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IntroductionLIVE from a bottomless pit of CEO pay, it's a Business Pants Friday Show here at March 21st Studios, featuring AnalystHole Matt Moscardi. On today's weekly wrap up: Nelson Peltz hates woke ice cream, Self-hating Cybertrucks, and anti-ESG manbabies Our show today is being sponsored by Free Float Analytics, the only platform measuring board power, connections, and performance for FREE.Story of the Week (DR):‘Incompetent:' Jamie Dimon unloads on proxy advisor ISSJamie Dimon said Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) should be “gone and dead and done with”, as he also launched an attack on those who pay for their services.In an interview with Semafor at Blackrock's retirement summit, Mr Dimon said: “Anyone who gives them money – shame on you.”Unilever hit ‘new levels of oppressiveness,' Ben & Jerry's claims as its CEO was sacked over social activismIce cream maker Ben & Jerry's has accused its parent company of firing its CEO David Stever over his support of the brand's progressive politics.On Tuesday, the Vermont-based brand filed an amended complaint in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging that Unilever “has repeatedly threatened Ben & Jerry's personnel, including CEO David Stever, should they fail to comply with Unilever's efforts to silence the Social Mission.”Ben & Jerry's said Unilever informed its board on March 3 that it was removing and replacing Ben & Jerry's CEO David Stever. Ben & Jerry's said that violated its merger agreement with Unilever, which states that any decisions regarding a CEO's removal must come after a consultation with an advisory committee from Ben & Jerry's board.“empowered to protect and defend Ben & Jerry's brand equity and integrity”White man David Stever, 4 women of color (one who is the chair), and two black men. In Vermont? Are they trolling us?!?! I guess it can be done. Unilever board member Nelson Peltz is still trying to find a white actor for Black PantherUnilever has not publicly disclosed a reason for Stever's firingThe ice cream company has a unique corporate structure that was meant to protect its activist mission, even after its 2000 sale to Unilever:Independent Board of Directors: Unlike most Unilever-owned brands, Ben & Jerry's has an independent board specifically tasked with preserving the company's social mission.Merger Agreement Protections: The 2000 acquisition agreement required consultation with the board for key leadership decisions, including hiring or firing the CEO.Social Mission Oversight: The board exists to prevent the dilution of the company's activist identity—something that appears to be under increasing pressure.Ben & Jerry's Founders Say They Stand Behind Ousted CEOBoeing Sued for Wrongful Death by Family of WhistleblowerBoeing pushed John Barnett, who was a quality manager at Boeing for nearly three decades, to his death by harassing and intimidating him after he raised safety concerns about the company's plant building the 787 Dreamliner in Charleston, South Carolina, a wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court in the state alleges. His family claim in their suit that Boeing responded by carrying out a “campaign of harassment, abuse and intimidation intended to discourage, discredit and humiliate him until he would either give up or be discredited”.In the evening of March 8th last year, Barnett left the law offices of Boeing's outside counsel in Charleston after testifying for two days in the OSHA case. Barnett was giving his account of how Boeing violated its own policies and procedures, and FAA rules, during his seven years as a quality inspector at the North Charleston plant that assembles the 787 Dreamliner. He'd delayed a trip back to his home in Louisiana to finish his deposition the next day, a Saturday. Videos cited in the police report show Barnett leaving the hotel around 8:30 PM, and getting in his Clemson orange, Dodge truck. When Barnett failed to show by the 10 AM starting time for his final round of testimony, Turkewitz called the Holiday Inn to conduct a “welfare check.”Note: “America come together or die!!! Pray that the motherfk…ers who destroyed my life pay!!! I pray that Boeing pays!!! Bury me face down so that Boeing and their lying ass leaders can kiss my ass. I can't do this any longer!!! F-k Boeing!!!'Business has been neglected': Longtime Tesla investor demands Elon Musk resign as CEO MMElon Musk Says He Has No Idea What He Did to Make Everybody So Mad at Him"It's really come as quite a shock to me that there is this level of, really, hatred and violence from the left.""My companies make great products that people love and I've never physically hurt anyone.”“So why the hate and violence against me?”"I always thought that the left, you know, Democrats, were supposed to be the party of empathy, the party of caring, and yet they're burning down cars, they're firebombing dealerships, they're firing bullets into dealerships, they're smashing up Teslas," Musk said. "Tesla is a peaceful company. We've never done anything harmful.""I've never done anything harmful."“Because I am a deadly threat to the woke mind parasite and the humans it controls."Tesla just recalled basically all the Cybertrucks ever sold in AmericaTesla workers in Germany say they don't have time to use the bathroomTesla workers at a German factory say working conditions don't allow them enough time for drinking or bathroom breaks.Over 3,000 workers at a Tesla gigafactory near Berlin have signed a petition asking for more breaks and an end to intimidation from management, according to a statement from German metalworker's union IG Metall.A Huge Amount of Money Is Missing From TeslaEven the company's financials are now sprouting some glaring questions. As the Financial Times reports, a whopping $1.4 billion appears to have vanished in thin air. The enormous hole arises when examining the carmaker's capital expenditures and how those compare to the reported rise of the value of its assets.According to Tesla's cashflow statements, the firm spent $6.3 billion on "purchases of property and equipment excluding finance leases, net of sales" in the second half of 2024. However, its balance sheet claims the gross value of property, plant, and equipment rose by only $4.9 billion — leaving an eyebrow-raising $1.4 billion discrepancy.Musk Set to Receive Top-Secret Briefing on U.S. War Plans for ChinaMusk Tells Tesla Workers: Don't Sell Your SharesTesla board members, executive sell off over $100 million of stock in recent weeksTogether, four top officers at the company have offloaded over $100 million in shares since early February.Last week, longtime Musk ally James Murdoch became the latest to do so, exercising a stock option and selling shares worth approximately $13 million, according to an SEC filing.Elon Musk's brother, Kimbal Musk, who also sits on the board, unloaded 75,000 shares worth approximately $27 million last month, according to a filing.The chairman of the board, Robyn Denholm, has offloaded more than $75 million dollars worth of shares in two transactions in the past five weeks, federal filings show.Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Chobani CEO: Why we're now giving all workers at least 12 weeks of parental leaveDR: JD Vance rips globalization, calling cheap labor a 'drug'MM: Tesla Cybertruck deliveries are on hold as trims are flying off the 'bulletproof' truck DRThey recalled ALL of them - imagine if Mary Barra put out a car at GM that, 1 year after releasing, they had to recall ALL of them? What would you do investors? Assholiest of the Week (MM):WahWah, our CEO: Tesla warns White House over tariffs in unsigned letter: ‘It's a polite way to say that the bipolar tariff regime is screwing over Tesla'Wah, China: OpenAI slams DeepSeek, warning the US government that China is catching up fastWah, customers: Tesla owners are trading in their EVs at record levels, Edmunds says, Tesla springs last-minute public all hands on staffers, confusion ensues, Tesla Cybertrucks are getting roasted on TikTok—one prank at a timeWah, investors: Baillie Gifford slashes Tesla stake as investor calls on Musk to step down, $1.4bn is a lot to fall through the cracks, even for Tesla, A Huge Amount of Money Is Missing From TeslaWah, privacy: Dad demands OpenAI delete ChatGPT's false claim that he murdered his kidsWah, I'm back in middle school: Elon Musk says he's shocked at the level of Tesla hate and vandalism happening: 'I've never done anything harmful'Stefan Padfield DR"It is not surprising that our proposal received low support, given the concerns we have about bias and conflicts of interest infecting the votes and recommendations of the Big 5 asset managers and proxy advisors, as well as the company's management," Padfield said."The issues raised by our proposals remain relevant to Disney's bottom line, and we arguably saw an indication of this in the fact that neither ESG nor DEI were mentioned once, directly or indirectly, in Iger's opening remarks -- suggesting the company is slowly distancing itself from the leftist radicalism embodied in those agendas," Padfield said.Fact check: ESG and DEI were not mentioned in Iger's remarks in 2024. They were not mentioned in 2023. Congrats on paying attention to whatever's in front of your face.Shareholders rejected your proposal because it was asinine and no one caresYour group, NCPPR, gets an AVERAGE of 1% everywhere… but did you notice that NLPC, your sister group in anti white person crime, got a solid 11% in favor at Apple for it's very real proposal on the dangers of AI? And Bowyer, got a 10% in favor at Apple for a report on child sex abuse software and got 1% here at Disney?Maybe the problem is you write overtly racist, stupid fucking shareholder proposals and you shout shut your fat mouth?Have we reached the CEO pay tipping point?Surge in incentive pay lifts HanesBrands' 2024 CEO compensation to $12.9 millionBig companies backtrack on climate goals in bosses' payStarbucks Must End Its Greed'—Bernie Sanders Calls Out Starbucks CEO For Getting $96 Million For 4 Months Of WorkKlarna's CEO got an 862% pay rise ahead of its IPOWe hate TREES now? TREES?Is planting trees 'DEI'? Trump administration cuts nationwide tree-planting effortHeadliniest of the WeekDR: Top workplace psychologist Adam Grant says offering employees better pay packages is the smartest move for the ‘long term'DR: Mom of child dead from measles: “Don't do the shots,” my other 4 kids were fineDR: Prince Harry's friends are blaming Meghan Markle for making him ‘too woke'MM: Donald Trump's favorite musical explained as he demands 'non-woke' theaterLike 89% of Broadway is gay, no?MM: Wait, whaaaa? British Gas: Centrica CEO's pay slashed in half at FTSE 100 giantWho Won the Week?DR: Sonya Mishra, author of new study: How does society perceive power-seeking women differently from status-seeking women?The study found that desiring status is seen as more congruent with feminine stereotypes compared to desiring power, and that women who desire status are less likely to incur backlash compared to women who desire power.MM: This video: Tesla Fans Furious at Video of Tesla Crashing Into Wall Painted Like RoadMark Rober tested autopilots for Lexus and Tesla… and Tesla ran over a dummy kid over and overAs Electrek points out, Autopilot has a well-documented tendency to disengage right before a crash. Regulators have previously found that the advanced driver assistance software shuts off a fraction of a second before making impact.It's a highly questionable approach that has raised concerns over Tesla trying to evade guilt by automatically turning off any possibly incriminating driver assistance features before a crash.PredictionsDR: Bowyer Research and Robbie Starbuck blame female CEOs in the S&P 500 for reducing the overall percentage of male CEOs in the S&P 500MM: Bowyer Research and Robbie Starbuck blame all the women running the big 5 - Larry Fink, Ron O'Hanley, Salim Ramji, Gary Retelny, and Bob Mann - for the failure of their shareholder proposals and demand a report from each requesting an analysis of the risk of having so many woke women running the big 5

Week 8 - Doctrine and Covenants 12-17 - JSH 1:66-75:  " Instead of obsessing over living for God, what if we just live because of God? The problem for living for God is that it quickly becomes about our efforts, performance and praise. Living because of God is about Him: It's all about the vine, the life-giver, fruit producer. "Please visit us at CFMpodcast.org

What do we run to when our tanks are empty? Are we staying connected to Jesus, our true source of life? Let's ask ourselves: how do I get full when I'm running on empty? EASY TO GIVE at Harmony, text any amount to (859) 459-0316 to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give). Get the fill in the blank bulletins my.harmonychurch.cc/bulletins. OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Oh man, there nothing quite as exciting to me as taking your gas gauge on a car down below the red line. Anyone else with me? I get all excited and nervous when it happens. Jenni hates it. She won't take her car past 1/4 tank left. For me it's a game to take it down as low as I can without running out of gas… Who are you more like? Me or Jenni? How many of you are daredevils and like running it low? How many of you can't stand to run it low at all? I don't know about you, but coming out of Christmas and the New Year, I feel like my personal tank is running low… Think about all the things that take your time, all the things that you pour out into… -Kid's classroom parties -Getting kids to games and practices -Year-end projects -Inbox's that are FULL to capacity I saw someone's phone the other day and they had like 1,000 unread messages - that would drive me crazy It feels like in today's world our days are chocked so full that our emotional and spiritual tanks are on empty. ILLUSTRATION: Jenni and I have had conversations around this. The words we would use are it feels like we are running ragged. We are just going and going and going, constantly pouring out and never being filled. I was praying on this a few weeks ago, I was literally just done.  So tired.  See if this sounds familiar.  I had found myself binging tv, I was getting irritated easily, I was overeating to find joy, I was not sleeping, literally getting like 4 hrs a night.  I was done.   I was praying and twice I had God speak to me about my emptiness. Once I felt like He showed me a bright light and I immediately looked away.  He was like, “This is what you are like with me” The second one I had decided because of the first that I was going to stop putting an earbud in my ear at night to listen to a show to go to sleep and instead I would pray until I fell asleep.  I was praying and getting pretty sleepy and I felt like Jesus was like: “Kent, you've run out of wine…” All of a sudden I was awake… Some of you are like, “Kent, what does your grocery list have to do with a sermon?” It's funny because Jenni and I don't even drink. but here is immediately what came into my mind. John 2:1-3 On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” If you know the story, Jesus' mom ask Him to fix the wine situation. Most scholars think they have run out of wine because they are likely a poorer family who can't afford wine. In an honor culture like the Jewish people were, this level of embarrassment at running out of wine would be too much, it would be a serious shame. You know the story don't you? Jesus has them take 6 huge jars and fill them to the brim with water. He then sends the servant to the master of ceremonies with a cup full of water taken from the jars. When the master drinks it, he says it's the best wine he's ever tasted. As I laid there that night I realized what Jesus was saying… b I am poor and running on empty and all I have to do is ask Him… It's the same thing Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4 after asking her for a drink… John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Look, Hearing the voice of God is not about you mapping out your life's plan (although He might speak into that) b Hearing the voice of God is about you staying connected to the true source of life. b It's about ACTUALLY asking Jesus to give you the living water, to fill your jars, and give you wine. b Let me ask you a question, what do you run to in order to fill your tank/jars? -Maybe you were like, “Jesus would never tell me I've run out of wine” because I never run out - because liquor is what you run to -maybe it's feeling good about yourself, pleasing people and being needed -maybe when you can just get some alone time -maybe it's fidgeting and never being settled -or watching another game Most of those things aren't bad, but they are not living water, they can't fill you completely… Your deepest need as a human is connectedness to Jesus can I say that again? John 15:5-8 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Can I ask you some tough questions? Maybe you've been thinking about if you actually hear the voice of God and what that looks like for you. the question should actually be, am I staying connected to the vine? What does it look like for you to stay connected to Jesus? What priority does Jesus have in your life - if I looked at your daily agenda, where does He fall? CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: Over the years I've planted several peach trees - at this point, I'm probably going to give up because I'm a HORRIBLE gardener.  But, I can tell you something, with each one, I've WANTED the tree to produce fruit.  It was my goal and aim, I bought books and studied.  I tried pretty hard.  I'm just terrible at gardening.   Did you hear what Jesus said,  “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” b Jesus wants you to bear fruit, He wants you to be His disciple. He's working on it actively… The real question is do you REALLY want that? Ya'll know sports - how many of you would be ok with someone who never listened to the coach, never came to practice, never put any time into the team? How long does that person last? See, hearing God's voice is the result of you being in connection with Him…  It's about you being on the team,  you showing up, you seeking Him, and saying connected to Him - remaining in Him… If you remain in Him, He will fill you up with living water, He will give you more wine, He will give you life… This morning, I want to give you some time to pray and I want to give you the prayer I said that day - we're just going to leave it up on the screen and play some soft music for a few minutes. [Anthony, play music softly with the screen up on the last slide for a few minutes] “God, I'm at the end of my rope, I'm so tired and worn out. Jesus, I just need you….” (repeat that last part until you believe it) b If Jesus speaks to you write it down, close your eyes, listen to Him…

Probably the most effective prayer to save your marriage is this.Pray to feel God's love for you at a DEEP level every day.As you FEEL that love from Him…It will FILL you…Make you less needy, more compassionate, and more loving…And therefore more attractive.As a bonus, pray to see and love your wife as God does too.This video and this book have been helpful for me to feel God's love for me.Watch on YouTube here. (Lorena new link here for YouTube)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY13pnVVwwo (Lorena new links here for YouTube)Dr. MikeP.S. Reply to this email with the results of your challenge!P.P.S. If you're a high achieving, professionally successful Christian man who is ready to create incredible sexual, mental and emotional  intimacy with your wife, and create an amazing legacy for your family to follow… starting TODAY…CLICK HERE to apply to join my Strong Men Strong Marriages program.

