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"Confident That Prayer Moves the Hand of God": Do you understand that prayer is an invitation from the King of kings? He invites you to be part of the trajectory of human history. Welcome to the audio version of Amber's newest book, "The Key to Confidence." You can also get your own print copy from our store: https://timeofgrace.store/

Stress is affecting so many people – in fact, it's a global pandemic. And what we've all discovered is that the shallow, band aid solutions that the world offers us, simply don't work. What we need is power. Power to deal with the stress in our lives, once and for all.   Have a Cheerful Heart Sometimes we need to be pretty direct, pretty blunt about dealing with the blockages in our lives that are interrupting the flow of the power of God in our life. Because God means to bring all His power to bear to deal with the stress that we suffer from, but sometimes, we're working against Him and then we're wondering – hang on, where's that power that Jesus promised? So … … Sorry to be a bit blunt here, but it doesn't hurt every now and then we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves some questions like that. So – are you one of those people that exudes joy or sadness; a positive outlook, or a negative outlook; encouragement or discouragement? Which one are you? Are you a sad sack? Or do you fluctuate between the two – up on the mountain-tops one day, down in the dumps the next? The reason I'm asking is that if you're someone who spends more than a little time down in the dumps, then it's having an impact on you … it's having an impact on the people around you … and it's having an impact on your relationship with them. That's pretty far-reaching. Because if we damage relationships, we damage career prospects, we damage marriages, we damage our children. This is serious stuff. Stress is debilitating and a negative, untrusting attitude that focuses on the problem rather than the on the God who can make all the difference, interrupts the power that He wants to pour out on us. On top of that, the world wants us to believe that we can wave a magic wand and make stress disappear. Here's what one of those body and soul web sites recommends. Ten quirky stress busters it's called. Chew gum, eat chocolate (oh that'll be just fine and dandy when you come down off your sugar high), get a cat, keep a diary, do some yoga, hum a tune, blow up a balloon, snack on walnuts (Well, that is a lot better than sugar filled gum and chocolate I have to admit), have a laugh or ring your mum. Oh please … stress is so much deeper and more profound in our lives. It's a constant companion for many, many people – everything stresses them, or if not everything, then they go through prolonged periods of stress over one or two very important issues or situations in their lives. You've probably figured out that eating walnuts (as good as that maybe for you) is not going to solve the problems in your life or relieve your stress. At least I'm hoping you have. You see the world's answer to stress is to conjure something up out of nothing. Or to apply en external band-aid, to heal a deep, internal wound. Have you ever had this experience? You're driving along in the car and it's bright and sunny – so you pop your sunglasses on. But gradually the clouds roll in and at some point you're thinking, it is so dark and gloomy today. Then you realise you're wearing your sunnies so you take them off and it's only then you realise that it's nowhere near as dark and gloomy as you thought it was. Sure the clouds have rolled in, sure it's overcast, but not that dark and gloomy. The attitudes of our hearts are a lot like those sunglasses. Some people are walking through difficult times, with a gloomy, darkened heart, and so the whole experience feels about a hundred times worse than what it really is. God knows that and that's why He's concerned over the state of your heart. Have a listen to some of the things He says in His Word about what's going on in your heart: An anxious heart weighs you down, but a kind word, cheers you up. (Proverbs 12:25) A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:13) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22) God's interested in the state of your heart. He's interested in what's going on in your life. Now last time we chatted about how to get God's peace guarding your heart and your mind – do you remember? Philippians Chapter 4, verses 6 and 7: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Simply by praying instead of worrying, giving thanks, laying out our worries and concerns and needs openly before God, He will replace the fear and stress and worry with His peace which will actually guard your heart and your mind. Imagine, God's peace standing guard around you to keep worry and stress away. That's a pretty good deal. But what the Apostle Paul goes on to say straight after that – writing as he is from his cell on death row – is equally instructive in terms of how to foster that peace and how to keep the cheerfulness and joy that God's peace brings, strong in our inside. Philippians 4:8,9: Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. So, instead of mulling over the bad stuff and what might go wrong, think about the good stuff. Now, you might say to me, I can't control what I think. Sure you can. When you find yourself thinking about something negative, you can choose to think about something positive. Try it, it actually works – and if you're struggling you go back to prayer and the Holy Spirit, who is – remember – guarding your heart and mind with God's peace, that same Holy Spirit is right there in you to be a part of that and to help you. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as your counsellor and comforter. And now the exciting thing that happens, is that we get benefit from that on the inside, but other people, the people around us get benefit from that as it oozes out of us on the outside. Do you want to be glum? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life being downcast? Do you want to be feeling down in the dumps all the time? Of course you don't. So now you implement these two simple things – pray instead of worrying, and when you find your mind wandering into the down things, grab it back – with the help of the Holy Spirit who is on your inside and who's on your side – and focus it on the good stuff. The stuff that God is about in your life. The things that bring you joy, the things that God's doing, God's faithfulness, the fantastic things He's done in the past. And now, you are living a much, much better life on the inside. You're at peace. Your heart is cheerful – Jesus wants you to have a cheerful heart. Remember what He said to His disciples, John 16:33: In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. So, now your life is much better, now this peace and joy is oozing out of you, and all of a sudden – you can't help it – you want to encourage others. You're having an impact on their life: A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones. (Proverbs 15:30) So the cheerful look on your face is going to bring joy to someone else's heart. The encouraging word that you give to them, the good news that you can share with them, is going to give health and life to their bones. Your joy touches their lives. Your life improves. Their life improves. Your relationship with them improves. All because you took the time and the wisdom of God to lay hold of the peace and the joy that God has for you. Talk about a stress buster! Not bad, eh? And on top of all that, the Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is your strength. Do you get it? When we let the joy of God fill us amidst the gloom, all of a sudden, we experience His strength, and His power.   Lift Up Your Eyes Well, over these last few weeks, we've been chatting about how to deal with the stress in our lives. Not that all stress is bad – some stress from time to time helps to get things done, gets us to sharpen our game and deliver and perform. Think about an athlete about to run the 100 metre dash at the Olympics will harness that nervous energy, let's call it, as they line up on the starting blocks. That's a good thing. It's just not good, if we're constantly living our lives under stress. And so we've been chatting –in this series that I've called Stress Busters – about dealing with the root cause of the stress. No band-aid solutions, like listening to soothing music, or having a nice cup of tea, or patting your cat. They're all nice and lovely, but when we're under real stress, all those things do is alleviate the symptoms for a short time. What we need, is to deal with the root cause of the stress. Now immediately people think stress, root cause – oh right. It's that person, that situation, that medical diagnosis, that thing out there – that's what I have to deal with. Well, perhaps you do. But pressure and stress are two different things. Those things out there put pressure on us. But stress is all about how we react to them, so if we're looking for the root cause of our stress, it lies inside us, in our hearts, in our minds. In what we feel and what we think. So we've chatted in this series about some real, stress busters. Things that deal with the root cause. Learning to trust in God. Learning how to develop a quiet confidence in Him and how to pray the prayer of peace. How to have a cheerful heart – if you missed any of those messages, you'll find them all in the Series Stress Busters on our website christianityworks.com. So … I'd like to bring all of those lessons together in a practical, case study if you will, by sharing the story of a woman called Hannah. She was the Prophet Samuel's mother in the Old Testament of the Bible. But as with many of the great things that God is doing, Samuel's entry into the world wasn't an easy one. At least, not for Hannah. It was a very stressful time. In fact, she was deeply, deeply distressed over a long period of time. So just sit back and have a listen to her story – it's real, it's stressful … and it's beautiful. Here we go, 1 Samuel 1:1–18: There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.  Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her, ‘Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?' After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: 'O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and do not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.' As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, ‘How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.' But Hannah answered, ‘No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.' So Eli answered, ‘Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.' And she said, ‘Let your servant find favour in your sight.' Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer. It's a beautiful story isn't it? You can't help but feel for Hannah and what she was going through. It was a really big thing in that culture for her not to be able to have a child. The basic belief was that if you were a good person who honoured God, He would bless you with many children. But if you weren't, He wouldn't. So Hannah was looked down upon by all in sundry. Particularly, Penniniah, her rival we're told. The other wife who was delivering plenty of sons. Just imagine how much stress this was putting on Hannah. Firstly, she couldn't have children – any woman whose body clock is ticking and who desperately wants kids but can't have them – knows how devastating that is, just on it's own. But now add to that the constant niggling and whispering and derision from ‘her rival' – there they were, these two women, competing for their husband's affections – I just can't begin to imagine what an awful, additional layer of stress that heaped on Hannah. And then there were the social and religious expectations – everyone treating her like she was some sinner or leper. She could have spent the rest of her life wallowing in that morass of pain and self-pity. But Hannah took some decisive action. She poured it all out to God. Instead of constantly looking down at her terrible circumstances, she lifted her gaze and looked up to Him and, deeply distressed we're told, poured her heart out to God and asked Him to do something. And before she even got an answer, before she even fell pregnant, listen again to the impact of this prayer on her whole being, on her countenance, on her life: Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer. There you have it. The peace that passes all understanding. She did exactly what Paul the Apostle counselled his friends in Philippi to do over two thousand years later: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God and the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7,8) We don't need to clean up our act before we go to God. We don't have to be all confidence and self-assured and ‘together'. He just calls us to come as we are and pour it all out. And you should never, ever be afraid to do that. In fact elsewhere, in the New Testament book of Hebrews, this is what God says to us about this very thing: Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Don't you love that word – with boldness. So as our time in this series – Stress Busters – draws to a close, let me counsel you to do exactly the same. Do what Hannah did – lift up your eyes and pour your stress out on God, and my friend, He will act. And whatever the outcome to your stressful situation, He will give you peace. That's just what He does. God is a God who brings His power to bear for the people whom He loves – His people, the people who have put their trust in Jesus His Son. He doesn't always take away the person or the situation that causes the stress, but what He does do, is He works in our hearts, He gives us strength and courage and joy and peace and power to remove the stress. But there's one thing … on thing that robs us of all that. And that's the thing we're going to talk about.   Blackout Have you ever been in a power blackout? Here where I live, they're quite rare. But in many parts of the world, they're a daily occurrence and in some parts of the world, there's no power at all. I travel quite a bit and I regularly find myself in places where there's no power or there are constant blackouts. In a sense, you get used to it pretty quickly. When you're sitting and talking in a meeting and the power goes out, you just keep on talking until either the generator cuts in, or … if there's no generator, until the power comes back on. It's just a fact of life. You learn to live with it. But when I come back home again, to a place where the power almost never goes out, I have to tell you, it's a much, much better way to live. I think in the three years that I've been living in our current apartment, we've lost power perhaps once or twice. Many people are living their lives, spiritually, emotionally, morally, either in a state of regular power outages, blackouts, or in a place without any power at all. And the thing that flicks the switch on God's power in their lives, is their sin. Have a listen to this, the Apostle Paul, Ephesians 1:17–21: I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. Paul's praying that his friends in Ephesus would realise the certain hope, the riches of their inheritance, and the immeasurable greatness of God's power that they already have in Christ. The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead and put Him above everything and everyone. Do you see – God means to bring that power, that life-giving power, to bear in your life, to give you the new life that Jesus died and rose again to give you. But when we rebel against God, when we turn our backs on Him through our sin, the power stops. Why? What good father would continue to reward and bless his child when the child is rebelling? As much as the father loves the child, he stops the flow of blessing, so that the child will realise its mistake, and come back to him. It's what dads do. And it's the same with God: Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (Galatians 6:7) One of the most stressful things that we can ever do is to rebel against God – we talked about that earlier in this series. And as God calls us back to Him, often He turns the heat up on our stress, as we live through the consequences of our sin and our rebellion. When we keep struggling against and kicking against God, when we run away from His goodness and His plans for our life, man, be prepared for a wilderness experience, right? And I know that there are a few people in that place right at the moment. You're experiencing extreme stress, because you've turned your back on God. Well, in a moment we're going to pray together. And this is what we're going to pray about. Peter said to them: ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'. (Acts 2:38) Do you see, when you repent, when you turn back to God, He promises you the power, the power of the Holy Spirit. The greatest stress buster of them all.

