POPULARITY
19 episodes with he jesus
9 episodes with he jesus
9 episodes with he jesus
11 episodes with he jesus
5 episodes with he jesus
4 episodes with he jesus
5 episodes with he jesus
5 episodes with he jesus
3 episodes with he jesus
Welcome to Day 2601 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – Theology Thursday – God's Right-Hand Woman? - Wisdom in Hebrews 1 – I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible. Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2601 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2601 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Today is the 50th lesson in our segment, Theology Thursday. Utilizing excerpts from a book titled: I Dare You Not To Bore Me With The Bible written by Hebrew Bible scholar and professor the late Dr. Michael S Heiser, we will invest a couple of years going through the entire Bible, exploring short Biblical lessons that you may not have received in Bible classes or Church. The Bible is a wonderful book. Its pages reveal the epic story of God's redemption of humankind and the long, bitter conflict against evil. Yet it's also a book that seems strange to us. While God's Word was written for us, it wasn't written to us. Today's lesson is: “God's Right-Hand Woman? – Wisdom in Hebrews 1” Hebrews 1:2 tells us that in these “last days,” God has spoken to humanity “by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom he created the world” (compare Col 1:16; 1 Cor 8:6). Jesus' role as co-creator with God is a familiar doctrine. But in verse 3, there's something that's a bit odd: “He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God.” What's strange about the phrase isn't its meaning. We get the metaphor. Jesus “shines forth” the glory of God; He is a brilliant reflection of what God is like. What's odd is where the idea comes from, and how startling it would have been to the Jewish Christians for whom the book of Hebrews was intended. The word “radiance” (átaúyaoua, apaugasma) occurs only here in the New Testament. To figure out what the writer of Hebrews meant, we have to look at his source. The writer is quoting the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, but the Septuagint included books that many Jews and Christians today do not consider part of the biblical canon, but which some in ancient times considered sacred. The phrase in Hebrews 1:2 comes from one of these books—Wisdom of Solomon. How can we be sure? Because the word apaugasma is found only one time in the Septuagint: Wisdom of Solomon 7:26. Sure, the scarcity of the word is curious, but where's the surprise? Not only is the word extremely uncommon, but the source of the Hebrews 1:2 quotation has a woman as God's personified reflection. Welcome to the biblical twilight zone. For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection {apaugasma) of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. (Wisdom of Solomon 7:24-26 NRSV) The Jewish writer of Wisdom of Solomon got the idea of personified Wisdom as a woman from the book of Proverbs 1....
Sermon: Hope- "the reason He (Jesus) was sent to us."Scripture: Luke 4:14-30, Isaiah 61:1-2a & 58:6Speaker: Pastor Andrew Happ
While the Disciples are impressed by the Temple, Jesus wants their trust and admiration to go elsewhere. He - Jesus himself - is the true and trustworthy Temple. And only Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth.And because Jesus is our temple – the only focus of our worship – we are invited to a)trust his full authority, b)move through life with his calling to disciple, baptize and teach, and c)be assured of his constant presence with us.
In this episode, we will recognize who our enemy is. The enemies of God are enemies of Love. They don't want us to experience the love of God. They keep us from loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. We know who the deceiver is; Satan, who comes to steal, kill and destroy. And we know Jesus came to give life more abundantly. We see two opposing forces. In John 10:10, Satan is presented as a thief. He creeps in unaware to bring us into bondage and to deceive us. His success is due only to our lack of knowledge of the truth. Satan wants us to abandon God's will and come in line with his evil will. He opposes God, and God opposes him. We know Who is the winner -- Jesus Christ! In Genesis, after the Fall of man, we find God addressing Satan [the serpent], and He says: ". . . And I will put enmity between you and the women, and between your seed [Satan] and her Seed; He [Jesus] shall bruise your head, and you [Satan] shall bruise His heel" (Genesis 3:15, NKJV). That word "enmity" means mutual hatred and hostility. Satan hates God, and God hates Satan. And this enmity extends between those who follow one or the other. We are to hate [have enmity towards] the deeds of Satan, especially when found among believers. We don't hate the believer, but the inappropriate actions of the believer. We hate the sin, but love the sinner [Romans 5:8]. Jesus bruises the head of the "seed of the serpent", and the serpent bruises the heel of the "Seed of the woman," temporarily at the cross. Satan comes at us and plants thoughts that are in opposition to what God's will is for our lives. These contrary thoughts are enmity towards God and enemies of God, and His love. In this message, we find the truth of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, that we use as weapons against the works of the enemy. Selah! Let me hear from you - Charles https://www.aboundinglove.org/ Subscribe and share with someone you love.
Mark 9:36-37 describes a moving scene: “He [Jesus] took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'”Today, people think … Continue reading Serving those who cannot repay us
All Have Temptation, Which Is Not the Sin; But Jesus Followers Can Resist All Temptation Through Their Faith and Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He {Jesus} always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". From James 1:13, we know that God does not create the temptation we face: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.". Since all are tempted, it is great to know, from 1 Corinthians 10:13, that Jesus Followers will not be tempted beyond their capability to resist the temptation and act on it through sinning: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." You can follow Jesus' example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight. From Proverbs 3:5f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12; James 1:13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Beginnings In Prayer - Part 4: Listening to God Because He Desires to Speak to Us” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. Let's look first today at what Noah did. He literally prepared a wooden box (an ark) to save his family from a rain that he had never seen happen. Therefore, his obedience wasn't motivated by reason or natural understanding. We know it was an act of radical obedience simply because of the enormous size of the ark and therefore the time required to complete the project. Second, let's be encouraged by the fact that Noah prepared the ark in reverence. The Greek word translated reverence here was translated piety in Heb. 5:7. “In the days of His flesh, He (Jesus) offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” It means both Jesus and Noah received well what God told them to do. It describes an attitude of heart that is devoted to accomplishing the will of God. That's why they both received grace to obey, and God gets the glory. We have been commanded to love one another as proof of being Jesus' disciples. Faith enables us to receive Jesus' commandment well, which moves us to confidently seek God for grace to love for His glory. Third, let's consider why he built the ark. I see two motivations in this verse. God told him to, and he loved his family. So the two motivations were obedience and love. Let's note what drove the obedience and love. It was faith—faith that rose up within him when he heard God speak. But Noah wasn't always a man of faith. In Gen. 6:5, God described Noah along with everyone else on the planet at that time. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Then in 8-9 we find an unexpected declaration. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD…Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” Noah was like Enoch. God chose to act favorably toward Noah. He didn't deserve it. God's grace to Noah was a favor, an act of 100% grace, not a reward for good deeds. Before God revealed Himself to Noah, every intent of Noah's heart was only evil continually. At some point in his life, God gave Noah faith. He believed he continuously walked in God's presence and that God would reward him if he continuously drew near to Him. It was by faith that Noah built the ark and loved his family. Fourth, Noah inherited the righteousness of Christ, which is given in accordance with faith. If God gives faith, then God gives righteousness. They are a package given in love. If we believe in Jesus Christ and intentionally practice abiding in Him, drawing near to Him for grace to trust and love, then we also are heirs of righteousness. Like Noah, may we receive well God's call to live to love with Jesus. I encourage you to draw near to the throne of grace all day, in every situation and relationship. You are building your ark one plank at a time by faith for the benefit of those you love.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. This verse is a further commentary by the Holy Spirit on Enoch, who was pleasing to God. I hope that everyone listening to this podcast wants to be pleasing to God. We learn in this verse what pleases God. Faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. To begin with, let's purpose to walk by faith today because that's how the righteous are to live. As it says in Rom. 1:17. “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” Rom. 14:23 gives insight into why it is impossible to please God without faith. Without it, we sin. God says, Paul writes, “Whatever is not from faith is sin.” Or to say it in the positive, if what we do is by faith, it isn't sin. Is it possible not to sin? Apparently so, for 1 John 3:5-6 attests to it. “You know that He (Jesus) appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins.” So now let's apply the transitive property of equality. (a=b, b=c, therefore a=c). With faith=no sin; abiding in Christ=no sin; therefore, with faith = abiding in Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Apart from Jesus, we bear no fruit. Apart from Jesus, we sin. Apart from Jesus, we have no faith. Faith is the evidence that we are united with Jesus. It is actually the witness of Jesus' life dwelling within. If we are united with Jesus, then it is a fact: God is pleased with us. He works in us, as a gift of grace, the very thing that pleases Him—the faith of His Son. When Jesus' life (faith) is working in and through us, we can be filled with the joy of the Lord because we know He is pleased. We also learn two characteristics of God-given faith. First, we believe that God exists as a being outside of creation. And second, we believe God rewards those who seek Him. Apparently, we are to conclude that is what Enoch believed. His walk with God was driven by a faith that endured to the end. The aim of the Spirit of God is to encourage us to 1) continually draw near to God like Enoch did because we believe we are continually in His presence (He is). And 2) continually draw near to Him for grace to help in time of need because we believe He is a rewarder of those who draw near to Him (seek Him). This is also what Jesus believes. That's how He walked with His Father on the earth and was able to offer Himself as a living sacrifice for our sins. It is the faith of Jesus that drives living to love. Without His faith, it's impossible to please God. Apart from Him, we can't do anything but sin. But with Him, we display His fruit and receive the witness that God is well-pleased.
In this video, Todd asks Pastor Steve about the each Gospel's perspective on the Christmas Story (why the Wisemen are mentioned only in Matthew, and the Shepherds only in Luke), and we finish by talking about the line from O Holy Night which reads: “when He [Jesus] appears, the soul felt its worth”.
How does Isaiah present the gospel? Early church fathers, interestingly enough, would refer to Isaiah as the fifth Gospel. I love that term. It would be Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and then Isaiah, right? Because Isaiah is a prophet, he prepares us for the gospel in ways that are pretty unique in the Bible. Isaiah points us to Christ. Then we can see our need for Christ - our need for the new covenant. In Luke 24 where Jesus is walking on the road to Emmaus with the two men, Luke says, "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He (Jesus) explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself... When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'" Today is an overview of chapters 1-39. Next week we'll cover the rest of the book, chapters 40-66. Dr. Mark Gignilliat is professor of divinity at Beeson Divinity School, where he teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew, and also serves as theologian in residence at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Birmingham. Dr. Gignilliat is married to Naomi, and they have four children.
Hebrews 10:18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. Let's follow the author's reasoning. In 9:15, he wrote, “For this reason He [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Then in 9:22 we read, “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Jesus shed His blood for the redemption of our transgressions so we could be forgiven and made perfect (Heb. 10:14). So, since through the blood of Jesus we are forgiven once for all for all time, there is no longer a need for another offering of sin. Our redemption is complete! We can reverse our reasoning and also consider it this way. If God is not requiring any more offerings for sin, then He has forgiven all sin, once for all, for all time. We are free from sin's condemnation and therefore are free to live to love with Jesus. Furthermore, that is our testimony to others. We have this good news to preach as we love people. This encourages us to love others freely. We don't love so we can be forgiven of our sins. Our love isn't an offering for sin. Jesus' work on the cross is sufficient. This encourages us also to love without expecting people to do something to earn our forgiveness and love. We give expecting nothing in return, just like Jesus loves us. Remember what Jesus told His disciples? “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). What a joy it is to love with Jesus with His kind of love. Today, let us show others that we believe Jesus' offering for sin, once for all, has purchased complete and total forgiveness. May we be satisfied with His love and what it has accomplished for us.
