Podcasts about god most

"We love others Best, when we love God Most." -Kyle Idleman Today we would like all of you to discover that LOVE starts with God and that Love starts with God because GOD is LOVE. Do you want to love your neighbor more? love the unlovable? Do you want to be that person John was referring to in 1 John 4:7-12? It all starts with loving God- it starts with focusing more on Him and realizing that Love starts with Him. Today, look up and know that the best way to find love is to find God. Join us with our service with the title: Love from Up Above. #beLOVEd #LOVEfromUpAbove #justlookUP! #IsangTibokIsangPamilya #itisaONEBEATFamdayFundaySonday! (Credits to the original artists and owners of the media used. No copyright infringement or any illegal means intended)

Join Pastor Travis Hall as he discusses the fifth deadly thought from his book, 7 Deadly Thoughts. In this freeing episode, Pastor Travis explains how the limiting belief of thinking 'I can't' creates a stronghold of fear inside us. By reflecting on Numbers 13:31, he talks about how the 'grasshopper mentality' reveals the real challenge—aside from the 'giants'—inside the spies that went up for Israel. Tune in as they put the spot on Transformational Truth #71 - Even when your fear feels bigger than your faith, God is for you. Listen with your notes ready because there will be a lot to take away from this episode. In this episode you will learn: · Fear robs you of your future · Sometimes our adversities help us see what's holding us back inside · Peter took a misstep in the water, but Jesus Christ lifted him back up · Why you can't lose when you're with God · Most fears come from the belief that God doesn't love you · …and so much more! About Pastor Travis Hall: Pastor Travis believes God created us on purpose for a purpose. As a pastor and leader for more than 20 years, he has a deep burden in his heart to help people fulfill their God-given potential and adopt a paradigm of leadership that will restore joy to their life. He and his wife Tina have the honor of serving as lead pastor of Life Church International, a community-centric church with more than 500 people from 75 nationalities. Through their partnership with Satisfeed, they've fed more than 1,000 families per week and also provide local food distributors with basic need supplies to help their communities. Aside from his beautiful wife and five amazing children, his most thrilling experience is watching God work through their ministry and leadership to bring more than 5,000 souls to faith in Christ. Catch Pastor Travis Hall on: Website: http://cultivatemypurpose.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastortravishall/ New eBook Released, Stop Arguing and Start Communicating, Book by Travis Hall: https://amzn.to/3Hxov1J Seven Deadly Thoughts, Purchase Here: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Thoughts-Conquer-that-Limit/dp/1662806566 Don't forget to give us a quick review on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transformational-truths-with-pastor-travis-hall/id1534742199

This week we are joined by an old friend of Christian H.'s, who is a successful entrepreneur who shares part of his story with us, full of ups and downs, as we discuss what it means to be "successful" in business/work, as men and followers of Christ. NOTES: This Weeks Whiskey:  Japanese: The Kurayoshi Malt Whiskey (12 year) Scotch: Bruichladdich - The Classic Laddie Scottish Barley (unpeated Islay single malt scotch whisky) American: Old Grand-dad 114 (Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey) This Weeks Cigars: MyCigarPack.com + Padrone 7,000 Show Notes: Guest: Chris Flugstad - https://www.facebook.com/topher.flugstad  Chris "retired" at 37, after selling off his business, becoming a 15 year "overnight success". He was told he had to go to college, get a job and after he retired, he could try one of his ideas... but he ignored that advise and took the risk and it paid off. Is success just limited to how much money you make. As Christian's, we should be focused on working and creating to make the world a better place, not just focused on making lots of money. Follow through on your commitments Take care of your employees and always make payroll There success was changing the expectations of the consumer Start with Why book by Simon Symek Chris was working out of his "why" before he even consciously knew what it was & many entrepreneurs are driven by their why / vision, not by becoming rich. Christian B.'s entrepreneurial vision was to start his own Christian counseling practice (not just "Biblical Counseling" or Counseling with Christian convictions not impacting the counseling). God lays out a foundational standard for "success" for us in loving our family well, loving those around us well and being receptive to His specific calling to us individually... whether making minimum wage and just getting by or being a millionaire... if we are reliant on God and obeying him, that is success and will make an impact on those God has put in our lives. When we receive criticism in life, it's only those "below us" who are jealous of what we are doing or don't get it... it's never those who have more "success" above us trying to tear us down. Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work hartely, as for the Lord" 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "... so whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God" Most people will only have a local influence in their life (with our family and neighbors) and won't be a massive "influencer" on the world stage... and both are equally valuable and significant, if it's the calling God is calling us too. We are called to be faithful to God. We can always "do more" in life but we are only responsible for what God calls us to. If we do more than God calls us to and burn out or neglect our family and other priorities, that is not bringing glory to God because we aren't being obedient... even if God still uses it. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks to God in all your circumstances, for it is the will of God through Christ Jesus for you" The products and services we create and deliver, will never change hearts... but the WAY we conduct our business, work and personal relationships in the midst of doing our work can make the larger impact that God is calling us to. Envy (wanting what others have) is a joy killer and why God made it one of the 10 commandments. God has given me a journey and story and I while other's stories can be inspiring... we shouldn't try to emulate and strive for what they have, especially if it isn't what God's calling is for us. Contrast this with our current cultural time, where we are encouraged to want what others have (entitlement to other peoples stuff, socialist tendencies for "free stuff" and demonizing people who have more than us / "the rich"). Everything belongs to God and we are simply stewards of what He has entrusted to us. He is generous to us... SO THAT we can be generous to others. Having financial success is not evil... just like being poor is not evil, or a virtual in and of itself. The heart behind why you live your life, if you are following God's calling on your life and living your life the way He that glorifies Himself and blesses others. What we spend our money on, is a good indicator about what is most important to you (we spend money on the things we care most about) Most of us don't think about ourselves as being "rich"... and so most of us define someone being "wealthy" as those who have more money than me, which is an ever-changing, never-arriving mindset.    Call To Action:  Follow us on our Instagram or Facebook “The Old Fashion Dad Podcast”  pages for more content & DM us with any comments, questions or let us know what you would like us to talk about in a future episode. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast app. Leave us a nice 5 star review and tell your friends and fellow dad's to listen!