God understands Parental Pain, and gives us a model for extravagant, unconditional love.Children are a gift, but let's be honest, parenting is complicated. Am I doing it right? Am I messing them up? How do I even know the difference? Let's talk about it in our new series, Family Values.QUESTIONS FOR THE ROAD:1. Have you ever had a season of running from and rebellion of God? How did God “Do whatever it takes” to bring you home?2. How does the mercy and grace of being a “child of God” shift your own perspective of your children, or those you would consider spiritual children?3. How can you tangibly show extravagant, unconditional love to your children this week, regardless if they are home or are currently prodigal? It might be helpful to reflect on how you personally experience this kind of love from God. 

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 11-19-2024) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: Why Wasn't Jesus Recognized After His Resurrection?/ Was John a Partaker in Tribulation?/ No “Prophecy” of Scripture is of Private Interpretation/ Whoever Forgives--the Other Person Will Already Have Been Forgiven/ Does John 21:17 Prove That Jesus is God/ Do the Muslims Believe The Holy Spirit is TheAngel Gabriel?/ Were the Apostles--Disciples before they were Apostles?/ Looking for a Church/ November 19, 2024

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 11-19-2024) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include: Why Wasn't Jesus Recognized After His Resurrection?/ Was John a Partaker in Tribulation?/ No “Prophecy” of Scripture is of Private Interpretation/ Whoever Forgives--the Other Person Will Already Have Been Forgiven/ Does John 21:17 Prove That Jesus is God/ Do the Muslims Believe The Holy Spirit is TheAngel Gabriel?/ Were the Apostles--Disciples before they were Apostles?/ Looking for a Church/ November 19, 2024

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 11-19-2024) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include:Why Wasn't Jesus Recognized After His Resurrection?/ Was John a Partaker in Tribulation?/ No "Prophecy" of Scripture is of Private Interpretation/ Whoever Forgives--the Other Person Will Already Have Been Forgiven/ Does John 21:17 Prove That Jesus is God/ Do the Muslims Believe The Holy Spirit is The Angel Gabriel?/ Were the Apostles--Disciples before they were Apostles?/ Looking for a Church/ November 19, 2024

Today's message is a continued study of Paul's farewell words of encouragement and warning to the gathering of church leaders. Paul shares honestly that he understands his time left on earth is short. He states how he has proclaimed the whole will of God. What is the Whole Will / Counsel of God? CREATOR - We and the world are intentionally created by a pure, loving, holy creator who shows us how brilliant a Creator / Designer He is. His design points us right back to Him, our Designer. CONDITION - Our condition is that - All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us is righteous.  CHRIST - we all need a Savior and that Savior turns our lives around. Christ is the prophesied Messiah:     Deity - God     Death - on the cross for us - paid the price of our sin by taking it on Himself that we might be saved.     Resurrection - His resurrection ensures our victory over death.  We will be raised on the last day when He returns.     Returning - He will return and we will have eternal life with Him forever. Paul encourages the leaders to take care of themselves and the flocks God has given them. They are to be shepherds of the church of God. Paul warns them of the spiritual war that is all around and to be cautious not to fall prey to the eternal and internal threats against the truth of God's word. Paul closes by telling them to be on guard because remaining on guard is a life and death matter. Not just a life and death matter temporally (on this earth). It is a life and death matter eternally! (Our eternal destiny).  We must be on guard - in Greek this is one word.  That word is AWAKE! We need to wake up to the truth of what God says in the Bible. BE AWAKE - be prepared because Jesus is coming back! He will return, so…. Be awake in prayer Be awake in faithfulness to God Do not be deceived! https://www.awakeusnow.com Check out the video on our website https://www.awakeusnow.com/living-one Check out the video on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOwUarSm3uJrzLI4thAJNXQj Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

