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This week, Pastor Jesse speaks about what it looks like to walk by the Spirit. Main Scripture & Points: Galatians 5:16-26 POINT: To walk by the Spirit means that I am actively choosing to submit my thoughts, reactions, and decisions to the leadership of the Holy Spirit POINT: NOT BY IMPULSE BUT BY THY SPIRIT James 1:19-20 POINT: NOT BY MY PAST BUT BY THY SPIRIT 2nd Corinthians 5:17-18 POINT: NOT BY EMOTION BUT BY THY SPIRIT POINT: Emotions are wonderful companions in life, but they are terrible leaders in life PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Help me be led by Your Spirit today. When my impulses want to react, help me to pause. When my past tries to speak, remind me who I am in Christ. When my emotions run high, lead me into wisdom and peace. Help me to live: Not by impulse, Not by my past, Not by emotion, But led by your Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen. Galatians 5:19-21 POINT: πράσσω, Pron: Prasso, Meaning: To practice, To make a habit of, To keep doing as a way of life Romans 1:32 POINT: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery *This episode was recorded on 12/14/25
Send us a textThe noun “time” can be used to refer to “an opportune or suitable moment.” That's the kind of reference the Scripture uses when it tells us that “when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, […] to buy freedom for us […] so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4-5 NLT). That's the concept we are exploring when in this message we answer the question, “What Time is Christmas?”Galatians 3:26-28; 4:4-7; Ecclesiates 3:1-11"Yet I still dare to Hope..." - Lamentations 3:21 PODCAST HOME: daretohopepodcast.buzzsprout.com/ EMAIL: hope@dare2hope.life FACEBOOK: Dare to Hope Ministries WEB: www.dare2hope.life
Monday, 15 December 2025 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:6 “And no, not he should honor his father or his mother. And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition” (CG). In the previous verse, Jesus began explaining the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees in regard to the issue of tending to one's parents as commanded by the law. He continues that, saying, “And no, not he should honor his father or his mother.” By the leaders' granting the people to take their gifts and dedicate them in this fashion, a practice that was derived from tradition, they created a rift in people's proper adherence to God's prescription. That is stated by Jesus with the words, “And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition.” The word akuroó, to invalidate, is first seen here. It will be used in the comparable passage in Mark 7:13 and then only again in Galatians 3 concerning the surety of the covenant of promise given to Abraham that is not invalidated by the temporary Law of Moses – “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul [akuroó] the covenant that was confirmed before by Godin Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Galatians 3:17, 18 These leaders were essentially saying, “Isn't it more important to give your gifts to God than to keep them around, taking up space, cluttering up your lives and your homes?” They knew full well that by convincing people they were doing a service to God that they would rush to give. Never mind that these leaders would be on the receiving end of such gifts in one way or another and that the parents would be left unattended to in their old age. The perverse nature of the doctrine is laid bare by Jesus, shaming the people for their greed, dishonesty, and outright hypocrisy. God doesn't need their gifts. Rather, what He wants from His people is obedience to His prescriptions. “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! 8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. 9 I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:7-15 Life application: Do you ever hear preachers or teachers making an appeal for donations that includes catchphrases like seed offering, increase, multiply, tithe, tithing, tithes, pleasing to God, firstfruits, opening the storehouses of heaven, and so on? If you hear these things, be sure not to give to such people. If you are giving to receive in return, you are giving for the wrong reason. If you are giving because someone told you that you are going to make God happy by giving them money, you are giving for the wrong reason. God is happy with your faith, praise, and thanksgiving. He doesn't need your money, even if His people do. If His people do, and you are able to give, then do so without expecting anything in return. Be cheerful in your giving, or don't give. Giving grudgingly will not lead to future rewards. Glorious Lord God, we come before You to praise You for who You are, to thank You for Your grace and tender mercies, and to glorify You for the salvation You have granted to us through simple belief in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ. We believe and we thank You. All praises to You, O God. Amen.
What does it mean to be "clothed with Christ"? In this message, Dr. John Neufeld explores how our spiritual nakedness—our sin and vulnerability—is covered by the righteousness of Jesus himself. Through baptism, believers publicly identify with Christ's death and resurrection, putting on His life as their own and becoming heirs of the promise God made to Abraham.Christmas From Galatians: This Christmas, Dr. John takes an unprecedented approach to the season by exploring why Jesus' coming was absolutely necessary. Through the book of Galatians, this series traces God's plan from Abraham's promise through the giving of the Law to the arrival of Christ. Discover why the Law was never meant to save us but to diagnose our condition, how Jesus fulfilled what we could never accomplish, and how Christmas opened the door for all people to become sons and daughters of God.
Luke 2:1-7 Habakkuk 2:3 – God appoints time Ecclesiastes 3:1 – There is a right time for everything Romans 5:6 – God's time is just right 1 Peter 5:6 – God's time is proper Galatians 4:4-5 – the fullness of time had come Galatians 6:9 – if we don't give up, we'll reap Our schedule steals Christmas by deceiving us into thinking everything is more important than the one thing we should be celebrating at Christmas. Judges 7:2 – God's How COVID has affected us The post The Schedule that Stole Christmas appeared first on Kalkaska Church of Christ.
Today, we will read through the second half of Galatians 3 and watch Paul further develop his argument against the keeping of the law. "The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:24
An episode from Berean Baptist Church, an independent body of King James Bible believers located in Springfield Missouri. We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the verbally and plenary inspired Word of God. The Scriptures are inerrant, infallible and God-breathed, and therefore are the final authority for faith and life. The sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are the complete and divine revelation of God to Man. The Scriptures shall be interpreted according to their normal grammatical-historical meaning. We believe that God's Word has been divinely preserved in the English language and commonly known as the Authorized King James Version. Therefore, the Authorized King James Version shall be the official and only translation used by the church. (II Timothy 3:16-17; II Peter 1:20-21). We believe that man was created in the image and likeness of God, but that in Adam's sin the human race fell, inherited a sinful nature, and became alienated from God; and, that man is totally depraved, and of himself, utterly unable to remedy his lost condition (Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 3:22-23, 5:12, 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-3, 4:17-19). We believe that salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood was shed on Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7, 2:8-10; I Peter 1:18-19). We believe that all the redeemed, once saved, are kept by God's power and are thus secure in Christ forever (John 6:37-40; 10:27-30; Romans 8:1, 38-39; I Cor.1: 4-8; I Peter 1:4-5).We believe that it is the privilege of believers to rejoice in the assurance of their salvation through the testimony of God's Word, which, however clearly forbids the use of Christian liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Romans 13:13-14; Galatians 5:13; Titus 2:11-15).We believe in that “blessed hope,” the personal, imminent return of Christ who will rapture all believers prior to the seven-year tribulation period. At the end of the Tribulation, Christ will personally and visibly return with His saints, to establish His earthly Messianic Kingdom, which was promised to the nation of Israel (Psalm 89:3-4; Daniel 2:31-45; Zechariah 14:4-11; I Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; Titus 2:13; Revelation 3:10, 19:11-16, 20:1-6).The Berean Baptist Church Statement of Faith does not exhaust the extent of our faith. The Bible itself is the sole and final authority of all that we believe. We do believe, however, that this statement of faith accurately represents the teaching of the Bible.You may visit Berean Baptist Church's website https://bereansgf.org/ or write to them at:507 East Norton Rd,Springfield, MO 65803 The KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast is directly supported by Doss Metrics LLC | Ministry Services based out of Cleveland Texas. If you have any questions regarding this podcast, or the churches hosted on the podcast, please reach out to us directly at dossmetrics@gmail.com or write to us at: Doss Metrics | KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast1451 McBride Rd.Cleveland, TX 77328 God Bless#KJVPreaching #JeffAbles #BereanBaptistChurch #ChurchSermons #BiblePreaching #Churches #KingJamesBible #ChristianPodcast
