Podcasts about from jesus

This week, Eric continued The Process by inviting us to face the reality of the world we live in—it's tragic. From Jesus' words in Luke 13 to Paul's groaning in Romans 8, Scripture doesn't shy away from pain. Yet instead of escaping into control or apathy, we're called to feel. Eric and reminded us that our emotions are a gift from God for living in a fallen world. The 8 core feelings—hurt, lonely, sad, anger, fear, guilt, shame, and glad—aren't the enemy; they're the way into real life. The tragedy of life isn't the end of the story—but ignoring our hearts is. If you want to walk in the light, you'll need to walk in the truth of what you feel.

Ever feel like life's a wild ride, throwing you off balance? Matthew 26:1-16 invites us to explore who's really in control. From Jesus' betrayal to a woman's extravagant act of love, discover how God's plan unfolds, even in chaos. You're not driving—but Someone who loves you is. Join us to reflect on this truth: God gave His Son for you, proving His unshakable love. Ready to find hope in life's unpredictability?

What if the real fight isn't just with sin—but with your memory?In this raw and revealing episode, Pastor Joe Moss II delivers a message every believer, athlete, and leader needs to hear: Sin isn't just about behavior—it's about identity. From Jesus' battle in the wilderness to Kyle Snyder's public fall, we explore what it means to wrestle daily with lies, shame, temptation, and truth.