What Happens When A Society Rejects God?Grace Christian Fellowship Mikey Brannon October 13, 2024 [Gen 4:16 ESV] 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. • Went away from the presence of the Lord.o 4:6-7 Cain is filled with rage against his brother, but is gracious to him and gives him an opportunity to repent.o How sin is conceived (like a baby) in Gen 4:6-7, James 1:14-15o God uses vivid language to describe his sin (4:7) “crouching desire”. (ref. 1 Peter 5:8)o Cain's biggest issue Cain conceived the sin of murder in his heart His desire for sin was greater than his desire for God While cain was religious, fundamentally he was a non-believer!• Knows God personally• Talks with God• Still does not trust God's words Cain is the first cursed person. (4:11-12) The result of the curse is that Cain is forced to become a wanderer, a nomad, a homeless vagabond. Notice Cain willingly gives up religion and relationship with God, in order to rid himself of the precepts that come along with it. This is the choice of the sinner.o “East of Eden” – Genesis language shows that as one moves Eastward they are moving further from the presence of God.o “Land of Nod” Nod means wanderer, exile, or fugitive. [Gen 4:17 ESV] 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. • Even this vile sinner found a wife to marry. Cain obviously married one of his sisters. Together they have a son named Enoch.• “Built a City” - It is not what we expect the vagabond to do, establish a city. It is as if he says, I'll show you God, I'll settle my on place and I don't need you to help. But even the name of the city suggest it is futile.• The Hebrew verb tense suggests that Cain didn't just build a city, but that he was continually building a city. Essentially we can picture Cain endlessly working to buid this city, but never finishing it, until he eventually turns it over to his son to whom it is named Enoch.• This city that Cain would build would be common a city of apostasy and of the inhabatens present and future would be rejecters of God, and they will eventually be drowned.[Gen 4:18 ESV] 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad fathered Mehujael, and Mehujael fathered Methushael, and Methushael fathered Lamech. • Our sin doesn't just affect us but it affects others around us, and even future generations.• In Chapter 5 and 6 we get 2 genealogies here in our text we have a genealogy of Cain, and in the next chapter we have the genealogy of Seth. More on that later.• This geneology traces Cain to one of his descendants Lamech. Lamech is the arch type evil representative of what has come from Cain's apostasy.• Enoch means “dedicated”. Cain running from the curse God has placed on him attempts to build a city and he names his Son and his city “dedicated”. He dedicates his son to his city. As if his son may finally be able to stop running and wandering.• Talk about how sinners try to find comfort somewhere other than God.• Enoch is cains big dillusion.• Our kids are not fooled by our dillusions are they, its very interesting what Enoch names his son, Irad, which can be loosely translated city dweller• Then you have Mejujael and Methusahael, which scholars say means something like, God Blots out and violence to God• Do you see the direction from cain to -> city dweller-> outright violence to God this is trendline of the society.[Gen 4:19 ESV] 19 And Lamech took two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. • The apostate generation culminates with a picture of a man named Lamech (conquerer).• Instantly we encounter an issue with Lamech. He has 2 wives.• We know that God has already established marriage as a union between 1 man and 1 woman. Any other version of this union is a sinful corruption. (Gen. 2:24)• Some people encounter polygamy in the OT and they say see the Bible is wrong it condones things like that. Or that the Bible is inconsistent on its view on marriage. Not true.• Whenever polygamy is shown in the OT it always results in hurt and devastation. (Abraham)• As we can see here in our example text the Bible doesn't come out and make a moral statement about polygamy here. Because it doesn't need to. That is the entire point of this geneology. [Gen 4:20 ESV] 20 Adah bore Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. • The “bal” brothers: Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal• Stem bal means to produce• Society was a great at producing things• We have world leading agriculture, invention of music, of musical instruments, iron working, bronze instruments of all kinds• Jabal was a shepherd who likely tended sheep. People in the city need someone else to produce meat and garments, so what we see here is the first glimmering of the agricultural industry.• Discussion about how long they lived in this society Adam lived 930 years. In fact did you ever realize Adam almost lived long enough to see the birth of Noah. Cain lived 730 years.[Gen 4:21 ESV] 21 His brother's name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. • Jubal, invented music, and the first instruments. Can you imagine what an accomplishment, Chris Karpus level stuff here. They had likely had figured out things like scales, and chords, and how to construct various instruments to create harmonies.• Now many of us in this room are musicians. How many of you feel like you have enough time to practice your instrument? How many of you feel like you have mastered it and there is nothing else to learn? Imagine if you had 700 years to work on it. Do you think you would be pretty good?[Gen 4:22 ESV] 22 Zillah also bore Tubal-cain; he was the forger of all instruments of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. • Tubal-cain in a similar way had perfected the art of metal working. He is the father of blacksmithing and was the master of the craft. In a similar way having so much time on the earth to master the craft.• These 3 sons were epic leaders of a godless city.• Application: I wonder what outsiders would have said about the city of Nod as they passed by. Great city! Technological leaders, Innovative, Wealthy, luxurious? Does this sound like a cursed city to you?• A society without God is striving to find satisfaction in something else, but they will ever find is emptiness.• This is a society who works and works for the one thing they will never have, rest. Sabbath. Because they have rejected the ultimate rest. (Matthew 12:8)[Gen 4:23 ESV] 23 Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. • Lamech becomes the poster boy for how far from God this society has come. • Brags to his wives about his murderous rampageo Notice how he speaks to his wives. How far has this Godless society gotten from what Adam first spoke, “bone of my bone flesh of my flesh”o Murder of mano Murder of a childo In both instances Lamech brags about his brutality o What we can observe here in this society that is far from God there is no longer an appreciation for human life.o Why is murder such a heinous crime in the first place?o Gen. 1:27, Gen.9:6o So what we see in a society that is far from God, there is a loss of appreciation for human lifeo Another way to say this is that the value you we place on one another comes from the value that we place in God.o Another way to say this is, Love God, Love People[Gen 4:24 ESV] 24 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold." • The reference here is back to verse 4:15.• Remember God had promised Cain protection of his life. Word got around.• In hindsight now that we have studied this passage I think God allowed Cain to live just so that the fullness of his wickedness would play out. It would have been to easy for him to die. So Cain spends hundreds of years trying to outrun the curse, only to die in his futile attempts. It is a much more worthy punishment.• Lamech makes a mockery of God's curse. He is vile, and wicked, he even brags about his wickedness. This city is lost indeed.• What a terrible story if it ended here![Gen 4:25 ESV] 25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, "God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him." • Able the presumed line of redemption is dead. Cain is unfit and cursed. The last time things looked this dark were after the fall.• We think back to the promise (Gen. 3:14). And in God's graciousness we find hope. This verse gives us hope.• Adam and Eve have another son who can help fulfill the promise of Genesis 3:14, Seth.• Seth is not the one to crush the head of the serpant, but we will find out in the next chapter exactly where is line will lead, ultimately to Christ, the ultimate head crusher. Luke 3:38[Gen 4:26 ESV] 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. • Even in the early days apparently outside of the line of Cain people had begun to stray from God• Enosh marks a period of revival where people began to again call upon the name of the Lord.

Enjoy this “throwback” episode from the Woman at the Well Ministries radio program, as Kim Miller brings us a message out of Acts 3:9, which says, “And all the people saw him walking and praising God:” Do you want to connect with Kim and Erika? Visit us on our website, on Facebook, or on Instagram.  Scriptures Mentioned in this Episode Acts 3:9 www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3%3A9&version=KJV  Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest book, Bible Bits: Fear Not. Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page. 

