Podcasts about exhort

Rich, Charlie, MBD, and Phil discuss the ongoing fallout from Donald Trump's tariffs, the Supreme Court's decision in the Alien Enemies Act case, and the progressive protests that have sprung up around the country.

Join pastor and international evangelist, Dr. Michael Youssef, on the next LEADING THE WAY as he continues his WHO ME? . . . GIFTED? series. Hear ways you can EXHORT those around you by exercising your spiritual gifts! (Romans 12)Support the show: https://au.ltw.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Dr. Michael Youssef on the next LEADING THE WAY as he continues his WHO ME? . . . GIFTED? series. See ways you can EXHORT those around you! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/155/29

God uses our relationships to challenge us and help us grow! Check out the video above for a powerful message on what it means to exhort one another from our very own Michael Coogan. He unpacks the power of biblical exhortation—why it's essential, and how we can both give and receive it in our lives. You can access the message notes for this message at the link below. https://chicocommunity.church/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-30-One-Another-Exhort-One-Another.pdf Download the message guide, fill out your Connect Card, and give at the link below. https://chicocommunity.church/watch

Pastor Ben Smith preaches from 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 on how to strengthen and exhort the church to stand firm against the attacks of Satan.The passion of God's servants must be to strengthen and exhort the church to stand firm against the attacks of Satan. Verses 17-20 of chapter 2 express Paul's lament that he was forced to leave the church shortly after they had come to faith and his great desire to return and be with them again. This is more than a recounting of events; it is likely a defense against those attempting to deceive the church by discrediting Paul and accusing him of abandoning them. Acts 17:1-10 describes how a hostile mob attacked the home of one of the first Thessalonian Christians named Jason, who believed that he was harboring Paul and the others in his house. Jason's life was spared only after he put up a financial surety bond that Paul and those with him would leave the city. In these final verses of chapter 2, Paul makes clear that he indeed loves the church (17) and has only stayed away because of Satan's opposition (18). Verses 19 and 20 encourage the church that Christ will return, and on that day, there will be great rejoicing in all who have received the gift of salvation. We are reminded that the chapter divisions are not part of the original text, with the division between chapters two and three. These first verses of chapter 3 are not a new idea but a continuation of the verses that precede it. Paul indicates that his desire to minister to the young Christians was so great that he sent Timothy to them even at great personal cost and suffering (3:1-2a). In chapter three, verse 2, we have the key verse for this passage. Timothy was sent to establish and exhort the church in their faith that they might stand firm against the temptation of Satan.The question that we consider with this passage is:What does the church need to stand firm against the attacks of Satan? This passage teaches two ministries that help the church stand firm in the faith.1. Work to establish and strengthen the church.2. Exhort the church to obedience.Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.Sermon preached 2/23/2025.Books and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben's sermon notes are available at http://bensmithsr.org/resources.For more information on Central Baptist Church, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

La Federación Rural exhortó ayer a todos los productores a que realicen un control de campo, con el objetivo de regularizar la existencia real de animales. El pedido se formuló considerando “la situación existente en la diferencia entre animales registrados y animales vivos en campo”.  A través de un comunicado, la gremial recordó que Uruguay “es ejemplo a nivel mundial de la identificación individual de ganado” y su condición de “pionero en la región”, lo que exigió un “ trabajo arduo, donde los productores hemos sido responsables directos de este logro”. En la nota se señaló que el período de vacunación contra la aftosa, entre el 15 de marzo y el 15 de abril, “es el momento ideal, ya que todas las categorías de animales deben ser inmunizadas”. El llamado de la Federación Rural se produjo en momentos en que se incrementan las denuncias de miles de damnificados por la situación de Conexión Ganadera, República Ganadera o el Grupo Larrarte, en relación a la inexistencia total o parcial de animales que los inversores consideraban de su propiedad.  Conversamos En Perspectiva con Emilio Mangarelli, vicepresidente de la Federación Rural.

Paul gives the church instructions for when the end is near. If you believe time is drawing short, then Christians need to watch, edify, exhort, and show the love of God. Grab your Bible, turn to 1 Thessalonians 5, and follow along with Pastor Mike.

Establish and Exhort | 1 Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:13

Message from Kevin Celestin on February 2, 2025

The flesh is "weak," our heart "deceitful"; only by the daily use of means and through fellowship with the godly are we preserved. Oftentimes the failure of a Christian is to be charged against his brethren as much as to his own unfaithfulness. How often when we perceive a saint giving way to hardness of heart we go about mentioning it to others, instead of faithfully and tenderly exhorting the offending one!

A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Exhort Each Other Daily Lest You Be Hardened Subtitle: The Warnings in Hebrews Speaker: A. W. Pink Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audiobook Date: 1/16/2025 Bible: Hebrews 3:13-14 Length: 21 min.

Hebrews 3:7-14 (‘Exhort one another, as long as it is called”today”')

First Thessalonians Series: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-The Thessalonians Must Continue to Exhort, Encourage and Build Up Each Other With Paul's Teaching in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10-Lesson # 78

First Thessalonians Series: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-The Thessalonians Must Continue to Exhort, Encourage and Build Up Each Other With Paul's Teaching in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10-Lesson # 78

Doctrine - What does it mean to Reprove Rebuke and ExhortYour support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mucha interacción generó el enfrentamiento entre Ciro Gómez Leyva y Epigmenio Ibarra. El periodista pidió disculpas por el tono y lo acalorado de la conversación, mientras que sobre la crítica en redes sociales, se dijo despreocupado. La presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum tuvo su primera reunión con los familiares de los estudiantes de Ayotzinapa. Vidulfo Rosales reconoció que hubo pocas tensiones debido al planteamiento de una agenda y una nueva ruta para reconstruir el diálogo roto con el gobierno de López Obrador. El abogado adelantó que se volverán a reunir con la presidenta en febrero para echar a andar un nuevo mecanismo para saber la verdad sobre el caso. Rosales asegura que en esta primera reunión no se profundizó en los temas de investigación ni detenidos. El impuesto de 42 dólares aprobado por la Cámara de Diputados a cada persona que baje de un crucero genera preocupación entre empresarios y sectores dedicados al turismo. Carmen Joaquín, presidenta del Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, pidió a las autoridades escuchar a los directivos de los cruceros ya que estados como Quintana Roo –y en específico zonas de Cozumel– se vive del turismo y sus ingresos son del 40 por ciento. Para Germán Martínez quien gobierna este país son tres poderes: el de Donald Trump, el del crimen organizado y el de la agenda de López Obrador. Asegura que la 4T se han convertido en titiriteros del presidente electo de Estados Unidos dadas las últimas acciones contra el comercio chino –como la clausura de Izazaga 89– o el decomiso de fentanilo. Exhortó al gobierno federal a actuar de manera firme y no caer en bravuconadas contra el mandatario estadounidense. Ricardo Salinas Pliego fue uno de los oradores durante un foro organizado por la Conferencia de Acción Política Conservadora, evento donde estuvo el presidente de Argentina, Javier Milei. Como parte de su ponencia, pidió a los empresarios en México a apoyar a quienes levantan la voz en contra del régimen actual y pidió a los asistentes "regresar a los zurdos de mierda de la alcantarilla de donde salieron". El acalorado encontronazo entre Ciro Gómez Leyva y Epigmenio Ibarra fue seguido por Germán Martínez. El diputado devolvió la crítica al producto al decir que la guarida de la derecha no está en Madrid, sino en Morena y los distintos cargos que se han dado a exmilitantes de otros partidos. Omar García Harfuch se encuentra en Sinaloa para intentar reducir la violencia en el estado, sin embargo, ésta no para. Durante las últimas 24 horas se registraron 12 homicidios, cuatro de ellos en Culiacán. El mismo secretario de Seguridad Ciudadana reconoció que se detendrá en el corto plazo y se requerirán más operativos para lograrla. Todo esto y más en Ciro Gómez Leyva por la Mañana. Grupo Fórmula #AbriendoLaConversación

