Podcasts about god they

Year A – Christmas Eve – December 24, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Luke 2:1-20 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, our savior, who is born this day for us… who is God with us. Amen. *** Merry Christmas, friends… this is truly a night for wonder. Christ is born this day for you… for us! …What an incredible proclamation! Our Creator God has come to dwell with us… to share joy and laughter with us… and… to suffer and cry out in pain… with us… and for us. Through the newborn Jesus, God has revealed God-self to us … arriving in the form of pure love… for only true and perfect love is as vulnerable as a newborn child. To you… is born this day… a Savior… born into a world full of pain and sorrow… of war and greed and corruption… born into a world that is weeping… a world that is being crushed by Empire. To you… is born this day… a Savior. Amazing! It is no wonder… that Mary pondered all these things in her heart. Stories of babies always bring me around to remembering my own children when they were young… young enough for me to hold in my arms. And I think about those times when they were sick… when they were crying out in need… as parents, if we could have… we would have taken on their sickness just to ease their pain. Even when they were bigger… too big to carry… as parents, the most natural reaction to your child's sorrow is to draw close to them… wrap your arms around them… and remind them that they do not face their troubles alone. We draw close to our children when they are suffering, and we share the burden of their pain… and on this night… on Christmas night… God, our holy parent… does just that. Our God, who loves us beyond measure, cannot bear our sorrow from afar, and so our holy parent draws close… and takes on the pain and brokenness of the world… by being born among us… as a child… arriving to humble humans, surrounded by animals… and placed in a manger, for there was no bed. To you… is born this day a Savior… It's a birth story so humble and ordinary; it takes your breath away. …So ordinary… that we may overlook the incredible circumstances that brought Mary and Joseph so far from their home in Nazareth, so near to the time of her baby's arrival… It was the audacity of Empire, seeking to control the whole world… compelling all people to be registered for the purpose of exploitation… that's what brought them to that stable… to that manger, in the city of Bethlehem… the city of David. But what Empire forced for the purpose of control… God chose to use for the purpose of salvation. Control and conquest forced them into such a precarious situation… but from amid that brokenness, and from under the pressure of oppression, rises the green shoot from the stump of Jesse… …as the prophet Isaiah foretold, the savior would come from the royal line of Jesse, father of King David, whose lineage seemed to be cut off like a dead stump after the downfall of Israel… This impossible new life shines a great light in the darkness… bringing love so powerful that it can overcome cruelty… offering hope so secure that it drives out despair… and breaking the chains of oppression for the sake of justice and mercy. This is the power and promise of God, who comes to turn the world upside down, by drawing close to us… by arriving among us… God arrives, not amid wealth and power… not with military might or gold and grandeur… but in complete vulnerability, to those who are poor and lowly. Christ arrives on the margins… to those who are considered disposable… this is where our God… Word of the Father… is born. …this is where Christ is found… Christ arrives, always, where good news is most needed. It is… almost too wonderful to behold. And then, as if daring our God to be even more subversive to earthly powers… the angel of the Lord announces the arrival of our Savior… to shepherds, tending their flocks by night. It was to those who were even further in the margins of society… literally on the outskirts of the community… to them, the angel appears to proclaim the good news of great JOY… And those shepherds went to see the child, and saw that it was as the angel had told… and once they saw the promise of Love incarnate… they went on their way, glorifying and praising God… They proclaimed the good news for all to hear! TO YOU is born this day in the city of David… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. God has heard your cry… God feels your sorrow and longs to take your pain… and so in pure Love, your holy parent has drawn close to you to bring comfort… and peace. O Holy Night! …indeed… except Christ's arrival is so much more than one holy night… it is so much more than that first, humble Christmas… all those years ago. The arrival of Jesus Christ …the incarnation of our God… is not a one-time event… it is… eternal. Christ is arriving… every day… to the poor… the needy… the lonely… Christ is born every day for those who are marginalized and oppressed… to those for whom justice has been too long delayed and denied. Our world is still broken… and so our God is still arriving… still coming among us… choosing to show up for us and walk alongside us, ever faithful to the promise of Emmanuel that began on that first Christmas… God with us. To YOU… to US… a child is born, who is Christ the Lord… ever inviting us to take notice of those in need as if they were Christ himself… to embrace empathy, and act with compassion and love for our neighbor. Because Jesus Christ is born this day! …and therefore, we are born into the holy truth that God's love and grace and mercy are so much greater and deeper than we can ever understand. To us, a child is born… humble and lowly… so that we might understand that power is made perfect in weakness, and love is the greatest force of all. Jesus Christ has brought salvation to the world, but we still live amid brokenness… we live in the truth that the healing of the world… will not be achieved in a swift, dramatic movement. And so, the coming of our Lord teaches us… that Christ is born wherever love is shown and wherever light shines… Christ is born in humble acts of kindness… and born when we choose to live with integrity and seek justice and mercy. Christ is born when we honor and value those who are in the margins, and when we seek to heal the sin that pushed them there. Christ is born when we draw from the strength of God's love, and seek to heal our world. And so to us, a child is born, who is Christ our savior… inviting us to share the good news… and to keep the wonder that is the miracle of Christmas… that Christ is born in love… this day, and every day. Amen.

What does it really mean to take faith-filled risks in your beauty business? In this powerful, deeply spiritual, and wisdom-packed episode, Sheila Bella sits down with Carolyn Cyprian, medical esthetician, multi–med spa owner, coach, and founder of Carolyn Skincare. Together, they unpack the true meaning behind the phrase "Scared money makes no money." For faith-driven entrepreneurs, success isn't just about financial gain — it's about stewardship, obedience, identity, and learning to trust God with every decision, even the ones that cost you something. Carolyn shares her raw journey through betrayal, rebuilding her team, restructuring her business, and walking through a season of financial drought that reshaped her relationship with money forever. Her story will stretch your faith, challenge your fears, and remind you that surrendered money multiplies. If you've been sitting on a decision, procrastinating out of fear, or praying for clarity about your next move… this episode is your confirmation. 5 Key Points Discussed in This Episode 1. The Difference Between Reckless Risk vs. Righteous Risk Carolyn and Sheila explore how faith-led decisions feel different from impulsive ones — and how God uses discomfort (not chaos) to grow you. 2. Healing Your Relationship With Money Carolyn shares how generational scarcity, childhood beliefs, and inherited fears shaped her financial mindset — and how God led her through a 3-month drought to break those patterns. 3. Hiring, Betrayal & Surrendering Your Business to God They discuss the emotional cost of building a team, why betrayal is often part of leadership, and how to hire slowly, fire fast, and trust God to send the right people. 4. Sales as Ministry: Selling Without Shame Sales isn't "selling" — it's serving. Carolyn explains how she teaches her team to view sales as a mutual exchange and an opportunity to help people. 5. Discernment, Peace & Making Big Decisions They clarify the difference between fear and lack of peace, how to pray for signs and revelation, and why obedience often requires discomfort but never confusion. Watch the full episode on Youtube at Sheila Bella YouTube channel. Tune in for a mindset makeover that'll help you stick to what you start—and finally see results that last. // BEAUTY BIZ SECRETS FACEBOOK GROUP!  // BOOKED AND BUSY CHALLENGE // FREE BEAUTY BUSINESS AUDIT // www.SheilaBella.com |  // Instagram: @CEOglowshow & @realsheilabella //  YOUTUBE Channel youtube.com/@SheilaBella

3735 – September 19, 2025 – PHONIES! – DEMOCRATS ARE EVERYTHING THAT AMERICA IS NOT! They stand for crime and criminals They are anti-God They believe in government control They hate babies They are vulgar mouthed They believe in political assassinations… whether a gun… and a radicalized democrat judge They promote chaos and violence… against citizens, political opponents, or Supreme ... The post PHONIES! appeared first on CSC Talk Radio.