Pastor Paul, Worship Pastor4 very practical ways to live a very powerful life Remember Learn Sing Worship Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.What does singing do? It reinforces Bible truth It is a way of battling the enemy 2 Chronicles 20:22 “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves” It unites us as His people It puts our focus on Him It invites God's presence God sits enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) It brings renewal/refreshment It paves the way for the miraculous Acts 16 Paul and Silas begin praising and the prison doors are opened How do we choose songs at Family Life for our worship service? 1. We want songs that are biblically accurate 2. We want songs that are contemporary 3. We want songs that are not just “about” God, but “to” God and “for” God 4. We want songs that usher in His presence Simple recipe for a powerful singing/worship experience He is worthy I need to come to Him surrendered Galatians 2:20 “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Why did Jesus command us to pray what He commanded us to pray? Why do we pray what the Lord's Prayer teaches us to pray? We pray it because of what the last phrase says - For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever, amen. This last phrase shows us two reasons why we pray this way: It all belongs to Him It all belongs to Him forever! We pray this prayer because this is our Father's world. The Lord's Prayer shocks us back ] into reality. It reminds us again and again that we are praying to an all-glorious, all-wonderful God and that this God is our Father! The kingdom, power, and glory belong to Him forever. We pray this way because this is our Father's World!

Have you enjoyed the rich Christology of the book of Hebrews-- Have you relished in His great high priesthood, foreshadowed in the temple and the sacrifices-- Has all this wonderful knowledge sparked a greater love and exultation of the Son of God, who is greater than all who came before Him-- It has been said that great theology prompts great doxology. But there is an equally necessary horizontal component to worship that also is affected by increased knowledge of Jesus Christ. Worship -the Greek word latreuo- may equally be rendered as service. Correctly understood, worship is our day-to-day life as we love God and love and serve others. Doing all things to the glory of God involves aspects of how we treat our neighbors with whom our lives intersect in the body of Christ, our family, our leaders. As great theology prompts great doxology, it is also true that great theology prompts great service to one another. --God does not leave the question of how to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him to guesswork or mystical ideas. Acceptable service is revealed in His Word as imperatives -commands-. What does all of the rich theology in the epistle look like in day-to-day life-- Under the banner of -Let brotherly love remain.- These command are- 1- do not neglect hospitality, 2- remember those in prison and ill-treated, 3- honor marriage, 4- live contended lives - free from the love of money, 5- remember your leaders and imitate their faith. If we have been truly affected by the deep theology of the book of Hebrews, it will manifest in our lives in these ways.

Mark has two things that he wants us to learn above all else as we read his Gospel. First, he wants us to know that Jesus is the Christ - the Messiah, or Anointed One. And second, he wants us to consider what it means to be a disciple or follower of Him. --After 400 years of silence from the Lord, Jesus came to earth in human flesh- Centuries earlier, David had been anointed by the Lord and given a promise that one day, one of his descendants would be born as a King Who would live and reign forever- This came to pass in Jesus, Who was born of the Virgin Mary and was the Son of God - fulfilling the Messianic prophecies of Psalm 2. --Mark quotes from Isaiah 40, where the Prophet declared the Lord's promise that Mankind would see His glory revealed - in the face of Jesus- And it is Jesus that Mark wants us to see- He comes with strength and might- yet He treats us gently, just like a shepherd cares for his lambs. If we walk away from the Gospel of Mark with a small view of Christ, we've missed the whole point. --John was the last prophet of the Old Covenant. He was a man of the wilderness who preached repentance and baptized. The people came to be baptized by him in the Jordan River, but he was reminding them that One was coming to fulfill the promise of Ezekiel 36 and baptize people with the Holy Spirit. John was fulfilling the role of the Second Elijah - pointing the way to Jesus, Who was far better than himself. He declared that he was not even worthy to untie His sandals. --What is Jesus to You- Are you ready to meet the King of the Universe, the Head of the Church, and the Promised Messiah- And what does it mean to follow Him- It's costly - but it's glorious-

The Person of the Holy Spirit A Szentháromság legmisztikusabb személyét nézzük meg, a Szentlelket. Akiről Jézus azt mondta: “jobb ha én elmegyek és elküldöm Őt hozzátok!” Aki amikor betölti az életünket, erőt ad ahhoz, hogy éljük a keresztény életünket ebben a világban és tanúk legyünk. We are looking at the most mystical person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said about Him: "It's better if I go away and send Him to you." When He fills our lives, He gives us the power to live our Christian lives in this world and to be witnesses.

Most people misconstrue the glorious text, -this is the day which the Lord has made- we shall rejoice and be glad in it------Of course, every day is made by the Lord. God brings about every day, and upholds it by the word of His power. If there is a day today, it's because the Lord has determined it, and made it, and brought it to pass by His mighty power.----So we should not be so careful for all the grubby things that consume our lives, but rather give thought to the fact that God has ordained that we should be alive today, and give Him thanks.----But its context, this verse refers to the rejection and exaltation of Christ as the Stone which the builders rejected.----The Psalmist has already laid the predicate, that the Lord's people rejoice in His goodness and power to save us, and His hearing His people when they call unto Him for rescue -v. 21-.----And then he writes, -The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner- This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes- This is the day which the Lord hath made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it------That glorious day is the day that Christ is made the head of the corner-----Christ is made the cornerstone, contrary to the world's rebellion against Him- It's all the Lord's doing, and none of ours- We're not going to bring in the kingdom ourselves.----We should wonder at it and rejoice in it-----As a child, I thought that the stone was rejected because the builders just didn't know where it fits in, so they dragged it off into the grass. But when they finish the building, there's a stone missing, so that's what it was for-

有些人認為上帝是宇宙中的某種力量，或是腦中浮現一個和藹的爺爺，會原諒你的「小」罪。但這些特質都無法完整反映耶和華的形像。真實的上帝可能會出乎你的意料之外。 如同天父在祂話語中描述的自己，祂很明顯有人的特質。在聖經中，祂有不同名字（耶和華、上帝、主），在英文中也是用男性第三人稱的He, Him而非It來代稱。祂擁有不同人格屬性－理性的智慧、感受的情緒，以及做決定的意志。 同時，經文也反映了上帝的永恆不變，也就是祂的本性和本質永遠不變－祂永遠是聖靈，祂的愛也不會改變。信徒能夠相信上帝的準則和律例永遠真實，上帝也必照祂所應許的行。當上帝在不同情況回應時，這些回應 (喜悅、怒氣、恩慈) 都是祂本質的一部份，而不是新的特質。 上帝既沒有起點也沒有終點，祂永不改變 (詩一零二27)。祂不是被創造的，而是永遠存在。人難以理解上帝，但若上帝能夠完全被人類理解，也就不配得崇拜了。 Powered by Firstory Hosting

What most Christians don't know is that NOTHING gets done on Earth unless it gets done first in PRAYER! GOD NEEDS MANKIND TO BE ABLE TO INVADE THE EARTH THROUGH: Ezekiel 22:30 "So I sought for a MAN among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." Isaiah 59:16 "He saw that there was no MAN, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him" It's simple, PRAY like you are a son. Pray like you expect to receive. Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things!"

GROW Greatness Reached over Oppression through WisdomGROW As the World TurnsAll your hard work All your Life,You have struggled to earn Goal after Goal with Glowing reviews of You, from everyone who Loves you, but,Where is your Love for you?Find it Beloved, Find the inner Joy and Happiness and then, You will Draw other Happy People, Don't try to Fit someone in a Bubble,     Eventually, they will Pop your Happy Bubble

This broadcast examines the essence of hearing Father and then discusses why you should seek relationship with Him It is noted that there are many voices speaking to us and that to some extent we can hear by intuitionIt is suggested that reading inspired works will help you to hear more clearly and that you should live a life free of sin and should honour the CommandmentsRelationship with Creator Radio Show is broadcast live at 2pm ET Fridays on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). This podcast is also available on Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com).

Tha Champ Tha King Tha Money Mr MDM aka Mactez Ford is Joined Once More With Tha Sick 1 Yea It's Him It's Him Tha GM aka Joey Dawks As They Run Mayhem All Over The Campus Of NXT 2.0 Disrupting Things As Only They Can!!! Pull Up A Chair Ringside & Raise Some Mayhem With Us!!! #LIKE #COMMENT #SHARE & GOOGLE RINGSIDE MAYHEM TO #FOLLOWTHEMOVEMENT **Head to megaseats.com to purchase all your ticket needs for concerts and sporting events! Use code: SSAWNETWORK for a discount off your final purchase!** Want to connect with us? Reach us anywhere! Ringside Mayhem: linktr.ee/ringsidemayhempod Website: http://tssaw.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tssaw247/?mo.. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tssaw_/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SSAWorldWide

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: You Only Live Twice, published by Eliezer Yudkowsky on the LessWrong. "It just so happens that your friend here is only mostly dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead." -- The Princess Bride My co-blogger Robin and I may disagree on how fast an AI can improve itself, but we agree on an issue that seems much simpler to us than that: At the point where the current legal and medical system gives up on a patient, they aren't really dead. Robin has already said much of what needs saying, but a few more points: Ben Best's Cryonics FAQ, Alcor's FAQ, Alcor FAQ for scientists, Scientists' Open Letter on Cryonics I know more people who are planning to sign up for cryonics Real Soon Now than people who have actually signed up. I expect that more people have died while cryocrastinating than have actually been cryopreserved. If you've already decided this is a good idea, but you "haven't gotten around to it", sign up for cryonics NOW. I mean RIGHT NOW. Go to the website of Alcor or the Cryonics Institute and follow the instructions. Cryonics is usually funded through life insurance. The following conversation from an Overcoming Bias meetup is worth quoting: Him: I've been thinking about signing up for cryonics when I've got enough money. Me: Um... it doesn't take all that much money. Him: It doesn't? Me: Alcor is the high-priced high-quality organization, which is something like $500-$1000 in annual fees for the organization, I'm not sure how much. I'm young, so I'm signed up with the Cryonics Institute, which is $120/year for the membership. I pay $180/year for more insurance than I need - it'd be enough for Alcor too. Him: That's ridiculous. Me: Yes. Him: No, really, that's ridiculous. If that's true then my decision isn't just determined, it's overdetermined. Me: Yes. And there's around a thousand people worldwide [actually 1400] who are signed up for cryonics. Figure that at most a quarter of those did it for systematically rational reasons. That's a high upper bound on the number of people on Earth who can reliably reach the right conclusion on massively overdetermined issues. Cryonics is not marketed well - or at all, really. There's no salespeople who get commissions. There is no one to hold your hand through signing up, so you're going to have to get the papers signed and notarized yourself. The closest thing out there might be Rudi Hoffman, who sells life insurance with cryonics-friendly insurance providers (I went through him). If you want to securely erase a hard drive, it's not as easy as writing it over with zeroes. Sure, an "erased" hard drive like this won't boot up your computer if you just plug it in again. But if the drive falls into the hands of a specialist with a scanning tunneling microscope, they can tell the difference between "this was a 0, overwritten by a 0" and "this was a 1, overwritten by a 0". There are programs advertised to "securely erase" hard drives using many overwrites of 0s, 1s, and random data. But if you want to keep the secret on your hard drive secure against all possible future technologies that might ever be developed, then cover it with thermite and set it on fire. It's the only way to be sure. Pumping someone full of cryoprotectant and gradually lowering their temperature until they can be stored in liquid nitrogen is not a secure way to erase a person. See also the information-theoretic criterion of death. You don't have to buy what's usually called the "patternist" philosophy of identity, to sign up for cryonics. After reading all the information off the brain, you could put the "same atoms" back into their old places. "Same atoms" is in scare quotes because our current physics prohibits particles from possessing individual identities. It's a much stronger statement than "we can't tell the particles apart wi...

In this episode we break down the dangers of false idols, where you might be falling into the trap & how our culture loves to glorify them.  But don't be fooled, God made it very clear when He said to worship Him & Him only (1st Commandment). Bible verses mentioned:Exodus 20:2-6Leviticus 26:1Isaiah 6:2-31 Timothy 6:10Romans 12:2Romans 2:8Matthew 11:28Corinthians 11:1Matthew 16:24Matthew 7:21-23Exodus 20:52 Timothy 3:1-5Song mentioned:"So Will I" by: Hillsong UnitedHW:Get outside this week (preferably alone on a hike, walk or at the park)Get still, sit & take in Gods creationListen to the above song (So Will I by Hillsong United)Pray & ask God to reveal more of Himself to you & tell Him how deeply you want to worship Him*It'll be beautiful ;)