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:8-11SHOW NOTES: We invite you to join us each week. Our website is Discover God's Truth, where you will find resources to encourage you in your Walk with God. "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:5-7 Jesus, the Eternal Son, became a servant and submitted to His Father's will. When He was tired, He needed to sleep. He ate food when He was hungry. These are aspects of His humility. His appearance did not provide visual clues that He was sinless or divine. "He (Jesus) humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2:8Jesus was humiliated by wicked rulers and religious authorities, and they sentenced Him to a cruel death on the cross. He fulfilled the will of His Father when He faced death by crucifixion, a form of execution that was without equal in its pain and humiliation.Given the Son's submission, God the Father raised Him to the heights of glory. Jesus received great exaltation and a name that corresponds to His position. Every person will bow in submission to His authority. SONG: "Name Above All Names" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUccXoU8v3s
https://www.podbean.com/lsw/X0V2CaNu5K?lsid=3pd0GhMoSJx A walk through the Scriptures proving that Jesus Christ is the God of Adam and Eve, of Abraham, of Moses, of Isaiah and more. This is really an introduction to the idea that Jesus Christ is NOT a ”nice guy” that the modernist Judeo-Christian church has invented. Hell is not a nice place. Neither was Sodom. Same God, same results. Part 1 1 John 4:12. No one has seen God at any time. John 6;46. No that anyone has seen the father except the One who is from God, He has seen the Father. John 1:18. No one has seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, He has made Him known. John 10:30. I and the Father are One. Colossians 1:15. He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn (or source) of Creation. John 14:9. He who has seen Me has seen the father. Part 2: Exodus 33:11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, the Lord [Jesus]. Abraham God mean, bread and water. He washed their feet and prepared a physical meal. He was standing under the tree as they ate. Isaiah 6:1 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne lofting and exalted with the train of his robe filling the temple. Isaiah 6:5 for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. Part 3: Genesis 7:23. He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the earth, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. Genesis 12:29. The Lord struck the first born in the land of Egypt from the firstborn of Pharaoah who sat on the throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon and the firstborn of the cattle. Job: (Job was a righteous man and still he suffered extensively by the will of God - he went through his tribulation) Genesis 19: the men of the city, the men of Sodom, sorrounded the house both young and old (the perversion of the youth) Genesis 19: 24 The Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven. He overthrew the cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground Genesis 19:26 But [Lots] wife . . . looked back and became a pillar of salt. Deuteronomy 28: For the entire nation 1 Samuel 15:33. Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal. Samuel was not an effete man of letters -- he could wield a sword and seemed to have some experience with it. Jeremiah 13:7. The story of the waistband ruined and rotted, totally worthless. " . . . and the waistband was totally worthless." Jeremiah 26:66 and I will make this house like Shiloh and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth. Nahum 1:2. A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful. THe Lord takes vengeance on HIs adversaries and He reserves his wrath for His enemies. Nahum 1:3 and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. Psalm 137:9. How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones agains the rock. Fritz Berggren, PhD bloodandfaith.com
October 6, 2024 - Sunday AM Sermon The Centurion at the Cross... Mark 15:39 Introduction: 1. At the _______________ of the _____________ many things were _______________. 2. One of the ___________ present at the __________ of Jesus was the Roman ______. 3. The day Jesus was _____________ would be a day he would never ______________. I. In the ___________________ Position (Luke 23:47) II. Saw ________________ in ___________________ (Luke 23:46-47) III. Saw the _______________ of _________________ (Mark 15:29-32) IV. Saw and _____________ Us ______________ can _____________ (Matthew 27:54) V. _________________ the Cross ___________________ (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39) VI. _______________ an Unpopular _______________ (Mark 15:39) Conclusion: 1. The _____________ saw what God wants ______________ to see. 2. We need to see the ______________ and then ____________ the _______________. 3. He ________ Jesus was the ________ of God and we must _______ the __________. Duration 38:27
All Have Temptation, Which Is Not the Sin; But Jesus Followers Can Resist All Temptation Through Their Faith and Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He {Jesus} always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". From James 1:13, we know that God does not create the temptation we face: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.". Since all are tempted, it is great to know, from 1 Corinthians 10:13, that Jesus Followers will not be tempted beyond their capability to resist the temptation and act on it through sinning: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." You can follow Jesus' example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will trust in the Lord with all my heart. I will trust in the Lord with all of my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways I will seek to know Him, and He will make my pathways straight. From Proverbs 3:5f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12; James 1:13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Turkeys and Eagles, Part 1: Called as an “Eagle” But Saved as a “Turkey”” , at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." The seventh day of the week, the Sabbath, commemorates God's finished work of Creation (Gen. 2:1-3). The Lord's Day commemorates Christ's finished work of redemption, the 'new creation.' God the Father worked for six days and then rested. God the Son suffered on the cross for six hours and then rested. The Jewish Sabbath is associated with the Law: six days of work, and then you rest. But the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, is associated with grace: first there is faith in the living Christ, and then there will be works. We also see how our Lord transformed His disciples fear into courage. First, not only did Jesus come to them, but He reassured them. He showed them His wounded hands and side so they would know it was Him, and they would know He had risen from the grave. Lastly, Jesus gives them a new purpose. The purpose of Jesus' incarnation was the spiritual salvation of the world (1:29). That also is our purpose. 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." Mr. 16:14; Lu 24:36; 1Co 15:5 John moved his readers directly from the events of Easter morning to those that happened that evening. There were at least five Resurrection appearances of our Lord on that first day of the week: “the first day of the week” Sunday was the first work day, like our Monday. This became the meeting day of the Church to commemorate Jesus' resurrection. He Himself set the pattern by appearing in the Upper Room three Sunday nights in a row (cf. vv. 19, 26; Luke 24:36ff; Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:2). The first-generation believers continued to meet on the Sabbath at the local Synagogues and at the Temple on set feast days. However, the rabbis instituted a “curse oath” that required Synagogue members to reject Jesus as the Messiah. At this point they dropped the Sabbath services but continued to meet with other believers on Sunday, the resurrection day, to commemorate Jesus' resurrection.[i] Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the church epistles, but the Sabbath commandment is not repeated. "The seventh day of the week, the Sabbath, commemorates God's finished work of Creation (Gen. 2:1-3). The Lord's Day commemorates Christ's finished work of redemption, the 'new creation.' . . . God the Father worked for six days and then rested. God the Son suffered on the cross for six hours and then rested.[ii] "For centuries, the Jewish Sabbath had been associated with Law: six days of work, and then you rest. But the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, is associated with grace: first there is faith in the living Christ, then there will be works." It was on the first day of the week—the same day that Mary saw Jesus—and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors. They were afraid of the Jews. They were disciples of Jesus, and He had just been crucified for sedition. And now, the story was circulating that they had stolen the body of Jesus (Matthew 28:11-15). Remember that the tomb was sealed by Rome, and guarded by Roman soldiers. The disciples may have felt in greater danger here than on any previous occasion. They must have been deeply troubled by the reports they had heard that Jesus was alive. What were they to think of all this? What were they to do? They did not know. And so the disciples met together behind locked doors. The PLURAL implies that both the downstairs and upstairs doors were locked. This was mentioned to (1) accentuate Jesus' appearance and (2) to show their fear of arrest. The disciples' initial reaction to Jesus' unexpected appearance was terror Lu 24:37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not I am with, be not dismayed, I am your God, I will help you” He told them 3 things in Chapter 14 and other comforting things in Ch. 13-17, if they had only listened and believed, they would not be hiding and afraid as they are now. John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 "You have heard Me say to you, 'I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, 'I am going to the Father,' for My Father is greater than I. Mark 16:12-14 - 12 After this he appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 14 Then he appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected . We are told that one disciple was missing—Thomas. What we miss when we do not assemble with the believers like we ought to. Heb 10:24-25. We are not told why he was absent. There is no particular blame cast on him for his absence. In some miraculous way, Jesus enters the room, even though the door is locked. We do not know what the disciples saw, but John certainly leaves us with the impression that our Lord's entrance was unusual—one more proof of His resurrection. Our Lord twice repeated the words, “Peace be with you” (20:19, 21). This certainly reminds us of what Jesus had said earlier to these men: Jesus would have appeared to Mary and the other women by now, and they have already announced to the disciples that Jesus was alive. But the disciples refused to believe. Then, the two men who talked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus arrived to tell the disciples of their encounter with the risen Lord. Once again, the disciples refused to believe: Jesus' greeting was common enough (i.e., Heb. shalom 'alekem). However, He had formerly promised His disciples His peace (14:27; 16:33). Consequently He was imparting rather than just wishing peace on them. This seems clear because Jesus repeated the benediction two more times (vv. 21, 26). "Shalom" summarized the fullness of God's blessing, not just the cessation of hostility But the wounds meant more than identification; they also were evidence that the price for salvation had been paid and man indeed could have “peace with God.” The basis for all our peace is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He died for us, He arose from the dead in victory, and now He lives for us. Rom. 5:1; Phil. 4:7 "'Shalom!' on Easter evening is the complement of 'it is finished' on the cross, for the peace of reconciliation and life from God is now imparted . . . Not surprisingly it is included, along with 'grace,' in the greeting of every epistle of Paul in the NT." Ephesians 2:14–18 He [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made us both one [Jew and Gentile] and reconciled us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. John 16:22 How did our Lord transform His disciples' fear into courage? For one thing, He came to them. [iii] Not only did Jesus come to them, but He reassured them. He showed them His wounded hands and side and gave them opportunity to discover that it was indeed their Master, and that He was not a phantom. John apparently focuses on the piercing of Jesus' side more than the other Gospels (cf. 19:37; 20:25). His feet are not mentioned except in Luke 24:39 and Ps. 22:16. Jesus' glorified body retains the marks of His crucifixion (cf. I Cor. 1:23; Gal. 3:1).[iv] He gave them a purpose a commission to fulfill 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." Mt 28:18; Joh 17:18-19; 2Ti 2:2; Heb 3:1 Jesus repeated His benediction (v. 19). He then commissioned His disciples for their mission from then on. He expressed this commission in terms of the relationships that John recorded Jesus teaching extensively in this Gospel. Jesus was sending His disciples on a mission just as His Father had sent Him on a mission (cf. 17:18). The emphasis here is on the sending and the authoritative person doing the sending. Thus Jesus' disciples became apostles (lit. sent ones) in a new sense. Jesus uses two different terms for “send.” In John these are synonymous. This is clearly seen in chapter 8, where pempō is used of Jesus' being sent by the Father (cf. 8:16, 18, 26, 29), yet apostellō is used in 8:42. This same thing is true of chapters 5 and 6. hath sent (send on a mission )me, even so send (send) you. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that of One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Jesus apparently gave this commission on at least three separate occasions. The reader of the Gospels can scarcely escape its crucial importance. It expresses God's will for every believer in the present age. Some Christians believe that Jesus intended this commission only for His original disciples. They point to the fact that the writers of the New Testament epistles never referred to it. However even though they did not refer to it explicitly they clearly presupposed its validity for the whole church. They simply cast it in different terminology (e.g., 2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. The universal scope of the commission also argues for its continuation. ( Go into all the world) Third, the repetition of this commission five times suggests that Jesus intended all of His disciples to carry it out. Finally, this was the last charge that Jesus gave His disciples before He returned to His Father (Luke24:46-48; Acts 1:8). This fact also suggests that He intended it for all succeeding generations of disciples. Clearly on this occasion Jesus was presenting His mission as a model for His disciples' mission. Just as He left His home to go on a mission, He was asking them to do the same. Many Christians have concluded, therefore, that what characterized Jesus' ministry must characterize the church's ministry. They see this mission including healing the sick, casting out demons, and feeding the hungry. They believe that the church's mission is much broader than just preaching the gospel, baptizing, teaching, and planting churches. However the emphasis on Jesus' mission in John's Gospel has been primarily that Jesus always carried out God's will in perfect obedience (cf.5:19-30; 8:29). Even before His crucifixion Jesus stressed the importance of the believer's obedience as the fulfillment of this paradigm (15:9-10). The purpose of Jesus' incarnation was the spiritual salvation of the world (1:29). That is also the believer's primary, though not our exclusive, purpose Ga 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.). As Jesus always operated in dependence on the Father with the Spirit's enablement, so should His disciples (cf. 1:32; 3:34; 4:34; 5:19; 6:27; 10:36; 17:4). As He was a Son of God, so are His disciples sons of God (cf. 1:12-13; 3:3, 5; 20:17). Since believers no longer belong to the world (15:19), it was necessary for Jesus to send His disciples back into the world. Our mission does not replace Jesus' mission, however. He carries out His present mission through us. We must consider all the versions of the Great Commission that Jesus gave to understand our mission correctly, not just this one. The first recorded commission chronologically was evidently the one in Mark 16:15-16 and John 20:21-23. Matthew 28:19-20 appears to be another account of a later event. Likewise Luke 24:46-48 and Acts 1:8 seem to be two versions of one incident, the last giving of the commission. What is central to the Son's mission—that he came as the Father's gift so that those who believe in him might not perish but have eternal life (3:16), experiencing new life as the children of God (1:12-13) and freedom from the slavery of sin because they have been set free by the Son of God (8:34-36)—must never be lost to view as the church defines her mission." “Lord” This title is used here in its full theological sense which relates to YHWH of the OT (cf. Exod. 3:14). Applying an OT title for God the Father to Jesus was one way NT authors affirmed Jesus' full deity. Jesus and John reminded all disciples of these central issues in the verses that follow (cf. vv. 23, 30-31). Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” -John 8:32 Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten. hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions [i] Utley, R. J. (1999). Vol. Volume 4: The Beloved Disciple's Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series (178–179). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International. [ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Jn 20:19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [iii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Jn 20:19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [iv] Utley, R. J. (1999). Vol. Volume 4: The Beloved Disciple's Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series (179). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.
Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney ... No man knows the day or hour Jesus will return but we do know seasons. As the wickedness increases by people of this world and as the churches cast aside scripture, we know the end is soon. We are made "wise" unto salvation by the Holy Scripture, the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Heb. 4:13. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. What is truth? Is there really such a thing as “my truth” or “your truth”? This verse makes a stunning statement about God which is very relevant to these questions. First, we learn that God sees every creature all the time. Second, we live our lives before an audience of One—our creator God—which means that everything we have done or has happened to us is known by God. Additionally, He knows every motive of every word and action. Third, we are responsible to God for every word and action. In every circumstance and relationship, He should be our first consideration because He is the first agent. It is with God that we have to give an account. Let's back pedal to chapter 1, verse 3. Speaking of Jesus, the Holy Spirit said, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” The Spirit meant the same thing when He inspired John to write, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:3). Paul wrote to the Colossians in 1:17-18, “He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Nothing happens to us in which God is not the first agent with whom we have to do. He might use other agents to accomplish His purposes, but we need to have a firm grip on the reality that Jesus is first place in everything. So now let's come back to the question, “What is truth?” The answer from this verse is clear. Jesus is the truth, and whatever He does and sees is the truth. There is no other reality than what He sees. When Jesus says or does something with regards to us, He obviously sees it. It is reality before Him. On the day that He speaks to you through His word (logos) and in the circumstances that He creates in your life, He sees His sacrificial work on the cross for you, the perfecting power of His righteousness lived on your behalf, and the Spirit's work of faith in your heart which enables you to believe His word and obey it. He judges that your thoughts and intentions of your heart will be an expression of the life of Jesus within you, and it is! That is reality—the truth before God. Therefore, God gets all of the glory for your life. This is how Jesus is faithful over all His house, of which the author spoke in Heb. 3:6. “but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house — whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” The only reason anyone intentionally lives to love with Jesus is that it is the work of the Spirit of God in them. If He does it; He sees it. The truth is what God sees. If He does and sees it, then it is the reality God knows. Jesus' work for, in, and through us is our confidence before Him with whom we have to do!
DO MY BUSINESS TILL I COME! Jesus said that He will but not immediately. Today, I am going to show you that, as such, you and I are to serve God and others faithfully until He (Jesus) returns in bodily form-for He commanded in Luke 19-“Do my business till I come”. We have so many options for recreation in todays' world that we often forget that Jesus made clear for us to "DO MY BUSINESS TILL I COME". The Bible is clear as one reads through it that God gently, and sometimes not so gently, reminds us to tune up our thinking, worldview and priorities as we live out our daily lives. Today we will look at what Jesus said in Luke 19.Give the old Gancio Sinitro and smash that "SUBSCRIBE BUTTON"!Join us in our Community at www.StevenGarofalo.ComBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reason-for-truth--2774396/support.
The Scriptures say God created us as “masterpieces” to do good works. However, masterpieces take time and hard work. Jesus said that the Father is always working and that He (Jesus) does and says what He sees and hears from the Father. God is a continually creative God who invites us into His work with […]
He expected the man to read. “He [Jesus] said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?'” - Luke 10:26 (NKJV)
All Have Temptation, Which Is Not the Sin; But Jesus Followers Can Resist All Temptation Through Their Faith and Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He {Jesus} always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". From James 1:13, we know that God does not create the temptation we face: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.". Since all are tempted, it is great to know, from 1 Corinthians 10:13, that Jesus Followers will not be tempted beyond their capability to resist the temptation and act on it through sinning: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." You can follow Jesus' example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will entrust to Him my future. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. From 2 Timothy 1:12 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12; James 1:13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Be Strong & Courageous”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
John 8:12: "Jesus said: “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” *(1) Jesus is the Light of the World. "He (Jesus) is the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man" (John 1:9). "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). *(2) Whoever follows Him will not walk in Darkness. "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1John 5:19). "For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people" (Isaiah 60:2). “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35). "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). "The path of the just is like the shining sun[light], that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19). *(3) Followers of Jesus Christ shall have the Light of Life. The Person is Life and the Life is Light. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all' (1John 1:5). "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Corinthians 4:6). "Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light. And the days of your mourning shall be ended" (Isaiah 60:20). "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall If ear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). "For He Himself has said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
John 8:12: "Jesus said: “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” *(1) Jesus is the Light of the World. "He (Jesus) is the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man" (John 1:9). "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). *(2) Whoever follows Him will not walk in Darkness. "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1John 5:19). "For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people" (Isaiah 60:2). “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35). "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake" (Psalm 23:3). "The path of the just is like the shining sun[light], that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble" (Proverbs 4:18-19). *(3) Followers of Jesus Christ shall have the Light of Life. The Person is Life and the Life is Light. "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4). "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all' (1John 1:5). "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Corinthians 4:6). "Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light. And the days of your mourning shall be ended" (Isaiah 60:20). "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall If ear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). "For He Himself has said: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NLT - - Husband, Wife, Brothers, Sisters, Aunties and Uncles, etc…He (Jesus) makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 NLTOur most effective effort is found in the everyday ordinary things we do for God and others. Faithful effort in the ordinary duties of a son or daughter are the only right path to the will of the Father.Overlooking the significance of the ordinary or mundane has robbed our world of the miraculous. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn't necessary, you feed them.” Matthew 14:15-16 NLTEven if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them! John 6:7 NLTWhat we have and are will always be insufficient without Jesus. One of the disciples, Andrew, brother to Simon Peter, said, “There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.” John 6:8-9 MSGTell everyone to sit down, Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (men numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. John 6:10-11 NLTWhen the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. John 6:12-13 MSGOur beleaguered age stands in need, not so much of ten talent men, but God conquered commoners.Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But at night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. Matthew 13:24-25 NLTThe cultural cost is high when we miss the everyday opportunities to live extraordinary lives for Jesus.So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Romans 12:1-2 MSG
God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NLT - - Husband, Wife, Brothers, Sisters, Aunties and Uncles, etc…He (Jesus) makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 NLTOur most effective effort is found in the everyday ordinary things we do for God and others. Faithful effort in the ordinary duties of a son or daughter are the only right path to the will of the Father.Overlooking the significance of the ordinary or mundane has robbed our world of the miraculous. That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn't necessary, you feed them.” Matthew 14:15-16 NLTEven if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed them! John 6:7 NLTWhat we have and are will always be insufficient without Jesus. One of the disciples, Andrew, brother to Simon Peter, said, “There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.” John 6:8-9 MSGTell everyone to sit down, Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (men numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. John 6:10-11 NLTWhen the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. John 6:12-13 MSGOur beleaguered age stands in need, not so much of ten talent men, but God conquered commoners.Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But at night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. Matthew 13:24-25 NLTThe cultural cost is high when we miss the everyday opportunities to live extraordinary lives for Jesus.So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Romans 12:1-2 MSG
The Church of Ephesus, is the first of a 6 to 7 part series on the the Seven Churches of The Book of Revelation in the Bible. My purpose, is to uncover a little about the early churches, after the Ascension of Jesus Christ, had or were going through and what Jesus had to say about each church. Believe me when I say that, while Jesus was giving dictation to the Apostle John, He (Jesus) did not leave anything out. Also in this podcast, my desire is to show you the Mercy, Grace and the Love that Jesus has for His Church. Amen.
Jesus Pursues, Jesus Restores, Jesus SendsBryan explores the statements of Jesus to Peter in John 21 as He (Jesus) commands Peter: 1) "Follow Me" ; 2) "Feed my Sheep" ; 3) "What is that to you?"