Sermon 9-14-25, Ex 32:7-14, Lk 15: 1-10   The scripture for today really caused me to lean into my identity as a chaplain – and a word of warning – a chaplain will likely leave you with more questions than answers… The role of a chaplain is to ask questions that support others in remembering and reconnecting with their own coping strategies and belief systems One question that today's scripture brings up is What is the nature of God?   /        /        / This is a question that I often explore with patients I think of the 50-year-old woman with newly diagnosed triple-negative breast cancer – a very aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancer -- who finds the courage to ask “Is God punishing me for something?” as she comes to terms with how every aspect of her life is now upended and at risk /        /        / What is the nature of God?   This is an age-old question that humankind continues to wrestle with Not only among various religious traditions But also within Christianity Maybe especially within Christianity This disagreement is understandable – as we have two conflicting examples of God's nature in scripture today. In Exodus, the Lord says to Moses: “…Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them” (Ex. 32:10) /        /        / Then in Luke Jesus likens God to one who continues to seek, welcome and rejoice over humankind – especially those who have “been lost” Throughout scripture we can find examples of God's nature to justify whatever perspective we choose to hold As we can with most issues Is God slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love or punishing sinners in judgement? Perhaps the more challenging debate lies within the questions about ourselves What do we believe?    How do we live out those beliefs? How do we respond when we inevitably bump up against life circumstances and people who challenge those beliefs? /        /        /        / I utilize psychology and sociology often as a chaplain, and draw upon those studies as I reflect on theology – the study of God – today Anthropomorphism is placing human attributes on things or beings that are not human We do this with our pets all the time, imagining their mood or desires We do this with plants and trees, imagining the grass is crying out in despair after days without rain – or rejoicing after the rain finally comes It's easy with these examples to recognize how we're likely projecting ourselves onto our dog or cat or lawn But what about with God? Might we also project ourselves onto who we wish God to be? /        /        /        / So I read and reflect upon today's scripture with the awareness that anthropomorphism and projecting are real I also reflect on them from an Internal Family Systems perspective which acknowledges that we have different, and sometimes competing parts of ourselves that influence our thoughts and behavior This acknowledges how at times there is a part of myself that wants my enemy to suffer AND a part of myself that wants to extend compassion to my enemy /        /        /        / Going back to the reading from Exodus with this perspective I think about Moses Moses who at the beginning of his call story begged God to pick someone else – anyone else – to do this work Moses who realized the difficulty of his call and lamented the grumbling and complaining of the Israelites to God Moses who continually turned around and devoted himself to guiding and teaching these people who kept messing up and falling short of “the plan” Moses who today implored God to return to God's good nature – and changed God's mind /        /        /        / The Israelites built the golden calf and began worshipping it instead of God This is the famous example of idolatry that Abrahamic traditions reference But, it also demonstrates humankind's greed – And desire to possess and control God /        /        /        / If God seems to stretch us too far out of our comfort zone Let's project onto God traits that are more like us Let us make a god into one we can understand And abide And feel better about worshipping /        /        /        / So we hear this anger from God in the book of Exodus over the people worshipping the golden calf and breaking the covenant They break their promise to worship only God They cannot keep their end of the bargain And God is angry – so angry God plans to burn wrath hot against them and consume them! But I wonder Is this God's anger Or Moses'? Moses - After years of serving in this role that he didn't really want Teaching and guiding and nurturing these people Literally participating in saving their lives While being on the receiving end of their grumbling and disobedience I wonder if Moses is angry /        /        /        / Fast-forward about 1200 years and the religious leaders are grumbling The Pharisees are grumbling about Jesus who cannot be controlled Jesus the Christ cannot be predicted or contained Jesus' love is bigger than what the law holds as he welcomes those outsiders Jesus, one with God, is despised and rejected Jesus persists in showing compassion to sinners Those who aren't keeping the covenant promise with God /        /        /        / Jesus gives us yet another window through which to glimpse the nature of God Through his own actions And with two parables One about a shepherd and one about a woman These are two other groups in addition to the tax collectors that the Pharisees looked down upon And here Jesus likens God to both a shepherd and a woman       /        / Jesus draws us a picture with his story of God who rejoices over those who return to God – and calls a huge celebration! /        /        /        / What is the nature of God? Jesus is trying to show the Pharisees that their righteousness has become a barrier to their ability to experience God Perhaps the merit of following the law is not the most important thing Somehow keeping track of right and wrong is preventing them from sharing in God's love and celebration “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Lk 15:7) The wild thing is that in these parables we know that neither sheep nor coins can repent There is no criticism of the sheep who wandered off, wondering what was it thinking and how long it wasn't paying attention to where it SHOULD have been going It's laughable to blame a coin for getting lost in the couch but I suppose we'd likely blame the caretaker of that coin for being so irresponsible God is rejoicing over what the Pharisees would have called worthless sheep and coins Who cannot even repent Which begs the question -- can we repent? /        /        /        / In spite of Moses' – or God's anger In spite of ignorance and sinning and irresponsibility God keeps the covenant God keeps God's promise God continues to show humankind mercy And Jesus is calling the Pharisees – and us - out God calls us out of the human nature of judgement and criticism And toward God's celebration /        /        /        / What is the nature of God? Maybe deciding we know the answer to that question is like building another golden calf Maybe focusing on God's nature is yet another way to avoid confronting our own nature What parts of ourself want to burn hot against someone What parts of ourself feel justified in the good works we do What parts of ourself continue to notice the short-comings of others What parts of ourself criticize our own mistakes or times when we chose poorly What parts of ourself limit our ability to celebrate and rejoice for keeping track of all our own faults and all that's wrong in this world /        /        /        / What is the nature of God? I do know that I want God to be slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love when I'm looking into this woman's tearful eyes listening to hear fears about not seeing her teenage daughter graduate from high school I also recognize the part of me that wants God to be a flaming hot wrath consuming the one whose actions and words seem so wrong And because of that I know that I have to let it go – and let God be God And refocus on my call and challenge as a Christian To continue to wrestle with the enormity of God's love To believe that God keeps God's promise even when I can't keep mine To give love to myself and to my neighbor in ridiculous and generous ways And in the midst of it all, celebrate and rejoice with God Amen.  

Continuing our series on Matthew 22amenpodcast.comWhen Religious Critics AttackIn our ongoing exploration of Matthew 22, we encounter Jesus facing his second challenge of the day. After silencing the Pharisees, Jesus now confronts the Sadducees, who approach Him with skepticism and mockery about the resurrection.The passage (Matthew 22:23-34) reveals how Jesus masterfully responds to those who attempt to trap Him with theological questions. This interaction provides powerful lessons for believers today who face criticism or mockery for their faith.Who Were the Sadducees?Before diving into Jesus' response, it's important to understand who the Sadducees were:* They only accepted the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) as authoritative scripture* They rejected the concept of resurrection because they found no explicit mention of it in the Torah* They were part of the religious establishment that felt threatened by Jesus' growing influenceThe Trick QuestionThe Sadducees approached Jesus with what they believed was a foolproof theological trap:"Teacher, Moses said if a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her."Their question referenced Deuteronomy 25:5-6, the law of levirate marriage designed to preserve family lines. By creating this extreme scenario involving seven brothers marrying the same woman, they hoped to mock the very concept of resurrection that Jesus taught.Jesus' Two-Fold ResponseJesus doesn't hesitate or become defensive. Instead, He identifies two critical flaws in their thinking:* "You know neither the Scriptures..." - Despite their supposed expertise in the Torah, they missed its deeper teachings about eternal life* "...nor the power of God" - They limited God's abilities to their own understanding of realityJesus then explains that marriage is an earthly institution, not continued in heaven the same way. More powerfully, He uses their own accepted Scripture against them, quoting Exodus: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." By emphasizing that God "is not the God of the dead, but of the living," Jesus affirms the resurrection from within the very Torah they claimed to revere.Silencing Enemies God's WayThis passage teaches us vital lessons about dealing with those who mock or criticize our faith:* Stay grounded in Scripture - Jesus didn't rely on eloquence or personal attacks but on the truth of God's word* Trust in God's power - When we limit God to our understanding, we miss His greater purposes* Let God silence critics - Rather than seeking personal vengeance, allow God's truth to speakA Personal ExampleI'm reminded of our own journey in ministry. Years ago, my husband and I began creating Christian content online, facing mockery and criticism from many who thought it was "weird" or "cringe." A year before COVID-19, we felt led to start digital church services despite skepticism.When the pandemic hit, what had seemed foolish to critics suddenly became essential. The infrastructure we had built became a lifeline for thousands seeking spiritual nourishment during lockdowns. Without fighting our critics or defending ourselves, God vindicated our efforts through His timing and provision.The Final WordThe crowd's reaction to Jesus' response says it all: "they were astonished at his teaching." The Sadducees, who came to trap Jesus, found themselves silenced instead.This remains true for believers today. When we face opposition, mockery, or attempts to undermine our faith, we don't need to fight back in our "own power, own pride, or own vengeance." Instead, like Jesus, we can rely on God's Word and God's power.God will get the final word. His Word will not return void. Our call is to remain faithful, continue in what He's called us to do, and trust Him with the results."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." - Hebrews 4:12Join us next week as we continue our series through Matthew 22 with Jesus' third response to His critics.Prayer Prompt: Where in your life do you need to trust God to silence critics rather than fighting them yourself? Spend time asking God to help you know His Word more deeply and trust His power more fully.If this post encouraged you, please share it with others and subscribe to receive our weekly devotionals directly to your inbox. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

Continuing our series on Matthew 22amenpodcast.comWhen Religious Critics AttackIn our ongoing exploration of Matthew 22, we encounter Jesus facing his second challenge of the day. After silencing the Pharisees, Jesus now confronts the Sadducees, who approach Him with skepticism and mockery about the resurrection.The passage (Matthew 22:23-34) reveals how Jesus masterfully responds to those who attempt to trap Him with theological questions. This interaction provides powerful lessons for believers today who face criticism or mockery for their faith.Who Were the Sadducees?Before diving into Jesus' response, it's important to understand who the Sadducees were:* They only accepted the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) as authoritative scripture* They rejected the concept of resurrection because they found no explicit mention of it in the Torah* They were part of the religious establishment that felt threatened by Jesus' growing influenceThe Trick QuestionThe Sadducees approached Jesus with what they believed was a foolproof theological trap:"Teacher, Moses said if a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her."Their question referenced Deuteronomy 25:5-6, the law of levirate marriage designed to preserve family lines. By creating this extreme scenario involving seven brothers marrying the same woman, they hoped to mock the very concept of resurrection that Jesus taught.Jesus' Two-Fold ResponseJesus doesn't hesitate or become defensive. Instead, He identifies two critical flaws in their thinking:* "You know neither the Scriptures..." - Despite their supposed expertise in the Torah, they missed its deeper teachings about eternal life* "...nor the power of God" - They limited God's abilities to their own understanding of realityJesus then explains that marriage is an earthly institution, not continued in heaven the same way. More powerfully, He uses their own accepted Scripture against them, quoting Exodus: "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." By emphasizing that God "is not the God of the dead, but of the living," Jesus affirms the resurrection from within the very Torah they claimed to revere.Silencing Enemies God's WayThis passage teaches us vital lessons about dealing with those who mock or criticize our faith:* Stay grounded in Scripture - Jesus didn't rely on eloquence or personal attacks but on the truth of God's word* Trust in God's power - When we limit God to our understanding, we miss His greater purposes* Let God silence critics - Rather than seeking personal vengeance, allow God's truth to speakA Personal ExampleI'm reminded of our own journey in ministry. Years ago, my husband and I began creating Christian content online, facing mockery and criticism from many who thought it was "weird" or "cringe." A year before COVID-19, we felt led to start digital church services despite skepticism.When the pandemic hit, what had seemed foolish to critics suddenly became essential. The infrastructure we had built became a lifeline for thousands seeking spiritual nourishment during lockdowns. Without fighting our critics or defending ourselves, God vindicated our efforts through His timing and provision.The Final WordThe crowd's reaction to Jesus' response says it all: "they were astonished at his teaching." The Sadducees, who came to trap Jesus, found themselves silenced instead.This remains true for believers today. When we face opposition, mockery, or attempts to undermine our faith, we don't need to fight back in our "own power, own pride, or own vengeance." Instead, like Jesus, we can rely on God's Word and God's power.God will get the final word. His Word will not return void. Our call is to remain faithful, continue in what He's called us to do, and trust Him with the results."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." - Hebrews 4:12Join us next week as we continue our series through Matthew 22 with Jesus' third response to His critics.Prayer Prompt: Where in your life do you need to trust God to silence critics rather than fighting them yourself? Spend time asking God to help you know His Word more deeply and trust His power more fully.If this post encouraged you, please share it with others and subscribe to receive our weekly devotionals directly to your inbox. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amenpodcast.substack.com

Hebrews 11 NIV 1-38By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going… For he was LOOKING FORWARD to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God… They were longing for a better...