Law and the Real Sabbath (1) (audio) David Eells – 5/4/25 First, let me say that we do have a Sabbath to keep in the New Covenant. If you, who have eyes to see, will be patient and hear me out, I will show you that it is the best news you have ever heard. The Sunday Sabbath folks want to bring us under the law of man, and the Saturday Sabbath folks want to bring us under the Law of the Old Covenant, which God refused to make with the Gentiles (Psa.147:19,20; Deu.7:6,11). If you hold either one of these positions, do not be afraid to examine this subject for the truth will hold up to scriptural scrutiny. The early church kept neither Sunday nor Saturday as the New Testament Sabbath until a great falling away in the third century. The Old Covenant Saturday Sabbath was a type and shadow of what is promised in the New Covenant, but as we will see, Sunday is not the fulfillment of it. (Col.2:16) Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day: (17) which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's. As anyone knows, a shadow is not real; it is only darkness. It is created because what is real is in the light. When Christians try to keep the Old Covenant Sabbath, they are in darkness and have not yet come into the light of the real Sabbath. The Jews never knew what the real Sabbath was, only the shadow or type of the New Testament Sabbath. God never made the Law covenant with the Gentiles. For a Christian to come under part of the Law, like the old Sabbath, is to come under a curse for not keeping the whole Law. (Gal.3:10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them. Christ delivered us from the curse of failing to keep any part of God's Law. (13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. We are now justified by faith, not by keeping any part of the Law. Paul then warned the Christians not to go back under the Law in observing feast days and Sabbath days. (Gal.4:9) but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain. Paul warned by the Spirit that these believers could not be Christ-like under the Law. (19) My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you. Paul then warned that the Christians who go back under the Law are sons of the bondwoman Hagar and not the freewoman Sarah. (21) Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. (23) Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise. Here we come to a stern warning for those seeking to be justified by keeping the Old Covenant Sabbath or any other part of the shadow of the Law. (30) Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. For a Christian to go under any part of the Law is for him to go into bondage and be cut off from the benefits of Christ. (5:1) For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage. (2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision (Or any other part of the Law), Christ will profit you nothing. (3) Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision (Or any other part of the Law), that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. We are “severed from Christ” when we do not follow or abide in Him, but the Law. Only under grace through faith are we united with Christ through justification and delivered from the curse. Neither Jesus nor the Apostles told us to keep the Old Covenant Sabbath. Jesus always appeared to the disciples and taught on the Lord's day after His resurrection because it was His resurrection day, the first day of the week (Luk.24:1,13; Luk.27-32; Joh.20:1,17,19, 26; Rev.1:10-13). The disciples gathered on the first day of the week (Act.20:7; 1Co.16:1,2). However, they did not make the Lord's Day into a command or law, but a custom; and they never claimed it was the Sabbath. Apostate men did that. Jesus and the disciples went to the Jews on their Sabbath to evangelize them and bring them into the New Covenant Sabbath rest through the promises. Jesus was constantly accused of breaking their shadow Sabbath (Mat.12:2; Joh.5:16-19; 9:16) because He was not under the Law. We will also be accused of this if we follow in His steps instead of being “severed from Christ” by keeping a Law that was never given to us. The Apostles and elders in Acts 15 were gathered together to see whether to bring the Gentiles under the Law. They came to a conclusion that those under the Sabbath Law need to understand. (Act.15:19) Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; (20) but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. These few things he commanded so that the Jews would not consider them anathema. This was important for the Jews' sake so that they could be evangelized. (21) For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him (Law), being read in the synagogues every Sabbath. (28) For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.... Notice that the Sabbath was not commanded of the Gentiles. Neither were a lot of other things that the legalists bring the ignorant Christians under. The Law passed away and was fulfilled in Christ, except for those whose hearts are blinded by the veil. (2Co.3:12) Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, (13) and [are] not as Moses, [who] put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away: (14) but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ. (15) But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart. (16) But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Don't go into bondage with the veil of Old Covenant Laws, which are just shadows or parables of what was to come. Now we, with an unveiled face see the New Covenant in Christ. (17) Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. The Law was cancelled because it could not complete or make perfect, because it was only a shadow of the good things to come in the New Covenant. (Heb.7:18) For there is a disannulling (Greek: Annulled or cancelled) of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (19) (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope (The New covenant through grace), through which we draw nigh unto God. The purpose of those under the Law was to give us a shadow or parable of the great things to come. (Heb.8:5) who serve [that which is] a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned [of God] when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount. (6) But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises. (7) For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second. (8) For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; (9) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers ... (13) In that he saith, A new [covenant] he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away. (10:1) For the law having a shadow of the good [things] to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh. The Law was always planned to be a temporary shadow. (Gal.3:19) What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made... So there was an end of the Olde Covenant law. The Sabbath was eternal as the legalists will tell you (Exo.31:16). So how could it be eternal and still pass away? What they do not understand is that it changed from letter to spirit in the New Covenant (2Co.3:2-11). The letter of the type, shadow, or parable as taught in the Old Covenant is now fulfilled in the spirit of the New Covenant. Jesus said in (Mat.5:17) Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. So now we must fulfill the parable. Fulfilling or accomplishing the Law is not the same as being under the Old Covenant Law as Jesus went on to demonstrate. (21) Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time (Notice that the Law was spoken unto them, not us.), Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment. Notice that Jesus changed the Law from regulations of our actions to regulations of our heart, as the prophets said would come (Jer.31:33) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Those who do not permit anger in their heart will fulfill the Law and not kill. (27) Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: (28) but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Jesus interpreted the Law again. If we do what He says and avoid lust, we will fulfill the Law by not committing adultery. Jesus continued to demonstrate how changing the Law from outer actions to inner nature will fulfill it (Mat.5:33, 43). If God changed all these Laws in order to fulfill them, then He did the same with the Sabbath. The Sabbath was meant to be a change in our nature rather than a regulation of our actions, one day a week. If a person rests from his own works every day by believing in Christ's finished work, he will certainly fulfill the Law of resting for one day. The Law will be fulfilled in us, but not by keeping the letter, “For the letter kills but the spirit gives life”. It will be fulfilled through us as we walk in and by the Spirit. (Gal.5:16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. When you see what's written in the shadow of the Law, you must look in the New Covenant to find out what the fulfillment is. Circumcision was necessary under penalty of death, but Paul, by the Spirit, changed it from a carnal shadow to the spiritual fulfillment of baptism. (Col.2:11) ... in the circumcision of Christ; (12) having been buried with him in baptism. Under the Old Covenant, we were 90% owners and 10% stewards but according to Jesus, we are now 100% stewards, or we are not really disciples. (Luk.14:33) So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. To Peter, it was revealed that the Old Covenant carnal restriction on eating unclean beasts was spiritually a restriction of partaking of unclean people, which Solomon called beasts (Ecc.3:18), and the gospel solves that problem. (Act.10:11) and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: 12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. 15 And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. Then Peter was sent with the gospel to the Gentiles and got the revelation that they were the unclean beasts that God had cleansed. (28) and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and [yet] unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean. As you can see, it was the habit of Jesus and the disciples to translate the shadow to the spiritual reality. It is a violation of the Spirit to bring old Covenant ceremonial laws into the New Covenant without translating them. Since this is so, we must find out what the Sabbath translates to. Let me explain the New Testament Sabbath rest. The Sabbath shadow was to cease from man's works one day a week. But we are commanded to do this every day.  We can cease from works of religious self-justification, works of the flesh, and various forms of salvation by man's works, through faith in the work that Christ has already accomplished. Jesus said, “All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive (Greek: received) them, and ye shall have them (Mar.11:24). Why believe that we have received everything? Notice in the following verses that all things have been received by us and that the only thing left is for us to believe it. Also note the past-tense of our sacrificial provision in the following verses: (Eph.2:8) For by grace have ye been saved through faith; (1Pe.2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his body ...by whose stripes ye were healed; (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; (2Co.5:18) ...who reconciled us to himself; (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ, and its no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me; (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse; (1Pe.1:3) ...the Father ...begat us again ...by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; (Heb.10:10) We ...have been sanctified ...; (14) He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified; (Eph.1:3) ...who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing, and God (2Pe.1:3) hath granted unto us all things .... Jesus told us in His day which, of course, is also in the past that “Now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (Joh.12:31); “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Joh.16:33); “It is finished” (Joh.19:30). This is why we are to believe we have received. The devil and the curse were conquered. We were saved, healed, delivered, and provided for. We can rest from our own works to accomplish this when we truly believe. Let me give you an example. (1Pe.2:24) who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. The one who believes that Jesus already “bare our sins” considers himself delivered and can rest. He no longer has to worry about how to be delivered because he reckons himself to be “dead unto sin but alive unto God” (Rom.6:11). He reckons within himself, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me” (Gal.2:20). He can rest. Notice that the one who believes that “by whose stripes ye were healed” never has to resort to his own works to get healed. All he has to do is rest and receive it by faith. If a man continues to try to get healed when the Word says he was healed, he shows he does not believe the Word. He has not ceased from his own works to enter the rest by believing 1 Peter 2:24. All the sacrificial promises are past-tense to cause us to rest from our works every day. Redemption from the curse is truly finished! In fact, God's “works were finished from the foundation of the world” (Heb.4:3) when He spoke the plan into existence. The only thing left is for the true sons of God to enter into those works by faith, believing they have received. Since the works are finished, we should believe and rest from our own works to save, heal, and deliver ourselves. (3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest. Notice it is not the one who ceases from works on Saturday or Sunday but the one who believes who enters the New Covenant Sabbath rest every day. (9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. This constant “keeping of rest” every day, not one day a week, through the past-tense promises, is our spiritual Sabbath. (10) For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. This rest is to believe these past-tense promises and rest from our own works or man's works to save ourselves. Our faith in each of these promises brings us into more of the rest. We should be diligent not to leave out even one of these promises for our own good. (Heb.4:1) Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. (2) For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. This is true faith and always brings the answer. Through believing the promises, we enter into rest from our own works. For a child of God to say that they believe they have received and yet continue seeking to receive, usually through worldly methods, is to be double-minded. (Jas.1:6) But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. (7) For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord; (8) a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways. Those who continue to work for what God has freely given believe in salvation by works. (Heb.4:10) For he that is entered into his rest, hath himself also rested from his works. (Jas.3:19) And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief. Since the promises of deliverance from the curse are past-tense, when we believe them, we must stop working. It is an evil heart of unbelief to not rest. God was angry with Israel because they would not believe His Word in their trial in the wilderness (Heb.3:8-10). (Heb.3:11) As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest (the Sabbath!). (12) Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God .... (14) We are become partakers of Christ (His health, holiness, and blessing) if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. When we believe we have received, we are put in a position of weakness because we cannot do anything to bring the desired result to pass. This weakness is rest in our wilderness experiences because there is no help from Egypt or the world there. Only God's power saves in the wilderness. God says, “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor.12:9). If we refuse to be weak, God refuses to be strong on our behalf. Our weapon against our enemies who try to talk us out of our covenant rights is the two-edged sword of these past-tense promises (Heb.4:11,12). Let me share with you a good example of the power of the true gospel through faith in our past provision. Several years ago, I ran across a lady who had two large, inoperable tumors. She listed for me several famous preachers she had been to, who had prayed for her to be healed. She said to me, “David, I just don't understand why I have not been healed”. I said, “You just told me why you have not been healed. You are looking in the wrong direction. Turn around and look behind you for 'by whose stripes ye were healed' (1Pe.2:24). You are looking forward to a healing that happened behind you. You have a little hope, but no faith. Faith 'calls the things that be not (in this case, healing) as though they were' (Rom.4:17). Faith looks back at what was accomplished at the cross, but hope looks forward to what will be accomplished. Jesus said, 'All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for believe that ye receive (Greek: “received”) them, and ye shall have them' (Mar.11:24). That is the gospel, sister, that you must believe”. With these few words, I saw the light come on in her eyes; and her face brighten up. I said, “Now we are going to pray one more time; but this time believe the Scriptures, and believe you have received whether you see an instant manifestation, or not”. She agreed, so I rebuked the infirmity and commanded her to be healed in Jesus' name. She instantly felt the tumors leave. We rejoiced and thanked God together. I said, “Sister, that is the first time you believed the true gospel concerning your healing. If you had done that when those other preachers prayed, you would have been healed.” Because she, through faith, entered into rest from her own works to save herself, she saw the works of Jesus. Many do not receive from God because they do not keep our Sabbath through faith. Many years ago, I had a dream about resting from my works in order to be caught up by the power of God to do His works. In scene one, my wife and I were resting in lawn chairs in front of our house. Our gaze was riveted on the power line that crossed our property because it was sagging between the power poles so much that it almost touched the ground. As we watched and rested, a tornado came over that power line and picked us up out of our chairs and carried us away. Interpretation: God helped me to understand this prophetic dream. As we cease from our works and enter into the rest (the lawn chairs), the power of man (power line) comes to an end, and the power of God (tornado or whirlwind) takes over. God only gives this power to those who cease from their own works, even religious works, to follow His Spirit because they believe the promises. In scene two, I found myself in front of a large church. I walked through the front door and standing in the foyer was an “old man” in a suit. I avoided this old man as if he were a rattlesnake and went into the sanctuary, so-called. I saw there a large double sink, full of water. In the water were babies; they were faced down and most were dead. I quickly went to the sink, picked up a baby, and held him in the air. He spoke to me saying, “Thank God, I knew he was going to send someone”. Interpretation: I was made to know that there are many carnal ministers (old man - Eph.4:22; Col.3:9,10) who are trying to wash up the people of God (babies in the sink) by using the word as the letter of the Law (which is the water in Eph.5:26) and they're killing them instead. (2Co.3:6) who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. The letter of the Law that is taught by the Pharisees of today only gets our eyes on our own earthly ability or inability, like being face down in the water, which kills. Many are they that sit under the condemnation of the Law, which is a powerless false gospel, only to give up in their failure to please God and go back into the world or die on a church pew. We cannot pick ourselves up by our bootstraps or be saved by our own self-will. This is an understanding that is from the earth, and is face down. Seeking this is to be “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2Ti.3:7) that sets free. Jesus purposely spoke in parables so that only those who have eyes and ears for heavenly things would understand (Mat.13:10-14). These seek a knowledge that is born from above, I.e., face up. (Mat.16:17) 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. As always, those whose understanding is “face up” will be fought by those whose understanding is “face down”. The good news of the promises is the power of God given freely to save the one who believes (Rom.1:16). These promises get our eyes on God's ability and provision or face up. These promises give faith (Rom.10:17) to get grace (Eph.2:8) in order to have the power to live the Christian life and cease from our works. The Jews complained that Jesus' disciples were breaking the Sabbath by harvesting grain to eat (Mat.12:1,2), which was true according to the Law (Exo.31:14-17). Jesus replied to them; (Mat.12:5) Or have ye not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? Notice that He was proclaiming that His disciples were guiltless for profaning the old Sabbath. The priests, in order to fulfill the Sabbath, had to work in the temple. They did the work of God as we should also. Jesus was rebuked for healing on the Sabbath. Those outside the temple had to cease from their own works. (6) But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here. Jesus is our New Testament temple. We who abide in Him must work His works in order to fulfill the Sabbath. We must work the works of our Father, for we are the priests of God. (Rev.1:6) and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father .... Those who do not abide in Him have not ceased from their own works and are breaking the real Sabbath. Those who follow Christ as Lord are keeping the Sabbath, for He is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mat.12:8) For the Son of man is Lord of the sabbath. If we follow the Lord, then we have rested from our works to do His works. (Joh.14:12) ... he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. If we follow the Law, we are cut off from Christ and grace and cannot be keeping the real Sabbath (Gal.5:4). Those seeking to keep the Law of the Sabbath are instead breaking it because they are not resting from the works of the Law. Those under the Law, who condemn us for following Christ on Saturday or Sunday, condemn the guiltless. (Mat.12:7) But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; ye would not have condemned the guiltless. We are to work and do good on our Sabbath. All good is legal on our Sabbath, every day, but our old works are not. (12) ...Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day. Good, of course, is God's works. (Joh.5:16) And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath. (17) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work. Notice that Jesus worked His Father's works even on their shadow Sabbath. Then Jesus specified what works are legal on our Sabbath. (19) ...The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. We see here that works that come from self are illegal on our Sabbath, but works that our Father does through us are not. (30) I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. As sons seeking the will of God, we also may work the works of God on our spiritual Sabbath but not the works of self. Even the Old Covenant gives us clues to this principle. (Isa.58:13) If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of Jehovah honorable; and shalt honor it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words: (14) then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it. Jesus said that He always did the will of His Father. Therefore He always rested from His own works, and those who follow Him do also. God gives the same Spirit that Jesus had to those who wish to be empowered to follow Him and so keep the real Sabbath. (Isa.28:11) Nay, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; (12) to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. Paul declared this verse to be a promise to those who are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues in the New Covenant (1 Cor.14:21). Jews and Christians who refuse this Spirit to rest from the works of the Law, including the old Sabbath, are said to be those who “would not hear”. If we receive and follow the Spirit, we are not under the Sabbath or any of the Law. (Gal.5:18) But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Those who receive the Spirit are empowered to live in Christ, which is the rest from the works and curse of the old Law. (Rom.8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. We are under the Law of the Spirit. Except for prophets and kings, Israel did not have this Spirit to guide and empower them, and therefore needed rules and regulations on their external conduct. Those who live by the Spirit of life in Christ naturally fulfill the Law, which has been written in their hearts. Those who live in Christ by the Spirit cease from their own works every day. (Gal.5:16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Jesus said that those who received the Spirit would be witnesses of Him to the world (Acts 1:8). Jesus and His apostles never commanded to cease from work on a day. (Mat.11:28) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden (with the Law [Mat.23:4]), and I will give you rest. The problem is that we are in and out of the rest like we are in and out of Christ. Abiding in Christ is resting in our promised benefits. Some say God gave us the gift of eternal life so he can't take it back. In Gal.3:16 we are told “to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ”. You see, the promises were given to Christ, not to you. The only way the promises are yours is if you abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ is: bearing His fruit (Joh.15:1-6), walking as he walked (1Jn.2:3-6), believing the same teachings given by Jesus and the apostles without adding or subtracting (1Jn.2:24 / Jude 3 / Mat.28:20 / Rev.22,18,19), not walking in willful sin (1Jn.3:5,6), keeping his commandments (1Jn.3:24). 