Jesus Christ is Raised From the Dead! Jesus Christ is alive in Heaven right now, and can relate to your hurt, pain and longings in ways you can't even imagine. And while on earth He did everything it would take to meet your true needs and change you forever. Isa. 52:13-53:12 The prophesy's overview - 52:13-53:1 The prophesy of Jesus' life - 53:2-3 The way Jesus came made Him relatable to every one of us – don't miss this – if you have ever felt despised, rejected, full of sorrow and grief, not esteemed as you think you should be, Jesus can relate (Heb. 4:14-16). The prophecy of Jesus' death - 53:4-8 Jesus was rejected and disrespected and felt distress 60 ways in the 6 days between Palm Sunday and His execution on Good Friday. “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabacthani” – “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” The question of whether or not Jesus cares for you was settled on the cross! The prophecy of Jesus' burial - V. 9 Believers refer to what Jesus was doing in His Spirit on ‘Silent Saturday' as the Harrowing of Hell. Jesus ‘raided' Sheol/ Hades, the place all departed spirits were, and brought all believers with Him to Heaven. All unbelievers were left there for the coming day of judgment (Rev. 20:13-15). Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” In saying “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He first descended into the lower regions (of) the earth? - Eph. 4:8-9 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison. - 1 Peter 3:18-19 And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. - Matthew 27:52b-53 The prophesy of Jesus' resurrection and its implications - V. 10-11 God made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Cor. 5:21 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. - 1 Cor. 15:20 The prophecy of Christ's present intercession - V. 12 Jesus' resurrection was the dawning of eternal life and light to all who repent and believe in Him! Consequently, He (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. - Hebrews 7:25
God's Grace Allows Jesus Followers to Know God Personally, Like a Father Knows His Son MESSAGE SUMMARY: There is a difference in knowing about someone and really knowing them. Jesus' New Covenant permits you to know God in a personal way and not just to know about God. This means to know the Lord God was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. In Romans 8:26, Paul tells us that the pathway for knowing God, personally, is through our prayers; and the Holy Spirit is with you to help you with your prayers: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.". There is a great deal of difference in knowing about God through study and knowing God by developing a personal relationship with Him through your prayers and the New Covenant that is in Jesus. The Apostle John, in John 1:1-5, clearly identifies that Jesus is the “Word” {Jesus} who is the Creator of the Universe: “In the beginning was the Word {Jesus}, and the Word {Jesus} was with God, and the Word {Jesus} was God. He {Jesus} was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.". Therefore, God's Grace, through Jesus, has given you the opportunity to have a personal relationship with our Triune God (i.e. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit). Jesus provides this opportunity for you to have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe, who can become the cornerstone of your life. Have you established your personal relationship with God? If not, why not? TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will seek God's perspective on my situation. For I know that in all things God works together for good to those of us who love Him and are called according to His purpose. From Romans 8:28 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 12:44-50; Luke 12:4-12; John 15:12-17; Psalms 55a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “He Is Risen: From Good Friday to Easter!”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Let's meet the brothers: Dmitri- the eldest, impulsive, strong, uneducated, driven by desires Ivan- the middle, the intellectual, preoccupied, gloomy atheist Alyosha- the youngest, kind, thoughtful, brave, spiritually minded Smerdyakov-illegitimate, ungrateful, sneaky, devious (creeper alert) Please join Kate and Sheila discussion about the age-old struggle of good versus evil by looking at the gifted Russian writer, Fyodor Dostoevsky's discordant family found in The Brothers Karamazov! (Translated by the award winning team of Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonskyy) The father, Fyodor, was selfish, crude, neglectful, immoral, and muddleheaded. All his sons were raised by Grigory, his servant. Fyodor quipped, “I'm a buffoon out of shame…I act up because I'm insecure.” Alyosha chose a different path than the others. “I want to live for immortality, and I reject any halfway compromise.” His mentor, Zosima, taught him from God's Word. He also advised the elder Karamazov, “Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others.” Dmitri shares with Alyosha, “Here the devil is struggling with God, and the battlefield is the human heart.” Ivan's words from his famous speech, The Grand Inquisitor, “He (Jesus) came to give His life for them! Instead of taking over men's freedom, you increased it and forever burdened the kingdom of the human soul…by so terrible a burden as freedom of choice.” The action culminates in an unforgettable courtroom scene. Both the prosecutor and the defense attorneys give moving speeches that end with applause. Did Dmitri murder his less than stellar father? If he didn't, who did? Dostoevsky packs a lot into this book. What is the purpose of life? He shows the importance of living a life well and how the life we live affects others. As Alyosha says in closing, “How good life is when you do something good and rightful.” “A crust always looks bigger in another man's hand.” Trust us this book will look big no matter whose hand it is in : ) It is a mammoth read (823 pages) but well worth the effort if you are looking for a challenge. Happy Reading dear listeners! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recapbookchat/message
In this episode, Jori discusses with her listeners about John the Baptist and his life's purpose and mission. He reminded his students that HE (Jesus) must increase and John must decrease. It is the same for all of us believers. JOIN DR. JORI IN JOURNALING IN 2024!Check out this 9 min YouTube Video outlining her journaling strategy! Don't Forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel! https://youtu.be/lqe9TO7RSz4 BOOKS OF BIBLE COLOR CHARTI made this chart as a helpful tool for grouping the collections of books or letters in the Holy Bible. The colors in the different sections are the ones that I use in my journals. Books of Bible Chart (color) (4).pdf - Google Drive CHECK OUT DR. JORI'S JOURNALS! Sermon Notes, Reflections and Applications Journal/Notebooks by Dr. Jori. Click the links below to be directed to amazon.com for purchase. Or search “Dr. Jori Shaffer” on Amazon to bring these up. https://a.co/d/9B5krQlhttps://a.co/d/iycFlnNHere is a brief YouTube video that tells about the Journal/Notebooks as well:https://youtu.be/aXpQNYUEzds Scripture translation used is the English Standard Version.Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Scripture References:John 3:30Matthew 10:1-4Mark 1:19-21Ephesians 2:8-9John 20:30-311 John 5:131 John 1:1-4John 1:1-8Mark 1:1-8Luke 1:15-17John 1:19-30John 3:22-31 Email: awordforthisday@gmail.comPodcast website: https://awordforthisday.buzzsprout.com Support the show
“If we make Christ greater, then we are thinking of ourselves less…I just want my life to be about Christ…it's Christ above all, Christ greatest, Christ more. That's what I want. And so I think that if that is true of me, then service out of that is easier and also I stop vying for position and rank and approval.” — Vera SchmitzDo you tend to keep a scorecard when it comes to serving others? Our verse this month, Mark 10:45, helps us reframe what serving like Jesus really means—especially when we come face to face with our self-serving tendencies. Tune in as Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz, sisters and co-founders of Dwell Differently, talk through the implications of this verse, what genuine humility really looks like, and how to truly live our lives in a way that echoes John the Baptist's words in John 3:30: “He [Jesus] must become greater; I must become less.”This month's memory verse: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." — Mark 10:45Memorize Scripture with us: Find out more about Dwell Differently's monthly kit with temporary tattoos or stickers, a display card, a key tag, and more to help you know and dwell on God's Word.Get our weekly devotional email: Dive deeper into this month's verse.Did you love today's episode?: We'd love to hear about it! Would you leave a rating or review in your podcast player to help others find the show?Links from today's show:Free Devotional ResourcesSign up for our email list!Immanuel by Beautiful EulogySupport the show
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” ….17 “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”Daniel 9:3-5, 17-19 (ESV)2 “When you pray, say:'Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come,Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven.'”Luke 11:2 (NKJV)“What needs to shift?”We have a role to play in living in God's kingdom, doing God's will, and making earth as it is in heaven…and that happens “when we pray” (Luke 11:2)“There are many other things Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that would be written.”John 21:25 (NCV)Jesus begins his instructions on prayer by issuing an expectation for us to pray“He (Jesus) said, ‘When you pray,' which means you learn how to pray by praying…prayer is on the job training, and you grow by doing it…When it comes to prayer, I always tell people to start, and the Holy Spirit will begin to teach them as they pray.“Corey Russell“Have felt led to pray for others this winter like never before. I never before knew what it was to work all day and then pray all night before God for another. In college, or at parties at home, I used to keep such hours for myself, or pleasures, and can I not do as much for God and for souls?“John Hyde“the effect was felt throughout all India, and the breath of Heaven sweeping over the land could be traced to the kneeling figure of 'Praying Hyde”“Give me souls, or I die.“John “Praying” Hyde“True prayer is the trading of the heart with God.“Charles Spurgeon“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”Ezekiel 36:26-27 (KJV)1)Prayer shifts our source.“I believe in the truthfulness of this instinct (when man calls out to God in moments of distress), and I believe that man prays because there is something in prayer. When the creator gives His creature the power of thirst, it is because water exists to meet that thirst. When He creates hunger, there is food to correspond to appetite. Even so, when He inclines man to pray, it is because prayer has a corresponding blessing connected with it.“Charles Spurgeon2) Prayer shifts our perspective.“Jesus allowed His disciples to watch him pray because He wanted them to watch Him engage with the Father in Heaven.”Corey Russell“When you think prayer, you think list, but I (Jesus) think person. I want to introduce you to a person, a place, and the person's name. It's our Father in heaven, by the way…”Corey Russell3) Prayer shifts our will.Intercession is the action of intervening (through prayer) on behalf of another“19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”Daniel 9:19 (ESV)“2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV)4)Prayer shifts what we occupy (position of persistence)James 5:16-17 (NKJV) says “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”“4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightening, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 12 Then he said to me, 'Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the king of Persia, and 14 came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days.'”Daniel 10:4-6,12-14 (ESV)“the word prince has the idea of a ruler or authority. This fits well with the New Testament idea that angelic ranks are organized and have a hierarchy. These angelic ranks seem to include both faithful angels and fallen angels (demons). Apparently, this (prince of Persia) was a demon of high rank that opposed the answer to prayer.”David Guzik“The correlation between Daniel's time of self-denial and prayer and the duration of the battle between the angels and the prince of Persia establishes a link between Daniel's prayer and the angelic victory.”David Guzik5) Prayer shifts us to engage in spiritual warfare (As it is in heaven, or as it is in hell?)“There be hindering factors of which a praying Christian knows nothing as he wonders why the answers to his requests are delayed. Nevertheless, he is to keep on praying. It may be that he will not receive an answer because he has given up on the twentieth day when he should have persisted to the twenty-first day.”Archer“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) says “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”“Prayer is the great exposer of reality”Corey RussellIf we want our reality to be as it is in heaven, then...
Talk 20 Mark 7:1-23 Beware of the Pharisees Welcome to Talk 20 in our series on Mark's Gospel. Today we're looking at Mark 7:1-23 where the Pharisees see some of Jesus' disciples eating food without first giving their hands the ceremonial washing that was required by Jewish tradition. So they ask Jesus about this. Jesus replies by quoting a passage from Isaiah where God says: These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. He then adds: You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. As an example of this, Jesus points out that they were getting around God's command to honour your father and mother by a practice known as Corban. Instead of helping their parents when they were in financial need, they would say that whatever money they had was devoted to God, and so they were unable to help them. In doing this they were setting aside the commands of God in order to observe their own traditions! Jesus then calls the crowd to him and tells them that Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' When his disciples ask him to explain what he means by this, he tells them that what we eat or how we eat it can't make us unclean because it doesn't go into our heart but into our stomach and then passes out of our body. Mark then adds that In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean." Jesus then says that what makes you unclean is what comes out of your heart – things like evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. These are the things that make us unclean. So what can we learn from all this? Notice first the continued opposition of the Jewish leaders to Jesus. The continued opposition of the Jewish leaders to Jesus They seem to have been against him right from the start. They have challenged his authority to forgive sins, they've criticised him for eating with tax-collectors and ‘sinners', they've complained that his disciples have done what is not lawful on the Sabbath, they've accused him of being demon-possessed, and they've already begun to plot how they can kill him. And now they're complaining about the behaviour of his disciples again: Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands? (v5). And that was the root cause of their opposition – the tradition of the elders. There's a clear contrast in this passage between man-made tradition and the commands of God. The contrast between man-made tradition and the commands of God Notice the repetition of the word tradition in this passage: 3 …the tradition of the elders. 4 …they observe many other traditions 5 …Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders…? 8 …You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. 9 …You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! 13 …you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. What stands out in these verses is that traditions are made by men, not God. They are handed down by men. And there is the danger that in following man-made tradition we may not only let go of the commands of God, but even nullify his word. It can also easily lead to hypocrisy. The danger of hypocrisy Look at verses 6-8. 6 He (Jesus) replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word hupokrites which means actor. In ancient Greece plays were performed in amphitheatres by actors who wore masks. So a hypocrite is someone who covers up who they really are, pretending to be someone else. This was just what the Pharisees were guilty of, honouring God with their lips, but far from him in their hearts. Their hypocrisy involved insincerity and dishonesty. As a result, Jesus said that they worshipped God in vain. They were not honouring God by teaching his word, but rules taught by men. They knew what God had said, but they had let go of his commands. In Matthew 23, talking of the Pharisees, Jesus said: …do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. "Everything they do is done for men to see… (Matthew 23:3-4). In fact, to get a full understanding of Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees, it's worth reading the whole of Matthew 23, but the verses we've just quoted give a clear idea of the nature of hypocrisy. Their motivation for what they did and said was clearly wrong. They did not practice what they preached, and by their nit-picking rules they placed heavy burdens on people's shoulders and were totally unwilling to lift them. But that brings us to the next key principle we see in today's passage – the freedom that Jesus has brought us. The freedom that Jesus has brought us The legalistic regulations imposed by the traditions of men stands in stark contrast to the liberty that Jesus introduced through his teaching. Notice Mark's statement in verse 19 that Jesus declared all foods clean! (Compare Peter's experience on the rooftop at Joppa in Acts 10). What a contrast to the strict food laws imposed by Moses! As we saw in Talk 8, the kingdom of God which Jesus had come to proclaim could not be contained within the framework of Judaism. This is reflected in what Mark says in verse 3: The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing. Admittedly it had taken some time for the church to break free from the restraints of Judaism, but the Council of Jerusalem (c.48-50AD) was a great step forward towards the freedom that Jesus had so vehemently proclaimed. I have dealt with this subject at some length in my book, The Voice of God, where I point out that the decision made by the church leaders in Acts 15 regarding food was an ad hoc decision motivated by the Holy Spirit to deal with a specific problem facing the church at that time. It was not binding on all Christians for all time. As we have seen, Jesus had already declared all foods to be clean, and this was clearly the understanding of the apostle Paul when he says in Romans 14:17-20: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. The underlying principle in this teaching is love. When a Pharisee who was an expert in the Law asked Jesus, What is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments"(Matthew 22:37-40). Notice that Jesus says, All the Law and the Prophets. Not just the ceremonial law. All the law. The Ten Commandments are included. And everything taught by the prophets. The entire Old Testament. As Christians we are free from it all! But of course, if we really love God with all our heart and soul and mind, and if we really love our neighbour as ourself, we will not kill or steal or commit adultery etc. The Law was given to show us our sin and our need of a Saviour (Galatians 3:23-25). But now we are free. It was for freedom that Christ has set us free and we are to stand firm in that freedom (Galatians 5:1). As Paul says in Galatians 5:13-14: You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself'. The importance of the heart In verses 18-23 he says that nothing you eat can make you unclean because it doesn't go into your heart. It's what what's in your heart that makes you unclean. In Matthew 5:27-28 , for example, Jesus warns against adultery in the heart. This is because, as he says here: …from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' This list is clearly connected to the Ten Commandments, where theft, murder, adultery, and coveting are strictly forbidden. But whereas the Ten Commandments relate largely to a person's actions, Jesus is here emphasising the motivation behind those actions and the source from which they spring, the human heart. In Jeremiah 17:9-10 God says: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds (ESV). The desires of our hearts influence the thoughts of our minds, and our thoughts determine our actions. But as those who have received Christ as our Saviour, Hebrews 10:19-22 tells us that we have confidence to enter God's presence because Jesus has made a way for us by dying for us and as a result we can: draw near to God with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience… What's more, Galatians 4:5-6 tells us that we have been redeemed from the law and adopted as God's children, and God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. That's why, rather than giving in to the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21), we are able now to follow the desires of the Spirit allowing the fruit of the Spirit to grow in our lives: Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). How different these qualities are from the attitudes and actions of the Pharisees. From their bad example there is so much we can learn to avoid. Even as Christians we can fall into their ways as even Peter did briefly (Galatians 2:11-13). As those who follow Jesus we should never: · Put man-made traditions before the word of God. · Find ways of getting around God's commands to further our own interests. · Impose heavy burdens on others by our legalistic rules. · Be more concerned with outward appearance than with true holiness. · Act like hypocrites, honouring God with our lips, but far from him in our hearts. And, of course, unlike the Pharisees, we must practise what we preach. If we don't want to fall into their ways, we need to examine our hearts.