As The United States of America faces a new election cycle, is it possible we are seeing Americans turning back towards family, tradition and God? Chris Widener believes so. Brad Szollose sits down with Chris to discuss his latest book, The Coming American Revival. Chris starts the book with this... "America sits in a precarious place. The once mighty “greatest country in the world,” is broken and fractured. Division is rampant, driven by nefarious forces of evil, seeking to destroy a country that once stood as a “city on the hill,” brightly lighting up the world with the hope of Jesus, freedom, and justice." The Coming American Revival describes why our nation needs revival, what that revival would look like, and what it would take to see it happen. Not just about Christians, but everyone turning inwardly to their faith. Chris reveals the 7 steps it takes for a country to turn back to God: They love God and serve Him He blesses them with all blessings They get fat and happy and turn from God and instead worship their wealth and blessings God strips them of their blessings to draw them back to Himself The people fight and rebel and wallow in their sin Tired, they finally repent and realize they have turned their backs on God God, seeing their heartfelt repentance, brings them new life by sending revival After Trump? This is a positive discussion on what Faith can do for America. ABOUT CHRIS WIDENER: Chris Widener has been named one of the top 50 speakers in the world, one of the top 100 leadership speakers by Inc Magazine and one of the top 10 sales speakers by SUCCESS Magazine. He is a NYT and WSJ best-selling author, having authored 25 books some of which have been translated into 14 languages. Chris has given 2500 speeches all over the world and was personally mentored by both Zig Ziglar, and Jim Rohn. He is also the co-founder with Dinesh D'Sousa of the Red Referral Network giving conservatives the chance to not be cancelled. HOST OF AWAKENED NATION: BRAD SZOLLOSE --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/awakenednation/support

Episode 24:32 Are Negative Emotions Blocking Your Healing? In the past few episodes, we've talked about three Truths that can help you experience a supernatural healing from God: They are: 1) Knowing you ARE healed. 2) Having FAITH to “activate” your healing. 3) Eliminating UNBELIEF. Get these three right and your healing will manifest. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. Especially when it comes to eliminating unbelief. It's hard. Really hard. Why?  Because sometimes WE are our greatest source of unbelief. Specifically, our EMOTIONS. Emotions that prevent us from being healed. Emotions that try to convince us that we're not worthy of God's blessings.  On this episode we examine unhealthy emotions and how they can be eliminated from our life. Be sure to give this episode a good listen and then share it with a friend. Thanks! ———————-  Want to learn more? Continue the conversation regarding this episode, and all future episodes, by signing up for our daily emails. Simply visit: GetHealthyAlabama.com  Once there, download the “Symptom Survey” and you will automatically added to our email list. ———————- Also, if you haven't already, we'd appreciate it if you'd subscribe to the podcast, leave a comment and give us a rating. (Thanks!!!) 

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Christ described how He has many things to say to His people, but they were not able to bear them at that time.--His disciples couldn't accept the death of Christ- They wanted a physical kingdom instead of a justifying sacrifice.--They were prejudiced against the non-Jewish people, thinking that Israel was God's only chosen people, and not understanding the Gospel is for all mankind---They didn't believe the resurrection of Christ- They didn't realize that a heavenly country is far better than an earthly country. They didn't understand that Christ's kingdom, at this time, is pursued by spiritual means, rather than by physical strife.--They didn't grasp the adoption of believers as the sons of God- They didn't understand how our bodies would be changed when Christ raises us from the dead.--Christ had surely broached many of these matters to them, but they were not able to bear them then.--Christ's answer to this is to send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, to guide His people into all these truths, and many more---The Holy Ghost will guide us into all truth, because He will not speak of Himself, but He will speak what He hears about God the Father and His Son. --Here Christ emphasizes the complete unity of the persons of the Godhead. There are no different stories told, or falsehoods conveyed, by the Holy Ghost. He is to be trusted explicitly and absolutely, as Christ's representative to His people.--Christ then makes it clear- the Comforter, by doing this work, will glorify the Lord Jesus---Everything true about Christ glorifies Him- The truth about Jesus is His glory- There is nothing true about Him that blemishes or stains His honor and majesty-

Christ described how He has many things to say to His people, but they were not able to bear them at that time.--His disciples couldn't accept the death of Christ- They wanted a physical kingdom instead of a justifying sacrifice.--They were prejudiced against the non-Jewish people, thinking that Israel was God's only chosen people, and not understanding the Gospel is for all mankind---They didn't believe the resurrection of Christ- They didn't realize that a heavenly country is far better than an earthly country. They didn't understand that Christ's kingdom, at this time, is pursued by spiritual means, rather than by physical strife.--They didn't grasp the adoption of believers as the sons of God- They didn't understand how our bodies would be changed when Christ raises us from the dead.--Christ had surely broached many of these matters to them, but they were not able to bear them then.--Christ's answer to this is to send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, to guide His people into all these truths, and many more---The Holy Ghost will guide us into all truth, because He will not speak of Himself, but He will speak what He hears about God the Father and His Son. --Here Christ emphasizes the complete unity of the persons of the Godhead. There are no different stories told, or falsehoods conveyed, by the Holy Ghost. He is to be trusted explicitly and absolutely, as Christ's representative to His people.--Christ then makes it clear- the Comforter, by doing this work, will glorify the Lord Jesus---Everything true about Christ glorifies Him- The truth about Jesus is His glory- There is nothing true about Him that blemishes or stains His honor and majesty-

Idolatry -- the worship of anything other than our Creator -- is humanity's greatest crime.--- The ungodly will do anything to not think about God and righteousness, but they can't get away from it because He has left witness of Himself everywhere.- - Creation itself points to God, His authority, and His nature- - People cannot escape the fact that they have a Creator so they are without excuse-- The ungodly know there is a God, but refuse to honor Him or give Him thanks- - God is Creator God, and we must thank Him for that- - A lack of thankfulness is an expression of idolatry- - We're not happy with our status as image-bearing creatures -- we want more- we covet -Col. 3-5-- - When I am unthankful, I'm saying I'm more important than God-- The four living creatures in Revelation 4, for all their fearsomeness, know better than to look on God -- they're mere creatures- - They give God glory, honor, and THANKS-- The 24 elders cast their crowns before God- - They're acknowledging all authority derives from God, their Creator- - Everything that has life was created by and for God- - The creatures and elders thank God for who He is and their existence-- Thankfulness - worldview and leads to worship- - We've been created by an all-holy Creator who made provision for our salvation and who sustains us- - Thankfulness is wise- idolatry is stupid, useless, and foolish--- What in our life keeps us from being thankful or leads us to doubt God---- Are we thankful He is sovereign, even over the difficult aspects of our life---- Are we thankful that, though we broke the relationship, God sent His Son to make a way to reenter relationship with Him--

Each week we are exploring different trailheads as a part of Basecamp that can lead you to deepen your faith. This week we're exploring what your purpose is, how to get past sin and guilt, and how to have lasting power in your relationship with Jesus. IT'S EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). ------------------------------ Trail Head 3 - Hitting the Target Setting appropriate expectations and your posture toward God Trail 4: What's my purpose? Trail 5: What Happens if I mess up and Sin? Trail 6: Will This Last? I'm worried I'll go back to my old life OPENING ILLUSTRATION: One of the best shots I've ever made in my life was as a kid, my buddies and I were down at a creek near my house hunting with our bb guns. I was joking around and as we saw this crow flying through the air and I said, “I'll shoot it out of the sky!” I pointed my gun randomly, shot, and the bird fell out of the sky! It was one in a million shot. I went down as a legend with my buddies. They are probably still telling the story to their kids… :) I feel like this is what most Christians are like when it comes to their faith. They are just hoping to hit the mark, hoping they get it right, hoping they make it through. What if you could have security in your faith - knowing what you are doing, what to do when you are missing, and knowing how to make it for the long haul? Today we are going to go through 3 trails at this trailhead called, “Hitting the Target.” By the end of this, my hope is you'll be able to aim and hit your target when it comes to your faith. Trail 4 of the Trailhead: What's my Purpose? Did you know when Jesus left the earth, He left very clear marching orders for His disciples? Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Bible scholars will tell you the “imperative” of this passage in Greek is “make disciples” b This means your purpose as a follower of Jesus is to make more disciples - followers of Jesus. -not get more people to go to church -not to be a better person But to help more people be a disciple of Jesus' What's a disciple? b A disciple is a person who has learned to be just like their rabbi. b It's why Jesus told us to go after people, to baptize them, and to teach them everything He commanded. b Disciples are supposed to become like the one who is discipling them - Jesus. I like to say this like this: I am Helping people find their way back to God, 1 person at a time This is how we live out the mission of Advancing God's Kingdom by living for God and loving people. ILLUSTRATION: One of the things that gets people off target is when they mess up and sin. Early on as a Christian, this doesn't feel quite as big of a deal, but as you grow in your faith. When you mess up, it feels like you shouldn't be messing up still and you start to question whether you really are a Christian or not. For lots of people it leaves them in a cycle of shame and guilt that keeps them from actually engaging with God. So, what do you do about it? Trail 5: What happens if I mess up and sin? How to set your aim at the target. First and foremost… You ARE going to MESS up. But you don't have to GIVE up, you just have to GET up. b You are not saved because of how good you are, your salvation comes because of how good God is. Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." Jesus has wiped away the consequences of sin in your life and set you free. But it does not mean you don't still have old desires and muscle memory from your life before Jesus. 1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Peter says to abstain from sinful desires that are waging war against your soul. We live in a world that says every single desire that comes into your mind is a good desire - not to be suppressed or repressed. b This is not the message of Christianity. Christianity says there is a part of you - your sinful nature - that has desires that wage war with your soul. What do you do with that? I'll tell you what most people do. Most people try to “stop sinning” ILLUSTRATION: When I was a teen, I cussed like a sailor. When I came to Christ, that didn't go away. I felt SO guilty about it. But I couldn't stop no matter what I did. I can remember sitting on my bed, praying about it and just feeling overwhelmed by the guilt. It was one of the first times I can remember feeling the Holy Spirit speak to me. I felt God saying to me, “Kent, stop trying to not sin, and instead try and follow me. I am the one who will deal with your sin - you're only job is to follow me.” It wasn't till years later that I read this and learned that Jesus had said something pretty similar - people were asking him about what works they needed to do for God and this is what He said: John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” The target is not to be a good person but to be God's person. The apostle paul describes what this looks like: Galatians 2:19-21 19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” To be God's person means to Crucify your old life - die to your old desires, not fight them. ILLUSTRATION: To die to something, you have to admit that you lived for it - that you loved it. The reason you sin is because you like - even for just the few moments - what it does for you. You have to admit that you your sin did something for you, and die to that desire - whatever it did for you. Paul also says that the life he now lives he lives by faith. Being God's person means learning to live moment by moment in the life God offers - live by faith. -Quick tip: turn your internal dialogue into an internal prayer life. Trail 6 - Will this last ILLUSTRATION: There is a HUGE difference between a marathon runner and a sprinter. One person knows they have to have lasting power, the other person knows they can leave it all on the floor. As a Follower of Jesus, this is a marathon. You HAVE to have lasting power. So, how do you do that? There is a way to have lasting power in your relationships with God. The two things you have to do to have lasting power is to focus on learning God's' love and engaging God with Grit. 1. Being proactive about God's Love Most people are reactive in their relationship with God. They wait till something happens then they seek God. These people ALWAYS struggle to have a faith that impacts their life in any meaningful way. It is the proactive person whose faith grows and impacts their life. They are proactive in learning the heart of Jesus (reading scripture to know God) They are proactive in repenting & dying to their sins (they evaluate their life and intentionally move it closer to Jesus' way of life) They hold the things of this world loosely (nothing is more important to them than knowing Jesus) b Proactive faith is unwilling to be lazy about their faith. 2. Engage God with Grit ILLUSTRATION: Ever worked with someone who was CONSTANTLY making excuses about why they didn't get a project done? It's one of the hardest things to deal with in my opinion, because what it tells me is the person is not willing to take ownership of the problem. When you engage God with Grit, you become the kind of person who takes ownership of your relationship with God. People who engage God with Grit: Kills excuses They create priorities around God for themselves and their family (do the hard things)ILLUSTRATION: What is the way you handle your faith teaching your kids about God. Where does God and His people fall on your priority list? Is it above work? above sports? above entertainment? I'm not here to tell you how to prioritize, I'm telling you, people who engage God with grit DO prioritize. We personally say no to things that we have to explain to our kids, as Christians who prioritize our relationship with God and His body, we are not going to do some things other people do. Don't back down - double down. Pray to Close