Michael Horton, Justin Holcomb, Walter Strickland, and Bob Hiller explore Galatians 4–6, unpacking Paul's contrast between the Covenant of Works, the Covenant of Grace, and the New Covenant, as well as the freedom of life in the Spirit, and the practical shape of Christian discipleship, where believers bear one another's burdens and keep in step with the Spirit. PARTNER WITH US - https://solamedia.org/partner/?sc=AS2502VWhen you become a partner today, you'll receive two remarkable books as our thanks: Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Dr. Michael Horton and Praying with Jesus by Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We believe these books can guide you into a clearer understanding of the Spirit's work and a richer prayer life. FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/
“I am crucified with Christ.” — Galatians 2:20 The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what He did as a great public representative person, and His dying upon the cross was the virtual dying of all His people. Then all His saints rendered unto justice what was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for […]
Pastor Andy Cass 'Tis the season of noise—commercials, carols, wrapping paper, and endless hustle. But what if the greatest miracle of Christmas isn't found in the noise… but in the silence? In this Christmas message, Pastor Andy explores the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1, reminding us that sometimes God speaks loudest when we finally stop to listen. Big Idea: Silence is not the absence of sound. Silence is the space where God is invited to speak. TEXT: Luke 1:5–23, Galatians 6:9, Habakkuk 1:2, Mark 4:38–41, 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21, Luke 19:40 NOTES: The Problem: We are surrounded by noise—audible and internal—that muffles the most important voices in our lives. The Plan: Turn down the noise and create space to hear God. Practical Steps — How to Set Up Silence: Keep work at work. Shut off the screens. Try one weeknight with no TV or phone. No-phone zone. Leave your device overnight. Pause social media. Open your doors. Invite someone over—build connection. Make a memory. Do something simple and meaningful. Schedule silence. Set a time to be still and listen. Faith Formation Plan: Calm the Storm: Invite Jesus to quiet your chaos (Mark 4:38–41). Sit in Silence: Learn the art of listening—faith and doubt can both lean in. Raise Your Praise: If you stay silent, creation won't (Luke 19:40). Stay Connected: Give: https://theecho.churchcenter.com/giving Online Service: Sundays 9 AM (YouTube & Facebook Live) Connect: https://theecho.churchcenter.com/people/forms/113001 Instagram: @wearetheechochurch #EchoChurch #ChristianSermon #FaithGrowth #BibleTeaching
Intervention: The Act of stepping into a situation to change its course, especially to prevent harm or improve an outcome.Galatians 4:4-7There are two important things when it comes to an intervention: Timing and PurposeGalatians 4:4-7 reminds us that's what Christmas is all about.1. God Intervenes at the right time (v. 4) (Timing)“But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a women, born under the law”The phrase “set time” used here is the Greek word Pleroma. There is only one other place in the New Testament that the word “Pleroma” is used. Ephesians 1:10. Ephesians is referring to the second coming. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” 2. God Intervenes to Set Us Free (v. 5-7) (Purpose)“To redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father'. So, you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.
Welcome to the Podcast of Southwest Bible Fellowship in Tempe, Arizona. WHO ARE WE? • We are a group of people who are committed to living the grace life as set forth by the apostle of the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. • We come together to study our Bibles, and yes, we believe we have God's perfect Word in the King James Bible. It and it alone is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice! • We do not come together and study our Bibles for the intent of being smarter than others. We understand that knowledge for the sake of knowledge is purely vain and serves no Godly purpose. • We do come together and study our Bibles for the intent of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that we have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ liveth in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. (Galatians 2:20) • We do come together and study our Bibles to understand that because Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and we should not live for ourselves but for Him, who died for us and rose again. (2 Cor. 5:15) • We do not claim to have attained to these lofty goals, but we press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) You can donate to this ministry through www.butnow.org and the PayPal button on the homepage.
Send us a textEverlasting Father Dr. Jessica Fernandez December 14, 2025For many, the word “father” brings up wounds of absence, pain, abandonment, or unmet expectations. But Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus our Everlasting Father, the Father-hearted Savior who came to heal every place where earthly fathers fell short. Join us as we discover how the child in the manger displays the heart of a Father who is constant, compassionate, and eternally present.DISSCUSION QUESTIONS 1. Take a moment to reflect on your own experience with the word father. How has your understanding — whether positive, painful, complicated, or absent — shaped the way you view God? In what ways has it helped you, and in what ways has it created barriers or misconceptions? Share how this message challenged, corrected, or deepened your perspective of God as your Everlasting Father.2. Out of all the ways Jesus revealed the Father's heart — His compassion, His mercy, His provision, His sacrifice, His desire to adopt you, or His protection — which one impacted you the most and why? Can you think of a time in your life when you personally experienced one of these aspects of God's heart? What did it teach you about who He truly is?3. In John 6, Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish, showing that the Father provides abundantly and not sparingly. Where do you struggle to trust God's provision in your own life? What “small loaves and fish” — your time, resources, abilities, or obedience — are you holding onto tightly? What might it look like this week to place those things into His hands and trust Him to multiply them?4. The NICU illustration showed how fragility, instability, and weakness are met with a parent's steady presence. In your life right now, where do you feel most fragile, overwhelmed, or under pressure? What would it look like to stop “trying harder” and instead “draw near” to the Everlasting Father? Where do you sense God inviting you to rest, to breathe, and to let Him hold what you cannot regulate on your own?5. Scripture teaches that God didn't just forgive you — He adopted you (Galatians 4, Ephesians 1). What does it mean to you personally that the Everlasting Father claims you as His child with full belonging and full access? How does this identity shift the way you approach prayer, insecurity, or daily life? And what step can you take this week to grow in intimacy with your Father?
Galatians 6: 9
Send us a text Galatians - The Pure GospelGalatians 2:11-21Chris McKnight, Lead Pastor/ElderDecember 14, 2025Message 6 in the series on Galatians
At Christmas we celebrate the wondrous birth of Christ, but less noted is the divine timing of His arrival on Earth. Jesus was born at the perfect moment, fulfilling God's plan to adopt us into His family. In Galatians, the Apostle Paul encouraged his readers to cast off the law and live fully as God's heirs, reflecting the generous fruit of their freedom and inheritance. It's an apt reminder for us today, particularly at Christmas, to know that God has given us the gift of everlasting salvation through Christ. Join Horizon at the Equipping Services for CHRISTMAS HEIRS, a verse-by-verse study of Galatians.
What's so special about being born of a woman? Aren't we all? Yes, and that's Paul's point when he wrote in Galatians 4:4, "God sent forth his Son, born of woman." But what about Mary? Does this passage teach the virgin birth? And why does the incarnation of the eternal Son set Christianity apart from every other system of thought and religion?