An Exhort from Oxford Nov 2024. Click bait title: The End of the Exhort!? Actually about advocating for a dialogical practice in ecclesia's.

Church growth is about each of us growing in our relationship with Jesus, with the joints of the body in place both collectively and in our lives individually. And then as followers of Jesus, we must be willing to testify about our relationship with Jesus and what He is doing in our life. Our testimony should exhort/urge other people to take action and do something with it. TESTIFY & EXHORT! Let me tell you about Jesus! "A person with an argument is not match for a person with an experience." And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Acts 2:40 SERMON NOTES: https://www.bible.com/events/49347598 The Roads Church: https://theroads.church

Paul is constantly encouraging the church at Philippi by affirmation. He goes on and on about how he appreciates them, their support, hard work, and prayers. Then he talks about how often he prays for them and how he appreciates them praying for him since he has been in jail. We all need to affirmation, which is why it is so important for the church to be involved in one another's life, encouraging each other as we wait for our eternal home and one huge way we can help encourage one another is by praying for one another and telling each other they are appreciated!

Show #2266 Show Notes: ‘Enthusiasm’: https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/enthusiasm ‘Bombast’: https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/bombast ‘Exhort’: https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/exhort ‘Zeal’: https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/zeal Liars – Saturday Night Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV85E2S-Idw Oath of Office: https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/oath-of-office.htm ‘Information’: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/information ‘Propaganda’: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propaganda ‘Mis-‘: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/MIS ‘Mal-‘: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mal ‘Dis-‘: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dis#dictionary-entry-5 2 Timothy 2-3: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy%202-3&version=KJV Vax caused 74% of all […]

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What do you want to be when you grow up? As you ponder that, does the word "mature" come to mind? Likely not. However, the Bible reveals God's plan to make us mature in our relationship with Christ. Do you have any real aspirational vision for maturity? That's what Pastor Chris Kipp challenges us with from 1 Peter 5:1-11. Chris points us to the kind of maturity that God calls us to, and ultimately to Christ who can give us the power we need to be the people He has called us to be. Renaissance Church - Richmond, Texas ren-church.org #alloflifealltheearth