Today on Home But Not Alone we’re talking about idolatry. But we’re talking about it in a way that most of us have never considered. Today we’re talking about making an idol out of the family. If you want to love your family more, we invite you to take some time to examine whether you're loving God Most. And if your family is getting in the way of loving God - if you're treating your family as an idol - it's time to get back to putting God first in your life so he can give you the grace to love your family more! Learn More: Visit our Podcast website HBNApodcast.com to learn more and subscribe. Find more from Tim at ChasteLove.org Find more from Sara at ToJesusSincerely.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/homebutnotalone/support

Have you ever wondered why you might struggle hearing the voice of God? Most of the time it's because we don't slow down long enough to listen. Sometimes silencing the outside voices helps us hear more clearly. For others, they may not even think that God has anything to say, because He's said it all in scripture. Seriously, God's not mute on His throne only speaking when the pages of a book are open. He's bigger than that. Here we go again on hearing from the Lord as we seek after relationship with Him!More at http://saltydogspodcast.comPodcast Gear: http://podcastgearforbeginners.comSupport the show and gain access to the Pissed Puppies Podcast where we're angry, but harmless in our critique of some of the American Church's "growth" methods.http://patreon.com/saltydogspodcastThanks for your support!Email us: SaltyDogsPodcast@gmail.comJason: Jvgrafiks@gmail.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Josh, Mara, and guest Bryan Knurek dig deeper into Gideon's story featured in week six of our Epic series (July 12). When--if ever--is it okay to put God to the test? Or rather, how do we know the will of God? Most people don't get a physical sign when seeking God's will the way Gideon did, so, practically speaking, what are some ways God affirms His will in our lives? When we're discerning the will of God in our lives, we like to think of big decisions, big moments, and we often find ourselves looking for THE moment. The next big decision. If we then miss that moment, or don't do something exactly right within that moment, we tend to doubt ourselves and fear we're doing things wrong. But living out our every day life in pursuit of Him is not just about seeking those flash-in-the-pan moments to DO exactly what God is asking us to do--it's about being who He's asking us to BE in between those moments. Are there times in our lives where a symbol (or memory) of one of those significant moments where we've experienced God working in us becomes more important than God working in us in and of itself? Are the big moments in your life pointing you toward seeking Him in the small moments? *NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, the last 4 minutes of this discussion were cut off. BUT... we encourage you to continue this discussion at home and let us know your thoughts!

