you can have the Father is if you have Jesus.Hey, I love the song “All I Have Is Christ.” Great song, and, every time we sing it, there's a little theologian's voice in my head that says, “All I have is Christ! And I have the Father! And I have the Spirit!” Because when you have Christ you have the whole Trinity!That's what Jesus emphasizes here! He wants us to know the wonder of his relationship with the Father. That's Step #2. Step #3…3. What Jesus IntroducesThere's a change that comes in verse 12. Jesus goes from talking about his relationship with the Father to talking about our relationship with him. And we did not see this coming. Look at verse 12. Jesus says: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”This is the hinge verse in the passage. Verses 13 and 14 will make no sense to us unless we understand verse 12. Notice two things…1. Believers in Jesus will do the same kind of works that Jesus did. We should not think of this in narrow terms — Jesus is not saying we are gonna turn water into wine. He's talking about the broader work of making God known.Jesus did what he did to reveal God, and we're gonna do the same. Jesus already said this in Chapter 13 about our love. He said:“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” As disciples of Jesus, we have a revelatory function. We're witnesses. We make God known. That's one. But also…2. Believers in Jesus will do greater works than what Jesus did in his earthly ministry because Jesus is going to the Father. This is the introduction part. What Jesus says here is new. What's he talking about? How do we do greater works than Jesus?Let me first tell you what Jesus is not saying. The comparison here is not between the works of Jesus and the works of his disciples. Jesus has just said that we are gonna do his same works. The works is the common denominator. So the comparison here is timing! The comparison is between the work of Jesus in his earthly ministry and the work of Jesus from his heavenly throne. This is really important — track with me …There's the work of Jesus before he was lifted up, and there's the work of Jesus after he was lifted up.There's the work of Jesus leading up to his cross, resurrection, and ascension — and then there's the work after his cross, resurrection and ascension, and that's what he's talking about here. It's the work after he has gone to his Father. And that work of Jesus from his heavenly throne will be greater work than when Jesus walked this earth. And that throne-work is the work that Jesus does through us. The “greater works” that believers-in-Jesus do is the work that Jesus does through us from his throne. We could call it works, or we could call it Acts. Like the Book of Acts.The Book of Acts is titled the “Acts of the Apostles” — but a more accurate title would be the Acts of the Ascended Jesus by His Spirit Through His People.And historically, these acts, or this work that Jesus is talking about in verse 12, has rightly been understood as the advance of the gospel in this world. The greater work that Jesus is doing now, through us, is saving sinners. It's when men and women and boys and girls are raised from spiritual death to eternal life. It's when people stop trying to save themselves and start trusting in Jesus. It's when the despairing find hope, it's when the dirty are made clean, it's when the lost sons come home. That is happening now, and Jesus does that work through us — through us … just people …beggars telling other beggars where to find bread. Don't you want to get in on that work! Don't you want Jesus to work through you like that!In this passage, Jesus introduces us to a new day of redemptive history, and we're ready to go. Jesus, give me my assignment! Where do I start?Praying in Jesus's NameWell he tells us in verse 13. And the first assignment is not Go! … it's Ask! And everybody's gotta see this. Chapter 14, verse 13:“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”Is this a dream? Did Jesus really say this?The keyword in these verses is when Jesus says “in my name.” That's the big question here: What does it mean to pray in Jesus's name?This does not mean merely saying, when you pray, “in Jesus's name.” This is not an incantation. It's not hocus-pocus. We don't pray for our team to win the Super Bowl and add “in Jesus's name.” Jesus is talking about something much deeper and glorious than three words. To pray in Jesus's name means to pray from the inside of Jesus's relationship with the Father. To pray in Jesus's name means we join Jesus in the prayers he's already praying — because he is praying and working right now. See, within the Trinity, for all eternity there has been a conversation going on between the Father and the Son, by the Spirit. Every work of God that has ever touched this world has come from the Son's asking and the Father's giving and the Spirit's accomplishing. And when we pray in Jesus's name, we join that conversation! We participate in that asking!This is why we have such assurance that Jesus will do what we ask — because we are praying his prayers, with his same goal on his same grounds. The goal is the glory of the Father in the Son, and the ground is the righteousness of the Son before the Father. The Son delights to glorify his Father, and the Father delights to give to his Son, and when we pray in Jesus's name, we are right in the middle of that delight. That is why we should love to pray and not lose heart — because we get to pray in Jesus's name.The wonder of prayer is not that it “works” — it's that prayer is fellowship.Praying in Jesus's name is entering into the life and joy of our triune God, and we become part of his greater works. Wouldn't you love to do that? He Saves NowYou know, one day we are going to live in a world where all of Jesus's prayers have been answered. That place is called heaven. It's the Father's house. And Jesus is preparing that place for us now (verse 3). And that throne-work Jesus is doing now, those greater works he's doing until that last day, is bringing more and more people to himself. Jesus is still saving sinners like us. And so if you're here this morning, and Jesus has not saved you yet, he will save you now — if you just turn from your sin and put your faith him. Just tell him: Jesus,I cannot save myself and I'm done trying;you came to save me and I trust you. Believe in Jesus this morning.For those of us who have believed — for those who trust in Jesus, let us love to pray and not lose heart. We get to pray in Jesus's name. And that's what brings us to the Table. The TableThis Table is a table of fellowship. It's where the real and living Jesus meets us together, and he reminds us that we have him — and the Father and the Spirit.We remember that it is only through the death and resurrection of Jesus that we're saved to share in the life and joy of the triune God. If you trust Jesus, if you have entered that fellowship, we invite you to eat and drink with us.

Everything Jesus did on earth was for the purpose of fulfilling the terms of the covenant he had made with the Father.Subscribe to daily devotions e-mails: https://wcm.link/ddsub

A professed Christian came at Minnesota state representative Walter Hudson, claiming that condemning Renee Good's criminal actions and advocating for compliance with federal law enforcement was somehow not "Christian."Didn't work out so well.https://x.com/WalterHudson⬇️ Watch, think critically, and decide for yourself.

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Living Word AG

Topics:  Feelings, Shock Jock, Lend To Enemies, Door Busters, Turn Towards Jesus, Round-a-bouts, Cut People Slack, Apostle Paul/Judging, Keep Going, Grateful, Welcome To The Show, Law Of Kindness BONUS CONTENT: A Letter To A President     Quotes: "Feelings carry you one way or another." "Anyone can lend to people they like." "I have decided not to leave Jesus." "The way of Jesus is much better." "Try to think the best of people's intentions." "Everything Jesus tells us is better for us." "Not having to judge everyone is a fighter way to live." . . . Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order! Want more of the Oddcast? Check out our website! Watch our YouTube videos here. Connect with us on Facebook!

Dave Brisbin 11.23.25 When I'd tell people the title of my book, The Fifth Way, first question was: what are the first four? That made perfect sense, because you can't understand the fifth way of Jesus until you understand how the first four operate in our lives. There are several systems that try to explain human behavior in terms of personality types, unconscious ways we process experience and approach challenges in life: Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, DiSC, Kiersey…the four ways operate similarly. In Jesus time, four sects dominated Jewish life, and each had a specific way of dealing with threats to their powerbases—specifically the Roman occupation. The Sadducees, yielded to Roman power; the Pharisees tried to influence or manipulate; the Essenes exited to build their own communities; and the Zealots tried to destroy Roman presence through rebellion. To yield, manipulate, exit, and destroy, are the north, south, east, and west of ways we can deal with challenges in life. From dysfunctional marriages to nations and armies, these four ways, with all the combinations in between, are what we have to work with, and each of us has learned to favor one as primary in our personal lives. They aren't bad or evil; they're necessary for navigating life. Only when we apply them to spiritual growth do they become limiting, destructive, never taking us where we need to go. The four ways answer physical needs we all have as humans, but until we become aware of them, they strip free will, reducing us to predictable, type-based behavior. When Jesus comes out of the wilderness, having overcome three temptations symbolic of all human need, he begins teaching a fifth way, turning the other four on their heads. Everything Jesus teaches and models is a refutation of our normal, ingrained ways of meeting our needs. Starting within and working outward, from an awareness of inexhaustible presence rather than scarcity, we realize that all we really need is not gained through acquisition but in giving away all we have. In the giving, we learn what we really possess is inexhaustible, restoring free will—our ability to choose in love, not just in need.