24_08_03 -Ep.323  - Run With Horses Podcast  - Connect – United with Jesus and His Family   Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast   **(28:00)** Last week we focused on the connection we have with Jesus and the church.  This week we continue along those lines and consider how the church can be intentional about helping people build their relationship with Jesus and His family.   Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It's very cool that we can do that together!   Thank you for joining me today! If you are new to the show, you may want to check out our website, runwithhorses.net, and listen to some of the past shows to catch up. I have spent several shows focusing on a simple definition of the church and the current discussion we are having about a discipleship pathway is best understood in the context of the church. If you have been enjoying the show, I would appreciate it if you would leave a review wherever you are listening! And as always, your questions, comments and feedback are welcome. Write me at norman@runwithhorses.net. And now, on with the show...   (27:00) ******* (27:00)   Habits - **Community**  Acts 2:41-47 -  > 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.   Romans 12:4-5 -  >4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.    Ephesians 2:19-22 - >19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.    (23:00) ****** (23:00)   MY WORKING DEFINITION OF CHURCH A CHURCH is a group of followers of Jesus who worship Him in spirit and truth, humbly offering their lives as living sacrifices, together living out the MISSION of Jesus as His witnesses TO THE WORLD, by sharing the gospel and making disciples through teaching obedience to His commands as they edify and EQUIP OTHERS to join them on HIS MISSION.   The discipleship pathway is an intentional plan to equip others to be on the mission of Jesus.   Don't forget the goals of the pathway. Clear goals are important. What are the goals of a discipleship pathway? a. self-feeding Christians b. everyday missionaries – everyone on the mission of Jesus c. disciple-makers d. pastors e. new churches f. all members of the church, shepherded well   We are still on the SECOND step in the Pathway;  ENGAGE, CONNECT, EQUIP, RELEASE   The church's role in connecting people to Jesus. What can the church do intentionally to help people connect their life, values, and purpose to Jesus? 1. Biblical teaching and preaching - the Bible is the foundation   a. Our identity in Christ-  >ACCEPTED I Am God's Child- John 1:12 I Am United with the Lord- 1 Corinthians 6:17 I Am Chosen and Adopted- Ephesians 2:3-8 I Am Complete in Jesus- John 4:1-45 I Have Direct Access to God Through Jesus- Hebrews 14:14-16 >SECURE I Am Free from Condemnation- Romans 8:1-2 and John 8:1-12 God Is at Work in My Life for His Glory and My Good- Romans 8:28 >SIGNIFICANT I Am Connected to Jesus as My Source of Life- John 15:5 I Have Been Called to Bear Fruit- John 15:16 I Am Seated with Jesus in Heaven- Ephesians 2:6 I Am God's Workmanship- Ephesians 2:10 I Can Approach God with Freedom and Confidence- Ephesians 3:12 REF (https://rootedministry.com/how-im-teaching-students-to-ground-their-identity-in-christ/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Ky1BhAgEiwA5jGujmbR95PXgQowc5t6NcSS8cXzKPrMbmAxT2k7yGq0Hb6T1fTk9EHcyhoC_E4QAvD_BwE)   b. The character and mind of Christ Philippians 2 - 5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.    c. The mission of Christ Matthew 28:18-20 - Be and Make Disciples (followers of Jesus)   d. Healthy relationships aa. United in Christ bb. New family Answer the question, what does each believer need to grow to become more like Jesus and to embrace the mission of Jesus as their own?   2. Equipping and Training a. Spiritual gifts Romans 12:6-8  1 Corinthians 12:8-10    b. Spiritual disciplines >1. Prayer At least 25 times in the Gospels, we read of Jesus praying. According to Luke 5:16, Jesus prayed often by himself. In other words, He made a habit of it. >2. Fasting At the onset of His public ministry, Jesus took 40 days to fast in the wilderness. While it made His body weak, His spirit grew stronger. >3. Public Worship Luke 4:16 says that “on the Sabbath day [Jesus] went into the synagogue, as was his custom.” >4. Bible Reading Studying Scripture was an important part of Jesus' life. In fact, by age 12, He was already as biblically literate as the leading teachers (Luke 2:41-47). >5. Solitude and Silence Jesus regularly ministered in front of large crowds. But He also made a habit of getting away from time to time (Luke 5:16). In fact, He even encouraged His disciples to get away to a quiet place and rest (Mark 6:31). >6. Service In Mark 10:45, Jesus said His goal in coming to earth was not to be served but to serve others and to give His life for our benefit. REF (https://influencemagazine.com/practice/seven-spiritual-practices-of-jesus)   c. Practical ministry skills Answer the question, what training or skills does each believer need to carry out their role in the church and on the mission?   (00:00)  END PART 1 ******** (27:00)  BEGIN PART 2    3. Introduction to Personal Ministry a. Where has God placed you? Our individual stories are part of a much bigger Story.   Ultimately, this Story is not about us, but about Him.   God works in unexpected, unexplainable ways to accomplish His purposes.   God sovereignly and purposefully ordains and orchestrates the circumstances of our lives.   What we see now is not the whole story.   We can trust Him to write the story of those we love.   The challenges we face may be a part of God writing someone else's story.   Those who trust in Him will never be disappointed.   You can trust God to write your story… REF (https://openthebible.org/article/10-things-to-remember-about-gods-providence-in-our-lives/)   All this also makes a difference when we consider: b. Who has God put in your life? > Home > Work/ School > Community – The Art of Neighboring > Church Encourage everyone to see the relationships around them and bring Jesus into them.   4. Corporate Ministry a. How do we intentionally serve each other? One Another's of the NT Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times) Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10) Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10) Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16) Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11) Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5) Accept one another (Romans 15:7) Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Greet one another (Romans 16:16) Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25) Serve one another (Galatians 5:13) Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13) Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13) Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25) Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32) Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19) Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5) Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3) Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4) Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13) Teach one another (Colossians 3:16) Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13) Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9) Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10) Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5) Pray for one another (James 5:16) Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)    b. How do my gifts build up the body of Christ?  You are part of something bigger than than yourself! > Intro to church ministries > Prayer service, prayer focus > One Another's of NT > Intro to Small Groups - you can learn to help others grow, in individual relationships and in small groups or family units.   Help everyone ask and answer the question, what is my role in the local body of Christ? How does my church need my gifts?     (5:00) ********* (5:00)   DOCTRINE August – Jesus September – Holy Spirit   Jesus - God Incarnate Merriam-Webster: Incarnation - the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ "..at one point in time and space, God entered the world, in the person of Jesus Christ, as He had never done before or since. ...the doctrine of the incarnation means that God is in the world and at work there." - Millard J. Erickson   Hebrews 4:14- 16  - 14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   He knows us and our need. He can relate to us. He is the perfect one to represent us, as God He is able, as man He understand our need.   Hebrews 9:11-14 - 11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?    He is the perfect High Priest who alone can offer the perfect sacrifice for our sins.       **(1:00)**   How is your church doing at helping new believers connect with Jesus in a real and meaningful way? Are relationships in the church growing and strong, able to handle the trials that always come our way? If we are too be intentional disciples of Jesus it is important that we make a genuine effort to live out the purpose of the church together.   Thanks for joining me again today! If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running. (00:00)  

This episode emphasizes the importance of living for Jesus and the power of dedicated preaching. It incorporates teachings from Paul to the Romans and Timothy about presenting oneself as a living sacrifice and preaching with conviction, even when it involves reproving and rebuking sin. Through scriptural references from Romans, 2 Timothy, and 1 John, the episode explains how true preaching should convict, correct, and encourage believers to walk in fellowship with God. The speaker concludes by urging listeners to share the gospel and support preachers who are spreading the Word of God. 00:00 Introduction and Call to Worship 00:33 Living for Jesus: A Life of True Devotion 01:44 The Importance of Preaching the Word 02:38 Reproving and Rebuking Through Scripture 06:33 God's Call to Reason and Repentance 09:02 Encouragement and Exhortation 10:03 Conclusion and Final Blessing

Merlin Miller returns to the "One Another" series, once more the topic is exhorting one another. For this sermon, however, the aim is to see a Biblical example of how loving and exhorting one another worked out for the early church and talk about how that can get applied at Riverview.

We are in Hebrews 3:12-15 on the Unchanging Word Bible study today. Dr. Mitchell shares seven appeals found in our Scripture passage today. He also explains the passage as making a distinction between loss of salvation and the loss of that rest and fellowship in the finished work of Christ. He begins with the exhortation found in Heb.3:12 to take heed, to take care of our heart. Observe in verse 12, how evil is defined as a 'heart characterized by unbelief in the Living God.' This unbelief is what God declares to us as evil. So what we know of the living God is what we know of His Word, the Bible. Also, we are exhorted to "encourage one another day by day" This is what the Unchanging Word program desires to do for each person listening to us today. Here is Dr. Mitchell in Heb.3:12.

Merlin Miller continues the One Another series, with part 2 of "exhort one another". The focus of this message is to learn from the various instructions to exhort one another, a few examples of a New Testament write exhorting the reader, and most importantly, the key ingredient to exhortation: the Holy Spirit.