If you are born again, you are alive with Christ! If you are born again, everything listed in Ephesians 1:3-14 is true of you! In those twelve verses the phrase: In Him or in Christ is stated. Before we even touch Ephesians 4:1-3, I want you to marvel over what it means to be in Christ. In Jesus, I can now know the God for whom I was made. In Jesus God no longer sees my sin, but the righteousness of His Son. In Jesus, I am becoming more and more like the person I was born to be. In Jesus, I have redemption and am now a child of God instead of an enemy; here are eighteen other reasons to celebrate what it means to be in Christ.: In Christ, I am justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:24) In Christ, I am now Gods child (1 Peter 1:3) In Christ, I am forgiven of all my sins (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14) In Christ, I have peace (John 14:27) In Christ, I am loved by God the Father (John 16:27) In Christ, I belong to God (John 17:9) In Christ, I will never be forsaken or abandoned by God (John 10) In Christ, I am treasured by God (1 Peter 1-2) In Christ, I am the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) In Christ, there is for me NO condemnation (Rom. 8:1) In Christ, God is working all things together for my good (Rom. 8:28) In Christ, I have obtained an inheritance that only God alone can give (Eph. 1:11) In Christ, I am a new creation the old is gone and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17) In Christ, I am a son/daughter of God (Gal. 4:6) In Christ, I am no longer a stranger or alien, but a fellow citizen with the saints (Eph. 2:19) In Christ, I am a member of the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6) In Christ, I am set apart for the mission of God (Eph. 2:10) In Christ, I am loved by an everlasting God (1 John 4:19) Paul begins verse four with the word, Therefore. When you read your Bible, this word serves as a clue that in light of what has been written, what you are about to read next is in response to what proceeded it. Another way to say it is: In light of Ephesians 1-3, this is how you are to behave. How are we to behave? Since we are alive in Christ, we are to walk as the spiritually living. Since we are not the only ones made alive in Christ, we should walk together as the living. I want to look at both of those points Paul makes in the verses that follow. How to Walk as the Living Paul begins with these words: Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you (v. 1a). So far in his epistle this is only the second place when Paul tells his readers to do something. The first time Paul told the Ephesians they had to do something, it was in 2:12, remember that you were. Remember what Paul? Remember who you were and who you now are! In Ephesians 4:1, Paul is not telling these Christians to remember their identity in Christ but to walk in step with their identity as those who have been called out of death into life with Christ. There are two words I want you to notice that I will call, The Two Ws of the Christian life. The first word is walk, and the second word is worthy. The Ws of the Christian life serve as evidence that you are alive in Jesus and no longer dead in your sins. When Paul uses the word walk in his epistle, he is referring metaphorically to the way a person lives out their life ethically. Paul uses the word walk thirty-two times in his epistles, eight of which are used in Ephesians, and every time it is used metaphorically! In Ephesians 2:1-2, our walk was governed by a Christless life: And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. In Colossians Paul also described the way the Christian used to walk, listen to the way he uses the word, walk in Colossians 3:5-7, Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Jesus used the same metaphor in describing what will happen to the one who follows Him: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). Listen to the other ways Paul uses the word walk in his epistles: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Eph. 5:12) Here, in the verse before us this morning, we are commanded to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. The second W word of the Christian life is the word worthy. The Greek word Paul uses is axiōs, and it literally means worthily. The word worthy means to have worth or value in the same way a scale measures the weight of something. So, picture a scale in your mind; on the one side of the scale you have all of the doctrinal goodness that is true of you in Christ from Ephesians 1-3, and on the other side of the scale is the weight of your new life in Jesus applied in the way you live out that doctrinal truth. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes what Paul is saying in this verse in the following way: The Apostle is beseeching them and exhorting them always to give equal weight in their lives to doctrine and practice. They must not put all the weight on doctrine and none on practice; nor all the weight on practice and just a little, if any at all, on doctrine. To do so produces imbalance and lopsidedness. The Ephesians must take great pains to see that the scales are perfectly balanced.[1] Let me say it in another way: Orthodoxy is right doctrine, and orthopraxy is right-practice. Here is where it gets real for you and me! In evangelical churches, you will probably run into two types of people who claim to be Christian: the first is the kind of Christian who can quote chapter and verse from the Bible, seems to have their theology nailed down and dialed in, but has little to show for it in the way they live out (practice) their Christianity. The other person you may run into seems to be a really nice Christian but has little understanding of the Bible or what passes for right doctrine.What we learn from Ephesians 4:1 is that our metaphorical Christian scale needs sound and solid doctrine from the Bible that is balanced by a life that is shaped by a growing understanding of the Word of God. Let me say it another way: as a Christian, you should be growing in your understanding of who God is and what it means to follow Jesus, and as you grow, your life will demonstrate that growth in equal measure. The Way We Walk Together as the Living So what does it look like to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called? It looks like verses 2-3, which is a life with, all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Two themes flow out of Ephesians 4-6 and that is, 1) unity between the redeemed and 2) the godly life lived out. In verses 2-3, Paul provides a list of five character traits that the one who is truly alive in Christ ought to long and strive for as he/she follows Jesus. What Paul lists are five characteristics that ought to be on the side of the scale that is labeled: practice. Humility. Think about your salvation and what it cost Jesus to redeem you. You who once stood before a holy God as a child of wrath living in the lusts of your flesh and mind (vv. 2-3), God made you alive in Christ (v. 4-5). Could there not be any clearer statement to shatter any hint of pride in you: but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us made us alive together with Christ. If you understand the doctrine of Gods grace and mercy, then you will understand that the grace you received was not free and the mercy you received was not deserved: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9). There is no room for pride in the blood-bought and redeemed life of the Christian. Gentleness. To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus, and to be a disciple of Jesus is to follow and imitate His ways. We have been redeemed by and follow the One who invites all: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:2829). To be gentle is to be meek, but that does not mean that Jesus was weak. Moses is described in Numbers 12:3 as, very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth. If you know anything about Moses, he was a courageous and gifted leader who bravely stood before the most powerful man of his day to demand that he let the Hebrew slaves go. We who were far from God, he found us and met us in our sin! Consider Romans 2:4 and the kindness of God: Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? When it comes to the way we treat others, we ought to be known for our gentleness, and when it comes to the sins of others, the Word of God is very clear: Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well (Gal. 6:1). Patience. The Greek word Paul used for patience is makrothymia which also means forbearance or long-suffering. How do you develop long-suffering as a Christian? We develop patience in the Christian life through the things we suffer. Listen, suffering is the fire God uses to purge the dross from our lives. Find a person who has suffered much and you will find a person who is either bitter or empathetic towards others. W. Tozer, a pastor known for his prayer life, once said of the person who wished to be used of God: It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God raises up storms of conflict in relationships at times to accomplish that deeper work in our character. If you dont buy into what Tozer said, consider what we read in Romans 5:3-5, And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. 5:35). If you are serious about following Jesus, you will experience the suffering God intends for your good and His glory. Patience in the life of the Christian will not only come by way of suffering, but it comes through confidence and trust in a good and sovereign God. The more you grow in your understanding of who God is (orthodoxy) the greater your patience will become (orthopraxy). Bearing with one another. The fruit of godly humility, gentleness, and patience is the desire and hard work of bearing with one another. The Greek word for bearing here can also be translated as tolerate, put up with, or endure. To the scattered and suffering Christian located in what is now modern Turkey, the apostle Peter instructed: Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). Christian, you are a work in progress and the goal of becoming holy and blameless is not complete in you and will not be until a death or a resurrection, yet God is patient with you; oh, how easily we forget the 10,000 ways God endures us while He remains committed to the good He is doing in us! If God endures you, how is it that you are unwilling to endure your brother or sister in whom God is committed to do the same thing He is doing in you? How often and to what degree do we continue to wrong Him who endured the cross for our redemption? How easily we forget our Lords words from His Sermon on the Mount: For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses (Matt. 6:1415). Unity. Paul does not just tell us to be united, but to be, diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The way the NASB translates diligent is not a bad translation, but in the original language (spoudazō) the word is better translated as zealous or eager. I think the way the NASB translates this verse loses the edge and urgency that Paul meant to communicate to the Ephesian Christians. Listen, Paul is urging you, Christian, to be zealous and eager to maintain the unity we share as those who have been redeemed through the slaughtering of the Lamb of God so that we can be the children of God. As His Church, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as His redeemed people. This is the unity of the Spirit that we are to keep within the community of faith in such a way that it is visible to the world around us! This is why Jesus commanded: I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another (John 13:3435). Oh, the petty things we allow to disrupt our union as Jesus Bride! The things we fight about and break fellowship over grieve the heart of the One who was crushed and cursed so that we could be reconciled to the God we sinned against. Peter OBrien wrote of this verse the following indictment that would do us well to heed and respond to in repentance: To live in a manner which mars the unity of the Spirit is to scorn the gracious reconciling work of Christ. It is tantamount to saying that his sacrificial death by which relationships with God and others have been restored, along with the resulting freedom of access to the Father, are of no real consequence to us![2] We have spent 20 weeks together in first three chapters in Ephesians, and some of you are still on track for reading through the Bible in a year. I have been with you for over five years now, and I have seen so much growth in many of you regarding your theological understand of God. I love that many of you honor or have grown to honor the Bible for what it is as the Word of God. I love that I can hear pages of your Bibles turn as we engage the Word of God each and every Sunday together! I am so proud of you and your growth dear brothers and sisters! My question for you this morning is simply this: What are you doing with your orthodoxy? Permit me to close our time with some questions to think about: How has your growth and understanding of who God is through His revealed word deepened your humility? How has it tenderized you towards others? How has your theology of Ephesians 1:3-14 and 2:1-10 made you a more patient person? Has your right awareness and understanding of Gods choosing, redeeming, and sealing of you as His reconciled child created in you to extend the same mercy and grace that you received to others who God is working through and with? Has your zeal for knowing God fostered a zeal to find what you disagree with, or has it created in you a zeal to maintain and celebrate the primary things you agree upon? [1] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christian Unity: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:1 to 16 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 24. [2] Peter Thomas OBrien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 280.