1Jn.5:11 says that “God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” and that is the only place we can claim this gift. God doesn't have to take it back, his people walk out of it. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body (1Co.6:18). If we walk in willful sin, we are not abiding in his body, for there is “no sin in him” (1Jn.3:5,6). Sins of ignorance or failure are covered by the blood (Rom.7:15-8:2) but willful sin is always judged. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. The Spirit of life in Christ empowers us to walk in Him by faith in His promises. (Heb.4:9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. This constant “keeping of rest” is every day, not one day a week. Paul, comparing the weak in faith with those who are mature, said, (Rom.14:5) One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. In our Covenant, every day is the Sabbath rest. As he said in Gal.4:9,10, “how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? Ye observe days”. Our Sabbath is freedom from bondage to the works of the Law. Since Jesus took away our sins, it is freedom from fleshly works too. (Psa.118:24) This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Old Jerusalem ruled over God's physical Old Testament people just as New Jerusalem rules over God's spiritual New Testament people. Paul declared that we have come to this spiritual city. He showed us that it is not a physical city that can be touched. (Heb.12:18) For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched ... (22) but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem ... (23) to the general assembly and church of the firstborn.... Jesus' called-out ones come to this mountain. This is the place of God's continual rest. (Psa.132:13) For Jehovah hath chosen Zion... (14) This is my resting-place for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. Unlike those under the Law, we are not to dwell outside the temple and go there occasionally, nor are we to dwell outside the rest six days and only dwell in it one. Those who dwell in this spiritual Jerusalem remain in God's resting place. There is only one day in the New Testament Jerusalem, the spiritual city of God. That day is the real Sabbath. (Rev.21:25) And the gates thereof shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be no night there). Notice that there is one day and no night in the city of God where the Lamb is the light (23). There is no darkness to break up the one day of God's work for those who abide in Christ. (1Jn.1:5) And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Those who abide in God continue in the light of day doing His works. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Those who walk in the light of our day are always in the presence of the sun (Son). Night is to have the earth between you and the sun (Son). Our flesh came from the earth (Gen.2:7) and symbolizes the earth. When the works of our flesh come between us and the Son, we are living in the darkness of night. If we are in this idolatry with the world, whether this means our flesh or the things of the world (1Jn.2:15,16), we live in the night. Walking in the light of our one Sabbath day, the works of man are destroyed. I want to remind you that the Law is a shadow, and if you are under a shadow you are not in the light. The saints live in the lighted day of ceasing from their own works, especially the works of the Law, while the wicked live in the dark night of their own works. (1Th.5:5) For ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day (the Sabbath): we are not of the night, nor of darkness; (6) so then let us not sleep (Having their eyes closed to the light of the Son), as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. (7) For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. (8) But let us, since we are of the day (the Sabbath), be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. As long as Jesus has been in this world, either in His first body or His second corporate body, it has been day. (Joh.9:5) When I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (Mat.5:14) Ye are the light of the world. That only makes one day as long as the saints are here. (Joh.9:4) We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day (When we are ceasing from our works to do His, it is the Sabbath day.): the night cometh, when no man can work. Our works in Christ for this world are over when the Lord comes for us and then night comes for the judgment of the world. (1Th.5:2) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (3) When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them... After the tribulation, the light of the world will be gone! (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven (This is the falling away and reprobation of 1/3 of the stars, representing the spiritual seed of Abraham [Rev.6:12-14; Gen.22:17]). The darkening of the light of this world here is physical as well as spiritual. Joseph shared a dream that clearly showed that the people of God spiritually are the sun, moon, and stars, “the light of this world”. (Gen.37:9) ...behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to me. (10) And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? Starting as a star glory, Joseph went to his cross in Egypt and was promoted in glory above his brethren, the children of Israel. We grow from star glory to moon glory and then to sun glory as we continue to walk in the light that God gives us (2Co.3:18). Paul agreed that the saints manifest these three glories in 1Co.15:41,42. Now we can see that when the Lord comes and takes His sun, moon, and star glory saints, the world will be left in the darkness of night. (Mat.24:29) But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven. (30) ...and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31) And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect...Glory to God! Jesus taught that the whole Christian New Covenant era on earth is only one day. (Joh.11:9) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. (10) But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him. Those who walk in this continual Sabbath day walk in the light. This spiritual day lasts until the judgment. (Mat.20:1) For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. Jesus started hiring laborers for His vineyard first thing in the morning, which was almost 2000 years ago. Then He gives examples of going out to hire all during the day, the third hour (verse 6), the sixth and ninth hour (verse 5), and the eleventh hour (verses 6-9). Of the eleventh hour people it was said, “These last have spent [but] one hour” (12). Then at the twelfth hour He called in all of His servants to give them their reward. (8) And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Jesus calls in all of His servants to face Him and receive their reward at His coming. (Rev.22:12) Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. Midnight is the twelfth hour when the Lord comes for the virgins (Mat.25:6) and also the time when the saints leave the Egypt of this world (Exo.29:12-31). At this time, even though it is midnight for the world, the saints are walking with lamps full of Holy Spirit light (Mat.25:4). From Jesus' first coming to His second coming is one day. This one day incorporates the whole Christian New Covenant era on earth. It should not surprise us that God could change something as important as the Sabbath from many carnal days to one spiritual day. He changed something much more important, our sacrifice, from many carnal sacrifices to one spiritual sacrifice, our Lord Jesus. The Lord again defines our rest as a corporate day that covers every day. (Heb.4:6) Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings (the promises) were before preached failed to enter in (Even though they kept the Saturday Sabbath) because of disobedience (Greek: “apeitheia” also means unbelief), (7) he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice (the promises), Harden not your hearts. (Today is any day that you are presently in. Since this verse was written to all saints throughout the New Covenant, then “today” is every day that they live in. God was telling us that when you hear His promises, do not harden your heart as Israel did, but believe to enter the rest in the day that you live in.) (8) For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. Today is that day saints, not Saturday or Sunday. Five times in this text, God uses the term “To-day” to define the rest. (3:13) but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. “Day by day” it has been “called To-day” for almost 2000 years. (4:9) There remaineth therefore a Sabbath rest (Greek: sabbatismos, “keeping of rest”) for the people of God. God has been merciful to our ignorance of this true Sabbath, but judgment will now be seen the world over because we have come to a second spiritual type of the Sabbath. (2Pe.3:8) But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Having read the writings of the early church fathers, I can tell you that they commonly believed in the one thousand-year prophetic day and that after six of these days from the beginning, the end time judgment would come. The Hindus, Muslims, and the Jews also believed this. Gibbon in The Rise And Fall of The Roman Empire said that the early Christians believed this. The Bible is laid out in seven prophetic one-thousand-year days. These days are numbered from the creation of Adam. There were four thousand years or four days between Adam and Jesus. Since the days of Jesus, the calendar has been tampered with extensively, but most researchers believe we are close to traversing two more days and coming to the beginning of the seventh, thousand-year period from Adam. Besides the regular spiritual Sabbath that we have already spoken of, this seventh, thousand-year day is a second spiritual Sabbath. When the body of Christ was crucified, it was a high Sabbath (Joh.19:31). That means it was a regular Sabbath and a second Passover Sabbath. This second spiritual Sabbath will also be a Passover Sabbath for those who have eaten the Lamb and are about to leave the Egypt of this world. This will also be a crucifixion to the fleshly works of the body of Christ. According to the shadow, when this end-time second spiritual Sabbath begins, God will judge those who go on in their own works. (Exo.31:12) And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you. Christians who try to keep the Sabbath in the “letter” don't understand this because they don't see that this is a “sign”. (15) Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. This is also the time when He finishes His creative work. (Gen.2:2) And on the seventh day God finished his work, which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work, which he had made. According to this type, God is about to finish His new creation work during this morning of the seventh day and rest. Every man's work will be proven by the fiery trial on the one day Sabbath. (1Co.3:12) But if any man buildeth on the foundation (of Christ) gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day (one Sabbath) shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man's work of what sort it is. The wood, hay, and stubble of man's works will burn up on God's Sabbath day because, according to the shadow, there is judgment against man's work on the Sabbath. (Exo.31:14) Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Since there is only one Sabbath day, we have to rest every day from our own works, as the rest of the New Testament also teaches. (Rev.2:23) ... I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. (25) And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations. (Exo.31:15) Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. Let's look again at this verse about the refreshing in Isa 28:11 Nay, but by men of strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people; 12 to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. This refreshing is coming again on the morning of the 3rd day (which is the Sabbath). There's going to be a change in the way God will deal with man when this millennium begins. There must be a ceasing from a Christian's own works and enter into the rest. Man's works have been going on in the church for six days (six thousand years). The church has been falling away from keeping the true Sabbath and we're coming to a time where if you don't cease from your own works, you will be cut off from the Body of Christ. There are many Sabbaths. There's the 7th day Sabbath, the 49th year Sabbath, there's the 50th year Sabbath, and there's the 7th millennium Sabbath. There's a Sabbath called the Jubilee. A Jubilee is a year. There are 120 Jubilees every 50 years. 120 Jubilees till Noah and another 120 till the next Noah. Noah means rest. So, 120 Jubilee years until the beginning of the Sabbath. 120 Jubilee Sabbaths bring us to the actual year 6000. We are entering into the prophetic Sabbath or the millennial Sabbath.   Reconciled to God Php 4:19  And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  (“Every need”, not greed. “Every” would include Spiritual, physical, emotional needs.)   What is faith? Heb 11:1  Now faith is assurance [substance?] of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. When you believe for something that is not yet seen, that is faith. How do we have God's faith to receive every need? Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have God's faith. (This is according to the numeric pattern proof.)  23  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24  Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (Numeric) them, and ye shall have them. (This is exactly what Quantum Physics, or Quantum Mechanics has proven, Jesus said it first. And here is an important condition to receiving. 25  And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  Col 1:19  For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20  and through him to reconcile (The Greek: kattallasso means “exchange” of Jesus' life for ours) all things(not Numeric) unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things those (Numeric) in the heavens. (Notice: He is not speaking of things but His people) 21  And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, 22  yet now hath he reconciled (exchanged) in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: 23  if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.  First the sons and daughters of God are exchanged and then Christ in them can deliver the creation. Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. 20  For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope 21  that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. The Lord told me that he bore the symbol of the cursed creation upon the cross. It was the crown of thorns. As we manifest our sonship we have authority over the cursed creation. We can pray for our grass, dogs, cows, bugs, trees, neighbors, etc.  Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:.. 2Co 5:14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15  and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16  Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17  Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things (not Numeric) are passed away; behold, they are become new. 18  But all things (not Numeric) are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19  to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (We reconcile others by showing them the exchange.) 20  We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21  Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.    Believe You Received and Rest Suani Guzman - 01/09/2010 I want to share a quick dream that helped me a lot. We all know that we must abide in the Sabbath Rest and boldly speak the good confession, but we don't always do it. So the Lord has to remind us sometimes. I have been going through some hard trials with caring for my elderly parents. I don't want to impose my faith on them but at the same time I'm trying to stand for their spiritual and physical salvation. The Lord impressed upon me that I must abide in the rest or the enormity of the problem will overwhelm me. In the dream, my husband and I had a truck in which we went sightseeing. We parked it and left for a walk. When we came back, the truck was a wreck -- another car had hit it really badly, and it was ruined. My husband, Raul, and another man tried to fix it. I went to help. I stood there and said something like, “Jesus had fixed it”. When those words left my mouth, the truck was immediately transformed into being whole again. I was so on fire and praised God and started to witness boldly to everyone about what Jesus had just done. We then left and, as we went, the truck started to stall and I said, “Oh no, it's healed”, and immediately it got power again. That happened twice. Then we got on a freeway full of cars. We were on the outer lane and struggling up a very, very steep hill. We were driving with two tires on the road and two in a ditch. The car couldn't go up like that, so it flipped over about two times and landed away from the road. So we stopped to consider the hill. By sight, it looked almost impossible to climb. We tried to figure out another way, but could see no other way. I thought that it was going to take all my strength to do it, and still it would not be enough. End of dream. (What is impossible with men is possible with God. We must trust His promises not our works.) Mar.11:24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received (Greek) them, and ye shall have them. Heb.4:2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. (3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (9) There remaineth therefore a sabbath (Greek: Sabatismos -- a continual rest) rest for the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. (11) Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience. Building the “Resting” Church  Eve Brast - 08/11/2012 (David's notes in red) | (Deb Horton's notes in green)  I dreamed I was driving east (faceing toward the coming of the Son) toward Dallas on a large highway with very sparse traffic on it. (The highway of holiness going to Dallas, which means “meadow dwelling”.) (A place of feeding with the flock.) It was dark but I could see a little light on the horizon in the east. (Near to the coming of the Lord in the Man-child on the morning of the seventh thousand year-day.) I was going to an eight-story hospital building that was under construction (the true Church of the called-out ones is being built), where my husband (representing Jesus) had instructed me to meet him. The building was oval-shaped and not square. (The building was eternal without beginning or end because of its shape and eight floors. (An “8” lying down is the sign for infinity or eternity and “8” is the number of Jesus. Since it's lying down, it could mean resting in Jesus. A hospital is a place for healing the sick, spiritually and physically, which the Church is supposed to be.)  I pulled into the parking garage and parked my old, gray (indicating mixture of good and evil, white and black), five-speed (grace received to get to this point) manual (not automatic, works by self), 1980 Toyota Corolla that had been my first car when I learned to drive. (Our first car represents our first ways of rest in the Lord. To park is a sign of coming into maturity through rest.) I went inside the building with my son's blue backpack containing surgical instruments and food my husband had asked me to bring to him. (Man's burdens and works we bear until we reach the seventh floor of rest and give them over to Jesus. Mat.11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.) I went into the ground floor lobby with a recently laid, highly polished wood floor (the human nature is under our feet to serve the spiritual man).   I waited at the only elevator (there's only one Way to God) to go up to the seventh floor (entering into the rest) (The first six floors represent the first six days of the different levels of man's works we do until we rest on the seventh spiritual day). I had to wait a bit because it was the only elevator. I was the only one waiting to go up. (The Bride will be the first to fully enter into the seventh-day rest.)  When the door opened, A black sister from UBM was the elevator attendant, but she was white and looked like me. (The white represents holiness.) She greeted me and began telling me how old the elevator was. (2000 years) She was an expert on this elevator. It was her assigned job in the building, and she knew everything about it. She told me that currently, the elevator only reaches the seventh floor, but when the construction is complete, it will go all the way up to the top, which is the eighth floor. (The eighth floor is Jesus and Heaven and new beginnings. When the building representing the Church is finished, we will go to the top, the eighth, heavenly floor.)  When I got off the elevator on the seventh floor, my husband passed by me wearing metal leg braces supported by a blue, padded waistband that girded his waist and metal crutches that braced around his forearms. (Our husband Jesus was strengthened by the Father to finish His pilgrimage as a type of the body.) (This reminds me of the command in Deuteronomy to bind the phylacteries, which are Scripture verses, on the forehead and hand, because the phylacteries are bound on the hand and are laced on from the forearm.) (David had a similar revelation where he was wearing leg braces. They strengthened his walk and helped him to stand.) (God's power is made perfect in our weakness.) He looked at me as he passed by with a knowing look (seeing eye to eye) and a smile, as if we shared a common understanding of something. (A common understanding of faith in the same promises brings people to the seventh floor of rest.) (Amo.3:3) Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?  Suddenly, I realized that I left my backpack on the elevator, or I thought I had, but it wasn't over my shoulder anymore. (We can't take our own provision or burdens to the seventh floor of the rest but we can give it all to Jesus there.) I became concerned (we will lose the rest if we think on our burdens) and turned around to push the button to go back down (A warning not to fall away from the rest).   While waiting for the elevator doors to open, I overheard an accountant from the hospital discussing a debt of $20 that they said I owed with another employee. (A warning that If we leave the rest of faith, we begin to bear the debt of sin again. The first mention of 20 in the Bible is Gen.6:3 And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.) They said they had tried to call my cell phone to give me this report, but I wouldn't answer because I knew it was not really my debt and that I wasn't required to pay it. (The accuser will always try to convince you that you still owe the debt that Christ already paid for you.) (If one leaves the rest, they will be tempted even more so.)  When the elevator doors finally opened, a horde of people out of nowhere rushed into the elevator, as if desperate to get out of the building. (They were in their flesh and leaving the rest.) I calmly walked in but there was barely enough room. When the doors shut, we were warned that the ride down was much scarier than the ride up because the elevator went down really fast, and it did (Because this represents the falling away. We have seen people lose all the gain of years in moments.). But it slowed down midway for safety precautions (this could represent those who are neither hot nor cold -- the fence-sitters in the middle) (also, God makes a way for His people to change their mind and Return unto thy rest, O my soul Psa.116:7) and then it sped back up until it reached the ground floor.  As I got off the elevator, the morning sunshine streamed through the lobby windows (Jesus in the Man-child is manifesting). A surgeon from the hospital who was going up said, “Isn't it exciting that the building construction will be completed in a week?!” (After the seven years of the 70th week of the tribulation, the Church will be complete, and I believe this week will start very soon.) I turned around and said, “Yeah”. But the importance of what he had just announced didn't register with me. I was concerned about finding the backpack because my husband needed me to bring it to the hospital (to give that burden to him).  I hoped I would find the backpack in my car in the parking garage, since it had not been left in the elevator. I ran out to the car and found it (the burden was in the car, representing immaturity) and brought it back into the lobby and pushed the elevator button again.   When the doors opened, my sons Noah and Elijah came out of the elevator and passed me as I went in. They were eight-foot-tall, grown men! (Their “8” size indicates they have grown up in Jesus.) They gave me the same knowing look of common understanding and smile that my husband had given me. (The faith that brings relief from our burdens and works.) They said, “Don't worry, Mom. We have everything under control”. (Jesus in the Man-child ministry beginning to reign [having given their burdens to God].) Then I woke up.  Why would we bear the burdens of the curse if we believe what Jesus said? Mar.11:23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mat.18:18 Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.  When we pray and believe, we rest from all the curse. Gal.3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Abraham was blessed in all things. Not entering the rest or keeping the spiritual Sabbath is because of unbelief. Heb.3:11 As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest. 12 Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God: 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin: 14 for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:...  18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? 19 And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