Christ's Advance Man - Matthew 3:1-12 The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached… - Luke 16:16a In all 4 gospels Jesus' public ministry began after His baptism by John the Baptist. Of the 283 verses in the first four gospels leading up to Christ's baptism, 135 (48%) are about His prophesied advance man, John the Baptist. The man, the message, and the movement - V. 1-6 The man And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins… -Luke 1:16-17 The message The word repent is the Greek word, “metanoia,” which means “change of mind.” True repentance is seen when that change of mind leads to change of direction and change of actions. The Kingdom was at hand because Jesus the King was at hand! There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. - John 1:6-8 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, After me comes a man who ranks before me, because He WAS before me.” - John 1:29-30 “He (Jesus) must increase, and I must decrease.” - John 3:30 Many came to Jesus and said, “John never did a sign (miracle), but everything John said about this Man (Jesus) was true.” And many of them believed in Him there. - John 10:41-42 The movement Now we to understand that this was a unique baptism, different than Christian baptism (Acts 19). The symbolism was powerful. Jews of the day had begun baptizing Gentile converts to Judaism, but never Jews. John The Baptist was saying the entire filthy nation needed to be washed! He was calling them to both repentance of sin and readiness to follow Jesus. The moral courage to rebuke the unrepentant V. 7-12 If your way of fleeing the wrath to come is as self-centered & self-focused as the religious leaders who came to JTB, you are heading toward ‘unquenchable fire.' Note the order: first, repent and place faith in Jesus; then, demonstrate your faith by bearing fruit. But to all who did receive Him (Jesus), who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. - John 1:12-13 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10 Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. - Matthew 11:11 Which group would you have been in? Repentant and ready for Jesus? Or unrepentant and rejecting of Jesus? “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” - John 1:29 John's baptism represented cleansing and readiness; Spirit baptism occurs at the moment of salvation for believers (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14; Jn 7:37-39); Baptism with fire represents the coming judgment when everyone whose name is not in the Book of Life will be sent to the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:11-15). It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. - Hebrews 9:27
All Have Temptation, Which Is Not the Sin; But Jesus Followers Can Resist All Temptation Through Their Faith and Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He {Jesus} always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". From James 1:13, we know that God does not create the temptation we face: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.". Since all are tempted, it is great to know, from 1 Corinthians 10:13, that Jesus Followers will not be tempted beyond their capability to resist the temptation and act on it through sinning: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." You can follow Jesus' example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be ashamed of the Gospel. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (including me). From Romans 1:16 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12; James 1:13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Struggle with Time -- Until I Determine How I Want to Use My Time, Others Will Determine How My Time Is Used”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
Mary tells the servants at the wedding in Cana: “Do whatever He (Jesus) tells you,” and it's still great advice for us today!
He [Jesus] was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I've ever encountered in my life or in my reading. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world. - Charles TempletonSupport the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
God's Grace Allows Jesus Followers to Know God Personally, Like a Father Knows His Son MESSAGE SUMMARY: There is a difference in knowing about someone and really knowing them. Jesus' New Covenant permits you to know God in a personal way and not just to know about God. This means to know the Lord God was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. In Romans 8:26, Paul tells us that the pathway for knowing God, personally, is through our prayers; and the Holy Spirit is with you to help you with your prayers: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.". There is a great deal of difference in knowing about God through study and knowing God by developing a personal relationship with Him through your prayers and the New Covenant that is in Jesus. The Apostle John, in John 1:1-5, clearly identifies that Jesus is the “Word” {Jesus} who is the Creator of the Universe: “In the beginning was the Word {Jesus}, and the Word {Jesus} was with God, and the Word {Jesus} was God. He {Jesus} was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.". Therefore, God's Grace, through Jesus, has given you the opportunity to have a personal relationship with our Triune God (i.e. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit). Jesus provides this opportunity for you to have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe, who can become the cornerstone of your life. Have you established your personal relationship with God? If not, why not? TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will seek God's perspective on my situation. For I know that in all things God works together for good to those of us who love Him and are called according to His purpose. From Romans 8:28 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 12:44-50; Luke 12:4-12; John 15:12-17; Psalms 55a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Turkeys and Eagles, Part 3: A Child of God's Light”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. Luke 19:1-6With a desperate and broken world, there are many who, like Zacchaeus, will do anything to catch a glimpse of something real, something true. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Those in despair around us ultimately need to see Him too, even if they don't recognize that it is Jesus that they are missing. Today's podcast episode tells us of the need that is there and gives a roadmap of Christian living in these days to maximize our witness. Many are so close to making a commitment to Christ. Are we willing to stand in the gap and pray and step out obediently when we are called to share Him?
Today's Treasure Moved with pity, He [Jesus] stretched out His hand and touched him..... Mark 1:41 Support the show
Today's Treasure On that day, when evening had come, He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], “Let us go across to the other side.” Mark 4:35Support the show
Today's Treasure Moved with pity, He [Jesus] stretched out His hand and touched him... Mark 1:41Support the show
Jesus exposed the plot to kill Him through a question on taxation and affirmed it is lawful to support the government, but also it is essential to obey God's commands. - SERMON TRANSCRIPT - Turn in your Bibles to Mark chapter 12 as we continue this incredible journey through the Gospel of Mark. From the beginning of church history, Christians have had an uneasy and challenging relationship with secular government. It was Caesar's governor, Pontius Pilate, who ordered the crucifixion of our Lord, and it was Roman soldiers that nailed Jesus to the cross. But the awestruck Roman centurion who carried out Pilate's orders gave this stunning statement about Jesus as He died. Mark 15:39, "Surely this man was the son of God." Soon afterward, it was a godly Roman centurion, Cornelius, who began the gathering of Gentile converts to Christ by his repentance and faith in Christ, preached by the apostle Peter. The greatest apostle of them all, Paul, was both a Christian and a Roman citizen, and Paul frequently claimed the benefits of Roman citizenship and used the advantages of the Roman Empire, the transportation system, the commerce of the Roman Empire to spread the gospel. Yet in the end, it was the Roman Caesar Nero that ordered Paul's execution. The New Testament constantly commands willing submission to the government. Yet it was the government that savagely persecuted Christians and murdered Christians for the first three centuries of church history. Then the Emperor Constantine declared himself to be a Christian in the year 312, but that declaration eventually brought a wedding of church and state that it's not hard to argue, was nearly ruinous for the church of Jesus Christ. It required a massive reformation of the church twelve centuries later. In many nations around the world, it is the government that is the bitterest enemy of the gospel, hunting down godly Christians and their pastors, incarcerating them, persecuting, even killing them. Yet in America, there has been for well over 200 years a mostly comfortable relationship between Christianity and secular government, and many godly Christians have had a massive influence in the governmental life of our nation over that history. Because of that, some have even gone so far as to call America a Christian nation because of the pervasive influence of Christianity on our nation's government and history. However, recently this comfortable relationship between the genuine Christian Church and secular government has begun to decay. It's become clear that our surrounding culture is increasingly hostile to Christianity, and therefore many elected officials that represent those people are bolder and more aggressive and speaking slanderous, even blasphemous words against Christ. Many recent policies are directly contrary to biblical truth and put Christians consistently in a difficult place, in a bind in the workplace. The question stands before us as it has for ages, how exactly should a Christian relate to government? In our text today, Jesus finds a way to elude a trap that's set for him and begins a significant answer to this deeply divisive issue with the principle that you just heard read. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s." In that one statement, we're not going to find a comprehensive answer to the problem of the relationship between Christians and government, but we're going to take a significant step forward in understanding how Jesus saw both sides of that equation. I. An Attack Plotted and Executed We see here in this text, an attack plotted and executed by Jesus' enemies. Look at verse 13, “Later, they, [his enemies] sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words." It is the final week of Jesus' life. We're in Mark's Gospel and there's just one conflict after another, leading up eventually to his condemnation and his execution on the cross. We saw two weeks ago the parable of the wicked tenant farmers that refused to give the owner his due, and the parable that Jesus walked through, culminating in the text that I preached on last week, “the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” The Lord has done this and is marvelous in our eyes. We talked about the builders being the leaders of the nation, the movers and shakers, the governing officials there of the Jewish nation. In verse 12, it says they, these enemies, looked for a way to arrest him because they knew that He had spoken this parable against them, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away, but their hatred for Jesus burned hotter than ever before. Their fears of the crowd, however, and of the Romans and losing their position with the Romans was boxing them in. They had to become sly and plot some devious way to trap Jesus so that they could get him killed, which is what they wanted. So they plotted against him. In Matthew's account, Matthew 22:15 it says, "The Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.” They took counsel together, they made some kind of devious plot here. Now, as you think about it, there'd be two ways of killing Jesus, getting rid of him. They could do it directly themselves by force or they could do it by law, by legal means. If they wanted to dispense with Jesus by legal means, by law, they had a problem because He had to be made a criminal in the eyes of Rome for the Romans would not allow the Jews to execute anyone. They had no authority to put a man to death. The Romans for their part had no interest in Jewish religious controversies at all, so Jesus' claim to be the Son of God, while blasphemous to the Jewish leaders, would've meant nothing to the Romans. They wouldn't have given it the time of day. Jesus had to be made a criminal in the eyes of the state, in the eyes of Rome. If Jesus was espousing rebellion against Roman rule, now that would be something, and saying in general as somebody who is so popular with the people, "We need to stop paying taxes to Caesar." That would've been of intense interest to the Romans, hence the question about taxation. On the other hand, if Jesus's Jewish enemies had wanted to just kill him directly, just rise up against him and kill him, the problem there was the people. The people loved Jesus for the most part. They held that He was a prophet at least. A number of times, Jesus' enemies wanted to seize Jesus. But even in the texts we have here, they want to arrest him, want to lay hands on him, but they're held back by their fear of the people, so they have to strip his protection away. The Jewish people have to turn on Jesus. Somehow they have to manipulate the crowd so that they turn on Jesus and hate him. If Jesus espoused that they should pay taxes to Caesar, that would do it for a lot of them. The patriotic Jews among them, not just the zealots but just general rank and file Jews would be deeply offended by this open teaching of submission to Rome and paying taxes to Caesar and all that. Hence, I hope you can see the dark genius of this plot laid. They have him, they think either way. Now, springing this trap, bringing this trap are some strange bedfellows here, the Pharisees and the Herodians. Matthew 22:16, "The Pharisees sent their disciples." So some young zealous Pharisees are sent, dispatched along with the Herodians. The eyebrows really should go up if you realize who these people are. The Pharisees on the one part are Jesus's most vocal and consistent enemies. Vehement, they're known for their passionate commitment to the laws of Moses and their belief that obedience to the laws of Moses was the means by which they could earn their salvation, favor with God and they thought they did keep the laws of Moses. Now along with this, of course, with their fierce commitment to their Jewish heritage, they hated the Roman occupation, the Roman legions. Some Pharisees were even zealots who were secretly plotting rebellion against Rome, wanting to overthrow the Romans. They would've adamantly, passionately rejected the Messiah teaching that we need to pay taxes to Caesar, would've hated that, the Pharisees. The Herodians on the other hand are disciples or followers of King Herod who was a puppet king of the Romans. He derived his power from Roman rule, that's how he was in power, and all the taxes that were gathered, some of them went to Herod and to the Herodians. They actually benefited from the taxes paid to Rome. How in the world do these people get together? Ordinarily, they would've hated each other, but there's an old adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We see this, you see it in the military , as in World War II. How did the UK and the United States get together with the wicked Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin? They had nothing in common in terms of government, but they had a common enemy: Hitler and the Nazis. So we see