If you are born again, you are alive with Christ! If you are born again, everything listed in Ephesians 1:3-14 is true of you! In those twelve verses the phrase: In Him or in Christ is stated. Before we even touch Ephesians 4:1-3, I want you to marvel over what it means to be in Christ. In Jesus, I can now know the God for whom I was made. In Jesus God no longer sees my sin, but the righteousness of His Son. In Jesus, I am becoming more and more like the person I was born to be. In Jesus, I have redemption and am now a child of God instead of an enemy; here are eighteen other reasons to celebrate what it means to be in Christ.: In Christ, I am justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:24) In Christ, I am now Gods child (1 Peter 1:3) In Christ, I am forgiven of all my sins (Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:14) In Christ, I have peace (John 14:27) In Christ, I am loved by God the Father (John 16:27) In Christ, I belong to God (John 17:9) In Christ, I will never be forsaken or abandoned by God (John 10) In Christ, I am treasured by God (1 Peter 1-2) In Christ, I am the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21) In Christ, there is for me NO condemnation (Rom. 8:1) In Christ, God is working all things together for my good (Rom. 8:28) In Christ, I have obtained an inheritance that only God alone can give (Eph. 1:11) In Christ, I am a new creation the old is gone and the new has come (2 Cor. 5:17) In Christ, I am a son/daughter of God (Gal. 4:6) In Christ, I am no longer a stranger or alien, but a fellow citizen with the saints (Eph. 2:19) In Christ, I am a member of the body of Christ (Eph. 3:6) In Christ, I am set apart for the mission of God (Eph. 2:10) In Christ, I am loved by an everlasting God (1 John 4:19) Paul begins verse four with the word, Therefore. When you read your Bible, this word serves as a clue that in light of what has been written, what you are about to read next is in response to what proceeded it. Another way to say it is: In light of Ephesians 1-3, this is how you are to behave. How are we to behave? Since we are alive in Christ, we are to walk as the spiritually living. Since we are not the only ones made alive in Christ, we should walk together as the living. I want to look at both of those points Paul makes in the verses that follow. How to Walk as the Living Paul begins with these words: Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you (v. 1a). So far in his epistle this is only the second place when Paul tells his readers to do something. The first time Paul told the Ephesians they had to do something, it was in 2:12, remember that you were. Remember what Paul? Remember who you were and who you now are! In Ephesians 4:1, Paul is not telling these Christians to remember their identity in Christ but to walk in step with their identity as those who have been called out of death into life with Christ. There are two words I want you to notice that I will call, The Two Ws of the Christian life. The first word is walk, and the second word is worthy. The Ws of the Christian life serve as evidence that you are alive in Jesus and no longer dead in your sins. When Paul uses the word walk in his epistle, he is referring metaphorically to the way a person lives out their life ethically. Paul uses the word walk thirty-two times in his epistles, eight of which are used in Ephesians, and every time it is used metaphorically! In Ephesians 2:1-2, our walk was governed by a Christless life: And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. In Colossians Paul also described the way the Christian used to walk, listen to the way he uses the word, walk in Colossians 3:5-7, Therefore, treat the parts of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. Jesus used the same metaphor in describing what will happen to the one who follows Him: I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life (John 8:12). Listen to the other ways Paul uses the word walk in his epistles: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. (Gal. 5:16) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Eph. 5:12) Here, in the verse before us this morning, we are commanded to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. The second W word of the Christian life is the word worthy. The Greek word Paul uses is axiōs, and it literally means worthily. The word worthy means to have worth or value in the same way a scale measures the weight of something. So, picture a scale in your mind; on the one side of the scale you have all of the doctrinal goodness that is true of you in Christ from Ephesians 1-3, and on the other side of the scale is the weight of your new life in Jesus applied in the way you live out that doctrinal truth. Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes what Paul is saying in this verse in the following way: The Apostle is beseeching them and exhorting them always to give equal weight in their lives to doctrine and practice. They must not put all the weight on doctrine and none on practice; nor all the weight on practice and just a little, if any at all, on doctrine. To do so produces imbalance and lopsidedness. The Ephesians must take great pains to see that the scales are perfectly balanced.[1] Let me say it in another way: Orthodoxy is right doctrine, and orthopraxy is right-practice. Here is where it gets real for you and me! In evangelical churches, you will probably run into two types of people who claim to be Christian: the first is the kind of Christian who can quote chapter and verse from the Bible, seems to have their theology nailed down and dialed in, but has little to show for it in the way they live out (practice) their Christianity. The other person you may run into seems to be a really nice Christian but has little understanding of the Bible or what passes for right doctrine.What we learn from Ephesians 4:1 is that our metaphorical Christian scale needs sound and solid doctrine from the Bible that is balanced by a life that is shaped by a growing understanding of the Word of God. Let me say it another way: as a Christian, you should be growing in your understanding of who God is and what it means to follow Jesus, and as you grow, your life will demonstrate that growth in equal measure. The Way We Walk Together as the Living So what does it look like to, walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called? It looks like verses 2-3, which is a life with, all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Two themes flow out of Ephesians 4-6 and that is, 1) unity between the redeemed and 2) the godly life lived out. In verses 2-3, Paul provides a list of five character traits that the one who is truly alive in Christ ought to long and strive for as he/she follows Jesus. What Paul lists are five characteristics that ought to be on the side of the scale that is labeled: practice. Humility. Think about your salvation and what it cost Jesus to redeem you. You who once stood before a holy God as a child of wrath living in the lusts of your flesh and mind (vv. 2-3), God made you alive in Christ (v. 4-5). Could there not be any clearer statement to shatter any hint of pride in you: but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us made us alive together with Christ. If you understand the doctrine of Gods grace and mercy, then you will understand that the grace you received was not free and the mercy you received was not deserved: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9). There is no room for pride in the blood-bought and redeemed life of the Christian. Gentleness. To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus, and to be a disciple of Jesus is to follow and imitate His ways. We have been redeemed by and follow the One who invites all: Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:2829). To be gentle is to be meek, but that does not mean that Jesus was weak. Moses is described in Numbers 12:3 as, very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth. If you know anything about Moses, he was a courageous and gifted leader who bravely stood before the most powerful man of his day to demand that he let the Hebrew slaves go. We who were far from God, he found us and met us in our sin! Consider Romans 2:4 and the kindness of God: Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? When it comes to the way we treat others, we ought to be known for our gentleness, and when it comes to the sins of others, the Word of God is very clear: Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well (Gal. 6:1). Patience. The Greek word Paul used for patience is makrothymia which also means forbearance or long-suffering. How do you develop long-suffering as a Christian? We develop patience in the Christian life through the things we suffer. Listen, suffering is the fire God uses to purge the dross from our lives. Find a person who has suffered much and you will find a person who is either bitter or empathetic towards others. W. Tozer, a pastor known for his prayer life, once said of the person who wished to be used of God: It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply." God raises up storms of conflict in relationships at times to accomplish that deeper work in our character. If you dont buy into what Tozer said, consider what we read in Romans 5:3-5, And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom. 5:35). If you are serious about following Jesus, you will experience the suffering God intends for your good and His glory. Patience in the life of the Christian will not only come by way of suffering, but it comes through confidence and trust in a good and sovereign God. The more you grow in your understanding of who God is (orthodoxy) the greater your patience will become (orthopraxy). Bearing with one another. The fruit of godly humility, gentleness, and patience is the desire and hard work of bearing with one another. The Greek word for bearing here can also be translated as tolerate, put up with, or endure. To the scattered and suffering Christian located in what is now modern Turkey, the apostle Peter instructed: Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8). Christian, you are a work in progress and the goal of becoming holy and blameless is not complete in you and will not be until a death or a resurrection, yet God is patient with you; oh, how easily we forget the 10,000 ways God endures us while He remains committed to the good He is doing in us! If God endures you, how is it that you are unwilling to endure your brother or sister in whom God is committed to do the same thing He is doing in you? How often and to what degree do we continue to wrong Him who endured the cross for our redemption? How easily we forget our Lords words from His Sermon on the Mount: For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses (Matt. 6:1415). Unity. Paul does not just tell us to be united, but to be, diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The way the NASB translates diligent is not a bad translation, but in the original language (spoudazō) the word is better translated as zealous or eager. I think the way the NASB translates this verse loses the edge and urgency that Paul meant to communicate to the Ephesian Christians. Listen, Paul is urging you, Christian, to be zealous and eager to maintain the unity we share as those who have been redeemed through the slaughtering of the Lamb of God so that we can be the children of God. As His Church, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit as His redeemed people. This is the unity of the Spirit that we are to keep within the community of faith in such a way that it is visible to the world around us! This is why Jesus commanded: I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another (John 13:3435). Oh, the petty things we allow to disrupt our union as Jesus Bride! The things we fight about and break fellowship over grieve the heart of the One who was crushed and cursed so that we could be reconciled to the God we sinned against. Peter OBrien wrote of this verse the following indictment that would do us well to heed and respond to in repentance: To live in a manner which mars the unity of the Spirit is to scorn the gracious reconciling work of Christ. It is tantamount to saying that his sacrificial death by which relationships with God and others have been restored, along with the resulting freedom of access to the Father, are of no real consequence to us![2] We have spent 20 weeks together in first three chapters in Ephesians, and some of you are still on track for reading through the Bible in a year. I have been with you for over five years now, and I have seen so much growth in many of you regarding your theological understand of God. I love that many of you honor or have grown to honor the Bible for what it is as the Word of God. I love that I can hear pages of your Bibles turn as we engage the Word of God each and every Sunday together! I am so proud of you and your growth dear brothers and sisters! My question for you this morning is simply this: What are you doing with your orthodoxy? Permit me to close our time with some questions to think about: How has your growth and understanding of who God is through His revealed word deepened your humility? How has it tenderized you towards others? How has your theology of Ephesians 1:3-14 and 2:1-10 made you a more patient person? Has your right awareness and understanding of Gods choosing, redeeming, and sealing of you as His reconciled child created in you to extend the same mercy and grace that you received to others who God is working through and with? Has your zeal for knowing God fostered a zeal to find what you disagree with, or has it created in you a zeal to maintain and celebrate the primary things you agree upon? [1] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Christian Unity: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:1 to 16 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1981), 24. [2] Peter Thomas OBrien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 280.

In episode 5, OBGYN, Dr. Mercer, encourages us with practical application tips for taking care of our health as women. Caroline and Cindy dive into the importance of embracing the journey and staying present in each moment of our lives. By trusting the path that God has laid out for us, we can let go of comparisons with others and focus on our unique journey. It's a reminder to develop a deep, unwavering faith in God, recognizing that every step of our path has purpose and meaning. By surrendering to this truth, we can find peace and fulfillment in our individual journeys, knowing that God's plan for each of us is beautifully distinct and purposeful.   Cindy's prescription for preventing weight gain: Limit liquid calories - soda, alcohol, sugar-based drinks Eat the rainbow - eliminate processed foods and incorporate fresh, whole foods  Stay active - set the standard of 30 minute workouts, 5 times a day Remember to drink water Increase protein intake   Cindy's tips for optimizing our health:  Prioritize sleep Healthy diet Regular exercise Quiet time or meditation to center thoughts Age-appropriate screening Limit alcohol intake Remember health needs will change with lifestyle   Cindy's reminders for spiritual and mental health: Choose a verse to rehearse/memorize Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 54:3, Psalm 46:10, James 1:19 Have an attitude of gratitude What we fill our brains with is what will come out in our hearts Show love, feel love, be surrounded by love   Psalm 40: 1-3, 11:  “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God…Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me.”    Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   Psalm 46:10: “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'”   Cindy would love for you to reach out with any questions you have on women's healthcare: cmercerrogers@gmail.com    Let's connect! IG: carolineharrisward  Email: caroline@transfitathens.com Web: www.transfitathens.com   Train with me and my team at TransFit! We offer personal training, group training, yoga, HIIT, bible study, corporate events, nutrition consulting, and zoom training as well. Please email me at transfitathens@gmail.com for more information! So, if you're ready to take it to the next level, reach out to me, and let's get the conversation started.  Ready to conquer your fitness and health goals - the time is now!  

Healthy Homes Protect Themselves From The Attacks of the Enemy by Shielding Themselves with the Love of God “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” — 1 John 2:15–17 1. Protect your home from loving the wrong things. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. — 1 John 2:15 Worldliness is a matter of the heart. We cannot love God and the world simultaneously. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” — Matthew 6:24 2. Protect your home from empty promises. “For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” — 1 John 2:16 “Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.” — Genesis 3:6 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” — James 1:14–15 A Passion for Pleasures “Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” — Ecclesiastes 2:11 Our passion for pleasure hinders our contentment in God. A Passion for Possessions and Praise “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you.” — Psalm 73:25 3. Protect your house from the things that don't last. “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” — 1 John 2:17 This is a Call to Consider - Our Investments - Our Worship

February 14, 2024 Today's Reading: Daily Lectionary: Job 10:1-22; John 5:1-18[Job said,] I loathe my very life;    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,    but tell me what charges you have against me.Does it please you to oppress me? Job 10:1-3In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you want to argue with God? Sounds blasphemous. Job argues with God. Scripture shows us many people of faith arguing with God. Jacob wrestled God, telling God he would not let him go. Finally God said, “Let me go …” But Jacob did not let go until God blessed him (Genesis 32:22-28). Did these men of faith sin by arguing with God? The key is the word “faith.” Faith holds onto God even when God seems your enemy. When everything in life is down the drain, when no blessing can be seen, faith holds onto what cannot be seen. Faith holds onto the promise. And when we don't see the promise, we are given to argue with God, to say to God essentially, “You have given me your name as an oath, I belong to you, yet I don't see the blessing, and, as Job said, I loathe my very life .” (Job 10:1)Faith calls on God to once again speak His promise. To see this, we need only to look at how God teaches us to pray. Among the Psalms of praise, of thanksgiving, of extolling the Word, our Lord gives us to pray also Psalms of complaint. Look at Psalm 13, where the Lord gives us words by which we are to argue that He has forgotten us (Psalm 13:1) and to demand that He give us an answer (Psalm 13:3). The Lord answered Job's prayer. Job's account began with him giving sacrifice for his family, knowing that by the Lord's gift of sacrifice the Lord was forgiving sins and making Job and his family holy (see Job 1:1-5). After going through much affliction, Job argues with God. God answers the argument. He calls Job to account where he was wrong, but more importantly, speaks to Job again the word of promise. Not only that, but the Lord tells Job's friends (who have been giving Job bad counsel regarding God) to go to Job so that Job could give the sacrifice to atone also for their sins. Can you argue with God? Yes. Just remember Job. Use the words the Lord gives you in Psalm 13 (or other Psalms of complaint). Call on God to speak His promise to you. Ask for His Gospel. Don't let Him go. He wants to hear your prayers. He wants to answer your complaint. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord, in the midst of my doubts, my despair, my loss of hope, bless me! Let me hear your promise! Keep me steadfast in your Word. Amen.-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.The Lutheran Reader's Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God's Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.

Context Psalm 14:1 – “there is no God” Do you believe the Bible? This verse is taken out of context! Studying the context means reading the…

The kindness of God- Do you struggle to accept the love of God? The story of David and Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son, is one of the most profound pictures of God's love and grace toward us in the entire Old Testament. We are all undeserving to eat at the table of the king, but that privilege is based on his work not our own.

Are there problems in your life that seem bigger than God-- -Do you ever feel disconnected, like God is remote, and unrelatable---Pastor Joel gives us the good news of a baby boy named Jesus, because He will -save His people from their sins-... and Immanuel, -God with us.-

Are there problems in your life that seem bigger than God-- -Do you ever feel disconnected, like God is remote, and unrelatable---Pastor Joel gives us the good news of a baby boy named Jesus, because He will -save His people from their sins-... and Immanuel, -God with us.-

Micah 7:2b-4aEveryone lies in wait to shed blood;    they hunt each other with nets.3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;    the ruler demands gifts,the judge accepts bribes,    the powerful dictate what they desire –    they all conspire together.4 The best of them is like a brier,    the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.Today's verses continue the theme of yesterday's. Micah looks around him at the state of the nation and sees only evil and violence. It's a depressing picture of any nation but it's so much worse when you remember that this is a place where God is supposed to be worshipped, and his goodness and righteousness reflected in the behaviour of his people.It would be easy to read these verses in isolation and think that the situation was hopeless. After all, God has spoken through Micah, warning of judgment to come and yet it appears that no-one's listening. Everything looks much the same as it did in Chapter 1.  Perhaps we sometimes feel the same. The world around us looks like it's going from bad to worse. Evil goes unchecked. People we love steadfastly refuse to pay attention to Jesus. We might even despair of the state of our own hearts - we want to grow in godliness but sometimes we wonder if we're any different to the say when we first believed. Why doesn't God DO something?! But, of course, we're only looking at a couple of verses out of a whole book. We need to take a step back and see the bigger picture. God IS doing something. For a start, he is speaking, addressing the people so that those who choose to listen have time to repent. And he is sending Assyria to act as his agent. And he has promised a greater salvation that will follow the exile. Micah might not have been able to see those things immediately in front of him. But he knows that they are real, as we'll see over the next couple of days. So when we feel overwhelmed by the evil around us, and the sin that remains inside us, let's look up and remember that this isn't the whole story. God is at work. He is always busy speaking, acting, keeping his promises and rescuing his people. So let's pray today that he would help us to keep remembering that, whatever is going on around us.

The devil is still challenging what God says  If you are not standing with Israel you are against God  Every nation will fall under God  Do not get caught up in the things of this world 

Janet talks about the difference between the Joy of the Lord and Foreboding Joy.   Hey you guys!  This week I am being super transparent with you! You are going to hear some very personal things of my journey with God and how I dealt with the “valleys” and the “mountains”!  Have you ever heard of the phrase FOREBODING JOY?  I wanted to know the exact meaning of “forebode” so that I could better understand this phrase of foreboding joy. Here is what good old Merriam-Webster says forebode means: “to have an inward prediction of, foretell or predict.” Interesting right? Foreboding joy is is a feeling, a prediction, an assumption that while you are happy, full of joy, rejoicing, “on the mountain top” that something bad is about to happen!  Have you ever had that feeling? If you have experienced abuse, betrayal, or trauma, I am sure you have had to deal with foreboding JOY! Let me know your thoughts! Because, friends…..I get super REAL with you!! Here's the truth……foreboding joy will mess with your discernment! If you give in to the temptation of foreboding joy, (the feeling that something bad is going to happen) then it will be difficult to know when the Holy Spirit is warning you about something, or if HE simply wants to BLESS YOU! Don't miss out on your blessing!! Listen to this week's podcast and don't forget to SHARE SHARE SHARE!   HERE ARE A FEW SCRIPTURES TO HELP YOU ALONG THE JOURNEY! 1. Philippians 1:9-11 – A Prayer To Be Able To Discern What Is Best And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 2. Romans 12:9 – Hate What Is Evil & Hold Fast To What Is Good “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” 3. 1 Kings 3:9 – Ask God For An Understanding & Discerning Heart “So give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 4. Hebrews 4:12 – God's Word Discerning Our Thoughts & Intentions of Our Hearts For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 5. Proverbs 119:66 – Teach Me Discernment & Knowledge  “Teach me good discernment and knowledge for I believe in your commandments.” 6. Proverbs 14:8 – Seek God's Will For Your Way “The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit.” 7. Romans 12:2 – By Testing We Can Discern What Is The Will of God “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” 8. James 1:5 – Ask God For Wisdom, He Gives Freely To Those Who Ask Him If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 9. Proverbs 3:21-24  –  Preserve Sound Judgement & Discretion “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament  to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.  When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” 10. Hebrews 5:14 – Through God's Word We Can Grow In Discernment But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

The Psalms are hardly ever characterized merely by abstract doctrinal truth but are most often saturated with human emotion and experience. They often intimately describe the struggle of the Psalmist's soul, baring his heart to God, the reader, and even to himself. As such, Psalms have proven to be a great source of encouragement for God's people. As you read Psalm 42, you will scarcely find a better description of a depressed individual. Psalm 42 describes a soul that is in an unhappy condition - what Martyn Lloyd-Jones refers to as -spiritual depression.-- -A depressed Christian may seem like a contradiction of terms, as the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit is joy, which intuitively ought to overthrow depression. But a spiritually depressed Christian is real. While depression does not disqualify one from being a true Christian, depressed Christians are, however, missing out on a great deal and are very poor examples of the efficacy of the Gospel in the human life. Psalm 42 contains the remedy to begin to combat spiritual depression in verse 5 -repeated in verse 11-. It begins by preaching to oneself- what business is it of yours to be downcast-- Instead of being depressed, hope in God- Do you not remember who He is, what He has done, and what He promises to do for you-- Is He not my Helper and Rock of my salvation-- Why so downcast, O my soul, put your hope in God-

The Psalms are hardly ever characterized merely by abstract doctrinal truth but are most often saturated with human emotion and experience. They often intimately describe the struggle of the Psalmist's soul, baring his heart to God, the reader, and even to himself. As such, Psalms have proven to be a great source of encouragement for God's people. As you read Psalm 42, you will scarcely find a better description of a depressed individual. Psalm 42 describes a soul that is in an unhappy condition - what Martyn Lloyd-Jones refers to as -spiritual depression.-- -A depressed Christian may seem like a contradiction of terms, as the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit is joy, which intuitively ought to overthrow depression. But a spiritually depressed Christian is real. While depression does not disqualify one from being a true Christian, depressed Christians are, however, missing out on a great deal and are very poor examples of the efficacy of the Gospel in the human life. Psalm 42 contains the remedy to begin to combat spiritual depression in verse 5 -repeated in verse 11-. It begins by preaching to oneself- what business is it of yours to be downcast-- Instead of being depressed, hope in God- Do you not remember who He is, what He has done, and what He promises to do for you-- Is He not my Helper and Rock of my salvation-- Why so downcast, O my soul, put your hope in God-

We have a great God- Do we see Him coming through-- There are three experiences of Christians who see their great God coming through- great prayer, great power, and great grace.