Let's turn together in our Bibles to the book of Genesis, chapter 3, and focus our attention on verse 15. This is one of those pivotal verses in Scripture that has rightly been called the protoevangelium—the first announcement of the good news of salvation. In the King James Version, which we'll use throughout our study today, it reads: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Imagine the scene in the Garden of Eden just moments after the fall. Adam and Eve have disobeyed God, eaten the forbidden fruit, and now they stand before Him in shame and fear. The harmony of creation is shattered. Sin has entered the world, bringing with it death, curse, and separation from God. It seems as though Satan, working through the serpent, has scored a complete victory. Yet right here, in the midst of pronouncing judgment, God speaks a word of incredible grace—a promise that shines like a beacon in the darkness. This verse is the seed from which the entire message of redemption grows. It's the foundation for everything that follows in the Bible, pointing us ultimately to the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, I want us to unpack this promise carefully, phrase by phrase, and trace how it unfolds through Scripture. We'll see God's sovereign grace at work, the conflict between the two seeds, the suffering and triumph of the Savior, and what it all means for us personally. My prayer is that as we study this together, we'll gain a deeper appreciation for the gospel and a stronger confidence in God's unbreakable plan. 1. The Divine Initiative: "And I Will Put Enmity" Notice first who takes the initiative here. God says, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman." The "thee" refers to the serpent, and as Revelation 12:9 and 20:2 make clear, this is none other than Satan himself: "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." God doesn't command Adam or Eve to start fighting the devil. No, He declares sovereignly, "I will put enmity." This is pure grace from beginning to end. Fallen humanity, left to ourselves, has no natural hostility toward Satan. In fact, we're at peace with him and at enmity with God. As Ephesians 2:1-3 reminds us: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." And Colossians 1:21: "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." By nature, we love the darkness and hate the light (John 3:19-20). But when God plants this enmity in a heart, everything changes. The one who once listened eagerly to the serpent's lies now becomes his enemy. This is the beginning of regenerating grace—the Holy Spirit turning a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. Think about it: Eve had just been deceived by the serpent, yet God promises to create hostility between them. From that moment, humanity is divided into two spiritual lines: those who remain friends with the serpent and those in whom God has worked to make them hate sin and love holiness. This isn't something we muster up on our own; it's God's doing. What encouragement this is! If you're a believer today, that enmity toward sin in your heart is evidence of God's grace at work in you from the very foundation of the gospel promise. 2. The Two Seeds: "Between Thy Seed and Her Seed" Next, God speaks of the ongoing conflict: "and between thy seed and her seed." Throughout Scripture, this theme of two seeds runs like a thread, dividing all humanity spiritually. The serpent's seed are those who belong to him by nature and choice. Jesus said it plainly in John 8:44: "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." We see this line early on with Cain, who murdered his brother Abel. It continues through history: Pharaoh oppressing Israel, Haman plotting against the Jews, Herod slaughtering the innocents, Judas betraying Christ, and every unregenerate person who opposes God and His people. But there's another seed—the seed of the woman. This is unusual language. Everywhere else in Genesis, offspring is described as the seed of the man: Abraham's seed, Isaac's seed, Jacob's seed, David's seed. Why here "her seed"? Because this points to the virgin birth. The promised Redeemer would have no human father. He would be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a woman alone. Paul understood this clearly in Galatians 4:4: "But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." And Isaiah prophesied it in Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." This singular wording in Genesis 3:15 is God's early hint at the miraculous incarnation. The Champion who would defeat Satan would be fully human—born of a woman—yet fully God, without a sinful human father to pass on Adam's guilt. As we trace this promise, we see it narrowing. From the seed of the woman, to Seth's line, to Noah, to Shem, to Abraham (whose seed would bless all nations—Galatians 3:16 points this to Christ), to Judah (Genesis 49:10: "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be"), to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16, the everlasting throne), to the virgin's Son in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting"). Every type and shadow in the Old Testament points forward to this Seed: Abel's acceptable lamb, the ark preserving Noah through judgment, the ram provided for Isaac, the Passover lamb, the bronze serpent lifted up (John 3:14), the scapegoat bearing away sins, the daily offerings—all crying out, "The Seed is coming!" 3. The Conflict and Victory: "It Shall Bruise Thy Head, and Thou Shalt Bruise His Heel" Now we come to the heart of the promise: "it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Note the pronouns carefully. In the Hebrew, it's singular and masculine: "He shall bruise thy head." This isn't a general conflict between groups; it's personal. One individual—the Seed of the woman—will deliver the decisive blow. The bruising of the heel speaks of real suffering. The serpent will strike, causing pain, humiliation, even apparent defeat. But a bruised heel is not fatal; it heals. A crushed head, however, is final—total destruction of the enemy's power. This is a preview of the cross and the resurrection. At Calvary, Satan bruised Christ's heel. From the manger onward, the enemy opposed Him: Herod's massacre, the temptations in the wilderness, the opposition of religious leaders, the demons' fury, and finally the horrors of Gethsemane and Golgotha. Philippians 2:6-8 describes the depth of this humiliation: "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." The eternal Son veiled His glory, entered a virgin's womb, lived as a servant, and died a criminal's death. On the cross, darkness covered the earth, and He cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46, quoting Psalm 22:1). Satan seemed triumphant—the Seed was dead and buried. But the promise was only a bruised heel, not a crushed head. On the third day, Christ rose victorious! As Psalm 16:10 prophesied: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." Hebrews 2:14 declares the result: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." And Colossians 2:15: "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." At the cross, Jesus disarmed the demonic forces. Death's sting is gone for believers (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). Satan's head received a mortal wound, though he still thrashes about. The full crushing awaits Christ's return. Then, as Revelation 20:10 promises: "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." The King will return in glory (Revelation 19:11-16), and the ancient Eden promise will be completely fulfilled. 4. The Incarnation: God Manifest in the Flesh To accomplish this victory, the Seed had to become one of us. Galatians 4:4-5 again: "But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." 1 Timothy 3:16 captures the wonder: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." The infinite God became finite, the eternal entered time, the Creator became a creature—yet without ceasing to be God. He who upheld the universe lay in a manger. This is the heart of the gospel: Immanuel, God with us. Personal Application: Living in the Victory What does all this mean for us today? Genesis 3:15 isn't just history; it's our story. By nature, we were all seed of the serpent—children of wrath. But if God has saved you, He has planted enmity in your heart toward sin and Satan. You've begun to hate what you once loved and love what you once hated. At the cross, Christ's heel was bruised for you, and Satan's head was crushed on your behalf. By faith in Him, you've passed from death to life, from darkness to light. Now we live out this victory daily. When you resist temptation, bear suffering for Christ, or share the gospel boldly, you're participating in the ongoing conflict—and the outcome is certain. Satan may bruise your heel through trials, slander, or temptation, but he cannot touch your Head, who sits at God's right hand (Psalm 110:1: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool"). So stand firm. The battle is the Lord's. The victory is already secured. And soon, the Seed of the woman will return to make all things new. May this first gospel promise encourage your heart today. The God who spoke grace in Eden is the same God who speaks it to us now through His Son. Trust Him. Walk with Him. Look for His coming.
Ephesians 1:3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. 7-10 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.11-12 It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.13-14 It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This down payment from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.Ephesians 2:1-6 message It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.(adopted us) He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.Galatians 3:26-29New Life Version26 You are now children of God because you have put your trust in Christ Jesus. 27 All of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ. 28 God does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.