Dave Brisbin 11.23.25 When I'd tell people the title of my book, The Fifth Way, first question was: what are the first four? That made perfect sense, because you can't understand the fifth way of Jesus until you understand how the first four operate in our lives. There are several systems that try to explain human behavior in terms of personality types, unconscious ways we process experience and approach challenges in life: Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, DiSC, Kiersey…the four ways operate similarly. In Jesus time, four sects dominated Jewish life, and each had a specific way of dealing with threats to their powerbases—specifically the Roman occupation. The Sadducees, yielded to Roman power; the Pharisees tried to influence or manipulate; the Essenes exited to build their own communities; and the Zealots tried to destroy Roman presence through rebellion. To yield, manipulate, exit, and destroy, are the north, south, east, and west of ways we can deal with challenges in life. From dysfunctional marriages to nations and armies, these four ways, with all the combinations in between, are what we have to work with, and each of us has learned to favor one as primary in our personal lives. They aren't bad or evil; they're necessary for navigating life. Only when we apply them to spiritual growth do they become limiting, destructive, never taking us where we need to go. The four ways answer physical needs we all have as humans, but until we become aware of them, they strip free will, reducing us to predictable, type-based behavior. When Jesus comes out of the wilderness, having overcome three temptations symbolic of all human need, he begins teaching a fifth way, turning the other four on their heads. Everything Jesus teaches and models is a refutation of our normal, ingrained ways of meeting our needs. Starting within and working outward, from an awareness of inexhaustible presence rather than scarcity, we realize that all we really need is not gained through acquisition but in giving away all we have. In the giving, we learn what we really possess is inexhaustible, restoring free will—our ability to choose in love, not just in need.

Daily Dose of Hope October 31, 2025 Scripture – John 13:18-38 Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we have been going through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up John 13. In John's Gospel, there is an extended text about Jesus predicting Judas' betrayal. When asked who will be the one to betray him, Jesus says the one he dips the bread and offers it to. Jesus then dips the bread and gives it to Judas. He tells Judas to do what he is going to do and do it quickly. I often wondered why the disciples didn't notice this interaction more. They seem someone oblivious and lost in their own thoughts. Maybe they each wondered if they could be the one to betray their Master? John writes of a point in which Judas allows Satan to enter him. He had previously been influenced by Satan but now he has allowed the devil to have his way with him. At first, he opened the door a little. Then, he just opened the door wide. The devil had been feeding him lies, and Judas started believing them, totally and completely. The devil tempted him with money, and Judas found 30 pieces of silver more valuable than the God. Jesus told Judas that joy was to be found in sacrificially serving others, but Judas believed that Satan's way of putting self first was better. We recently went to a clergy training on deliverance, led by Pete Bellini, a professor at United Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. It was absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend Dr. Bellini's books. But one of the things that Dr. Bellini said was that we as Christ-followers cannot be possessed by Satan. We belong to Jesus so we can never totally belong to Satan. But we can become oppressed. We can open the door to the demonic through various means, i.e. porn use, messing with occult-related activities, and when we do so, demons can attach themselves to us. Satan can oppress certain parts of us. We may not even be aware of it. That is when deliverance is necessary. So, was Judas possessed or oppressed? Did he know Jesus? Did he believe? I don't know if we will ever know this side of heaven. Most of the scholars I read said they thought he was totally possessed by Satan at the end. Who knows? I would love your thoughts. Let's move on in our passage. Verses 34 and 35 are really incredible, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It's as if, in two sentences, Jesus has summarized all his teachings to his disciples. And they aren't easy because they center on how we love one another. If we were to take these verses and look at church history, we would wonder if we were looking at the same faith. Christian history has done horrific things in Jesus' name. I think he must weep and mourn at this. Everything Jesus did was about teaching others to love and serve each other. And somehow, this got terribly corrupted. As we keep reading, Peter makes a very bold, ambitious claim that even if everyone else fell away and disappeared, he would not. Jesus doesn't mince words. He tells Peter that he will betray Jesus three times by that night (or as the text says, by the time the rooster crows two times). But Peter, and all the others, insist that they will follow Jesus even until death. I've thought about this a lot. At this time, the disciples still don't understand Jesus' ministry or purpose. They think they will follow him no matter what but we know what happens. They all scatter once Jesus is arrested. Peter does deny him three times in just a few short hours, consumed with fear for his own safety. When push came to shove, they weren't quite as invested in Jesus' mission as they thought. But then things changed. After the resurrection, the disciples were changed in fundamental ways. Peter, who was initially impulsive and fearful, becomes strong and bold, a superb leader in the early church. After experiencing both the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, their whole outlook on life is transformed. And all of them, except for John, are martyred for the Gospel. They do end up following Jesus to their own earthly death, just not in the timing they expected. I've asked this question before but it's worth repeating - would you follow Jesus to the point of giving up your life? If you were being tortured and persecuted for your faith, would you stay faithful to Jesus or would you give in to the pressure and deny Christ? It is not outside the realm of possibility that such a situation could exist for us. Afterall, it does exist for Christians all over the world. Reflect on this and spend some time in prayer. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Topics:  Love Your Enemies, Question The Culture, Welcome to the Show, Jesus Relevant, Singing at Salvation Army, Contentment, AI Articles BONUS CONTENT: Relationships, The Untrue Cartoon   Quotes: “How do I pray for people that drive me crazy.” “Optimizing ruthlessly is not wisdom.” “Career and success is not going to bring you what you want.” “Everything Jesus says is a genius way to live.” “Words are a big deal.” . . . Holy Ghost Mama Pre-Order! Want more of the Oddcast? Check out our website! Watch our YouTube videos here. Connect with us on Facebook! For Christian banking you can trust, click here!

Jesus Delivers Us (13) (audio) David Eells – 8/31/25 Saints, I'm going to continue with our teaching on how Jesus delivers us and our authority over the demons. I'm going to pick up where we left off last time about the true and false manifestations of the Spirit and begin by sharing the following testimony called:   More Than We Can Imagine or Think by P.O. I was one of thousands of people who wanted to experience "revival" in Brownsville and Toronto. As a fairly new Christian, I wanted the excitement that I thought should come from living a life for God. My prayer during that time was: "Father, do whatever You need to do so that no man or no devil can ever quench my desire for You." The first few visits there, I came away somewhat frustrated. Every time a minister approached me, he would veer away and start the laying on of hands in another direction. I recognize now that this was the grace of God, keeping me from receiving wrong impartations. But one time when we were leaving, I forgot my cape. I returned for it and tried to walk through a large lobby full of people writhing on the floor. Something invisible hit me. I fell to the floor and felt heat, like electricity, start at my feet and work all the way up to my head. I became temporarily but totally paralyzed. A friend who had followed me reported afterward that he saw my eyes roll. This man, a medic in the army, picked me up in his arms to remove me. But the strapping, six-footer made it only to the outside steps. There he, too, was taken down to the ground by this spirit. When he dropped me, I rolled under a small tree. Looking up, I saw the stars like diamonds and trees in 3-D as if "the trees were indeed clapping their hands" as the Word describes. I wanted to praise God, but I was rendered incapable of doing anything but baying like one of my uncle's hound dogs. My heart goes out to my friends who visited the "revival." Three of them died prematurely. Another four of them divorced within a year. Several of them now have serious health concerns. In short, these people are anything BUT revived. With some of these friends, I tried gently to get them to look at the falsehoods. But no. It was like the old saying, "You can lead a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink." The times I tried, I encountered upturned noses, so to speak. My dearest friend, whom I met thirty-eight years ago, lived at one of the revival venues for months. She no longer returns my calls. I don't know why this is the case, since we aren't talking. But I suspect that she just couldn't handle the upturns that my life, and my children's lives, kept taking as opposed to her own. I'll always love her. She prayed for me when I wasn't even a believer. God will save her from this deception. At first I thought the experience had been the Holy Spirit. But, sparing the details, my life began to fall apart. I kept crying out for truth, the truth, nothing but the truth. Somehow, I was led via an internet science site to the e-book called "Sovereign God." I "inhaled" it. God's truth revealed in that book healed me of lifelong bouts of severe depression. Then, via the internet, I saw that people around the world were getting their vision healed. I thought, "God is no respecter of persons. Father, would you heal my vision?" It was a progressive miracle, full of dialogue with Him. After a trial of several months, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles pronounced me as having near-perfect vision. Father God also engineered that my unbelieving daughter would be present to hear the verdict. All my life, I'd had progressively poorer vision, ending with 20-200, which the state of Indiana considered as legally blind. God is able to do abundantly over and beyond what we can imagine or think. In His sovereignty, Father brought me through into the truth. He has orchestrated major periods of repenting and casting out of spirits revealed to me. By the grace of God, my marriage is thriving like never before. My blind eyes are healed. My depression is gone. I have hair now. I actually feel beautiful, but it's not of myself. It's Jesus, coming from the inside out. My children are fighting and winning for their marriages. I'm no longer fat. I have a room with a view. In this room, I help build God's Kingdom with the gifts He's given me. I'm welcomed at foreign airports with bouquets of flowers, like I'm some royal person. I'm surrounded by a vibrant company of other believers who cherish one another every day of the week. None of these blessings came as a result of the revival movement that so many people, including myself, touted for a while. All of these blessings are just "by-products" of a graceful God who loves me. He gave me the hunger and the unction to seek and find Him. Reading that blessing list, an unknowing person might say that I've won life's lottery. But it is all nothing compared to the fact that ... I have Jesus. I hope and pray you do, too. And here is another awesome testimony of God's amazing grace, called:   Delivered & Made Whole by C.M. As a young adult I was diagnosed with Epstein-Barr, chronic fatigue syndrome. For almost two years I would have to sleep at least twelve hours per day to barely function. Having visited every specialist, I was given no hope, other than just to deal with it and get rest. As a child I was taught about the Lord, even experiencing a vision of heaven at the age of seven years. I had been healed of a toothache during that vision. But when my dad left, our family fell apart, and our faith slowly faded away. By the time I was twenty-one years old, the Bible was in my closet, unread in years. One night I cried out to the Lord while remembering a story told to me when I was a child. A woman in the Bible was healed of her blood flow of twelve years. As I was begging the Lord to let me touch His garment just like that woman, I felt such a hot flow of heat through my body! I knew I was healed. The Lord let me feel that heat to help my faith. Within twenty-four hours, I felt completely better! I told everyone. People said it was just psychological—I had healed myself. But I knew better. I started reading my Bible as a babe in Christ. Almost two years later, I did join a church. I was reading the Bible regularly, but I started practicing yoga. I even became a yoga instructor, certified in sport yoga. I knew yoga had Eastern philosophies, but I thought if I just did the exercise part, I would be okay. I even asked my pastor. To my surprise, I had his support as long as it was just for exercise. Another elder even encouraged Tai Chi, another Eastern philosophy of exercise. Yoga was the pathway to all of the other Eastern philosophies: Tai Chi, hypnotherapy, and Reiki, the bringing of "energy" from the universe into your body. After two years of practicing yoga and getting involved with Reiki, I met a bold woman of Christ named Jane. She informed me of my backsliding. Jane insisted that I pray and get right with God and speak to her husband. He had knowledge of the occult. The word "backsliding" kept ringing in my ears from this woman. I had thought exercising was okay. After looking up the word "backsliding" in the concordance, I was directed to Jeremiah Chapters 3-6. The Lord showed me that night that I had left the Lord for the harlot. I felt the Lord's anger with me for what I was doing. After the Lord opened my eyes that night, I discarded everything that had to do with yoga: the music, clothes, DVDs, my teaching certification, books, equipment, mat, candles, etc. I quit teaching the next day. I visited Jane and her husband, who further explained how yoga is an occult practice. They prayed over me and anointed me with oil. We claimed that I was forgiven and that all the effects of this practice had left me. Praise God for His forgiveness, mercy and love. Now I have given my life to the Lord and have been walking with Him ever since! An undeserved blessing He gave me was a daughter, as I had not been able to have a child. According to the specialists, for fourteen months, I was not ovulating. Within two weeks of giving up yoga, I was pregnant. I am so grateful for God's love and forgiveness. David: Amen! Praise God for all His goodness towards us. It's important to remember that we must continue walking in Christ to obtain the fullness of His salvation. (Mat.24:13) But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. We have to continue in Him to receive what He's laid hold on us for. (Php.3:12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. He laid hold on us to manifest the fullness of Christ, and if we believe the Word, and we keep holding fast to the Word, we're going to enter into more and more of Christ. He is the Word. When we walk in Christ, we have faith to exercise the authority that He's passed on to us, but notice that although Jesus totally conquered the devil (Ephesians 1:20-22), we still see him. Why? It's because the devil still exercises authority. You may ask, "David, how is that possible?" Well, let's look at how that authority has been passed around. God never took back the authority over all creation that He gave to Adam in Gen.1:28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. But God didn't have to take it back; Adam gave it away to the devil! He gave it to the devil by virtue of the fact that he obeyed the devil. (Rom.6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? He made the devil his lord and gave him that authority. We know that the Bible says, "What we bind on earth is bound in heaven," so if the devil can talk us into believing he has authority, then he has it because we gave it to him. We loosed him by believing him, and we bound God by not believing Him, because God made the condition for receiving His benefits, which is our faith. Today, Adam's children have lost their authority because he gave it to satan. However, Jesus is called the "last Adam" because He is the father of the born again creation. Because He refused satan's authority He gained authority back and passed it on to His spiritual children. (1Co 15:22)  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  But Christians need faith to exercise this authority. What does the Bible say? (1Jn.3:21) Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; (22) and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. When we walk in Christ, we have faith to exercise our authority, faith to believe what the Bible says about the authority given to us. Adam was a natural man who was given authority over this natural creation. Jesus Christ was called a spiritual man, and He was given authority over this spiritual and natural creation. We just read about the authority God gave to Adam over this natural creation. Most Christians haven't entered into the authority that Adam had as a natural man, much less the authority that Jesus had as a spiritual man. We are supposed to have authority in both places, the natural and the spiritual. (1Co.15:45) So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit. (46) Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual. (47) The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven. (48) As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. (49) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, let us also bear the image of the heavenly. If your Bible has "we shall," it's wrong. There's probably a footnote that tells you the Greek says, "let us also bear the image of the heavenly." We have been given a command to bear "the image of the heavenly." God is not saying that "we shall" because that's not true. A lot of people are not going to bear the "image of the heavenly" because they're going to refuse to do that. We've borne "the image of the earthy" because we've been a natural man, like the first Adam, but to bear "the image of the heavenly" is to bear the Image of the spiritual Adam, Who is Jesus Christ. (Heb.2:5) For not unto angels did he subject the inhabited earth to come... If your Bible says, "the world to come," you probably have a footnote that says "the inhabited earth." This is the correct translation from the Greek according to the numeric pattern. Notice its "the inhabited earth to come" meaning the earth under and following Adam's authority.  (Heb.2:5) For not unto angels did he subject the inhabited earth to come, whereof we speak. (6) But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him? What was "man"? That was Adam. And who was the "son of man"? That was Adam's children. Jesus was the Son of man and the Son of God. This is talking about both the natural Adam and the spiritual Adam. The spiritual "Adam" is Christ, and so then, who is the "son of man"? That is Christ's children. Adam and his children had authority, and if they hadn't fallen because of sin, they would still have that authority. Jesus has authority and all of His children have the same authority because He is an Adam. He's the Procreator of the whole race of the spiritual man. He's the (Rom.8:29) ... firstborn among many brethren. The Greek word there is adelphos, and it means "brothers." (Gal.3:26) For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. Through faith, we should be living up to our sonship; we should be exercising the authority of the first Son, Jesus Christ, our spiritual Father. (Heb.2:7) Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands. We found that was true of Adam, and it's still true. Jesus exercised authority over the works of God's hands. Just as Adam did in the natural before he fell; Jesus did in the spiritual and natural. There's a natural creation, and there's a spiritual creation beyond the natural creation. Adam had dominion over the works of God's hands; he exercised authority over all the earth, the beasts, the fish, the birds, and so on. However, there are other works of God's hands that Adam didn't know much about: the principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness, the spiritual creation of God (Ephesians 6:12). Because of what Jesus accomplished at the Cross, we've been given authority over not just the natural creation, but the spiritual creation. (Eph.1:19) And what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might (20) which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places], (21) far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Notice that Jesus was the head of His body the Church but He put all things in subjection under the feet of His body. We have this authority as we follow the Head. Our authority over the natural creation and the spiritual creation is given by right of two facts. We have come from the first Adam, and we have come from the second Adam. Both of those have been given authority, and that authority has been passed on to us, but the only way you can exercise that authority is to believe what the Word of God says. All of this has been put under your feet; you have complete sovereignty over it as you follow the Head. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. Notice: "Behold, I have given you authority ... over all the power of the enemy." Here's another witness that God has put all things in subjection under His feet: (Heb.2:8) Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. (Primarily, He was talking about Adam and his children. Secondarily, He's talking about Christ and His children.) But now we see not yet all things subjected to him. In other words, it's a fact that Jesus conquered the devil and gave us authority over him, but it's also a fact that we haven't exercised that authority. (Heb.2:9) But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, [even] Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every [man]. (10) For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory (These are His sons.), to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings. (11) For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one (We have one Father.): for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. So you see, we are sons of God first by faith and then by manifestation. Jesus, as the second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:47), received this authority from God over all of creation, and we are in Him. As end-time saints, we are in Him as His body and even the lowest member, the "feet," have been given authority to "stomp" on the devil's kingdom. (Rom.16:20) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. We've been given this authority, so what's the holdup here? The holdup is for us to be convinced about what the Bible says in black and white. It isn't a deep revelation; it's in the letter of the Word, and we need to step out and start exercising our authority according to His Word by faith. We have dominion over all the works of God's hand! It makes no sense to think God would have given this dominion to Adam, a physical, natural creation, but would not have given it to His spiritual creation, sons born after the Image of Jesus Christ. Start imagining yourself as a son of God with authority. See yourself that way. (Psa.8:4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? (In other words, why would you pay any attention to man?) And the son of man (That's not only Adam, but his children. That's not only Christ, but His children.), that thou visitest him? (Psa.8:5) For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor. (6) Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: (7) All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field, (8) The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. Do you remember when the disciples had been fishing all night without catching anything until the Lord commanded the fish into their net? (Joh.21:6) And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. And (Psa.8:9) O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Our words and actions must agree with God's Word. Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2 are parallel in speaking about Adam and his children, and Christ and His children, both having dominion over the work of God's hands. Everything Jesus said agrees with this. (Mat.18:18) Verily I say unto you, What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Because we don't understand this principle, we are continually loosing the devil to terrorize us. We are continually loosing the curse to take dominion over us. We are continually doing this because we are disagreeing with the Word of God. This is what happens when we speak contrary to the Word of God, and we act contrary to the Word of God. Many of God's people don't yet understand that they have this authority to loose the devil. They loose him when they disagree with God's Word. They loose him when they agree with these spirits that rule over the lusts of the flesh. If you agree with them, they are going to rule over you, as with Adam and Eve. We have authority over the work of God's hands. We have authority over the things that God has given us. We have authority over our automobiles and our washing machines; literally anything we have stewardship of. It doesn't make any difference what it is; we have authority. Some of you have exercised your authority and commanded healing for people, and God healed them, or you've commanded healing over broken appliances or cars, and God healed them, too. What we have to do is be convinced that we have the authority of creative power in us. (Joh.20:21) Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. This means that the Father sent Jesus with authority over the works of His hands, and everywhere He went, He exercised authority. And He said, "Even so send I you." He sent us with that same authority. (Mat.28:18) And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go ye therefore... Why did He say that? He said it because He was passing that authority on to His disciples. (Mat 28:19)  Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: (Just in case you believe this was only for the Apostles, He addresses all nations of disciples saying this.) 