Good morning church family. If you have your Bible I would ask you to go aheadand make your way to the book of 2 Timothy. Today we will be looking at 2Timothy 4: 1-5. My name is Mikey, I am a member here at GCF and have been fora few years now. My wife Brooke, and our 5 children love this church, and Ialways count it as an honor when I have the opportunity to preach.Pastor Ken did a great job last week as we worked our way through the closing ofchapter 3. And one passage that we looked at in particular was chapter 3 vs. 16-17.There was a family that joined about 3 weeks ago, and as they stood up on thestage and were sharing their faith and what they believe, brother said, we believein the sufficiency of scripture. I was in the back, I said amen! And that is reallywhat this passage gets to. All Scripture, not some scripture is from God.[2Ti 3:16-17 ESV] 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable forteaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 thatthe man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.We rightly believe that when we armed with the word of God we haveEVERYTHING we need for God to accomplish everything he wills to do in ourlives. We really don't need anything else.The word of God is the center piece of Church. And is delivered by the man ofGod, the preacher. There is no greater calling, there is no more importantassignment, there is no greater need.2One of my heros of the faith is Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones said it this way in his book“Preachers and Preaching”, “The primary task of the church and of the Christianminister is the preaching of the word of God”.As Paul is writing this, We know he is nearing the end of his time here on earth.In fact this is likely the last writing that we have. And as I studied this passage thisweek, I gave some thought to how I might handle my final hours on earth.And I pictured myself maybe in a room, surrounded by those that I love. Perhaps aspouse, parents, or children, or even close friend perhaps would have gatheredaround. Have you ever wondered how you might feel in those moments. Whenyou don't have much time left, and there is so much that you wanted to say to yourchildren, but time will just not allow. And you realize in those moments thedifficult times that perhaps your loved ones will have to go on to face. And yourealize you will not be there to help. You will not be able share guidance or bearburdens because your time has come to an end. What would you say in those lastmoments? I think if you get this picture in your mind, then you are close to feelingexactly like Paul feels as he pens the last words to Timothy. And so what will hesay, what is his closing plea to make sure that he leaves young Timothy headed inthe right direction.Paul knows all too well the dangers that are facing the church. He himself hasbeen imprisoned and stoned. He has seen the false teachers and he knows whatthey aim to do. He has seen false converts defect from the church. And with all ofthis on his mind, his eyes fix on Timothy, what possible advice can he give?[2Ti 4:1-5 ESV] 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, whois to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, andexhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming whenpeople will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they willaccumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turnaway from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, alwaysbe sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill yourministry.3First, I want to talk about the structure of the passage, because that helps me digestand organize the thoughts in my mind. In verse 1, Paul lays out an overarchingcharge that sets the tone of the passage. Then in verse two we have the mainimperative statement of the entire passage. What is Timothy supposed to do? He isto “preach the word”. Highlight and double underline in. That is the title of themessage, and that is Pauls main point. Preach the word.And the rest of the passage simply explains “how” Timothy is to preach the word.So there are 8 or so imperatives that come after that explain how the Pastor is topreach. And we are going to go thru these this morning. Let's look at verse 1.[2Ti 4:1-5 ESV] 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who isto judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:We see the first verb is “charge”. It's an important word and one we don't usevery often. Can you imagine if you walked around telling people they are chargedto do something for you. They would think that you are crazy. The language usedhere is a military term. In today's term an officer might say “this is an order!”.This assignment is not optional. There is no negotiation. Timothy must be all earsbecause what Paul is about to say is important.He goes on to say “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” It is as if he stepsthe importance up yet another notch. Paul borrows language in this phrase from aRoman court room. In that day if you were charged with a crime you would begiven instruction of your court date, of the crime that was committed, and thissummons would say something like in the presence of the honorable judge so andso. It is as if we are being reminded of this task that Paul is about to lay out is aformal task. It is not optional. And none other than the Holy trinity itself will standand take account.Verse 1 says he is the judge of “the living and the dead”. The idea here goes backto God as the judge of all mankind.[2Co 5:10 ESV] 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, sothat each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whethergood or evil.4Paul sets the tone for this charge as one of grave importance. This task ofpreaching for both Timothy and all men who would be called to follow after is notto be taken lightly. In fact, this judge mentioned here in verse 1 will judge thesepreachers with even greater scrutiny. This concept of preachers being judged in aspecial way is not just here take a look at James 3:1.[Jas 3:1 ESV] 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for youknow that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.One of my favorite preachers in church history is none other than Dr. MartynLloyd Jones. He was an outstanding physician in London, and even as a youngman was promoted to chief clinical assistant to the King. Sounds like prettyimportant work right?When I came here, people said to me: ‘Why give up good work – a goodprofession – after all, the medical profession, why give that up? If you had been abookie, for instance, and wanted to give that up to preach the gospel, we shouldunderstand and agree with you and say that you were doing a grand thing. Butmedicine – a good profession, healing the sick and relieving pain!' One man evensaid this, ‘If you were a lawyer and gave it up, I'd give you a pat on the back, butto give up medicine!MLJ said about this ‘if you knew more about the work of a doctor, you wouldunderstand. We but spend most of our time rendering people fit to go back to theirsin!' I saw men on their sick beds, I spoke to them of their immortal souls, theypromised grand things. Then they got better and back they went to their old sin! Isaw I was helping these men to sin and I decided that I would do no more of it. Iwant to heal souls. If a man has a diseased body and his soul is all right, he is allright to the end; but a man with a healthy body and a diseased soul is all right forsixty years or so and then he has to face an eternity of hell. Ah, yes! we havesometimes to give up those which are good for that which is the best of all – thejoy of salvation and newness of life.5MLJ had no problem leaving behind a physician for an earthly king, because heknew that call he received to be a preacher for the king of kings was far moreimportant work.So that is verse 1, it sets the stage, it provides the mood, the lighting of everythingwe are about to discuss. Verse 2.Preach the word. Underline this. We said this phrase is the main imperative of thetext. Not just for Timothy but all preachers will be judged based on how true theywere to the command. Preach the word.The Greek verb for preach here is Keruso. And it means to herald. Back in thosedays when there was an order from the King, perhaps a meeting that needed totake place in a particular village, they didn't have a website or a newspaper toshare information. There would be assigned heralds. Who would move out into thebusy parts of towns, into the markets and they would begin to shout, attentionattention, and they would pass along the information. It was a public proclamation,given to all could hear, That is the idea about what it is to preach.But Paul does not permit the preacher to herald just anything, he says preach theword. You may think that should be obvious, but let me tell you it is not. Theremay be a temptation by a pastor, perhaps even by pressure of his congregation todo so something other than preach the word. Paul speaks of the entire council ofscripture. Both the OT and the NT are included. It would be a grave error toexclude any part of the word. “All scripture is God breathed”.I want to stop here and say why I am thankful that our church teaches verse byverse through entire books of the Bible... Growing up topical. Strawman sermonson easy texts. It was rare to deal with difficult passages or work through things thepastor or congregation was struggling to comprehend. A pastor who preaches ashallow message will only develop a shallow congregation. 