Why We Do Christmas MESSAGE SUMMARY: Introduction: We are still in the season of Advent, which means “coming” or “arrival”. The Church begins this season of “arrival” or Advent as the time we recognize and celebrate the “arrival” of Jesus – both Jesus' “first coming” and His “second coming”. We celebrate Jesus' “first coming” on Christmas Eve. The season of Advent is, also, a season of hope; and Advent is the beginning of our Church's “New Year”. Message: What does Christmas mean to you? “Could we be missing the point of what Christmas is all about”? Irrespective of all the personal, social and cultural noise we encounter around the Christmas season, we must not lose sight of the fact that Christmas is all and only about Jesus. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the most important person that ever lived – the God and man Jesus. Is this birth and life of the Incarnate and unique Son of God, as both the Creator of the Universe and the Savior of humankind, true? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” because Jesus birth and life are based upon historical evidence. Also, the birth of Jesus is God coming among us in a desire to have a personal relationship with us and with all people. If God is so desirous of a personal relationship with us, why did God go to so much trouble to bring Jesus to us? Because, every time we sin, we are building a barrier between us and God – God is Holy, and He cannot relate to sin. Therefore, God's Grace provided Jesus as both the means of our Salvation and as an intermediary (i.e. Jesus is both God and a human without sin) from which we can have God's desired personal relationship with us. However, when Jesus died on the cross, He took on all sin and became the required and once offered sacrificial payment for all sin. Jesus birth, life, death and Resurrection became the doorway for our personal relationship with God. As Jesus tells us in Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man {Jesus}came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”. “God loves us because of who God is.” Why do so few of us accept God's offered gift of Salvation through His Grace? When those not yet believing look at the lives of those of us that believe, they, often, they see us living by the fruit of the flesh rather than by the fruit of the Spirit – our hypocrisy. Also, God's offer is rejected because He may require us to give up some sin that we enjoy. Additionally, some believe that the cost of becoming a Christian is too great; however, the cost of not becoming a Christian is far greater than the cost of becoming a Christian and accepting God's offer. Many refuse God's gift because they believe that they are not worthy or good enough for God and His gift. They are correct; none of us are worthy of God's gift, but that is the point – Jesus' birth, life, death and Resurrection provide us with the means a path to be worthy of God's gift. Is Jesus your Savior? God has given you the greatest Christmas gift that you will ever receive. Have you accepted His Gift and opened His gift into your life? If not, then why not? With your hands open, you can accept God's Christmas gift by saying: “I am sorry; thank you; and please”. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mark 10:45; John 15:13; John 3:16-17; Galatians 5:18-25. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Is Your Faith Yours, or Is Your Faith a Faith Derivative of the Faith of Others?”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
What is the real power of Christianity? In this Bible-based teaching from 2 Timothy 3:5, we uncover the danger of having a form of godliness while denying its power. This episode reveals that the true power of faith is not miracles, titles, or religious activity—but love in action.Using Scriptures from 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4, Romans 5:5, and Galatians 5:6, this message challenges believers to examine whether their faith is producing genuine love for others. Discover why faith works through love, how empty religion leads to powerlessness, and what true godliness looks like in everyday life.If you've ever wondered how to live out authentic Christianity in a divided and hostile world, this episode will stir your heart and realign your walk with Christ.
Galatians
A lesson on the way that Abraham's story both proves and illustrates the doctrine of justification by faith alone, apart from works. The sermon, drawn from Galatians 3:6–9, powerfully affirms that salvation has always been by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, as exemplified in Abraham's life, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness long before the law or circumcision existed. Paul uses Abraham's story to dismantle the heresy of justification by faith plus works, showing that true spiritual descendants of Abraham are not defined by ethnic lineage or obedience to the law, but by faith in God's promise—faith that looks forward to Christ and rests in His finished work. The passage reveals that the gospel was preached to Abraham centuries before Christ, and that all who believe in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, are blessed with Abraham through the same faith that credited him with righteousness. The sermon underscores that faith does not earn righteousness but receives it as a gift imputed by God, and that any addition of human effort or merit nullifies grace and undermines the sufficiency of Christ's work. Ultimately, it calls believers to rest entirely in Christ's perfect righteousness, recognizing that our standing before God is not based on our performance, but on His grace, and that this eternal truth remains the foundation of the church's identity and mission.
December 14 2025 Sunday Who Jesus Made You To Be / Week 04 / T. Stacy Hayes #findoutwhoyouare My Vision My vision is to teach the world Who They Are In Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior! To Teach them what the Bible says about them and who they have been made to be in the promises of God's Word. This changed my life years ago and completely transformed me from a person full of doubt, fear and unbelief to a strong confident Christian that knows I can do anything through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. And I'm determined to teach the world what God has taught and commissioned me to teach and that is His Word. That commission takes me to jails and detention centers weekly along with other open doors at many churches and ministries that are wanting to teach these important truths to the world. My podcast goes out 6 days a week to help the people I am ministering to grow in the truths that God has taught me for many years now. This podcast is free to all that want to listen and grow strong in who God has made them to be in Christ Jesus their Lord and Savior. Isaiah 53:5 Healing… Matthew 18:19 Agree with God's Word… Mark 10:29-30 100 Fold Return… Acts 10:34 God is no respecter of persons "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Galatians 5:6 KJV "For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love." Galatians 5:6 NLT "For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love." Galatians 5:6 AMPC "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." Galatians 6:15 KJV "It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." Galatians 6:15 NLT "For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah]." Galatians 6:15 AMPC "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Ephesians 1:3 KJV "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." Ephesians 1:3 NLT "May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!" Ephesians 1:3 AMPC "that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:" Ephesians 1:10 KJV 'And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. ' Ephesians 1:10 NLT "[He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. Ephesians 1:10 AMPC "and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" Ephesians 2:6 KJV "For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6 NLT "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Ephesians 2:6 AMPC Romans 10:9-10 Salvation… Romans 10:17 Faith in God comes from hearing His Word… Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus'Yoke is Easy… John 3:16 God gave Jesus to pay for our Salvation… God Loves The abortion dr As Much As He Loves The Babies They Are Killing… Philippians 12:2 Work out your own Salvation… Romans 8:1 No condemnation in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Luke Chapter 15 The Story Of The Prodigal Son… Philippians 4:19 God will supply all your needs let Him… Romans 4:20 Don't Stagger at What God Is Saying In His Word… John 15:5 We can't do anything aside from Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:17 We are new creatures in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… 2 Corinthians 5:21 We are The Righteousness of God In Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Mark 10:29-30 100 Fold Return… Ephesians 2:8 We are Saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior… Believe God's Word Above All Opinions God Loves The abortion dr's As Much As He Loves The Babies They Are Killing… Mark 10:29-30 100 Fold Return… Share This Podcast On Your Social Media… Website https://the-prodigalson.com Email tstacyhayes@gmail.com YouVersion Bible App https://my.bible.comi iOS App https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/prodigal-son/id1450529518?mt=8 … Android App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.wizzard.android.prodical Social Media https://www.facebook.com/The-Prodigal-SON-209069136315959/ https://www.facebook.com/noreligion1511/ https://twitter.com/noreligion1511 https://www.instagram.com/noreligion1511/ https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPx4s1CLkSYef6mp4dSuU4w/featured
Galatians 5:1-15New King James VersionChristian Liberty5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.Love Fulfills the Law7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
We live in a world filled with noise, conflict, fear, and distraction. But into that world Jesus came announcing something radical: Peace. Not the fragile, temporary peace the world offers— but peace with God, peace within ourselves, and peace with one another. This week, Pastor Jimmy walks us through Scripture to show how the gospel brings reconciliation with God, how the Holy Spirit forms peace within us, and how believers are called to live peaceably with all.