this kind of thing, these two groups who are normally enemies, they get together, they represent opposite sides of the question on taxation, but they're both committed to one thing and that's getting rid of Jesus. They hated Jesus so they banded together in their desire to get rid of Jesus. This is a sinister, dark, devious trap that Jesus is encircled with here and they bring it with some flattery. Look at verse 14, “They come to him and said, ‘Teacher, we know that you're a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men because you pay no attention to who they are, but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.’" This should make you feel sick as you read that, you realize who it's coming from. Flattery is very different than encouragement. I hope you realize that. It's good to encourage other people, it’s bad to flatter them. What's the difference? The difference is your motive, and whether you believe what you're saying or not. Flattery is insincere praise given for selfish reasons. Years ago I was reading the Aesop's Fables and I came across one of the fables, the fox and the crow. It's a fun story. A wily fox sees an ugly crow sitting up on a branch up high with a coveted piece of cheese in its beak. The fox looks up and persuades the crow that it has the most beautiful singing voice of any bird in the forest and that he would love to hear a single song from its golden throat. Filled with pride, the crow opens its beak and begins to squawk its nasty little song while the precious piece of cheese falls to the ground right into the open mouth of the fox. Moral of the story, don’t trust flatterers. The Book of Proverbs says the same thing. Proverbs 29:5, "Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet." That's exactly what Jesus' enemies are doing here, they're flattering him and spreading a net for his feet. The thing is the words they used are actually true and for us as believers in Christ, we could walk through them and worship Jesus for these things, but they didn't believe them, for the most part. First of all, Jesus was in fact a man of integrity. Never has there ever been a man so much, a man of integrity, a man absolutely committed to the truth, willing to die for the truth and exactly what he appeared to be. There's no deception, no corruption. He wasn't just true, He was truth incarnate. He didn't say, "I am the way and I teach the truth." He said, "I am the way and I am the truth and I am the life." He is truth incarnate. That's who He was, but they didn't believe this. They actually believed that He was a deceiver, teaching false doctrines. Jesus actually did teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. He perfectly spoke the words of his heavenly Father. No one has ever taught more pure and perfect doctrine than Jesus. He did teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. But again, they didn't believe this. They believed He was a heretic, a false teacher. "Jesus actually did teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. He perfectly spoke the words of his heavenly Father. No one has ever taught more pure and perfect doctrine than Jesus. He did teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. But again, they didn't believe this. They believed He was a heretic, a false teacher." The next statement they make, "We know that you aren't swayed by men since you pay no attention to who they are, but you just say your convictions no matter who you're talking to." They actually did believe that, and it actually was true. Jesus wasn't concerned at all with the person He was talking to in terms of any fear He would have. He wasn't afraid of Pontius Pilate, He wasn't afraid of Annas, He wasn't afraid of crowds, He wasn't afraid of anybody ever. He taught what He believed. He didn't look at the individual's face, that’s literally the expression. He wasn't moved by the face, the appearance, the position, it didn't intimidate him at all. Nowadays, politicians are constantly governing by opinion polls. They stick their finger in the wind and try to find out the prevailing opinion, and then they'll make their judgments based on that. Jesus never did that. He had zero fear. He's the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He's the judge of all the earth, and He knew it. No fear. Now, as I said, Jesus' enemies actually did believe this about him and they were counting on it. You understand they're counting on Jesus just saying what He thinks here. They are wanting to trap him in his words so they come, the trap sprung. They say, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t?" He was stuck so they thought. If Jesus says, "No, we should not pay taxes to Caesar,” how long do you think it would've taken them to go tell Pontius Pilate? I mean it would have been later that hour that he would've heard about it. But if on the other hand Jesus says, "We should pay taxes to Caesar." He's surrounded right there in the temple area by hundreds of people that are listening to every word He says. He would've lost a lot of those patriotic Jews right there and then. So either way, it was a trap designed to get Jesus killed. II. Jesus Exposes Their Hypocrisy Jesus begins by exposing their hypocrisy. Look at verse 15, “Jesus knew their hypocrisy. ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’” Now it's one thing to have an instinct about hypocrisy or an instinct about flattery. It's another thing to actually know the motives of another human being's heart and Jesus is omniscient. John 2:25 says, "Jesus doesn't need any testimony about a man because he knows what's in a man.” He knows what's inside someone's heart. It’s like when He spoke to Nathaniel, He knew that Nathaniel was a man of integrity and he was a true Israelite. “How do you know that?” Nathaniel asked. "I saw you while you were under the fig tree.”[ John 1]. Jesus knows people. He knows their hearts because He's omniscient. He understands what they're trying to do and He evades their trap. Now how in the world is He going to get out of this one? You've already read the text so you know how He gets out of it, but it's really quite remarkable. First of all, fundamental to this whole exchange is that they do not understand who He is. They don't understand who they're dealing with. Like most of you do, I like the amazing person incognito kind of story. I mean the Kyrie Irving, Uncle Drew thing. I mean there are a lot of athletes that do this. Eli Manning dressed up, Chris Bryant, Greg Maddox, you don't know who he is. It's like, "Man, this dude's got a good curve ball." That was Greg Maddox. What did you think? But you didn't know. He thought he was the sound guy. I like those things. Or Joshua Bell, the violinist just incognito there with his Stradivarius in a DC subway kiosk playing some amazing pieces. People just walk by and don't even care. That's Joshua Bell right there. Or there's some of these CEO incognito stories, like there's a TV show about this where you don't know that you're dealing with, the CEO of the whole company, and you find out later who you were dealing with. Isaiah 53 says, “He [Jesus] had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." He was despised and rejected so they underestimated him. They thought, "Hey, we're going to trap him. We're going to kind of triangulate and trap him." They're crossing swords, however, with the mind that created the universe. They're playing chess with the infinite God of the universe. You're not going to trick him. You're not going to trap him. Jesus' death could never be an accident, could never be a trap or a trick. He will say in John 10:18, "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." “You're not going to trap me. You're not going to trick me into dying here. I'm going to die because I want to die.” III. Jesus Evades Their Trap He wanted to teach principles. He wanted to teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. He wanted to talk about taxation. He's not shrinking back from it. So He uses an object lesson. Look at verse 15, "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." They brought it. They bring in this coin, and He's holding it. You can picture him holding up the coin and then He says, "Whose portrait is this?" He points to the coin. "And whose inscription?" The coin itself would've been odious to any religious Jewish person because it would've had an image of Tiberius Caesar proclaiming him to be God. On the obverse, it would've had a picture of Tiberius Caesar in priestly robes like he was some kind of a high priest. It would've been extremely offensive, a violation of a law against idolatry. Anyway, Jesus' enemies are happy to produce the coin. They think He's about to put his head in his own noose with his own words. "Whose portrait is this?” "Caesar's," they answer. Then He gives his answer, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's?" Jesus changed the word the Jews used. It’s not that we are to give the tax to Caesar as if it was something that didn't really belong to Caesar, but we're going to give it to him anyway. He changes the word in the Greek, it's “give back”, or “render,” with a sense of give what is truly owed to that individual. That's the word. He actually changes the word. The word “render” in this case is a little awkward for us. It’s not a word we would use commonly, and therefore I think it's good to think of it that way. "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar." It means to give back to him what is really his. That's the whole point of the object lesson. Do you see it? If you mint the coin, you're in charge, you run the country and therefore you have that authority, give it back to him. It belongs to him. That's what Jesus is saying, but He doesn't stop there. He says, "Render to God the things that are God's." It's amazing in the first half, "Render to Caesar." Jesus is vigorously, clearly, no doubt about it, upholding the very government that very soon will execute him and He knows it, and yet there He is upholding the authority of this idolatrous pagan government and the right they have to receive taxes. He upholds it. But that second statement, "Render to God the things that are God's." We'll spend eternity understanding it and doing it. The reaction to this is that they're astonished when they heard it, they were amazed. [Matthew 22:22] They left them and went away. I would think bad move, be astonished and fall on your face and worship him. How about that? They're impressed, they're amazed, probably a little frustrated, they're not going to be able to do anything with that statement, and they walk away. Instead, they should have loved him and worshiped him and believed in him. IV. What We Must Render to Caesar Let's go back and try to understand this. What must we render to Caesar and what must we render to God? How do we understand that? First of all, taxes. I know, I know, but I'm not going to be up here saying you don't need to pay your taxes. You do need to pay your taxes. Jesus says so. We need to pay taxes, and the reason is that you are supporting, you're paying the salaries of God's servants who are governing in the language of Romans 13, "The authorities that exist have been established by God." God set them up, so of course the Son of God is going to uphold them. Daniel 4:17 says, "The most high is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men." That's Nebuchadnezzar's statement, it's absolutely true. That means that Caesar's power, Rome's power, came from God. It's not an accident. Furthermore, and this would've really stung for patriotic Jews, Caesar's power is just in a line of Gentile overlords that were there as a direct judgment on the Jews for not keeping the law of Moses. That's why the Romans had control of the Promised Land. It's the very thing that God had said through Moses in Deuteronomy He would do. They're getting the Promised Land on condition of their obedience to the laws of God and the laws of Moses. It's the condition. If they do not keep his laws, He's going to use Gentile armies to evict them. It's in the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32. It's a clear prediction that that's what He's going to do. He's going to make them jealous," he said, "by people that are not a people." It's a very clear statement. He's predicted ahead of time what they're going to do. This is not an accident. It's not something He didn't know. From the Babylonian exile through the Medo-Persians, through the Greeks and now the Romans, it’s been a series of Gentile overlords that were direct judgments by God on the Jews for violating the laws of God. He specifically judged Jews who refused to submit to the Gentiles. Read about it in Ezekiel 17. He's very angry with them that they're not submitting to Babylon. It’s very surprising. I mean do you think those things were taught much among the Zealots and among the Pharisees and all? I don't think those themes were lifted up much, but it was clearly true. Jesus called it the “Times of the Gentiles.” Ezra knew it. When a small remnant of Jews came back from the exile of Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple, Ezra said these things. Ezra 9:7, "Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings as it is today." That's it. That's why this is happening says Ezra. “But now for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in a sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not deserted us in our bondage. He has shown kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia, allowing us to return and rebuild the city in the temple.” That's what he's saying. Ezra understood it. The patriotic Jews, the Zealots who wanted to rebel against Rome were forgetting the sins of their fathers and God's just judgment against them. In addition, they were forgetting the benefits of wise Roman government, and there were many. The Roman conquest of the Mediterranean world brought with it tremendous advantages and unification. They united that part of the world in something called the “Pax Romana,” the “Roman peace." This meant that as long as a conquered country accepted the Roman yoke, accepted Roman rule, they pretty much could live out their whole lives in peace free from warfare. That's a big advantage back then. You're not going to have raiders coming in and taking your crops. The Romans were excellent at long-term stability. They used local leaders and regional kings to keep the peace. They allowed freedom of religion within a certain measure and guaranteed a semblance of justice for the people. They established commerce, roads, a economic system where some people became pretty prosperous in that system. As with any reasonable government, they protected its people from rampant crime, from anarchy, from armed mobs roaming the streets. They brought stability and order and daily peace to life. And so it is today, the benefits of government today, Romans 13:4 says, "The ruler is God's servant to do you good." 2 verses later, Romans 13:6, "This is also why you pay taxes for the authorities are God's servants who give their full time to governing," and because they give their full time, they need to be paid. That's their salary, so it's right to pay taxes. God's servants and government do you good. They promote peace and public order. They establish and uphold a system of justice. They punish evildoers. They protect people from military threats. They promote health and prosperity by roads, infrastructure, common economy, all of these things. There are many benefits. By contrast, I think the worst possible situation there could be, I've thought about this, it's debatable whether it's tyranny, dictatorship or anarchy. I think anarchy is worse. It's not like there aren't going to be any people trying to control that situation. You look at, for example, the reign of terror during the French Revolution or you look at Somalia for example, from 1991 to 2006. There was no permanent government in Somalia, it was just anarchy. What would it have been like to live in Somalia in 2000? You couldn't go out of your home really. There’re roving bans of gun-wielding young men that gun you down, steal things from you. It was horrible. There are all kinds of markers of what life was like in Somalia in terms of infant mortality, in terms of disease, in terms of education, literacy, adult literacy rates. All that plummeted, it was horrible. But we owe to government more than just the payment of taxes. The scripture says there's other things. We owe honor. We owe honor to governing officials. 