Phil spoke from Acts 3 and 4 about Peter and John healing a lame beggar in Jesus's name.Gospel with powerIntroduction• Religion - mans pursuit of God ?• Most would say Religion seems to be about rules and regulations to somehow make us acceptable to God• Jesus came and took upon himself all that was needed to make us acceptable to God Jesus came to give us life and freedom not burden us with rules and regulations. Look at a story from the New Testament Acts 3 - Story do the lame man begging at the temple gate called beautiful. Acts of the Apostles 3:4-8https://www.bible.com/116/act.3.4-8.nltPeter saw the opportunity and shared the good news of the kingdomIn chapter 4 we find that the religious leaders confronted Peter and JohnAnd arrested them because what they did and preached did not line up with their religious practice which had no life in it only rules and regulations.They could not deny the healing of the lame man it was obvious as he had been lame from birth and they would have seen him at the gate begging daily. Paul write to the Corinthians“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”1 Corinthians 4:20 NIVhttps://www.bible.com/111/1co.4.20.nivThere is power in the name of Jesus,To forgive sinTo bring freedom from guilt and shameTo heal sickness of the mind, body and soulTo release those who are oppressed and captive to bad habitsTo those who don't know Jesus It's not about choosing to follow a religion its about choosing to have a relationship with Jesus who can do all those things and give you lifeYou can find out more by joining the Alpha courseBefore the religious council Peter again took the opportunity to speak of Jesus “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.””Acts of the Apostles 4:12 NLThttps://www.bible.com/116/act.4.12.nltTo ChristiansPeter saw the opportunity1. To bring healing and demonstrate Gods goodness in healing (Jesus himself possibly passed by this same man) 2. To share the good news of Jesus and in “But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”Acts 4:4 NIVhttps://www.bible.com/111/act.4.4.nivConclusionAfter Peter and John had been released they returned to the believers and told them all that had happenedThey then pray together and I think God loves this kind of prayer Acts of the Apostles 4:29-31https://www.bible.com/116/act.4.29-31.nltThe result of this prayer was they were filled with the Holy Spirit and preached the word of God with Boldness. Maybe this is the greatest opportunity we have had in our lifetime so far, so may we too be bold enough 1. to pray this way 2. Like Peter see the opportunity for the Good news of the kingdom, whether in action or word. After all he is still the same Jesus, the way the truth and the life to all who chose to believe. QuestionsWhat are your expectations in sharing the gospel What opportunities have you had for the gospel over the last 3 months? Is lack of boldness and courage a hindrance to sharing the gospel? How and why? What needs to change and how can it?

Since that is true, how then do we pursue and achieve intimacy with God? Most people haven’t a clue, or are unaware of the breadth of possibilities that can be found in such a relationship. In this program, we’ll also have a look at the question: What does intimacy with God look like?

In the heat of what feels like an endless, four-year-plus debate, the question arises: what role does faith play in politics? While some assume one party is "closer" to divine ideals than another, what is the truth about modern-day government and God? Most relevantly, what does it mean - and should mean - to you? Join Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino for this in-studio teaching inspired by a discussion she had that ended when she got blocked - simply because she said that if the President of the United States showed up at church, that could become a good thing. (Intro and conclusion track provided by Purple Planet Music for our educational purpose, Music: https://www.purple-planet.com) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kingdompowernow/support

What comes to your mind when you think about God? Most people don’t realize that what you think about God is the most important thing about you. In today’s episode, Amy Killingsworth talks with Johnny And Elizabeth Enlow, the co-founders of Restore7 ministry, which globally serves influencers in every area of society. Spiritual parents to many throughout the nations, Johnny and Elizabeth talk about the impact of having a bigger, more expansive view of God in our life. Find your spiritual and emotional healing today as they open your mind to look at God, yourself, and others in a whole different way.

What comes to your mind when you think about God? Most people don’t realize that what you think about God is the most important thing about you. In today’s episode, Amy Killingsworth talks with Johnny And Elizabeth Enlow, the co-founders of Restore7 ministry, which globally serves influencers in every area of society. Spiritual parents to […]

Do you have a high view of God? Most don’t, judging by the world’s behavior. But once you get even a glimmer of understanding into the power, might, love, and magnitude of God, awe-struck wonder sets in. Mike Cunningham leads our conversation today.

Mirza Ghalib - who is to Urdu literature what Shakespeare is to English - whose poetry has continued to find admirers even a century and a half later when he is no more. Born in 1797 in Agra, Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib moved to Delhi wherein the court of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, his talents found new heights. These heights of his literary brilliance often prod you on a deeper level and make you wonder. ‘Did Ghalib ever write about politics?’, ‘how can his poems be interpreted as literature about God?’ Most importantly, ‘did he - the baadah-khwaar or the wine drinker - ever believe in God?’ All these questions won't be tossed away unanswered in this very special podcast- a masterclass featuring author Maaz Bin Bilal. Maaz who took upon himself to translate some of Ghalib’s ghazals in his book Ghazalnama - Poems from Delhi, Belfast and Urdu, decodes Ghalib’s ‘Ye na thi humari qismat ...’ Guest: Maaz Bin Bilal Host, Writer and Sound Designer: Fabeha Syed Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