Why did Jesus come at that exact moment in history? This Christmas sermon explores the cultural, political, spiritual, personal, and theological reasons behind the “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4–5). Be encouraged as you discover how the Christmas story reveals a God whose timing is perfect and purposeful in every season of your life. Download the resources below to go deeper: Message Notes: https://tinyurl.com/WhyJesusCameatJusttheRightTime Small Group Talk It Over & 5-Day Devotional: https://tinyurl.com/WhyJesusCameAtThatTimeTIO #NewHope #PastorIanBuckley #GodsTiming #ChristmasMessage #BibleTeaching #ChristianPodcast #HopeInChrist #JesusCameAtTheRightTime #ChristmasSermon
Hello and welcome to Bethel Evangelical Church in Gorseinon and thank you for checking out this weeks sermon recordings. The 14th of December saw us host our Sunday morning service from the church building, with a livestream available via Facebook. The service was led by our pastor, Dafydd Williams, who continued in Galatians 4 as […]
Christmas Songs Pt. 2: Zechariah's Song By Louie Marsh, 12-14-2025 67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Luke 1:67 (ESV) Zachariah praises God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist, and the Messiah to come. 1) God VISITING us. "68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited…" (Luke 1:68a, ESV) "14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, ESV) 2) God REDEEMING us. … and redeemed his people" (Luke 1:68b, ESV) "4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:4–5, ESV) 3) God DELIVERING us. "69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;" (Luke 1:69–71, ESV) Show picture of Emily & play audio. 4) God showing us MERCY. "72to show the mercy promised to our fathers…" (Luke 1:72a, ESV) "12But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."" (Matthew 9:12–13, ESV) 5) God giving me PURPOSE. "72… and to remember his holy covenant, 73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." (Luke 1:72b–75, ESV) · My purpose is – to serve God – HIS WAY. o The character of my service Is… Ø Holy - focused on GOD. "1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV) Ø Righteous – doing things GOD'S WAY. "11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."" (Galatians 3:11, ESV) Ø Free – living in the light of the TRUTH. "2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." (Isaiah 9:2, ESV) Ø Loving & Pleasing God – without FEAR. "18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 4:18, ESV) Ø Life Long – ALL our days "8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 1:8, ESV) 6) God FORGIVING us. "76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."" (Luke 1:76–79, ESV)
There is only one gospel: the message of God's free grace in Jesus Christ. All other "gospels" are distortions leading to hopelessness and condemnation. Today, Derek Thomas begins his study of the book of Galatians. Donate any amount to request R.C. Sproul's commentary on Galatians and Derek Thomas' video teaching series No Other Gospel on DVD. You'll also receive lifetime digital access to all 14 messages and the study guide: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4510/offer Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the Galatians commentary ebook, digital teaching series, and digital study guide with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global Meet Today's Teacher: Derek Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor's Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
Galatians 4:4-7, Music licensed by Soundstripe.
Hello Friends! I love to hear from you! Please send me a text message by clicking on this link! Blessings to You!In this episode, Dr. Jori discusses with her listeners Paul's reminder to the believers at Corinth that they were baptized by one Spirit whether Jews or Greek, slave or free and all made to drink of one Spirit. Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Corinthians 1:1-7; Romans 1:16-17; Acts 9, 22, 26; Acts 18; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13; Ephesians 4:1-7 Scripture translation used is the Legacy Standard Bible. “Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.comFIND DR. JORI ON OTHER PLATFORMS https://linktr.ee/drjorishafferCHECK OUT THE DWELL AUDIO BIBLE APP:Click this link for my unique referral code. I use this frequently. Such a wonderful audio bible app. https://dwellapp.io/aff?ref=jorishafferBIBLE STUDY TOOLS DR. JORI USES:Note: These contain Amazon affiliate links, meaning I get a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you decide to make a purchase through my links.Here is a link to some of my favorite bible study tools on Amazon:https://geni.us/cHtrfEMr. Pen Bible Journaling Kitshttps://lvnta.com/lv_PTrHSCogbRim4yhEDnhttps://lvnta.com/lv_mkaMOuGe6m4oHR88uqhttps://lvnta.com/lv_dgvsxOc99t663A628z JOIN DR. JORI IN DEVOTIONAL JOURNALING IN 2025Check out this 9 min YouTube Video outlining her journaling strategy! Don't Forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/lqe9TO7RSz4 BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters in the Holy Bible. The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals. Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive LOOKING TO RETAIN MORE OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR IS TEACHING? CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S SERMON REFLECTION JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up. https://amzn.to/418LfRshttps://amzn.to/41862EyHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website: https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com Support the show
In today's episode, Mike share's some helpful things to think about for this holiday season. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -Galatians 2:20
Jesus Says “Self-Denial” Is Required of Jesus Followers: “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" MESSAGE SUMMARY: In a time in which we hear so much about self-help, self-image, and self-actualization, Jesus is saying self-denial is the way to life. Jesus tells us, in Matthew 16:24, that self-denial is a key element in following Him: “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'". “Taking up one's cross” means to die to self-ambitions. When we die to our self-ambitious and put them on the cross, Jesus' life moves through us: “Not my will but Thy will.”. By denying self, we become alive in Jesus; and His Spirit flows through us – we experience eternal life and abundant life. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be ashamed of the Gospel. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (including me). From Romans 1:16 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 16:24; Mathew 10:38-39; Galatians 6:14-17; Psalms 141:1-10. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Day Is Coming – Part 2” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
The Apostle Paul in Galatians 4:4-7, shows how God's perfect timing brought the incarnation: the Son born of a woman, made under the law to redeem those under it so we might be adopted as God's children. The episode explains Christ's deity and humanity, redemption from the law, the gift of God enabling us to cry out, "Abba, Father," and the believer's new status as heirs—encouraging trust in God's timing and freedom in Christ.
Fr. Mike reminds us of the context of Galatians and reiterates Paul's admonition not to revert to our previous ways of life now that we have been freed from the yoke of slavery. He also discusses the works of the flesh which separate us from Christ and the fruits of the spirit which result from a life lived in God, reminding us that we will reap what we sow in due season. Today's readings are Acts 25, Galatians 4-6, and Proverbs 29:15-17. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Ending Well: A Pruning Deep Dive This is week six of the Ending Well series, and we're talking about something a lot of us are living through in real time: pruning—the cutting away, the stripping back, and the strange mercy of God doing holy surgery on our lives at the end of a hard year. "Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." – John 15:2 ⏱ Episode Timestamps 00:00 – Intro + Why open enrollment and health insurance feel like a bad rite of passage 03:00 – CrowdHealth: what it is, how it works, and why it's different from insurance 06:00 – Week six of Ending Well: why pruning is the theme of this year 09:30 – Defining "pruning," "fruit," "wilderness," and "discipline" (without the Christianese) 15:30 – John 15 and how Blake accidentally prayed for pruning this year 20:00 – Wilderness seasons: dry, slow, hidden growth, and deep dependence on God 25:30 – Seven "flavors" of pruning Blake walked through this year 30:00 – Loss and closed doors: when God rips things out of your hands 36:00 – Being forced to slow down or stop: "You can't heal on the battlefield that broke you" 41:00 – Loneliness, isolation, and when God clears the table so you can hear His voice 46:00 – Idols exposed: productivity, performance, and the golden statue God started tearing down 52:00 – When God prunes even good things (like the gym, routines, and rhythms you love) 57:00 – "Show me the purpose, Lord": praying for clarity in the middle of the mess 1:02:00 – How pruning makes you more like Jesus and prepares