1 Peter 2:17, "Show proper respect to everyone, love the brotherhood of believers. Fear God, honor the King." There's a certain respect that goes to governing officials. We owe obedience as far as we're able. Romans 13:1. It says, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established." The authorities that exist have been established by God. In our government system, we also, I think, owe wise participation. We're able to take advantage of being, for those of us that are, American citizens, who are able to participate in government, able to vote out officials that we think have policies we disagree with. We're able to debate them, raise up questions, concerns, et cetera. You look at the way Paul behaved nine times in the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul is referred to as a citizen of Rome. He had that Roman citizenship card in his back pocket and he's going to pull it out at some key moments, like one time when they were stretching him out to beat him. He says, "Is it lawful for you to beat a Roman citizen who hasn't even been condemned?" The Roman guard at that point pull back and said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What are we doing here?" Paul used that Roman citizenship card. It was his Roman citizenship and it was his appealing to Caesar, which was his right to do as Roman citizen that enabled him to go to Rome and preach the gospel to Caesar. For us, it's a matter of voting, participation, jury duty. Also, many godly Christians, as I mentioned at the beginning of my sermon, actively participate as elected officials or participate with government, federal, state and local officials. Throughout history, Christians have used their convictions to be salt and light in those settings. Very much like Daniel in Babylon where he was the third-highest ruler in the kingdom. He's able to do that. What else do we owe to government? We owe prayer. We need to pray for governing officials. 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, "I urge then first of all that request prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." So pray those things. Go to 1 Timothy 2 whenever some elected official from the President on down, even to local government does something that really irritates you. I would say first and foremost, go to 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, read the text and then pray for them. Pray for them. Paul goes on in the next two verses to imply we should be praying for their salvation. 1 Peter 2: 3-4, "This is good and pleases God our savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth." Friends, think of it this way. If the tyrant Nebuchadnezzar could be, as I believe, genuinely converted, so that he writes incredible worship to almighty God at the end of Daniel 4, I do expect to see him in heaven. If a guy like that who's running the world, can be converted, God can convert anyone. We pray because God desires all men to be saved and just because they are leading, are leaders, a prime minister, a dictator, whatever, doesn't mean that they can't be converted. But there are limits, aren't there, to our obedience? There should be limits. When government commands something contrary to the Word of God we need to resist. For example, in the Book of Acts, the governing officials there, the Jewish government, the Sanhedrin, forbad Peter and John from preaching the gospel. "We forbid you from speaking the name of Jesus anymore." Just shortly before that, Jesus had given the Great Commission, right before He ascended to Heaven, to preach the gospel in all the world. So who are you going to listen to? They knew who they were going to listen to. They said, "Judge for yourselves, whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God, for we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” A Christian should still do this disobedience with a respectful attitude. I think we see this with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and also Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace were respectful to Nebuchadnezzar still. How do I know that? I mean it's important don't you think for governments to make laws that are enforceable? That's why I say no government can ever make a law against coveting because they can't enforce it. Well, here's the most unenforceable command ever. They're in the fiery furnace, miraculously sustained by the hand of God, and Nebuchadnezzar shouts "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, come out.” Suppose they said, "Come and get us." What's he going to do? His soldiers burned to death throwing them in there. It's unenforceable. But that wasn't their attitude. There was nothing immoral about the command to come out. There was something immoral about the command to bow down and worship an idol. You've got to distinguish. It’s the same thing with Daniel in Daniel 6. It was immoral to be commanded not to pray to any God except the emperor. Daniel disobeyed it. He continued to pray to God, and they threw him in the lion's den, but he was still respectful to the emperor. Romans 13 presents government as a servant of God. Revelation 13 presents government in its final state as a direct servant of Satan. No doubt about it. The dragon is Satan and he's behind the beast from the sea, who is the Antichrist. It's one thing to be demon possessed, what it's like to be Satan possessed?I believe that is the final form of human government on Earth, and in that final form during the reign of the Antichrist, which is that one world government that I believe is coming, all the nations of the earth are going to bow down to this one individual. It's the final form of human government. One of the indicators of submission to that wicked ruler will be the mark of the beast. It’s very plain that if you receive it, you'll spend eternity in hell [Revelation 14]. So none of the elect ,Jesus said, will be deceived and none of the elect will receive the mark of the beast. That's overt rebellion against the world government. V. What Must We Render to God What must we render to God? I'm going to table a full discussion of this to three sermons I'm going to preach on the first and greatest commandment, but here's what you owe God. You owe it to him to love Him with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to show your love by your total absolute obedience to him. That's what you owe him. You owe him your worship, you owe him your heart, you owe him everything. As a matter of fact, your rendering to Caesar is a subset of what you owe to God. You do it because God's told you to do it. Everything you give to God. Governing officials need to be careful and not seek to be gods themselves. It's always that temptation, and that's what's going to happen with the Antichrist. He's going to want to be, he's going to demand to be worshiped. This is that tendency where governing officials get filled with themselves and filled with ego and they seek to be worshiped. That is not something we render to Caesar. That's something we give to God alone - worship. Render means to give back as rightful due, ascribe to the Lord, Psalm 29, "Ascribe to the Lord almighty men, ascribe to the Lord the glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name." That's what you owe him. Give him the glory that his name deserves. Then realize if render means give back, everything in the universe is going back to God. From him and through him and to him are all things, everything's getting rendered back to God ultimately. Therefore, everything that we do, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we do it for the glory of God. We Christians can look forward to a perfect government yet to come. We're looking ahead to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Kingdom of Christ described in many places. One of my favorite is this Isaiah 9: 6-7, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders." Think about that. "And he'll be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over its kingdom, establishing and upholding it. From that time on and forever, the zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." That was going to be the end of the sermon until this morning. Then I wrote this extra page, and I want to read it to you. I believe many Christians living in America today are intensely disappointed with what's happening with our government, and I share your disappointment. Many Christians have expectations of government that I am worried about, frankly, I'm concerned about it. Those expectations are not being realized. And as they look ahead, they wonder how can we get those expectations realized? So I wanted to just say a few things about the difference between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of Christ. There's just a significant difference between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of Christ. How do they advance? How do the kingdoms of this world advance? How does the Kingdom of Christ advance? How are they governed? How do the kingdoms of this world, how are they governed, and how is the Kingdom of Christ governed? I mean right now? How do they handle opposition? How do they handle enemies? How do they handle opponents? With the kingdoms of this world, it is the compulsion of the sword. You oppose, you die, ultimately. Whether you're criminal or if you're taking up a sword against the government or an opposing an enemy army, it's the sword, the compulsion of the sword. With the Kingdom of Christ, it's the compulsion of truth and love. That's what we do with our enemies, we love them and we give them the truth. "With the kingdoms of this world, it is the compulsion of the sword. You oppose, you die, ultimately. …With the Kingdom of Christ, it's the compulsion of truth and love. That's what we do with our enemies, we love them, and we give them the truth." Therefore, it is force, physical force even, compulsion by force on the one side versus persuasion and love on the other. Or if I could keep it simple, the kingdoms of this world advance, get larger by killing, and the Kingdom of Christ gets larger by its subjects dying. It's very different. Therefore, there are two verses in my mind. John 18:36, "Jesus said to Pilate, ‘My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight for me.’" Think about that. That's what it means to have a kingdom of this world. My servants would take up the sword and fight for me. But Jesus said earlier in John 12:24, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit." That's why I say the kingdom of this world, kingdoms of this world advance by killing and the Kingdom of Christ advances by us being willing to die. Maybe not physically, but you die to yourself, you die to what's best for you, you share the gospel, you're willing to serve. And in some cases, some martyrs actually did lay down their lies. The blood of martyrs was seed for the church, they're willing to die for Christ. Therefore, I go back to the beginning of the Gospel of Mark as I conclude, Mark 1:15, Jesus said when He began his preaching ministry, "The time is at hand. The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel." That's how we enter the Kingdom of Christ, by repenting of our sins and believing the good news that God sent his son to die for us under the wrath of Caesar, under the wrath of the Sanhedrin, to die for us that we might have eternal life. So repent and believe the good news, enter the kingdom, live that life for his glory. Close with me in prayer. Father, we thank you for Jesus's amazing statement here. I don't think we've even begun to scratch the surface of what it means to "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." But I pray, oh Lord, that you would just teach us, oh Lord, help us to understand government biblically, help us to fulfill our duties properly, help us to look ultimately to the Kingdom of Christ, while we do not shrink back from influence, salt and light influencing policies as we're able. God give us wisdom for the facing of this hour. We thank you for the gospel. Thank you that Jesus Christ offers full forgiveness of sins by his death and his resurrection. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
All Have Temptation, Which Is Not the Sin; But Jesus Followers Can Resist All Temptation Through Their Faith and Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He {Jesus} always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". From James 1:13, we know that God does not create the temptation we face: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.". Since all are tempted, it is great to know, from 1 Corinthians 10:13, that Jesus Followers will not be tempted beyond their capability to resist the temptation and act on it through sinning: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." You can follow Jesus' example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face. TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will entrust to Him my future. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. From 2 Timothy 1:12 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12; James 1:13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Christians in the Church Must Become Christians in the Marketplace of Unbelievers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