✝ Good Friday – John, The Gospel Writer John 19:25–37 | Behold the Lamb of God, Pierced for Us On this most solemn day, we behold Christ crucified—our Savior lifted high upon the cross. In John 19:25–37, the Gospel writer gives us a deeply personal and eyewitness account of Jesus' final moments. John stood at the foot of the cross. He saw the blood and water flow. He heard Christ's final words and watched Him breathe His last. “John, The Gospel Writer” draws us into that moment—not as distant readers, but as those who have been called to witness and believe. Through John's eyes, we see the fulfillment of Scripture, the depth of Christ's love, and the beginning of the Church's life flowing from His pierced side.

✝ Good Friday – John, The Gospel Writer John 19:25–37 | Behold the Lamb of God, Pierced for Us On this most solemn day, we behold Christ crucified—our Savior lifted high upon the cross. In John 19:25–37, the Gospel writer gives us a deeply personal and eyewitness account of Jesus' final moments. John stood at the foot of the cross. He saw the blood and water flow. He heard Christ's final words and watched Him breathe His last. “John, The Gospel Writer” draws us into that moment—not as distant readers, but as those who have been called to witness and believe. Through John's eyes, we see the fulfillment of Scripture, the depth of Christ's love, and the beginning of the Church's life flowing from His pierced side.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the true meaning of Resurrection Day. From Jesus crying out on the cross to the moment He rose from the grave, I share how His journey reminds us that even when God feels distant, He's still right there. I talk about the power of the resurrection, how God used women to deliver the message first, and why we're all called to go tell the world that Jesus is alive. This one's straight from the heart—real, raw, and rooted in truth.