you for the "next level" 1:08:00 – Toy bins, clutter, and why fewer branches can mean more joy 1:12:00 – How to walk through pruning differently next time: slow down, surrender, obey faster 1:17:00 – Being honest with God instead of stuffing frustration and disappointment 1:21:00 – Why opening your Bible became survival, not a checkbox 1:25:00 – Friendship breakups as pruning: betrayal, loneliness, and healing with a limp 1:30:00 – Counting the fruit at the end of a brutal year What This Episode Is Really About In this deep dive, Blake unpacks pruning not as a punishment but as proof that God cares too much to leave you overgrown and exhausted. You'll hear about: How this year's pruning looked like: job pivots relational shifts homeschooling struggles closed doors and changed direction Why pruning is always connected to fruit, but not the kind the world celebrates Not achievement, numbers, or hustle But love, joy, peace, wisdom, humility (Galatians 5:22–23) The difference between: Punishment vs. discipline Chaos vs. God's clarifying love (Hebrews 12:6) Seven "flavors" of pruning Blake walked through: Loss of things she thought she needed Doors slamming shut at the last second Conviction and refinement in hidden places Being forced to slow down or stop entirely Loneliness and isolation when life got too loud Idols exposed—especially productivity and performance The trimming of even good things to make room for better Blake also shares how her prayer shifted from: "God, why are You doing this?" to "Show me the purpose, Lord." And how that shift opened the door to real trust, deeper Bible hunger, and new fruit she couldn't see while God was still hacking away at the branches. Sponsors & Special Offers CrowdHealth – Take Your Power Back This Open Enrollment Health insurance can feel like you're paying a ton and still not actually covered. CrowdHealth is an alternative to traditional insurance that's built on community and transparency. With CrowdHealth, you: Pay a monthly fee Get a team that negotiates your medical bills Access lower-cost prescriptions & lab tests Use a vetted doctor list When something big happens, you pay the first $500, and then the crowd steps in and covers the rest Listener Offer: Get started for $99 for your first three months using code SPEAKEASY. Go to joincrowdhealth.com/speakeasy to join. Note: CrowdHealth is not insurance, but it is a way to opt out of the old system and take your power back. Sunrise Flour Mill – Heritage Wheat Your Body Remembers If you have a gluten sensitivity (or just feel awful after eating modern wheat), this part is for you. The wheat most of us eat today is not the same wheat our grandparents ate. Sunrise Flour Mill is farmer-owned and brings back organic heritage wheat—pre-1950s varieties that many sensitive folks find they can tolerate again. People are discovering they can enjoy: Chocolate chip cookies Bread Pasta …without feeling wrecked afterward. They also make it easy with recipes and thoughtfully packaged products. Special Offer for listeners: Go to sunriseflourmill.com and use code SPEAKEASY to get a FREE 2lb bag of Heritage White Flour with your first order. Eat wheat your body remembers. PreBorn – Help a Mom Choose Life So many women walk into abortion clinics scared, alone, and convinced they don't have another option. 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In this episode the host opens with Scripture and the recurring feature “Word on Word,” comparing Galatians 4:4–5 and John 10:11 and reflecting deeply on the phrase “when the fullness of time came.” From that foundation he moves into a wide-ranging live commentary that blends biblical reflection, geopolitical analysis, and cultural critique. The program includes a featured clip from the NATO Secretary General warning that “conflict is at our door,” which the host dissects in detail. He connects the NATO messaging to current tensions over Ukraine and Russia, critiques Western leaders' calls for escalation, and outlines how support for Ukraine could—paradoxically—risk wider conflict. The episode examines migration, conscription concerns, European politics, and the role of central banking in global tension. Domestic and international policy threads follow: Donald Trump's stated push to pull troops out of foreign bases, pressure on NATO, efforts in South America (including actions against Venezuelan oil exports and cartel activity), and the administration's tech trajectory — most notably concerns about 6G, surveillance and an accelerating ‘beast system' built around AI and digital IDs. The host also discusses intelligence agency influence (MI6, CIA, Mossad), black budgets, and how clandestine funding links to regional conflicts. The episode turns to a controversial investigation of the death of Charlie Kirk and media fallout surrounding Erica Kirk's high‑profile appearances. The host analyzes TPUSA fundraising, Candace Owens' role and scheduling conflict, Tucker Carlson's reporting, and offers skeptical takes on media narratives, honeypot theories, and public displays of grief. He highlights the money, influence, and strategic narratives being built in the aftermath. Moving into prophecy and the end times, the host considers how current alignments could fit (or not) with passages about Armageddon, Gog and Magog, and the prophetic timeline—asking whether American non‑involvement in a future Israel conflict might coincide with biblical scenarios. He emphasizes his role as a watchman rather than a prophecy absolutist, offering interpretations and open questions. Practical takeaways and pastoral notes close the show: encouragement to study Scripture (the host describes deep Old Testament study), prepare practically for disruptions (water, food, community support), and join prayer gatherings. The episode ends with a reminder to love God, family and neighbor, an invitation to upcoming Bible study (1 Corinthians), and a pastoral benediction. Want to Understand and Explain Everything Biblically? Click Here: Decoding the Power of Three: Understand and Explain Everything or go to www.rightonu.com and click learn more. Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith
Jesus Followers Are Expected, by God, to Confess their Sins and Plead for Forgiveness {Penitence} Real Time MESSAGE SUMMARY: Penitence is not a once in a lifetime occurrence. Penitence is a daily and moment by moment, real time, occurrence. None of us is perfect, and not one of us always does the will of God. Paul, in Romans 2:4-5, is unequivocal in establishing the need for your continuing penitence and the consequences of your not repenting of your sins on a real-time basis: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.". Therefore, we all need to repent and return to the Lord. You can become cocky and arrogant in your spiritual life – “I am a Christian; God has done this for me.”. As the Psalmist tells us in Psalms 32:5 of his confession and his penitence: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.". You can rest on our perceived laurels; but these perceptions, of personal goodness and righteousness, can lead you quickly to a need for your penitence. TODAY'S PRAYER: Most merciful God I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart; I have not loved my neighbors as myself. I am truly sorry and I humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive me; that I might delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Evil Ways. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Goodness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Mathew 3:8-11; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Psalms 140:1-13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Day Is Coming – Part 2” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
The disciples asked Jesus, “Increase our faith.” Instead of working a spectacular miracle, the Son of God responded by sharing two mini-parables. Surprisingly, one of them sounds even destructive to faith—until the deeper meaning is unveiled. Learn powerful insights that will cause your faith to grow – supernaturally – and bring you more fully into your identity as “the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).Ministry website: www.shreveministries.orgComparative religion website: www.thetruelight.netThe “Catholic Project” website: www.toCatholicswithlove.orgVideo channel: www.YouTube.com/mikeshreveministriesAll audio-podcasts are shared in a video format on our YouTube channel.Mail: P.O. Box 4260, Cleveland, TN 37320 / Phone: 423-478-2843Get Mike Shreve's book revealing the spiritual identity of God's people:WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in ChristMike Shreve's other podcastRevealing the True Light—a study on comparative religion themes, as well as mysterious or controversial biblical subjects: https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/revealingthetruelight
God has a set time for your harvest and it's closer than you think. In this encouraging message, Pastor Corey Erman reveals how to stay faithful, keep sowing, and not grow weary so you can step into your God-appointed due season. Your harvest is on Heaven's schedule. “In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” - Galatians 6:9To support this ministry and help us reach the nations with revival visit RiverWPB.com or text GIVE and any amount to (855) 968-3708.