? Ready for a wild ride? Imagine trading your busy chaos for a divine encounter that changes everything. Let's dive into Acts 2:42-47 and ask, "What made those early Christians shift their lives so dramatically?" ? Join us at Harmony Christian Church and let's explore together! ? IT'S EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give ). ------------- OPENING ILLUSTRATION: I have a basic principle I live my life by. I learned it teaching my kids to ride their bikes. I've shared this before, but I think it's a good way to set up this sermon. My kids, when they were learning to ride their bikes, would always look down at their feet. They'd inevitably end up in the ditch. It finally hit me, it's because they were looking at where they were instead of where they wanted to go. It's become a principle in my life: Look where you want to go, not where you are. In life, lots of us are stuck and doing all the same things we've done for years. We are being dragged around by the Tyranny of the urgent Some of you don't know how you got so busy, working multiple jobs, taking kids to endless practices, keeping up with the jones'. Buying cars & trucks you don't need, etc. You don't know where you want to go, so you just give your time, attention, and resource to whatever is “loudest” Today, I want us to go on a quick adventure. We are going to look at a group of people who got a glimpse of a place they want to go and completely shifted what they were doing because of their encounter. SCRIPTURE: We are jumping into the first church that ever existed. Jesus has died, risen from the dead and He ascended into Heaven. He is no longer on earth. Listen to what happens after Peter preaches this sermon - thousands come to Christ and this is what these early Christians do. If you've been in church for very long, you've probably heard a sermon on this passage: Acts 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. I want to ask a question I've never heard anyone ask. What was it that caused these people to shift their patterns of behavior so drastically? I know for you, you've grown up in a culture where it's acceptable to worship Jesus - this God/man who they had all seen and experienced but now the story is he flew up into the sky. What made them think they needed to continue on with anything? What made them think that it wasn't all over now that He left? These people have shifted drastically: -They devote themselves to apostles' teaching (they committed to being present and listening to preaching) -They fellowshipped (they hung out around each other in a way that encouraged one another) -They broke bread (they ate together) -They prayed together (they were committed as a group to bringing things before God) -They sold property to take care of those in need (they were shockingly generous) b Something that had never hit me, is each of these behaviors required leaving one thing for another b Time is a static commodity - if you do one thing, you are not doing another. b These people gave up in order to go up in their faith. b Still, the question is, what would cause such a deep shift? b These people were not experiencing a God who had come and left, but a God who had come and left Himself through the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew this day was coming. He knew there would be a period when He wouldn't be around. And this is what He said… John 14:15-21 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” These people had shifted where they were looking. b Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help…” They had decided the aim of their life was to live for Jesus and in the midst of that they encountered the Holy Spirit. ILLUSTRATION: When I first came to Christ, my brother had also come to Christ. He was coming out of a drug life and was on fire and really got pumped about the Holy Spirit. He told me to have the holy spirit, I needed to speak in tongues. He asked me if I wanted to pray for the gift of tongues. I said, I guess… He prayed 3 times for me to receive it and nothing happened. Finally, on the 3rd time, I thought, “he's not gonna stop till I do this…” so after he prayed, I started speaking gibberish. He was like, Praise God! and I was like, ugh… Listen. There is lots of misinformation about what it means to live by the Spirit and have the Spirit in your life. I believe the Holy Spirit does give some people miraculous gifts, but for lots of us, He's just what Jesus said - he's our advocate to help and be with you forever. b The Holy Spirit is literally Jesus' Spirit - it is Him, taking up dwelling in you. b What I want you to get is Christians have always been a people of Encounter. The reason these early Christians were so different was because they encountered God's Spirit. He spoke gently to their spirit and was like, “hey, what if you sold your property and gave it to that person over there…” “Hey, why don't you guys gather and learn what I taught…” These Christians were not worshiping a God who had left them, they were worshiping a God who left Himself CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: I know, personally, it's easy for me to get my eyes on something other than Jesus. I've got pressures, business that has to be taken care of. A million things to do for my kids. Some of you have babies that are keeping you awake all night. Some of you are dealing with end of life issues for parents or a spouse and everything has changed and you are struggling to just make it. Today, I wanted to remind you that you are of a people of Encounter. And the encounter is simple. “if you love me, keep my commands” All Jesus really is asking for is your love. “Will you love me” Will you point your life at me? He's saying. And He offers His Spirit as your advocate. He is your legal defense team, your counselor, your therapist, your heart doctor. Some of you don't know what it is that Jesus even commanded, you want to love, but you don't know how to live for Him. That's why we have created basecamp. We are actually ALL going to go through that over the next several months. Because we want you to have a foundation. Others of you have just let your eyes drift and you need to reengage the God of encounter. Don't miss Him! ------------------

“The Difference Between A Medium/Psychic and A Prophet Of God” Website: www.PastorTodd.org To give or support: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Church website: www.RRCNashville.org New book: www.PastorToddBook.com According to the Bible, there are clear contrasts between a medium or psychic and a genuine prophet of God. These differences can help believers discern between true spiritual guidance and deceptive practices. Let's explore these contrasts and how we can tell the difference as followers of Christ: **1. Source of Authority:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** They often claim to receive information from spirits, the deceased, or supernatural sources outside of God.    - **Prophet of God:** Their authority comes from the one true God. They receive messages directly from Him through His Holy Spirit. **2. Message Alignment with God's Word:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** Their messages will be inconsistent with or contradictory to the teachings of the Bible. Or they will twist scripture.    - **Prophet of God:** Their messages align with the teachings of the Bible and do not contradict God's revealed word. **3. Motive:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** May often seek personal gain or profit from their practices.    - **Prophet of God:** Their primary motive is to honor God, share His messages, and guide people toward His truth. **4. Character and Lifestyle:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** Their practices usually involve occultism and involvement with spirits that are not of God.    - **Prophet of God:** They live in obedience to God's commands, leading a life characterized by holiness and godliness. **5. Miraculous Confirmation:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** The "miracles" they perform are not be truly miraculous, but rather deceptive manifestations.    - **Prophet of God:** Their messages may be accompanied by genuine miracles and signs that confirm the divine origin of their words. **6. Discernment Through the Holy Spirit:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** They lack the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives and teachings.    - **Prophet of God:** Operate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who empowers them to speak God's truth accurately. **7. Fruit of Their Ministry:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** They lead people away from God's truth and promote confusion.    - **Prophet of God:** Their ministry bears fruit that aligns with God's purposes—such as repentance, reconciliation, and spiritual growth. **8. Recognition by the Community of Believers:**    - **Medium/Psychic:** Their practices should be viewed as dubious or even harmful by the broader Christian community.    - **Prophet of God:** Their authenticity may be recognized and affirmed by fellow believers and spiritual leaders. As believers in Christ, we can discern between a medium/psychic and a true prophet of God by comparing their teachings and practices with the principles outlined in the Bible. Regularly studying Scripture, growing in our relationship with God, and seeking wisdom from godly mentors can equip us to recognize and reject false teachings while embracing genuine messages that draw us closer to Him. According to scriptures, there are several ways believers can hear from God. It's important to approach this with humility, seeking a genuine connection with God rather than relying solely on our own desires or expectations. Here are some ways through which Christians can hear from God, as outlined in the Bible: **1. Prayer:** Regular, sincere prayer is a powerful way to communicate with God and hear His voice. Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer in Matthew 6:6 (NIV): "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." **2. Scripture:** The Bible is God's revealed word and a primary means through which He communicates with His people. Reading, studying, and meditating on Scripture allows us to understand His character, will, and teachings. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) affirms this: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." **3. Holy Spirit:** The Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, guides, comforts, and speaks to us. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit's guidance in John 14:26 (ESV): "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." **4. Circumstances:** God can use circumstances to communicate His will. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) states, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Paying attention to the doors that open or close and seeking God's guidance through circumstances can provide insight. **5. Wise Counsel:** Seeking advice from godly mentors, pastors, and fellow believers can help us discern God's voice. Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." **6. Still Small Voice:** God can speak to us in subtle, quiet ways—what's often referred to as the "still small voice." 1 Kings 19:12 (NIV) describes how God spoke to Elijah: "And after the fire came a gentle whisper." **7. Dreams and Visions:** While not as common, God has communicated through dreams and visions in the Bible. However, it's important to discern these experiences through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual discernment. **8. Worship and Praise:** Engaging in worship and praise can create an atmosphere where we are more receptive to God's presence and leading. Psalm 22:3 (ESV) says, "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." It's crucial to approach these methods with a heart that is open to God's will, seeking His guidance rather than imposing our desires. While God communicates in various ways, His messages will always align with His character and the principles found in Scripture. Developing a deep relationship with God through prayer, study, and obedience enhances our ability to hear and discern His voice in our lives.

Peter interpreted the events of that Pentecost in the light of his tradition and his experience of following Jesus, but not everyone welcomed the message, and it's not hard to see why. It meant that these devout people would have to significantly revise their ideas about what constituted faithfulness to their God. We're not told what was spoken and heard in all those different languages. Only that it had something to do with God's deeds of power, that God was a powerful God They could accept. But the egalitarian and universal nature of this revelation was a lot to take on board. And what did that Galilean troublemaker Jesus have to do with anything? How do we recognize the movement of the Holy Spirit and become a part of God's work in the world in our own day? Many of us, myself included, picked up our ideas about what it means to be Christian and about the Bible in our early years, explicitly from Sunday school or church school, or perhaps implicitly from the behavior and attitudes of our parents and grandparents. Yet, the day that we realized that we were never going to graduate from the School of Christian Learning was a blessed day indeed. In this lifelong endeavor of discipleship our Christian faith calls us to be ready to open our hearts and minds to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. And from the vantage point of seven decades of life, I can tell you that this can be an uncomfortable experience. We know that society is changing very rapidly, and it can be tiring, even painful to be asked frequently to reexamine our assumptions. It may even feel like a betrayal of our heritage.