December 1, 2019 Last time we saw how Jesus began describing the characteristics of those who will be blessed in the kingdom of heaven. He has gone through all of Galilee proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease. Now he is up on a mountain near the sea, giving the greatest sermon ever recorded. What is it about? Jesus describes how we can be ready for the kingdom of heaven. Who Will Find Blessings? (Part 1) Last week we began to look at eight characteristics of the man or woman who will receive all of the blessings that were promised in the Old Testament. This section is called the beatitudes. Some translations substituted the word “happy” for the word “blessed,” but that completely takes away the Old Testament idea that Matthew has in mind. Throughout his gospel, he has been relying on a knowledge of the Old Testament. That is not going to change because this is a book for Jews to see the Messiah. Jesus reveals the type of person who will receive the kingdom of heaven, be comforted over their sins and their suffering, inherit the earth, and find satisfaction. These are all blessings talked about in the Old Testament that Jesus says will come true. Who will receive these blessings? What type of person will they be? Jesus shocks us with his description of the person who will find God’s promised blessings. He says that God is looking to bless those who have nothing, those who are mourning over the debt of their sins, those who do not take what is theirs by force, and those who are not hungering and thirsting for the blessing. They must be hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Their deepest desire must be to find acceptance and peace with God, standing righteous in God’s presence for eternity. Who Will Find Blessings? (Part 2) All of those characteristics had to do with how a person views him or her self. They must have lowliness and humility inside themselves, and they must desire to be righteous. The second half of these characteristics is more about how a person thinks about the world. Matthew 5:7--10 (ESV) --- 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The Merciful The first thing we see listed is mercy. What is mercy? Many people see mercy as forgiveness, but it is deeper than that. Mercy includes granting someone forgiveness, but it also includes offering to help someone who is in need. It is feeling empathy for those who are suffering and desiring to give them what they need to find help. In this sense, we can be merciful toward the one who wants our forgiveness by granting them forgiveness. We can also be merciful to someone who needs financial help by providing them financial support. When we see a need and a person who is legitimately suffering, we feel empathetic. Their pain becomes our pain, and we have a strong desire to do something that will bear some of their burdens. Most of us feel so burdened already that we don’t want anyone else’s burden. Plus, we have experienced the cruelty of the world. No one helps to lift our burdens, why should we help someone else? Maybe the cruelty of the world has made us cruel. We can quickly become mean and hurtful toward others. But even if we aren’t mean and hurtful, it is so easy to stop caring about those around us. Many people around us do not care. Why can’t we be like them? They can even hurt people and not ask for forgiveness. Why can’t we ignore those around us in need? This is a major problem with the isolation in our culture. We think we can avoid interaction and be okay. We point to mercy as forgiveness because that is the extent of the burden we are willing to bear. We have all made mistakes and needed someone else to forgive us, but some need more help than forgiveness. Think about what it means to bear someone’s burden. If I am struggling to carry a one hundred pound suitcase, the merciful person would not say, “I can’t afford to help you. I have to get back to work.” If we were struggling in our marriage, the merciful person would not say, “Suck it up! Marriage is hard for all of us,” nor would they say, “Being married is easy! I can’t believe you can’t figure this out!” They would try to help the one in need in whatever way they could by bearing some of the burdens for them and helping them find a way to lighten their load. This could apply to so many things. The merciful person doesn’t avoid the burden of other people. They allow other people to burden them. They give themselves to help those who are suffering like the Good Samaritan. This is the kind of person who will find the kingdom. They appreciate the burden of others, and they are looking for an opportunity to help others. If we decide to turn our hearts cold, we will not find help for our most significant burden. Jesus offers us the mercy of God. He provides those who open their hearts to the needs of their fellow man, forgiveness and help in all of life’s sufferings. The parable of the man with 10,000 talents in Matthew 18 expresses this. God gives us great mercy in forgiving us of our most pressing burden. We need a relationship with God more than we need our marriages fixed, our jobs improved, our struggles with pain overcome, or our broken relationships mended. But if we focus our minds on the burdens of others, he will provide help in all of these areas. His mercy abounds. Pure In Heart What is Jesus looking for when he says that a person who is “pure in heart” will be blessed? When we think of purity, we often think of pure water, which goes through a filtration process. It has the impurities removed, and then it is sealed so that it can maintain its purity until we drink it. Is he just talking about someone who has changed their behavior and changed their mind to be purer than it used to be? This is not the extent Jesus gives. Many people think of Christianity as becoming pure in behavior and pure in mind. We have to know the right things in our minds and act the right way. But notice what Jesus says needs to be purified before we can find the blessings of the kingdom, our hearts. This includes the inner desires of our hearts. When the Old Testament talks about having a pure heart, it is often referring to loving God more than anything else and removing the idols from our hearts. The first commandment is to put no other gods before God because God wants to be the center of our lives. He wants to purify our hearts and our spirits from the impurity of idol worship (Ezekiel 36). What are the inner desires of our heart? What are we seeking after? Are there desires inside of us that are evil? Are there jealous, envious, prideful, or malicious desires inside of us? Maybe our desires aren’t anything harmful like that. Many of us desire to sit on our couches and veg out in front of the TV. Some of us desire to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, so that is all we think about. Maybe we want our spouses to satisfy our desires, or we want new toys, new cars, new golf clubs, new appliances, or new experiences. There may be some here who just want children who love them or parents to call them and be reconciled to them. Our desires are all over the map. None of these things are wrong in and of themselves. But have these desires become our idols? Have they become the center of our life? If we aren’t careful, we can put our trust in these things for our security and fulfillment. They will fail us. Our marriages will fail us and leave us feeling restless. What do we need to do? The type of people who will receive the kingdom blessings see their idolatry, and they desire to get out of it. Their desire is to put God first. They are struggling like the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those hungry for righteousness, and the merciful. They want to be pure and devoted to God, above all else. Look at what Jesus says the blessing will be, “They shall see God.” Is this not an overwhelming thought? For the one whose central desire in life is to worship and serve God only, this is the ultimate blessing. We will get to see God. If that does not make us excited or provoke any response, God is not the center of our