As we study the Word, we see Jesus was ever-present with His disciples. He spent a lot of time with them, teaching and showing them how to endure every challenge that life would present. We can all benefit from someone who will help us in our time of need, a friend that sticketh closer than a brother; we need Christ in our world! The Lord promised to be there for us every step of the way! But how do we take Him up on this offer? Only through His Word and His Spirit, of course! Focus: Matthew 28:20 All Verses Covered: Matthew 28:20, John 14:26-27, 15:7, Galatians 5:22 Original Air Date: December 11, 2025 We have bible studies via Zoom every Monday at 7 pm Central Standard Time. Here is the meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86546164133?pwd=R3IwVTdJN3E1Wm1kU2JNOU1ZZlVJdz09 Access all of our messages: https://www.jmsbible.com/messages Got a topic you want us to cover in our Facebook live streams? Fill out our form here: https://www.jmsbible.com/requests. We go live every Thursday evening at 6:30 pm central time. Join us LIVE on our Facebook page to ask questions and get live answers! Even if you disagree with something we say, mention it to us so we can see what the scriptures say! If you have any questions about a specific scripture or topic and would like for us to discuss it on our Facebook live streams, please contact us at https://www.jmsbible.com/contact. We are open to any and all questions or concerns. If you would like to donate, our CashApp tag is $JoyStorm12. Thank you for all of your support! Joy in the Midst of the Storm Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JMSBible/
Questions? Thoughts? Comments? Leave me a voicemail message to use in a future podcast episode: https://www.speakpipe.com/timschmoyerComment on the full post here: https://read.timschmoyer.com/p/you-dont-have-what-it-takesA podcast listener named Christopher sent me a voice message and asked a very critical question about how we, as God-fearing men, actually gain the ability to live out a vision of fathering our homes, eldering our cities, and preparing for rulership in the Kingdom to come.“On this path of biblical eldership and male community leadership—in our homes and in our communities, with our families and those around us—where does the power come from to carry that out? I'm wondering if you could talk more about the Holy Spirit and inviting the Spirit into your life.”I love this! Christopher is asking the question that exposes whether Elder My City is actually biblical or just another self-improvement program with Scripture verses attached.Where does the power come from to live out this vision for men?Unfortunately, most Christian men approach leadership the same way we've been taught to approach sin: through self-management. Try harder. Get educated. Find accountability. Develop a strategy. Build better habits.I don't know about you, but I've found that it doesn't work. I tried it for decades.When I read about the elder qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 as someone who is temperate, self-controlled, respectable, able to teach, able to manage his household well, etc. I know it's easy to treat them like a checklist of Boy Scout merit badges, but I don't think these qualifications are merely accomplishments. They're describing fruit. And fruit isn't manufactured. It's produced.I Spent One Full Year Focused on Galatians 5There was a season of my life where I took this very seriously.For an entire year, I read Galatians 5 every morning before my feet touched the floor. Before I got out of bed. Before I went to the bathroom. Before I did anything. I wanted to embed this into my belief system. I intellectually agreed with the passage, but if my belief in it was low. Maybe at a two or a three. I wanted to believe it at an eight or a nine and experience the transformation I knew would come with it.Consider what Paul says:“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:16-18)Paul then lists the works of the flesh—sexual immorality, fits of rage, rivalries, envy, all of it—and says those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Let that sink in. We can talk about the Kingdom, but if we miss this thing, we miss it.The way I read the passage is that the issue isn't the specific sins. Like, “Don't do these things.” Rather, it seems to me that the issue is that you're not being led by the Spirit.From there, Paul leads into the fruit of the Spirit.“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)We lose something in English here: “fruit” is singular, not plural. We don't divide this up like, “Okay, I've got love, joy, and peace down, but I really need to work on patience.” That's not how it works. You have the singular fruit—the love-joy-peace-patience-kindness-goodness-faithfulness-gentleness-self-control fruit. It's all one package. You get the whole thing when you're living by the power of the Holy Spirit.This list as well as the character that qualifies a man for eldership are not something you manufacture through effort. It's something the Spirit produces through dependence. Which means the path from father to elder to ruler isn't primarily about trying harder to reduce sin and increase righteousness. It's about deepening dependence on the Holy Spirit.My Risky PrayerSo this became my prayer every morning:“Lord, teach me how to walk by your Spirit and not gratify the desires of my flesh. Teach me how to hear your Spirit's voice. I don't want to try harder to force more peace into my life. I want it to be the byproduct of having the Spirit active and alive and leading.”I'll tell you—if you pray that prayer and ask Him to teach you, be ready for what comes next.Here's what happened.I Failed My First TestI was walking through an airport terminal, on my way to catch a flight to speak at an event. And I look down ahead of me. I see some saltine crackers crushed up and ground into the carpet. And I had this little voice in my head. Not audible, but this strong feeling: “Clean those up.”What? No. I've got to get to my gate. I'm that guy who likes to arrive right when boarding starts. I don't want to sit at the gate forever and then sit on the plane for even longer.I'm staring at these crushed crackers as I walk toward them, and it's getting stronger. “Stop and clean up the crackers.”No, that's weird. Not my job. Someone else will do it.I walk past them. It gets stronger. “Turn around and go back and clean those up.”At this point I'm kind of yelling inside my head: “No, I'm going to just go get on the plane. This is weird.”I didn't do it. Got on the plane, flew away. The voice goes away.Then I asked: “Okay, was that you?”Immediately: “Yes.”“Why did I need to clean up the crackers?”I have no way of verifying this, but here's what came to mind: “There's someone back there who is now going to lose their job due to no fault of their own because you didn't clean up those crackers. And they really needed that job.”Okay. Give me another chance.The Second Test Was a StruggleA few weeks later. I'm walking into a store in a strip mall area. As I'm walking in, that feeling comes back: “Stop and pull those weeds you see outside that store.”What? Come on. When I think about the Spirit, I think about the magical fireworks from Bible stories. Not pulling weeds.“No, I don't want to. That's weird. I just want to buy my thing and leave.”I walk past the weeds, go into the store, do my thing. The whole time I'm wrestling. I passed up the crackers. Now you want me to pull weeds? Why does this Holy Spirit stuff start with cleaning?I walk out of the store. Walk past the weeds. Still having this little argument in my head.Then I stop. “Okay, I'll obey.”I turn around, go to the weeds, pull them, clean up the little area, throw them in the trash. I'm looking over my shoulder the whole time thinking people are going to think this is so weird. Security cameras. What's that guy doing?I get in my car. Slam the door a little extra hard because I'm a little irritated and I say out loud: “There, are you happy?”I'm embarrassed to tell you this, but that's the truth.I hear: “Yes. Was that so hard?”“No, but it's weird. I thought this would be different.”“This is how you learn to hear my voice. You start by obeying in the little things.”This is exactly the pattern of Luke 19. The servants were faithful with little and later the Master entrusted them with cities to rule. God was teaching me to recognize His voice in the small things so I'd know what it sounds like in the big things.I'm Learning to Hear His Voice and ObeyFast forward several years. I'm still practicing. I don't have a great batting average, but I'm getting better at listening and obeying. I know what His voice sounds like now, even when what He asks is uncomfortable.I'm doing a YouTube channel consultation with a very popular creator—hundreds of millions of views a month, making millions of dollars. She gets on a call with me because her channel is starting to decline.I look at her channel. I can find a few things to pick at, but nothing that explains the decline she's experiencing. I go through those things.Then in the middle of the call, I get that feeling. That thing comes back. And it says: “Tim, I want you to repeat after me.”My first reaction is, “Oh no. This is going to make me look bad… Okay. Not my will, but yours. Let's go.”So I repeated it as it came to my head. I had no idea what I was about to say.“I've never said anything like this before in a consultation. But here's what I think is going on with your channel. As a Christian, I believe that the Bible says in Job that ‘the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.' And I think maybe the Lord gave you this channel for a certain season of your life. But now that season is over. It's behind you. And that's why the channel is declining.”I stopped. I had no reason to think she had any faith background. She just kind of stared for a second, then kept talking like I hadn't said anything.That was so weird. So uncomfortable. So awkward.The next morning, I wake up to an email from her.