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you (so we all have the authority they had.): and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  And in another Gospel He said in (Mar.16:17) And these signs shall accompany them that believe... "Them that believe" includes every believer. Every believer has authority in the second heaven, too. That's where Satan rules, and he reaches from the second heaven into the first heaven to rule as prince of the powers of the air in this world (Ephesians 2:2). We can read that here, where Jesus talks to Peter and the disciples. (Mat.16:18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven... What Matthew 16:19 actually says in the original is "the kingdom of the heavens." Over in Matthew 18:18, which we've looked at, the word used is "heaven," singular, because it's only talking about the third heaven, but Matthew 16 is talking about all the "heavens," plural. It says in the Nestle's Text, the three most ancient manuscripts, "the kingdom of the heavens." It says in the Numeric English New Testament, "the kingdom of the heavens." Other translations just haven't copied it correctly. This verse correctly reads, (Mat.16:19) I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens... That means you are binding in the second heaven too. But even in the third heaven we bind or loose by unbelief or faith. The devil is hidden from us in the second heaven, another realm, and he rules from there as prince of the power of the air in the first heaven, but we have authority in the realm of the second heaven when we obey the principles of God's Word. (Mat.16:19) I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens. That doesn't say that we are going to destroy everything the devil does because God doesn't want to do that. God sent the devil here to administer the curse, such as when apostle Paul turned a man over to Satan (1Co.5:5) ... for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. God still does this today, so He doesn't want to destroy the power of the devil. God wants to destroy the power of the devil in the life of the believer. Jesus didn't give the keys to just Peter, as some people mistakenly read this verse. Jesus was talking to all of His disciples. (Mat.16:20) Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ. What made Jesus speak of Peter in the first place? It was because of what Peter had spoken. (Mat.16:13) Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? (14) And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. He wasn't talking about Peter alone. What was shown to Peter was the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. This was the rock. Everybody who is saved has gotten that revelation. It is a foundational revelation. Everybody with that revelation has authority if they believe. This is the "key of David." (Isa.22:22) And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Everybody who is saved has the key of the Kingdom of Heaven but only a few will manifest it. (Rev.3:7) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth. Jesus in the believer has the authority of the key of David. "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." The name "Peter" is the Greek word petros, which means "a small rock or stone such as a man may throw." We are all one of these. But the Greek word for "rock" in this verse is petra, and it means "a huge mass of rock (a boulder), such as a projecting cliff." All of us small rocks who make up the body of Christ could also corporately be this huge Rock. Peter himself said that Jesus was the Rock. (1Pe.2:3) If ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: (4) unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, (5) ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame. (7) For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; (8) and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. Peter said that we are "living stones" and all of the disciples are "living stones." Peter didn't believe that he was the huge Rock. We are living stones in God's building, and that whole building is petra, a mass of rock. Jesus is the foundation of the building of the Body of Christ. He is the Chief Corner Stone, which is missing from the Great Pyramid because He is in heaven, but that Chief Corner Stone also looks like the rest of the building, which is the body of Christ. He is the Foundation and the Head, the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13), and the many stones are His body, just like the Great Pyramid represents. [Note: According to Josephus, the Great Pyramid is a prophecy built by Enoch and his sons.] Peter didn't exercise any more authority than the rest of the apostles. God gave all of His disciples the authority to bind things in the second heaven (Ephesians 2:2), things in the third heaven (Matthew 24:31; 2 Corinthians 12:2), and things in the first heaven (Mark 13:27). God's peopare not doing the works of Jesus Christ because they don't realize this authority is also theirs. We need to get this understanding down in our hearts because the devil's been given authority from God to make war on the saints. God sent an adversary so that not only would we learn to fight, but we would learn to fight and win! Did you know that if you fight the devil, you are going to be warring with your flesh? When you fight the spirit of fear, you are going to conquer fear in yourself. If you fight the spirit of lust, you are going to conquer lust in yourself. God has to send the devil because he reveals to you what is inside you. When you come against him by faith, you are not only consuming the lusts, you are not only plundering the devil's kingdom as far as the ground that he has taken in your life, but you are plundering him (Matthew 12:25-30; Mark 3:20-27; Luke 11:14-23). You are overcoming his spirits. Take your Promised Land. Conquer the carnal man that lives in it. Use the authority God gave you! This is your God-given right! Praise the Lord! Now, let me share another wonderful testimony with you called:   Faith in God's Word Plundered the Devil by sister L.W. About a year ago, the Lord showed me that I had a spirit of rejection. I received it through the bloodline of my dad. My grandparents tried to abort him. His siblings constantly reminded him that he was not wanted. The spirit of rejection took all my life experiences and twisted them in my head. It made me take everything personally and made me perceive its version of the truth instead of reality. Kids are cruel in school, and everybody is picked on in some way. They picked on me because I'm a redhead. So I saw my hair as a physical disfigurement. I thought if I were pretty, people would like me despite the color of my hair. When I would get beaten up by the boys after school, I thought I was the only one getting picked on. I didn't have any black eyes but there was a lot of hair-pulling, kicking, biting, scratching, and punching. I thought it was all because of the color of my hair. And I thought because I was different, I would never be accepted; and I hated myself and my hair. During this time, I developed nervous facial tics. My mom told me to stop, but I told her that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't. I told her my face would feel extremely funny and the only relief was to allow the tic. She told me to rub my face every time I felt that and I did. The Most High God had mercy on me and broke the nervous tics that very instant, and I was immediately delivered.  A couple of years later in the summer, I woke up and the left side of my face was paralyzed and felt heavy. When I would blink, my left eye wouldn't close. When I smiled, only half my face would smile. My dad thought I was just making funny faces and told me if I didn't stop my face would stick. But very quickly, he realized this was a serious medical condition. The doctors discovered I had Bell's Palsy and informed us there was no cure and that I would have to live with this the rest of my life. Later, I asked my parents if that was really true. Would I have to live with this the rest of my life? I felt ugly enough having red hair, without adding a paralyzed face to the equation. And they said, "We serve a God who heals. He is a healing God." Being a child, I thought my parents were smarter than the doctors. So I put my faith in what they told me and ignored what the doctors said. The Lord completely healed my face within seven days. The doctors were stunned. The healing was so complete, there is not even the slightest trace even to this very day, despite the doctors' report. When my parents became missionaries to Swaziland, I was so ecstatic, looking forward to a fresh start. Maybe there they would accept my red hair. Little did I know that the country we were going to believed people with red hair were witch doctors. Now, not only did the color of my hair stand out, but the color of my skin, too. I was really different. I felt I would never fit in. I didn't know the language and couldn't understand their accent—even when they spoke in English. The Swazi kids were actually loving and gentle, unlike the American kids, and they were intrigued by me. They wanted to touch my hair and skin and smell me, but I felt intimidated. (After my sister read this testimony, she told me those Swazi kids loved me and loved playing marbles with me during recess.) The love they gave me, the spirit of rejection stole from me. I thought I was the dumbest one in my class. The standard of schooling was much higher than in the States, and the kids laughed at me because I didn't know the answers when the teacher called on me. Inevitably, there was always somebody who had pity on me and whispered the answer to me. The spirit of rejection twisted my thoughts. Once again I felt rejected. I was a loner. I thought there was something wrong with me because I was dumb. I wanted to be anybody else but me. Because there was no high school in the country we lived in, I was forced to go to boarding school. I went to an all-white, all-girls high school in South Africa. Suddenly, my hair became my greatest asset. I became interested in fashion and beauty and surrounded myself with prim and proper British tea-drinking girls who were gossips and snobs. I was the queen of beauty secrets, sharing them with everybody. Even during my short-lived popularity, inside I still felt dumb and ugly. I felt I was the object of gossip and that the girls were looking down their noses at me. After three years of boarding school, my family moved to Johannesburg, South Africa. I was finally able to live at home with my parents and go to a public school. No longer was I surrounded by prim and proper British girls, but fighting Jezebels. My sister and I rode the school bus. The Jezebels would not allow us to sit, even though there was a vacant seat. They said the seats were reserved. I was determined to sit because I didn't want to have to stand through high school. The girls converged on my sister and me. They pulled our hair, tore our dresses, kicked, scratched, bit, punched and burned us with their cigarettes. I stood up for myself and protected my sister. At that point in my life, I didn't know to turn the other cheek. I prayed and asked God to give me strength. After a while, they gave up. After I graduated from high school, I returned to the States to go to college. Before school started, I lived a few months with relatives. During those months, the spirit of rejection made me feel more alone than ever. Even though I had returned to the land of my birth, I realized I had become a foreigner. I was stranger than ever. My clothes were the latest in fashion in Europe, but they just didn't go in Wyoming. There was nothing indecent about them, but a pastor's wife wrote a letter to my parents stating I looked like a streetwalker and carbon copied it to the church headquarters. Apparently, nothing but jeans, cowboy boots, or tennis shoes was accepted. My clothes were too colorful and different. The day finally came when I was able to go to college and move into the dorm. God blessed me with a fabulous roommate and we became immediate friends. She helped me adjust to the American way of life. I became more confident. I finally started having fun, but didn't study enough; I got kicked out of two church colleges with which my parents were affiliated. I was labeled a rogue missionary kid who dressed like a streetwalker. In my shame, I went back home to South Africa. All my life I was judged by my hair and now I have begun to judge other people by their hair. One night I dreamed I was walking on a busy sidewalk in a big city. The sidewalk was crowded with people walking to and fro. There was a long, green snake gliding at shoulder level. When our eyes met, he immediately came at me and coiled himself tightly around my ponytail. I grabbed him with my right hand and tried to pull him out of my hair, but he was coiled so tightly, he wouldn't budge. I woke up. At this time, I didn't know anything about the importance of dreams. But it was so vivid that I never forgot it. Eventually, my head started to itch and burn. I thought to myself, "Whatever you do, never itch in public." I didn't want to act like the baboons in Africa, always scratching. A couple of years went by and ridges started to form on my scalp, but I ignored it. Later, I got married and moved into my husband's house. Within a week, I realized I had made a huge mistake. He became physically abusive and would often kick me out. In an effort not to worry my parents and hide my shame, I spent the nights at a hotel and kept going back. The abuse became more frequent. I felt like I was having a nightmare and couldn't wake up. It became increasingly difficult to hide the abuse from my family and from work. I found out he was addicted to pornography (that's why he would kick me out). I thought I had married a Christian. One morning, he came at me with full force. I couldn't get away because he was so much bigger and stronger. I grabbed the phone and dialed 9-1-1, but he slammed the receiver down. "God, get me out of here. Help me!" I cried. A few minutes later, a police car pulled up. Shocked, I didn't recognize myself when I looked in the mirror that day. Somebody else was staring at me! We had only been married four months, four days. This was the ultimate rejection and betrayal. For the next two and a half years, we were separated, but trying to work things out. Even during that time, he was physically abusive. My family was afraid he was going to kill me. When I was with him, they would often call. If I did not answer, they would call the police. It ended in divorce. I went to my mom's beauty shop for a haircut. She told me I needed to see the dermatologist because the ridges at the crown of my head had turned a reddish purple. The dermatologist did a biopsy and discovered I had a rare condition called Pseudopelade of Brocq. She gave me little green pills to take. The first morning I took one, I was doubled over in pain within 20 minutes. No matter how hard I tried to take those pills, I was never able to keep them down. I called the dermatologist to ask her what the pills were supposed to do. She said they wouldn't cure my scalp condition—they would only stop the burning and itching. I threw those useless pills out. They were not going to free me from the green snake coiled up in my hair. The name of that snake is Jealousy. When the LORD showed me the root cause of the problem, I repented from my sins of pride and vanity. (Isa.3:16) Moreover, the Lord said, Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And tinkle the bangles on their feet, (17) Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the Lord will make their foreheads bare. (24) ... Instead of wellset hair, a plucked-out scalp. I lived under a mountain of condemnation. No matter how much I forgave and repented of my sins, I always felt like God was mad at me. I am the elder of two girls and I felt like I was Esau and my sister was Jacob. (Heb.12:17) For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. (Rom.9:13) Just as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. I was jealous of my sister. I felt like I was Leah and my sister was Rachel. I was unloved and my sister was loved. I was the one who had weak eyes and couldn't please my Heavenly Father, while my sister was given wisdom and favor with God and man. The LORD gave me: (Gal.3:27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. This verse changed my life. A year before this, my dad baptized me into Jesus Christ, which meant I fulfilled the beginning of the verse. If I was baptized into Jesus Christ, then I was clothed with Christ! I was bouncing off the walls! I was firmly convinced I was clothed with Christ. I told my family about that verse, confessing I was clothed in Christ. My dad and sister said I still had to manifestly be clothed in Christ. I told them that's not what the verse said. It was a very plain and simple verse. I understood it perfectly and I wasn't budging from my stance. I was so ecstatic over that verse and I told them with a huge smile on my face, "Nobody can talk me out of that promise." My mom turned to me and said, "Grab onto that promise with your stubborn mentality and don't let go." The next morning, something flew out of my left nostril with extreme force, waking me up. I heard the sound of a loud rushing wind and physically felt the force. Whatever it was hit my window and caused it to rattle. I jumped out of bed, expecting to see a broken window, but it was completely intact. That had never happened to me before, but I knew I didn't imagine or dream it. I told my family what happened. My dad said a demon was evicted because of my believing that verse. I was so happy! I became obsessed with cleansing myself from all defilement of flesh and spirit. By this time, my dad and sister were listening to me. A few mornings later while sleeping, my whole body cramped up painfully and then relaxed, causing me to wake up. I called my dad, crying on the phone, because I was afraid the demon had come back. He said the demon hadn't come back, but another demon had left and wracked my body on his departure. He said demons typically do that when they leave. I was so happy, jumping up and down, praising Jesus. A few days later, my chest still hurt. I had a big bruise on it to remind me of my deliverance. It was simply a gift Father gave me to believe His Word. His Word is true. When you submit yourself to God, the devil will flee from you. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God: but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. I learned the importance of meditating on the word. Each night I would pick a verse. I came across (Sol.4:1) ...Your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead. Because of my hair and scalp condition, I was always attracted to any scripture that dealt with hair. I knew there was a spiritual meaning, but I didn't know what it was. Despite not understanding this verse, I was going to meditate on it anyway. I imagined my hair being like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead. As I meditated, I heard a voice that sounded like my own say, "Don't do that!" I flew out of bed and turned on the light. I looked under my pillows and tore my whole bed apart looking for something, but I knew not what. I realized it was a demon using my voice. He didn't like me meditating on that verse. I thought, "Stupid demon. If that verse is causing such an uproar with a demon, I'll meditate on it every waking moment!" The next day as I was meditating on the verse, I heard another voice squeal my name. The Word of God is alive! A few weeks later, my mom commented that there was a huge improvement while cutting my hair at the beauty shop. She said an amazing thing was happening—my hair was growing in thick and long. (Sol.7:5) Your head crowns you like Carmel, And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads; The king is captivated by your tresses. It's easy to see the faults in other people, but it's difficult to see the faults in yourself. I decided to ask my sister what my problem was because I knew she would be brutally honest. She told me I had a spirit of rejection. She said that a demon was the cause of my scalp condition, and that I was easily offended and it manifested in my scalp being irritated and tender. I decided to take her at her word and fight the spirit of rejection. My sister showed me this scripture: (Luk.21:12) But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. (13) It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. (14) So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; (15) for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. (16) But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, (17) and you will be hated by all because of My name. (18) Yet not a hair of your head will perish. Suffering rejection is a part of taking up your cross and following Jesus. It's forgiving those who do you wrong and turning the other cheek. A few weeks later I was at the mall with my family. I saw a really neat soap dispenser that I thought my mom should buy, but she said she didn't like it. Then I saw a perfect soap dispenser for my sister's bathroom, but she didn't like it either. The words, "So what's wrong with MY soap dispenser," flew out of my mouth! I was hearing them for the first time myself. I realized what I said was so outrageous and so unreasonable. For the first time, I saw how easily I was offended. I finally saw for myself the spirit of rejection in me. One night, I asked Father for a scripture by lot: (Luk.9:42) While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father. I thought Jesus did it for the boy only and I wanted Him to do it for me. But then my sister showed me Jesus' words: (Mar.13:37) What I say to you I say to all. I was ecstatic! Jesus rebuked the spirit of rejection in me and healed me and gave me back to my Heavenly Father. The spirit of condemnation would overwhelm me. One night while meditating on (Rom.6:11) Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, another demon flew out from behind my right ear with force. I felt and heard a major vibration. I couldn't wait to tell my family. And I said to my sister, "You wouldn't believe what happened to me last night!" She asked, "Now what flew out of you?" (Luk.11:20) But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. I devoured the audio series, "The Curse of Unforgiveness" and I followed along in my Bible, highlighted scriptures, wrote notes and searched my heart for any unforgiveness that may have been lurking. I also devoured the audio series, "Overcoming Sin." I was on a mission to completely rid myself of the spirits of rejection, judgment and condemnation. I became obsessed with (2Co.7:1) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Early one morning I dreamed I had bloodstains all over me. A little boy with blonde hair said to me, "Let me help you." I woke up, desperately wanting help! Immediately, when David Eells started the Bible study, "Deliverance from Rejection and Its Fear," I knew he was talking to me! The Man-child was helping me. My deliverance was already accomplished! I was set free from the spirit of rejection and condemnation! The mental torment has been removed from my mind. My family will no longer have to tread lightly. My Heavenly Father poured His love into me. I finally felt His acceptance. I was no longer rejected, but accepted. (Isa.43:3) For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. (4) Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. How can I possibly feel rejected? (Rom.8:31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? I had been burnt to a crisp. But I learned the ashes of burning the wood, hay and stubble mixed with the water of the Word was a potent purifying cleanser, which is exactly what I needed. (Num.19:9) Now a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place, and the congregation of the sons of Israel shall keep it as water to remove impurity; it is purification from sin. (Act.11:9) But a voice from heaven answered a second time, What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. L.W.'s Prayer: Father, Have Mercy ... Father, I ask You, for anyone out there who is in bondage to sin, needing a healing, needing a restoration in their family, needing a restoration of fellowship, that You will convict them of their sins. Convict them to go and make things right with their brethren. If they've done sin, if they're unforgiving, whatever, convict them to go and make things right with their brethren and then come to You for their benefits: healing, deliverance, blessing, whatever, Lord. We thank you, Lord, for putting Your faith and conviction in hearts. Some are very hardened in their heart, Lord. We ask you to have mercy. Restore their consciences. Grant them this gift to be bold to confess their sins so that You may bless and preserve them and heal and deliver them. Father, we ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen. David: Yes, Amen! Our Lord Jesus has said in (Mat.6:15) But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Without the Father's forgiveness, we are living under the curse. (Mat.18:32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The tormentors are the demons who administer the curse, which is partially described in Deuteronomy 28. Many are living under this and think it normal, but Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us... (Gal.3:13). Therefore, it would be of great benefit to you, saints, to also read or listen to these teachings. Deliverance From Rejection and its Fear https://ubm1.org/?page=deliverance   The Curse of Unforgiveness http://www.ubm1.org/books/pdf/TCOU.pdf https://www.ubm1.org/?page=sabs-onehour

