Podcasts about his son

When everything looked hopeless, when humanity's track record proved we could never measure up, two small words changed everything: But now. In Romans 3:19–31, we see the dramatic turning point of the gospel. God's righteousness is no longer distant or hidden in commandments. It's revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ. This message lifts listeners from despair, showing that justification isn't earned through effort. It's received through faith.This sermon peels back the layers of what Paul calls “the righteousness of God apart from the law,” helping us see the beauty of salvation that doesn't depend on human accomplishment but divine accomplishment. It's a reminder that the cross didn't just change our standing before God. It changed everything about how we live and see ourselves in Christ.In this message, you will discover:· The stunning shift that happened in salvation history with the words “But now.”· What it truly means to have “righteousness apart from the law” and why that's good news.· How faith goes beyond belief into active trust that transforms.· The mistake of basing our justification on our sanctification.· The depth of what it means that Jesus is our propitiation. The payment that satisfies.· The life-changing implications of justification: a new identity, deep humility, genuine thankfulness, and bold confidence.Support our mission and learn more atwww.alloflife.churchGive to the work of the gospel herewww.alloflife.churchcenter.com/giving

Science Assumes Intelligent Design cannot be challenged.  Christianity has assumed that Jesus is God and the debate is over. The Gospel the Apostles Preached After forty days of instruction, the apostles proclaimed: God sent, raised, and exalted Jesus. (Acts 2:22–36; 3:13; 5:30–31) Their gospel: what God did through a man, not what God became in a man. Acts 10:38 – “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth… for God was with Him.” John's Message about the Word “The Word became flesh” reveals God's wisdom and power embodied in Jesus. “My flesh… for the life of the world” shows flesh as God's provision, not incarnation. (John 1:14; 6:51) Proverbs 8:22–30 – Wisdom beside God from the beginning. The True Accusation Jesus was condemned for claiming to be the Messiah, not God Himself. Mark 14:61–64; Matthew 26:63–65; Luke 23:2–3 The inscription read: “King of the Jews,” not “God of the Jews.” (John 19:19–22) The Law of Agency In Jewish thought: “A man's agent is as himself.” Jesus spoke and acted fully in God's Name. (Exodus 23:21; John 5:43; 14:10; 17:11) Conclusion God didn't become man to save us—He sent a man, His Son, to reveal and redeem. 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 5:19; Acts 2:36The post Who Told You That? Jesus Is a God-Man first appeared on Living Hope.

God announces that because of His Son's life and death for us on the cross, we now stand before Him holy and forgiven through faith.  And now He even sends us out to share this very same Good News with others –  with our family and loved ones, friends and everyone.  You may be thinking, this can't be right.  God must have someone else in mind.  But remarkably, God invites you, and me, to be the ones to share this Good News. 

Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator MESSAGE SUMMARY: Do you struggle with your “Prayer Life”, even though you know it is the most important component of a life lived as a Jesus Follower? Abraham provides you with a model for a “Prayer Life” that works. Abraham was an awesome man, and he had things happen in his life that were both important for him and humankind down through the ages as a resultant of his “Prayer Life”. For the development of your own “Prayer Life”, you can learn from Abraham's “Prayer Life”. One of the first things Abraham did, when he went to a new location or was in a new situation, was to build an altar to the Lord and call on the Lord's name in prayer. In Genesis 12:8, Abraham's focus on and the priority given to his “Prayer Life” is described: “From there he {Abraham}moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.". Prayer was a priority for Abraham to build a place for God in his life and for his personal relationship with God. A way you can follow Abraham's example is to find an altar, a church, or a quiet place in your life to worship and pray, and to call upon the Lord's name like Abraham.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Genesis 12:7-8; Genesis 13:3-18; Genesis 22:9-14; Psalms 79:1-13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “My Grace is Sufficient” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