“Tim, I'm writing this with tears in my eyes. I've been crying all evening and this morning. There's no way you could have known this.”She told me her husband now is not her first husband. Her first husband passed away on their honeymoon. It was the most difficult time of her life. She started exploring faith. She had a Bible, and she had underlined that exact passage—”the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”She said she'd totally forgotten about that. She'd wandered from her faith, hadn't really practiced or thought about it.Then, sometime after that, she started having medical issues. She wasn't making much money and didn't know how she'd pay for the medical bills. So she started a YouTube channel, and it grew quickly. She started making money and paying for her treatments. A friend told her, “Maybe the Lord gave you this channel for this season of your life so you can pay for these medical bills.”She wrote: “When you quoted that verse and said ‘for this season of your life,' all of that came flooding back. You're right. The medical bills are behind me. That season is over. And I need to pursue my faith again.”I read that email and thought: I'm so glad that worked out. Because I have plenty of stories where it just ended awkwardly. But this is what happens when you learn to hear His voice in the little things—you recognize it in the moments that actually matter.What This Has to Do With EldershipHere's what's interesting. When Jesus talks about leaving to return to the Father, He says this:“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth...” - John 16:7, 13Jesus didn't say, “I'm leaving, and in my place I'm giving you a textbook to memorize so you can pass the final exam on judgment day.” He didn't give us a list of rules.He said the Spirit of truth would come and guide us into all truth. Paul says to walk by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit.He gave us a relationship. He gave us a Person. He gave us Himself, not just a book.And like any relationship, it takes time to build trust. You start with the little things. Crackers in an airport. Weeds at a strip mall. And it builds to the bigger things, like the words you speak in a consultation that bring a woman to tears, the decisions you make in your family, the wisdom you offer to younger men who are wrestling with the same things you've walked through.This is how we develop the character to manage resources and responsibilities and relationships. We learn to steward these things for the King based on His help, His partnership, literally being guided by Him, learning to depend on Him in every way, keeping in step with Him.Where the Power Comes FromSo, Christopher, back to your question: Where does the power come from to carry out this vision of biblical fatherhood and eldership?* “Walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16)* “Be led by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:18)* “Live by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)* “Keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)It starts with that feeling of “this is weird, this is uncomfortable,” and it grows from there into confidence—knowing that when it's uncomfortable, that's often how you know it's Him. When it's weird, that's how you know it's Him.Galatians 5:24 says those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That's not a passive thing. Crucifying the flesh is active and ongoing. But we don't do it through white-knuckling. We don't do it by trying harder. We do it by living through the power of the Spirit.A man who feels fully capable of leading his home in his own strength will fail at inheriting the Kingdom. A man who knows he can't, who fathers his children and leads his wife and serves his community in constant, desperate dependence on the Holy Spirit, that's the man who's actually being prepared for greater responsibility. The practice of ruling with His Spirit now is preparation for ruling with Him in the Kingdom to come.Father your home by the Spirit. Elder your city by the Spirit.That's the only way any of this works. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit read.timschmoyer.com
What changed when Jesus entered the world? From Galatians 3:25-26, Dr. John explores two massive shifts now that Christ has come. First, we're no longer under the guardian—no cultural barriers stand between us and God. Second, believers are made sons and daughters of God—adopted into His family as heirs who will one day rule the new creation. Christmas didn't just offer forgiveness, but restored humanity's original calling.Christmas From Galatians: This Christmas, Dr. John takes an unprecedented approach to the season by exploring why Jesus' coming was absolutely necessary. Through the book of Galatians, this series traces God's plan from Abraham's promise through the giving of the Law to the arrival of Christ. Discover why the Law was never meant to save us but to diagnose our condition, how Jesus fulfilled what we could never accomplish, and how Christmas opened the door for all people to become sons and daughters of God.
The second round of arguments is led by Eliphaz in Job 15. He accuses Job of not fearing God. Job, he says, your sayings are just straws in the wind - you don't know what you are talking about. Have respect before you when you open your mouth, says Eliphaz. Your sins have affected your thinking and speech. Ponder the counsel of the Almighty which we are putting to you. Man cannot be pure, says Eliphaz, even the angels of God cannot be trusted (this that he says is so wrong). Man, says his friend, is one of the worst and most abominable creatures that the LORD created; and man above every other creature stubbornly defies his Creator. But this rebellion will be repaid by his Sovereign in due time.Habakkuk 2 is one of the greatest and most pivotal chapters in the Old Testament. The chapter begins with the prophet standing upon his watchtower awaiting the LORD's response to his two challenges in chapter 1. The fourth verse states the essence of Yahweh's redemptive method, "The just shall live by faith". The phrase becomes central to God's plan for redemption as explained in the letters of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews. The emphasis in Romans is, "The JUST shall live by faith"; in Galatians it is, "The just shall LIVE by faith; and in Hebrews it is, "The just shall live by FAITH". Verse 2 tells us that the message was so vitally important that it should be written in such massive letters that a running man would be able to read it. Paul alludes to this in Galatians 3verses1 (note the context through to verse 9). It was like thisverses
In Acts 24, Fr. Mike notes how Felix remained unmoved by Paul's teaching despite being compelled by it initially, showing us that unless we act on what we believe, there is no change. As we begin reading St.Paul's letter to the Galatians today, Fr. Mike highlights Paul's explanation of the role of Jewish law in the Age of the Church, clarifying that through baptism, we are all one in Christ and heirs to the promises of the Father regardless of our backgrounds. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Jase, Al, and Zach respond to an emotionally raw husband who finally confessed his lifelong porn problem and is now facing the painful fallout. The guys talk honestly about how secrets choke intimacy, why confession hurts before it heals, and how hiding only multiplies the damage that sin has already done. They pivot into Phil's old “soul-sleep” way of describing death and compare it to Jesus' promise of paradise and Paul's glimpses of the world to come. The guys land on why believers can face both confession and death with confidence: in Christ, neither your darkest secret nor your final breath gets the last word. In this episode: John 19, verses 38–42; John 20, verses 19–23; Acts 17, verse 28; Romans 8, verses 10–23; 1 Corinthians 5, verses 1–5; 2 Corinthians 12, verses 1–4; Galatians 5, verses 16–18; Ephesians 2, verse 6; Ephesians 3, verses 16–19; Ephesians 4, verses 9–10; Ephesians 4, verses 4–6; Revelation 1, verses 13–18; Revelation 2, verse 7; Revelation 21, verses 1–4; Revelation 22, verses 1–5 “Unashamed” Episode 1225 is sponsored by: https://covenanteyes.com/unashamed — Try the Victory software free for 30 days! https://on.auraframes.com/UNASHAMED — Get exclusive offer of $35 off Carver Mat with Promo Code UNASHAMED https://myphdweightloss.com — Find out how Al is finally losing weight! Schedule your one-on-one consultation today by visiting the website or calling 864-644-1900. https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! https://preborn.com/unashamed — Visit the PreBorn! website or dial #250 and use the keyword BABY to donate today. http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Check out At Home with Phil Robertson, nearly 800 episodes of Phil's unfiltered wisdom, humor, and biblical truth, available for free for the first time! Get it on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/show/3LY8eJ4ZBZHmsImGoDNK2l Listen to Not Yet Now with Zach Dasher on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, or anywhere you get podcasts. Chapters: 00:00-15:11 When your dirty secrets are exposed 15:12-21:08 A baseball champ comes for dinner 21:09-26:06 Mia comes home for the holidays 26:07-31:16 Facing the consequences of our sins 31:17-42:15 Are we awake after we die? 42:16-50:25 Paradise is a person & a place 50:26-57:12 A present reality with future benefits — Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices