Podcasts about his father

During the Blitz on London on December 29, 1940, a bomb destroyed a warehouse near St. Paul’s Cathedral and the resulting fire raged for two days. When Biddy Chambers received the news that all 40,000 copies of Oswald Chambers’ books stored there were lost—which she had compiled and edited but not insured—she set down her tea cup and remarked to her daughter, “Well, God has used the books for His glory, but now that is over. We’ll wait and see what God will do now.” Perhaps Biddy was remembering what Oswald had written at the start of the First World War before his death. He noted how Jesus spoke to His disciples about “the inevitability of peril” so that when horrible things happened, they would “not be scared” because He was with them. Indeed, Jesus told His friends of the trials they would face: “In this world you will have trouble. But,” He continued, “take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). He wanted them to remain strong in their faith in His Father so they could withstand the trials and challenges they would endure. Biddy’s quiet confidence in God carried her through, and eventually the books were reprinted and became classics for generations. We too can find encouragement and hope in Jesus’ promises that He has overcome the world. We know that He won’t leave us (14:18) and will give us peace (v. 27), no matter what we face.

Episode Summary:In this enlightening episode of "Faith with Friends," host Lisa Lorenzo delves into the profound theme of gratitude and its transformative power in our lives. Lisa offers a faith-based approach to understanding gratitude not just as an attitude but as a divine mandate that connects us with God. This episode explores how gratitude impacts our stress, mood, and spiritual journey by reflecting on biblical scriptures and the teachings of Jesus.Lisa begins by discussing how gratitude is not merely a life hack but an essential element of spiritual living, as indicated in Scriptures like 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. She explains how expressing gratitude aligns us with God's will and helps us navigate life's challenges with peace and strength. The episode highlights examples from the Bible, including Jesus' acts of thanksgiving, which illustrate the power of gratitude even amidst adversity. Lorenzo encourages listeners to incorporate gratitude into their daily lives, offering practical tips and insights to deepen their spiritual connection.Key Takeaways:Gratitude is an expression of humility and recognition of God's gifts, shifting focus from problems to divine provision.The practice of thanksgiving, as shown by Jesus, even before miracles or moments of suffering, demonstrates its power to unlock abundance and strengthen faith.Appreciating small things can lead to significant personal transformation, fostering peace and a positive mindset.Speaking gratitude is essential, as unexpressed thankfulness remains incomplete; sharing thanks can strengthen relationships.Maintaining gratitude through challenges is pivotal, as it keeps our hearts aligned with heavenly perspectives, ensuring continuous spiritual growth and connection.Notable Quotes:"Gratitude isn't just about a positive attitude. It is a way of living that draws us closer to the heart of God.""A thankful heart shifts our focus away from our problems and back into God's presence and his provision.""Jesus was hours away from the cross, and he took a moment to pause and give thanks. Gratitude—even in suffering—becomes an offering of trust.""Thanksgiving is how we step closer to God. It's the key to joy, a weapon against fear, and the doorway to intimacy.""Jesus gave thanks before multiplying the bread, before carrying the cross. Gratitude wasn't about his circumstances, but the confidence he held in His Father."Resources:Bible References: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, James 1:17, Psalm 103:2, Psalm 104, John 6:11, Matthew 26:27, Revelations 11:17, Colossians 3:17, Philippians 4:6-7.Tune in to the full episode to immerse yourself in Lisa Lorenzo's powerful insights on gratitude and transform your spiritual journey through the practice of thanksgiving. Stay connected for more inspiring and faith-filled conversations on "Faith with Friends."

Keeping things simple is usually the best path forward. For Christians, that means following Christ's lead in everything.This includes sharing and standing up for our faith.The Bible is full of examples of how Jesus did this. Occasionally, He got mad, as when He threw out the moneychangers. Other times, He just quietly sat and taught what His Father had shown Him.This is our model. When you share Christ with someone and that person believes, you have been given the privilege of watching the most important moment in his or her life—ever. To get to this moment, it will require you to be knowledgeable about your faith, balanced enough to be gentle in sharing, and sometimes edgy enough to push back when someone mocks our Lord.Jude 1:3 says, “Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” God gave us a job to do, and one of his prophets, Jude, told us to be ready to defend the Gospel. This, we should be happy to do.Let's pray.Lord, your wisdom is enough for us. We are always ready to defend the Good News. In Jesus' name. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Every believer needs a secret place. Where is your quiet place? Where can you regularly get alone with God in prayer? I believe the impact of our public testimony and ministry is a direct result of the time spent with God in secret.Main Points:1. If all we see is the public ministry of Jesus, we miss something very important. It's not talked about much, but Jesus had a private, personal relationship with His Father. There was a vital connection to his private times of prayer and his public ministry.2. It's in the secret place that we can be alone with God. We remove ourselves from the distractions of daily life. There are no interruptions of family, work, school, smartphones, or social media. It's in the quiet we draw closer to God and a new intimacy is gained. It's here that we quiet the noise around us and within us. We open our spiritual ears to hear the voice of our Heavenly Father. 3. May you and I see the value of finding a secret place to spend time with God in prayer. In our busy, noisy world, we need this quiet place with God.Today's Scripture Verses:Matthew 6:1 - “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”Matthew 6:5-6 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”Psalm 46:10 - “Be still and know that I am God.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

Tuesday, 30 September 2025   Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; Matthew 13:24   Another parable He near-set them, saying, “It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens, to a man having sown good seed in his field” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished the explanation of the parable of the Sower. Now, He immediately moves on. Matthew records, “Another parable He near-set them.”   A new word is seen, paratithémi. It signifies to place alongside, before, near, etc. It is used at times when referring to placing food before someone. In Luke 23:46, it is the word Jesus uses to commit His Spirit to His Father. Jesus is setting near, or presenting, this new parable. In presenting it, He was “saying, ‘It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens.”   The verb is aorist. He doesn't say, “It is like,” or “It will be like.” Rather, it is a state that already exists. In God's mind, all of history is laid about before Him. Therefore, the Bible can speak about what lies ahead in various ways.   The past can be called also into the present, such as in Matthew 22:32. Therefore, regardless of when the events of the kingdom Jesus is referring to occur, the truth exists already in God's mind. Jesus is likening this state through a parable. His comparison is “to a man having sown good seed in his field.”   The meaning of “good” is not the same seed, some spoiled and some good. Rather, it is a type of seed that is good. For example, sowing wheat is sowing good seed. A farmer wouldn't take thorn seeds and plant them. That would be bad seed.   This farmer has seed that is for a good purpose.   Life application: It is good to study the meaning of words in the Bible. The new word in this verse is variously translated as commend, commit, entrust, give evidence, present, propose, propound, put forth, relate, serve, set before, tell, etc.   The word itself stresses the nearness of the setting. It can be hard to match a comparable English word to all of the instances where it is used. In other words, Jesus sets this parable before the people. Food is set before people at a table. Jesus sets His Spirit before God. One word may not convey each meaning as we might understand.   The literal “near-set” may also not be understandable, but it is a very close translation. As you read the Bible more and begin to study it in detail, doing these word studies will help you to see where a translation that you thought conveyed meaning may not be what is intended.   Saying “told” is true, but it fails to give the more exacting nature of the word. There are other words where saying “told” is fine, but here it lacks the intended nuance. So be sure to check things out if you are at all in doubt. Your time interacting with the word will only be as rewarding as the amount of study and effort you put into it.   Having said that, there is nothing wrong with also picking up a paraphrase and enjoying it simply for the general information being conveyed. Whatever circumstance you find yourself in at the time, just be sure to have the Bible (in some form) with you. It is your personal window into understanding the mind of God. Be sure to read your Bible!!   Lord God, Your word is a treasure and a blessing to our souls. Thank You for how we can come to know You and Your intent for us in such a precious and personal manner. Praise to You for Your word that tells us of Your love for us as expressed in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A – About: This passage contrasts the Rechabites' faithful obedience to their father's command with Israel's repeated disobedience to God, showing that loyalty and obedience bring blessing. B – Best Verse: Jeremiah 35:16 – "Surely the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them, but this people has not obeyed Me." C – Call to Action: We are called to receive instruction, obey God's Word, and look to Christ—the perfect Son who obeyed His Father fully—so that we may walk in His ways.

In this sermon, Pastor Matthew explores the tension of Jesus as both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture points to a Messiah who embodies both power and sacrifice. In Matthew 21, the people expected Jesus to ride in as a conquering king who would overthrow Rome. Instead, He entered Jerusalem on a donkey in humility and cleansed the temple, confronting hypocrisy and defending His Father's house. Pastor Matthew connects this moment to us today, reminding believers that we are now God's temple. Jesus still flips tables in our hearts—not to shame us, but to free us—fighting for God's glory, His reputation, and our transformation.

In this sermon, Pastor Matthew explores the tension of Jesus as both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture points to a Messiah who embodies both power and sacrifice. In Matthew 21, the people expected Jesus to ride in as a conquering king who would overthrow Rome. Instead, He entered Jerusalem on a donkey in humility and cleansed the temple, confronting hypocrisy and defending His Father's house. Pastor Matthew connects this moment to us today, reminding believers that we are now God's temple. Jesus still flips tables in our hearts—not to shame us, but to free us—fighting for God's glory, His reputation, and our transformation.

What is the Christ?Christ is God's Son as He created Him. He is the Self we share, uniting us with one another, and with God as well. He is the Thought Which still abides within the Mind that is His Source. He has not left His holy home, nor lost the innocence in which He was created. He abides unchanged forever in the Mind of God.Christ is the link that keeps you one with God, and guarantees that separation is no more than an illusion of despair, for hope forever will abide in Him. Your mind is part of His, and His of yours. He is the part in which God's Answer lies; where all decisions are already made, and dreams are over. He remains untouched by anything the body's eyes perceive. For though in Him His Father placed the means for your salvation, yet does He remain the Self Who, like His Father, knows no sin.Home of the Holy Spirit, and at home in God alone, does Christ remain at peace within the Heaven of your holy mind. This is the only part of you that has reality in truth. The rest is dreams. Yet will these dreams be given unto Christ, to fade before His glory and reveal your holy Self, the Christ, to you at last.The Holy Spirit reaches from the Christ in you to all your dreams, and bids them come to Him, to be translated into truth. He will exchange them for the final dream which God appointed as the end of dreams. For when forgiveness rests upon the world and peace has come to every Son of God, what could there be to keep things separate, for what remains to see except Christ's face?And how long will this holy face be seen, when it is but the symbol that the time for learning now is over, and the goal of the Atonement has been reached at last? So therefore let us seek to find Christ's face and look on nothing else. As we behold His glory, will we know we have no need of learning or perception or of time, or anything except the holy Self, the Christ Whom God created as His Son.LESSON 271Christ's Is The Vision I Will Use Today.Each day, each hour, every instant, I am choosing what I want to look upon, the sounds I want to hear, the witnesses to what I want to be the truth for me. Today I choose to look upon what Christ would have me see, to listen to God's Voice, and seek the witnesses to what is true in God's creation. In Christ's sight, the world and God's creation meet, and as they come together all perception disappears. His kindly sight redeems the world from death, for nothing that He looks on but must live, remembering the Father and the Son; Creator and creation unified.Father, Christ's vision is the way to You. What He beholds invites Your memory to be restored to me. And this I choose to be what I would look upon today.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Big Idea: Jesus was fully submitted to His Father's plan and would allow no one or nothing to prevent it from coming to pass.

John 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. The devil had heard Jesus' prophecy earlier, and it seems he tried to short circuit God's plan by rousing the crowd at this point to stone Jesus to death. There are no details as to how Jesus hid Himself, but this we know: it wasn't God's time or way for Him to die. He had more to do before love had completed its course in Him. It had already been determined that He would be crucified, lifted up for all to see. His life wouldn't be taken from Him. He was to lay it down of His own accord in obedience to His Father. So it is with us. God has given us another day to live to love with Jesus. Until that ministry is completed, God hides us in His hands and puts people in our paths that He wants to love. May we stay in the flow of His love today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

In verses 25 thru 30 of Matthew 11, we see a glimpse of our Lord rejoicing in prayer before His Father in heaven. This is a revelation to Matthew himself of the intimate relationship between Jesus the Son of God and God His Father.In this passage, we see the differences between the wise and prudent and the children whose faith is in the revelation of God.Likewise, Dr. Mitchell says, the Father reveals the Son, just as Jesus told Peter in Mt.16:17, and the Son reveals the Father. Jesus said the source of the revelation to Peter of Jesus as the Messiah the Son of the living God, is from the Father. And it is upon this rock, this revelation from God Himself, that Jesus builds His church.Come to Jesus and learn from Him about His Father.On the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, here is Dr. Mitchell, Matthew 11:27-30.

Matthew chapter 11 verse 20-27 will be our focus. Matthew writes of Jesus in two portions. First, verses 20-24, Jesus denounces cities where most of His miracles were done. Why His denunciation? It was because they did not repent. These cities had more light at that time in history than any other time before or since. Jesus was Himself personally present but not believed, no matter what. Then, in verses 25-27, Matthew writes our Lord's words - a prayer to His Father, who is Lord of heaven and earth. In this prayer, recorded by Matthew, Jesus rejoiced over the fact that God reveals truth to believers rather than to intellectuals. Rather than rationalizations from an unregenerate mind, faith in God's revelation, Jesus Himself, as written in the Word of God, is what is pleasing to God. Here is Dr. Mitchell on the Unchanging Word Bible Broadcast, Matthew 11:20-27.

“What Identity Were You Born With?” In this episode, we explore the profound connection between our identity and the Eucharist, alongside questions about the nature of identity itself and the role of sacraments in leading a fulfilling life. We also delve into how to engage in meaningful dialogue with those of different faith backgrounds and the intriguing topic of angels in spiritual warfare. Join The CA Live Club Newsletter: Click Here Invite our apologists to speak at your parish! Visit Catholicanswersspeakers.com Questions Covered: 03:40 – People are obsessed with identity 06:25 – We have to deal with the fact that we are creatures. 08:00 – Where does identity come from? 18:04 – What does it mean that our identity is Eucharistic? 23:35 – His Father is non-denominational and believes that the Catholic church is just a middle ground and not necessary. That he can just go directly to Christ and have a relationship with him. What advice can Father offer for him to better dialogue with his dad? 31:13 – So are the sacraments “the key” to a full life? 35:55 – How do angels do battle? 43:35 – Can I classify “relation” as a transcendental of being given how Ratzinger writes about it? 46:44 – Why has Jesus been portrayed as a white man throughout time and what implications has that had on the Church over time?

John 8:48-50, The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges.” We see that Satan's tactics haven't changed. When truth and reality are not on your side, attack the messenger with false accusations. They did it in Jesus' day and still do it today. Censor the truth by demonizing the ones who speak it in hopes people will ignore what's being said and buy into the lie. Beware those who attack the character of people and refuse to seek the truth. The sure way to walk in the truth is to live to love with Jesus. They say He has a demon because He honors His Father and speaks the truth. They totally misunderstood Jesus because He wasn't what or who they were expecting. What can we learn? May we honor all those who honor the Father. That is the spirit of Christ. We honor the Father by loving with Jesus. Jesus honors the Father by loving with Him. Jesus did not seek His own glory after healing people. The Father glorified His Son by healing when Jesus spoke in His name. That's why He said previously that He honored His Father. We follow this pattern as we love in Jesus' name, trusting Him to glorify His name. We don't love so people will give us glory. We should love for His glory and namesake. The Father seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and truth, and He's the One who judges if Jesus' life is the genesis of everyone's worship. We give Jesus the worship He deserves as we love with Him today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

This message continues our Like Him | For Others series by unpacking the Cycle of Grace—a pattern of relating to God that begins with His acceptance, not our achievements. Too often, we flip the cycle, starting with fruitfulness or performance in hopes of feeling significant and accepted. But Jesus shows us a different way: He lived from His Father's love, sustained by spiritual rhythms, confident in His significance, and bearing fruit that lasted. When we start with grace, our lives are grounded in God's love and freed from shame, pride, and performance-driven faith. Eric challenged us to examine whether our relationship with God is built on His acceptance or our achievements—and to embrace habits that remind us daily of His grace. This is the only way we can become like Him, for others.

John 8:46-47 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus asked, “Which one of you convicts me of sin?” The answer: no one. We trust and place our hope in a sinless man. There has only been one—Jesus. Hear and believe the word of the Lord. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Those who are of God (born of God—created and loved in Christ before the foundation of the world) have ears to hear the words of God. Hearing and believing is evidence of those who belong to Christ and were given to Him by His Father. It is the gospel, the words of God, that are the revealer of truth. The reason someone can't hear isn't because he or she is stubborn, ignorant, mentally disabled, underprivileged, or hard of hearing. The reason the gospel falls on deaf ears is because they are of their father, the devil. Thus says the Son of God who knows and speaks the truth from His Father. To discover those who are of God, speak God's word and the gospel. Then watch their response. Those who are of God will respond in faith and obedience. Jesus is the perfect, sinless, spotless lamb of God, sent into this world to take away the sins of all who believe in Him. With grateful hearts, we praise Your name, O Lord, our redeemer and friend. We love you and humble ourselves in your presence. We have received Your word, and ask that You fill us so we can love out of Your fullness for Your glory. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:41-42, Jesus said to them, “You are doing the deeds of your father.” They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.” How could they be so deceived? They were born into religious families. Have and know the Scriptures. Try not to break God's laws. Think of themselves as better than worldly people. Pray daily. Offer sacrifices. Pay tithes. Zealous to expose hypocrites and false teachers. They think God is their father, yet they have no place in their hearts for Jesus' words and want to kill Him. They don't love Him. That's sobering and convicting. How could they be so deceived? Easily. And so can anyone who has such a pedigree, thinks they know better than Jesus and can live without Him. These people were living for God. They weren't living with Him. Our churches are filled with people living for God, but who don't love Him or love with Him. Hopefully that's not true of you. May we be stunned and humbled by God's grace and love that keeps our hearts dependent on Him. The Father loves the Son, so everyone born of the Father loves the Son. In fact, it also makes sense that they also love everyone else born of the Father. It's the way they honor their Father in heaven—love their fellow brothers and sisters. If the Father loves them, we love them with Him. If Jesus loves them, we love them with Him. If someone separates from/rejects one who is born of God, he dishonors the Father and might as well kill Jesus. What Jesus said about Himself is also true of us who believe in Him. We are in this world because God sent us to live to love in His name. We did not choose Him, (did not come on our own initiative) but He chose us. Faith came to us as evidence that we have proceeded forth from God—born of God. As John wrote in his letter, "as He is, so also are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). Jesus came into this world to glorify His Father by loving with Him. We are in this world to glorify the Father by living to love with Jesus. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:39-40, They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.” When Abraham heard the truth from God, he believed and obeyed. He had a place in His heart for God's word, which showed God was at work. When the devil is at work, people reject God's word and the truth, and seek a way to silence the messenger. Hold fast to the word of God and stir afresh your love for Jesus. Beware of anyone who has gone down the path of cancelling parts of the word of God. We are encouraged by these verses to love the truth. If we love the truth, we love the words of Jesus. The Pharisees and rulers of the Jews didn't love the truth. The apostle Paul speaks of those who don't love the truth in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. He spoke of… …the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. The Pharisees were obviously in accord with the activity of Satan. They were entangled in the deception of wickedness because they didn't love the truth. Therefore, God sent a deluding influence so that they would believe the lies of the devil. Loving the truth protects us from going down this road to destruction. I trust that you love the truth, because you probably wouldn't be listening to this podcast if you didn't. My aim is to lift up Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, who is the only way to the Father. Jesus has promised to be with all who believe forever. His life lived in us for the glory of His Father. What a privilege it is for us today to live for the purpose of loving with Jesus because we love the truth. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:37-38, “I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." Look around you and marvel at all the people in the media, entertainment, educational, and political world who have no place for God's word to abide. They would kill Jesus if He were here and rid the world of everyone who has an open, hungry heart for Jesus. The lines were drawn in Jesus' day, and they are clearly drawn today. Jesus and His words have and will always be the focus of our faith and love and the reason for the world's hatred, cancellation, and murder. We speak and do according to our spiritual root or source—our father. We are identified by our spiritual father. He defines us. In the big scheme of things, there are only two fathers—God and the devil. When we are born of a human father the devil's seed of sin is in us (Psalms 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me”). When we are born again by God, the Father, His seed of the Holy Spirit is planted in us, creating a place for Jesus and His word. Their father, the devil, is a murderer (that's why they wanted to kill Him). God is love. Is there a place in you for the word of the Lord? Is God's word advancing in your life? That's what the word translated place infers. If not, you may be deluded into thinking you aren't of the devil because you have heard it and know it. If God's word is taking up more space in your life and transforming the way you live, do you realize that is a merciful, gracious, miraculous work of the Father? The evidence of having a new Father is that we believe in Jesus and have His love in our lives. Jesus' word to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34) has a place in us. That's why we live to love with Jesus today. We will do the things we hear from our Lord Jesus because we are from His Father. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Sunday, September 14, 2025Pray: The greatest example!Matthew 6:9-13Today we are going to look at the greatest example of prayer in the Bible. There are many good prayers in the Bible from men and women, rich and poor, the powerful and the weak. But I believe this is the greatest example because these are instructions given to us directly from Jesus. Jesus is telling us how best to communicate with His Father and ours in Heaven.