life. The world has corrupted our hearts, and we need a total transformation. We can know the Bible intellectually, we can feel touched by the message, and we can even make some changes in our lives, but if our heart desires to enjoy this world and the things in this world centrally, our heart is not pure. Our hearts must desire to worship God with our life. We need God to come into our hearts and purify our desires so that we seek him. Peacemakers He also says that the peacemakers will be blessed. What do we think of when we think of peace? Usually, we think of war being ended or taking away our anxieties. What kind of peacemaking is Jesus talking about here? Is he talking about overcoming internal anxieties or some external battle between people? Notice the blessing is that they shall be called sons and daughters of God. Think about that for a moment. How is Jesus, the son, a peacemaker? How is God, the Father, a peacemaker? What kind of peace did they bring? Was it internal or external? Jesus helps us have peace in many areas, but Jesus’ mission was not to solve every earthly problem. He came to create peace between God and man. He reconciled us to God when there was a war between us. Does man need peace with God? Most of our society see themselves as already being at peace with God. If anything, God is rebelling against us. They claim that God is unjust to give commands that are so restrictive. If we look at throughout the Old Testament, God seems to be extraordinarily strict. He lashes out and destroys his people (Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah) when they make a mistake and fail to do what he says. In the New Testament, Jesus doesn’t make things much better. He speaks of hell more than anyone, and he makes unreasonable demands. We don’t like God when he asks us to love him more than anything else. So we do what we want to do and ignore what he wants. It’s easy to be thankful for him but not be willing to do everything he says. When we need him, we expect him to deliver. We want the blessings he offers without submitting to his reign. We don’t see that this makes us enemies, living in rebellion. We have shown our rebellion against God by killing him on a cross. We weren’t created to do what we want. God created us to glorify him. We have all rebelled against God’s purpose for us, but God has chosen to make peace between us through Jesus, his Son. He also expects us to work in a priestly sense by bringing others to this reconciliation. When Jesus says that the peacemakers will be blessed, we could also see him referring to those who are evangelizing and facilitating evangelism. They are bringing about peace in the most crucial sense. To be a son and daughter of God is to be like Jesus in our mission to the world. But before we think of this as a noble and glorious task, look at what follows, “Blessed are those who are persecuted.” Peacemaking is not about making our lives peaceful. Notice how the last characteristic adds to our understanding of this one. The person who is poor in spirit, mourning their sins, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and making peace is also persecuted. Why? This kingdom is not about making friends and keeping people from being mad at us. Being a part of this kingdom is about making peace, and that can be a polarizing experience. Trying to convince people that they must submit to the rule of God to find peace with God is not going to lead to a comfortable life. The same people who are hostile against God will become hostile against us while telling us that they are not hostile at all. Being a peacemaker means we will have a mixture of people rejoicing over the good news and shooting the messenger. But it also means that God is working to make peace through us. We have this honor and privilege of being about our Father’s business and helping people experience the peace that we have. Persecuted Verse 10 says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Notice how this blessing bookends the eight characteristics of those who are blessed in the kingdom. This characteristic reveals something that all of the previous characteristics have been pointing us to understand. The world will hate those who receive the blessings of the kingdom. These characteristics help us to see the challenge of entering the kingdom. God does not want to bless people who are the strongest, bravest, wisest, or most beautiful. So in a sense, it should be easy for us to be blessed because none of us fit any of those criteria. But God refuses people who are proud, self-centered, self-righteous, and hostile against his will. He wants people who are showing genuine love for his ways and his will with humility. How many of us have been persecuted for trying to do our best at work? We try to put in a full eight hours of work, and all of our coworkers are upset because it makes them look bad. Or how many companies have called for us to sacrifice our lives in worship of our company? Telling people that we cannot neglect our responsibilities at home or our responsibilities as a Christian to build up the body of Christ may result in us losing our jobs. Are we surprised at this? Are we resistant to this idea? Should only some of us be this zealous? Should only some of those possessing the kingdom be poor in spirit? Should only some of us mourn over our sins? Paul said in the text we studied in Bible class this morning, “All those who live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” We cannot let it surprise us, nor can we resist the fact that persecutions may come. I understand that we don’t want to be persecuted, but are we greater than our master? John 15:20 (ESV) --- 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. There is no doubt that as we submit our lives to Christ and attempt to create peace between God and man, persecution will be inevitable. Jesus was not able to keep from being persecuted, and neither can we. But I want to tell you something that I have learned. It is not persecution to be mistreated when we are acting annoying, self-righteous, or fanatical. Jesus wasn’t mistreated for acting in a way that everyone observes as foolish. He was mistreated out of jealousy and malicious envy. He was mistreated because he gently made people realize how hostile they were, and they chose to be more rebellious. Their sins were often made evident without Jesus pointing their sins out to them directly. I like something I read by Tim Keller, a Presbyterian preacher, “If you’re always persecuted, you’re probably an obnoxious person, but if you’re never being persecuted, you’re probably a coward.” I think those words could not be more accurate. The final words of Jesus restate this last point and add to it. Matthew 5:11--12 (ESV) --- 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Jesus says that if we are persecuted because we are trying to serve him, we have a great reward waiting for us in heaven just as the prophets did. But he also describes the persecution as being talked about as though we are evil. Isn’t that ironic? We are trying to become truly righteous, and we suffer as though we are pure evil. Summary The beginning of Jesus’ sermon has described those who will be able to find the kingdom of heaven. Maybe these eight characteristics don’t describe you, as they don’t describe many people in our society. But we see that a willingness to submit to the will of God with our heart will bring about this change in our lives. We can become merciful to those who are in need, pure in heart with a devotion to God, peacemakers between God and man, and we can endure persecution for the sake of righteousness and the sake of Christ. With God’s help, we can view the world around us in a different way. Why? Because we know the rest of the story. We know that Jesus came down to earth to do all of these things for us to be blessed beyond what we deserve. He wouldn’t have come down here if we were a lost cause. Decide to follow Christ and let your life start over with a new view of yourself and a new view of the world that is humble and willing to serve.