This episode originally aired July 29th, 2020. A few months ago, I heard about this show called The Chosen. It depicts the life of Jesus and the disciples in a unique way, taking a look at Jesus' life, and how the disciples became disciples. When I first heard about it, I was skeptical, but I gave it a try. After the second episode, I was hooked! Not only have I watched the entire season once, I've actually watched it though three times now. When I fell in love with the show, I started to do more research on it. Not only is it a unique show in and of itself, it's also the first series that is the #1 crowd-funded media project in history. It even has its own app! As I began to dive deeper, I learned more about the company producing the show, Angel Studios, formerly VidAngel. The show is directed by Dallas Jenkins, the son of Jerry Jenkins, who wrote the Left Behind series. I wanted to know more about VidAngel and why this platform wanted to produce a show about Jesus in such a unique way. My guest this week is Neal Harmon. Neal is the CEO and cofounder of Angel Studios formerly VidAngel, a streaming service that allows parents to skip objectionable content in entertainment using groundbreaking technology. VidAngel has been highly profiled for The Chosen, and its other incredible family-based content like Dry Bar Comedy. VidAngel recently made headlines by offer all of its streaming content for free during the Covid-19 pandemic, provided that people agree to social distancing of course. My conversation with Neal was incredible and refreshing He was very transparent about the story of VidAngel as it experiences growing pains and lessons many young companies experience. You're going to love this conversation with Neal, so let's dive in! 4:30 - The Neal 101 Neal grew up in Idaho working on dairy farms and even tried to start his own cattle business at one point, but as he got older and learned more about the world, he started working with web businesses. After experiencing a spectacular failure right out of college, he started a company called OraBrush, a tongue cleaner that got rid of bad breath. OraBrush went from zero sales to global distribution in just a few years, thanks to YouTube marketing. Later a company reached out to Neal and his brother, cofounders of OraBrush, to help them market Poo~Pourri! The Poo~Pourri ad campaign was so successful that it turned Neal and his brother into an ad agency. Shortly after that, they started VidAngel, which is something Neal and his three brothers wanted to create for their own families. Neal's favorite movie is Cinderella Man. The movie portrays people having character, even in their darkest moments, but the movie has a coach who has a foul mouth. Neal wanted his young kids to be able to see the story, but didn't want them hearing or repeating those words in their home. VidAngel allows you to take popular movies and TV shows, and skip over content you don't find appropriate for your own home. It's like a pre-programmed remote. Neal and his brothers had a bigger vision for VidAngel, too. They wanted to have a bigger impact on media and on the world. They knew that if they found the people who valued protecting their families by using technology to skip over specific content, that they would also have a group of people they could also distribute content in a manner that would be a better fit than what Hollywood provides. 10:53 - A Broken Feedback Loop The creators in Hollywood love to see who wins the awards each year, but it seems they are essentially making movies for each other. About three fourths of the revenue in the box office comes from the family friendly movie, but half the titles coming out of Hollywood are rated R. VidAngel is bridging the gap to give creators a feedback loop. If audiences are skipping over certain scenes, creators can learn how to adjust the content that is affecting their market. It allows them to listen to their market, rather than their peers. When there is immediate feedback, there is acknowledgement of an issue and something productive can be done with that information. Since big studios own the distribution channels, they can also fill those with what they chose. VidAngel's feedback loop helps create a voice for those without access to big distribution channels. 14:10 – Resistance, Controversy, Transparency, Growth During the summer of 2016, VidAngel faced a lawsuit with The Walt Disney Company. It was a shock to VidAngel because before they started their service, they actually wrote The Walt Disney Company in good faith and transparency, telling them about the service, giving them information on the users they'd tested it with, and asked for their feedback. They shared their own reasoning for why they thought what they were doing was ok, but also gave The Walt Disney Company an opportunity to let them know if they thought anything being done was unlawful. VidAngel heard no response from The Walt Disney Company until a year later when families were already enjoying what Angel Studios was providing. VidAngel asked their customers if they'd be interested in investing in VidAngel to start growing the next phase of the company, and their customers said they'd put in over 60 million dollars to help it grow. Two weeks later, The Walt Disney Company sued VidAngel. It's been a long, difficult journey and a lot of time spent in depositions. After the lawsuit started, VidAngel reached out to their customers asking if they wanted to take it to the Supreme Court if they were willing to invest $5 million into the company. They invested $10 million in 5 days. Because of that, VidAngel has been able to improve their product and fight the legal battle. VidAngel doesn't know what will happen now in the midst of this process. They are trusting that they have been called to work to help families through their services and will continue moving forward in faith as they wait for the outcome and experience the process. 20:00 – The Chosen The Chosen is VidAngel's first scripted original series. It will be a multi-season series based on the gospels and the life of Jesus from the perspective of the disciples. The first season is out with 8 episodes. The Chosen is the highest grossing crowdfunded media project of all time. VidAngel's first original series is called Dry Bar Comedy, which has over a billion views per year. It's a stand-up comedy series (with clean humor). When Dry Bar started out performing all the other studios in the digital space, VidAngel learned that the data from people's skip choices can create a bigger market when the comedians improve their content based on the consumer feedback loop. VidAngel decided they wanted to do a real TV series next, and after a friend of Neal's introduced them to a short film by Dallas Jenkins, Neal's brother Jeffrey pitched an idea to do something similar on the life of Jesus. Neal wasn't interested at first, but after watching Dallas Jenkin's short film on the birth of Christ, everything changed. Neal knew then and there he wanted to get behind a project like this on VidAngel. VidAngel has a lot more exciting these coming. The Chosen has awakened in a lot of people the desire to change media. They want to hear stories from the bible that are well written with a high level of video production, imagery, and storytelling. They want to see the ability for both reverence, humanity, and light-heartedness in the portrayal of Jesus. It was important to Dallas to find someone to play Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) who was slightly unexpected, unique, and genuine, rather than a famous Hollywood actor. In The Chosen, you get much more insight into each individual's story and what their lives were like before Jesus and then their individual relationships with Jesus. The stories are plausible, relatable, and do not conflict with scripture. There is a biblical committee and those working on the show have educational backgrounds in biblical studies and have taken trips to Israel to study. Their goal is to stay true to the Bible. 44:15 – Find out how the cast and crew are dealing with COVID-19 and what's on the horizon for The Chosen. You can watch The Chosen on VidAngel (and skip parts that your children may not be ready for or that might be scary). You can also download the app The Chosen app. Either option allows you to watch for free! 46:12 - Getting to Know Our Guest Find out what meal Neal would eat if he had to eat the same thing for dinner every night for the rest of his life, a dream of his he's yet to achieve, his favorite TV show when he was growing up, and of course, what it means to Neal to run a business with purpose. Memorable Quotes 13:50 - “The beautiful thing about the internet is that it provides an opportunity for those of us who don't have a have a voice in the big distribution channels to have a voice for ourselves and create content for ourselves.” 25:20 – “I think the reason that The Chosen has so much of a good spirit about it is because I think a lot of the people making it, and the distributor who's getting behind it, are going through similar trials and facing similar situations in modern society as what the disciples faced back then.” 38:18 – “The goal of the scriptures and The Chosen is to lead us to understanding who He (Jesus) was and that He redeems us. If we don't get there or if we get off the mark or too caught up in how good the actors are or how famous the show becomes, then we've missed the mark. As soon as it takes us into the scriptures and gets us into a relationship with Christ, then it will have been a successful project.” 39:58 – “This project is just about telling the stories of Jesus in a way that we can all relate to to and can hopefully lead people of all faiths, and people who don't have faith, to our Redeemer.” Connect with Neal Harmon and Watch The Chosen: https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen ABOUT NEAL HARMON, CEO, ANGEL STUDIOS (formerly VidAngel) How can parents make entertainment good for their homes? Neal is the CEO and co-founder of VidAngel, a streaming service that allows parents to skip objectionable content in entertainment using ground breaking technology. VidAngel has been highly-profiled for The Chosen, its original series about Jesus and the #1 crowdfunded media project in history, and its other incredible family-based content like Dry Bar Comedy. VidAngel recently made headlines by offering all of its streaming content free during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided people agree to social distancing of course. Leave a comment below with something you learned from this episode
God's Grace Allows Jesus Followers to Know God Personally, Like a Father Knows His Son MESSAGE SUMMARY: There is a difference in knowing about someone and really knowing them. Jesus' New Covenant permits you to know God in a personal way and not just to know about God. This means to know the Lord God was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ. In Romans 8:26, Paul tells us that the pathway for knowing God, personally, is through our prayers; and the Holy Spirit is with you to help you with your prayers: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.". There is a great deal of difference in knowing about God through study and knowing God by developing a personal relationship with Him through your prayers and the New Covenant that is in Jesus. The Apostle John, in John 1:1-5, clearly identifies that Jesus is the “Word” {Jesus} who is the Creator of the Universe: “In the beginning was the Word {Jesus}, and the Word {Jesus} was with God, and the Word {Jesus} was God. He {Jesus} was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.". Therefore, God's Grace, through Jesus, has given you the opportunity to have a personal relationship with our Triune God (i.e. God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit). Jesus provides this opportunity for you to have a personal relationship with God, the Creator of the Universe, who can become the cornerstone of your life. Have you established your personal relationship with God? If not, why not? TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, I confess that when difficulties and trials come into my life, large or small, I mostly grumble and complain. I realize the trials James talks about are not necessarily “walls,” but they are difficult to bear, nonetheless. Fill me with such a vision of a transformed life, O God, that I might actually consider it “pure joy” when you bring trials my way. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 94). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will entrust to Him my future. I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. From 2 Timothy 1:12 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): John 12:44-50; Luke 12:4-12; John 15:12-17; Psalms 55a:1-12. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Be Strong & Courageous”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB
"Does God really love me?” If we're honest, this is a question we ask often. And the answer is a resounding yes! God loves us very much! But what do we do when it doesn't feel like God loves us? One thing we can do is remember the evidence of God's love for us. After all, He knows we need reminders, and He doesn't scold us for needing to hear it again and again. In fact, God loves to remind us of His love..1. God made us. And that's just one of the reasons why we can know that He loves us and we matter to Him. He created each of us on purpose, and He was delighted to do it..2. God's love for us is unstoppable. God didn't stop loving us when humanity rejected Him. Just the opposite. His great love for the world compelled Him to give Jesus, His very own Son, to die on the cross to save us from sin. Nothing, not even death, could stop His love. We know this because after three days, Jesus rose from the dead, defeating sin and death forever!.3. God has made us His own. As Christians, we belong to Him. When we put our trust in Jesus, He makes us new people and gives us important work to do in His kingdom. In fact, the book of Ephesians in the Bible calls us God's handiwork—His masterpiece or artwork..4. God cares about what happens to us. When we suffer, He weeps. And He promises to work all things for the good of His people. Jesus will return one day to make everything new, free from sin and healed from all the brokenness sin causes..5. God is with us now. As we wait for Jesus to return bodily to earth, He is still present with us through His Spirit, His Word, and His people..It's easy to forget God's love for us, especially when we hear the cruel words of others or when we experience heartbreaking situations. But, as Christians, we can rest in God's love for us by remembering how God made us because it pleased Him to do so, and how God became human to dwell among us. He (Jesus) was willing to die on the cross for us. Then He rose again three days later to beat death, and He promises to return to be with us forever. Even now, His loving presence is always with us. No matter what, we can know that we are each an important part of God's kingdom and family—we have a purpose and place because we belong to Jesus. And, as we rest in God's unshakable love for us, we get to be part of sharing His love with others. • A. W. Smith.• Which of the five evidences of God's love listed above resonates with you most today? Why? .For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Ephesians 2:10a (NIV)
One semester, while my friend was taking a seminary class on Tuesday mornings, I'd watch her two-year-old daughter. These mornings were typically filled with coloring, reading books, eating snacks, and other fun things my friend's daughter and I enjoyed doing together..One morning though, this dear little toddler was really missing her mom. As we played all her usual favorite games, she would occasionally get very quiet and say, “Mama home soon.” When this happened, I would say, “That's right. Mama will be home soon. She loves you so much and can't wait to come back to see you.” Sure enough, her mom did arrive soon, and both mother and daughter were so happy to see each other..This interaction with my friend's daughter kind of reminded me of what it's like waiting for Jesus to come back, and how excited I'll be when I finally see Him face-to-face! But right now, we live in a world that's broken by sin and its effects. We see all that brokenness and sadness and hurt—which is only amplified by the information overload we're experiencing at this time in history. Yet, we can rest in Jesus's love. He longs to be with us, and He has promised that He will return to make everything new, free from the brokenness we see right now. In the meantime, He is present with us through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people (the church)..When my friend's daughter would say, “Mama home soon,” it made me think about how the Bible records that the early church was eagerly waiting for Jesus to come back, and they would often say "Maranatha" in Aramaic, which in English means, “Come soon, Jesus!”.That's my prayer too. I long for the day Jesus will return—it will be a day of celebration! Our loving King will make all things new, and we will be together forever—with Him and with all our siblings in Christ, all who put their trust in Jesus. Like my friend and her daughter were so happy to see each other after being apart, when we meet Jesus face-to-face, we will be filled with such incredible joy—a joy that will never end (John 16:22). • Kandi Zeller.• What are you most looking forward to about Jesus's return? What questions do you have? .• What can Matthew 28:20, Luke 13:34, and John 14:18 reveal about Jesus's love for us?.• Are there any moms or mother figures in your life who've shown God's love to you? Consider taking a moment to thank God for them, and maybe thank the person/people too!.He [Jesus] who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20-21 (NLT)
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