Anger – that powerful emotion that can either fuel righteousness or destroy relationships. In this deeply insightful episode, we tackle this complex subject through the clarifying lens of Scripture, helping you understand when anger serves God's purposes and when it becomes destructive sin.We begin by challenging the common misconception that all anger is sinful. Using God Himself as our perfect example, we explore how righteous anger responds to injustice and evil while sinful anger stems from our selfish desires. From Jesus flipping tables in the temple to Moses confronting idolatry, biblical examples reveal the sharp distinction between anger that honors God and anger that dishonors Him.The most revealing part of our conversation might be our examination of how anger progresses: starting with self-centeredness, building through pride and the need to be right, escalating to uncontrolled emotions, festering as bitterness, and potentially culminating in destructive vengeance. This pattern appears repeatedly in broken relationships, whether between spouses, friends, or family members.We don't just diagnose the problem – we provide seven practical, biblical strategies to transform your relationship with anger. These include acknowledging and understanding your triggers, choosing your words carefully, stepping away from escalating situations, reflecting on root causes, seeking God's help through prayer and Scripture, practicing forgiveness, and remembering your identity in Christ.Perhaps most sobering is Jesus's teaching that equates anger with murder in terms of spiritual consequences. This underscores why mastering our anger isn't optional but essential for Christians seeking to honor God in all aspects of life.Whether you struggle with explosive outbursts or silent, seething resentment, this episode offers biblical wisdom to help you process anger in ways that reflect Christ rather than your fallen nature. Share your experiences with anger in the comments – we'd love to hear how God is working in your life!Thank you for listening! If you would like to subscribe and receive new episodes via email, please click subscribeTo see a listing of our previous episodes, please click archiveTo read our testimony please visit our about us pageFor information about Biblical Counseling, please go to our counseling page Please follow us on Instagram and TwitterWe invite questions and comments via our contact page

Anchored | Week 10: When Life Doesn't Go My Way // Ryland Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab on to the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

In this episode of the Sermon Brainwave podcast, Profs. Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, and Rolf Jacobson reflect on the profound significance of Good Friday, diving into the assigned texts from Isaiah 52–53, Psalm 22, and the Passion narrative in John. Together, they unpack the emotional weight of the day and the challenge of preaching on such a solemn occasion. From Jesus' final words to the deep context behind these powerful scriptures, this conversation invites preachers—and all listeners—to engage with the themes of suffering, love, and the human experience.

Discussion QuestionsSermon Overview Those who are extravagantly forgiven by Jesus extravagantly love him.Digging Deeper    Read Luke 7:36-8:31. From Simon the Pharisees' perspective, what's the most important thing about the woman (see vs. 39)? From Jesus' perspective, what's the most important thing about the woman (see vv. 44-47)?2. When faced with ‘sinners', how might you be tempted to think of them in the same way that Simon thought of the woman?3. Sadly, at times, our hearts are more aligned with Simon than the woman of this story. To what degree would you say you feel tempted to self-righteousness (i.e., thinking you're good on your own and don't need God's help)? How might we grow in our capacity to identify the rising of self-righteousness in our hearts and, by grace, put it to death?4. In this passage, we see two truths: sin is an unpayable debt, and forgiveness is an undeserved gift. Which of these truths does your heart need to be reminded of more often?5. Have you ever deeply felt both the seriousness of your sin and the greatness of God's forgiveness? How did it impact your love for Christ?6. How can we speak in ways that belittle or undermine our sinfulness? Why is that dangerous for Christians to do?7. How can we help each other remember the extravagant forgiveness we've received in Christ? 8. Pastor Brett said that the forgiven are marked by 1) unashamed adoration of Jesus and 2) unusual generosity. What do these marks look like practically? Do you think these two marks are evident in your own life?  9. When was a time you personally experienced or observed unusual generosity from a Christian? 10. In which circumstances (or around which people) might you be tempted to hide your adoration of Christ? 11. In what ways should the truth that we have been lavishly forgiven impact our giving / use of our resources?Prayer

Anchored | Week 8: When You Get Another Chance // Ryland Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab on to the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

Anchored | Week 8: When a Storm Leaves You Hopeless // Ryland Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

Anchored | Week 7: When You Cause a Storm // Ryland Walter// Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