Are you born again, or are you just religious? The question is significant. Indeed, it was the seminal point of the conversation between Jesus Christ and a man named Nicodemus. They were discussing Jesus’ teaching ministry and Jesus turned the conversation to the issue of being born again. Nicodemus was confused. “How can these things be,” he asked Jesus. “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things,” Jesus asked. Nicodemus, one of the leading men of Israel, did not comprehend the difference between a person being born again and one who is religious? That is not uncommon in the church today. Many who would consider they are devoutly Christian do not know the distinction between being religious and being born again. It is not a casual difference. Jesus thought it of paramount importance for a leader of Israel to understand the distinction. Jesus said this one point makes the difference between having eternal life and perishing eternally. “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God… Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God… Do not marvel that I say unto you, you must be born again” (John 3:3, 5,7 NKJV). The Apostle Paul emphasized the distinct difference between being religious and being born again in his letter to Titus. “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He has saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5 NKJV). Notice, the Apostle said, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done.” That is being religious. All religions of the world are seeking to appease God and trying to reach Him though the works of their hands; whether that is doing spiritual acts of worship and service or by denying their fleshly appetites and personal pleasures. Jesus’ words to Nicodemus and the Apostle Paul’s instructions to Titus declare religious activity may have an appearance of godliness but no amount of human effort will bring someone into the kingdom of God. Are you born again or religious? The distinct difference between true Christianity and all other religions is God came seeking mankind not the other way around. “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared;” take careful notice. God is reaching to mankind, NOT mankind trying reach to God. Almighty God showed His mercy and kindness by coming to redeem mankind through the person of Jesus Christ. Every person’s sinful condition separates them from God and prevents them from reaching Him. The only way a man or woman can be transformed is ”through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” A person’s heart can be changed from sinful to righteous and they may enter the kingdom of God. It is only by the washing of a person’s heart in the blood of Jesus Christ and the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit in their life that a sinful human being can be born again into a child of God who is “holy, without blame, before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). The born again experience gives one a new heart that has been made the righteousness of God. The born again experience gives the person a new identity and a new standing with God declaring them to be justified (just-as-if-they-had-never-sinned). The born again experience adopts the person into the family of God, so they are no longer a sinner but a saint and an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. “Therefore, if anyone be in Christ; he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The mission Jesus Christ gave to His church was not “go and make people religious.” It was “go and make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The Apostles understood this to be the mission. The Apostle Peter declared, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19 KJV). Attending church is vitally important in a person’s life. Reading the Bible and prayer are critical for consistent daily living the Christian life. But these things are not what make someone a Christian. They are the fruit of a life that has been transformed by the regenerating power of new birth through faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider leaving us a review. This helps the Foundational podcast reach more listeners.  Be sure to tell a friend about the Foundational blog and podcast, and share with them about the free Bible Reading Challenge journal they will receive when they subscribe to receive my newsletter! Get my discipleship manuals today and start becoming a disciple for Jesus Christ! Discovering Jesus: A Discipleship Manual (Discipleship Series) (Volume 1)The Joy of Becoming Like Jesus: A Discipleship Manual - Discipleship 101 (Discipleship Series) (Volume 2)Becoming Ambassadors for Christ: A Discipleship Manual - Discipleship 102 (Discipleship Series) (Volume 3) More Content Like This:

What picture comes to mind when you think of God? Most people probably wouldn't describe God as the happiest being in the universe, yet that's exactly what He is! In this message, Associate Pastor Jake helps us understand how we can experience and share the joy that God has to offer us.

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Do we limit what we watch on television in pursuit of holiness? Are we careful of what we read as it concerns God? Most of us would say yes to these questions bit what about food? Is there a right theology of food? Does it matter spiritually what we consume? Join Dr. Lesslie Wickman and Jon Noyes on this episode of Apologetics.com Radio as the discuss these ideas and more.

Was it a hymn that prompted Dr Clement Chesterman to become a medical missionary in Congo? And if so, which hymn? This well-known gospel song says “Bear the news to every land/ Climb the steeps and cross the waves.” A call simply to go. Other hymns described the “heathen” people that missionaries would find there as “oppressed”, “forever weeping”, “groping to find light”, and “in blindness bowing down to wood and stone”. There was even a vignette of child sacrifice. One mid 19th century hymn tried to understand these “heathen” practices:    “Still God looks on human faces Heavenward turned, but not to Him; Slaves in bondage, worse than of fettered limb.” Why did this writer think that the human faces were not turned to God? Most missionaries had no idea how to tell the difference between superstition and God-given traditional understandings of life. Send me your reactions at raymondvdowning@gmail.com. Visit my website at https://globalhealth757.wordpress.com/ .

What is the canvas on which you paint the picture of your love for God? Most of the time, the Bible says, the best place to look is our relationships within the home, the church, and the community. In other words, we express much of our new life in Christ by living selflessly in Christian mission and service with others. Colossians teaches us how dying and rising with Jesus Christ gives us the power to escape selfishness and to care for one another willingly in Christian community.  

Do we limit what we watch on television in pursuit of holiness? Are we careful of what we read as it concerns God? Most of us would say yes to these questions bit what about food? Is there a right theology of food? Does it matter spiritually what we consume? Join Dr. Lesslie Wickman and Jon Noyes on this episode of Apologetics.com Radio as the discuss these ideas and more.

Pastor Mike just began a series on HEROES in the Bible, emphasizing they are "Just Like Us." Really? Who believes "I am the same as Moses, David, Ruth, or Paul?" The first hero we heard about was Moses. As Pastor Mike was talking about Moses' power encounter with God in the burning bush (Exodus 3), he pointed out that God introduced Himself as "I Am that I Am." To which Pastor Mike asked all of us, "Are you ever nervous that God is the same God?" Most of us would respond, "I haven't seen the fire yet!" Is that your story? Are you waiting to see the fire, wondering if God is the same God?