My original blog on  this  subject  is at https://vkubik.wordpress.com/2025/05/30/church-unity-is-possible-heres-how/ Today's episode is be brought to you by the  Kubik Report staff of Bob and Stella who will discuss my blog “Church Unity is Possible. Yet, the question of uniting in spirit has been out of the the question.  Does that demean the final prayer of Jesus who prayed to His Father about His disciples that they may be one as We are One?  Is there any pathway to unity?  Here's what Bob and Stella have to say about what I wrote about Church unity.     

John 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. Jesus couldn't do anything apart from His Father. He didn't start things and then ask His Father to bless them. If Jesus didn't do anything on His own initiative, then that means His entire life was a life of receiving, like a child receives from his parents. Jesus punctuated this point when some parents brought their children for Jesus to bless them, and His disciples tried to prevent them from interrupting their conversation on marriage. It's in Mark 10:14-15. “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Apparently, the attitude necessary for entering the kingdom of God is a humble, do-nothing-on-my-own-initiative attitude, knowing our Father in heaven loves us and gives us everything we need to glorify Him in and through Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus spoke what the Father taught Him, we speak what the Father teaches us through His Son. In this instance, Jesus prophesied that the Pharisees and rulers would crucify Him. That's what is meant by “lift up the Son of Man.” What will they know? They will see Jesus receive being crucified as from the Father in heaven. He will not resist. He will not act on His own initiative to get out of what the Father wills. When they see Him abiding in His Father's work, they will know that He is the Son of God and the Messiah. God has not called us to die for the sins of the world, so when difficult and dangerous situations arise, we don't naively ignore opportunities God provides to escape from them. However, when there is no avenue of escape, then we can expect God to give grace to suffer and love for those who cause it. Living to love with Jesus occurs as we abide in Him, doing nothing of our own initiative. Like Jesus, we are to receive all of life from the Father, with its circumstances and relationships, whether comforting and encouraging, or painful and grievous. We trust that He will give us the ideas, inclinations, motivations, and wisdom that each situation requires as we look to Him for grace. We glorify the Father through being most satisfied in His will and love as we receive what comes from our Father. Jesus said that apart from Him, we can do nothing (Jo. 15:5). The heart of Jesus is in us, so may we humble ourselves and wait on Him to initiate our words and actions. As we live abiding in Christ, others will know that we are children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

His Father's Son As we celebrate the 59th anniversary of Star Trek, we sit down with legend Phil Morris. From his childhood debut on The Original Series to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, DS9, and Voyager, Phil shares stories from a lifetime in the Trek universe. We also dive into his storied career as DC superheroes, his turn as an infamous TV lawyer (Seinfeld), and his inspiring podcast with sister, Iona. Follow Phil Morris https://www.instagram.com/thephilmorris? https://www.facebook.com/philmorrisfanpage

 Check out “The Vison is Possible” with Iona and Phil Morris
https://www.youtube.com/@TheVisionIsPossible Associate Producers: Sailor Marj, Karen Dramera, and Stephanie Baker Thank you to Dena Massenburg for our dope logo: @blackbeanz70 Music: “Poppin off the Rip”
 Artist: RAGE
Source: YouTube Audio Library SUPPORT US ON PATREON:
https://www.patreon.com/syfysistas SUBSCRIBE > LIKE > SHARE:
https://linktr.ee/syfysistas You can find the SyFy Sistas and our family of podcasts on The Trek Geeks Podcasts Network: https://trekgeeks.com 

 FANSETS - Our pins... have character. Thank you to our friends at FanSets for being the presenting sponsor of the Trek Geeks Podcasts. Tune in to this episode to get an exclusive code and score 10% off your entire purchase! https://fansets.com STRANGER COMICS - THE BEST IN FANTASY COMICS! Tune in to this episode to get an exclusive code and score 10% off your entire purchase! http://www.strangercomics.com/

His Father's Son As we celebrate the 59th anniversary of Star Trek, we sit down with legend Phil Morris. From his childhood debut on The Original Series to Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, DS9, and Voyager, Phil shares stories from a lifetime in the Trek universe. We also dive into his storied career as DC superheroes, his turn as an infamous TV lawyer (Seinfeld), and his inspiring podcast with sister, Iona. Follow Phil Morris https://www.instagram.com/thephilmorris? https://www.facebook.com/philmorrisfanpage

 Check out “The Vison is Possible” with Iona and Phil Morris
https://www.youtube.com/@TheVisionIsPossible Associate Producers: Sailor Marj, Karen Dramera, and Stephanie Baker Thank you to Dena Massenburg for our dope logo: @blackbeanz70 Music: “Poppin off the Rip”
 Artist: RAGE
Source: YouTube Audio Library SUPPORT US ON PATREON:
https://www.patreon.com/syfysistas SUBSCRIBE > LIKE > SHARE:
https://linktr.ee/syfysistas You can find the SyFy Sistas and our family of podcasts on The Trek Geeks Podcasts Network: https://trekgeeks.com 

 FANSETS - Our pins... have character. Thank you to our friends at FanSets for being the presenting sponsor of the Trek Geeks Podcasts. Tune in to this episode to get an exclusive code and score 10% off your entire purchase! https://fansets.com STRANGER COMICS - THE BEST IN FANTASY COMICS! Tune in to this episode to get an exclusive code and score 10% off your entire purchase! http://www.strangercomics.com/

John 8:26-27 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world. They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. When we read the words of Jesus, we are reading the words of God, His Father! His words are true. We can believe them and rely on them. They are life-giving and fruit-producing. To receive and heed His words is to love the Father and the Son. Receiving the words of Christ is also vital to living to love with Him. Jesus left His disciples with these words, recorded in John 15:7-11. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit [the fruit is faith and love], and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. God has called all of the followers of His Son to life in and with Christ. Jesus came to love with His Father as He abided in Him and His words. We love with Jesus as we abide in Him and His words. These words, spoken in the world, are the words of the Father and they are true. This begs a question. Are we more interested in reading and digesting the words of the world than we are the words of our God and creator? If so, may we repent and renew our minds with the words of God. May we stir our love for Jesus afresh by meditating on His words and not be afraid to speak them to the world. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

John 8:25 So they were saying to Him, "Who are You?" Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning? In John's first epistle, he wrote what they heard from the beginning. 1 John 1:1, 5-7. What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life —This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Jesus is the Word of Life and revealed that God is Light by walking in the light of His Father's word. We have the light of Life in us, and that light is the love of God. We are sent into this world just as Jesus was sent. As we live to love with Jesus we bring His light into the world. This is an issue of identity. They asked Jesus, “Who are You?” He had told them that He was the Light of the world. We live to love because of who Jesus is and who we are. We are His children within whom the Light of Life, the Light of the world, dwells. His light shines through us as we love with Him. Every small act of love from the life of Jesus in you is a flash of light in the darkness. Don't think that only the big things matter or that love can only be shown on a large stage in front of many people. A glass of water given in love to your child is evidence of the Light of the world. A kind word of encouragement to the grocery clerk can bring glory to God if it's through Christ. May we live your lives in such a way that others will ask the question, “Who are you?” Let's be ready to share with others who we are and the hope we have in Jesus. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

SCRIPTURE: John 17:20-26 SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. In this high priestly prayer, Jesus first prays to the Father for His glorification and His soon return to heaven. The second part is His prayer for the Eleven Disciples, asking for their protection and sanctification. Finally, Jesus prays for future believers (John 17:20-26). As Jesus considered future followers who would believe in Him through the testimony of the Eleven, He asked His Father for two things: unity and glorification. II pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." John 17:21 The purpose of this unity is so that the world might believe that the Father sent the Son, meaning that Jesus is God's Son. The display of mutual love among Jesus' disciples demonstrates that they are His followers. Their love for one another shows that they genuinely follow His teachings and have His life. "I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them." John 17:26Closing Thoughts … · Jesus glorified the Father on earth. · He completed the work that the Father had given Him to do. · He revealed the Father's name to His own. · Jesus shared the Father's words with the disciples. · He cared for them just like the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. · He sent them out into the world. · Holy Father, guard those You have given Me.SONG: "Our God Will Go Before Us" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmEYeZB8dDI&list=RDTmEYeZB8dDI&start_radio=1

Title: Lessons from the Life of Isaac Passage: Genesis 26:1-33 The Promises of God Renewed (vv. 1-5) Isaac Follows in the Footsteps of His Father's Sin (vv. 6-11) Isaac Follows in the Footsteps of his Father's Faith (vv. 12-26) The Unmistakable Results of the Life of Faith (vv. 27-33)

Do you feel like no matter how many lists you make, routines you try, or books you read—you're still overwhelmed? You're not alone. As Christian working moms, the pressure to do it all can leave us exhausted, anxious, and wondering if peace is even possible. In this episode of Faith Led Working Moms, I unpack the biblical fix for overwhelm that doesn't come from hustling harder but from surrendering to God's design for rest and peace. We'll look at the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and how God met him in burnout with food, rest, and renewal before calling him forward. And we'll see how Jesus modeled a pace of life that wasn't controlled by constant demands, but by His Father's priorities. If you've ever thought, “Why am I always overwhelmed no matter what I try?” this episode will help you shift from striving to surrender so you can walk in the peace God promises. ✨ Plus—a quick reminder that this week wraps up the Summer Reset Sale on my Faithfully Balanced course. If you've been longing for practical, faith-centered ways to create balance, guard your boundaries, and restore peace in your daily life, don't miss this chance to grab it at a special price. Details are here! https://bit.ly/faithfullybalanced What You'll Learn in This Episode: Why overwhelm doesn't go away just by working harder The surprising way God cared for Elijah in his burnout (and what it means for moms today) How Jesus responded to endless demands without living in hurry or pressure A simple 3-step framework you can use today to release overwhelm and find peace Encouragement to surrender your to-do list and trust God with what you can't finish     ✨ Free Resources for You: Want more encouragement and practical tools? Join our community of moms inside the Faith Led Working Moms Facebook group where you'll find free resources, biblical encouragement, and support from other Christian moms walking this same journey.

2 Kings 16 deals with Ahaz's succession to Judah's throne. He was one of the worst kings to sit on the southern throne as the Isaiah prophecy records. Ahaz sacrificed his firstborn son to Molech and passed the younger brother of the slain infant, Hezekiah, through the fire scarring him greatly. Tiglath Pileser, the Assyrian king came and put Judah under tribute. Ahaz took the silver and gold from the temple to avert ruination. The idolatrous Ahaz sent Urijah the priest to copy the altar in Damascus and set up a duplicate in Judah. The substitution by Ahaz of the true altar with the Syrian altar is equivalent to the very human tendency in all ages to replace the commandments of God with the traditions of men verses Matthew 15 verses 1-9. Thus, the incident teaches a timeless lesson. Ahaz destroyed the laver to give the bronze to the Assyrians. It was during the end of Ahaz' reign and the start of Hezekiah's rule that the Immanuel prophecies of Isaiah chapters 7-11 were written. Ezekiel 6 tells of the destruction of the idols and the incense altars. Verses 1-7 proclaims the LORD's intention to destroy these altars. Ironically this would be done by a totally idolatrous nation - the Babylonians. The end of the seventh verse picks up the refrain that is used over sixty times throughout Ezekiel's prophecy verses "And they shall know that I am Yahweh". Verses 8-10 declare that their Sovereign would leave to Judah a remnant to be His witnesses. That remnant of the nation will be preserved by the Almighty for future salvation. Verses 11-14 tell us that the Almighty asks His people to endorse the justice of His judgments, and the refrain is again used in verse 13. In Luke 2 we have the record of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole world was turned upside down by the decree of Caesar Augustus that there must be a census. This required vast movements of people to their ancestral homes. Joseph and his heavily pregnant wife, Mary, are caused to go to Bethlehem. When there was no room in the inn (Chimham's lodging house from the time of king David) they found lodging among the cattle. In such humble circumstances the king of the world is born. A multitude of angels appear to the Bethlehem shepherds, who were watching over the lambs which were to be sacrificed at the next Passover. The message of the angels was that when God is glorified in the earth then there would be peace among men of good will. We then find the record of Jesus being taken to the temple for the required offerings. Mary's offerings were for those of the poorest. We are told of the faithful Anna and Simeon who were in expectation of Messiah's redemption of the nation. Jesus is taken by Joseph and Mary to Egypt in order to escape Herod the Great's slaughter of the babes of Bethlehem (this is recorded in Matthew 2). Luke takes up the story after Herod's death, when they were returned from Egypt and their moving to Nazareth in Galilee. Here Jesus remains until the age of twelve when he went with his parents to the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus became "lost" when the family was returning to Galilee. When the family came to Jerusalem seeking for Jesus, they found him in the temple discussing the Law with the doctors of the Law. What child was this? The record tells us that as well as hearing these learned men Jesus was also asking questions of them. Our Lord gave the rejoinder to Joseph, his stepfather and Mary - where else did you think I would be? It is my Father's business that motivates me. Mary kept these matters in her heart and often pondered them. On returning to Nazareth, he took the appropriate role of an obedient child. Jesus' wisdom increased rapidly, as did the pleasure of His Father in His wonderful Son. People found him amiable and agreeable in every capacity.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow at https://christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

Sunday, 7 September 2025   On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Matthew 13:1   “And in that day, Jesus, having departed from the house, He sat by the sea” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 12 finished with Jesus saying that whoever does the will of His Father in heaven is His brother and sister and mother. Chapter 13 now begins with, “And in that day.”   Such words as this will have various meanings based on the context. For example, the Lord may say, “In that day, I will rescue Israel.” Or we may read of the “Day of the Lord.” Such days actually reflect past or future events or extended periods of time. The same terminology is used in English as well.   However, there is no need to assume anything other than a literal rendering of the word here. Therefore, it is either referring to the previous verses or to something coming in the verses ahead. The most obvious and likely meaning is the day on which He had already been speaking. That this is likely is seen in the next words, where it says, “Jesus, having departed from the house.”   Jesus was specifically noted as being inside based on the words of Matthew 12:46 –   “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.”   Noting His mother and brothers were outside means that He was inside. Now, having departed from that house, it next says, “He sat by the sea.”   This is the Sea of Galilee. The narrative is preparing to enter into more words from Jesus by introducing the location and circumstances.   Life application: Because Jesus was in a house, only a certain number of people could hear His words. That is clearly evidenced by the fact that His mother and brothers wanted to speak with Him. He was engaging the scribes and Pharisees in one setting. Even though His words are recorded now for all to know what went on in the house, at the time, what He said was not heard by the people.   However, Jesus' heading out and sitting by the sea is a purposeful decision to allow His coming words to be heard and considered by many more people. As you read the gospels, think about what is going on in the surrounding context.   Jesus walks in various locations at various times. If the name of the location is given, it is certain that particular information is being provided to understand a greater picture. It is as if His very movements are forming a picture for us to consider.   Likewise, when He says something, it is quite possible that His words are fulfilling other pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures. For example, Jesus said, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).   In that sentence, Jesus equates Himself to the manna given to Israel in the wilderness. That is explained more fully in the surrounding words. But Jesus also noted that He comes down from heaven. In Hebrew, the word yarad, to descend, is used. It is where the name Jordan, or in Hebrew yarden, is derived.   In studying the uses of yarden in the Old Testament, amazing pictures of Christ, the Descender, will be seen. The very topography of the land of Israel is noted in Scripture to tell us greater stories of Jesus, His work, and how it applies to His people.   But typology can be manipulated. It is easy to “make anything say anything” and claim that is what the Bible is saying. So be careful as you read the word and make conclusions about things you read. Also, be careful about how people present typology.   Something may sound right, but be completely wrong. There must be a reasonable connection to what is being said, and the typological representations must be consistently used. If they are properly searched out and presented, truly amazing stories of God's redemptive plans will shine through.   Consider what God is telling you, both on the surface and how it points to Jesus. This is what Jesus told us would be the case as we read this precious word –   “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39   Lord God, what an intricate and amazing word You have given us. There are many levels of information being conveyed to us all at the same time. Your word is a marvel and a delight for our minds to consider, wonder at, and rejoice in. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.  