7 out of 10 youth willwalk away from the faith after they move out of their parents home. Could someof that be that we just won't go deep in the word. To help them understandeverything they are seeing in the world, taught in schools, through the lense of realdeep understanding.6If anything of power, of God is to happen in our church it must happen through thepower that comes from obedience to this command, Preach the word. We can getcaught up in numbers, in strategy, in surveys, and start looking at all the wrongthings. To fufill the imperative in this verse, the church must be a church that iscommitted to the power of preaching as the centerpiece. The church has the task tomake dead men come alive.So now we look at the question of how the pastor is to preach. He is to be ready inseason and out of season. This is the second command or imperative. Did youknow there is no season that is not either in season or out of season? That's all theseasons. The preacher is to always be ready to go. The verb here has a suddennessto it. It is like a soldier who has been put on alert. His bags are packed he is readyto deploy he simply stands by the phone for his orders. He is ready to go, that isthe picture here.This applies to pastors mainly, but we as the congregation can certainly apply it aswell. If our day to day life is marked by disobedience. If we are neglecting theword, if we are neglecting to spend time in prayer. If we are living in a perpetualstate of sin, then how on earth can we be ready. It's easy to get ready for a singleevent right. We can clean ourselves up and get it together for 1 maybe 2 days aweek, but Paul says the preacher is to be ready 24/7. Not an easy thing to do, butthis is the standard by which they will be judged.Okay more imperatives coming up that answer the question “How is the word tobe preached?” We will group the next 3 together because they are sort of similaror related. Still in verse 3 we have:reprove, rebuke, and exhort. This is basically 2 negatives and a positive. Firstly,lets look at reprove. We just saw reprove back in 2 Tim 3:16. It means to correctmisbehavior or to correct false doctrine. It can almost be thought of more as ahead knowledge correction. Or to helps someone think about something rightly.Next we have rebuke. It is closely related, but it deals more with the heart. Itcarries more of the idea of the heart. When the pastor rebukes he is bringing thecongregation under conviction.7This is one of the fundamental differences between teaching and preaching. If Iam teaching you an idea or a passage of scripture I'm just talking to you so thatyou understand the idea that I am trying to communicate, but if am preaching andI am rebuking you now we have the will and the heart and conviction all takingplace. It is something entirely different.Exhort. This is the positive. Parakaleo. Sometimes the Holy Spirit is referred to asParaklyte. Which is to say that he is our helper. So Exort or parakaleo is to comealong aside and lovingly encourage.With complete patience and teaching. The preacher is not to be irritable orimpatient. Even if progress is slow and painful. I think back to Jesus and hisdisciples. Things were slow. Those guys sometimes were just slow. And healways taught with patience.Phil Robertson movie, Blind. Phil was bad. Phil had already turned away thepreacher. Phil bought a bar. Preacher came in the bar. Phil throws him out and isborderline abusive to his wife and family. He ends up throwing them out. And Philhits rock bottom. Pastors be patient. Wives be patient. Husbands be patient. Ms.Kay aske the reverend to go back and talk to him one more time.Vs 3 the preacher is to preach with urgency, “For the time is coming”. Throughoutchurch history there have certainly been ebs and flows. Times of falling away, andthere have been times of great revival. But I think the overall trend as time goes onis that more and more people turn from God. Paul says to Timothy, hey it's the 2minute warning. It's time to score because time is of the essence. The time iscoming, and I believe now more than ever the time has come where:People will not endure sound teaching. Some translations use the pronoun “they”here. The ESV says people, but in either case I think we should consider whothese people are that don't endure sound teaching. At first I thought it was simplythe everybody in the world, but I don't think that is exactly right. You see peoplewho don't go to church have never endured sound teaching or doctrine. So I thinkthe people that are discussed here are what I call “church going people”. These arepeople who fill the seats and the pews of various congregations each and every8Sunday all throughout the world. By context that is the only way this really can beread I think. And when we think about the parable of the wheat and the tares weknow that these congregations, sometimes entire congregations are made of lostpeople.And so as we look around the world, as we look around the churches in the lowcountry, as we look around right here at GCF, what is it that distinguishes thosewho have been born again from those who have not. I believe it is a love and anembrace for true sound doctrine. Paul says the day is coming when they won'ttolerate the true word. Many times a false convert is easy to spot because theyhave no love for the truth of Scripture. Sound doctrine shines a magnifying glasson the wickedness of our sin.Paul says they have “itching ears”. Have you ever had someone ask for your trueopinion and the second that they realize you don't agree with them they stoplistening to you. These unconverted church goers don't want to be confronted withthe weight of a Holy God and a wicked sinner. So with itching ears they seek outsomeone to tell them exactly what they want to hear.The text says they “accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their ownpassions”. I don't know if there has ever been a more obvious time where this hasplayed out in front of us. There is a welcoming congregation for every lifestyle ofsin.And the pulpits are filled with people who not only won'tt mention the sin, butthey will contort scripture and tell you that it is not sin at all.Sin of greed. My pastor never preaches about money because he just says he letsGod deal with that.Self-help and prosperity focused churches are filled with people who want nothingto do with sermons that rebuke and reprove.I remember I was flipping through the channels and I ran across a Pastor who waspreaching to a church that was literally meeting in a football stadium, and it wasfull. I was shocked as I heard the sermon. The Bible was not even required forwhat the man was saying. And I remember thinking how can thousands and9thousands of people sit here with a Bible in there hand and not realize that this isnot the gospel?You know why... I know now. Paul just told me. The day is coming when theywon't tolerate sound doctrine but they will accumulate ear tickling preachers. Hereyou have 10s of thousands of people having their ears tickle, and it is exactly whatthey want to hear.For preachers, it's not easy to say the hard things. For true believers that sit heretoday, don't fall into this trap where you avoid the hard work of searching yourheart for sin. This is why we are here.4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. Theverb here that is translated “turn away” has a medical connotation of a dislocatedjoint. It is as a person turns away so quickly that they snap their neck out of joint.These folks are so turned off by sound doctrine or sound teaching that they snaptheir necks to turn away from it.These false converts then wander off into myths. I think there is principle that isbeing taught in verse 4 that if you don't fill your mind with sound doctrine, yourmind will be increasingly susceptible to believe a lie. (garden of eden example) Bynot filling yourself with sound doctrine, or preachers without preaching sounddoctrine create in the congregation a vulnerability to deception.5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of anevangelist, fulfill your ministry.Finally Paul says to be sober minded. This is to be level headed.Endure suffering. It is not a question of if suffering will occur. Faithful preacherswho preach the word become a lightning rod for suffering. Paul knows sufferingvery well and even as he writes these words his suffering continues. It is areminder to those who do the work of ministry, not just preachers, but especiallythose who preach, ministry comes at a cost.10Do the work of an evangelist. This is the 8th imperative. It is the call to the preacherthat he must share the gospel of salvation. Its interesting that Paul doesn't call himto be an evangelist, but to do the work of an evangelist. It is as if he wants him toremember, in everything you do as a preacher, you must also in that do the workthat evangelist would do.Simply put, the pastor is to help people come to terms with their sinfulness. Tounderstand that they are separated from God. To call all who have ears to hear thatthe time is now to repent and to trust in Christ for salvation.Fulfil your ministry. Do everything God has stored up for you, every good work tothe fullness of your ability.This text of course is primarily for preachers, but we as the congretation have arole to fill as well. We must participate in the process of sanctification.Let's pray.