God's Word is truly wonderful- That He should love His creatures, made in His image, enough to give us His Word in written form, is astounding.--God condescends to communicate with His creatures using ideas and words and speech and writing. How kind He is to delight to communicate and interact with such lowly creatures.--Paul teaches us that God's written word is -God breathed,- or inspired by the Holy Ghost. He communicated it to faithful men whom He had chosen, strengthened, and raised up to record what He desires to tell us.--All that reminds us of the incident where wicked King Jehoiakim cut up and burned the book of Jeremiah, because God had promised destruction of his kingdom and the Babylonian captivity, because of Israel's great sin.--Here we see just one historical example of how God miraculously preserved His Word down to us today, and how much we profit from it.--The wicked king thought he had a solution- he cut up and burned Jeremiah's book, as it was being read to him---At this point in the event, we should pause to think of all the beautiful Gospel hope and truth that the king destroyed. He destroyed not just the promises of God's judgment for the sin of Israel, but also the glorious promises of salvation and forgiveness that God had revealed to Jeremiah, and Jeremiah had recorded in his book.--Those words spoken to Jeremiah by the Holy Ghost, the king had just obliterated by his rebellious act.--These were words meant for our comfort and rescue by God- They were part of His revelation of how He would save us from our sin---That wicked king destroyed those words.--But praise God, He did not permit His Word to be destroyed forever-

God's Word is truly wonderful- That He should love His creatures, made in His image, enough to give us His Word in written form, is astounding.--God condescends to communicate with His creatures using ideas and words and speech and writing. How kind He is to delight to communicate and interact with such lowly creatures.--Paul teaches us that God's written word is -God breathed,- or inspired by the Holy Ghost. He communicated it to faithful men whom He had chosen, strengthened, and raised up to record what He desires to tell us.--All that reminds us of the incident where wicked King Jehoiakim cut up and burned the book of Jeremiah, because God had promised destruction of his kingdom and the Babylonian captivity, because of Israel's great sin.--Here we see just one historical example of how God miraculously preserved His Word down to us today, and how much we profit from it.--The wicked king thought he had a solution- he cut up and burned Jeremiah's book, as it was being read to him---At this point in the event, we should pause to think of all the beautiful Gospel hope and truth that the king destroyed. He destroyed not just the promises of God's judgment for the sin of Israel, but also the glorious promises of salvation and forgiveness that God had revealed to Jeremiah, and Jeremiah had recorded in his book.--Those words spoken to Jeremiah by the Holy Ghost, the king had just obliterated by his rebellious act.--These were words meant for our comfort and rescue by God- They were part of His revelation of how He would save us from our sin---That wicked king destroyed those words.--But praise God, He did not permit His Word to be destroyed forever-

Democracy is a Lie, When all we can do is Cry There's globalist on both sides right or left it doesn't matter money is king, power is god we on our knees, make it stop ! Democracy is a LIE When all we can do is CRY Banks CONTROL our throats so MARKETS make them float with OUR blood, sweat and tears making profits like its THEIRS Every man and woman should be independent and free free to choose OF THEIR OWN WILL when to screw or be screwed Not RIGHT how they come after us How they divide us and make us HATE Give us nothing but fake promises Give examples of fake successes Fill our heads, with how they see us Caring not, if it makes or breaks us Sell yourself, be rich So they say Sell your body, sell your morals Make money your god And be happy Happy with the waste that You help create But that's not true and you know it Money is a tool and power is God They sit in senates and parliaments BICKERING and FIGHTING over lost ARGUMENTS Moments have gone, time has passed Lets move on From this HUMAN BOT manufacturing plant Old ideas are not the answer Recycled ravings of a failed economist I am not talking about world peace either Hand in hand, singing kumbaya No, I am talking about accountability and regulations To support a free society   Where we take care of our own But don't make them dependent Where we pay our fair share But don't get taken for mugs Keep more of what we earn And share voluntarily Don't get constantly indoctrinated With hits of fake dopamine Don't get made lab rats In someone else's experiments With years upon years of CONSEQUENCES Resulting in our DISARMARMENT. Focus on locals, be less on socials Break free of the chains And learn to use your vocals First and foremost We fix the families Who start fixing the neighbourhoods And the generations to come Who start fixing local communities And then the counties Who start fixing the country And the economy of life Human values Through human eyes Broken homes make broken minds Broken minds produce more crime Crimes break a system Let corruption take hold And break the good people Make them do what they told Focus on locals, be less on socials Break free of the chains And learn to use your vocals Democracy is lie If all we can do is cry - Momus Najmi

It is a false teaching, that God has somehow promised His people divine healing in this life from every illness.--This false teaching causes a disruption in trust in the truthfulness of the Bible, since obviously God does not miraculously heal most of His loved ones today.--Even worse, some of these false teachers claim falsely that Christ died on the cross to purchase our miraculous physical healing in this life.--Thus, the false teaching of the promise of divine healing is propped up with a viciously false doctrine of Calvary.--There is no doubt that God does heal. He -forgives all our iniquities, and heals all our diseases.- Anytime we are healed of a sickness, it's the Lord's ultimate doing, though it is usually not miraculous in nature.--God heals most often through the physical mechanisms He placed in His creatures. Our skin closes up over time when we are cut- our immune system kicks in to overwhelm infections- bones knit by the mechanism God gave our physical bodies.--All of these are healing from God- They are astounding, and we ought never take them for granted- --Sometimes, God directly interposes by miracle to divinely heal His people.--No doubt Jesus miraculously healed a host of people, and raised some of them from the dead, and sometimes He gave to His disciples the power to heal miraculously. After Pentecost, His apostles and others carried out notable healings on their command, by the power of the Holy Ghost.--We should pray for divine healing- No doubt God does miraculously heal some people today---But miraculous healing is not promised by God to all who seek it at this time.

It is a false teaching, that God has somehow promised His people divine healing in this life from every illness.--This false teaching causes a disruption in trust in the truthfulness of the Bible, since obviously God does not miraculously heal most of His loved ones today.--Even worse, some of these false teachers claim falsely that Christ died on the cross to purchase our miraculous physical healing in this life.--Thus, the false teaching of the promise of divine healing is propped up with a viciously false doctrine of Calvary.--There is no doubt that God does heal. He -forgives all our iniquities, and heals all our diseases.- Anytime we are healed of a sickness, it's the Lord's ultimate doing, though it is usually not miraculous in nature.--God heals most often through the physical mechanisms He placed in His creatures. Our skin closes up over time when we are cut- our immune system kicks in to overwhelm infections- bones knit by the mechanism God gave our physical bodies.--All of these are healing from God- They are astounding, and we ought never take them for granted- --Sometimes, God directly interposes by miracle to divinely heal His people.--No doubt Jesus miraculously healed a host of people, and raised some of them from the dead, and sometimes He gave to His disciples the power to heal miraculously. After Pentecost, His apostles and others carried out notable healings on their command, by the power of the Holy Ghost.--We should pray for divine healing- No doubt God does miraculously heal some people today---But miraculous healing is not promised by God to all who seek it at this time.

Amy Sikarskie revisits a channeled message from March of 2018. She shared an explanation and a channeled message about karma, earth life and the starseed. This in-depth episode speaks about Starseeds and how they can get pulled into the heaviness of Earth thus causing karmic ties and more.Highlights Include:The Starseed and their creation/agreement upon Earth• When the Starseeds dropped onto the land/waters---energetically• Physical structures were then made through source consciousness/light energy• When merging with the physical aspects of Earth, the Starseed came• Whether or not a Starseed remains conscious or not of their purpose is dependent on their personal preference as well as energetic atmosphere Starseeds & Karma• Starseeds do not come with Earthly Karma• They have a very fresh slate on Earth• Although they have these newborn baby qualities, they hold higher, advanced frequencies then most upon the EarthCommon qualities & abilities within the Starseed frequency• Moving matter, clairvoyance, telepathy, and sun absorption• Starseeds can become susceptible to the Karmic expressions of Earth, as well as the more heavy aspects of the collective consciousness• Starseeds may also come into an environment, community, country, or familiar experience that already holds ancestral karmic tiesThey begin speaking on coming into an environment etc. that already holds karmic ties and how the Starseed can effectively help clear that away• Helping all parties to come to a resolution• Bringing in the light• Calling in their star councils, archangels, earth angel councils, or any higher frequency beings they resonate or wish to work with “All are Equal under the eyes of God” • They shift to talk about different beings and how they reside in different bands of frequency• There is no hierarchy• Multiple bands of frequencies within the angelic realm• Karmic ties that are tied to heavier bands of vibrations---mass murders, rage, violence• The Starseed may come into the vessel/dna of that which holds ancestral karma• Holding a high vibration can begin to shift the frequency/dna codes of the body thus helping clear away karma in the family tree---ascending far above the karmic ties• Transmuting the energy The astral plane and the beings that reside there• Once a Starseed leaves their body, they may get “stuck” in the astral realm• This is because they got caught up in the heaviness of the karmic pull/ties that are held within the 4d or astral frequency• They urge the importance of a Starseed remembering who they are, and the vitality of their missionThey begin speaking again on the process of the Starseeds arriving on Earth as well as “hybrid starchildren”• Being dropped onto earth, gestation• Starseeds arrive on earth not specific to any body type, shape, form, or size Starseeds and staying true to their nature• A Starseed may get pulled into the experiences of the denser frequencies on Earth• Getting trapped within the karmic cycle• Will have to recycle back into the karmic cycle in order to clear it away and get back into the frequencies of which their star families, council etc. lie• Importance of understanding and being conscious of the karma• Working in the astral realm in order to clear away karmic nature• Transmuting energy into forgiveness, love, light• Once they clear karma, they may ascend back into their soul's origin (family, star family etc.• Consciously choosing to not create their own karma on Earth Clearing the Karma• Identify...

S02 Ep05 by Pastor Jeremias Solomon of Zion Bible Baptist Church - Parañaque (San Jacobo St. San Antonio Valley 2, Parañaque City Philippines) "A Famine of the Word" Amos 8:9-12 Why there is famine? They disregarded the Word of God They disregarded the Work of God v.10 Psa. 81:10-11 They disregarded the Will of God Amos 3:3 To avoid famine: There must be Desire of God's Word There must be Devotion on God's Word You must be Doer of God's Word There must be Delight in God's Word --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Glory be to God! **

Over the centuries the eras of the Church have been defined by essential questions. The early church wrestled with the question, -Who and what is God-- They answered that in the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasius Creeds. The church of the Middle Ages entering the modern world asked, -What is salvation.- and the creeds and confessions of the Reformation framed those answers. Today's church wrestles with the basic question, -By what authority do we do speak-- or -Who or what is our final authority.- Today's text, Psalm 110-1, answers that question telling us who our Overseer, our Bishop, our Elder is and how he governs us.