Title: The Scandal of The Ages Text: II Timothy 1:8-14 FCF: We often struggle enduring and suffering for our faith. Prop: Because the God of our salvation is mighty to save, we must unashamedly endure, holding tight the gospel of Christ. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to II Timothy chapter 1. Last week Paul laid the groundwork for his mantle to pass to Timothy. Paul confesses that he is thankful to God for Timothy's sincere faith. A faith that has an ancestral history in the family which God has raised in His Son. Because of this sincere and ancient faith, Timothy must stir up his gifting to preach the gospel, knowing that being timid or fearful of doing this is not what God has planned. But rather than God has given His Spirit to enable him to do this. Paul builds on this argument in the following section of scripture, where he will call on Timothy to endure in suffering unashamedly, and hold fast and keep the gospel he has been given in faith and love. And right in the middle, we see Paul describe the scandal of the ages. A scandal is an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage. The scandal of the ages is the action that has caused general outrage throughout the world. In this scandal, Paul tells Timothy to not be ashamed of loving it. He tells Timothy to suffer for being a part of it. He tells Timothy to hold fast to the truth of it. The scandal, of course, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's look at what Paul says. I am in verse 8 but will start reading in verse 6. I am reading from the NET which you can follow on page 1342 of the pew bible, or whatever version you have. Transition: How can I call the gospel of Jesus Christ a scandal? My view of that was heavily influenced by asking the question… why would Timothy be ashamed about of the testimony of our Lord? That rabbit hole led to something quite profound. Let me show you what I discovered. I.) The God of our salvation is mighty to save, so we must endure suffering for His name without embarrassment. (8-10) a. [Slide 2] 8 – So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me, a prisoner for his sake, i. Paul's command here is two-fold. First, that Timothy must not be ashamed. ii. Ashamed means to be embarrassed. It means to be fearful. It is used throughout the New Testament to speak primarily about not being ashamed of our faith in Christ. Its other uses give us insight. 1. [Slide 3] God is said to not be ashamed to be called the God of those who trusted His words. (Hebrews 11:16) Those who were sure of what hope they were told and convinced of the promise they NEVER saw fulfilled. That each and every imperfect sinner needing mercy in this list of the hall of faith – God is still not ashamed to be called their God. But shouldn't He be? Do you realize that faith counting as righteousness is the scandal of the ages! That trusting God could be seen as enough to satisfy a holy God. Shall we say to the murderer, simply trust the lawmakers who wrote that murder is vile, and it will be counted as goodness to you? It is a scandal! Of the HIGHEST order. And yet… what… God is not ashamed to be called their God? 2. [Slide 4] Christ is not ashamed to call us brothers. (Hebrews 2:11) The God of the universe, who humbled himself to become one of us. To add, forever, human nature to His divine nature. To exist as one of His Creation – but more… to die a death reserved for the lowliest and most wicked of people. Cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree! He bore the wrath of God that was upon us! Then He ascended and sits now at the right hand of God. Holy and Glorified. All of this is as the scriptures testify. This God-Man… is not ashamed to call us… brothers and sisters. Of all the things that should bring Him shame – SURELY THIS WOULD BE ONE! Peons maybe. Peasants, perhaps. Lucky, fortunate, serfs, slaves YES all of these. But brothers? It is a scandal! It is an outrage! But He is not ashamed. iii. And so, as we understand this word, we begin to understand that this gospel, this Christ, this Lord which we have received in true faith, a foreign faith, given to us by the Spirit of God – what is this gospel to the rest of the world? A stumbling block to the Jews – and foolishness to the Gentiles. iv. My friends – we are a laughing stock. And we always have been. v. It is a scandal. It is deplorable! It is infamous! The whole world is upheaved because such a Lord should not be. Such a God should never be. His shame is too great to be a God. His filth is too much to be holy. He is not a God if He would become one of His own. He is not a God who would ordain before the foundations of the world, salvation to His people based on HIS WORK! This is SILLY! It contradicts every single thread of human wisdom. That man has no part in his own salvation and that God alone would act to save those who are His enemies! It is horrifying. Shocking! Shameful! vi. [Slide 5] Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord… Of the great lengths to which He went to save us. Whom He foreknew and predestined before the foundation of the world. To the eyes of the world – we ought to be embarrassed to believe such foolishness. We ought to be ashamed to think God would do that without expecting us to earn it. vii. Timothy… because you have sincere faith in these teachings, and because the Spirit of God is in you to produce power, love, and self control – Do not be ashamed of this Christ. viii. And do not be ashamed of me. Because I am in prison because I was unashamed of Christ. ix. What is the second layer of Paul's command to Timothy? Do not be ashamed of Christ and His suffering servants and what else? b. [Slide 6] but by God's power accept your share of suffering for the gospel. i. Share with me in the sufferings of the gospel. ii. Take your part in suffering for His name. iii. Timothy it is time for you to be the next Paul. It is time for you to earn your stripes… pun intended. iv. It is time for you to be bold to speak and live in such a way that will cause the same world that hated Christ, that now hates me, to hate you. v. But how can he do this? Surely, he is not able to bear up such a heavy burden! vi. As with all things in this life that God calls us to do… it is by the Power of God that we do them. vii. What about that power? Why is it so trustworthy? Let's look to what it has done in His people! c. [Slide 7] 9 – He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling i. Let this be true and everything else a lie. ii. God alone acted to save His people. iii. He alone saved us and called us to this holy calling. iv. We have been set apart as His people from the foundation of the world. v. Furthermore… d. [Slide 8] Not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace i. We have absolutely no part in that salvation. None. ii. That is not to say we have no responsibility. That is not to say that there are no imperatives in scripture commanding us to do things. iii. But the fact of the matter is, that God acted first so that we could do all that He has asked of us. iv. From faith to love to hope to obedience and good works – all of these are only possible if God acts first. v. God did not look to anything we offered in order to save us and call us to a holy calling. vi. Rather, he consulted his own purpose for those whom He would call and He relied on His own power in grace for those He would save. vii. But how could God both be just and justify the wicked? viii. [Slide 9] Proverbs 17:15 – The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent, both of them are an abomination to the Lord. ix. How can God acquit the guilty? He cannot. x. So how can He give grace to save and purpose in His will to call His people when they were yet sinners? e. [Slide 10] Granted to us in Christ Jesus i. Jesus Christ's incarnation, obedient life, atoning death, life-giving resurrection, and advocation at the Father's right hand – fully vindicates God the Father to do this for His own. ii. And this question came up in Foundations recently. iii. What about those who lived before the cross? iv. In Hebrews 11 – what about that who trusted God but never saw His promises fulfilled? v. Are they lost? f. [Slide 11] Before time began i. My friends – Jesus Christ was crucified before Adam and Eve were created. ii. This stands as a great mystery that we see clearer now, but are still befuddled by its teaching. iii. God is not bound by time. He transcends it and can operate in it. But God acts in the past, present, and future. His will has been published from the end to the beginning. iv. He has decreed certain things to be and what God decrees, nothing can undo. v. Before God spoke anything into existence – God decreed that His Son Jesus was to be hung on the tree. vi. He was crucified before the foundations of the world. vii. You see – God's will cannot be moved. And no matter what measure of freedom we see in man's choices, one brick wall man's will always hits is God's will. NEVER can man's will undo God's. viii. Before time began, God's grace to save His people, and His purpose to call His people to their holy calling, was granted in Christ. ix. I do not pretend to understand it fully. x. But I must believe it for this is what the scripture says. And I rejoice and am glad in it. xi. And rather than spend all kinds of time trying to wrap our brains around it… we should follow Paul… g. [Slide 12] 10 – but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. i. The mystery has been revealed – at least in part. ii. We have seen the glorious appearing of the Savior, the Messiah of God who is Jesus, His Son. iii. Jesus, a name that means Yahweh saves… So HE is Yahweh who saves. iv. How? h. [Slide 13] He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel! i. The power of death, that seed sewn in Adam's sin. ii. God did foretell to him that in the day you eat of this fruit you will surely die. iii. And on that day, he did die. iv. Spiritually he died and physically he should have died. v. But an animal took his place, and a promise was given to them, which they received in true faith, of a seed that would set it all right. vi. You see Adam did die that day… but when he walked from that garden, His spiritual death had been paid by the blood of Christ. vii. And now that Christ has appeared, all the debt that God promised to pay Himself, All the shame and abomination for God justifying His people who were wicked, He did pour out on the chosen one of God. So that death would die in the death of Christ. And that life and immortality and light could come through this… the good news. viii. My friends… it is a scandal! It is an outrage! It is foolishness! It is abomination! ix. But, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. But share in the suffering of it by His power! i. [Slide 14] Passage Truth: Paul's passion for Timothy is for him to know the greatness of this faith that he has received. To understand fully, as he has probably been told before, the greatness of our God in salvation for us. Our God is mighty to save. j. Passage Application: This message is scandalous though. It is wholly rejected by the world. It is foolishness, and it is abominable. But Timothy must not be ashamed of this scandalous gospel. Instead, he should prepare himself to suffer for this truth, knowing that He can endure with the power of God. k. [Slide 15] Broader Biblical Truth: In this text we cannot help but zoom out from it. Paul invites us to do this. He implores us to begin before time. To examine the truth he presents. That God has purposed to call, and save by grace His people. He did this before Adam was created. He did this in the counsel of His will, before anything existed save Himself. Before all things, God the triune met with Himself and decreed that God the Spirit would regenerate His people by grace. That God the Son would die to pay their punishment and make way for grace. And that God the Father would dispense this grace in Christ before the foundation of the world. To the world this is the stupidest thing they have ever heard. To us, His people, it is a marvelous mystery. l. Broader Biblical Application: And it is just the encouragement we here at CBC need to not be embarrassed by this scandalous grace. But to suffer willingly for it knowing that this life is but the space between. It is the plunge into the water as we wait to ascend and breathe again. Our grace in Christ was given in eternity past and will be realized in eternity future. Therefore, we can suffer now – knowing that the misery we experience now for His name is not worthy to be compared to the eternal purpose and glory afforded to us in our adoption. So what is a little laughing. So what is a little pain. So what is a little torture. What is a little death. They are nothing compared to the glorious grace by which we are saved and the holy calling from the purpose of God with which He has called us. Transition: [Slide 16(blank)] This great God and His great salvation for which He is mighty to save is our encouragement to face all that is before us, for a God who would decree all this to be, will certainly not leave us in the midst of the plunge. And that is what we see next. II.) The God of our salvation is mighty to save, so we must hold and keep His gospel pure. (11-14) a. [Slide 17] 11- For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher. i. This is the message that Paul was appointed to preach. ii. This is the foundation on which Paul was appointed to build Christ's church. iii. This is the doctrine in which Paul was appointed to instruct others. iv. This is the call he received by the will of God. He was chosen for this purpose. v. The gospel. vi. And what did it gain him in this world's estimation? b. [Slide 18] 12- Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. i. He is in prison for preaching and teaching this gospel, and establishing the church in this gospel. ii. He has suffered much for the name of Christ – as God predicted he would when He spoke to Ananias to go and heal his eyes. iii. But even though He is suffering for the name of Christ – called a criminal by Jews and Gentiles alike. Among other names and opinions. What is His resolve? c. [Slide 19] But I am not ashamed, i. He is not embarrassed. ii. He is not afraid. iii. He is not concerned what others think or what others will do. iv. Why? d. [Slide 20] because I know the one in whom my faith is set i. You have to read this carefully. ii. Always, when we read faith we think of our belief, our choice, or our decision. iii. However, what is clear here is that Paul means trust. Hope. iv. He means what the writer of Hebrews defines faith as. v. The surety of something hoped for, the conviction of something unseen. vi. He has placed his surety of hope and conviction of promise in what… or rather… in whom… e. [Slide 21] And I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day. i. God in general. For we could see His trust, hope, conviction all placed into God the Father, the Son, or the Spirit. All of which have been and will be spoken of in this passage concerning our great salvation. ii. God is able to protect what has been entrusted to me. What has been entrusted to Paul? iii. Follow his phrasing. iv. My faith is set on one who is able to protect what has been entrusted to me… v. This is the truth of the gospel. vi. Paul trusts God – not what He believes about God. He trusts God alone to protect the truth of the gospel within him. vii. Until when? viii. Until that day. Which day? ix. This is a short hand way of saying… until he dies or until he stands before God's throne. x. After this personal aside, and Paul's example set, he turns again to Timothy to command him. f. [Slide 22] 13 – Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me i. Since Paul is convinced that God is able to protect the truth of the gospel entrusted to him ii. He expects Timothy to hold fast to that same teaching. iii. Knowing that God is also able to protect the same truth in Timothy. iv. Teach what I taught Timothy v. Cling to the pattern that I set down for you. vi. Do not deviate to the right or left. vii. Hold fast to the sound words of doctrine. Do not speculate or invent. There is no room for creative license or novel approaches. viii. Keep the gospel pure. ix. But… how? This is a fool's errand. Just like enduring suffering for the name of Christ… how can he keep the gospel pure? g. [Slide 23] And do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. i. With the faith and love that are in Christ. ii. This faith and love is not possessive. And so, we cannot see the relationship here of whose faith and love this is. iii. But if we rely on the prepositions, we see that this faith and love are in Christ. iv. Timothy must cling to the love and faith that Christ has, that we can have, for we are also in Christ. v. This salvation is not just for our future days – but for now. To preserve us in truth. h. [Slide 24] 14 – Protect that good thing entrusted to you through the Holy Spirit who lives within us. i. Protect that good thing entrusted to you. ii. But wait – I thought God was the one able to protect it? iii. AH – there He is iv. Through the Holy Spirit who lives within us. v. The same Spirit of power, love, and self-control that helps us to rekindle our gifts and preach the gospel to the world – is one who will keep us in the truth of the gospel untainted and pure. vi. This is why for those who do not protect the truth they are entrusted with, and turn aside to false teachings, and never return… we must conclude that they never had the Spirit of God. For God is able to keep and protect that truth entrusted to us, and He is able to do that until that day. i. [Slide 25] Passage Truth: Paul tells his dear son that God is not just mighty to save in the eternal past and eternal future. He is not just on either end of this life. He is not just above the surface of the water. NO!. He is with us now! He is saving us now! He is keeping and protecting us… now! j. Passage Application: Timothy must hold fast to the sound teachings and keep what has been entrusted to Him, knowing that God is able to do this in him and through him. k. [Slide 26] Broader Biblical Truth: Have we not seen this my friends? As we have studied the scriptures together – have we not seen that those God lavishes grace and mercy upon are those He saves to the uttermost? Indeed, in all of scripture it testifies to the past, future AND present work of God in our salvation. “He is mighty to save” – is not just an expression of an eventual someday. It is not just an expression of a past decree. It is an expression of present reality. l. Broader Biblical Application: So we at CBC must not be entertained by flights of fancy, novel doctrines, or poetic license – but rather hold fast to our confession. We must cling tightly to the truth of God. We must do this in faith and love. Unwavering trust in God's promises and unconditional love toward God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. And we can surely do this in faith and love because it is not a self-conjured faith or love but a faith and love found in Christ. A gift given to all who have been united to Him. Conclusion: [Slide 27(end) But we think in our heads of course – what is the meaning of this text? Surely continuing to believe what I have believed is not a great thing? What is the apostle getting all excited about? What is the apostle so concerned with? Well next week we will see this fully and completely – but my friends, we only think that this is a message that could have been left unsaid because we are fools. As we are pressed on every side. As we are hounded by the forces of the evil one around us. As the noose tightens – no doubt for some who think “holding fast to my confession is no great work” they will be the first to recant to save their necks. The only reason the exhortation of Paul is no great thing to us is because we are soft and squishy. Fattened by spiritual idleness. We have had time to dispute the finer points of theology defining exactly how many angels can fit on the head of a pin, but in that time we have neglected the holding fast of our confession. We hold it, but loosely. We touch it but do not cling to it for life. Because of this, it is attacked on every side. But when the trumpet call rings out for the fight, we are left patting our pockets trying to locate where we left it. We are searching the nooks and crannies of our house to locate our faith so we can leave the house before it burns to the ground. My friends – do not be so careless with this gospel. Do not be so sure of your grasp of it. I have admitted to you in this very sermon, that I do not understand it fully. I have been to seminary. I have been to the school of Christ. I have been taught by His words every day for several years. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT ALL. My friends! I implore you, PLEASE – be ready to suffer for the gospel. And the first step to ready yourselves is to understand what it is. God. God alone. God without man's works, will, intentions, inclinations. God according to the purpose of His will. God according to the power of His grace. God in ages past before time began. God has decreed who are His. He has saved them, called them to a holy calling, has granted grace in Christ to them, has indwelled them with His Spirit. So that they may be holy. Upright. People of the Way. He has done this. That is the gospel. The gospel is… HE HAS DONE THIS FOR HIS PEOPLE. And this is foolish. It is scandalous. It is outrageous. It is deplorable! It is infamous! It is abominable. To those who are dying. But to the believing ones. To those who trust Him… It is good… news. Are you prepared to suffer for it? Are you ready to hold fast to it? If you aren't… remember that God is able to protect what has been entrusted to you through His Spirit that is in you. So draw courage from this, and prepare yourself for the fight.

You can thrill Jesus' heart by believing in Him- It may sound prideful to think we can make our Lord marvel, but it is not when you see Jesus is amazed by us when we are amazed by Him- Be amazing-

There is so much confusion in our culture about what a man or woman is and how do we function. This week, I'm going to look at what the bible says when it comes to the role of men and women and the nature of our relationship together. DISCLAIMER: If you don't listen to the sermon all the way through, you may come away with a different point than what I'm actually saying, because there is a twist at the end… Don't miss it! Help us advance the Kingdom, support our online ministry (harmonychurch.cc/give). Got kids? Check out Harmony Kids online (updated weekly) https://www.harmonychurch.cc/harmony-kids-online/! ------------------- Sermon Notes Slide Key: Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise notedBold = Slide text (scriptures will be noted, please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e. - underlines, bold, etc.)“b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slideBold ALL CAPS WORDS = heading to be ignored[some text] = programming notes to be paid attention to ----------------------------- OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Went hiking a month ago to find this arch @ Red River Gorge.  didn't know we had taken the long difficult path, it was tough travel, but when we got there it was so beautiful.  -going to go through some tough country-may feel a little backwards (not progressive) - stick with me to end -surprise twist - and hopefully something a little beautiful 1 Corinthians 11:3-103 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. 7 A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.  ILLUSTRATION: What's all this head talk - Piper walking through with ball in her hoody for her head…  What's Paul talking about Paul making two points in passage - one cultural one theological 1.  Cultural:  Men and women should lead in a way that is honoringb2.  Theological:  God created men and women differently and this should influence how we live b Paul is making an argument that the man is the leader of the wife and he is the source of the woman. head in OT referred to either leader or source - head of river[PAUSE]How does that sit with you? like me - gets you antsy - not favorite things to get up and preach…Because In our culture - we have worked hard to bring equality to men and women -  and the reality is, we are moving quickly to a point where to be man or woman is a choice you make, not something you are born into. progress has brought ability to disintegrate way we think of other stuff This fly's in the face of who we are as Americans And…It's why I'm preaching on it - because you need to know what the scripture says. Before write Paul off as a chauvinistic pig - dig into argument… Genesis 2:18-2218 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.  was a time when man was alone with God  He was created, but he was not complete know feeling of being incomplete?  why we seek relationship-single?  doesn't mean not a valid expression of God's image     -does mean valid to feel lonely -Adam can't get what needs from animals out of Adam, Eve created 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”  vs. 18 - the two words in the Hebrew for “helper suitable” are ezer (ay-zer) neged (neh-ghed) - which mean “helper facing towards” or “helper opposed”. -Adam a helper opposed - some of you get it, right? ? -Woman is beautiful expression of opposite ILLUSTRATION:2x4's against each other - the opposition allows them to stand…God puts Adam to sleep, rib = creates woman  Out of man, woman originates - created for the completion of man and THAT sticks in our craw… Paul's original argument is that out of this created order, humankind has a leadership structure and an origin story. b And, I think, especially if you are a strong woman - that still feels like a problem FULL STOP! - Can I tell you something? I think you don't have a problem with what the bible says - I think you have a problem with how our world defines leadership Because What Christianity means by leadership is wholly different from what the world means by leadership  ILLUSTRATION: when we hear leader, we think of what I thought it meant…Teenager - low ropes, only girls = tell what to do OH MY GOODNESS…  Was FURIOUS!  why?! My idea of Leadership was that Leadership is a top-down activity, I tell others what to do and they follow.  I think most people have the same idea. so, I was ticked when I had to give that up - especially to girls-I repented by the way… THIS IS NOT THE LEADERSHIP OF CHRISTIANITY  Jesus Matthew 20:25-28 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  In the economy of the Kingdom, leaders don't exalt themselves, they serve, they don't rise up, the bend down…  Ephesians - Paul, headship - it's about submission to one another…no problem with biblical headship - problem with worldly leadership Men, it is YOUR responsibility to lead your family to know Jesus -to make sure they will be in eternity with you -not to get the biggest paycheck or to be impressive b To me, this is why women should be drawn to Christianity - and why men should be challenged as they engage with Christ b But this is a Christianity that is beyond just going to church and hoping to be better-it's dying to self-it's finding the way of Jesus and living it The question is, Are you “All in”? b Listen to me…  Jesus isn't interested in half-way b Half-way has done more damage in the name of Jesus than just about anything else out there…-left wives in loveless marriages-left children with fathers who are a lump when it comes to spirituality-left workplaces devoid of life and full of ego This sermon is not about how women need to submit to men - it is a sermon about how men need to give their lives for their women dare you, ask my wife if I live this or not -not just some pie in the sky.. What would your wife say? CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:As a man, I don't like things that aren't challenging.as a kid, hated cub scouts moms did everything Somehow, Christianity emasculated listening to lecture, singing some songs and going home…want a challenge - Die to yourself, accept Jesus, lead your family to know Him…It will change, EVERYTHING!