Series: Signs & GloryTitle: How Do We Become People of the Towel?Subtitle: Scripture: John 13:1-17Philippians 2:6-8Mark 10:45Bottom line: We become people of the towel when we believe Jesus' love, receive his cleansing, and follow his example.INTRODUCTIONCONTEXTSERMON OUTLINECONCLUSIONNOTESOUTLINESQUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DISCUSSION QUESTIONSMAIN REFERENCES USEDOpening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same. INTRODUCTION“In 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq, I sat glued to my television set for days and watched the amazing footage that was broadcast. One scene that stands out in my mind from those days was the jubilant celebration of the Iraqi people as U.S. Marines pulled down a forty-foot statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. The statue was torn from its pedestal and dragged through the streets, and children were shown riding on the head of the statue as if it were a sled. But I also remember the way in which the people of Iraq used their shoes or their sandals to pound against the statue and the posters of Saddam that were still being displayed in Baghdad. The commentators explained that among the Iraqi people, to beat a person or even a person's image with one's shoe is to show the deepest possible form of contempt for that person...The Iraqi people's actions helped me understand the depth of lowliness to which Jesus stooped when He handled His disciples' filthy feet in this ritual of cleansing. We have already discussed the fact that in antiquity, when a rabbi had disciples, they typically acted as his servants. However, they were never required to wash the rabbi's feet; that task was reserved for slaves. But even some slaves were spared this task. Within Israel, if a Jewish person had a Jewish slave, the slave owner was not permitted to require that slave to wash his feet. Only a Gentile slave could be required to perform such a menial task. So the fact that Jesus Himself undertook this task, and that He did it during Holy Week, fills this narrative with theological and ethical significance for us.”John - An Expositional Commentary, R.C. SproulBottom line: We become people of the towel when we believe Jesus' love, receive his cleansing, and follow his example.CONTEXT"Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Sunday, and on Monday had cleansed the temple. Tuesday was a day of conflict as the religious leaders sought to trip Him up and get evidence to arrest Him. These events are recorded in Matthew 21–25. Wednesday was probably a day of rest, but on Thursday He met in the Upper Room with His disciples in order to observe Passover...What was this divinely appointed “hour”? It was the time when He would be glorified through His death, resurrection, and ascension. From the human point of view, it meant suffering; but from the divine point of view, it meant glory."Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 344). Victor Books.OUTLINE (w/ help from Kent Hughes and ChatGPT)I. Believe the Heart of His Love (John 13:1–3)• Jesus loved His own “to the end” — pointing to the cross (Romans 5:8).• His mission has always been loving service: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45• Application: You cannot serve others well until you rest secure in Jesus' agape love for you.II. Be Washed by His Cleansing (John 13:4–11)• Jesus lays aside His garment and stoops to wash dirty feet — a preview of the cross.• Peter resists, but Jesus insists: “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.”• Only the Servant who came to save (Luke 19:10) can cleanse us fully.• Application: Humble service flows only from hearts first cleansed by Jesus' sacrifice.III. Follow His Example in Humble Service (John 13:12–17)• After washing, He asks: “Do you understand what I have done to you?”• If the Lord and Teacher has washed feet, we must do likewise.• Paul echoes this: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus… He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5–8).• Application: Knowing His love and cleansing, we pick up the towel and bless others through ordinary, humble acts of service.⸻"The Upper Room Discourse begins with a dramatic call to follow Christ's example as a servant--to be people of the towel." -Hughes"How do we become people of the towel?We must observe the marvelous example of our foot-washing Lord and Savior and then listen to Jesus' challenge: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'Perhaps most important, we must have the quality of Jesus' heart. 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.'Finally, we become people of the towel by realizing who we are. The power, the impetus, and the grace to wash one another's feet is proportionate not only to how we see Jesus but how we see ourselves. Our Lord saw himself as King of kings, and he washed the disciples' feet. Recovery of a kingly consciousness will hallow and refine our entire lives. We are 'a royal priesthood.' (1 Peter 2:9)" -Hughes"If you know these things, blessed areyou if you do them." John 13:17The Heart of the Servant (13:1-3)"The final sentence gives us his heart: "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." The servant's heart is a heart of love. A story about Czar Nicholas I of Russia tells us something of that love. The czar was greatly interested in a young man because he had been friends with the young man's father. When that young man came of age, Czar Nicholas gave him a fine position in the army. He also stationed him in a place of responsibility at one of the great fortresses of Russia. The young man was responsible for the monies and finances of a particular division of the army.The young man did quite well at first, but as time went along, he became quite a gambler. Before long he had gambled his entire fortune away. He borrowed from the treasury and also gambled that away, a few rubles at a time.One day he heard there was going to be an audit of the books the next day. He went to the safe, took out his ledger, and figured out how much money he had, then subtracted the amount he had taken. As he sat at the table, overwhelmed at the astronomical debt, he took out his pen and wrote, "A great debt, who can pay?" Not willing to go through the shame of what would happen the next day, he took out his revolver and covenanted with himself that at the stroke of midnight he would take his life.It was a warm and drowsy night, and as the young man sat at the table, he dozed off. Now, Czar Nicholas had a habit of putting on a common soldier's uniform and visiting some of his outposts. On that very night he came to that particular great fortress, and as he inspected it, he saw a light on in one of the rooms. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. He tried the latch, opened the door, and went in. There was the young man. The czar recognized him immediately. When he saw the note on the table and the ledgers laid out, his first impulse was to wake the young man and arrest him. But, overtaken with a wave of generosity, he instead took the pen that had fallen out of the soldier's hand and wrote one word on the paper, then tiptoed out of the room.About an hour later the young man woke up and reached for his revolver, realizing that it was much after twelve. Then his eyes fell upon his note: "A great debt, who can pay?" He saw immediately that one word had been added -"Nicholas." The young man dropped the gun, ran to the files, thumbed through some correspondence, and found the czar's signature. The note was authentic! The realization struck him —"The czar has been here and knows all my guilt. But he has undertaken my debt, and I will not have to die." The young man trusted in the czar's word, and sure enough, the needed monies came?The czar's love, paying the price for his guilty young friend, was only a faint shadow of the atoning love of Christ. Nicholas's deed was an easy matter for him —as easy as signing his name. But the atoning love of Jesus cost him everything!The tenses at the end of verse 1, "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end," means that in the whole range of Christ's contact with his disciples he loved them!" -HughesThe Example of the Servant (13:4-11)The Challenge of the Servant (13:12-17)"According to John, the Lord gave the disciples two explanations of his washing of their feet - one while he was engaged in washing them, and the other after he had taken his place with them at the supper table again. The former, as we have seen, is theological in character: the foot-washing symbolizes Jesus' humbling himself to endure the death of the cross and the cleansing efficacy of his death for the believer. The latter, unfolded in verses 12-17, is practical in character: Jesus has washed their feet in order that from his example they may learn to perform similar service one for another.There is no incongruity between the two explanations; it is quite unnecessary to suppose that they must be due to two different authors. The second explanation is very much in line with Luke's account of the conversation which took place between the Lord and the disciples at the Last Supper (Luke 22:24-27), in which he drew their attention to his own example; but in Mark's counterpart to that conversation, which appears in an earlier context (Mark 10:35-45), Jesus' example of lowly service is brought into the closest association with the sacrifice of the cross: if any one of their number wants to be first, he 'must be slave of all' - because 'the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'. The close association of the two themes in this Johannine context, accordingly, is perfectly natural`..." -FF BruceJudas was an unbeliever (John 6:64–71), so he did not have a “shield of faith” to use to ward off Satan's attacks...Even in His humiliation, our Lord had all things through His Father. He was poor and yet He was rich. Because Jesus knew who He was, where He came from, what He had, and where He was going, He was complete master of the situation. You and I as believers know that we have been born of God, that we are one day going to God, and that in Christ we have all things; therefore, we ought to be able to follow our Lord's example and serve others...What Jesus knew helped determine what Jesus did (John 13:4–5)...The Father had put all things into the Son's hands, yet Jesus picked up a towel and a basin! His humility was not born of poverty, but of riches. He was rich, yet He became poor (2 Cor. 8:9). A Malay proverb says, “The fuller the ear is of rice-grain, the lower it bends.”...Jesus was the Sovereign, yet He took the place of a servant. He had all things in His hands, yet He picked up a towel...It has well been said that humility is not thinking meanly of yourself; it is simply not thinking of yourself at all. True humility grows out of our relationship with the Father.Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 345). Victor Books.Rick Warren used to say, "Humility isn't thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less."We today, just like the disciples that night, desperately need this lesson on humility. The church is filled with a worldly spirit of competition and criticism as believers vie with one another to see who is the greatest. We are growing in knowledge, but not in grace (see 2 Peter 3:18). “Humility is the only soil in which the graces root,” wrote Andrew Murray. “The lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure.”The word translated “wash” in John 13:5–6, 8, 12, and 14 is nipto and means “to wash a part of the body.” But the word translated “washed” in John 13:10 is louo and means “to bathe all over.” The distinction is important, for Jesus was trying to teach His disciples the importance of a holy walk.When the sinner trusts the Saviour, he is “bathed all over” and his sins are washed away and forgiven (see 1 Cor. 6:9–11; Titus 3:3–7; and Rev. 1:5). “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:17). However, as the believer walks in this world, it is easy to become defiled. He does not need to be bathed all over again; he simply needs to have that defilement cleansed away. God promises to cleanse us when we confess our sins to Him (1 John 1:9).But why is it so important that we “keep our feet clean”? Because if we are defiled, we cannot have communion with our Lord. “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me” (John 13:8). The word translated “part” is meros, and it carries the meaning here of “participation, having a share in someone or something.” When God “bathes us all over” in salvation, He brings about our union with Christ; and that is a settled relationship that cannot change. (The verb wash in John 13:10 is in the perfect tense. It is settled once and for all.) However, our communion with Christ depends on our keeping ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). If we permit unconfessed sin in our lives, we hinder our walk with the Lord; and that is when we need to have our feet washed.Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 346). Victor Books.Referring to Jesus humbling himself and cf. to Philippians 2:5-9, RC Sproul writes, “It was not His deity but His dignity that Jesus laid aside. He emptied Himself of the glory that He enjoyed with His Father from all eternity. He laid aside His prerogatives as the second person of the Trinity. For the sake of His people, He descended from glory to lay down His life.”“That is proper, for Jesus was not instituting a sacrament that was to be repeated on a regular basis among the people of God, and we know that for this reason: the central significance of Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet has to do with baptism, which is the sacrament of the entrance into the new covenant. Baptism signifies many things, but at the very heart of the symbolism of baptism is the idea of cleansing” -R.C. Sproul“He knew who would betray him, but He washed all their feet, even the feet of Judas, but not without the warning that the cleansing He spoke of would not apply to every one of them.”“Those who give themselves in service to others find deep joy in it.”Excerpt FromJohn - An Expositional CommentaryR.C. SproulCONCLUSION"The Upper Room Discourse begins with a dramatic call to follow Christ's example as a servant--to be people of the towel." -HughesHow do we become people of the towel?We must observe the marvelous example of our foot-washing Lord and Savior and then listen to Jesus' challenge: 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.'Perhaps most important, we must have gthe quality of Jesus' heart. 'Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.'Finally, we become people of the towel by realizing who we are. The power, the impetus, and the grace to wash one another's feet is proportionate not only to how we see Jesus but how we see ourselves. Our Lord saw himself as King of kings, and he washed the disciples' feet. Recovery of a kingly consciousness will hallow and refine our entire lives. We are 'a royal priesthood.' (1 Peter 2:9)"If you know these things, blessed areyou if you do them." John 13:17This basic truth of Christian living is beautifully illustrated in the Old Testament priesthood. When the priest was consecrated, he was bathed all over (Ex. 29:4), and that experience was never repeated. However, during his daily ministry, he became defiled; so it was necessary that he wash his hands and feet at the brass laver in the courtyard (Ex. 30:18–21). Only then could he enter the holy place and trim the lamps, eat the holy bread, or burn the incense...We can learn an important lesson from Peter: don't question the Lord's will or work, and don't try to change it. He knows what He is doing...John was careful to point out that Peter and Judas were in a different relationship with Jesus. Yes, Jesus washed Judas' feet! But it did Judas no good because he had not been bathed all over. Some people teach that Judas was a saved man who sinned away his salvation, but that is not what Jesus said. Our Lord made it very clear that Judas had never been cleansed from his sins and was an unbeliever (John 6:64–71)...John 13:17 is the key—“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” The sequence is important: humbleness, holiness, then happiness. Aristotle defined happiness as “good fortune joined to virtue … a life that is both agreeable and secure.” That might do for a philosopher, but it will never do for a Christian believer! Happiness is the by-product of a life that is lived in the will of God. When we humbly serve others, walk in God's paths of holiness, and do what He tells us, then we will enjoy happiness...The servant (slave) is not greater than his master; so, if the master becomes a slave, where does that put the slave? On the same level as the master! By becoming a servant, our Lord did not push us down: He lifted us up! He dignified sacrifice and service. You must keep in mind that the Romans had no use for humility, and the Greeks despised manual labor. Jesus combined these two when He washed the disciples' feet. The world asks, “How many people work for you?” but the Lord asks, “For how many people do you work?" When I was ministering at a conference in Kenya, an African believer shared one of their proverbs with me: “The chief is servant of all.” How true it is that we need leaders who will serve and servants who will lead. G.K. Chesterton said that a really great man is one who makes others feel great, and Jesus did this with His disciples by teaching them to serve...Be sure to keep these lessons in their proper sequence: humbleness, holiness, happiness. Submit to the Father, keep your life clean, and serve others. This is God's formula for true spiritual joy.Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 347). Victor Books.“We can transfer that warning to everyone reading this book. If you are reading this and have not been washed by Christ, you will have no part with Him in the Father's house. Jesus was preparing His disciples for that cleansing that would once and for all deliver them from their sin” -R.C. Sproul“We've already seen Jesus making the point in the final weeks of His life, “Unless you're willing to participate in My humiliation, you have no part in My exaltation.” Our very baptism is a sign not only of our being raised with Christ, but of our being buried with Christ. It is a sign that we join Him in His humiliation so that we may have a part in His glory.”“Jesus told Simon, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean” (v. 10a). In the ancient world, when a person took a bath, he was clean until he walked outside in the dust in his bare feet or in open sandals. He could keep the rest of his body relatively clean, but his feet got dirty quickly. That's why there was the ritual of the cleansing of the feet without having to take a complete bath. Jesus told Peter, “When I wash your feet, I make you clean all over.” One touch of the cleansing power of Christ cleanses us from all sin.” -RC SproulIllustration:In 1912, when the Titanic struck the iceberg, there weren't enough lifeboats. Hundreds were left in the freezing Atlantic waters. One survivor later testified that while clinging to debris, she heard a man swimming from person to person, shouting, “Are you saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!” That man was John Harper, a Scottish pastor. He gave away his life jacket to another passenger, and with his last breaths he pleaded with people to turn to Christ before they slipped under the waves.Connection to Sermon:Like those passengers, every one of us is sinking without Christ. The signs have been given, the call is clear—Jesus is the light of the world, sent not to condemn but to save. His words are life, but they will also be our judge. Don't harden your heart. Step into His light today while there is still time.INVITATIONWhat about you? Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭36‬-‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions: What is God saying to me right now?What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper. What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don't have to get too specific to give him praise.Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)PrayNOTES"In 1970 I was among 12,300 delegates to Inter-Varsity's Urbana conven-tion, where we heard John Stott give a masterful application of the truth of this passage. He told a story about Samuel Logan Brengle:In 1878 when William Booth's Salvation Army had just been so named, men from all over the world began to enlist. One man, who had once dreamed of himself as a bishop, crossed the Atlantic from America to England to enlist. He was a Methodist minister, Samuel Logan Brengle. And he now turned from a fine pastorate to join Booth's Salvation Army. Brengle later became the Army's first American-born commissioner. But at first Booth accepted his services reluctantly and grudgingly. Booth said to Brengle, "You've been your own boss too long." And in order to instill humility into Brengle, he set him to work cleaning the boots of the other trainees. And Brengle said to himself, "Have I followed my own fancy across the Atlantic in order to black boots?" And then as in a vision he saw Jesus bending over the feet of rough, unlettered fishermen. "Lord," he whispered, "You washed their feet: I will black their boots."If we are to count ourselves as followers of Christ, there must be humble service in our lives. We must be people of the towel." -Hughes"Perhaps as good a commentary as any on our passage is supplied by the following paragraph from the biography of Robert Cleaver Chapman:No task was too lowly for Chapman. Visitors were particularly impressed by his habit of cleaning the boots and shoes of his guests.Indeed, it was on this point he met with most resistance, for those who stayed with him were conscious that despite the simplicity of his house he was a man of good breeding, and when they had heard him minister the Word with gracious authority, they were extremely sensitive about allowing him to perform so menial a task for them. But he was not to be resisted. On one occasion a gentleman, having regard no doubt to his host's gentle birth and high spiritual standing, refused at first to let him take away his boots. 'T insist', was the firm reply. 'In former days it was the practice to wash the saints' feet. Now that this is no longer the custom, I do the nearest thing, and clean their shoes." -FF BruceOUTLINESee aboveQUESTIONS TO CONSIDERWhat do I want them to know? Why do I want them to know it?What do I want them to do?Why do I want them to do it?How do they do this?DISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/Read the passage together.Retell the story in your own words.Discovery the storyWhat does this story tell me about God?What does this story tell me about people?If this is really true, what should I do?What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)Who am I going to tell about this?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastAlternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:Who is God?What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)What do I do? (In light of who I am)How do I do it?Final Questions (Write this down)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?MAIN REFERENCES USED“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent HughesExalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh WredbergThe Gospels & Epistles of John, FF BruceJohn, RC SproulJohn, KöstenbergerThe Gospel According to John, DA CarsonLet's Study John, Mark JohnstonThe Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgThe Bible Project https://bibleproject.comNicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersionClaude.aiChatGPT AIGrok AIPerplexity.aiGoogle Gemini AI

Saturday, 6 September 2025   For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50   “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,' he – he is – My brother and sister and mother” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus extended His hand toward the disciples and exclaimed, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” In order to explain that, He next says, “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens.'”   Jesus sets the parameters for whom He is referring from the previous verse, explaining what He meant. But what is the “determination of My Father” that He is referring to? The answer to the thought is found in John 6 –   “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' 29 Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'” John 6:26   This explains what Jesus is referring to. Jesus is not (by a long shot) telling His hearers that they must observe the Law of Moses. That is what Jesus came to fulfill. He is not telling us that He is kin to the stock of Israel and that we must bless them to receive a blessing, even if His literal descent is from Israel. He does not say that those who have big churches full of wealthy congregants are His family.   The famous, beautiful, athletic, politically connected, royalty, etc., are excluded without believing in Jesus. Cutting out all categories of people, Jesus identifies those whom He is referring to as those doing “the ‘determination of'” His Father. To exactingly identify them, He next closes out Matthew 12, emphatically saying, “he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”   Genealogy is excluded. This is why Paul says –    “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29   Paul further says –   “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 1:20, 21   It is true that at the time of Jesus' ministry, those of Israel who were under the law were expected to observe the law. Nobody should dispute that. But Jesus' words in John 6, as explained by Paul and the other apostles in the epistles, tell us that we are to have faith in the works of the Son. His works include sinless perfection in His life before the law, His death in fulfillment of it, and His resurrection, which proved that it was so. Belief in this is what God expects of His people. This is the good news of Jesus Christ.   Life application: To cut out much of the theological error that rushes your way from the pulpit, computer, TV screen, etc., remember what God is doing in the world as explained in Scripture. God has a plan of redemption set forth to restore humanity to Himself.   That plan of redemption is based on the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. This plan, centered on His Son, is often co-opted by those who want to control others in various ways. At the time of the early church, it was Judaizers coming in and trusting in the flesh, boasting over those they circumcised.   As the church developed, various cults and sects have arisen to pull people away from the gospel. Eventually, the church became such a large and powerful entity that it exalted itself and its doctrines above the simple gospel. Because of this, the reformation occurred.   In America, a nation that allows freedom of religion, people took advantage of others by proclaiming aberrant ideas through a manipulation of Scripture. Sometimes, there is the exalting of a particular version of Scripture, not Jesus, who is the focus of that Scripture, as a supposed necessary condition for salvation.   Today, unconditionally supporting Israel, a nation that has rejected Jesus at this point, is said to be a necessary condition for receiving God's blessing. In fact, this false teaching is explicitly taught by many supposed Jesus-centered ministries. It is Jesus, not a person, Bible version, nation, or denomination, who brings salvation.   When should believers support a church? The answer is when that church proclaims the gospel. When should believers exalt a people group or nation? The answer is when that nation exalts Jesus Christ. Israel, as a nation, has not yet done this. But unlike other nations, they are explicitly prophesied as someday doing so. For this reason, prayers for them should be raised to God that His will be done in this rebellious group of people.   At the same time, we should be willing to evangelize and pray for all people, telling them about the saving message of Jesus Christ. This alone will bring people to a right relationship with God.   “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:8-11   Lord God, thank You for the simple gospel of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Help us to have our priorities right, clearly thinking through what it means to be in a right standing before You. Your word tells us what it is! It is through faith in Him and what He has done. Yes, thank You for this simple gospel. Amen. Matthew 12   12 In that time, Jesus, He went – the Sabbaths – through the grainfields, and His disciples, they hungered, and they began to pluck kernels and eat. 2 And the Pharisees, having seen, they said to Him, “You behold! Your disciples, they do what it permits not to do in Sabbath.” 3 And He said to them, “Not you read what he did, David, when he hungered, he and those with him? 4 How he entered into the house of God and the bread ‘the before-setting' they ate, which not it is being permitted him to eat, nor those with him, if not the priests only? 5 Or not you read in the law that, the Sabbaths, the priests in the temple the Sabbath profane, and they are guiltless? 6 And I say to you that the temple – greater, it is here. 7 And if you had known what it is, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' not you condemned the guiltless. 8 For Lord, He is – even of the Sabbath – the Son of Man.”   9 And having departed thence, He went into their synagogue. 10 And, you behold! Man, he is, having a withered hand. And they queried Him, saying, ‘If it permits, the Sabbaths, to cure?' That they should accuse Him.   11 And He said to them, “What man, he will be from you, who he will have one sheep, and if this, it should fall into a pit on the Sabbaths, not he will seize it and he will raise it? 12 Therefore, how much man – he excels a sheep! So too, it permits – the Sabbaths – to do good.” 13 Then He says to the man, ‘You outstretch your hand.' And he outstretched it, and it reconstituted, healthy as the other. 14 And the Pharisees, they took counsel against Him, having gone out, how they might kill Him.   15 And Jesus, having known, He withdrew thence. And they followed Him, great crowds. And He cured them all. 16 And He admonished them that not they should make Him apparent. 17 That it should be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken' through Isaiah the prophet, saying:   18 “You behold! My Servant whom I chose, My beloved in whom it approved, My soul, I will place My Spirit upon Him, And judgment to the Gentiles, He will proclaim. 19 Not He will wrangle, nor He will clamor, Nor anyone – he will hear in the streets His voice. 20 A reed, being battered, not He will break, And flax being smoldered, not He will extinguish, Until if He ejects judgment into victory. 21 And in His name, Gentiles, they will hope.”   22 Then he was brought to Him ‘being demon possessed,' blind and mute, and He cured him, so the blind and mute speak and see. 23 And they were astounded, all the crowds. And they said, “Not any, this, He is the Son of David?”   24 And the Pharisees, having heard, they said, “This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.” 25 And Jesus, having known their thoughts, He said to them, “Every kingdom, having divided against itself, it desolates, and every city or house having divided against itself, not it will stand. 26 And if the Satan, he ejects the Satan, he divided upon himself. How then, it will stand, his kingdom? 27 And if I, I eject demons in Beelzebul, your sons – in whom do they eject? Through this they, they will be your judges. 28 And if in God's Spirit I, I eject the demons, then it preceded upon you, the ‘God's kingdom.' 29 Or how, any, he can enter into the house of the strong and his goods through-seize, if not first he should bind the strong? And then, his house he will through-seize. 30 The ‘not being with Me,' he is against me. And the ‘not gathering with Me,' he scatters.   31 Through this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy, it will be forgiven men, but the ‘Spirit blasphemy' not it will be forgiven men. 32 And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming.   33 Either you make the tree good and the fruit of it good, or you make the tree rotten and the fruit of it rotten. For from the fruit, the tree – it is known. 34 Viper's offspring! You can, how, speak good – being evil? For from the surplus of the heart, the mouth, it speaks.  35 The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects good, and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects evil. 36 And I say to you that every inactive utterance that if they will speak, men, they will render a word about it in judgment day. 37 For from your words, you will be justified, and from your words, you will be condemned.”   38 Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You.” 39 And having answered, He said to them, “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and not it will be given it, if not the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For just as Jonah, he was in the lunker's belly three days and three nights, thus He will be, the Son of Man, in the earth's heart three days and three nights. 41 Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation and they will sentence it, for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah. And you behold! Jonah's greater is here! 42 Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And you behold! Solomon's greater is here.   43 And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man, it traverses through waterless spots seeking rest, and it finds not. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.' And having come, it finds ‘holidaying,' having been swept and having been arranged. 45 Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”   46 And He yet speaking to the crowds, you behold, His mother and His brothers had stood without seeking to speak to Him. 47 And, he said, someone to Him, “You behold! Your mother and Your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.” 48 And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him', “Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?” 49 And having extended His hand to His disciples, He said, “You behold! My mother and My brothers. 50 For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,' he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." It's hard to tell whether Jesus immediately spoke to the crowd that remained after the woman's accusers left the scene, or if this occurred at another time. It is believed that John 8:1-11 was a later addition to the gospel, however, it certainly flows in a line of reason from the events of chapter 7 and those of this chapter. It makes sense that Jesus would make this comment after the differences of darkness and light were so obviously displayed. We are encouraged in our living to love with Jesus, to believe what Jesus believes and follow with Him in His purpose for life. That's what it means to follow Him. He is the Light of the world and His Life is the Light. So we are encouraged that the ones who follow Him will display the Light of His Life. I suggest that the love of God is the light of His life. God is love. Jesus is God. His love is the light of the world. There's obviously more to God than just love. For instance, God is holy, which means that His love is holy. There is no other love like His love, and we could say that about all of His attributes. I want to keep it simple for us today, by encouraging us to embrace Jesus' purpose, which is to glorify His Father by loving with Him. Jesus said in this verse, that if we follow Him, we will not walk in darkness. John reiterated Jesus' words in 1 John 1:7. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Then in 2:9-11 and 3:23-24 we see the relationship between walking in the Light and love. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes (2:9-11). This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us (3:23-24). Living to love with Jesus is God's call to us today. That's what having the light of Life looks like. May we follow Jesus as the Light of the world by being filled with the Spirit whom He has given us. The fruit of the Spirit is love. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

In John 11, we find the story of Jesus coming to Lazarus's tomb after he had died. When He arrived, Jesus said:“Go ahead, take away the stone.” They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I'm grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've spoken so that they might believe that you sent me.” Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief over his face. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” (Luke 11:41-44 MSG) It's fascinating that the first thing Jesus did was to have the stone removed that was blocking the tomb. Then to raise a man from the dead, He began by expressing gratitude to God, His Father. After thanking God for listening and responding, He commanded the man's resurrection and ultimate freedom.Think about a situation in your life where you are struggling. Is there a situation that seems hopeless - that feels dead and you desire new life.Listen once again to Jesus's main commands: “Go ahead, take away the stone.”… Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I'm grateful … Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And he came out, … Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him loose.” (Luke 11:41-44 MSG) Our stone can be rolled away to free us. Can you trust God to resurrect hope that seems dead?You can come out of your struggle with a renewed and transformed life from witnessing God's miraculous power.Let's pray together: “Father, thank You for resurrection and new life. Thank You that You have power over sin and death. Thank You that You forgive and offer real freedom. I believe You today for all these in my life. As above, so below.”

John 8:9-11 When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on, sin no more." Let's first get some clarity. The woman did commit adultery. That was implied in Jesus' remarks to her. Jesus didn't say she wasn't guilty. He said that He didn't condemn her. In John 3:17, it's difficult to know whether it is Jesus speaking or John commenting, but either way, the truth remains. Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not judge them. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” Jesus' judgment of the world occurs after His second coming. So the way Jesus responded to this woman is consistent with His purpose in coming. The apostle Paul understood this reality. He wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 4:3-5. But to me, it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore, do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. Do you get it? It is not our jurisdiction to condemn people. We are to leave it to the Lord when He returns. That's what Jesus was doing with the woman. He was waiting to condemn her until the time appointed by the Father. Psalms 34:21-22 comes to mind. It says, “Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” Perhaps Jesus could tell this woman was seeking refuge in Him, and He therefore fulfilled the Scripture when He said, “I do not condemn you, either.” In Luke's account of the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned” (Luke 6:37). That would be enough for me to turn and walk away. How about you? Let's check our hearts, friends. Is there anyone you are judging and condemning? These verses encourage us to have the same trust in God to make all things right and to judge all sins, as Jesus had in His Father. Jesus did what was in this woman's highest good. He didn't condemn her, yet He didn't overlook her sin. He told her to go and sin no more. What is your takeaway from Jesus' example and treatment of the woman caught in adultery? Will you refrain from judging others? Will you love them and encourage them not to sin anymore? We have good news to share. Everyone who takes refuge in Jesus will not be condemned, even if they are guilty. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

In the final public prayer before He went to the cross, Jesus asked His Father to bless His church to be set apart by embracing His word. For several weeks, I have looked at “set apart” teachings that are unique and help to identify the truth that Jesus taught. In this message, I look at …

Ephesians 2:1-10 - From Sinner to Saint: The Free Gift of SalvationThe gift of salvation is the greatest gift humanity could ever receive. It is the gift we have always needed but it isn't always the gift we have wanted. Tonight we will see in scripture a description from Paul of the work of God when he saves a man or woman. What happened to Chris Harding when he was saved at 16 years old? When I was in an evening church service at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, going through a sense of despair, and by faith, I asked Jesus to save me, what was God doing? What was the supernatural work of God to transform me from sinner to saint.Acts 16:31 Similarly, we can wonder about the thief on the cross. Many of us have seen the profound sermon clip from YouTube of Alistair Begg preaching about the how we are saved and his recounting of the Thief on the Cross. Alistair's point is the only Way the thief is in heaven is completely the invitation and work of Jesus Christ. We will see that the way you and I come to the cross to be saved is through the loving gift of the grace of God through Jesus Christ. From yesterday's devotion from his website Truth for Life “God could let us drown in our wretchedness. Instead, through Jesus, He grants us peace and gives us hope. We are justified; Jesus has taken our condemnation so that now, when His Father looks at us, He sees Jesus and all His perfection.”The Spiritual Condition of Humanity. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.After Paul's powerful and moving doctrine and prayer in Chapter 1, we come to a shocking contrast as he describes the spiritual state of humanity. This description of utter sinfulness - that is spiritual death - can be very difficult for us to accept and acknowledge. The reality of our sinfulness is overwhelming and the world often attempts to deny the depth of depravity that every human being carries. Situationally, people know how bad humanity can be. We will identify straw men, so to speak, that we can then hold up as pictures of evil, but rarely do we want to accept the reality of sinfulness and spiritual death that Paul describes.We are dead - spiritually dead - in our trespasses and sin. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Colossians 3:5–10 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” We were going in the wrong direction. We were not walking with God or following Jesus. We were actually following Satan. Here Paul refers to him as the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit of the day, the sons of disobedience.Ephesians 6:12 We lived in the passions of our flesh and did the desires of our flesh and our mind. (Some of you were in very restrictive environments and could not “live out” our desires but the still burned within our hearts. For some of us, it was merely the lack of opportunity that kept us from carrying out these desires. The Pharisees are a picture of this level of hypocrisy.We were children of wrath. In this dead, spiritual state - we are here because of our sinful nature and our sinful desires and actions - we are at war with God but for the believer we must be at war with sin. Either way we must fight a battle, but the unbeliever fights against God.“God's wrath is his revulsion against everlasting, his settled displeasure with sin and sinners.” Yes God loves. Yes God has mercy. But the wrath of God, the justice of God must be satisfied. The Love of God at Work through Jesus Christ.Ephesians 2:4–7 Perhaps the most hope-filled worlds in the Bible “But God” In our darkest hour, God showed his love and compassion for us. Romans 5:6–11; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Deuteronomy 3:24; Daniel 2:27–28 Let's look at what God provided for our salvation and who he is . . . Rich in mercy . . . Great love . . .Resurrected us with Christ . . . Ephesians 1:19–20 Colossians 3:1 Immeasurable riches of his grace . . . Kindness in Christ Jesus . . . Hebrews 2:14–17. Salvation is an act of mercy.Salvation is an act of love.Salvation is resurrection.Salvation is the grace and kindness of God.The Results of Receiving the Gift of God. Ephesians 2:8–10 Saved. by grace. Our condemnation has been removed. Romans 5:1 Humility. This is not your own doing. God is most glorified. Because it is the work of God, we give God all of the praise honor and glory.We are sanctified - to be like Christ - and do good works. James 2:14–17 v.23 -Abraham believed God.We are enabled to do God's work, and the work is laid out before us by God. Spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities for the glory of God.One New Man, the Body of Christ, Made Possible through Sacrifice of Jesus.Jews had the law but it had to be fulfilled. The gentiles had nothing but Creation. Through the cross we are brought together into one fellowship, one church, the body of Christ.Ephesians 2:22 “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Colossians 1:11 “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;” 

Pastor Jon Tyson reminds us that surrender is the true test of trust. Like Saul, we often rationalize partial obedience or try to control outcomes, but God asks for the final 2%. Control robs us of love, freedom, and intimacy with Him, while surrender roots us in trust just as Jesus trusted His Father with His life and future. God doesn't punish us by asking for surrender; He sees everything and knows what's best. True freedom isn't found in control, but in yielding fully to Him.

John 8:3-6 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. Having failed the previous day to arrest Jesus, they hatched another plan to publicly shame Jesus and catch Him breaking the Law of Moses. Appealing to His obvious heart of mercy and penchant for forgiving sinners, while He was teaching in the temple, they placed before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. The cultural pressure to condemn, shame, and stone this woman would have been intense. The scribes and Pharisees knew the crowd. The only honorable thing to do in this case would be to execute her on the spot. If Jesus did what they thought He would do, exercise mercy and forgiveness, He would not only violate the Law of Moses by excusing and forgiving her but also run counter to the sentiments of the crowd. They could then condemn Jesus publicly for honoring the guilty woman and breaking both societal standards and the Law of Moses. They would have the crowd's support for condemning and executing Him. Those were the grounds of their accusations. Jesus knew what was happening, but He had one purpose in life—to glorify the Father by loving with Him. Gaining the crowd's approval or escaping the trap laid for Him by the scribes and Pharisees wasn't on His radar screen. He wasn't afraid of their accusations, rather His aim was to remain blameless in His Father's eyes. My encouragement today to live to love with Jesus is that we also would have one ambition, to be pleasing to God. We would be in good company. Not only do we see this in Jesus' life, but listen to what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:9. "Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." There is a real possibility that we might face the pressure to go with the flow of the culture or even religious traditions rather than do the loving thing in some situation at work or church. I'm not suggesting that we should take an accommodating position on adultery or any sin as defined by the Scriptures. As we will see, Jesus didn't excuse the woman or make light of her sin. My aim today is to encourage us to have as our ambition to be pleasing to the Lord in all that we do. We do that by embracing His purpose in life, to live to love with His Father for the glory and pleasure of the Father. I hope you'll set your heart on making God smile as He lives in you today. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing." Join us today to learn from Jesus's example of complete dependence on His Father in prayer. If Jesus, the Son of God, prayed in his struggles, we too must pray! Chapters (00:00:00) - Pray for Matthew 26(00:01:24) - What Does It Look Like to Be Fully Alive in Prayer to God(00:04:57) - Living in Temptation(00:10:32) - Praying Like Jesus(00:18:59) - Jesus' Disclosing His Heart in Prayer(00:29:03) - How to Pray For Protection From Temptation(00:35:01) - Perseverance in Christian Prayer(00:38:43) - Clifford Baptist Church Prayer

Many of us started out the same way, fishing or hunting close to home. Our guest on today's podcast is Ohio Outdoor News Editor, Mike Moore. Mike's love for the outdoors started at a young age. His Father took him smallmouth fishing in southern Ohio streams. We talk about how the fishing and hunting industry has changed over the years and the trends he is seeing. We get into some of the craziest stories he has covered and the time spent fishing with Ohio Governor, Mike Dewine. If you love the great outdoors this podcast is for you.

The story of Jesus clearing the temple in John 2 serves as a striking metaphor for our own lives. Are we allowing our hearts to become marketplaces, cluttered with distractions and worldly pursuits? Or are we creating space for God's presence? The zeal that consumed Jesus for His Father's house should inspire us to cultivate a similar passion in our spiritual lives. This teaching urges us to let go of our comfortable traditions and allow God to 'flip the tables' in our hearts. It's a call to move beyond surface-level faith and embrace a transformative relationship with Christ that changes how we think and live. As we reflect on this, we're encouraged to ask ourselves: What's truly consuming us? Are we ready to surrender fully and let God's fire purify our hearts? Join us for service live every Sunday at 10am at 5600 Route 34 | Oswego, IL 60543. You can expect passionate worship and a deep love for God's Word. Connect with us at our website www.revivechurch.life

Pastor Michael Stephens teaches on one of the most radical elements of the Christian life—prayer. Prayer is not about formulas or manipulation but about relationship with the Father who is merciful, powerful, and faithful. Jesus models withdrawing to pray, fully confident that His Father hears and answers. From that relationship, He declares, “Ask anything in my name, and it will be done.” Pastor Michael calls us to move from general prayers to specific prayers, knowing prayer is both communion with God and a weapon to demolish strongholds. ____ Partner with New Tribe: Give | https://newtribe.church/give/ ____ Connect with New Tribe: Website | https://newtribe.church/comeexperience/ Instagram | @newtribechurch Facebook | @newtribechurch YouTube | @newtribechurch

The story in 2 Kings 6 contains small yet monumental events. The swimming axe head appears so inconsequential and insignificant, causing us to ask verses 'Why is it recorded?'. Because it demonstrates our God's care for the small, as well as the great. Next follows the tale of Elisha's being surrounded and protected by the Almighty's fiery chariots - the new prophet now carried Elijah's mantle, both literally and figuratively. He was now His Sovereign's vehicle. To the prophet's servant he asks the LORD to open the servant's eyes as Elisha says to him verses "they that be with us are more than those who are with them". Elisha teaches Israel's faithless king and the Syrian king of God's invincibility. The prophet demonstrated the mercy of his God. Finally, in Ben-Hadad's siege of Samaria we see the extremities to which the city is brought. Yahweh protects Elisha from the murderous intentions of the wicked king to teach Israel and all of the Almighty's servants to depend on their God. Lamentations 2 tells us of the untold sorrows that come of Jerusalem, the land of Judah and our Sovereign's people. Read the horrific depiction and desolation of the LORD's people. This devastation was brought by a vengeful enemy - Babylon. But of a truth the Babylonians were in fact the agents of punishment from the LORD Himself. The lesson is explained in Romans 11 verses 22-23. It is our choice as to which facet of God we want to face - goodness (mercy); or severity (retribution for our wrongs). Slowly and carefully read these verses aloud and ponder the path that you will choose to walk. In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle outlines the incontrovertible proofs of Christ's resurrection before hundreds of eyewitnesses, in many locations and over a prolonged period - 40 days verses Acts 1 verses 1-3. It could not be said that Christ was not resurrected. And thank God for that, since apart from that event our sins could not be forgiven - verses 12-19. Our Lord Jesus Christ Lord rose 3 days after his crucifixion and was the first fruits of the resurrection - his faithful disciples will join him when they are raised at his coming - verses 21-23. The process of perfecting the faithful in Christ's 1,000-year rule is described in verses 24-28. By God sending His Son to the earth to set up the long-promised kingdom. A 1,000 years later will complete this stage of the Almighty's purpose with the earth. That purpose is spoken of in Numbers 14 verses 20-21; Psalm 72 verses 1-20 - read and consider; Habakkuk 2 verses 14, 20; Revelation chapters 20-22. At this time the Lord Jesus Christ will hand over the perfect earth to his Father, who as Supreme Creator will be all and in all. How impossible are trinitarian notions when we are told that our Lord will acknowledge his subservient position to His Father, God. A short discourse follows on the need for each of us sin prone beings to be baptised, that we may be raised to eternal life. A treatise on the differences between our natural bodies and those raised and bestowed upon with the life from heaven comes next. Paul tells of the superiority of Christ over Adam, who in many ways was a parable of the Son of Man - the Christ. What a time that will soon come and how we yearn for it (read of it in Isaiah 25 verses 6-9; and Hosea 13 verses 14, as cited by the Apostle). Finally, read aloud and meditate on verses 57-58. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciateion of God's words, join again tomorrow at https verses //christadelphianvideo.org/christadelphian-daily-readings/

“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.” (Luke 18:1 NLT) Even if prayer were a difficult thing to do, which it is not, or an unpleasant thing to do, which it is not, we still would have every reason to pray because we are commanded in Scripture to do so. The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT). And Luke 18:1 tells us that Jesus used a story to show His followers “that they should always pray and never give up” (Luke 18:1 NLT). Prayer is God’s appointed way for us to obtain things. This doesn’t mean that God is like some big Santa in Heaven. He’s not standing by, ready to grant our every wish. Prayer concerns something much more important: our needs. God invites us to take our every need to Him. We see it in Paul’s words in Philippians 4. We see it in David’s psalms. We see it in Jesus’ alone time with His Father. We see it in the lives of countless Bible characters. Whatever was on their minds, whatever was in their path, whatever was impacting their lives, God wanted them to involve Him in it. Jesus said, “Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need” (Matthew 6:9–11 NLT). If you need it, God wants you to tell Him about it. Do you have needs right now? Pray about it. Do you need His provision? Pray about it. Do you need His healing touch? Pray about it. Go to God with your requests, and your heavenly Father, who knows you need these things, will hear you. James wrote, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2 NIV). Think about that. You might ask, “Why is it that I never know what the will of God is for my life?” Answer: You do not have because you do not ask God. You might ask, “Why is it that I never have the opportunity to lead people to the Lord?” Answer: You do not have because you do not ask God. You might ask, “Why don’t I feel more confident when I face spiritual battles?” Answer: You do not have because you do not ask God. I wonder how many answers to prayer would be waiting for us if we were to just pray about things. What would happen if we just said, “Lord, I’ve never actually brought this before You, but I’m praying about it now.” The worst-case scenario is that God will say no. But what if God says yes? Reflection question: What need will you take to God in prayer today? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SCRIPTURE: John 17:1-5 SHOW NOTES: For encouragement on your spiritual journey, we invite you to visit our ministry website, Discover God's Truth, where you can access additional resources to enrich your Walk with God. Today, we start a study of Jesus' prayer in John 17. This prayer is often called “Jesus' High Priestly Prayer.” It illustrates the high priestly ministry that Jesus officially began when He ascended into heaven."My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1Many believe this was spoken before Jesus and His small group of disciples left the Upper Room or while they walked across the Southern Steps on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane."After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you." John 17:1 Jesus looks toward His Father in heaven and prays. He acknowledges that the time of crisis has come – “The hour has come.” This is not a hopeless prayer; instead, Jesus looks ahead to the cross and recognizes that this is the work the Father has given Him. Jesus alone can complete this task."I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. Now, Father, bring Me into the glory We shared before the world began." John 17:4-5 SONG: "Day After Day, Jesus Reigns" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGo_lNJ6yj4&list=RDGJS31tXJJMY&index=5

https://newsongpeople.com/messages/immersed-in-scriptureImmersed in Scripture // Hearing God Series // Pastor Sarah BlountJesus didn't just know Scripture—He lived it. Every word He spoke, every choice He made, every step He took flowed from deep communion with His Father. In this message, we'll uncover Jesus's daily rhythms for hearing God clearly—through prayer, Scripture immersion, and intentional time in God's presence.1. Immersion & EncounterPurpose: Help members recognize the difference between reading for information vs. transformation.Leader Tips:Ask for examples of times they've read Scripture and felt personally met by God.Encourage them to be honest if Bible reading feels more like a checklist—this creates room for practical ideas.Follow up with: What's one change you could make to your approach this week to read expectantly?2. Memorization & MeditationPurpose: Help people reflect on which part of their engagement with Scripture is strong and which needs growth.Leader Tips:Briefly explain each phrase from Kevin DeYoung:_Submitting your will = Letting Scripture set your priorities._Committing your brain = Learning it deeply, understanding context._Humbling your heart = Being ready to obey even when it's hard.Ask them to pick one area to strengthen and share a practical step—e.g., choosing one verse to memorize this week.3. Response & SupplicationPurpose: Connect Bible engagement to life application and prayer.Leader Tips:Encourage them to think of even small ways Scripture has moved them to action—like a phone call, an apology, or a praise prayer.Ask the group to commit to one specific response from their Bible reading this week.Offer to follow up next time with a quick “How did it go?” so there's gentle accountability.#HearingGod #NewSongChurch #FriendsTalk #John15 #HearingGodsVoice #Faith #BibleTeaching #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianLiving #JesusIsSpeaking #YouCanHearGod #HearingGod #SpeakLord #VoiceOfGod #LivingWord #PrayerAndPresence #SpiritLed #FaithComesByHearing #WalkWithJesus #EveryWordMatters #ScriptureSpeaks #JesusAtTheCenter.

This is The Zone of Disruption! This is the I AM RAPAPORT: STEREO PODCAST! His name is Michael Rapaport aka The Gringo Mandingo aka aka The People's Pickle aka The Jewish Brad Pitt aka Captain Colitis aka The Disruptive Warrior and he is here to discuss: Phone Addiction 2025, rocking a weighted vest, upcoming standup shows, what's next for LeBron James, sniffing for Fantasy Football, The Epstein Rabbit Hole, Elmo's X account gets hacked, Zohran & His Father & a whole lotta mo'. This episode is not to be missed! CaptainPicks To Win In Sports Betting: https://www.winible.com/checkout/1357777109057032537?store_url=/captainpicks&c=kickoff Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Send questions & concerns to: iamrapaportpodcast@gmail.com Subscribe to Rapaport's Reality Feeds: iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/867-rapaports-reality-with-keb-171162927/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rapaports-reality-with-kebe-michael-rapaport/id1744160673 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3a9ArixCtWRhfpfo1Tz7MR Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/rapaports-reality-with-kebe-michael-rapaport/PC:1001087456 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a776919e-ad8c-4b4b-90c6-f28e41fe1d40/rapaports-reality-with-kebe-michael-rapaport Stand Up Comedy Tickets on sale at: MichaelRapaportComedy.com If you are interested in NCAA, MLB, NBA, NFL & UFC Picks/Parlays Follow @CaptainPicksWins on Instagram & subscribe to packages at www.CaptainPicks.com www.dbpodcasts.com Produced by DBPodcasts.comFollow @dbpodcasts, @iamrapaport, @michaelrapaport on TikTok, Twitter & InstagramMusic by Jansport J (Follow @JansportJ) www.JansportJMusic.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.