Daily Dose of Hope July 22, 2025   Scripture - Matthew 27:32-56   Prayer:  Holy and Perfect God, Thank you for your divine plan.  Thank you for not giving up on your people and sending Jesus.  Your love and care for us is hard to comprehend.  Help us be a better reflection of your love in all we do.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are diving into part two of Matthew 27, which includes the crucifixion and the death of Jesus.   Let's start with the crucifixion.  Matthew has a lot of detail.  We meet Simon of Cyrene who was forced to carry Jesus' cross.  While Simon certainly had no choice in the matter, I'm guessing his life was never the same after that.  He had carried the cross for the Savior of the world.  Jesus is offered wine with gall (which was very bitter and possibly offered to dull pain) but he tastes it and then refuses it.  His clothes are divided among the soldiers.  A sign is placed above him that says, “King of the Jews.”  And then there are all the insults hurled at him, from passers-by but also from those crucified next to him.  So much humiliation.   However, for those who witness Jesus' actual death, it is life-changing.  The sky gets dark and Jesus cries out the first line of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” At the time, people would reference a psalm by stating the first line and the rest of the psalm would be assumed.  Psalm 22 was written by David, and it's a psalm that expresses abandonment and despair in the face of sorrow.    But this leads to some questions.  Did Jesus really feel abandoned by God at that moment on the cross?  I mentioned this in when we discussed Mark 15 and I think it's important to emphasize again. By quoting Psalm 22, Jesus is actually expressing confidence in the face of suffering.  He is trusting that God will ultimately deliver him. We gain confidence in this interpretation because it is faithful to our understanding of the Trinity as inseparable - one part of the Godhead can't abandon another part of the Godhead.  There is also a distinct union of Jesus' divine and human natures.  All of this comes together on the cross.  Let's read Psalm 22, verses 1-8...   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?    Why are you so far from saving me,    so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,    by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;    you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust;    they trusted and you delivered them.5 To you they cried out and were saved;    in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man,    scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me;    they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,    “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him,    since he delights in him.” And as the psalm continues (it is a bit long to real in full here), we see how the psalmist begins to express trust in the Lord and praise his name.  He knows that God will deliver him.  The bottom line seems to be that on the cross, Jesus bore the weight of our sin as the Son of God, but the Father did not literally abandon him, as that would divide the Trinity and undermine Christ's saving work.  Jesus knew that God would deliver him but also provide a way to deliver the whole world.  Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle. This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained. When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted. Because of Jesus' sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God's grace. When holy God looks at us, he doesn't see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ. Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God.  Hebrews 10 refers to this incredible phenomena...   Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22   Matthew also adds that when Jesus died, the earth also shook and that some who were already dead were brought back to life. The centurion who was guarding the tomb declared that this man, Jesus, must have been the Son of God.   There are two questions that are important to answer when discussing today's topic: Why was Jesus killed? and then, Why did Jesus die? They are both critical questions and the answers are different. I'm going to keep this brief but I want to at least address this.    Why was Jesus killed?  Well, a number of groups colluded to kill him.  First, Jesus was killed because the Jewish leaders felt threatened by him.  They feared him.  He threatened all they thought was right and they were unwilling to open their minds to God doing something differently.  They refused to believe that he was the Messiah, or we could say he wasn't the kind of Messiah that they were expecting.  And they didn't like the way he had the support of the common people.  But let's be clear, Jesus was also killed because his crucifixion was a political act by the Romans.  They didn't want anyone out there claiming to be king of the Jews.  They wanted to ensure that the only one with authority was the Roman government.   Now, why did Jesus die?  That's a whole different question.  Jesus died so that we could be cleansed of sin and walk intimately with a holy God.  Jesus, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy, became the final sacrifice for all sin for all time.  Ever since the fall, God had been on a mission to redeem the world.  The Law was part of that but the people could not keep the Law.  What the Law did was demonstrate how broken, flawed, and sinful us humans really are.  Something much more drastic was needed.  So, God sent Jesus.    Jesus was God with flesh on.  When we say that Jesus is the Son of God, that means that he was the second person of the Trinity, God himself.  He came to earth to live among us and demonstrate to us a new way of doing life, one in which God reigns as King.  Everything Jesus did – his whole life as well as his death and resurrection, was intended to demonstrate the fundamental values of God's Kingdom.  Of course, one of those values was love.  Jesus was and is love.  We see this on the cross.  We've read about all the human actions that led to the cross but this was God's divine plan.  Jesus knew it had to happen.  Jesus knew this was the only way.  So he went voluntarily to the cross.  He was God and he could have called a legion of angels down to save him.  But he didn't.  He went through with all the humiliation and torture.  For us.  For all of us.  He died for us.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Today's shout-out goes to Mark Hardison from Murfreesboro, TN. Thank you for standing with us in Project23. You're helping lead people into the Word, one day at a time. This one's for you. Our text today is Mark 11:1-11: Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?' say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.'” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.  — Mark 11:1-11 If Jesus wanted to signal war, he would've come on a stallion. But he chose a donkey. Why? Because the King had come, but not to conquer Rome. He came to conquer sin. This wasn't weakness. It was fulfillment. Zechariah 9:9 had prophesied it: “Behold, your king is coming… humble and mounted on a donkey.” Everything Jesus did was intentional. A war horse meant judgment. A donkey meant peace. That's the kind of King he is. Powerful enough to destroy, but humble enough to save. The people were shouting “Hosanna!”—but most of them missed what Jesus was really doing. They wanted political rescue. He came for spiritual rescue. Presently, they cheered him in as a hero. Days later, many would cry, “Crucify him.” Why? Because he didn't meet their expectations. He didn't take their side. He took over. But most still want "war horse" Jesus. We want him to charge in and fix our culture, correct our problems, defend our comfort, and affirm our plans. But he comes on a donkey—lowly, interrupting our assumptions and calling us to die to ourselves. He's not interested in sharing the throne of your heart with your politics, your preferences, or your personal agenda. Jesus doesn't just want a place in your life—he demands preeminence over it. So here's the call to action today: Are you cheering Jesus on Sunday but living for yourself by Monday? Are you praising the King with your lips but resisting his rule in your habits, finances, relationships, or priorities? Don't settle for a “safe” Savior who never challenges your comfort. That's not the real Jesus. Submit to the Lord of Lords, and bow to the King of Kings. #HumbleKing, #JesusIsKing, #Mark11 ASK THIS: Why is Jesus' choice of a donkey so surprising? What kind of King were the people expecting? Where are you tempted to treat Jesus like a helper, not a ruler? What would it look like to welcome him on his terms? DO THIS: Where am I expecting Jesus to ride in and fix something—when he's actually calling me to surrender something? PRAY THIS: Jesus, you came in humility when I expected force. Forgive me for trying to use you instead of following you. I welcome you as my King. Amen. PLAY THIS: “King of Kings.”