This week, as we continue our series on discipleship, Paul wants to examine the word “speak” in the "Love. Know. Speak. Do." ministry model we've been discussing the past few weeks. Join us for a weekly narration of Paul Tripp's popular devotional. You can subscribe to our email list to receive this devotional straight to your inbox each week or read it online at PaulTripp.com/Wednesday or on Facebook, Instagram, and the Paul Tripp App.If you've been enjoying the Wednesday's Word podcast, please leave us a review! Each review helps us reach more people with the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

Merlin Miller continues the One Another series, moving now from "love one another" to "exhort one another". This word occurs frequently in the New Testament, in various contexts, and give us a glimpse as to what it means and looks like to exhort one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the first part of taking a look at exhortation.

A new MP3 sermon from Iglesia Biblica de la Trinidad is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Exhortándose los unos a los otros Speaker: Teofilo Rosario Broadcaster: Iglesia Biblica de la Trinidad Event: Devotional Date: 5/1/2024 Bible: Acts 20:1-12 Length: 13 min.

When someone loves themselves more then God, their center of gravity shifts from God to Sin. Being religious does not mean being righteous. Join Pastor Jacob Bauder as we learn from 2nd Timothy Chapter 1, on how to understand and share the word of God. Reprove, Rebuke, and Exhort through the word of God, and equip yourself so you can equip others. Do this with patience and in teaching. Preach the word of God in and out of season.

Family Worship Center Lakeland Sunday Message from Pastor Reggie 03.17.2024

Family Worship Center Lakeland Sunday Message from Pastor Reggie 03.17.2024

Hoy con Ciro Gómez Leyva:Lilly Téllez dijo que solicitará en breve seguridad al INE para realizar su campaña. Exhortó a los candidatos para que hagan lo mismo, sobre todo aquellos que estén riesgo de sufrir algún ataque.La presentación de propuestas de Xóchitl Gálvez en materia de seguridad son ocurrencias calderonistas, así lo definió el exministro Arturo Zaldívar. Explica que son ideas vacías y generalidades, mientras Claudia Sheinbaum tiene propuestas claras para reducir la violencia tal y como lo hizo en la Ciudad de México, explica el expresidente de la Corte.Luego de que Arturo Zaldívar se fuera contra la propuesta de seguridad de Xóchitl Gálvez, Rubén Moreira salió al quite y dijo que el exministro no tiene idea en materia de seguridad. Calificó de engañosa la propuesta de Claudia Sheinbaum repitiendo un modelo que no da resultado. Explica que el de Xóchitl es un modelo multidimensional para lograr pacificar el país.Y más...

Support | STORE | Podcasts | H.O.T. Bible Study [podcast] | Divine Blessings | Exhort One Another Daily | The Return of Christ | The Joy of Fulfilling the Great Commission | The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold | Lie of the Ages (book) | Soul Damning Sins (small book) | Why We Need not Fear Death | Revelation Bombshell!HOMEPAGE:   https://safeguardyoursoul.com/MAKE PEACE WITH GOD NOW: https://safeguardyoursoul.com/peace-with-god/SUPPORT:  https://safeguardyoursoul.com/support/STORE:   https://safeguardyoursoul.com/store/ABOUT:  https://safeguardyoursoul.com/about/email Todd:  info@safeguardyoursoul.comBackground Music by: Thad Fiscella https://www.thadfiscella.com/ 

This Pastoral Speech is a wake-up call to get back to hilarious giving, using four "E's" (Exhortation, Exemplary, Expedient and Expression) to teach what every person's responsibility is. Those who have the Spirit of Christ are expected to exceed expectations, not just by getting tithes and offerings in the mail regularly, but also by rebuilding and getting on the front lines. VF-1896 Romans 8:9 Watch, Listen and Learn 24x7 at PastorMelissaScott.com Pastor Melissa Scott teaches from Faith Center in Glendale. Call 1-800-338-3030 24x7 to leave a message for Pastor Scott. You may make reservations to attend a live service, leave a prayer request or make a commitment. Pastor Scott appreciates messages and reads them often during live broadcasts. Follow @Pastor_Scott on Twitter and visit her official Facebook page @Pastor.M.Scott. Download Pastor Scott's "Understand the Bible" app for iPhone, iPad and iPod at the Apple App Store and for Android devices in the Google Store. Pastor Scott can also be seen 24x7 on Roku and Amazon Fire on the "Understand the Bible?" channel. ©2024 Pastor Melissa Scott, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 13, 2023 is: exhort • ig-ZORT • verb To exhort someone is to try to strongly urge them to do something. // The volunteers exhorted the young adults to register to vote before the upcoming election. See the entry > Examples: “Now and again, the band pauses as the musicians praise and exhort each other. ‘More cowbell.' ‘Let's do it for timing, and then we'll break it down.' ‘I would love a violin solo right there.' ‘It's G minor, not B-flat?'” — Reed Johnson, The Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Did you know? If you want to add a little oomph to your urge in speech or writing—and formal oomph at that—we exhort you to try using exhort as a synonym instead. Arriving in the 15th century from the Anglo-French word exorter, exhort traces back further to the Latin verb hortari, meaning “to incite to action, urge on, or encourage.” Latin users added the prefix ex- to hortari to intensify it; in essence, exhortari is a succinct way of saying “to really, really urge.” The Latin words adhortari (its meaning similar to that of exhortari) and dehortari (“to dissuade”) also found their way into English as adhort and dehort, respectively, but neither of these remains in current use.