Brittni De La Mora was one of the most successful women in the porn industry—until one Bible verse stopped her in her tracks. Trapped in a cycle of addiction, prostitution, and emotional emptiness, she was searching for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. But when she encountered Jesus, everything changed.Convicted by Scripture, she walked away from fame and fortune to follow God, leaving behind the only life she knew. Now a wife, mother, and ministry leader, Brittni is exposing the dark realities of the porn industry and helping others find true freedom in Christ.Her raw and powerful testimony will leave you speechless. Check out Brittni's ministry: https://www.lovealwaysministries.com/Brittni's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittnidelamora/?hl=enA big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Good Ranchers: https://go.goodranchers.com/lila Purchase your American Meat Delivered subscription today and get a free add-on of beef, chicken, or salmon! Use code LILA for $25 off! -Covenant Eyes: http://covenanteyes.sjv.io/Kjngb9 Sign up to grow in purity and gain traction over sexual addiction: use code LILA for a free month!-Seven Weeks Coffee: https://www.sevenweekscoffee.com Buy your pro-life coffee with code LILA and get up to 25% off!00:00:00 - Intro00:03:04 - Brittni's background00:06:35 - How did you get involved in porn industry?00:09:21 - Covenant Eyes00:10:24 - Broken heart and liquid courage00:15:27 - How did you get a Porn Agent?00:16:48 - Why do women get into more extreme sexual behaviors?00:23:41 - Good Ranchers00:24:46 - What are things people don't know about porn industry?00:26:13 - Toughest thing you saw or did?00:33:00 - From Jesus back to sex work00:39:56 - Gave her pimp 100% of earnings00:40:48 - Did you ever realize prostitution was sinful?00:47:09 - I quit the porn industry that day00:50:52 - Pastor's prophetic word for Brittni00:59:21 - Any struggles in marriage since then?01:01:46 - Brittni's wedding night01:03:23 - Brittni on Whatever podcast01:08:01 - The problem of pre-meditation and consequences of sin01:10:10 - Brittni's message to girls on OnlyFans01:13:51 - Should porn be banned? on X?01:15:39 - Covenant Eyes01:17:36 - Brittni's ministry01:19:48 - The worst sinner

Anchored | Week 6: Navigating Storms // Kelly Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

In this episode, we dive into the question that has often intrigued youth and new believers: Is there really a Heaven? Using the King James Version of the Bible as our guide, we explore the Scriptural evidence that assures us of the reality of Heaven. From Jesus' promises to the words of the apostle Paul, we look at key passages that paint a vivid picture of this place we are longing to go to.

John 1:16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. Consider today the fullness of Christ. We learn in verse 14 that Jesus is full of grace and truth. We can be encouraged that there is no end to His grace for us. From Jesus' indwelling life, we have received of His fullness. That means that there's nothing we will face today that will prevent us from finding our greatest satisfaction and joy in Him. If we need love in its various expressions—joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control- it is available to us in Christ. Expressing the fruit of the Holy Spirit is what living to love looks like. As we love in this manner, we receive grace upon grace. We might also consider the “we” to perhaps include everyone. There are common graces that everyone experiences from Jesus Christ daily, one after another, yet they might not recognize them. Maybe that's what Paul was thinking of when he described to the Romans those who are experiencing God's wrath. They know God and see His goodness and glory in creation but don't acknowledge God or give Him thanks. They, too, experience common grace upon grace out of Jesus' fullness. Let us be grateful, not only for the many common graces we receive each day, but also for the specific, wonderful grace upon grace to trust our heavenly Father with whatever He gives us today in life and to love those He puts in our paths. The love of God flowing through our lives pours out of the fullness of the life of Jesus Christ dwelling in us. May we be filled with gratitude, joy, and love in the fullness of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may be encouraged to turn their hearts to God and live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Anchored | Week 5: Growing Through Your Fear In A Storm // Ryland Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

March 2, 2025 Today's Reading: Luke 9:28-36Daily Lectionary: Job 33:19-34:9; John 11:1-16“…His clothing became dazzling white.” (Luke 9:29b)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the beginning, there was no need for clothes. Adam and Eve didn't have them, and nobody seemed to mind. At least, at first. Ever since, there has been a difference between the clothes that we wear for ourselves and the clothes that our Lord provides. Rebekah clothed Jacob in Esau's clothes. They were worn to deceive– worn in order to sin. Joseph's brothers would dip his robe in blood in order to deceive their father. Joseph's clothes would again be taken from him by Potiphar's wife. She covered her own sinful desires with those clothes in order to deceive. When we ourselves dress up our sin, we claim that there's nothing wrong. That we have no shame at all. It's all lies. It's all deception. That sin is still there. We should be shamed by the fact that we sin. We need to be clothed in something else. We need repentance.Something different happens when God clothes us. The covering that our Lord provides doesn't deny our sin. It acknowledges that it's there and that it's shameful. Yet we don't hide it ourselves. We don't lie about it and say it's good. Instead, our Lord takes our shame and provides His modesty for it. After all, the clothing our Lord provides gives us the honor that rightly belongs to Him.When Joseph was called out of prison, Pharaoh gave him the clothes he would need to enter the court, covering up the shame of Joseph's imprisonment with pardon. After Joseph's brothers finally found out Joseph was in charge of all Egypt, Joseph sent them back with new clothes to their father. Covering up the shame of their years of lies with forgiveness and the promise of deliverance from the famine.The clothes that Jesus gives are His own. They cover our sin with His forgiveness. This is why the clothing of Jesus is so important. For our sake, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. From Jesus' clothes came power to overcome sin, as some went to touch even the hem of His garments. Jesus' clothes shine brightly forth at the Transfiguration in today's Gospel lesson. Jesus is clothed so that He may properly bear your sin and your shame. And that we may wear His righteousness. And in Baptism, Jesus wraps you in His clothes. He gives them away to you and takes up your clothing instead.Jesus doesn't always wear the clothes of the Transfiguration. It's from here that He goes down to be crucified. What should have been our shame was His alone. He wears the sin of the entire world, including your sin and mine. All of it is taken away from us, and Jesus carries it all, bearing it before the entire world. And we are left washed, cleansed, forgiven, and clothed.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.In Baptism we now put on Christ– Our shame is fully covered With all that He once sacrificed And freely for us suffered. For here the flood of His own blood Now makes us holy, right, and good Before our heavenly Father. (LSB 596:4)-Rev. Eli Davis, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, OR.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.Visit the timeless rhythms of the Christian life with award-winning author Harold L. Senkbeil. As he addresses the concerns and pressures of the world today, you'll discover that even while the world is dying, Christ's death brings about life. True life. One that He offers to you. Order Now!

Anchored | Week 4: Shout at the Storm // Tom Stoltz // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

What does it mean to be spiritually formed? In this episode of Digging Deeper, hosts Jeff Norris and Laura Story Elvington are joined by Dr. Jim Wilhoit, author and retired Wheaton College professor, to explore how spiritual formation is central to the mission of the Church. Together, they unpack how transformation happens not just through personal devotion but within the context of community. From Jesus' own formation to the role of suffering in shaping our faith, this conversation challenges the modern tendency toward isolated spirituality. Whether you're a new believer or have walked with Jesus for years, this episode will encourage you to engage more deeply with the Church and embrace the lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ. Additional Resources: - Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the notification bell to get notified of new episodes.

Anchored | Week 3: Storm Preparation // Ryland Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

Anchored | Week 2: Don't Be Surprised By Storms (A Big Game Message from a Former NFL Player) // Paul Coffman // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab on to the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

In this episode of Footnotes, we're discussing the sermon from February 6,2025 , titled "The Hope for All," which you can listen to at the link below:Listen to the SermonWatch the Sermon In this episode, Greg takes us through the dramatic beginning of the early Church in the book of Acts. From Jesus' ascension to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Acts 1-2 sets the stage for a movement that would change the world. Greg explores the power of the Holy Spirit, the significance of Peter's sermon, and the formation of the first Christian community. Join him as he unpacks the birth of the Church and its relevance for today.

Anchored | Week 1: Storm Watch // Ryland Walter // Are you prepared for your next life storm? We all have something we cling to when we face the storms of life, and what you grab onto matters. In this series, we'll study the storms in scripture and discuss how to grab onto the right anchor. From Jesus shouting at a storm, to the drift that occurs from the current we can't see… From the disciples being sent into a storm to Jonah being thrown overboard... We'll see how to be prepared when storms come our way, and how to build a life that can weather the storm.

What does it mean to live a Spirit-empowered life? In this message, we explore the incredible truth that the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, giving us the presence and power of God for life and ministry. From Jesus' promise of the Spirit to the early church's boldness, we'll see how the Spirit brings comfort, conviction, truth, and supernatural gifts. Discover how to yield to the Spirit's work, experience His presence, and walk in His power for God's glory and your joy.