Over the centuries the eras of the Church have been defined by essential questions. The early church wrestled with the question, -Who and what is God--- They answered that in the Apostles', Nicene and Athanasius Creeds. The church of the Middle Ages entering the modern world asked, -What is salvation.- and the creeds and confessions of the Reformation framed those answers. Today's church wrestles with the basic question, -By what authority do we do speak--- or -Who or what is our final authority.- Today's text, Psalm 110-1, answers that question telling us who our Overseer, our Bishop, our Elder is and how he governs us.

Jacob explains that the Jews will crucify their God—They will be scattered until they begin to believe in Him—America will be a land of liberty where no king will rule—Reconcile yourselves to God and gain salvation through His grace. About 559–545 B.C. The post 2 Nephi 10 appeared first on Sacred Text Daily.

1st John Series • 5. Love Not the World – 1st John 2:15-17  In 1st John Chapter 2, there are two major charges given to the children of God – They are to love the brethren but they are NOT to love the world. In today's message, we find that John is telling us that the life of Jesus Christ, and His standard of holiness, is the measure to which we should compare ourselves. It is only by walking more like Christ that we gain assurance of salvation and find liberty to live our lives in joyfulness. This message was preached on January 31, 2021.

Sign-up for my free 20 day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:4-7)When Israel was in exile, God didn't call them to retreat and seclude themselves in their own Jewish subculture. He called them to “settle down” and “seek the peace and prosperity of the city.”Paul issues a similar command to us in Galatians 6:10, saying, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”Simply seeking to “do good to all people” and “seeking the prosperity” of our communities is good and God-honoring in and of itself. We are called to be good citizens, good neighbors, and good workers who seek the prosperity of the companies we lead and work for. This is a form of ministry and service. It may not be as overt as the ministry of your pastor, but it's ministry nonetheless, as good work is an act of obedience to God and service to others.Since Arthur Guinness founded his brewery in 1759, most of his descendants have chosen one of three career paths. There have been the “brewing Guinnesses,” the “banking Guinnesses,” and what some have called the “Guinnesses for God” who have worked as pastors and donor-supported missionaries.To believe this third group is the only one whose work matters to God would be a terrible mistake. As we've seen throughout this series, the work of the Guinnesses who “settled down” in Dublin to seek the prosperity of that and countless other cities have contributed significantly to God's work in the world.It's clear that all three lines of Guinnesses understood this. In the excellent biography from which much of this series was derived, the author says the Guinnesses “understood that brewing could be done as a holy offering, as a craft yielded in the service of God. They did not see themselves as secular, but rather as called. They did not see themselves as apart from Christian ministry, but rather as in the Christian ministry of industry and trade. They did not think of their brewing work as a menial way to pay the bills, hoping that they might compensate for such worldliness by giving occasional service to the church. No, they had absorbed the great Reformation ideal that everything a man did was to be done for God…They understood that this transformed workbenches into altars and the labor of a man's hands into liturgies pleasing to God.”The same can be said of you today, believer. Your workbench is an altar. Your desk is a cathedral. Use it to worship today—to “do good to all people” you come in contact with at work, and in doing so, glorify our great God. In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Walter Shepherd is Christian Harris's father-in-law and over the past 7 years, has been enduring the mental and physical health decline of his wife of over 50 years, to the disease of Alzheimers. He discusses grief, loss and what it looks like to go to God in your pain, doubts and yet still be faithful and trust in God's goodness and grace. NOTES: This Weeks Whiskey: N/A What is the relationship between suffering, grief and prolonged grieving? Grieving is something we find in scripture and is a natural emotion that God gave us. Christian's have a tendency to move on too fast, not grieve enough... though we are not to grieve as if we don't have hope (in God) They want to move on from the uncomfortableness of grief and act like everything is fine, as if grieving or being sad dishonors God Non-Christian's tend to keep on grieving and never ceasing grieving (never moving forward or beyond) What we don't grieve and deal with successfully, will come back and cause us problems later and we tend to get stuck, unable to move forward. Essentially, how do we acknowledge that we are in a hole, without staying in the hole? The thing that helps keep Walter going if reminding himself that, "it's not about you". As Christian's, we are called to "die to ourselves and live for Christ" He thinks about how can he turn each of these challenging situations toward God, because God can handle it and he can't. Don't compare your suffering to others. Your suffering or lose is just as real as those who have experienced something "worse". Though we may not ever know why we experience specific suffering, while God may allow suffering to happen to us but God will never "waste" the pain you experience in life.  Staying in God's Word, regular prayer and a community of people willing to speak hard but loving truth into your life are all key, not only in life but specifically when life gets hard. Two big indicators to keep watch of during a prolonged period of suffering or trials, are your anxiety and anger/frustraiton levels. People don't change and grow when people are comfortable and things are easy... especially not character or maturity in Christ. We are in very little control of anything in life and God's grace is sufficient for us. To be ok with the hard parts of life and suffering, we need to be fully surrendered to God, trusting that what He has brought us to, He will see us through... remaining teachable and open.   Call To Action:  Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_old_fashion_dad_podcast/) & Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/oldfashiondadpodcast/) for more content & DM us to connect! Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/old-fashion-dad-podcast/id1513254208) or your favorite podcast app. 

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) 23 And they had the Holy Ghost, friends. The Angel… We're… it's not a worship of Angels. It's God sending His ministering Spirit in the Church to minister to the people. There's no flesh can glory before God. If anybody could've gloried, it would've been Jesus. But He said, “It's not Me that doeth the works; it's My Father that dwelleth in Me; He doeth the works.” Is that right? They said, “We believe God.” He said, “If you believe God, believe also in Me.” Now, when the Angel came to your servant here, he said, “If you'll get the people to believe you.” Now, there's the hard thing. “If you'll get the people to believe you…” How many believes God? All of you, don't you? You believe Christ, you believe the Holy Ghost. 24 Now, that's not the question tonight. I'm glad you do that. That makes you a Christian. But that is not what I'm trying to get to you—you now. I get to that when make my altar call. You must believe Them first. If you're not in connection with Them, you'll never know this. But as much as you believe in Them, you still got to believe that I'm telling you the truth, and what I say is the truth. Jesus was the… He was… His hands was bound and tied to any miracle, or anything, any kind of a miracle, because the people did not believe Him. And the very people that believed God killed Him. Is that right? No matter how much they believed in God… They were very religious, orthodox. Very religious. And they believed God. But to believe Him, oh, no. Uh-uh. See? That was too much. Ma… A Man? They couldn't believe no Man. They could believe God. 25 And tonight, so many people can believe God. Sure. You believe Christ, you believe the Holy Ghost, and so forth. But when a man comes to you and tells something, that's hard to believe. “I don't know whether I can believe you or not, friend.” That's where it's at. See there? That's the reason God can't… That's the reason your pastor sometimes, when your pastor comes to you. The reason he can't help you, you've got to have faith in your pastor. You've got to believe that he's a man of God, sent of God to do these things for Him. 50-0110 - "Moses" Rev. William Marrion Branham ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Order your own copy of the Family Altar at http://store.bibleway.org Appreciate what we do? Consider supporting us: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support

If it's true that we learn from our mistakes, then I know a whole heck of a lot. This episode, Part 2 of 2, is about the mistakes I made in church — the three main ways I lit myself on fire, with the encouragement of church leaders. All while trying to escape the inferno of an abusive marriage.Confused? Horrified? Thirsty?Then tune in. Cause it's tea time, and I'm pouring. Check out these fire starters: Never expose yourself to other learning/beliefs/opinions beside church or church leaders (Don't you DARE think for yourself!) Treat church leaders like they are God (They're ALWAYS right) Believe you are trash (Cause that's what a loving Father wants his precious daughter to do. Duh.) Wash, rinse, and repeat for ultimate cleansing (I did for years, and it nearly killed me.) Read or download the transcriptIf you are a Christian woman who thinks you may be in an emotionally destructive marriage, learn more at https://flyingfreenow.comI'll send you (free!) the first chapter of my book, Is It Me? Making Sense of Your Confusing Marriage, which has an assessment to help you figure out if your relationship is abusive or not. All you have to do is hop on my mailing list. You can also find out about our online education and support program for women of faith at https://joinflyingfree.comAnd finally, if you are a divorced Christian woman who wants to take back her life and get healthy, lose weight, have amazing relationships, get things done, build a business or career, and even find a good man (if you want one) - check out Flying Higher.

Series: Romans - Together to the Ends of the Earth. Passage: 14:11-15:13 Preacher: Reg Piper. Date of Talk: 11 July 2021 Christian: Do not quarrel over disputable matters: v1-12 Judgement is God's work v10-11 Consider the relationship of servants v1-4 They answer to their master Their master will uphold for them Consider the motives of servants v5-6 They act to honour & thank God They are convinced in their mind SO: The Christian is accountable only to Christ v12 Welcome one another in Christ Christian: Aim for mutual Edification: v13-23 Consider the nature of the Kingdom v17-19 Not about eating or drinking Is about righteousness, peace and joy Is eternal not temporal SO: What is not of faith is sin v23 Don't cause a believer to stumble v13-15,20-21 Make every effort for peace and mutual edification v19 Christian: Follow the Example of Christ: v1-6 Let's please our neighbours for their good v1-2 Consider how Christ fulfilled scripture v3-4 He took our reproaches on himself v3 We are to fulfil scripture like him v4 May we together glorify our God and Father v5,6

Bible Transcript: "Give ear, O my people, to my law; Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord , And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children; That the generation to come might know them, The children who would be born, That they may arise and declare them to their children, That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; And may not be like their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that did not set its heart aright, And whose spirit was not faithful to God. The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them. Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; And He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, And all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers. But they sinned even more against Him By rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness. And they tested God in their heart By asking for the food of their fancy. Yes, they spoke against God: They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?” Therefore the Lord heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel, Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation. Yet He had commanded the clouds above, And opened the doors of heaven, Had rained down manna on them to eat, And given them of the bread of heaven. Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heavens; And by His power He brought in the south wind. He also rained meat on them like the dust, Feathered fowl like the sand of the seas; And He let them fall in the midst of their camp, All around their dwellings. So they ate and were well filled, For He gave them their own desire. They were not deprived of their craving; But while their food was still in their mouths, The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel. In spite of this they still sinned, And did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their days He consumed in futility, And their years in fear. When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue; For their heart was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, A breath that passes away and does not come again. Psalms 78:1‭-‬39 NKJV