We have a great God- Do we see Him coming through-- There are three experiences of Christians who see their great God coming through- great prayer, great power, and great grace.

Hello Everyone Thank for tuning in. In today's episode I am reading from a wonderful devotional out the YouVersion Bible App entitled “My Utmost For His Highest” Holy Week Edition Day 1 is called “The Bewildering Call of God” Do you know the purpose in which God has called you to? Perhaps it's a lot simpler than you trying to figure it out but just simply be closer to God through consistent fellowship with The Father, as we become more intimate with God through our devotion and fellowship we begin to learn what our true purpose is and what God is unveiling in our lives. Your life is much bigger and so much more important than you realize and guess what God wants to show you so much more than you realize. I pray you listen and enjoy this episode and encourage you to honor the Love this week during Holy Week. God Bless You All. Please Subscribe and Share this Podcast with someone you love and help spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. https://cash.app/$blknerd50 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blknerd-50/message

We have been discussing the importance of obeying and trusting God alone and not bowing to authority. We have looked at doing things God's way and deciding between following God and not following God or doing these types of things. The Lord's Prayer comes from the Gospel of John and is taught by Jesus to teach his disciples to pray. We are told to seek God's will as part of our prayer life, but if he will, we are to do his will. We should participate in God's will when it comes to our life, and if we do, we will save money and not have to buy any books. This will help us to afford to save more money. Proclamation of the Word Message by Pastor Joe “Resolved to Obey and Worship Only the Lord, God” “Do the Will of God” Sermon Notes Matthew 6:10 Praying for God's will on earth 2 Great Commands of the Father 3 Commands of the Son God's will for us 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – 8 Our sanctification 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 Rejoice, pray and give thanks Hebrews 10:36 Endure in doing God's will Psalms 40:8 Delight in doing His will

Jesus Christ is so much more than a good moral Teacher. He is the Son of God Himself- --In this part of Mark's Gospel, Jesus was beginnng to teach His disciples that He was more than a miracle-worker. They were in Caesarea Philippi - an area that was filled and surrounded with temples and shrines for idolatrous worship. Jesus asked about who most people thought He was, and then He specifically asked the disciples who they thought He was. In this minute of Holy Spirit-given clarity, Peter answered, -You are the Christ-- He is the Messiah - the Anointed One - that the Old Testament prophets had foretold for so long. He is the Great High Priest Who is without sin and came to put an end to all the animal sacrifices. And He is also the King of kings. --People today - even in the Church - are uneasy with the Jesus of the Bible, and so they try to make Him out to be whatever they want Him to be. Who do you say Jesus is-- Do you recognize Him as the Son of God-- Do you recognize Him as the Lord of your life-- Do you recognize Him as your only hope in life and death-- --Jesus is asking you today, -Who do you say that I am---

In John 14:9 Jesus said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." Jesus places himself in the same category as the only true God. » View: Jesus Is God: Whoever Has Seen Jesus Has Seen The Father

Are we too quick to pass over the grace of God-- Do we understand our state before the Holy one and our need for grace-- The grace of Christ is what saves us and disciplines, comforts, and helps us throughout this life.

Are we too quick to pass over the grace of God-- Do we understand our state before the Holy one and our need for grace-- The grace of Christ is what saves us and disciplines, comforts, and helps us throughout this life.

Are we too quick to pass over the grace of God-- Do we understand our state before the Holy one and our need for grace-- The grace of Christ is what saves us and disciplines, comforts, and helps us throughout this life.

Whether you are in a financial crisis or doing fine, you can bet that you have had (or will have) financial battles to face. This episode goes over the Biblical approach to face them head-on and to see God show up and do the miraculous in your situation. Read 2 Chronicles 20 to get the full story. Links: Our Book - Simple Money, Rich Life:  ​​https://seedtime.com/smrl/  How we paid off our mortgage in 3 years - https://seedtime.com/paid-off-house/  Giving our age as percentage - https://seedtime.com/giving-our-age/  Prayers for finances PDF - https://seedtime.com/prayers  Our True Financial Freedom Class - https://seedtime.com/tff  Watch this episode on our SeedTime Money Podcast YouTube channel   These are a few of the topics we cover: One of the coolest miracles of the Bible The power of prayer in numbers Even when it seems impossible, do this Blessings and protections received when obeying God Do this when you are facing a battle in your finances How to do what you can in the natural, so you can experience what God can do in the supernatural The unfair advantage we have as Believers   If you haven't checked out our best-selling book, Simple Money, Rich Life, we think you'll love it. It was named the 2022 Book of the Year by ICFH and has over 275 5-star reviews on Amazon and is best described as “a money book for people who don't read money books.” You can take it for a test drive for FREE at SeedTime.com/sample where you can download chapter 1 of the audiobook, grab the 1st 2 chapters of the ebook version, and even get the 5-week book study companion guide.

We've been settling with the scraps of immature communion with God when our God-given right is to have deep and mature communion personally with the Father. Pastor Dave Diefendorf reveals two different states of maturity in our relationship with God: Do you spend your time with Jesus asking Him for things, or getting to know Him and enjoy Him and learn to see the world the way He does?

166 – How do you get ready for Christmas spiritually?Christmas will be here in less than two weeks. Are you ready?I'm not talking about the shopping and the cooking, the decorations and the  Christmas cards. I'm talking about being ready spiritually to celebrate the birth of Jesus.Usually at this time of year, I read the Nativity stories in Matthew and Luke. And I look at the prophecies in the Old Testament the tell how Jesus will be born.But this year I've been studying the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7), to get in the Christmas spirit.And I'm seeing things I've never seen before.There's not time to go over every verse in this podcast episode, but here's what I talk about. And I share how these verses shed light on the spiritual meaning of Christmas.Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God Do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them Love your enemies Do not call anyone on earth ‘father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven Each line of the Lord's PrayerDon't store up treasures here on earth, store your treasures in heavenDon't worry about what you'll eat, drink, or wear because God will care for youSeek first the kingdom of God and His righteousnessDon't judge others or you will be judgedI encourage you to read the whole Sermon on the Mount and think about how each verse brings vibrancy to the Christmas message.I wish you a very blessed and holy Christmas.For all the Bible quotes in this episode, go to the show notes page:thebiblespeakstoyou.com/166Support the show_________________________James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Contact him here.Subscribe to the podcast • Make a donation to support the show

You have been SUMMONED

The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit will put His breath in you, and you will come to life. Pentecostal: “Depending upon God to do something that I cannot do” A Framework for Spiritual Gifts and their Function: Purpose of the Gifts = LOVE Power of the Gifts = LOVE Practice of the Gifts = LOVE Product of the Gifts = LOVE Ezekiel 37:1-10 God's redemptive and powerful plan: (v5-6) • I will put breath in you • You will come to life • You will know that I am the Lord We desire healing in our body, but do not have the breath of God in us God invited Ezekiel to invite His Spirit - He does the same with you and me. Luke 11:11-13 Response: • When you have no hope in the bones, have hope in God • Do not limit what God wants to do with the bones • Prophesy to your dry bones DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY ► This week's Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16 ► Connection questions: 1. What are you thankful for? 2. What is a challenge you are facing? 3. How did you do with last week's “I will” statement? ► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words ► Individual answers to five questions: 1. What stands out to you? 2. What does this passage tell us about people? 3. What does this passage tell us about God? 4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement) 5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

What is your definition of meek? I think of timid and quiet, however, that is not Jesus definition. To be meek is to: - not blow up easily - be humble and submissive to God Do you struggle with being meek? We have to answer this question and make appropriate changes in our lives if we are going to walk in the fullness of who God has called us to be. Jesus tells us that the meek will inherit the earth. Why is this important in our day-to-day walk with the Lord? Scripture Referenced: Matthew 5 Matthew 11:25 Psalm 76:9 For additional information, visit Ruthhendrickson.org.  Related Content:  His Daily New Mercies| What did you notice the last time you went for a walk as the sun was rising? Did you see the darkness giving way to the light? Did you notice streams of light coming from the sun or the sun's brightness as it begins to climb higher in the sky?  As I was walking along the beach, the sun was rising. As usual, it was lighting a pathway on the water. I stopped walking to pause and look. As I marveled at its splendor, God gently reminded me that His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) https://ruthhendrickson.com/rhm-blog/2022/7/25/his-daily-new-mercies Connect: Website: https://ruthhendrickson.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthHendrickson.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthhendricksonministries/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ruth-hendrickson/72/3b1/a69/ Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RHministries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RuthHendrickson  

Ruth Loyalty and dedication Leaves her homeland Commits to going with Naomi – Ruth 1:16-17 Naomi's God becomes her God Do we have the…

This week Pastor Justin talks about getting Impractical about money and understanding God's multiplication process! You can now see on our Youtube Channel by following this link: Flow of Heaven   Important Points: I will Use What God Has Given Me to Experience the Flow of Heaven! My Family will Trust God because He is Faithful! I will Pour Out to be Filled! I will Do the Impractical to see God Do the Impossible!   Important Scriptures (NLT version unless stated otherwise):   2 Kings 4:1-2 Galatians 6:7-10 NKJV 2 Kings 4:3-4 Isaiah 41:10 2 Kings 4:5-7 Luke 6:38 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