My Grace is Sufficient MESSAGE SUMMARY: All of us face difficulties in our lives, but how we respond to our difficulties determines the blessedness of the life that we enjoy. Paul, in Corinthians 12:7b-10, tells us that he is stricken with a “thorn in the flesh. A messenger from Satan to harass me”. Paul pleaded with God to remove this “thorn” and life difficulty from his life. However, God's response to Paul, and to us is: “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.". God's Grace is enough; it is all we need for our lives' difficulties. However, this teaching from 2 Corinthians 12 is “counter worldly”, and it flies in the face of everything that we have ever been taught outside of the Gospel. This teaching from Paul is like exercising with weights – when we begin to face our muscle “burn” in our exercise, we can either stop our exercise and gain nothing; or we can push through the difficulty of the “burn” to benefit from our exercise. As the workout slogan summarizes Paul in 2 Corinthians 12: ”No pain; no gain!”. In other words, when we encounter our life's difficulty, we push through the pain and rely on the God's Grace to make us even stronger in our faith and to realize God's power, which is manifest in us and through us. We can not live a spiritual life only in our own strength. Paul, throughout his Epistles, illustrated the Kingdom of God through God's focus on human weakness to use His power to create strength. For example in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul describes God's manifestation of His power through earthly weakness: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”. From Paul's teaching and from the way he lived his life, we learn that we should accept and own our limitations; however, we should and can push through these limitations and constraints because the Grace and power of God empower us to greater heights than what our capabilities, without God, permit us. We need to repent and change our way of thinking and to become, like Paul, completely yielded to the Lord. Paul turned every one of his Life's difficulties into a manifestation of God's power and glory. Paul was a servant of God 100% of the time! When you are weak, God is strong in you because, as God told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Corinthians 10:2-12; 2 Corinthians 11:4 -13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:13. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

How could it possibly be the will of God that His Son, Jesus Christ, should suffer and die on the cross? Join Pastor Colin as he explains how God's will prevailed in the death of Jesus.

My Grace is Sufficient MESSAGE SUMMARY: All of us face difficulties in our lives, but how we respond to our difficulties determines the blessedness of the life that we enjoy. Paul, in Corinthians 12:7b-10, tells us that he is stricken with a “thorn in the flesh. A messenger from Satan to harass me”. Paul pleaded with God to remove this “thorn” and life difficulty from his life. However, God's response to Paul, and to us is: “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.". God's Grace is enough; it is all we need for our lives' difficulties. However, this teaching from 2 Corinthians 12 is “counter worldly”, and it flies in the face of everything that we have ever been taught outside of the Gospel. This teaching from Paul is like exercising with weights – when we begin to face our muscle “burn” in our exercise, we can either stop our exercise and gain nothing; or we can push through the difficulty of the “burn” to benefit from our exercise. As the workout slogan summarizes Paul in 2 Corinthians 12: ”No pain; no gain!”. In other words, when we encounter our life's difficulty, we push through the pain and rely on the God's Grace to make us even stronger in our faith and to realize God's power, which is manifest in us and through us. We can not live a spiritual life only in our own strength. Paul, throughout his Epistles, illustrated the Kingdom of God through God's focus on human weakness to use His power to create strength. For example in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, Paul describes God's manifestation of His power through earthly weakness: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”. From Paul's teaching and from the way he lived his life, we learn that we should accept and own our limitations; however, we should and can push through these limitations and constraints because the Grace and power of God empower us to greater heights than what our capabilities, without God, permit us. We need to repent and change our way of thinking and to become, like Paul, completely yielded to the Lord. Paul turned every one of his Life's difficulties into a manifestation of God's power and glory. Paul was a servant of God 100% of the time! When you are weak, God is strong in you because, as God told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in {your} weakness.”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Corinthians 10:2-12; 2 Corinthians 11:4 -13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-33; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11; Philippians 4:13. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Do You Struggle with Your “Prayer Life”? Find a Quiet Place for Your Personal Relationship with God and Pray to the Universe's Creator”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

What is the Last Judgment?Christ's Second Coming gives the Son of God this gift: To hear the Voice for God proclaim that what is false is false, and what is true has never changed. And this the judgment is in which perception ends. At first you see a world that has accepted this as true, projected from a now corrected mind. And with this holy sight, perception gives a silent blessing and then disappears, its goal accomplished and its mission done.The Final Judgment on the world contains no condemnation. For it sees the world as totally forgiven, without sin and wholly purposeless. Without a cause, and now without a function in Christ's sight, it merely slips away to nothingness. There it was born, and there it ends as well. And all the figures in the dream in which the world began go with it. Bodies now are useless, and will therefore fade away, because the Son of God is limitless.You who believed that God's Last Judgment would condemn the world to hell along with you, accept this holy truth: God's Judgment is the gift of the Correction He bestowed on all your errors, freeing you from them, and all effects they ever seemed to have. To fear God's saving grace is but to fear complete release from suffering, return to peace, security and happiness, and union with your own Identity.God's Final Judgment is as merciful as every step in His appointed plan to bless His Son, and call him to return to the eternal peace He shares with him. Be not afraid of love. For it alone can heal all sorrow, wipe away all tears, and gently waken from his dream of pain the Son whom God acknowledges as His. Be not afraid of this. Salvation asks you give it welcome. And the world awaits your glad acceptance, which will set it free.This is God's Final Judgment: “You are still My holy Son, forever innocent, forever loving and forever loved, as limitless as your Creator, and completely changeless and forever pure. Therefore awaken and return to Me. I am your Father and you are My Son.”;LESSON 311I Judge All Things As I Would Have Them Be.Judgment was made to be a weapon used against the truth. It separates what it is being used against, and sets it off as if it were a thing apart. And then it makes of it what you would have it be. It judges what it cannot understand, because it cannot see totality and therefore judges falsely. Let us not use it today, but make a gift of it to Him Who has a different use for it. He will relieve us of the agony of all the judgments we have made against ourselves, and re-establish peace of mind by giving us God's Judgment of His Son.Father, we wait with open mind today, to hear Your Judgment of the Son You love. We do not know him, and we cannot judge. And so we let Your Love decide what he whom You created as Your Son must be.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

We all have to admit that life can get a little rocky at times. Things don't always go as planned, and no, it doesn't always get better. Sometimes life is just plain rough, but does that mean there's no hope? Pastor Richard wants you to remember today that God is still seated on the throne of heaven. God hasn't gone anywhere. He still promises you eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus. Isn't that the greatest hope ever?

The best gift you can give yourself this season might not come wrapped in paper or tied with a bow.The holiday season—from Thanksgiving through Christmas—can be one of the most joyful times of the year, but also one of the most stressful, especially when money's tight. What if you could celebrate the whole season without the financial regret that debt brings? The good news is—you can. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy the season, bless others, and keep peace in your heart and home.Start With a Spending PlanFrom the turkey to the tinsel, the holidays bring both delight and pressure. We want to give, to gather, and to make memories. But if we're not careful, the bills that follow can overshadow the joy.Begin by setting a total spending limit. Start with what you can afford, not what you wish you could. That number becomes your guardrail for the season. You're not being stingy—you're being wise. Every dollar you keep out of debt stays available for future generosity.Next, divide that total into categories—food, travel, gifts, decorations, charitable giving—whatever matters most to your family. Writing it down makes the plan tangible and easier to follow.If you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, include the cost of groceries. If you're traveling, plan for gas or airfare now so you're not caught off guard later.Pay With Cash or DebitStudies show we spend about 30% more when paying with credit. Whenever possible, pay with cash or a debit card. If you must use a credit card, set a firm limit and stick to it.Some families even open a separate account just for holiday spending. It creates a natural boundary and helps avoid impulse purchases. There's real freedom in knowing you've already decided what's enough.Get Creative With GivingWhether it's hosting Thanksgiving dinner or wrapping Christmas gifts, remember—it's not about the price tag. A handwritten note, a framed photo, or a homemade pie can carry far more meaning than something store-bought.Acts 20:35 reminds us, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” That blessing isn't about the cost—it's about the heart.If your children are old enough, invite them to help bake cookies for neighbors or make handmade gifts for grandparents. These shared experiences create memories that last far longer than the presents themselves.You can also use what you already have—redeem unused reward points or gift cards. It's one more way to keep spending within your means.Plan Ahead for Next YearWhen January rolls around, start setting aside a little each month for the next holiday season. Even $50 a paycheck can make a big difference. By next November, you'll be ready to give and celebrate without anxiety.If you prefer automation, set up a small transfer to a dedicated savings account. You'll hardly notice it leaving your budget—but you'll be grateful when the holidays return.Partner With a Faith-Based Financial InstitutionIf you're looking for a trusted place to save, consider our friends at Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU)—a financial institution that's been serving believers and ministries for over 68 years.They share your faith and are committed to helping you manage money in a way that honors God. Their savings accounts, digital tools, and personalized service can help you stay on track during the busiest time of the year.Right now, as a special offer to FaithFi listeners, you can receive up to a $400 bonus when you open a high-yield checking, savings, or Visa cash-back card. Visit FaithFi.com/Banking and enter the code “FaithFi” when you apply.Keep Your Focus on What Matters MostAs you prepare for Thanksgiving, take a moment to thank God for His provision. Gratitude is where wise stewardship begins. And as Christmas draws near, let your giving reflect the joy of God's greatest gift—His Son, Jesus Christ.When we give with grateful hearts and live with margin, we reflect His generosity to the world around us. Ultimately, this creates space for what matters most: faith, family, gratitude, and the celebration of Christ's birth.Even when finances feel tight, remember—lasting peace isn't found in numbers or careful planning, but in resting on God's faithful provision. That is the heart of faithful stewardship: learning to live not from scarcity, but from trust in the One who provides abundantly.And when you do, you'll find a joy that lasts long after the holidays are over.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I've been on and off Social Security disability after a head injury, but was later able to return to work. They kept sending me payments even after I notified them I was earning more than allowed. Now that my cancer has returned and I may need to stop working again, how should I handle this with Social Security? Should I visit their office in person to get it sorted out?My wife and I own our home outright, but have built up significant credit card debt over the past few years. We're debating whether to take out a home equity loan or a reverse mortgage to get back on track. Which option would you recommend?We're selling our home and deciding whether to use all the proceeds to buy our next house or invest some of them in our retirement accounts to increase our monthly income. Which choice makes the most financial sense?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU)Movement MortgageWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christians can get confused and lose the assurance of their salvation for a number of reasons. Charlie will name some of these, but more importantly, he will show how four rhetorical questions from Romans chapter 8 are designed to give full assurance of salvation. The first question reminds us that since God is for us, no one can stand against us. He answers a question with another question by arguing from the greater to the lesser. That is, if God gave us His Son, will He not also give us everything else needed to accomplish our final salvation? The second question reminds us that no one can bring a charge against us because we have been acquitted (justified, declared righteous) by the Judge of the universe. His third question reminds us that no one can condemn us. The fourth and final question elicits from the Apostle a flourish of imagery meant to convince us that there is nothing, no one, nowhere, at no time which can separate us from God's tenacious love. After hearing this episode, you will find peace as you rest in God's securing and assuring grace. This episode is from GraceNotes no. 6 of the same title. #Assuranceofsalvation#eternalsecurity#gracelifeministries#Simplybygrace

LESSON 309I Will Not Fear To Look Within Today.Within me is Eternal Innocence, because it is God's Will that It be there forever and forever. I, His Son, whose will is limitless as is His Own, can will no change in this. For to deny my Father's Will is to deny my own. To look within is but to find my will as God created it, and as it is. I fear to look within because I think I made another will that is not true, and made it real. Yet it has no effects. Within me is the holiness of God. Within me is the memory of Him.The step I take today, my Father, is my sure release from idle dreams of sin. Your altar stands serene and undefiled. It is the holy altar to my Self, and there I find my true Identity.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

“God sent His Son; they called Him Jesus…” The first few words of a beloved hymn. How thankful this world should be that God did so—His will and His plan through His Son for us.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