Jesus sets a high bar for following Him. One might even wonder whether it is worth it. It is a bit like going to the moon. "You mean to tell me it is going to be expensive, epic, dangerous, require new priorities and will change everything? Why would I do that?" Because you get the moon.Similarly becoming a disciple of Jesus:It is what you were made for (the great adventure of following Him)It is Who you were made for (The great relationship of Be With Me)It is Who you were made BY (He's been waiting for you)So yup, there is rattling of every categorypriorities (military campaign)possessions (tower costs)permanence (Cross commitment)people (valuation of relationship connections)You get ME. WORTH IT. Where do I sign up?

God's Word warns us about folks who promise big things but never deliver. They are like wind and clouds, but no rain-----We have heard a great deal of big talk the last 3 weeks about voter fraud, stolen votes, flipped votes, and hacked voting machines.----People claim they saw stacks of ballots being re-scanned, and sued because they were denied -meaningful- observations of the vote counting.----But as an election context expert, this preacher knows such claims are highly suspect. Re-scanning ballots is a normal process that happens all the time, but lay persons who see it are likely to make false claims of fraud.-----Meaningful- observations have never been provided for during ballot counting. If multiple people get to look over the shoulder as 600,000 paper ballots are counted, it will take weeks and months to finish-----There is plenty of -big talk,- but little to no actual proof, nor any real chance there will ever be any.----We have been promised -the real truth- for decades now about Whitewater, Vince Foster's death, Scooter Libby's lies, torture and murder, fraud on the FISA court, Hunter Biden's laptop, etc.----All along, our politicians have promised full investigations, exposure, and punishment.----But it never happens.----Meanwhile, people repeatedly fall for the Big Talkers' promises, because we will believe what we want to believe.----The Bible calls this the -itching ears- syndrome- we will believe lies because we want to.----But when Jesus made all those precious promises, nobody believed Him- It seems like -Itching ears- only works in favor of falsehood and lies.----Believers need to believe God's promises, and stop believing the Big Talkers of this world.

When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, He set a standard that would influence the world for ages to come.  Those ten statements of direction summed up all of what humanity would need to live godly and productive lives. The first two of those Commandments were to have no other gods before God himself and to not create and worship idols. While we know what these things meant for ancient Israel, what do they mean for us? Are we, as Christians, bound by those Commandments? If so, how? What does having other gods look like in the 21st century? And what about idols? Back in those days, people chiseled them out of wood or stone. We don’t do that anymore, so how would making and worshipping idols fit into or day? Why did God make the First Commandment about Him? It is not a sign of arrogance, but it is a sign of authority. After all, God is THE Creator and therefore worthy of ALL praise and honor. His worthiness reminds us of our need to give Him our unbroken allegiance. “Having no other gods before Me” is the unquestioned basis for the other nine Commandments.  Without this singular focus on our Creator, Christians cannot possibly build a balanced, integrity-driven personal and spiritual life. Having said all this, having other gods before God is deceptively easy. This can happen in a very imperceptible way because it has to do with what we worship in our hearts. It is a simple and natural thing to prop up loyalty and allegiance to many things in ways no one ever sees.  Other gods can take the form of people or power. They can also be things like success, ego and social position. Adopting another god to occupy the Father’s rightful place in our hearts undermines God’s sacred and rightful ascendency. This can only lead to compromised thinking and behavior. So, what about the Second Commandment that tells us not to make and worship idols? What is the difference here? Violating this is the outward manifestation of having already violated the First Commandment. You will only make an idol to something that you already have put in a place of honor. Idols in today’s world are vastly different than idols of ancient times.  While we don’t carve them out of wood or stone, we certainly and easily collect them in the form of possessions, pictures and symbols. Check out our October 12, 2020 podcast, “Do I Have Other Gods and Idols in My Life?” for more. We clearly define what having other gods and idols looks like today. We then walk through a profound scriptural reasoning from the book of 2 Peter that reveals a process for keeping our allegiance to God intact and vital. Everything about our world today draws our loyalty away from its rightful owner, and we really have to fight this trend. The battle is winnable if you know how. Join us for a winning strategy!

Privilege. Power. Influence. Murder. When news of Jesus' miraculous ministry makes it to the halls of the rich and powerful we discover more than just political intrigue; we must also grapple with the current reality of God's kingdom colliding with our own privilege and influence, and our own agendas. What if we dare to get in step with God's kingdom purpose, and trust the result to Him? It cost Jesus' cousin both his political freedom and his life. It was worth it then, and it's worth trusting Jesus now too.

On April 7th, 1866, a young couple with 2 boys boarded a steam ship.. the SS America. They were leaving the old country for a new life in America. It has been a difficult few years. 6 of their 8 children had died at birth or shortly after. Even with this sorrow… they still had hope and promise. They said goodbye to their friends and family and after a stormy 18-day journey on the Atlantic Ocean, they arrived safely in New York. Soon they would travel to central Illinois, be cared for by some loving families they met… and begin to make roots. Today, in that small town, you'll even find a street with their last name.Who was this family? Jakob and Elske Veerman. My great great great grandparents. This is part of my family history. We're thankful that it has been preserved. We all have a history, known or unknown. At times complicated, messy… but also at times joyous and transformative… setting the course for generations to come.And beloved, we share a part of our history. you and I. And where do we find that common history? In the book of Acts.You see, Acts is our story. Our family history. It's not some disconnected set of stories of people long ago. No, as we read and study Acts. We are reading and studying our story, your story, my story, our heritage. But you say, “wait, I can't trace my lineage back to them. Half of them were Jewish Christians and I'm not Jewish.” But you see, if you are a believer in Christ, you have been adopted into the family of God, into His church. Their history… it's now your history.So as we study and consider Acts… as we read of the apostles establishing the church… and the other faithful men and women serving and supporting the church. We are reading about our spiritual ancestors. God's work through them to establish his Kingdom. Which extends now to us, Tucker Presbyterian.Let me give you a little bit of background. Then we'll take a look at these first 11 verses.Acts was written by Luke. He was a disciple of Jesus but not one of the 12. Luke was a physician by trade and accompanied several disciples and the apostle Paul on some of their travels. Luke also wrote The Gospel of Luke, of course. And Acts is an extension of that. Both books are written to Theophilus. We see that here in verse 1. Theopholis is a Greek name, and the title he's given in the Gospel of Luke suggests he was a high ranking official in the Roman system. Some have speculated that Theopholis was a new Christian that Luke was discipling. Whoever Theopholis was… as Luke wrote, he would have intended his letter to be dispersed all around.The events immediately leading up to Acts 1 included the last days of Jesus ministry in Jerulsalem… His arrest, trial, His execution on a wooden cross, his burial, his physical resurrection, which we read earlier in the service. The time period between Jesus resurrection and Acts 1 was only 40 days. You'll notice that right there in verse 3. In that time, Jesus appeared to hundreds of people, He explained the Scriptures, he showed them how all the promises in the OT were fulfilled in him, Jesus taught them why he had to suffer and die, in order to forgive sins. And he spoke about His Kingdom. He opened their eyes to understand all these things…Wouldn't it have been amazing to be in his presence at that time.And what happens next in these verses… Jesus is taken up to heaven. Literally. Physically. We call this the Ascension.And what these first 11 verses do… they set the trajectory of the entire book of Acts. Most pastors and commentators key in on verse 8 as the summary of Acts. “But you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And that's true. That's the geographical order of where the Gospel message extends in the book. But actually, there's more in these verses that connect to the overall story of Acts.And as we study Acts, I want you to be aware of the other layers. So you can see how they connect to each other… and how they connect to us today.Ok, to help organize our time, I'll use an acronym. ACTS. A.C.T.S.Several years ago, Amy and I were at a wedding. And in the wedding homily, the pastor took the letters of the groom's last name, and made his points. I thought it was the silliest thing. But guess what. Of all the wedding messages I've heard, that's the only one I remember!ACTS. A for Ascension. The resurrected and ascended Jesus.C for Church. That word is not explicitly in these verses, but it's actually everywhere in these verses.T… and this is a special one. T stands for Tucker. Do you see it? There it is, right there in verse 8. “But you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and Tucker… and to the end of the earth.” TAnd finally S. That's for Spirit. The Holy Spirit.ACTS. The Ascended and Resurrected Christ.So, first A. The Ascended Christ. And let me include in that the resurrected and ascended Christ… because Jesus resurrection and ascension go hand and hand. You can't have the ascension without the resurrection. And Jesus resurrection is followed by his ascension which teaches us that he is still alive and at work. Not here on earth, but exalted in heaven. Verse 9 describes the scene. Jesus was with the apostles. And after his final teaching on earth. After he said his final words. He was carried up into the clouds and then out of their sight. He ascended… that's where we get the word ascension. A quick side note. I know we all think of heaven as up in the sky. But really, heaven is not in this universe. It's other worldly. Nonetheless Jesus ascended up into the clouds.Now, Luke could have started the book of Acts after the ascension. But he didn't. Luke repeats the account of the ascension here. It's also in the last chapter of Luke. He repeats it here because it is critical to the history of the church.Look what happened. They're all still gazing up in amazement… verse 10. And then, these angels appear. And they say essentially… hey, stop looking up. Jesus is going to return in the same way he just left. They were saying… Jesus is now reigning… in heaven. His physical presence is there… with the nail marks in his hands and wound in his side. But he will return. So you need to now fix your eyes on what he's called you to do… while you wait for his return.As we look at other NT Scriptures… such as the books of Romans, Colossians, 1 Peter, Ephesians, Hebrews and Revelation… We're told that Jesus ascended to the very throne room of God. He's seated at the father's right hand. Exalted in Heaven and reigning over all creation.IN the book of Acts, there are about 11-15 sermons, depending on how you count. Almost all of them include the resurrection or ascension of Jesus or both. It's the lynch pin of God's victory over sin and death. And therefore a major emphasis in Acts.There's so much there for us to take to heart. And as we work through Acts, we'll see this applied in different ways. For example, living with the knowledge of Jesus' exaltation and reign, now. Knowledge of Jesus' intercession with the father for us. In our ministry, emphasizing Jesus death, resurrection and exaltation. That's one reason every week at Tucker Pres, you'll hear the Gospel – Jesus forgiveness of sins and victory over death. I know those are broad categories of application… but stay tuned over the next weeks and months, as we see the Ascended Christ. Exalted, Reigning, Sovereign, Overseeing and accomplishing his purposes for his glory in the church. A, the Ascended Christ.ChurchThat brings us to the letter C. C for Church. The Greek word for church is the word ecclesia. It means an assembly of people. This is important. Christianity is not just an individual me and Jesus thing. No, being a Christian is being part of a people, together, gathering, and worshipping. Jesus had already told his disciples earlier… He would build his ecclesia, His church through them. But the first time that word is used in Acts is not until chapter 5. And much of Acts from that point on is about the church.Well, here in chapter 1, even though church is not explicitly stated, it's the church that Jesus is preparing to establish. When Jesus talked about the kingdom of God… both before his death and after his resurrection… it is fulfilled in the church.Last week, David Fraser continued his sermon series in Mark. A lot of Jesus' teaching in Mark is about the kingdom. If you remember, it's like a mustard seed, small but will grow to be a mature tree. It's like the harvest, God is planting the seeds and harvesting the fruit in his time. God's kingdom is not a military force or earthly political power, rather it is a people seeking him, putting their faith in him, forgiven by him, transformed through him, committed to Him … It's a spiritual kingdom. Jesus said, “my kingdom is not of this world”And in Acts, the Kingdom is being fulfilled in the church. Jesus is King over the church. And later in Acts, when God's Kingdom is mentioned it includes His church – people coming by faith nd entering into his kingdom.So then, look at verse 6, the apostles ask Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”I remember one of my elementary teachers saying: “Now there's no such thing as a bad question?” And of course, she was saying that so we wouldn't be hesitant to ask. But questions sometimes reveal that our lack of understanding is deeper than we realize. And in this case, the disciples revealed their continued confusion about the kingdom. Pastor and Theologian John Calvin said, “there are as many errors in this question as there are words” And his point was that the disciples still understood the kingdom in terms of national identity and dominion. Israel. Not something that would cross boarders and people groups. They were asking, when will Israel be restored to be a great earthly kingdom again? Like in the days of King David and Solomon.One commentator put it this way, the apostles asked the question backwards. They should have asked, “when will Israel be restored to the Kingdom?” In other words, when will the Jewish people be restored to the kingdom… when will they believe that Christ fulfilled God's OT promises and come to faith in him.Well, Jesus responds to them with patience and grace. And at first glance, we're tempted to think he's avoiding the question. Jesus responds, “it is not for you to know the times.” Jesus is saying, it's not about the “when” it's about the “what.” Verse 8 continues Jesus response. “but… when the Holy Spirit has come upon you… you will be my witnesses.” Jesus is actually still answering their question. In other words, Jesus' answer about the kingdom… is connected to their Gospel witness to the ends of the earth. In the book of Acts, that's fulfilled in the church. The apostles' main missionary activities involve planting churches. The local church in Acts is the means by which evangelism, worship, fellowship, and discipleship happens… and through which more churches are planted.As the church begins to develop in the book of Acts, the disciples and apostles more and more realize that God's Kingdom crosses borders and languages and is spiritual in nature. God's Kingdom, his church… grows through faith in the resurrected and reigning king… not through political or military might.T = TuckerThis leads right to “T” for Tucker. Many see verse 8 as connected to Jesus' great commission. The call that we will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth… which includes, of course, Tucker.Notice, these verses all have a certainty about them. “You will receive power”… “you will be my witnesses.” Jesus “will come” in the same way you saw him go.Let me go back again to last week's sermon… When Jesus was in the boat with his disciples and that great storm arose. As David noted… the entire kingdom of God hung in the balance… it was at grave risk. This was only hours after Jesus declaration of the expanding kingdom. And from the disciple point of view, they were all about to die at sea. That's when Jesus awoke… he displayed his full power as the son of God. He calmed the storm… and in doing do… he demonstrated that nothing will stop His kingdomNothing will stop God from accomplishing his purposes. Nothing will stop the Gospel will go forth to the ends of the earth. His Church will go forth… the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. The Gospel will go forth to every tribe, tongue and nation.For us, 2000 years later… we have the blessing and advantage of looking back and seeing how that's been accomplished. In Acts, we'll see the church expand all throughout the Mediterranean. But we know from history that the Gospel has gone all throughout Europe and Asia… more recently it has exploded in growth in Africa and Korea. It's growing by leaps and bounds in India and China. There are an estimated 2 to 2.5 billion Christians in the world, today. Yet still, 1/3 of the people groups in the world have never received the good news of Jesus. And so, today, Jesus's commission in verse 8 is still being accomplished… the Gospel is still going forth to the ends of the earth. And God is using his people, his church as witnesses.And Tucker, no less than anywhere in the world, needs to hear of salvation in Christ. As the Apostle Peter says in Acts chapter 4… “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved“Our primary responsibility in the verse 8 commission… you and me, Tucker Presbyterian Church… is Tucker. Our neighbors need to hear of the hope in Christ. Now, this isn't our only responsibility. We're to support the work of missions throughout the world… sending people and resources to the ends of the earth. But our call begins here.To be sure, God will accomplish his mission… with or without us. But may we be faithful to this call.Tucker is ripe for the harvest.The SpiritFinally, the letter “S” for Spirit. The Holy Spirit.Infused through out these verses is an emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Verse 2, Jesus ministry through the Holy Spirit… Verse 5 Jesus promise that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… and verse 8 that the power to be witnesses will come from the Holy Spirit.Who is this Holy Spirit? Well, the Holy Spirit is God's Spirit. Jesus taught earlier in his ministry that He and his Father would send this helper, God's Spirit to work in His people… Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction of sin, an understanding of judgment, Jesus taught that the Spirit would point us to the truth in the Word, and to help us to live in righteousness. All those things are really God's Spirit working His Gospel in us. The Spirit is called many things in the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, Comforter, the Eternal Spirit, the Spirit of Glory, and other similar names. I wish we had more time this morning to adequately cover the Holy Spirit. But as we get into chapter 2 and beyond we'll see God at work through His Spirit. Some have said that the book of Acts – the Acts of the apostles, should really have been called the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Because all throughout the book, we see God's Spirit at work through his people, in His church, and in the hearts and mind of those he's called to faith. There are 55 references to the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. That's more than any other book of the Bible.And here, in these few verses, Jesus promises this gift of the Holy Spirit. And it's interesting. Jesus tells them to wait. To wait for this gift. To stay in Jerusalem. They don't know how long they will be waiting, but we know that it will only be a 10 day wait. That gives Jesus disciples time to rest, to further reflect on Jesus last words, and to prepare. Because when the Holy Spirit is given… it's like this explosion… in a good way… an explosion of God's kingdom going forth. Hold on because nothing will stop the work of the Spirit.And if you are in Christ, you have this same Spirit in you. This gift. And with Him… you're given all the benefits of faith… and the blessings of participating in the building up of the church, the kingdom of God.ConclusionSo Acts. A the Ascended Christ – resurrected and Exalted. C the Church – God's kingdom being fulfilled here on earth, T Tucker and to the Ends of the Earth, and S the Holy Spirit. Each of these aspect here… they not only set the path for the entire book, but they all interrelate and work together for God purposes in his Kingdom.You see, it's the ascended and exalted Jesus… His ministry in heaven is being worked out through His Spirit, applied in His church, for the expansion of his kingdom to the ends of the earth. And it's the Holy Spirit who enables the apostles and followers to be witnesses. It's that same Spirit that regenerates hearts and minds. And it's the Church that God is establishing to the ends of the earth.And the working together of all these thing… it all began here in the book of Acts… This is our history.A couple years before my ancestors left their old homeland… they wrote this in their journal “We rejoice heartily that Christ acts on our behalf in this land where we have Christian friends.” And when they arrived in Illinois… they would soon join a local church and continue to participate in God's work in a new land and nation and language… because God has continued to build his church.That work continues today... Here. In our lives, in our work together at Tucker Pres, as we declare the exalted Christ. As we bear witness in Tucker and participate in the expansion of his church… And as we fulfill our calling as a church… May we look forward to that glorious day when Christ will return on the clouds of heaven… and in the meantime, may we rest on Christ, be empowered by his spirit and be witnesses as His church to Tucker and the end of the earth.

Today, in our final discussion of Glorious Doctrine, Pastor Robbie discusses the Doctrine of the Church... not only the visible Church as saved believers see it, but the invisible Church as God in His heaven yearns for us to be.Learn how the Church is so much more just than a building or a gathering of people. It is Christ Himself! And as His Church, our destiny is to one day be the bridegroom of Christ. So how should we live with purity, fidelity and sincerity, knowing we are to be united with Him? It's an awesome truth that will bring you even closer to God!

Today, in our final discussion of Glorious Doctrine, Pastor Robbie discusses the Doctrine of the Church... not only the visible Church as saved believers see it, but the invisible Church as God in His heaven yearns for us to be.Learn how the Church is so much more just than a building or a gathering of people. It is Christ Himself! And as His Church, our destiny is to one day be the bridegroom of Christ. So how should we live with purity, fidelity and sincerity, knowing we are to be united with Him? It's an awesome truth that will bring you even closer to God!

PulpTheology Book Exploring The Bible Have you ever noticed the first thing a baby does when it is born? It cries! The crying shows that it is alive. Or how about when it needs help? It cries, wanting attention. A baby crying is symbolic of humanity's need of God and life with Him. That is the message of the Bible. The Bible also shows how God has intervened in human history - by becoming one of us and getting His hands dirty! WOW! That is the message of Christmas and Easter! What is the best way to learn about God and follow Him? It is by reading the Bible regularly. Now, admittedly, this can lead to confusion! However, help is at hand within the pages of this little book. Christians think that through the Bible, God has spoken to our world because He loves this world which He made. Written over a period of about 1,500 years by people of different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds, the Bible has a central message: God is love. Come inside and spend a short time each day, working your way through each book of the Bible, to see the development of this love. After all, it is the story of God & humanity. It is a story of ancient beginnings through to new beginnings! Are you ready? Come on in! As well as looking at each book of the Bible, there is also a study guide looking at best practise to interacting with the Bible. In this section, we look at how God speaks through the Bible, some keys to understanding the Bible, how the Bible helps equips you for service, helps you to know God better and to discover His will for you, as one of His children... Here is what one 5* Amazon Review said: This is the best book I have read for a simple straightforward analysis of what the Bible is all about. It gives a clear breakdown of the different sections of both Old and New Testament for those who are seeking enlightenment on what the Christian faith bases its teaching. There are just enough Scripture references to whet the appetite for more. Also for the believer whose Bible knowledge has always been, or through lack of regular study has become bit sketchy, there is help. There is also ample space throughout for the reader to express their own thoughts and reflections. Highly recommendable reading. Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file ~ You can purchase this book at Amazon on this link: Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

How important is it that God's people be right with Him- It is essential both to our individual Christian lives and our local churches that God's people be right with Him. In this text God tells Solomon some clear truths about restoration. While this promise was directly given to Israel, the principles are true for us today. If God's people turn back unto Him, He will forgive.

Have you ever wondered how the disciples were able to record what took place, and even our Savior’s exact words, after having spent three years together with Him? It’s not only the record of our Savior’s words and actions in the Gospels. Take a look at how they were able to quote Him in Acts as well. You can’t help but be amazed. Shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven, He made a promise to the disciples that would make all the difference.

If we never wake up to the beauty, power, and love that is found in Christ - what does it matter that we believe in Him? It's time to wake up friend and recognize the access you have through The Father.

The Lord has restored my peace as I just stood and waited on Him Reflecting back on my over zealousness and how I have misheard God and gotten too excited at times and gotten ahead of Him It's humbling to listen to old recordings and hear of my weakness Feeling God is encouraging me with 212 regarding my future wife Realizing several people will be discouraged about God using numbers to speak to me There is a high cost to pay in order for God to speak to you The lesson of Jacob -- I'm Not letting go of God until He blesses me The more you hold on to God, the less of you there will be The story of why I'm leaving my church How God used John MacArthur and the book Strange Fire to open my eyes to the other side of theology

Today, Pastor Al Dagel shares two accounts of men who met Jesus and were changed. Have you met Him? It is not too late.

Today, Pastor Al Dagel shares two accounts of men who met Jesus and were changed. Have you met Him? It is not too late.

The Lord has restored my peace as I just stood and waited on Him Reflecting back on my over zealousness and how I have misheard God and gotten too excited at times and gotten ahead of Him It's humbling to listen to old recordings and hear of my weakness Feeling God is encouraging me with 212 regarding my future wife Realizing several people will be discouraged about God using numbers to speak to me There is a high cost to pay in order for God to speak to you The lesson of Jacob -- I'm Not letting go of God until He blesses me The more you hold on to God, the less of you there will be The story of why I'm leaving my church How God used John MacArthur and the book Strange Fire to open my eyes to the other side of theology

Jesus said,   Come to Me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). "I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth" (Matt. 28:20). He said that His words will not pass away (Mark 13:31). He said that He would raise you up on the last day (John 6:40). He said that whatever you asked in His name would be give to you. (John 14:14). He said He would disclose Himself to you (John 14:21). He said that He would reveal the Father to you (Matt. 11:27) And He said He would return in the clouds and that every eye will see Him (Mark 13:27). Because of who God is and what He has already done for you, you can trust Him even more for the future and have no fear that He will continue to uphold you, love you, and continue His wonderful loving plan in your life.   Will you trust Him? How much will you trust Him? How much will you rest in Him? It's up to you. Teleconference Wednesday night 8:30 EST. (202)780-1279  Support this ministry in several ways:  https://giv.li/p2nj61 https://www.patreon.com/speaklifechurchpodcast   Thanks, Rev. Kenn Blanchard  

It doesn't matter who you are, we all travel through dark and fearful places at some point in life – and during those times, it can be so darned hard to remember that God, God is in the Light business.   The Darkest Nights I am always so excited to be starting a new series of messages and that's what we are doing this week on the programme – and it is a series that I have called “Dark Night, Bright Light.” Dark and darkness – I wonder what those words mean to you? There are all sorts of connotations when we apply them to our lives. I remember when I was a young boy - even probably well into my teenage years – I was really afraid of the dark. I remember after dinner in the dining room, it was a long corridor – well it seemed a long corridor – especially in the dark. It was only about, I don't know, only eight or nine meters from the dining room to my bedroom. But I have to tell you, when it was dark, it was a long way for me to go. And I was afraid to walk from the light dining room into that dark corridor to my dark bedroom. Now in the house where we lived, we were blessed because there was a light switch for the lights at either end of the corridor so I could walk out of the dining room, turn on the light and the corridor was in light and then I could go to my bedroom – and I always used that switch. Now, we lived in a safe part of town and the house was secure and there was no logical or rational reason for me to be afraid of the dark – I just was – and it was a deep fear and I think a lot of kids go through that. It seems that darkness and fear, well, they often go together in life – young or old. Now the truth be known we need both – we need light and dark in this world. I love it when the sun goes down and it's time to go to sleep and again when the sun comes up in the morning and it's time to get up and get on with living life. That's a pattern we live by – it's a pattern of life. But imagine if it were only ever dark, how awful that would be. In some countries of course, far north and far south, they have many months of darkness. Now take a look at our own lives. If we look back on those dark times – those periods in life that we would rather forget – whether it was a broken relationship or sickness or the death of a loved one or some real financial difficulties or maybe you have been through a war and has seen people killed or been in prison. Perhaps you have seen everything that you have worked so hard for over so many years just go down the drain. Someone has hurt you incredibly deeply or someone you trusted – perhaps you have been through a time of depression or real loneliness or you are working so hard that you don't feel as though you have a life – that list just goes on and on and on. Life has its dark times, doesn't it? Maybe you are going through one right now or maybe, who knows, there is one just around the next corner or next year or the year after and that's why we are kicking off this series “Dark Night, Bright Light” because light is the opposite of darkness and when we are travelling through those dark times, light is the very thing that we need. The problem is it can be so hard to find; so hard to believe in or hope for and over these coming weeks, we are going to be spending some time with King David in Psalm 34. But before we go there, let's have a little foretaste about darkness and light. If you have got a Bible, I want you grab it; I want you to open it up at page 1 – Genesis chapter 1 and verse 1 – the beginning. Here's what it say: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said “Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day' and the darkness He called that ‘night'. And there was evening and there was morning – that was the first day.” I might hear you say, "Well, Berni, I know that passage and that's all well and good. You're talking about physical light here, that's fine but what about God shining His light into the darkness in my life?" We are going to talk about that shortly but the point that I'm making is this: creation tells us something about the Creator. You and I create different things because we are different. God, the very first thing He creates – the very first thing – is light. That tells us something about God but what a light! We tend to just think of the sun there; one of just an estimated trillion, trillion stars. God is seriously into light and that tells us something about who He is. Let's take a look at just another couple of verses in the Bible. There are so many of them that talk about God and light – Ezekiel chapter 10, verse 4: Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple and the court was full of the radiance and the glory of God. Words from Isaiah chapter 60, verse 19: The sun will no more be your light by day nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you for the Lord will be your everlasting light and your God will be your glory. And perhaps my favourite of all, where Paul seems to bring it all together in Second Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 6: For it is the very same God who said “Let light shine out of the darkness, that made His light to shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." The Bible is full of references about God being our light and our radiance. Can you see why I have called this series “Dark Night, Bright Light”? Over these coming weeks I believed we are going to be transformed by God's Word about darkness and light. If you have just been through a "darkness" or you are going through one right now or you are going to go through one in the future, the Word of God is going to shine a light into that dark place – “Dark Night, Bright Light.”   The Wisdom of Hindsight As I said earlier in the programme we are going to spend some time in Psalm 34, this week and over the next three weeks. It's an interesting Psalm because it comes out of King David's life. It's a Psalm of praise for deliverance from trouble. So it is a Psalm written, if you like, with the benefit of hindsight. David has learned something – something about God in a dark time. Now we are not sure what that time was. The introduction to the Psalm says, “A Psalm of David when he feigned madness before Abimelech so that he drove him out and he went away.” Now we don't have any other information about that. Abimelech was a judge; he was a leader of Israel; he was Gideon's son. Anyhow the fact of the matter is, even though we don't know the precise historical details it doesn't matter. David had to engage in some deception, it tells us; if was a fearful and scary time and he needed to escape. Now let's have a look at the first part of this Psalm. If you have got a Bible, open it at Psalm 34 – we are going to look at just the first eight verses today. This is what it says: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord and He answered me – He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look at Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him It's a beautiful Psalm! You see, it's David looking back on a difficult time. And he starts out be praising God – “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips,” because of God's faithfulness. And there's a purpose in him praising; a specific purpose. Look at verse 2. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. See, the purpose of this Psalm is to let the rest of us know when we are afflicted that God is faithful in those darks times so that we can hear that and rejoice. See, this Psalm was written for you and for me. Isn't God good? And David says, "You know why I am writing this Psalm? It's for you, you who are afflicted; you who are travelling through a dark and fearful time." You know why? Come and look at verse 3 again with me. David says: Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together. In other words so that you and I can rejoice together even though we might be travelling through dark times. We are getting the benefit of what David discovered in his dark and fearful time. And what he discovered, well, it is as profound as it is simple. Look at verse 4; this is what he says; this is the heart of this first passage for me. David says: I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. You know what happens in the darkness? In the darkness we become afraid and that fear immobilises us – fear stops us dead in our tracks. We just kind of sit there and we ache and fear eats away at our hearts like a quick spreading cancer and in that fear - remember, David was as he had been many times before, in fear of his life; real fear – David had more than his share of dark times – he had real fear. Let me say it this way – he was in deadly fear and in the midst of his deadly fear he did the thing that he had learned to do over all of those times in his life when he had been in danger – when he was on the run from King Saul who was trying to kill him for all those years – he did the one thing he knew to do – Psalm 34, verse 4: I sought the Lord and He answered me. David sought God – he'd cry out to God for help. The one thing that we can forget to do when we are frozen by fear is just to cry out to God – just to pour our hearts out to Him. And what a surprise, “God answered him and delivered him from all his fears.” I don't know about you but I can relate to that. In life and in ministry I come against giants of opposition all the time and I can tell you, some days they scare me – seriously. And we have a choice – we can just kind of sit there and tremble in fear and be completely immobilised or we can spend some time with God, crying out to Him in prayer and reading His Word and listening to Him – and He always delivers me from all my fears. David goes on to say this – verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 34: Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered in shame. This poor man called and the Lord heard him and He saved him out of all his troubles. There it is – the light word "radiance". The Hebrew word that sits behind our English translation means literally ‘to beam or to burn with light'. It's an "over the top" kind of word – it's not a glow or a flicker or just a shine, but to beam and to burn with light and that's exactly what happens when we look to God; when we put our trust in Him in the middle of our darkness. See, in those dark times we are downcast; ashamed if you like, but David states this simple truth “This poor man called and the Lord heard him and saved out of all his troubles; He delivered him from all his fears.” This is such a humble and beautiful picture, isn't it? David, probably the greatest King that Israel ever had, saw himself just as a poor man who cried out to God in his darkness. Don't you love it how the Bible is packed full of this real life stuff – this stuff that's right down where we are? The Word of God meant for us here and now; right where the rubber hits the road - the light and the radiance of God in our darkness and fear - and all this out of a simple step that David took; so simple and yet when we are afraid, so difficult. “I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”   Taste and See God is very much in the "light" business, isn't He – taking our fear and replacing it with His radiance? Perhaps that's why David writes in Psalm 18, verse 28: It is You O Lord who lights my lamp; the Lord my God lights up my darkness. And again in Psalm 139, verses 11 and 12: If I say surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to You. The night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to You. You get the impression that David is a seasoned traveller through darkness and he has learned some stuff that God would have us learn, each in our own way. Now let's head back to Psalm 34, verses 7 and 8, just to finish off our look at what David learned. Let's have a read: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Now there are two things here we need to get into; the first is the bit about the angel of the Lord. Let's have a look at verse 7 again: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Angels have a kind of funny symbology these days in our society – fluffy little creatures with wings – but you do just a short study of the angels that God describes in the Bible and you discover they are a fearsome lot. Often God uses them as a messenger and the first thing the angel says is, "Don't be afraid". They deliver a specific message to God's people to protect them from trouble and often they appear as fearsome beings to protect God's people. Look at Second Chronicles chapter 32, verse 20: King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amos cried out in prayer to heaven about this and the Lord sent an angel who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and the officers of the camp of the Assyrian King. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace and when he went to the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with his own sword. Get it? The angel is serious protection. Presidents or Prime Ministers or Kings or Queens all have their security contingents right around them when they travel. Well those security contingents have got nothing on an angel of the Lord. And you might say to me, "Berni, do you seriously believe in angels?" Absolutely! We can't see them but when we fear God; when we reverence Him – we will talk more about that idea next week – when we belong to Him, He sends His angel to encamp around us; to surround us; literally, to lay siege around us to protect us. How does David know that? Because he has been there; he has experienced it over and over again and that's exactly what he says in the next verse. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Now, this verse is so often quoted out of context "Taste and see" – suck it and see! When you are in the darkness; when you are afraid, David is saying, "Try this thing that I am talking about 'Taste and see that the Lord is good', you will be blessed when you take refuge in Him." It's like an invitation to you and me today from God. Come on, try it – I can hear the Spirit of God saying through His Word – "Come on, try it because when you take refuge in Me”. God is saying, “you will truly be blessed”. I don't know about you but God has seriously spoken to me today and encouraged me through His Word; He is in the light business and it's something that David discovered through long, hard experiences in darkness and fear. And he comes out the other side of that singing God's praises specifically for you and for me to hear. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name. I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called out and the Lord heard him and He saved him from all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good for blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Isn't that an awesome Psalm? People sometimes say to me, "Berni, why do you talk about this stuff? You know, is this Christianity thing for losers?" You don't have to be a loser to go through dark times – we all go through dark times – we all travel through difficult times. You know, a friend or a relative that is close to us dies young of cancer and we are left reeling and we think "God why has that happened?" We get retrenched; we lose someone else we love; we … – all sorts of things happen to us and at those times it feels like God has deserted us. Listen to David again: I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. In that darkness there is no light so bright as the light of God and His heart is to take a face that has been covered with tears and put His radiance on that face. God is a wonderful God. I want to encourage you to join me over the next three weeks as we further explore the Word of God and what God has to say about His light amidst our darkness. That's what this series “Dark Night, Bright Light” is all about.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.  Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.  Mark 2:1-2There were so many people coming to Jesus that there was no room for everyone, not even around the door to the house He was in.  This is an interesting situation.  On a practical note, why wouldn’t Jesus have noticed this dilemma and done something about it?  Why not move out into a larger area where everyone could see and hear Him?It’s hard to answer that question but there is one thing of which we can be certain.  We can be certain that those who came to listen to Him, even if they could not get in, were greatly rewarded for their faith.  This passage reveals a very important spiritual principle.  It reveals that the spiritual longing to be near Jesus was, in and of itself, transforming.Often times we will have a similar experience.  We may find that we long to hear Jesus speak to us, but we cannot seem to hear Him.  It may be that He appears silent to us or that we do not know where to find Him.  But do not be disheartened if this is your experience.  The fact of the matter is that your desire to be with Him is itself a great gift and has potential to transform your life.  Reflect, today, upon what may be termed “the silence of God.”  There may be times in your life when God seems to be distant and is nowhere to be found.  When this happens, you should realize that this is a way for God to call you even closer to Himself.  It’s a way for God to whisper so as to gain your full attention.  If this is a “struggle” that you experience at times, turn your attention to our Lord all the more intensely and allow the desire for Him to grow.  It is this desire to be near Jesus that may actually produce much greater fruit in your life than if you were to hear Him loud and clear.Lord, please increase within me a desire to be near You.  Help me to long for You with all my heart.  In that longing, help me to shed all that is not of You and to give You my full attention.  Jesus, I trust in You.

God can do amazing, shocking, crazy things. After all, He's God. Isn't that why we worship Him? It's what we expect from Him. But what about when God lets us down? What about when God doesn't do great things? Perhaps He doesn't even seem to do anything at all. Find out how to deal with being let down by God as David in 22 (https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcast-series/david-in-22-stories/) series. Featured Quote: If you're always looking for the extraordinary, you're going to miss the everyday movement of God's invisible hand (8:35) To learn more, visit our Twitter (https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo) @TheCrossingCOMO. Notes 0:15 - 1 Samuel 29 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29&version=NIV) 2:30 - 1 Samuel 27:12 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+27%3A12&version=NIV) 3:50 - 1 Samuel 29:6-7 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29%3A6-7&version=NIV) 4:45 - Where's God? 5:00 - Literary technique: not mentioning God 5:55 - Esther 6:45 - Story of religious man let down by God 8:35 - Featured quote 9:30 - "Walk by faith, not by sight" 9:55 - Subscribe. Rate. Share  Social Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO (https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO (https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo (https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo) Verses 1 Samuel 29: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29&version=NIV (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29&version=NIV) 1 Samuel 27:12: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+27%3A12&version=NIV (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+27%3A12&version=NIV) 1 Samuel 29:6-7: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29%3A6-7&version=NIV (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+29%3A6-7&version=NIV)   Related David in 22: https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcast-series/david-in-22-stories/ (https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/podcast-series/david-in-22-stories/) Support this podcast

Faith is a deliberate action- it's something we choose to do. It's a conscious decision, based upon what we already know about Jesus. It's remembering what He is capable of, what He has already done in the past---If we believe that He is the son of God, that He died on the cross for us, that he rose from the dead for us, than how could we not trust Him----It's important that we get the Gospel, the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done, deep down in our hearts. That we apply what we know to be true about the Gospel, to our lives---This past Sunday, guest pastor, Darin Weiss, discussed the storms of life. In this highlight, he talks about what it means to have faith.--There is nothing greater that we could sin against God, than to have the nails and the hammer in our own hands.--Jesus Christ ultimately took on a greater storm than we could ever possibly imagine- the storm of God's judgement. Jesus Christ, willingly and voluntarily, took upon himself, our judgement, our condemnation, our sin- and through Him, we are healed.--Here's another highlight from our Sunday service-

Faith is a deliberate action- it's something we choose to do. It's a conscious decision, based upon what we already know about Jesus. It's remembering what He is capable of, what He has already done in the past---If we believe that He is the son of God, that He died on the cross for us, that he rose from the dead for us, than how could we not trust Him---It's important that we get the Gospel, the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done, deep down in our hearts. That we apply what we know to be true about the Gospel, to our lives---This past Sunday, guest pastor, Darin Weiss, discussed the storms of life. In this highlight, he talks about what it means to have faith.--There is nothing greater that we could sin against God, than to have the nails and the hammer in our own hands.--Jesus Christ ultimately took on a greater storm than we could ever possibly imagine- the storm of God's judgement. Jesus Christ, willingly and voluntarily, took upon himself, our judgement, our condemnation, our sin- and through Him, we are healed.--Here's another highlight from our Sunday service-

Growing TOGETHER in Grace and Truth God wants us to be Unified Together It is important to Him It is important For Him What will it take for us to give God what he wants? 3 Requirements for us to live in unity.  7 more next week 1. Presence of God - John 17:22-23 - The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 2. Recognize the NEED - 1 Corinthians 12:21 - The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you".  We need one another 3. Effort - Ephesians 4:3 - eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. What is the base for our unity? What is our Common  Union? Ephesians 2:16-17 - and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

We see the transforming power of Lord Jesus Christ. The beggar was physically crippled and spiritually handicapped. But the miracle transformed the beggar both physically as well as spiritually. The facts observed: - Beggar was found outside the church - Miracle was not taking place inside the church - The beggar never asked for healing, but there was an expectation - The beggar never had to believe in Jesus for healing or do anything - The healing was instant - there was no time to think, debate and argue - That miracles drew him into the temple----more---- The truths derived: - The needy are outside the temple - People look at us to get something - We seldom pay attention to people - We talk about what we don’t have - Miracles draw people to God Challenges: - When majority of the need is found outside the church, what the church is doing? - Church is the hope of this world, do we give hope to the needy? - Do we pay attention to other’s needs? - We talk about gold and silver even though we don’t have them. We have Jesus within us. Shall we talk about Him? - It is enough hearing about miracles & praising God. It is enough experiencing miracles only for us. Shall we start performing miracles? - Kingdom of God is not in word but in power. - Faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God - Many of us have the form of godliness, but deny its power.

PulpTheology Book Exploring The Bible Have you ever noticed the first thing a baby does when it is born? It cries! The crying shows that it is alive. Or how about when it needs help? It cries, wanting attention. A baby crying is symbolic of humanity's need of God and life with Him. That is the message of the Bible. The Bible also shows how God has intervened in human history - by becoming one of us and getting His hands dirty! WOW! That is the message of Christmas and Easter! What is the best way to learn about God and follow Him? It is by reading the Bible regularly. Now, admittedly, this can lead to confusion! However, help is at hand within the pages of this little book. Christians think that through the Bible, God has spoken to our world because He loves this world which He made. Written over a period of about 1,500 years by people of different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds, the Bible has a central message: God is love. Come inside and spend a short time each day, working your way through each book of the Bible, to see the development of this love. After all, it is the story of God & humanity. It is a story of ancient beginnings through to new beginnings! Are you ready? Come on in! As well as looking at each book of the Bible, there is also a study guide looking at best practise to interacting with the Bible. In this section, we look at how God speaks through the Bible, some keys to understanding the Bible, how the Bible helps equips you for service, helps you to know God better and to discover His will for you, as one of His children... Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file ~ You can purchase this book at Amazon on this link: Click or tap on the appropriate link below to subscribe, share or download our iPhone App!

Do you know that God wants you to grow in Him? It's true! That means putting what we learn into practice. It's not enough just to hear God's Word, we need to obey it. We deceive ourselves if we think that it’s pleasing to God to interact with His Word without keeping the Word. We can’t be content with simply hearing the Word and walking away. God’s end goal in His Word is not simply agreement, but transformation.

Are you listening for that still small voice from God? Fitness Entrepreneur and Copywriter Joe LoGalbo sits down with Mike Westerdal and speaks openly about his strong Christian faith and hearing God’s voice. Joe unpacks ways to speak to and listen for God in our daily lives. He addresses ways that God guides us, the importance of journaling your thoughts and prayers for your life and trusting in Him at all times. And even better, Joe ends the podcast in prayer for all the listeners. If you’re wanting to know how to talk to God, let Joe’s words and passion fill you up and lead you to Him.   "How can God speak to me, how can I open up that communication with Him? It starts with just speaking to Him just like you and I are speaking, just speaking to Him like a friend.." -Joe LoGalbo   Time Stamps 1:03 How do you define God? 3:20 Why would God want to talk to me? 5:13 Why did God give us FREEWILL to either love Him or reject Him? 7:09 Following the Lord is like bowling with bumpers 8:38 Ways to actively listen for God 10:20 Joe talks about his God Time 12:37 That feeling in your GUT, is that the Holy Spirit? 15:45 God ISN’T a vending machine! 17:50 Asking the right questions for wisdom in your life 22:50 Confirmation that I’m going down the right path 25:20 God will speak to you in different ways… 29:55 Joe and his wife trusting in God 32:50 Overcoming fear in your life and moving forward with God’s help 34:00 The price Jesus paid for all mankind 36:26 Eva and Joe’s pursuit of her dream house 42:50 Why Joe keeps his journal with him at ALL times 44:38 God is ALWAYS working on you and your life 47:50 Importance of making time for God 51:30 Encouraging words from God are like vines from a tree 54:40 A prayer to God for all the listeners 56:30 How to find out MORE about Joe LoGalbo   Subscribe to iTunes Love the podcast? Leave a review on iTunes!   What do you want to hear from the Critical Bench Podcast? Tell us here!   Resources The Bible App on iTunes - FREE TO DOWNLOAD   Connect w/ Joe: YouTube Instagram Facebook LiveAnabolic.com JoeWritesCopy.com   Connect w/ CriticalBench:  Youtube Facebook Instagram CriticalBench.com YouAreStrongByDesign.com

Do you have a have a hard time remembering who you are? Many of us may get starstruck meeting a celebrity or someone of great importance, and suddenly we can’t recall who we are. Yet, that happens to us in daily life, through busyness and business. How do you live when everything changes; when you’ve met Jesus and been called by Him? It doesn’t take a special person. God called you, God sanctified you, God supplied you and God sustains you.

Jesus asks if we are willing to keep following Him? It's not enough to choose just once, but every day. Readings are found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082618.cfm Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2

How much darkness will God allow near Him? It's an important question that has HUGE implications in our lives. Does God overlook a little sin here and a little sin there in our lives? (Darkness = sin) Well, according to our main passage this week... the answer is NO! God doesn't have or associate with darkness, "AT ALL". And Pastor Kamron states this week, that anything you do in darkness... God will not bless that with His presence or His favor. He can't. Like, "AT ALL". But the Good News is, God provides us with a way to be forgiven and set FREE from our sin. There's no reason to walk through this life defeated because you have slipped up. Today's as good a day as any, to repent and be free. Listen to this week's message and see if there is anything you need to heed the Holy Spirit in doing... to be truly free.

This show is an End of Year Reflection on how God moved me from one state to another a couple of years ago and blessed me beyond belief this year to ensure that I could transition into a Christ centered entrepreneurial path with all of my work centered around Him/It. I've met Godless entrepreneurs, and I've found Christ focused entrepreneurs. I've seen the peaks and felt the valleys. I know God's influence in my life, and more of us need to receive Him. Learn more on today's podcast! Related scripture(s): Ephesians 6:12 Jeremiah 29:11

You may have already received Jesus as Lord of your life, but He has more than that for you. That was the first step. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the next step in your spiritual walk with God. If you are satisfied with the new birth and think that is all God has for you, then you are missing a powerful blessing promised by the Lord to all believers. God has much for you! The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues, is what opens the door to infinite possibilities with God. We will show you what the Bible says about it, and then it will be up to you to receive this glorious experience.  Acts 2:3, 4 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues as of fire splitting off (into individual fires); and these sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The apostles and all the people that gathered (120 individuals) had already received the Holy Spirit into their lives and hearts. They had already been regenerated and received Jesus as their Lord before Acts 2:4. Can we prove this? John 20:19-22 The doors were shut where the disciples were gathered... Jesus came and stood in the middle of them, and said to them, “Peace (shalom) to you!” And after He said that, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw it was the Lord! Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you. As My Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Notice that they received the Holy Spirit at this time. This was before Jesus ascended visibly into heaven. They received the Spirit of Christ as it says in Romans 8:9-11, and the Holy Spirit came inside them, and they were born of the Spirit. Yet, Jesus explained to them that something else was needed from the Holy Spirit to empower them and propel them into the supernatural things of God. Right before His ascension into heaven He said: Luke 24:49 I send the promise of My father on you. But stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.   The underlined phrases are essential for your understanding. Jesus was saying that receiving the Holy Spirit inside of them (the new birth) was not all that there was to the promise of the Father. God had more in mind for His people. The second thing here is the fact that it would be like being clothed with power. Therefore, it was power from on high that would be like wearing a cloak or a set of clothes on the outside. God wanted more for them than only an internal and personal experience with God, though that was the beginning. He wanted a mantle of power, a glorious bringing to the outside where you wear power like a coat or a suit of clothes.  John 7:38, 39 The one believing in me as the Scripture said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water. But He said this concerning the Spirit that those that believe in Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Note that Jesus is saying that the one that has already believed, trusted in, and become faithful to the Lord, is to have something else from the Spirit of God. These verses speak of another experience with the Holy Spirit, one where from your belly flow rivers of living water. The rivers of water speak of this mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said this of the mighty experience with the Holy Spirit they were to receive. Notice that when He breathed on them they were birthed from above, but nothing happened externally in their lives until Acts 2:4. Miraculous power from on High  There was no real show of God's power to the entire world until Acts 2 and beyond. They were good "Christians" but with no evidence to demonstrate to the world about the reality, not just the words, of their God.  Acts 1:8 ...But you will receive (miraculous) power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Do you see the reference here to the Holy Spirit coming upon you? This is saying the same thing as Luke 24:49. It is a being clothed upon with the power of the Holy Spirit. What is the purpose of this empowering? The purpose was so we would be witnesses to the world. The word witness means one that comes with clear and irrefutable evidence of what they are saying. Jesus told us what we would be doing with this power, and this is exactly what we see the apostles and disciples doing after the Acts 2:4 experience of receiving this power upon their lives.  Mark 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to everybody. The ones believing, and those being immersed will be saved (delivered or made whole). And the ones that do not believe will be condemned (damned). And these signs (miraculous works of power) will accompany those believing: In My Name (dominion, authority, power) they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”[1]  For those of you that fuss over this portion of Scripture because it is not found in two of the most ancient complete manuscripts (the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus), I have three words for you, "Get over it"! It is found in all other ancient New Testament manuscripts (hundreds), and it is clearly proven as a Bible truth in the book of Acts, 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14, and by numerous references in the New Testament. So, get over lame excuses for not being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. That is one of Satan’s methods to keep you out of this glorious experience with God. Traditional ignorance, and a theological debate based in unbelief of anything supernatural, has kept many denominational churchgoers from getting in on these glorious truths. God wants to clothe us with power to do signs and wonders in the Name of Jesus. He wants us to have not just words but power in demonstration in our lives.[2] He is not only interested in the presentation of the Gospel to the world with words but with miraculous signs that no one can deny! He wants you to exercise dominion over demons in His Name, speak with new tongues, have supernatural protection that can only be attributed to God, and bring healing power from God to the people! Notice that these signs are to follow all believers. It starts with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He (Jesus) shall baptize (to immerse into) you with the Holy Spirit and with fire... The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to come with "fire." That is that power that we have been talking about. It comes upon those that receive this gift of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. As the resurrected Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ is the One that personally baptizes you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He does that for all those that will receive this precious and very necessary gift. Did you connect fire here with the "fire" that showed up on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:3? Even Jesus did not begin His earthly ministry without the Holy Spirit empowering Him to do the miraculous.[3] No miracles, healings, signs, or wonders were done until after He was empowered by the Holy Spirit for His ministry. Notice how He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit after being clothed with this power from on High.[4] Then, and only then, did the miracles begin to happen. The Holy Spirit in power released the miraculous in His life. Even though Jesus came as God manifested in the flesh,[5] without this special empowerment, He did not do even one miracle or healing. If Jesus needed the power of the Holy Spirit in His life, how much more do you and I need it!  Acts 10:38 ...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.   God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power at the Jordan River. That was when the Holy Spirit came upon Him like a dove, and that was when His ministry began. No one should even think about beginning a ministry without the power of the Holy Spirit upon their lives! That is another subject. Why all the Emphasis on Speaking in other Tongues?  The first evidence that was manifest when the Holy Spirit and fire came on the 120 in the house where they were seated was speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4) If this was the only place this happened, then maybe we would have to say that it was something special for them that day, but it was not unique to Acts 2:4. Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the word. And those of the circumcision, who believed (as many as came with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the (non-Jewish or Gentile) nations also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.   This Baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire is here called a gift. In Luke 24:49 it was called the promise of the Father. It is the desire of the Father to grant this promise and gift to you right now.  Luke 11:13 Much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him… It is a promise and a gift that is yours for the asking and the receiving. The Father will never turn down any born again believer from receiving. It is His perfect will that you receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with this initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. Why do I say that speaking in another tongue is the initial evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? I just gave you the second scriptural proof of this great truth in Acts 10:44-46. The people that came with Peter knew these people had received the same gift as they had in Acts 2:4 when they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 19:2-6 He (Paul) said to them, “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Then to what were you baptized?” And they said, “To John's baptism.” And Paul said, “John truly baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in Him that was coming after him, on Jesus Christ. And hearing this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. This portion of Scripture makes some correction to traditional theology. Notice that Paul's question was pointed. "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" He did not ask if they got the Holy Spirit when they believed, but since they believed. This clearly tells us that Paul believed that there was another Holy Spirit experience beyond the believing in Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit in the salvation experience. If you have doubts that they were already believers (born from above or born again), notice that when Paul told them about Jesus. They heard the Word, they believed on Him, and were baptized in water. They were born again before Paul laid his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with tongues. In this case, they even prophesied. There you have three places that clearly show that tongues were the initial evidence that the Holy Spirit had baptized or immersed them in His power and fire; Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, and 19:1-6. The Supernatural Connected to the Natural Praying in other tongues is supernatural and natural. Tongues come out of the human spirit as given by the Holy Spirit. That is the supernatural side. The words given by the Spirit and coming out of the human spirit must be formed by the tongue, given sound, and spoken by the mouth. That is the physical side. The benefits of speaking and praying in other tongues are clearly taught in Scriptures, and in this audio message and article, we clearly present the facts that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking with tongues is for EVERY believer. The confusion comes in when people don’t understand the difference between tongues and interpretation of tongues as a manifestation of the Spirit used for ministering to others as the Lord wills (1st Corinthias 12:7-11, 28-30), and speaking and praying with tongues to edify yourself and to speak in mysteries to God whenever you want to (1st Corinthians 14:2, 4, 14-17). Let’s study it with some more details. Some have thought that not everybody needs to speak in tongues when they get Spirit baptized because they think that Paul didn't speak in tongues. Wrong! Paul makes this statement:  1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all. He also said:  1 Corinthians 14:39 Do not forbid speaking in tongues. Paul spoke in tongues frequently and consistently.   Why Tongues should be a Central Part of the Prayer Language of every Christian before God Speaking divine secrets You speak divine secrets before God in tongues. (1st Corinthians 14:2, 13:1) Satan has no way of knowing what is happening or what is being said! You are speaking Divine secrets or "Divine code" that he cannot decipher. It is speaking to God and not to man. God understands them, though you and no one else around you may understand them. Speaking in tongues can be speaking supernaturally the tongues of men or angels, but spoken in a way that only the Lord understands. The door into the spirit Tongues open the door into the spirit, into the supernatural. Tongues come from the spirit man on the inside and not the mind or intellect. It bypasses intellect completely.(1st Corinthians 14:14, 15) We are supposed to pray in the spirit (tongues) and in the understanding. Praying in the understanding is limited to what you know, which is very limited. Praying in the spirit is unlimited because one gets over in Divine secrets when one is praying. Praying the perfect will of God When I do not know what or how to pray for as I should, I can depend on the Holy Spirit to give me words of the spirit that will pray out the perfect will of God for the saints, which are the children of God or the church (Romans 8:26, 27). That is what I do when I pray in tongues. Building up the inner man Speaking in tongues edifies or builds up the inner man (1st Cor. 14:2). We build up ourselves on our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit or in tongues. We make progress as we pray in tongues and rise higher and higher like a building, according to the meaning on the word “build” in Jude 1:20. Access to wisdom We access wisdom mysteries by praying in tongues (1st Cor. 2:7-13). Look at 1 Corinthians 2:13: 1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak in words which man's wisdom does not teach, but which the (Holy) Spirit teaches; combining spiritual things with spiritual words. Human language is limited to the mind. Spirit language that comes out of your spirit by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is the combination of spiritual things with spiritual words (1st Cor. 2:13, 14:2). This is only possible in other tongues. Spirit to spirit communication God is a Spirit being (John 4:24). Tongues are your human spirit contacting God who is the Father of Spirits in a way that is pleasing to Him (Heb. 12:9; 1st Cor. 14:2). It is spiritual communication. Praying without error, ignorance or unbelief Since tongues bypasses your mind, this means that you can pray without error, ignorance, or unbelief when you pray in the Spirit (1st Cor. 14:14). Thank God! In Acts 2:4; they spoke in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance. It is the human spirit receiving unction to speak in an unknown language to the speaker. One Greek commentary says that they spoke as they were infused by the Holy Spirit to speak. Some of these do overlap, but you can see that the Word of God has quite a bit to say about tongues, and that was only a superficial explanation. Look at some words that will help you understand that this is all talking about this glorious experience. The Holy Spirit coming upon you  In Acts 2:4, it was the fire of the Holy Spirit sitting upon them. In Acts 1:8, it is the Holy Spirit coming upon them. In Acts 10:44-46 it was the Holy Spirit poured out on them. In Luke 24:49 it was them being clothed with power. In Acts 10:38, it was being anointed with the Holy Spirit. To "anoint" means to rub on (externally) or pour on. In Matthew 3:11 it is called the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. "Baptism" means "immersion” into something else. For example "water baptism" means to be immersed in water. Sorry all you "sprinkling" folk, but you are mistaken. When you first came to Jesus, you drank from the fountain of life and life got in you. Now you are being immersed in power, fire, and anointing, to carry out the great commission in Mark 16:15-20. The anointing, the fire, the Holy Spirit upon us is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. If you are not in a church that lays hands on people to receive this gift, then you need to go somewhere else! They should at least pray for you so that the Holy Spirit comes on you just like He did in Acts 2, 10, and 19. Get ready to speak in a language that you do not know with your mind the moment they lay hands on you in faith, or pray for you that you receive this gift. Speaking the words given to you by the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit will come on you and give you words to speak, but you must speak them out of your own mouth. The Spirit gave them the words but they had to do the speaking. Tongues are not the Holy Spirit speaking. The Holy Spirit does not nor ever will speak in tongues. He gives you the words so you can speak in tongues. Notice these phrases in Acts:  Acts 2:4 They... began to speak in other tongues... Acts 10:46 They heard them speak with tongues... Acts 19:6 They spoke with tongues... Therefore, the Holy Spirit will not force you to speak with tongues. He will not overpower your tongue and make you speak. No, He will give you the ability to speak in tongues, but you must speak them out by faith. They may sound silly, ridiculous, and dumb. Tongues are not mental, so they do not make any sense to your mind. They will not sound necessarily intelligent. Get over that hump. According to 1 Cor. 14: 2 and verse 14, tongues will not make sense to you at all unless God gives you interpretation. From personal experience, I can tell you that many times you will not know what you are saying or for what you are praying. Don't get hung up here. When you begin to speak in other tongues, at first, there may not be many words. Some people do receive what sounds like an entire language with many different words and variations. Others receive a sentence or two. Some may get a few words. It will greatly depend upon you and your receptiveness. If you have a strong yearning in you for this powerful experience with God, then most likely you will get more tongues than others will at first. Then, please don't stop praying in the tongues the Holy Spirit gives you. Turning tongues on when YOU will  Once you receive, you can turn tongues on and off anytime you want to. There is no need to wait on some special anointing to pray in tongues. 1Corintians 14:15 "I will pray in the spirit, (pray in tongues- 1st Cor. 14:14), and I will pray in the understanding." Once you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, tongues can be exercised at will just like praying in your own language. Just like you can pray in English, you can also pray in tongues. Don't forget that. After you have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues, here is Satan's #1 strategy to get you to stop. The devil may tell you that you made them up. Just rebuke his lies in Jesus' Name and begin to speak in tongues right in his face. He will absolutely hate every moment of it, and get out in one piece while he can! Praying in the spirit- making progress Once you receive, pray in tongues as often as you can, every single day of your life. The Amplified Bible in Jude 1:20 says that we make progress as we pray in Holy Spirit. That is exciting to know. The more I pray in tongues, the more progress in the Lord and in life I can make! No wonder Paul said he prayed in tongues more than all the Corinthians (1st Cor. 14:18). Now, I am going to pray for you receive this wonderful gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. The Father wants to give you this gift, and Jesus wants to baptize you right now in the Holy Spirit and fire! Are you ready to receive right now? Over the years, we have seen many thousands of people receive the Holy Spirit after they followed these simple instructions. You are no exception. When I finish praying, the Holy Spirit of God will come on you, and He will give you words in your mouth, and out of your innermost being will come a flow of unknown words to you. Speak them out by faith and enjoy it! Now say this aloud: “Father you said, “How much more will you give the Holy Spirit to them that ask you.” I ask you for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I receive this gift from you. Jesus said that these signs would follow the believers. He said that in His Name I would speak in tongues. I am a believer and I receive this mighty gift with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. The moment brother Dan prays for me, I will receive from the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit who is the Lord Jesus this power from on high with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.” Now hush the English or any other known language. No more words in any known language for now and let me pray over you.  “I pray for you now in the mighty Name of Jesus. Receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you. Receive the Holy Spirit in Jesus Name! Now begin to worship God in other tongues in Jesus Name!” As soon as you read these words, throw your hands in the air in a receiving mode, open your mouth and speak whatever words the Holy Spirit is giving you right now. That's it. Begin to speak out those words by faith in Jesus' Name. Keep doing it. Relax in Him and in the tongues and let them flow out of you! All who read these words and follow these instructions will receive without exception and without any delay in Jesus Name!   NOTES: [1] See Acts 28:3-5 for an example. The serpents and drinking deadly things part is supernatural protection from harm like in the life of Paul and others. [2] 1 Cor. 2:4 [3] Matthew 3:16 [4] Luke 4:14 [5] John 1:1, 14 ______________   The Power of Praying in Tongues- Removing Doubt from the Heart Series #37 is the final short audio message in this series. I skipped a few to get here. I'll publish the others later. Be mightily blessed!

Do you ever see verses in the Bible like in Colossians 1:10 that talk about "fully pleasing the Lord" and you gulp and think, "do I ever fully please Him?" It says we are to be fully pleasing Him. Truthfully we want to do that if we really belong to Jesus. Thankfully, the context of this verse gives us the help and relief we need in order to grow into being pleasing to Christ. Secondly we are to pray for each other in this regard. We need others to pray for us and we need to pray for others especially in the context of being in the same fellowship. This podcast has thoughts on these lines... The Scripture in this podcast is from Colossians 1:9-14 though I am mainly sharing from vss. 9-11. I am including it here but encourage you to open your Bible and dig in yourself. I hope these few comments help! Colossians 1:9-14 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

I can tell you how close Jesus is to you: just breathe in, Jesus is as close as the air that fills your lungs. One prayer and He is always there with you. How can we touch Him? It is not a physical touch. You touch Him when you call His Name, when you talk to Him. Reach out to Him today. One word from Jesus can calm the storm, heal your broken heart. Jesus says to you today, 'Come unto Me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.' 'Another Touch' used by kind permission of www.vinesong.com

  Some like to say about some relationships, "Opposites attract." Not in the realm of the spirit! Opposites do not attract where God is concerned. There never is a thin line or any correlation between pride and humility. They are like opposite poles of a magnet, they repel and reject each other. Have you ever noticed this about God, that there never are any gray areas with Him? It is light or darkness, truth or lies, sin or righteousness. When He made humans there weren't any maybes. He made them male and female, and there was never any doubt which one was which. Why is it like that with God? With Him there are no gray areas or half-truths. It either is or it isn't. It’s life or death, a blessing or a curse, and the lines are never blurred in Scripture. Let's get this truth about God and His Word. There are never people on the fence with Him. You are either cold or hot, but not both. The lukewarm (the "both") get vomited out. You cannot be both righteous and unrighteous, and you can't serve the devil and God at the same time. The Scripture states this truth so clearly that it takes the religiously brainwashed and the God-haters to disbelieve it. Hear the message. It will be a big help.     

You know, Christians and non-Christians alike have heard of Jesus. Many know some facts and even some stories, but do they really get the message that Jesus brought with Him? It’s amazing to see how easy it is to think we are in “control,” and overestimate just about everything about ourselves. But Jesus has a unique message that strikes at the heart of who we think we are and what we think we can do. Jesus teaches a parable comparing the approaches of two very different men, to God. Therein lies the true picture of the heart that God shows grace to and the one that He resists. That picture comes to vivid life in the Gospel. It is the Gospel that puts in proper perspective the position of man and the position of God. It is the Gospel that displays man in desperate need of God, and God desiring to give grace to man. You see, religion says, “Look what I have done for you!” but the Gospel says, “Look, I have come for you!” The Gospel is the remedy to self-righteousness and shows us a picture of God’s work for us!