This week Pastor Justin talks about the excitement of God's small gestures that lead to Big breakthroughs! You can now see on our Youtube Channel by following this link: The 7th Time   Important Points: I will Risk My Life to see God's Reward! I will Go Again because God Said! I will Honor God in the Smallest Miracles! I will Do the Impractical to see God Do the Impossible!   Important Scriptures (NLT version unless stated otherwise):   1 Kings 18:1 1 Kings 18:33-35 Matthew 16:25 1 Kings 18:41-44a 1 Kings 18:44b-46 Matthew 13:31-32

This week Pastor Justin talks about seeing God do the impossible will require us to the do the impractical! You can now see on our Youtube Channel by following this link: Impractical   Important Points: I will Do the Impractical to see God Do the Impossible!   Important Scriptures (NLT version unless stated otherwise):   1 Kings 18:1-6 1 Kings 18:16-21 1 Kings 18:22-40

The Power of Intimacy with Christ | “How to wait on God” Do you struggle with believing God when He just doesn't seem to answer when you feel he should or doesn't solve a problem at the time you think he should? I have had some seasons when I really struggled with waiting on God but God used them to grow me and to teach me spiritual truths. I learned that the struggle really was not with God but within. God uses timing that aligns with our spiritual maturity so that we grow emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. You will take away from this episode some tools and knowledge on how to wait on God. The practice of waiting on God is a spiritual discipline. Related Content:  Article: Faith Climb Dr. Mancha has 35+ years of ministry, an author, a former radio and television show host, motivational speaker, former pastor of 28 years, mother of 4 adult children and entrepreneur. Prophetess Mancha has dedicated her life to ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ teaching others about intimate relationship with Jesus. Take a few minutes to listen on the app of your choice like Apple Podcast, CPNShows.com, Spotify, or online at: https://www.sharonmancha.com/podcasts. Check out additional resources on my website: Spiritual Growth programs for life empowerment. Website at: www.sharonmancha.com Blog: https://www.sharonmancha.com/blog Share this podcast with your twitter followers using this link: https://twitter.com/drsharonmancha Enjoyed the podcast! Give me a shout out by reviewing the podcasts where you download your favorite podcasts. If you and screenshot it and post it to your Instagram feed and tag #sharonmancha.com  You will receive 10% discount on one of my books or programs of choice.

Modesty is a BIG topic in the Christian community - “what can I or what can't I wear?” “I look this way, so I can't adjust what I wear” So many different narratives on it all! We discuss this today & are once again joined by our good friend Abigail! In this episode we talk on: - What is “Modesty?” - Does modesty only include how you dress? - Are there certain clothes that are unacceptable for Christian men & woman to wear? - The importance of having a “clear conscience before God” - How to judge how you dress or behave by the word of God - Do we need to cater to others when going about how we dress? - The link between modesty & humility All our socials: Insta: the29.11podcast Twitter: @The2911Podcast TikTok: the2911podcast Email: the2911podcast@gmail.com Our personal socials [Insta]: @kwabz_00 @dsqrd247 @napzino_ @bienaime_1 @m.akwasi18

Pastor Danny examines the lineage of the Pharisees from a physical and spiritual standpoint and gives us three crucial tests to be sure that our Father is truly God: Do we love Jesus? Do we obey his Word? Does our life look like Christ's life?

Welcome to God's pathway to life for you, we have the Friday Special for you with Dr Angel Martinez Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, What a great sermon about living now for Jesus and not waiting for your Golden years to service God Do it now When you can do more. I hope you find joy in this Sermon.I love you all and God Bless you and your family and Friends.Hey guys sorry I have been missing for the last few months but was still getting over my sickness, but I will have a new episode for you Monday so please keep an eye out for it.South Heights Baptist Church (Sapulpa,OK)I invite you to live stream Church with us on Facebook live Sunday morning at 11am CST and Sunday Night at 6:30pm and Wednesday night at 7pmCST link Below https://www.facebook.com/SouthHeightsBaptistChurchOfSapulpaWebsite for the Church this take you straight to the media page for the Churchhttps://www.southheightsbaptist.com/mediaministry.htmlI 'm a member of SHBC the Church doesn't support this podcast with any kind of money i do this to help you find God and to reconnect with Jesus and it helps me to because we are in this together and i want to help you get a understand so we can grow in Christ God Bless you all.prayer List Email address godspathwaytolife@gmail.comhello if you would like to donate to the Church there's a link below tithe.ly linknot asking but if God has laid it on your heart to here a place Donate goes straight to a real ChurchWebsite for the Podcasthttps://godspathwaytolife.faith/Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/433047)

The Power of Intimacy with Christ | “Born of the Spirit of God” Do you desire to truly be born of the Spirit of God? In this episode, I share how to meet God at the intersection of life and what it means to be born of the Spirit of God. The most important moment in life is when God solicits relationship and offers us the opportunity to be born of his Spirit. When I gave myself to God at this threshold of relationship, I discovered that being born of God's Spirit was the ultimate and that this awesome privilege would empower the rest of my life and out of it I came to know myself in a deeper way as God knows me. This situatedness led to my experience and life journey of God revealing himself in me. Being born of the Spirit is a shedding of the flesh while embracing doing exploits with God. Learning to grow in this new birth state leads to a deepened relationship with the Holy Spirit, as well as produces spiritual fruit toward spiritual maturity. You will take away from this episode, information on why it is important to be born of the Spirit of God. 

In Revelation 21:5, Jesus said: “Behold, I am making all things new!” “All things” is pretty big; it includes your life and mine! And in many ways it's what the rest of the New Testament is all about! I want to show you one moment, an encounter Jesus had with a religious leader that provides a snapshot of some of what this newness means. And right on time for 2021 :) John chapter 3, verses 1-15 Do it again God … Do it again.http://www.wearesya.comhttp://www.shepherdchurch.comDecember 31, 2020Dusty Frizzell

Have you ever been faced with breaking point? What is a breaking point? How do I handle a breaking point? Life is a process. Your breaking point is that moment in your life process where a situation or circumstance becomes extremely overbearing that it leaves you with only two options: A) Make the best of it. B) Let it bring out the worst in you. In this episode, i have explained five (5) practical steps on how to handle a breaking point with Bible reference from 1 Samuel: Forget about your Environment Give the burden to God Do what is necessary Do not forget your vow/covenant with God Give God the Glory Song: Better (Jessica Reedy) Instrumental: Better Instrumental (CK Spikes) Subscribe! Leave a review! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Heaven is the goal of life. Heaven is transforming union with God. Why wait, why put it off? Nothing less than union with God can satisfy the deep longing of your heart.  Five simple steps to achieve union with God: Do and accept the will of God; flee from sin; develop a deep friendship with Jesus; have a profound interior life; belong to Mary. If we want to be united to God, then we must strive to do His will in everything. But just saying I want to do the will of God is too general, too vague. There are areas in your life you know you are not bringing God into because you are not thinking about it or because you don't want Him in there. It could be work, relaxation, family, friends, your summer, vacation…You know what you are doing wrong. What are you going to do the make a change? If we want to be united to God then we must flee from every sin, both serious and small sins, and flee from every occasion of sin. Be intentional about identifying and rooting out the deadly vices: pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, lust. we are scandalized by the way other so-called Christians acct; yet we excuse our own bad behavior – or we don't even notice it. This is case of plank eye. Take the plank out of your own eye before you call out the speck in my eye.  Don't be discouraged, these things are a reminder of our personal powerlessness and the need for constant surrender to and reliance on Jesus and Mary. The point is not to live a mediocre, lukewarm life. Be determined to reach union with God here! Our Goal is Heaven and Heaven is transforming union with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We want to say, like St. Paul. “I live now not with my own life but with the life of Christ who lives in me.” Therefore, we seek to know and do the will of Jesus because we want to be united to Him. We accept our own crosses as a way to help Jesus carry His cross and save souls. We flee from sin because sin is a personal offense to Jesus and I don't want to offend Him. I become virtuous so that I may love Jesus better. I want to go to Mass to enter into the sacrifice and thanksgiving of Jesus and to receive Him in the Eucharist, the closest possible union with Him this side of death. I see prayer as friendship with Jesus; talking to him from the heart, listening to him and thinking about him by reading Scripture and just being with Him. And as my friendship with Him grows, I want others to experience the same happiness meaning and fulfillment, so I act to help others to friendship with Jesus.  To reach heaven we need a profound interior life. Things in this world a good; but nothing is perfect, its not lasting and it can never satisfy our longing for God. And where do we find God? He dwells in your soul. But we never look for him there because we are too busy doing things or too busy with entertainment. We don't find God in our soul because we are addicted to work, kids, entertainment, news…on and on it goes.  Stop – put away the excuses and distractions. Go into silence. Talk to God from the heart. Read the life of Jesus in the Gospels. Think about him. Be with Him. At first you will go crazy as you suffer withdrawal from your addictions. But don't escape back into the addictions. Admit to Jesus you are powerless, surrender to Him and beg Him to do it for you.  I you want to reach heaven, then give yourself to Mary. The Holy Spirit brings us into union with God and the Holy Spirit works through Mary. The more you belong to Her, the more the Holy Spirit will unite to Jesus. Develop a personal relationship with Mary – a real concrete friendship and dependence upon her. St. Maximilian Kolbe said: I see Mary everywhere, I see difficulties nowhere. Live continuous friendship with Mary; have complete confidence in her.