There are many ways to live out your faith and stay active in your church. Many times we feel lost and forget that consistency is the best policy. We attend church once or twice a week, but are we living out our salvation daily? We discuss some tips and tricks that we have implored to keep focus and enjoy living out our faith.1. Make time for prayer• Reflect on the blessings and challenges of being single and the gifts you have to offer.• Make prayer a part of your daily life.• Use personal prayer, the Scriptures, journaling, meditation, and praise.• Schedule a personal or group retreat.2. Practice forgiveness• Learn to forgive and be forgiven.• Examine your conscience, and practice fasting and sacrifice.3. Live a just life• Work against discrimination, racism, and oppression.• Treat all people with the dignity they deserve as sons and daughters of God.• Look for ways to simplify your life and share what you have with others.4. Help the poor• Look into local service opportunities or other ways your gifts can be used in service to others.• Gather others together for group service projects. Practice charity by assisting those living in poverty, and promote community-based solutions for injustice and poverty.5. Be a domestic church• Take this opportunity to establish some personal traditions around holidays, special feast days, and other celebrations or memorials.• Offer your home as a place for friendship and hospitality.• Look for ways to get more involved minister, usher, musician, or choir member.6. Share faith• Talk about God's presence in your life with other people; be an evangelizer.• Look for opportunities to invite others to experience your church community.7. Know your faith• Look for opportunities for development and education.• Spend time with your ministry studying the Word of God Most of all, Live out your faith authentically!

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A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We hear about love a lot. We think we see it everywhere. Jesus commands that we love. So what is it, anyway? Scripture John 14:23-34 Jesus: Anyone who loves Me will listen to My voice and obey. The Father will love him, and We will draw close to him and make a dwelling place within him. The one who does not love Me ignores My message, which is not from Me, but from the Father who sent Me. Devotional I went to everyone's favorite source of perfect information to find the answer to the question, “What is love?” The Internet, specifically Wikipedia Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ("I love my mother") to pleasure ("I loved that meal"). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment.[1] Love can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another".[2] It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals.[3] Ancient Greeks identified four forms of love: kinship or familiarity (in Greek, storge), friendship (philia), sexual and/or romantic desire (eros), and self-emptying or divine love (agape). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love. Non-Western traditions have also distinguished variants or symbioses of these states.[4][5] Love has additional religious or spiritual meaning—notably in Abrahamic religions. This diversity of uses and meanings combined with the complexity of the feelings involved makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.[6] Love may be understood as a function to keep human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species.[7 Does that get us any closer to understanding love? Definition of love is like definition of ice cream Must experience it to really understand it and even then do you really understand it? How can you really describe the experience? Yet when we go through the event, when we eat ice cream for the first time, we know we like it and we want more When we experience real love, not the mushy fake lust we see advertised, but real love,we know we like it and we need it and we want more How do we get love? We get it unconditionally from God Most of us get it unconditionally from mothers and fathers who try to be good parents no matter how flawed they are Most of us get love, though sometimes misunderstood and again flawed by the image of what love is from the media and the world in our marriages But the best way to get love? Give love to others - unconditionally What kind of love? - that one that says, “Love can be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another".[2] It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, That's the love God shows toward us and asks us to give it to others in return Jesus says if we love Him we will obey Him, His commands usually come in the form of helping others, thinking of others more than we think of ourselves. Doing and giving and lifting others to show them real, genuine love in a world that knows so little about real love today Love is the universal language, but so few know how to speak it today. Go out and teach them through your actions If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you'll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

What happens if we don’t simply obey God? Most of us would think that while being simply obedient is not good, it isn't that big of a deal. But what if it was much, much worse than that? Experience this message and come to feel deep in your bones what happens when we do not simply obey Him.

If you want to accomplish something worthwhile in your life, ask yourself first, who is in authority in your life? When you go about your day, whose decision do you follow? Do you make life plans and decisions based on your personal emotions or according to the Word of God? Most of us wake up and just want to make it through each day, but God has so much more in store for us. No matter where we are in life & no matter what’s happening around us right now, if we decide to submit ourselves to God & make His WILL the top priority in our life, surely, He will WIN our battles for us. His Word will forever be our shield. [ “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord have not forsaken those who seek You.“ -Psalm 9:10 ]

Too busy to pray? Too self-sufficient to need God? Most of us would have to often answer in the affirmative. But Jesus instructs his followers to cultivate a consistent life of prayer. Depending on God through prayer is a daily rhythm absolutely...