I. We need to help one another, v13. II. We need to hold on to Jesus, vv14-15. III. We need to be honest about disobedience and unbelief, vv16-19

Well, the day has come — our very last sermon in the book of Hebrews. Our text this morning is this incredible book's conclusion. But don't let that word fool you — it's not a conclusion like the kind we may be accustomed to — one that simply restates all the main points we've already covered. No, but here at the letter's end our author is yet pushing us onward — further into the margins of our care for one another, and deeper into the realities of the God whom we worship. Of the three main points of this sermon, the first will correspond to the former, our care for one another, points two and three with the latter, the deep realities of our God. Here's the three points: Our Prayer, God's Power, Jesus' Unique Glory. Before we go any further, let's pray and ask God for his help. 1) Pray For UsFirst point, prayer. Our text opens with the entreaty, v. 18 “Pray for us.” And I think one litmus test for us, this morning, of how deep the realities of Hebrews have permeated our souls, is how we react to those three words – “pray for us.” As One Near GodFor example, when you hear “Pray for us,” you may think, “Why pray, I mean, would the God of the universe even hear me? I'm no writer to the Hebrews. I'm no apostle Paul. I'm just a standard issue, run-of-the-mill Christian.” Hebrews would reply, “Brother, sister, if you're a Christian, then how could God not hear you when you pray?”Recall how Hebrews has labored to show that to be a Christian is to be one who is intensely near to God.One who recognizes that there's “a better hope (that's been) introduced, through which we draw near to God.” (7:19)As one who believes that “(Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him.” (7:25)One who has, “confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,” (10:19-20)One who, because you have a “great priest over the house of God, should “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (10:21-22).One who “with confidence (can) draw near to the throne of grace, (to) receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).Do you pray as one dialing up a long-distance phone call? Do you pray as one wishfully-thinking – perhaps God will hear me, eventually. If you're a Christian, you live all your days – morning, noon, night, at work, at home, good times, bad times, before the face of God. So when we hear the writer's request to, “Pray for us,” we should think, “Of course he's asking us to pray for him, we're Christians — when we pray, we pray with God in the room. How could he not hear us?” As one dedicated to othersYou may read, “Pray for us” and think, “Why pray, it's not like it's my responsibility.” Hebrews would say, “Actually, brothers and sisters, one another's spiritual good is our responsibility.” No, not responsibility in the sense of control – we can't manage or manufacture another's spiritual good. But it is our responsibility to work toward, put effort toward, our brothers and sisters spiritual good. Hence the exhortations,“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” (3:13) and “Stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together,” (10:24) and “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God” (12:15) and now, “pray for us.” This is no mere preface to the paragraph for us to gloss over, but a real, live call to action to work and labor for the good of your brothers and sisters in the faith through prayer. There's two more possibilities.As ChristlikeYou may read, “Pray for us” and think, “Why pray, isn't that a bit too menial of a task? Too simple? Like, ‘Give me something that takes a bit more skill and knowledge, not this little stuff like prayer.'” Hebrews would say, “Have you missed my description of what Jesus, your Great High Priest, has been doing for the sake of his people, for the past 2,000 years?” “(Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25) Jesus prays for his people. In fact, that is what he is doing for you and me, before his Father, right in this very moment. The author to the Hebrews — and this should shock us — in saying, “pray for us” invites us to join Jesus in his prayer ministry — praying with the same names on our lips that are also on his.As those who believe it does somethingLastly, You may think, “Why pray, it's not like it's actually going to change anything.” Hebrews would say, verse 19 of today's text, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.” Hear the urgency in those words, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this?” Like, “I'm really asking you to do this, it's really important, I'm expecting it of you.He's so after their prayer, in fact, that he even gives them personal testimony, v. 18, “For we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things” lest any doubt about their motives arise and cause them not to pray. That'd be quite the ridiculous ask if prayer changed nothing.He goes further, “I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you sooner.” See that. Sooner. Like, “Listen, my current location will change, and the time of my arrival will change, and things will move into motion, events will fall like dominoes — I'll be restored to you, sooner, if you pray.” Implication: if you don't pray, well then, I might not. Interestingly, it seems he is, after all, confident that these Hebrews will respond in prayer. Look at the hint in verse 23, “You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.” In other words, “Since I know that through their prayers I will be restored to them sooner, then Timothy better hurry up, because I'm taking off here, shortly.” He'll come with me, but only if he gets here soon. First point, Pray. Now, second, God's power.2) God's PowerHebrews follows his exhortation to his readers to pray for him more earnestly with his own prayer, in the form of a benediction, for them (verses 20-21). And very prominent in his benediction — certainly anchoring and supporting his prayer — is the unparalleled power of God.Now, God's power has already been implied. In verse 19, note the passive language — not “I'll go to you sooner” but “I will be restored to you sooner.” It's not him that's going to do the restoring, but God.God's power will be called upon in v. 21, It is God who “will equip them with everything good, and work in them that which is pleasing.”But nowhere is God's power more plainly evident than in verse 20, God's raising of Jesus from the dead. Interestingly, the wording here doesn't seem to emphasize the new life to which Jesus was raised to, but rather on the death he was taken out from. “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.” Death, and the fact that the same Jesus who went into it, God brought out from it, that's what's in view. In order to grasp just how that bringing out of death shows us about God's power, we need to begin by asking, “What is death in the first place?” Well, Death is the pitiless wall between man and every one of God's promises. Death is the dividing line between man and everlasting joy, peace, and life. Death is the chasm of darkness that swallows sinners whole. Death is the final ticking of the clock, the “game over” moment, the snuffing out of ones hope, happiness, and wholeness. Death is the thing that all of us naturally fear. Because Death is the thing that we are all born into. And Death is the thing that we all deserve. Even more, Death, if it were to be the end for Christians, would render our preaching vain, and our faith vain, and prove we are still hopelessly lost in our sins, and of all people most to be pitied.As it is, we're not hopelessly lost in our sin, and death doesn't render our faith in vain, because Jesus, has been: “crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Heb. 2:9) Jesus, through death, destroyed the one who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (Heb. 2:14). And Jesus “has delivered all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Heb. 2:15). For the Christian, that death is dead and buried. That Death has breathed its last. That “Death has swallowed up in victory, and been robbed of it's sting” because it was in Jesus' death, (Col. 2:14), that God canceled our record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands, nailing them to the cross.And it was in Jesus' death that God disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Col. 2:15).And the proof of all this – our own freedom and victory over the death which had us so enslaved and shackled in its grasp – is in a Messiah who breathes – 3 days following his own death. Hebrews, aiming throughout this letter to instill in his brothers and sisters a confidence in God – confidence that God can keep his promises, keep his people, equip them with all they need, work in them that which he pleases, and