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23) Now, when the Angel came to your servant here, he said, “If you’ll get the people to believe you.” Now, there’s the hard thing. “If you’ll get the people to believe you…” How many believes God? All of you, don’t you? You believe Christ, you believe the Holy Ghost. 24 Now, that’s not the question tonight. I’m glad you do that. That makes you a Christian. But that is not what I’m trying to get to you—you now. I get to that when make my altar call. You must believe Them first. If you’re not in connection with Them, you’ll never know this. But as much as you believe in Them, you still got to believe that I’m telling you the truth, and what I say is the truth. Jesus was the… He was… His hands was bound and tied to any miracle, or anything, any kind of a miracle, because the people did not believe Him. And the very people that believed God killed Him. Is that right? No matter how much they believed in God… They were very religious, orthodox. Very religious. And they believed God. But to believe Him, oh, no. Uh-uh. See? That was too much. Ma… A Man? They couldn’t believe no Man. They could believe God. 25 And tonight, so many people can believe God. Sure. You believe Christ, you believe the Holy Ghost, and so forth. But when a man comes to you and tells something, that’s hard to believe. “I don’t know whether I can believe you or not, friend.” That’s where it’s at. See there? That’s the reason God can’t… That’s the reason your pastor sometimes, when your pastor comes to you. The reason he can’t help you, you’ve got to have faith in your pastor. You’ve got to believe that he’s a man of God, sent of God to do these things for Him. 26 Now, Divine healing died out for a while here a few years ago; it just let down, as it happens through the age of the history. It’s let down so often. And during that time, cancer broke out, sickness in the church. Oh, my. Eighty percent of the people are sick now. And the people… Medical science, I salute them. They do great things. They make medicine to sell. And… I said, “to sell.” All right. It’s all right for those who want to take it. It’s all right for them. But look. But in the phase we got today, the best doctors we ever had. Do you believe that? We got the best hospitals we ever had. Have we? We got the best drugs we ever practiced with, haven’t we? And we got more sickness than we ever had, haven’t we? Because we got more unbelief than we ever had, haven’t we? That’s right. Exactly. Only God is the Healer. That’s right. And did you ever notice? Right in the days when we got all these fine drugs, and operation, and surgeons, and so forth; constantly they are building infirmaries for the incurable. Is that right? And there never was nothing that ever come before our Master, Jesus, but what He was more than a match for it. And no incurables to Him. All things are possible. Is that right? And He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that right? Then nothing too incurable for Him. 50-0110 - "Moses" Rev. William Marrion Branham ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Order your own copy of the Family Altar at http://store.bibleway.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appreciate what we do? Consider supporting us: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support

Numbers 1-47-2-9--Orientation in the Wilderness---Edge-bound -ordered by God- - Center-Focused -Oriented on God- --Oriented on God- They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side--All these tents share one grand privilege. 'Around the Tent of Meeting shall they camp.' They all have common focus. As the planets circle the sun, so these surround the sanctuary. God is the center. They form the wide circumference. And from each door one sight--the holy tent--is visible. There is a clear and precious meaning here. God, in Christ Jesus, is the center, the heart, the life, the strength, the shield, the joy of His believing flock. In their midst, He dwells--their glory and delight. When they go forth, their eyes are fixed on Him. When they return, it is to nestle round His presence.-Henry Law---I. For ------------------- - ----------------- -Rev. 21-12-14--------II. For ------------------- - ----------------- -Jn. 4-23-24---------III. For ------------------- - ----------------- -Heb. 12-28-29-

God is speaking to the pretenders, actors, hypocrites of Israel, who would not speak the truth about God. They loved using the names and titles, but their hearts were far from God- They were a stubborn people, but God would choose a Refiner's Furnace to refine them, to make them the people they ought to be. A Furnace not for destruction but to purified.

http://bible.com/events/48118137 Title: It’s Not Worth It!You have no idea what God can do and desires to do with your life when you are completely surrendered to Him. Appetites (and/or feelings) These are things that can ruin our lives and make us miserable, if they are not ultimately surrendered to God They can become gods/idols in our […]

http://bible.com/events/48118137 Title: It’s Not Worth It!You have no idea what God can do and desires to do with your life when you are completely surrendered to Him. Appetites (and/or feelings) These are things that can ruin our lives and make us miserable, if they are not ultimately surrendered to God They can become gods/idols in our […]

Have you ever heard of a guy named Ronald Wayne?  Probably not. On April 1, 1976 he  helped start a little company with a guy named Steve Jobs. You know that name. The company was called Apple. His job was to oversee mechanical engineering and documentation, all in exchange for a 10 percent stake in the business. 12 days later, he became nervous about the debt the new company had taken on and sold his 10% stake in the company for $800.  CNBC estimates that his 10% share today would be worth more than $80 billion dollars.Well, that is a colossal mistake, and while it would be easy to think of Ronald Wayne as a failure, we all know what failure feels like. We fail in different ways, but none of us are strangers to failure. Failure often produces a lot of negative feelings and emotions. Maybe you have battled rejection, guilt, shame, reproach, and fear. Maybe you have heard the lies of Satan telling you that you will never get over this. You will never move forward.Micah 7:8 - “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”What does God want you to do after failure? He wants you to get back up.Failure doesn't mean you have blown everything. It means you have some hard lessons to learn.It doesn't mean you are a permanent loser. It means you aren't as smart as you thought you were.It doesn't mean you should give up. It means you need the Lord to show you the next step.It doesn't mean that God has abandoned you. It means that God a better plan.I've noticed there are two limiting beliefs that keep people from being restored to God.1.Pride – Without humility restoration is not possible.  Pride says I'm not going to admit I did anything wrong.  Pride says I don't want anyone to know I did anything wrong.  Pride says it's someone else's fault.  Pride refuses to take responsibility. 2.I will never get over my mistake – You go to bed thinking of your failure.  You wake up in the morning thinking of your failure.  You are trapped in the past and have come to believe you can never move forward.  You truly question whether God could love you and forgive you.  Your limited belief system has robbed you of a better future in God.Somebody listening needs to hear these words: God has a way of bringing things back from failure. As long as you have breath, you have a chance! It may feel like the world is finished with you, but God is not. Maybe you failed, but you're not a failure. You made a mistake, but you are not a mistake.Maybe today you feel paralyzed by your failure. Here's the path forward.Restoration always begins with confession and repentance.Confessing our sin means to see it as God sees it. It means to agree with God that our sin is an act of sinful rebellion. I was asked one time, “Pastor Loren how do I know if I have truly repented?”  This is important because a lot of people misunderstand repentance.  When a person repents they….-Stop making excuses-Understand that all sin is a rebellion against God-They reveal sorrow for the sinful act, not simply a sorrow for the consequence.-Genuinely want to change-They are broken and humbleAsk for forgiveness. Receive forgiveness.The only reason we are able to be forgiven and restored is because Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  His death pays the way.  It offers us hope, restoration, and transformed life, and a relationship with God. Today's Challenge: If you have failed, come to Jesus today and be restored. Your failure doesn't have to be final.

https://youtu.be/ey1UrHR0WMc Why you be attitude? Matt 5:1-12 - attitudeThis is the beginning of the sermon on the mount. Some people elevate this sermon above other teachings of Jesus, but that's not what Jesus did. While this was his longest most expansive treatise, its our elevation of it, not Him who gives it so much importance. Its all important, but its not exhaustive. People want to focus on a small part instead of being responsible for the whole parts. In this sermon, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and those who are following him. In the beatitudes- he's showing his disciples the character of those who are in his kingdom and those who are going to inherit his kingdomIt's a line of delineation for the disciples- if you're going to be my disciples, if you're going to be in my kingdom- this is who you must be. This must be your character.These are people who have been rejected or excluded from the power of Roman life, and the corrupt life of the Sadducees and PhariseesThese attributes, and why they are so timeless, is because they were the antithesis of the world's ethos back then- and the antithesis of the worlds ethos nowTrue Christianity is not like the world, love the world or imitate the world. What is meant by blessed? Blessed in the simplest of terms means prosperous. Doing well. Fortunate. Well off. Doing better than most. Blessed. The kingdom of Heaven- who will receive it? Next week we talk about salt and light. This character precedes the ability to be salt and light to a loss and dying world. These characteristics display what we should be, who we are not, who we could be and who we can be  “Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who feel an overwhelming sense of spiritual emptiness and insignificance in their life apart From GodA poor in spirit person feels empty. They are not self sufficient and strong- They admit weakIsaiah 66:2  “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My wordThis is in contrast to the pharisaicial spirit of self righteousness, support, and pleasureThe Pharisee has no emptiness because they are their own God- They are actually filled to the point they don't need God and don't desire after them. I admit I need people. I need their help, support, encouragement, affirmation. I do. I also admit I need God- Nothing the world gives satisfies- James 4:6 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”Are you poor in spirit, or do you depend on yourself? Do you long for God and his touch?We, as a society pride ourselves on self-sufficiency- but that's not Godly. Never arrivingNo amount of personal righteousness can satisfy- only the Lord. Luke 18:13 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!'Hebrew for poor- meek- abase self, afflict (-ion, self), answer [by mistake for H6030], chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble  Blessed are those who mourn,For they shall be comforted. attitude This isn't upon all who mourn- its for those who mourn over their sin. They will be blessed, because when they mourn over what they have done, they find comfort with God's pardon. I get no pleasure from listening to people talk about their past sins in a joking, positive lightIf you had killed someone, and got out of Jail and then laughed about it- is that Good/Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [a]have a contrite spirit.Yes, you're forgiven, you're set free- but that doesn't mean you can't hate your pastIsaiah 57:15 b“I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.And its not this self-loathing I'm not forgiven I am no good spirit- It's the “...