Read OnlineWhen Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:28–29These lines conclude the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew's Gospel chapters 5–7. In that lengthy sermon, Jesus touches on many topics and presents us with a summary of all we need to know in our lives of faith. In these concluding lines of His sermon, the words “astonished” and “authority” should stand out. Why were the crowds astonished at Jesus' teaching? Because His teaching was new and relied upon a new authority that the people hadn't experienced before.The authority with which the scribes taught was based upon their knowledge of the traditions handed down to them from earlier teachers. The scribes studied long and hard and then presented what they had learned. This was the form of religious teaching that the people were used to receiving.Jesus, however, arrived on the scene and astonished the crowds, because He spoke with a new authority that they had not seen before. Jesus' authority came forth from His very Person. It was not based upon what He had studied and learned from those who preceded Him. Instead, when He spoke, it was He Himself Who was not only the mouthpiece of the New Law of grace, He was also the Author of the Law and its source.Try to ponder the idea of authority. For example, a child knows that a parent has authority over them. They may not like it at times, but they understand that they do not set the rules of the house but must abide by the rules set by their parents. Or consider the authority of civil leaders. Law enforcement officers, for example, have an authority entrusted to them by their office. They are not only well versed in the rule of law, they can also enforce it and everyone knows it.Similarly, Jesus did not just know about the new and glorious truths He taught. He did not simply learn them from the Father in Heaven and then pass them on verbally. Instead, when He taught, He did so as the One Who knew the New Law of grace, the One from Whom it originated, and the one and only Person sent to enact and enforce this New Law.Reflect, today, upon the New Law of grace and mercy taught by our Lord, especially as it is contained in the lengthy Sermon on the Mount. Reading those words is much more than something we study and learn. The words themselves are alive; they are the Word of God. Reading them makes present to us the same authority that the crowds experienced in Jesus' time. Everything Jesus taught was and is new, deep, profound, transforming and alive. And when He teaches it, He also establishes His divine authority to enforce it upon the world. This is good news, because His New Law is not an imposition; it is the one and only source of freedom and new life.Reflect upon this New Law of our Lord and pray that you will more fully come under its authority. My glorious Lawgiver, You taught as One with authority. Today, as Your holy Word is read and proclaimed, You continue to exercise Your new and glorious authority of love and mercy. Please help me to listen to You and to always submit myself to Your authority so that I am governed by Your New Law of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image via Adobe Stock Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Title: Practicing the Way — Living Out Your CallingMain Texts: Ephesians 2:8–10; Matthew 3:16–17; Acts 9; Romans 1:1; Colossians 3:23–24Big Idea: You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Your identity is rooted in Christ, your calling flows from that identity, and your assignments are how you live it out.Key Points:Identity: Who You AreYour identity is not based on your performance, people's opinions, or what you have.It is anchored in the grace of God—“By grace you have been saved… not by works.” (Eph 2:8–10)You are God's poiēma—His workmanship, His masterpiece, His new creation.You are not what you do—you are who God says you are: beloved, child, disciple.Jesus' Identity Before MinistryBefore Jesus did anything public, the Father declared: “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”Our identity is not achieved—it's received.Everything Jesus did flowed from who He already was. The same is true for us.Calling: Your WhyYour calling is how you carry your identity into the world.It is shaped by your story—your pain, your passions, your personality.Calling is not a job title—it's a theme that shows up wherever you go.You are called to embody and express the love of Jesus in every sphere of life.The Apostle Paul is a powerful example: God didn't erase who Paul was—He redeemed it and used it for His mission.Assignment: Your Where and WhatAssignment is the current way your calling is being expressed.Assignments change—calling does not.Paul was a church planter and a tentmaker. In every season, he lived out his calling—even when the setting changed.What seems small or unspiritual might actually be sacred in God's plan.What About You?Are you neglecting your current assignment because it seems beneath you?Are you bitter that your role doesn't look like your dream?God might be using this “ordinary” assignment to prepare you for something eternal.Colossians 3:23–24 reminds us: Whatever you do… do it for the Lord.Final Challenge:Step into your identity. Clarify your calling. Embrace your assignment.And if you're unsure where to start—just start serving. God already has good works prepared for you. Your job is simply to walk in them.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “some standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power”? In this episode of Midweek Move, Dallas and Carlos walk through one of the most challenging and significant passages in the Gospels, the Transfiguration of Jesus. Topics covered include: Why did Jesus bring only Peter, James, and John to witness this moment The significance of Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus The voice of God affirms Jesus as His Son and commands the disciples to listen Peter's fear and what it teaches us about vulnerability in leadership The tension of prophetic timing and waiting to speak when God says, “not yet” This conversation explores how the disciples wrestled with their expectations, cultural assumptions, and limited understanding, even in the face of divine revelation. It also challenges us today to examine how we interpret Scripture, lead others, and remain centered on the authority of Christ. Whether you're a leader, student of Scripture, or someone navigating questions of faith, this episode offers rich insights and practical takeaways for your spiritual journey. Subscribe for more weekly deep-dives into Scripture. Like, comment, and share this episode if it speaks to you. Scripture: Mark 9:1–13