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. What if all this Christianity stuff is just a sham? Some of those early listeners thought it was. Many people today think it is? How do we know it is real? Scripture John 8:21, 23-24 Jesus: Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.” This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come'?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”   Devotional We in the Christian community sometimes scoff at those outside the Christian community and wonder why others can't see things the way we do. We just don't understand why something so clear to us is so foreign to everyone else. But we forget that we live on this side of the cross and we have God's spirit living in us to guide us and teach us His truth. Perception is real in the mind of those who perceive it How do we know we are right and others are wrong Can we trust what Jesus says is true? What is His word isn't true and we're just chasing the wind? Many have raised that argument over the centuries God isn't real He can't be seen so how can we know He is there What makes us think there is a divine being interested in our eternal well being? Why should we follow His command and His teachings? Take a look at Jesus' words and how they fit into history Same story of man's salvation handed down from the time of the first sin Everything pointed toward Jesus Nothing since the crucifixion and resurrection has refuted His act of salvation God's word has stood the test of time No other book transcribed and translated through centuries without change like God's word No other book preserved like God's word No other book treasured like God's word Testimony of thousands attest to the truth of what He says What happens if we follow His word as truth and it is not? We treat each other well Communities thrive We live peacefully with other Conscience clear Die happier and more content than most people around the world What happens if we don't follow His word as truth and it is? We live only for ourselves We are at war with others trying to gain things for ourselves We sin against others and against God We stand in judgment at the end of life We suffer eternal judgment apart from Him It doesn't take much faith to realize His word is truth Takes much more faith to think it is not and live apart from Him If He is the final judge we need to listen to Him since He will determine our final destiny If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you'll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

I God has a 6,000-year management plan, split into three phases, each called an age. Age of Law first, then Age of Grace, and the Age of Kingdom is the final phase. While God’s work differs in each, it all accords to what mankind needs, or to be more precise, it accords to the tricks used by Satan while battling Him. The purpose of God’s work is Satan’s defeat, to reveal God’s wisdom and almightiness, and to expose all of Satan’s tricks, thereby saving man from its domain, thereby saving man from its domain. II It’s to reveal God’s wisdom and almightiness, and expose Satan’s hideous depravity, teach created beings to tell good from evil, and know the Ruler of all things is God Himself, see clearly that Satan is man’s enemy, that it’s the evil one, a reprobate, so man can tell good from evil, truth from lies, holiness from filth, and great from base. The purpose of God’s work is Satan’s defeat, to reveal God’s wisdom and almightiness, and to expose all of Satan’s tricks, thereby saving man from its domain, thereby saving man from its domain. Make ignorant mankind bear witness to Him: It is not “God” who brought upon man corruption, and only God Himself, Master of creation, can bestow things to enjoy and bring man salvation. This is so they can come to know that God is the Ruler of all things, that Satan is merely a creation of His, which later chose to turn on Him. III God’s 6000-year plan is split in three phases, so that the following can be achieved: to allow His creations to be His witnesses, to know His will, and see that the truth is He. The purpose of God’s work is Satan’s defeat, to reveal God’s wisdom and almightiness, and to expose all of Satan’s tricks, thereby saving man from its domain, thereby saving man from its domain. from “The Truth Concerning the Work in the Age of Redemption” in The Word Appears in the Flesh Recommendation: Praise and Worship "Chinese Gospel Choir Episode 18"

A daily devotional through the recorded words Jesus spoke while He walked alongside us. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We use a lot of things to help us remember important events in our lives. Jesus' words today gives us an important memento to help us do just that. Scripture Luke 22:16-22 Jesus: It has been My deep desire to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering begins. Know this: I will not eat another Passover meal until its meaning is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. He took a cup of wine and gave thanks for it. Jesus: Take this; share it among yourselves. Know this: I will not drink another sip of wine until the kingdom of God has arrived in fullness. Then He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with them. Jesus: This is My body, My body given for you. Do this to remember Me. And similarly, after the meal had been eaten, He took the cup. Jesus: This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant, made in My blood. But even now, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on this table. As it has been determined, the Son of Man, that firstfruit of a new generation of humanity, must be betrayed, but how pitiful it will be for the person who betrays Him. Devotional Time to think back about last year successes failures goals left undone happy memories sad memories Establish tokens or mementos to remember those events Ticket stubs Photos Souvenir Last Supper is the memento Jesus gave us to always remember the event that established the means for our salvation – His sacrifice on the cross Penalty for sin Eternal death Separation from God Blackness of isolation We all sin Jesus paid that penalty for us Institution of memento to remind us of the price He paid for us; gift He gives In 2017, your church will no doubt participate in the Lord's Supper, Communion, the Eucharist, whatever name you call this sacrament several times in 2017. Remember why Jesus gave us this memento Remember the suffering He endured for your sins Remember the blood He shed in payment as the penalty you should pay Remember the death He experienced so you can have life eternal with Him It's not just a ritual we go through, let it truly touch your life each time you share If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you'll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."  

God has done so much for us that He deserves our praise. Have you chosen a regular time to spend time with Him? It is one of the most difficult and most important parts of the Christian faith: spending consistent time with God.   About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Consistency trumps intensity. When it comes to working out, eating healthy, or managing our finances, consistency always trumps intensity. We reach our major life goals through small, purposeful steps taken daily. The same is true in our spiritual lives. I truly believe you will grow closer to God by spending just 5 minutes a day with Him versus cramming in an hour once a month. The One Verse Devotional is here to help take away the barriers of spending time with God. Now, during your workout, drive to work, or even shopping for groceries, you can invest in your spiritual life.   http://phosphorusproject.com/

On May 22nd, Pr. Anthony brought an awesome word on "stretching to hear" God's word. God is speaking to every single one of us but there is one question that remains, are you listening to Him? It is innate in you to listen to the voice of God. "Hearing the voice of God is not for the super Christian." Everyone has to ability to listen to the voice of God. It is just a matter of being able to pause everything around you and focus on His voice. Be motivated and blessed by this great message. He has so many things He wants to tell you!  Be sure to subscribe to our Podcast, YouTube channel, and follow us on social media! Visit www.churchalive.tv for more information! We hope you were blessed by this message!  Church ALIVE Love God. Love People. Love Life. Website: www.churchalive.tv Instagram: www.instagram.com/churchalivenj Facebook: www.facebook.com/churchalivenj ** If any of these messages have impacted you and would like to tell us about it, have a praise report, or need a prayer, email us at connect@churchalive.tv and someone will be in contact with you!

Answers Bible Curriculum Year 2, Quarter 1, Lesson 4 In this lesson, David Capoccia looks at the end of Joshua’s conquest campaign and Israel’s descent into idolatry. How did God’s people so quickly turn away from Him? It began with small compromises and culminated in a full embrace of pagan gods and worship practices, including child… The post Israel Disobeys God appeared first on Calvary Community Church.

Many Christians have a surface relationship with God. Why have a mediocre relationship when you could have an excellent relationship with Him? It's up to you on how far you go with God. Be encouraged and know that He wants you to go Deeper with Him!

Many Christians have a surface relationship with God. Why have a mediocre relationship when you could have an excellent relationship with Him? It's up to you on how far you go with God. Be encouraged and know that He wants you to go Deeper with Him!

There are times when you are low and you're longing to know if Jesus is there, if He cares just for you. I can tell you how close Jesus is to you, just breathe in: Jesus is as close as the air that fills your lungs. One prayer and He is always there with you. How can we touch Him? It is not a physical touch. You touch Him when you call His Name, when you talk to Him. Reach out to Him today. One word from Jesus can calm the storm, heal your broken heart. Jesus says to you today, 'Come unto Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'   'Just another touch' used by kind permission of Vinesong,www.vinesong.com

Speaker or Performer: Pr. Mark D. Lovett Scripture Passage(s): Matthew 22:1-14 Date of Delivery: October 6, 2013 In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.One of the mysteries of the Church of Jesus Christ is that it is given not only to the Jews, the bloodline descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but it is given also to us who are called Gentiles. This is what St. Paul says in Galatians, that the mystery he was to reveal is that salvation is for the Gentiles as much as for the Jews.This is also the point of Isaiah the prophet when he says to us today, “Behold, you shall call a nation that you did not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.” (Isaiah 55:4) It is also what Jesus says in the Gospel according to St. John when He says that He has sheep of another fold that He must bring into the one fold. And it is what the Lord is speaking of today in His parable when He says that those invited did not come, and others were brought into the banquet hall. The Gentiles will be in the same Church as the Jews. There are not two churches – one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles – but one church just as there is one Lord, one Baptism, one faith, and one God and Father of us all. But that’s not all He says to us in this parable. He also says that there are some at the banquet who are not wearing the wedding garment.The wedding garment is Christ. For in holy baptism we are clothed with Christ, as St. Paul says in Galatians, chapter 3. We have put on Christ and walk in Him, our life being hidden in Christ. Those who are found at the wedding banquet of the Great King without this proper garment, without Christ, will be bound hand and foot and thrown out into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.But what does it mean to be clothed with Christ and to walk in Him? Surely there are many who are baptized who do not wear Christ or walk in Him, even as this ill-clad man was at the banquet, among the blessed, and yet was not wearing the proper garments. So what does this mean, to be clothed with Christ and to walk in Him?It means simply to trust that Christ is your righteousness before God. This is the great comfort and peace the Christian has with God that the pagans – by the by, the pagans in our days are those that worship false gods such as the god of the Mormons, Allah of the Muslims, Jehovah of the Jehovah Witnesses, which is not the God of the Scriptures. In short, today’s pagans are those that do not look to Christ for all good and for their righteousness. This is what our faith is: trust that for Christ’s sake we have peace with God.When you have peace with someone it means that there’s nothing but friendship between you. There’s no enmity, fear, anxiety, or any such thing. There is only contentment and friendship. And the closer a person is to you, the more that peace between you draws you to one another. So it is with God. In Christ there is nothing but peace between you and God. For Christ’s sake there is no enmity, fear, anxiety, or any such thing between you and God. And the more you meditate and ponder and consider this great peace you have with God in Christ, the more God will draw you to Himself so that you seek the things above and not earthly things. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4). There is no enmity, fear, or anxiety between you and God because there is none of this in Christ, in whom He is well-please. And you have put on Christ and have been clothed with Him in Holy Baptism.Where there is not Christ, there is enmity, fear, and anxiety between you and God. Where Christ has been laid aside there, too, has our comfort and confidence before God been laid aside. For Christ is our righteousness before God. Without Him we are nothing but damned sinner bound for eternal darkness. This is what it means to cling to Christ alone and look to Him only as our peace with God.Notice, though, that I did not say that where there is sin there is enmity, fear, and anxiety between you and God. Because Jesus receives and eats with sinners. He raises sinners up from death and shines on them. He does not condemn us in our sins, but came precisely to free us from the condemnation of sin. We sin daily, even hourly, yet in Christ we need not be afraid of our sins for we are clothed with Christ.Now someone will say, “But that sounds like it’s okay to sin.” No, of course not. It’s not okay to sin. But there is a difference between sins, as St. John says in his first epistle. There is a sin that leads to death. This is the rejection of Christ, which is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit who bears witness to Christ. Such sin is to remove the garment called Christ and to be clothed in our own righteousness. This is the sin that leads to death as it blasphemes the blood of Jesus that is poured out for us sinners to be washed in. When we stand before God by our own righteousness, by our own efforts, by our own litany of what we’ve done right, tried to do right, and feel really passionate about, then we stand before Him naked, as did the man without the wedding garments.So don’t comfort yourself that your sins won’t damn you because you’ve tried to make up for them or because you’ve done the best you can or any such thing. That path is wide and easy and leads to hell. But the narrow path is Christ, and He leads to eternal life.To be clothed with Christ does not mean to be without sin, for no one is without sin in this mortal life, as the Bible teaches everywhere. There’s no state of sinlessness for us who have not yet been risen from the dead. Rather, the apostles teach us that sin is always with us and that we must strive against it precisely because it is there, crouching at our door, ready to devour us. No, to be clothed with Christ does not mean to be without sin. To be clothed with Christ means simply to trust that for Christ’s sake your sins no longer accuse you and damn you to hell.Standing firm in Christ isn’t about doing the right thing or being a good person – though these are not lost – standing firm in Christ means we stand firmly in the forgiveness of sins won by His perfect obedience, His death and resurrection, and that in Him we are ascended to the right hand of God and dwell in Him in the heavenly places.You are clothed with Christ in holy Baptism, by which He has invited you into His Church and banquet hall. And you remain clothed in Him by always remembering and calling to mind that you are baptized; that you have been crucified with Christ and buried with Him, dead to sin and to it’s threats of hell and damnation, and that you have been raised with Him in the newness of life, walking in the ways of God, following Jesus into eternal life, eating the bread of heaven given in this wilderness to strengthen you, sustain you, and continually mark you as one redeemed, a member of the Body of Christ, wearing the proper garments of righteousness.+ In Nomine Iesu +

Speaker or Performer: Pr. Lovett Scripture Passage(s): John 1:19-28 Date of Delivery: December 23, 2012 In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.John the Baptist’s preaching is marvelous. He doesn’t mince words. He says that he is not the Christ but the Christ is among the people, even though they do not know Him. And He points to Jesus and boldly and loudly proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” John is the model preacher, the prototype of all ministers of the Gospel, and of all those who have opportunity to bear witness to Jesus. John answers all their questions by saying that there is One who comes after Him who is greater than him and who is the One for whom the world waits.In a word, John is the template and model of all preaching, whether in a pulpit or in a living room or in the fields. To deny that we are anything and to point to the One who is everything. For preaching is not a talk about theology or a discussion about God. That’s academia and has it’s right and proper place. But true preaching takes our eyes off ourselves as when John said plainly that he was not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet, and points to Jesus who is greater than us and who is Himself the peace of God that passes all understanding.But how does one point to Christ? Where is He that we might point others to Him? It seems that John got the easier task than we. He was able to point to a concrete man in a concrete place at a specific time. He could make the way of the Lord straight, clearing out all misconceptions and false Christs, by pointing straight at the Son of Mary and saying, “There, that man is the Christ. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. There He is, follow Him.”We seem to be left with the harder task of trying to convince people to believe on the One to whom John pointed, without being able to point to Him ourselves. We meet unbelievers and lapsed Christians and guilt-ridden sinners and it seems the best we can offer them is that God loves them and Jesus died for them. The unbeliever scoffs because he knows what sort of people we Christians really are; sinners. The lapsed Christian says, “Yeah, I know,” and goes on his merry way thinking all is well, when in truth the devil has him hard and fast. And the guilt-ridden sinner says, “Thank you,” and wants more, but we seem to have no more to give. The best we seem to offer is to tell the new Christian to read this book, attend this class, use this devotional, hang out with this group, go to this coffee house, listen to this music, and so on and so forth. So that they are full of things to do and see, full of ideas about God and Jesus, but when someone asks them who and where the Christ is, they too don’t know where to point and they find that they’re not sure where He is either.At this point the devil dances the jig and loads another pile of books, TV preachers, sermon series, and so forth on our heads and says, “Here, find the Christ in here!” so that we all have our own paths and routes to God and no one can help anyone. Or else he says, “Don’t you know, Jesus is in your heart, don’t worry about it, you have Him with you.” So the weak Christian goes looking for Jesus in pop-Christian culture, thinking that he’s following Jesus when he looks and acts like the popular Christians. And the self-secure Christian thinks no more on Christ or God because he reasons that Jesus is in his heart and that’s all there is to it. And the unbeliever? He shakes his head at all this and thinks to himself, “What fools. Those Christians are running around all over the place looking for the One they call Lord and Master, yet none of them seem to have found Him or know where He is.”What beauty and clarity, then, to have our Lord say that where two or three are gathered in His name, there He is among them.In truth, we have it easier than John, easier than all those who walked the earth with Jesus. We don’t have to know what Jesus looks like to find Him. And we always know where He is staying for sinners and the world to find Him and follow after Him. He is where His gospel is preached and His sacraments administered. It is through His church, through His congregations that He reveals Himself to the world and dwells over the whole earth, reigning in peace that passes all understanding.We point the unbeliever to the gathering of the Lord, saying, Here is Jesus. Don’t go looking for Him in history or in apologetics or in reason and legend. For there you will learn about Him, but you will not meet Him. Here is where you will meet Him.We point the lapsed Christian to the gathering of the Lord and say, “Brother, it is true that God dwells with you and hears your prayers wherever you may be, but it is also true that our Lord and Master beckons us to come and hear Him and receive His blessing and gather to Him.”We point the troubled sinner to the gathering of Christ, and say, here He is; here is the Christ who died for you and shed His blood for you and who forgives you and welcomes you into His Father’s kingdom. Hear His holy absolution and receive His blessing, for He is the Lord and He sits and eats with sinners.” Here you meet the Christ and see Him with your ears.The way of the Lord is straighten and the path made smooth. The mountains have been leveled and the valleys have been raised so that there is nothing between you and Jesus, between you and the Christ of God who has taken away the sins of the world and reigns in peace and majesty, welcoming sinners and baptizing them with His Spirit that you might be called the sons of God.In Nomine Iesu+ Amen +