https://youtu.be/ey1UrHR0WMc Why you be attitude? Matt 5:1-12 - attitudeThis is the beginning of the sermon on the mount. Some people elevate this sermon above other teachings of Jesus, but that’s not what Jesus did. While this was his longest most expansive treatise, its our elevation of it, not Him who gives it so much importance. Its all important, but its not exhaustive. People want to focus on a small part instead of being responsible for the whole parts. In this sermon, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and those who are following him. In the beatitudes- he’s showing his disciples the character of those who are in his kingdom and those who are going to inherit his kingdomIt’s a line of delineation for the disciples- if you’re going to be my disciples, if you’re going to be in my kingdom- this is who you must be. This must be your character.These are people who have been rejected or excluded from the power of Roman life, and the corrupt life of the Sadducees and PhariseesThese attributes, and why they are so timeless, is because they were the antithesis of the world’s ethos back then- and the antithesis of the worlds ethos nowTrue Christianity is not like the world, love the world or imitate the world. What is meant by blessed? Blessed in the simplest of terms means prosperous. Doing well. Fortunate. Well off. Doing better than most. Blessed. The kingdom of Heaven- who will receive it? Next week we talk about salt and light. This character precedes the ability to be salt and light to a loss and dying world. These characteristics display what we should be, who we are not, who we could be and who we can be  “Blessed are the poor in spirit,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who feel an overwhelming sense of spiritual emptiness and insignificance in their life apart From GodA poor in spirit person feels empty. They are not self sufficient and strong- They admit weakIsaiah 66:2  “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My wordThis is in contrast to the pharisaicial spirit of self righteousness, support, and pleasureThe Pharisee has no emptiness because they are their own God- They are actually filled to the point they don’t need God and don’t desire after them. I admit I need people. I need their help, support, encouragement, affirmation. I do. I also admit I need God- Nothing the world gives satisfies- James 4:6 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”Are you poor in spirit, or do you depend on yourself? Do you long for God and his touch?We, as a society pride ourselves on self-sufficiency- but that’s not Godly. Never arrivingNo amount of personal righteousness can satisfy- only the Lord. Luke 18:13 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’Hebrew for poor- meek- abase self, afflict (-ion, self), answer [by mistake for H6030], chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble  Blessed are those who mourn,For they shall be comforted. attitude This isn’t upon all who mourn- its for those who mourn over their sin. They will be blessed, because when they mourn over what they have done, they find comfort with God’s pardon. I get no pleasure from listening to people talk about their past sins in a joking, positive lightIf you had killed someone, and got out of Jail and then laughed about it- is that Good/Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as [a]have a contrite spirit.Yes, you’re forgiven, you’re set free- but that doesn’t mean you can’t hate your pastIsaiah 57:15 b“I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.And its not this self-loathing I’m not forgiven I am no good spirit- It’s the “...

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God They shall still bear fruit in old age They shall be fresh and flourishing

This one, from Matthew 21:28-32, is about how what we do is more important than what we say. It includes this reworked parable: Jesus was controversial in his time - a fact that would lead to his death. Pastor Matt reworked the parable (from today's lectionary readings) to be sharp for us, like it was sharp originally. So, here is a modern version of Matthew 21:28-32 - this is a work of imagination, not intended to BE scriptural… simply imagining how it might speak sharply to us in our day:   Speaking to self-identified seriously religious people, the question is asked: “What do you think? God once told the people, ‘Love each other! Care about life!’”   "Some said, ‘I’m pro choice.’ But later went out and what they did helped bring life to many people.   "Some said, ‘I’m pro life!’ But later went out and what they did destroyed the lives of many people and left many others in danger.   “Which group did the will of God?”   They answered, “The first.”   “I assure you that many people you think are far from God are entering God’s kingdom ahead of you.”

Sermon for the Watford church of Christ, 13 September 2020 1. The Desk of Devotion Devoted to God: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV11) - modelled after the culture Jesus established.  “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2 NIV11) A Christian is professionally curious Not a burdening curiosity, but a liberating one, an exciting one, a stimulating one. What does devotion to God mean to you? But, how does this devotion develop, mature, spread……? 2. The Piano Room of Perseverance Perseverance: Acts 2.42 proskartereo: to persevere in; to be close at hand  Sometimes not fun Devoted to one another - “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10 NIV11) philostorgos - devoted, loving, good-natured  Conclusion Is God getting your attention in an area that needs perseverance? Is God getting your attention regarding devotion? Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.  Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org (mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org) . If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org (http://www.malcolmcox.org/) . Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. “Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) God bless, Malcolm PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool" (https://dqzrr9k4bjpzk.cloudfront.net/images/9167082/379662794.jpg) , a devotional look at the Gospel of John mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm’s, cox, 

Sermon for the Watford church of Christ, 13 September 2020 1. The Desk of Devotion Devoted to God: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NIV11) - modelled after the culture Jesus established.  “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2 NIV11) A Christian is professionally curious Not a burdening curiosity, but a liberating one, an exciting one, a stimulating one. What does devotion to God mean to you? But, how does this devotion develop, mature, spread……? 2. The Piano Room of Perseverance Perseverance: Acts 2.42 proskartereo: to persevere in; to be close at hand  Sometimes not fun Devoted to one another - “Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10 NIV11) philostorgos - devoted, loving, good-natured  Conclusion Is God getting your attention in an area that needs perseverance? Is God getting your attention regarding devotion? Please add your comments on this week's topic. We learn best when we learn in community.    Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here's the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.   If you'd like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.   Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.   God bless, Malcolm mccx, Malcolm Cox, Watford, Croxley Green, teaching, preaching, spiritual disciplines, public speaking, corporate worship, Sunday Sample, Corporate Worship Matters, Tuesday Teaching Tips, Quiet Time Coaching, coaching, coaching near me, coach, online coaching, savior, quiet time, devotion, God, Jesus, Pray, prayer, malcolm's, cox, 

Today’s Scripture reading comes from Exodus 17:16, quoting from the NASB: “And he said, ‘The LORD has sworn; the LORD will have war against Amalek from generation to generation.’” No one desires a persistent enemy. Anyone would be happy for the removal of an irritating thorn in the flesh or for the total eradication of a systemic office problem. The Amalekites may have been a persistent irritation to the Israelites, but who were they to God? They were not a formidable foe for the Lord. For Israel to be in recurring conflict with the Amalekites was certainly better for them than striving against them without the Lord. God’s Word to Moses was that He would utterly destroy the Amalekites. Literally and figuratively, God would be in the battle with Israel against their enemy. While Israel would have preferred a less belligerent journey toward the promised land, they would be comforted in God’s faithful presence. Do you find yourself in a persistently problematic circumstance? The leader’s challenge usually does not end with conquest over one issue before another arrives. In fact, multiple, simultaneous issues often test a leader’s prowess. Our response amid such circumstances should mark us as faithful followers of Christ. Moses availed himself of the help of Aaron and Hur in battling the Amalekites. Jesus accepted the help of Simon from Cyrene in carrying His cross when He was physically overwhelmed. To whom do you turn for help and encouragement when facing a persistent issue? The Amalekites were not Israel’s only enemy, and with the destruction of the Amalekites, God did not cease to be Israel’s “banner.” The point is this: God does not abandon us in the face of weighty circumstances and pressures. Consider God’s prevailing truth and rely on His presence during your times of need for deliverance from nagging circumstances.   // Points to Ponder Over the next week, here are 3 points to ponder during your personal time of reflection or with a small group or mentor. First, he gives strength for the battle and rewards courage and skill. Second, he brings faithful people alongside us to help shoulder the burden of our circumstances. Will we strip off pride and accept offers of help? Third, winning a battle does not mean the war is over. Are you confident in God’s promise of His abiding presence as you fulfill your leadership responsibilities?   // About the Narrator Tom Schmidt was raised in a family of nine on a dairy farm in Kansas. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY, graduating in 1970 with a commission in the Infantry. He served for 25 years in command, staff, and instructor assignments, ranging from platoon to Department of the Army level. Tom and his wife, Jean, also served on OCF staff as Field Representative at Ft. Leavenworth and Director of Field Operations.   // Purchase a Copy Call the OCF Home Office at 800-424-1984 to purchase a paperback copy of the book, or buy a Kindle version at Amazon.

https://youtu.be/yT4ofXH7klA Col 3:1-4 READ Saved-Seek-Set-See Make sure you're saved V 1 If then you were raised with Christ, IF THEN- IF IF IFWere you raised with Christ? Were you saved? This is a constant theme- its not because I want the saved questioning their salvation- its because I want the unsaved- to be saved-2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;These are not the times for going back! They are the times for going forward- we need to know that we know down in our know-know who we are and whose we are-Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;Its not about walking around in fear- its about getting so close to Jesus that when things are rotten all around you- you can rest assured in your salvation-People say that- rest assured- but REST- ASSURED- you stop striving- you stop wondering I know I'm saved- I know I'm going- I know Jesus and he knows me- we love each otherHebrews 4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.Some people say that any sort of striving is works based salvation- I don't gather that at all- I just don't want to miss out on the things of God- I don't want to take it for grantedWhat relationship flourishes when you take it for granted? We say we have a relationship with Jesus- but then we want to have a double standard and say it doesn't require what a relationship requires- time, investment, vulnerability, honesty. Relationships are RELATINGFriend MF- Didn't talk since 6th grade- hunted him down- didn't reciprocate- over- Not friendsAre you saved? Have you made your calling and election sure?Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.I'm not sure what the broad gate is- but that's not the one I want- I want the narrow gate!Romans 6:4b says “ we also should walk in newness of life.” Are you walking that way?2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new- Have the old things of your life passed away?Colossians 3:10 0 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, THE NEW MAN DOESN'T DO WHAT THE OLD MAN DOESEphesians 4:22-24 READIF you've been raised with Christ- Do it- Working to get Cintas job- and then not showing up? IF you are saved- THEN Seek the things of GOD V2 seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.What are the things that you seek? What are the things that work for?Are you working for the accolades of the world and their possessions or the things of God?I've been pastoring long enough to see the ones who seek after the things that are aboveCan tell you the story lines of the latest shows, but no stories of the bible. Can tell you the stock price but not the scripture address. Work hard to get money but not work hard to gain righteousness. They aren't seeking after God- They are seeking- but not after GodI don't have hobbies- When church is shut down- I'm lost- because I love the things of the LordNothing against hobbies- unless you know and work on that perfection more than ChristPhil 3:12 12 Not that I have already attained,[c] or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.I'm pressing on! I want to more of Jesus- I want to experience more of his grace and mercyRomans 8:6 For to be [a]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.Do you have more desire to work for the things of this world than the things of GodSeek after the world. Love the world.

This week Douglas Wilson talks about What to do with the sons of god marrying the daughters of men in Gen. 6. He then goes on to review Hillbilly Elegy, a book by J. D. Vance. Wrapping it up with a look at the New Testament word “Anaskeuandzo.” Happy plodding!   Show notes:   What to do with the sons of god marrying the daughters of men in Gen. 6 One of the things that “precipitated” the flood In Jude, a certain pronoun links Sodom and Gomorrah to the sons of God They were attempting eternal life without God   Hillbilly Elegy Book by J. D. Vance Published in well time right before the presidency of Trump Largely autobiographical and memoir Vance writes about a dysfunctional family Great book on audible - read by Vance Helps to understand where someone might be coming from if they look at Trump as a deliverer   Harmartiology The sin of subversion. (Anaskeuandzo) Acts 15:24

At The Hershey Lodge, Welcome Misfits, To the Losing Team...,Being Overconfident, Name Your Own College Bowl, Good Christian?, I Am Second, Does It Work?, Brant Hansen: Life Coach, Judgmental   Quotes:   "I don't want to smear brown stuff in my hair." "I love when I realize my total dependency on God" "They just want to know that a person is trying as hard as they are to be good." "I can tell you what you need to work on this year."