Today is Maundy Thursday—the night before Jesus went to the cross. This Lent Meditation will guide you to reflect on Jesus’s unconditional love. On this night, Jesus knelt to wash His disciples’ feet, shared the Passover meal, and redefined the meaning of the bread and cup. Then, He walked with His disciples to the Mount of Olives, where He spoke words they didn’t fully understand—words about their coming failure and His unwavering love. In today’s meditation, we’ll step into this moment through Peter’s eyes, listening as Jesus tells him that he will deny Him. But even in this painful prediction, there is hope—because Jesus’s love was never dependent on Peter’s strength. And His love for us is the same—unconditional, unwavering, and faithful. As you slow down and enter this sacred moment, may you remember: Everything Jesus does is because of His extravagant love for you. Listen now to enter into the story of Maundy Thursday. Get your free Lent Journal here. Here are some additional helpful links: Download your free LENT guide here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Guided Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The Entire meditation text is: Matthew 26:30-35, NIV 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How do we know what we know about God? Many religious texts claim "true knowledge" of a deity, higher power, or state of consciousness. Christians believe the Bible has the only legitimate claims on the truth about God. Everything we know about God comes from the Bible. Everything Jesus believed, taught, and claimed came from the Bible (the Old Testament, specifically). Chris Westbrook April 6th, 2025