In this episode of Footnotes, we delve into the fascinating world of the Peripheral Canon, often referred to as the Apocrypha. How were these texts viewed in the ancient world, and what role do they play in the New Testament? From Jesus' teachings to Paul's letters, echoes of these writings resonate throughout Scripture. Join us as we explore their theological significance, their historical context, and how they shape our understanding of the biblical narrative. Whether you're new to the Apocrypha or revisiting familiar territory, this episode offers fresh insights into the interconnectedness of Scripture. Some references made throughout this chapter are:  John 8 / Jubilees 17 Forgiveness in Lord's Prayer / Sirach 28.2 Narrow Road / 4 Ezra 7.6-14 Hell as eternal worm & fire (e.g. Mark 9) / Judith 16 Mockers at cross Mt. 27.41-43 / WisSol 2.13-22 Golden Rule / Tobit 4.15 Armor of God Eph 6.13-17 / WisSol 5.17-20 Paul's disease theory of sin / 4 Ezra 3.21-26 Mt. 22.28-30 / Opening story of Tobit 1 Peter 1.12 / 1 Enoch 1.2 Angels chained 2 Peter 2.4, Jude 6, Revelation / 1 Enoch narrative Jude 14-15 / 1 Enoch 1

What happened to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus after that night in the manger? How did their journey unfold after the shepherds left and the angels returned to heaven? Most Christmas stories end in Bethlehem, but today, Stephen Davey explores what came next. From Jesus' circumcision to His dedication at the Temple, Stephen reveals the remarkable moments of faith and obedience that defined Jesus' earliest days. You'll discover how, even as a baby, Jesus was fully identified with the people of Israel, marking the beginning of His fulfillment of the Law and God's promises to Abraham. Stephen also sheds light on the often-overlooked sacrifices made by Mary and Joseph. Despite scandal, rumors, and economic hardship, they chose obedience to God's commands at every turn. Their journey included paying the redemption tax at the Temple—a powerful irony given that the baby they presented was Himself the Redeemer of the world. This episode will open your eyes to the deeper, richer aspects of Jesus' story, reminding you that His mission started long before His ministry years. Join us to hear the inspiring faith of His earthly parents and how Jesus' earliest days set the tone for the greatest story ever told.

What happened to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus after that night in the manger? How did their journey unfold after the shepherds left and the angels returned to heaven? Most Christmas stories end in Bethlehem, but today, Stephen Davey explores what came next. From Jesus' circumcision to His dedication at the Temple, Stephen reveals the remarkable moments of faith and obedience that defined Jesus' earliest days. You'll discover how, even as a baby, Jesus was fully identified with the people of Israel, marking the beginning of His fulfillment of the Law and God's promises to Abraham. Stephen also sheds light on the often-overlooked sacrifices made by Mary and Joseph. Despite scandal, rumors, and economic hardship, they chose obedience to God's commands at every turn. Their journey included paying the redemption tax at the Temple—a powerful irony given that the baby they presented was Himself the Redeemer of the world. This episode will open your eyes to the deeper, richer aspects of Jesus' story, reminding you that His mission started long before His ministry years. Join us to hear the inspiring faith of His earthly parents and how Jesus' earliest days set the tone for the greatest story ever told.

What if I told you parts of the Christmas story we know and love aren't actually historically accurate?? From Jesus' birthdate to the real headcount on the Magi, we're spilling the tea on the nativity story. Was Jesus born in a stable? Who really visited him? And what's the deal with the "Christmas star"? Get ready for some seriously surprising facts that'll make you rethink everything you thought you knew about Christmas. This ain't your grandma's nativity story—let's unwrap the truth.Gifts for HER: https://amzn.to/4fPo0k8Gifts for HIM:https://amzn.to/4fbsnoJAddie's Socials YouTube https://youtube.com/@addieoverla?si=b9BzpzS9J9HrLiK5TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@addieoverlaInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/addieoverla/LINKSElevated Faith Apparelhttps://bit.ly/3xjVBvFLikeToKnowIthttps://www.shopltk.com/explore/addiewoostAmazon Storefronthttps://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-649a9b8a?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfinfluencer-649a9b8a_4C3D57EYC99TN49DVP21Support the show

Life often doesn't unfold the way we expect, and neither does God's plan. From Jesus' humble birth in a manger to the unexpected ways He works in our lives today, God challenges us to let go of rigid expectations and embrace His extraordinary methods. In this message, we'll uncover why so many missed the Savior's arrival and how our own expectations can blind us to God's blessings. Through stories of faith, Scripture, and personal experiences, we'll discover how to shift our focus, trust in God's faithfulness, and make room for His best—no matter how it's packaged.

Send us a textCan human free will truly secure salvation, or is it a myth within the context of Christian theology? We're challenging this deeply rooted belief by examining the roles of two pivotal biblical figures, Adam and Jesus Christ, and questioning the compatibility of free will with the doctrine of man's depravity. By confronting common perspectives and misconceptions around the ability of humans to achieve salvation through their will alone, we're inviting you to engage in a conversation that navigates through centuries of theological debate and thought.Join us as we unpack the profound theological implications of the two Adams—Adam, the first man, and Christ, the last—serving as federal representatives of humanity. Through this lens, we explore the significance of Adam's disobedience and Christ's incarnate mission, emphasizing the necessity of divine intervention for reconciliation with God. From Jesus's powerful plea in the Garden of Gethsemane to the broader context of divine and human will, we scrutinize the existential questions of human culpability and the sovereignty of God's will in matters of justice and salvation.The episode touches on the inherent limitations of human autonomy, using narratives like Cain and Abel to highlight the consequences of exercising free will contrary to divine purpose. By reflecting on these stories, we advocate for humility and surrender to God's will over personal desires. As the conversation extends to the political landscape and the futility of aligning with temporal powers, we emphasize the ultimate sovereignty of divine justice, challenging listeners to rethink common perceptions and understandings of free will within the Christian framework.Support the show

In this episode, we dive into John 4, a chapter rich with lessons about faith, truth, and God's transformative love. From Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well to the power of believing without seeing, this chapter reminds us of the living water that only Christ can provide. Join us as we reflect on these powerful stories and explore how they encourage us to seek God's truth, embrace His grace, and share His love with others. Also, use the code "Podcast20" to get 20% off our entire store. This is a special code specifically for our podcast listeners! See all our our hoodies, t-shirts, caps and more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.livingchristian.org/store.html⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Check out this podcast and all previous episodes on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon more! - https://www.livingchristian.org/podcast.html NEW DEVOTIONAL: 30 Days With The Lord, A Living Christian Devotional: https://amzn.to/4eXAO7s MY BIBLE: Every Man's Bible: New Living Translation - Find it here: https://amzn.to/3MuDAUS CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE BELOW FOR CHRISTIAN APPAREL, PRODUCTS, BLOGS, BIBLE VERSES AND MORE: Website | https://www.livingchristian.org Store | https://www.livingchristian.org/store.html Podcast | https://www.livingchristian.org/podcast.html FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/living_christian/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/livechristian1 Twitter | https://twitter.com/livechristian1 Pinterest | https://www.pinterest.com/living_christian/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@livingchristian ABOUT US: Living Christian believes that our Christian faith isn't just for Sunday mornings in Church. Our faith impacts every aspect of our lives and the challenges we face every day of the week. We want to connect to people who are seeking to determine what Living Christian means in their own day-to-day lives. We are focused on providing resources and products to a community of believers. We provide daily biblical inspiration, motivation and guidance through social posts, blogs and Christian apparel and products. This work contains Music Track The 126ers - Winds of Spring that is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Source: https://directory.audio/free-music/pop/5092-the-126ers-winds-of-spring Author: The 126ers #christ #christian #christianity #christianblog #christianblogger #verses #bible #bibleinspiration #bibletime #jesusistheway #biblestudy #dailybible #newtestament #oldtestament #thebible #christ #jesuschrist #holybible #lukewarm #christians #christianpodcast #christmas --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/livingchristian/support

In Acts 3, Peter preaches a powerful prophetic Word. In a similar culture spinning out of control, stand in faith in Jesus' promises. From Jesus in these last days is coming refreshing, restoration and revival setting the stage for His return.

In this episode, we dive into the transformative invitation found across diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions: “Come and see.” From Jesus' call to his disciples, to the Tantric embrace of the sacred in all things, to Nietzsche's challenge of revaluing all values, we explore how this call invites us beyond beliefs and doctrines, into direct, lived experience. Drawing on the Yogacara teachings of mind-made reality, the awe-inspired insights of Dacher Keltner, and the mysterious nature of the sacred in indigenous traditions, we uncover a common thread. This invitation is not to observe life from a distance but to fully engage with its complexity and depth—to experience meaning, connection, and truth for ourselves. Join us as we trace how this timeless call echoes through different cultures, philosophies, and paths, showing us that true wisdom lies not in theoretical knowledge but in a life fully lived.

What if the Kingdom of God doesn't allow for plateaus? In this episode, we explore what it means to follow Jesus without settling — even when the path is unclear and others question your choices. From Jesus' radical mission to John the Baptist's moments of doubt, we discuss how to embrace faith, risk, and obedience, and why the Kingdom calls us to keep moving forward.