both hear and answer their prayers – says, “Allow me to remind you who bound the hands of the greatest enemy the world has ever known!”How powerful is God? Powerful enough to conquer the grave. More than that, conquer the grave for the good of his people. It think it's fair to say we don't often associate power with peace, do we? We associate power with destruction. Power with violence. Power, when we hear about it on the news or see it in the papers, is not usually, to us, a good thing.But our God, verse 20, is the “God of peace” because he puts his power to work for the good of his people — to bring them peace with him, and downstream from that peace, a growing peace with self, with others, with the world, leading on into the final peace, final rest, heaven.Col. 1:20, “God, through Jesus, reconciled to himself all things making peace by the blood of his cross.” For that reason we call it, Eph. 6:15, “the gospel of peace.”Do you believe that?Do you believe that God puts his power to work for you? That you're not running on your own strength in this Christian life? It's not all up to you? But that it is instead the God who conquered the grave who equips you with everything good that you may do his will (verse 21)? Just look at that verse: It's his power that is without limit (equipping you), and it is his will – the very thing he wants, the very thing he desires – that he's equipping you for (verse 21). It's what he finds pleasing that he's moving you toward. And if the grave could not stop him, why would something as simple as equipping you for the very things that he desires for you to be and do this side of glory? Brother, will he require a vacation in a season where you most need him near?Sister, will he suffer exhaustion and need rest when you most need his strength?Church, will there ever come a day when you go to him and say, “Lord, I need more faith, I need more hope, I need more strength, I need more love,” and him say, “Look, you asked me for these things last week, and I gave them to you, but I'm off today, you'll need to wait a bit till I revive?”We might feel that way when others ask things of us. God does not. His power never waivers, just ask the grave.So pray. Pray in light of God's power, and run the Christian life in light of God's power. Final point, marvel at the unique glory of Jesus. 3) Jesus' Unique GloryTurn to the description of Jesus we get here, starting halfway through verse 20, “Our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep.” It's a description not many of us would expect to come at the tail end of this letter. “Our Lord Jesus, The Great High Priest” – that's what we'd expect, not “Our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep.” It's imagery that shifts the focus a bit in a surprising way. I mean for so much of this book we've been dialed in on the Temple – the priests and sacrifices there – but “shepherd of the sheep” bumps the lens. Zooms it out past the Temple to the rolling hills and pastureland beyond it – focusing in there, as it were, on a group of sheep, traveling together: not wandering about and changing direction, but moving forward; not headed toward arid ground but luscious field; not walking in crippling fear, but contented peace. They're sheep, not known for consensus, nor intelligence, nor bravery, – yet, they seem to have all. Why? Because, as we see most clearly though this lens, they have a great shepherd. Beautiful, but what's the connection to Hebrews?Why the transition from Jesus as Great High Priest to Jesus as Great Shepherd, especially here at the very tale end of the letter? Well, consider two of the major themes of this book. Jesus as the Great High Priest, who's offered the better sacrifice, and has now sat down on the throne beside his father. And, Jesus' people bound for the better country, the city with foundations, and their need to keep moving onward, toward it. The first, Jesus as Priest, happens at a very fixed-point on the map, so to speak – the true Temple in heaven. The second, the journey of Jesus' people, does not happen at a fixed point on the map. It moves as the people progress toward glory. I think Hebrews leaves us with the image of Jesus as the Great Shepherd, so as to say, “Jesus is the Great High Priest, who's finished his work on behalf of his people and sat down on the throne, he is. And he is also, the Great Shepherd who now continues to lead his people onward, as they travel toward that very throne.” He's not in other words, the kind of priest that says from his throne, “My work is finished, I'll see you when you get here,” but a priest who completes his Temple work, and also grabs his shepherds crook, saying, “now, follow me through the wilderness as I lead you there.” The book ends with God's people bound for glory.As God's people travel on, they look to their shepherd – eyes fixed on Jesus. As they look to him, what do they see?In the BloodOne final point here: See there's that little phrase at the very end of verse 20, “By the blood of the eternal covenant.” Where does that connect to? Are we to read, “by the blood” as referring to how the God of peace brought back Jesus from the dead? Like, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant?” — The blood being the means by which God brought back Jesus from the dead? That's what many suggest, but to be honest, that seems a bit strange to me.After all, throughout this book, the point of Jesus' blood – overwhelmingly – has been that it is for his people. He bleeds for his people. That's who the blood is for. In fact, Hebrews notes this as an area of contrast between Jesus, and the high priests in Jerusalem, saying, “the high priest goes into the Most Holy Place but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people” (Heb. 9:7). It's a point of contrast – Jesus' blood not being for himself, but purely for the sins of his people. A second suggestion is to read it as, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by virtue of the blood of the eternal covenant.” So Jesus became the Great Shepherd by virtue of the fact that he shed his blood. Makes more sense— after all he is the shepherd who lays down his life, bleeds, for the sheep. But could there be more? Could Hebrews, at the end of this letter which has been so riveted upon the glories of Jesus, be doing something other than noting the mechanics either of Jesus' resurrection, or of how Jesus became the Great Shepherd?Here's what I want to suggest to you is the final image of Jesus that we get at the close of this book. I was greatly helped by Pastor David Mathis in working through this. He noted that the literal rendering of this passage in Greek would read, “May the God of peace who brought up from the dead the shepherd of the sheep, the great one in the blood of the eternal covenant, the Lord of us, Jesus.” Hear that? The “great one in the blood of the eternal covenant.” I don't think the focus here is on the mechanics of Jesus' resurrection or his becoming shepherd — But is instead on the glory of Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, who as his sheep (scared, tired, discouraged as they can be at times) lift their eyes up to him, see him adorned in the blood of the eternal covenant — venerated by it, celebrated by it, glorified by it. They see adorned in the blood of victory, not of defeat. Cloaked in the symbol of battle won, not lost. Arrayed in the proof of power possessed, authority shown, and glory made clear. His blood adorning him in awesome splendor. The great one in the blood which dismantled death, defeated Satan, and paid for our sins in full – that is who they see.What an encouraging reminder for the sheep to look up and see the blood by which their very souls were bought. What a cause for them to bow once more before their Great Shepherd. And what an image, what a picture, to leave us with at the close of such a glorious letter.As the hymn goes, “crown him the Lord of love! Behold his hands and side - Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.” To the TableJesus' blood is what now brings us to the table. Here, we bask in the presence of our great shepherd and receive from his hand — a meal which anticipates a better meal, which he is bringing us to. It's a meal that celebrates Jesus – his blood spilled in death, the death that dismantled the grave. And so if you recognize this blood as a symbol of Jesus' victory and the means by which you have been reconciled to God, we invite you to eat and drink with us.

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  What is preaching all about? There are nine answers to this important question in 2 Timothy 4:1-5.  Preach the word. Be ready in season and out season.  Reprove.  Rebuke.  Exhort.  Always be sober-minded.  Endure suffering.  Do the work of an evangelist.  Fulfill your ministry.  For more information or resources, visit hbcharlesjr.com