Is Jesus the foundation you're building your life on—or the stone you're tripping over? This week, Pastor Ken dives into Matthew 21 and confronts the ultimate question: What are you building your life on? When Jesus was questioned about His authority, He didn't back down. He told the truth boldly, revealing that He is the Cornerstone—and all who reject Him will fall.

In this week's sermon, Pastor Bob explores the significance of work in the life of a believer, emphasizing that how we approach our jobs reflects our respect for God. Drawing from Colossians 3:22-4:1, he encourages us to integrate our faith into our work life, highlighting the importance of integrity, attitude, and fair treatment of others in the workplace.

This week, Pastor Bob explores the biblical principles of family dynamics as outlined in Colossians 3:18-21, emphasizing the importance of love, submission, and obedience within marriage and parenting to build a strong foundation for families guided by Christ.

This week, Pastor Bob emphasized that true freedom from evil desires comes through a relationship with Jesus rather than legalism or transactional faith. He encourages us to confront our struggles and find liberation at the foot of the Cross.

When the doctor taps your knee with the mallet to test your reflexes, your leg automatically swings, doesn't it? That's a reaction. It's an involuntary, uncontrolled action resulting from external stimuli of some sort. When you answer an email or a text, editing it for errors and choosing your words carefully, that's a response. It's carefully thought through, controlled, and intentional. I want to talk about reacting versus responding because I think many times we are in react mode when we should be in respond mode. Let me give you an example of reacting versus responding. Suppose you have a coworker who is very negative, and every time he or she opens his or her mouth, it seems that bad news comes out. This person never has anything nice to say about anyone or anything, and all day long you are forced to listen to his or her negative chatter. What does this negative person do to you? If you're in react mode, this person makes you angry, irritated, and frustrated. Having to listen to all that negative talk starts to make you think and talk negatively. That's a reaction. It's your automatic involuntary behavior which is caused by that external stimuli—a negative coworker. Now, instead of allowing that person to have a detrimental effect on you and your behavior, you can decide to respond instead of reacting. A response might be a smile when he or she says something negative to you. Or you may say something positive in response to his or her negative words. That positive response will help to keep you from being irritated and frustrated, and it will offset the person's negative input by your positive one, keeping you from getting negative like your coworker. Another response to this negative coworker might be that you simply remove yourself from his or her company when you can, to avoid being exposed to that negativity. You can see a response takes some self-control and discipline on your part. First, you must know you have a tendency to react poorly to this negative person, and then you must have an alternate strategy that guides your response so you don't react. One of my favorite stories about Jesus is the time when they asked him to prove by what authority he was doing his miracles. You'll find the story in Mark 11. The chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?' they asked. ‘And who gave you authority to do this?' (Mark 11:27b-28). Consider what a reaction might have been. Jesus could have torn them apart piece by piece with words, had he so chosen. How dare they question his authority? How dare they ask for proof? Who were they to demand such from the Son of God? Everything Jesus had done was to help people and deliver them from sin and sickness. Yet, they would be so arrogant as to ask where he got his authority? He could have argued with them. He could have played one-upsman with them. He could have waged a war with words. But notice how Jesus responds: “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will ask, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'  But if we say, ‘Of human origin'....” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things” (Mark 11:29-33). Isn't that an incredible response? Don't you love it?! Jesus refused to be pulled into playing their petty games, he did not allow them to bring him down to their level, and in a thoughtful response to their stupid accusation, he pinned them against the wall—but in such a way they couldn't even argue with him. Masterful, wouldn't you agree? One thing we need to learn about our reactions and our responses is that frequently we m...

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NLT) John wastes no time in establishing Jesus’ identity. The apostle begins his Gospel with the same wording Moses used in Genesis 1:1 to show that God existed before creation. John’s point is that Jesus, too, existed before the world was created. Not only was He with God at the beginning, but He also was God. Jesus is the second person of the Trinity—that is, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave life and light to creation. And when the people who received life turned their backs on Him to pursue their own sinful ways, Jesus did something so amazing that John can barely find the words to do it justice. Jesus, God Himself, entered the world He created. He squeezed His infinite presence into a small container of flesh. He made Himself susceptible to pain, weakness, sorrow, and rejection. He lived among us. He humbly, faithfully, and lovingly served the people He created. John refers to Him as the Word because He embodied everything that God the Father wanted to communicate to us. Everything Jesus said and did reveals something about God. Very few people recognized Him as God, even though the Jewish people of His day were waiting for the Messiah, the Son of God. The problem was that they’d already made up their minds about what the Messiah would be like and what He would do. And Jesus didn’t meet their expectations. So they rejected Him. And the ones who led the rejection were the ones who should have recognized Him first: the Jewish leaders of Israel. Of course, God anticipated that people wouldn’t recognize His Son. So He sent John the Baptist to announce His coming. And He gave John the Baptist a sign so that he would recognize Jesus. When John the Baptist saw a dove descend on Him, he knew Jesus was the Chosen One. That’s why he was able to confidently point to Jesus and announce, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (verse 29) Still, most people—including the Jewish religious leaders—refused to recognize the truth. The leaders even sent a delegation to John the Baptist to ask if he was the Messiah. All the while, John the Baptist kept pointing to Jesus. While he was standing with two of his own disciples, John the Baptist saw Jesus and said, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples immediately left John the Baptist to follow Jesus. Two thousand years later, this same scenario is still being played out. People still refuse to recognize the truth about Jesus because He doesn’t fit their idea of what the Son of God should be. And those of us who do recognize and follow Him still have the opportunity and responsibility to say, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us today as we have our very own Pastor Mike Badolato speaking about, “Receiving Everything Jesus Paid For”. Check it out and let us know your thoughts in the comments!  

When church folks advocate and attempt to indoctrinate that we are required to keep and obey *everything* Jesus said, there is a very apparent and glaring problem with this mindset. You may have noticed ... *they aren't doing it themselves.* Hypocrisy is exposed but usually ignored, as the very thing they are touting is really just a selective version of pick and choose as they deceive themselves into thinking they are "doers" who end up landing in a pile of filthy rags known as self-righteousness. We don't ignore or dismiss the words of Jesus. But much of what He said to Jewish people who were still under an unprofitable law of works before the cross needs to be considered in the proper context rather than trying to "Christianize" it into something that leaves believers today misinformed and off track. Jesus did not come with a new set of rules that would be harder and more challenging than the commands from the Mosaic law that nobody had ever successfully kept. --Available on Amazon - "Clash of The Covenants: Escaping Religious Bondage Through the Grace Guarantee" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0713ZSKY7

My guest this week is the incredible and hilarious Joby Martin, the lead pastor of The Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, Florida. Since launching the church in 2012, Joby has been at the forefront of a movement that helps people from all walks of life discover and deepen their relationship with Jesus.  Beyond his leadership at The Church of Eleven22, Joby is also an author, speaker, husband, and father of two beautiful children. His newest book Run Over By the Grace Train: How the Unstoppable Love of God Transforms Everything just hit shelves this September.  I hope you'll join us today as we talk about this concept of grace and explore how we can better understand and apply it in our daily lives. I had an absolute blast learning from Joby's wisdom and getting into the nitty gritty on this subject!  2:09 – Joby 101 Getting saved in high school Feeling called to ministry Planting a church in Jacksonville Connecting to people through comedy 12:30 – The Importance Of Grace In Today's Culture How grace is often misunderstood and misapplied Grace transforms everything We need grace daily 16:37 – Defining Grace How grace is defined by scripture  Grace brings the dead to life God's relentless pursuit of us 26:50 – Encouragement For Those Struggling With Grace Investigating the Bible and seeking a relationship with Jesus The Gospel of John Being open to the transformative power of grace 35:18 – Final Thoughts Who is Jesus to you? Everything Jesus has for us is good Grace has a face Connecting with Joby FEATURED QUOTES “I've also realized in preaching, if I just preach from my own failures and weaknesses, I never run out of material.” “If you got hit by a train, your whole life would be different. You can't say that you've been hit by the grace of Jesus, and things don't change in your life.” “I promise you, there's more grace in Jesus than sin in you, and He wants you, and He's not disappointed to choose you.” -- Learn more about Joby: https://www.jobymartin.com/ Get your copy of Run Over By The Grace Train https://www.jobymartin.com/books/grace-train Church of Eleven22 https://coe22.com/ Joby on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jobypmartin/ Joby on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@jobypmartin Joby on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PastorJobyMartin   Connect with me:   http://www.stillbeingmolly.com http://instagram.com/stillbeingmolly http://instagram.com/canilaughpod http://twitter.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/stillbeingmolly http://facebook.com/canilaughpod http://tiktok.com/@stillbeingmolly     GET YOUR COPY of ‘IF I DON'T LAUGH, I'LL CRY” TODAY: Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/IIDLICbn Amazon: https://amzn.to/48VYFkG ChristianBook: https://bit.ly/IIDLICcb Target: https://bit.ly/3Shh3Q2 Walmart: https://bit.ly/3MmGVpJ Indie Bound: https://bit.ly/IIDLICib Audible: https://amzn.to/3ITcdm8 Kindle: https://amzn.to/3ITaSvv     About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?   Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world. 

Not Writing, Dying To Self, Bad Advice, Breaking Animal News BONUS CONTENT: Bad Advice Follow-up   Quotes: “My desires don't have to rule me.” “Everything Jesus tells us is for our own good.” “I'm miserable. Now there's TWO of us!” “Are you trained to work on a giraffe?”

Anxiety, Less Anger, I Will Rejoice, Chips Ahoy, A Quasar, Hansen 2038, Parenting BONUS CONTENT: The Narrow Way   Quotes: “We're, by nature, local.” “Everything Jesus tells us is really good for us.” “They're just as good.”