Stories drive the universe. From Jesus to your ex everybody has a story. Why they couldn't answer the phone, why they slept with your friend, and what drove them to be famous. Today I discuss capping and storytelling. Everybody has a story including you GumshoeListen and subscribe on todays episodeEmail tony@tonyresonno.com

From Jesus’ final words, we have been annointed for mission and Jesus has given us three things to accomplish this mission. Find out what in this message for Pastor Sawyer. Sermon Notes: http://bible.com/events/49327473 Give to The Timothy Initiative at https://secure.ttiglobal.org/cpc-arise-ch-denver-oct-2024 Who is your "one"? Let us know at https://arisedenver.com/seektheone We would love to get to know you: https://arisedenver.com/new Support Arise Church and its mission: https://arisedenver.com/give

From Jesus’ final words, we have been annointed for mission and Jesus has given us three things to accomplish this mission. Find out what in this message for Pastor Sawyer. Sermon Notes: http://bible.com/events/49327473 Give to The Timothy Initiative at https://secure.ttiglobal.org/cpc-arise-ch-denver-oct-2024 Who is your "one"? Let us know at https://arisedenver.com/seektheone We would love to get to know you: https://arisedenver.com/new Support Arise Church and its mission: https://arisedenver.com/give

From Jesus’ final words, we have been annointed for mission and Jesus has given us three things to accomplish this mission. Find out what in this message for Pastor Sawyer. Sermon Notes: http://bible.com/events/49327473 Give to The Timothy Initiative at https://secure.ttiglobal.org/cpc-arise-ch-denver-oct-2024 Who is your "one"? Let us know at https://arisedenver.com/seektheone We would love to get to know you: https://arisedenver.com/new Support Arise Church and its mission: https://arisedenver.com/give

From Jesus’ final words, we have been annointed for mission and Jesus has given us three things to accomplish this mission. Find out what in this message for Pastor Sawyer. Sermon Notes: http://bible.com/events/49327473 Give to The Timothy Initiative at https://secure.ttiglobal.org/cpc-arise-ch-denver-oct-2024 Who is your "one"? Let us know at https://arisedenver.com/seektheone We would love to get to know you: https://arisedenver.com/new Support Arise Church and its mission: https://arisedenver.com/give

Unforced Rhythms of Grace Pt. 3 | Pastor Marion Dalton | Bethel Harvest Church In this powerful sermon, Pastor Dalton dives deep into the concept of God's abundant grace and how it's the only sufficient virtue in life. Power, money, and position all fall short in the face of life's challenges, but God's grace stands firm, offering all-sufficiency and abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

September 1, 2024 | Pastor Steve Gaines speaks on Luke 4:1–13 where Jesus is tempted by the devil while in the desert. From Jesus' example, we see how we can have victory over temptation. Using the sword of the Spirit, fasting, praying, and more can be used to fight back against Satan when facing a temptation.For more sermons each week, be sure to subscribe so you can stay in the know. If you've liked what you've heard in this message, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Spotify. Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN | bellevue.org

In the message, "Good from Far, Far from Good," Pastor Rich Whitter explores Mark 11:1-31, focusing on the contrast between outward appearances and true spiritual health. From Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem to His cleansing of the temple and the cursing of the fig tree, the urgency of genuine faith and righteousness is evident. Pastor Rich emphasizes that like the fig tree, which looked healthy from a distance but bore no fruit, our lives may appear "good" on the outside, yet lack true spiritual substance. The chapter concludes with a powerful call to examine our hearts, ensuring our faith is authentic and fruitful. We hope this message encourages you to embrace Jesus' authority, letting His transformative influence bring genuine growth and righteousness, moving beyond appearances to a deep, life-changing faith.

In this final message of the "Be Christian" series, we explore the early church's powerful example of faith and service, diving into how their commitment to unity and generosity set the foundation for Christianity's growth. From Jesus' prediction of the church's resilience to Paul's teachings on being an active part of the body of Christ, this sermon challenges us to reflect on our role in the church today. Will we simply consume, or will we engage and serve, ensuring the church continues to thrive for future generations?

In the message, "The Price of Release," Pastor Rich Whitter delves into Mark 10:32-52, focusing on the cost of true discipleship and the call to servanthood. From Jesus predicting His suffering and death to healing blind Bartimaeus, the urgency of embracing a life of service is evident. Pastor Rich emphasizes that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, illustrating the profound example of humility and sacrifice that we are called to follow.

If we follow our selfish ambition or conceit, it will lead to destruction—at breakneck speed. Jesus, on the other hand, teaches us that the road to life looks a lot more like walking, stopping, talking, and allowing ourselves to move at the speed of love. Just like vehicles have built-in governors to prevent them from driving at dangerous speeds, God gives us speed governors for our lives, too—the people we've been entrusted to love.  SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Love: The Ultimate Speed Governor  By Deidre Braley  Luke 8:45: And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?"  I am a get-it-done girl. I come by it honestly; efficiency and tenacity have been passed down through the women in my family tree, and my genes are wired in a way that makes me want to get the most things done in the least time possible.  So I often feel exasperated when I'm forced to slow down. The other day, my dog and I were out for a jog, and just as my favorite song came on and I hit my stride, he was hit by an irresistible smell from a passing bush. He came to a screeching halt—and I nearly popped my shoulder out of joint. Frustrated, I tried to drag him along, but he's a stubborn little thing, and finally I gave up and let him sniff the bush, then the grass, then the clover. I thought to myself, It's his walk too, I guess.  I haven't adapted that easily to the interruptions of motherhood though. I wish I could say that I'm naturally the type of mother who enjoys baking with her toddlers, who welcomes the dawdling independence of a two-year-old dressing herself, or who's content with long, sprawling days spent playing blocks and make-believe. But I am not.  In truth, as a dreamer and a doer, I've had more moments than I care to admit when I've thought, If only I could just do this on my own, it would be so much faster. I could get so much more done. When I catch myself putting projects over people, though, I remind myself of the interruptibility of Jesus.  In Luke 8, Jesus is on his way to Jairus' house. His daughter is dying, and it's urgent. But as he's moving through the crowd and people are pressing in on him from every side, a woman who's had an issue of bleeding for twelve years reaches out and touches the hem of his cloak. She senses that she's been immediately healed, even without a face-to-face interaction with Jesus. Now, Jesus could have kept moving, could have left it at that. But instead, amidst the great haste and urgency of the crowd, he stops. Luke 8:45 recounts, “And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” He puts aside his agenda and stops to have a conversation with the woman in order to heal not only her body—but her spirit.  While he is stopped, someone comes from Jairus' home to announce that his daughter has died. It seems, for a moment, that Jesus' willingness to be interrupted has had fatal consequences. But then he goes to the little girl, raises her from death, completes his mission. From Jesus, we learn that loving others is the priority—even when that loving is inefficient, inconvenient, or downright untimely. Philipians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” It's true that living this way slows us down, and that if we were only living for ourselves, we'd probably get a lot more done. But maybe that's exactly why God gives us people to care for: in order to slow us down, limiting our propensity to run towards selfish pursuits, which is a road to disaster.  If we follow our selfish ambition or conceit, it will lead to destruction—at breakneck speed. Jesus, on the other hand, teaches us that the road to life looks a lot more like walking, stopping, talking, and allowing ourselves to move at the speed of love. Just like vehicles have built-in governors to prevent them from driving at dangerous speeds, God gives us speed governors for our lives, too—the people we've been entrusted to love.  Intersecting Faith & Life  Today, practice being interruptible. Remember: people are more important than projects or progress. This could like:  Talking with the person at the cash register ringing out your groceries.● Putting your phone in another room when you're spending time with your children.● Looking your spouse in the eyes as they tell you about their day. Noticing people throughout your day (at work, in the coffee shop, on the bus) who looklike they could use a smile, a kind word, a listening ear—and giving that to them. Further Reading  Luke 8 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the message, "Mark Chapter 10," Pastor Rich Whitter examines Mark 10:1-31, focusing on the challenges of true discipleship and the dangers of being possessed by our own possessions. From Jesus' teachings on marriage and children to the encounter with the rich young ruler, the urgency of surrendering all to follow Jesus is evident. Pastor Rich highlights the story of the rich young ruler, noting that it wasn't just financial wealth that held him back, but anything in our lives that keeps us from fully committing to God can possess us. The chapter concludes with a powerful call to examine what may be holding us back from God, showcasing the transformative impact of letting go and trusting in Jesus.

In the message, "Is it Worth It?" Pastor Rich Whitter delves into Mark 9:30-50, emphasizing the urgency of confronting sin and temptation. From Jesus' foretelling of His death and resurrection to His teachings on humility and the seriousness of sin, the necessity of immediate and decisive action is evident. Pastor Rich highlights Jesus' call to cut off anything that causes us to stumble, underscoring that no sin is worth losing our eternal life. He emphasizes the importance of fleeing temptation and striving for holiness