November 5, 2025Today's Reading: Jeremiah 7:1-29Daily Lectionary: Jeremiah 7:1-29; Matthew 23:1-12“So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you.” (Jeremiah 7:27)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.God called Jeremiah to speak some hard words to hardened hearts. God was persistent. He kept sending His messengers to His people, yet they did not listen. God called them to repentance, and they did not answer Him. Instead, they followed their own plans; they refused to listen. They followed their own stubborn hearts, and as God said, they “went backward not forward.” It is an easy trap to fall into, turning a deaf ear to the voice of God. There are so many voices competing with His; we are confronted with choices to make and directions to take, and like Judah, we are inclined to listen and follow the ones that seem to fit our desires and feel good to us. Perhaps the bigger temptation is to “hear” God's words and then pick and choose what we listen to; you know, selective hearing. In our minds, we think we are going forward, and yet in truth, we are going backward.God is persistent. He is stubborn, too, more stubborn than we are. The Bible calls that particular characteristic of God “faithfulness.” God is faithful even when His people are not. Notice what God continues to do, even when His own people refuse to listen to Him; He sends a preacher. “Speak all these words to them…you shall call to them.” Yes, God knows the hardness of their hearts and the stubbornness of their ears, but He still speaks, and He still calls. God put another word into Jeremiah's mouth to speak to his wayward, hard-of-hearing people, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness'” (Jeremiah 33:14-16). God wasn't looking back but was looking forward to when He would send His Son to come and give hearing to deaf ears and cause hardened hearts to believe. By the word of Christ's cross, sinners are made righteous, sins are forgiven, and a new creation has begun. This word is for you. God is faithful!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Dying to the sin of Adam, rising to a life of grace; we are counted with the righteous, over us the cross You trace. (LSB 404:4)Rev. Darrin Sheek, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Anaheim, CA.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Harrison Goodman is the Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.This new devotional resource by Carl Fickenscher walks you through each week's readings, revealing thematic connections and helping you better understand what is to come in worship each Sunday.

The Lord has spoken to us in the written Word. This revelation is worthy of diligent reading by His people with every effort they can muster. This book, in a fundamental way, attempts to teach the student of Scripture how to observe, interpret, and apply the meaning of the Biblical texts. The author contends that the end of all Bible reading is joy in the Lord and enjoyment of His Son. If you wish to be like the Blessed Man of Psalm 1, learn to read and love the Bible. Jared Ebert is married to his gracious wife, Mykala, and they have two children. God, by His grace, saved Him at the age of 7. He graduated with a Master of Divinity, with an emphasis in Biblical Languages, in 2023. He is a Master of Theology (Th.M.) graduate, having completed his studies at Covenant Baptist Seminary. Jared is the lead pastor at Mt Carmel Baptist Church.

In Mark 14:26–72 we follow Jesus from the Passover table to Gethsemane, the pressing place, where He faces the full weight of sorrow, betrayal, and denial. Despite the disciples' confident words, their roots are shallow and they fall away under pressure. In the garden Jesus models both deep anguish and perfect surrender: “Abba, Father… not what I will, but what You will.” His obedience in the face of unanswered prayer becomes the foundation of our relationship with the Father. As Judas betrays Him, the disciples scatter, and Peter denies Him, the darkness deepens, but within it shines the steadfast love of God, who sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners. In our own “pressing places,” we are invited to watch and pray, to strengthen our spirits through surrender, and to trust that God's will, though costly, always leads to redemption.

  Theme: “Abide in Me” — Living in Continuous Union with Christ Pastor Matthew's sermon centered on John 15:1–8, where Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His followers as the branches. The message explored what it means to truly abide — to live in continual fellowship, obedience, and dependence on Christ rather than drifting in and out of relationship with Him. Opening Challenge — The Call to Be the Church in Battle Pastor began by reminding the congregation that church is not a comfort zone but a place of kingdom warfare: “If you just come here to feel better, you're in the wrong spot. But if you come here to do warfare and be part of the kingdom of God, you're in the right spot.” He announced upcoming baptisms as outward signs of abiding faith, underscoring that commitment to Christ must be continuous, not seasonal. The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1–8) Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.” God's desire is not attendance or numbers, but fruit — the visible results of spiritual life. “Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes.” Pastor noted pruning can feel painful, but it's how God refines us for greater fruitfulness. Greek Word Study: The word abide comes from the Greek meno — meaning to dwell, continue, tarry, or remain. “Nothing in that definition says you can run in and out on the Lord. Abiding isn't convenience — it's commitment.” Abiding Produces Fruit and Eternal Impact Without the vine, branches can do nothing. Pastor warned that even successful lives apart from Christ accomplish nothing eternal: “If you're a father or mother not walking with God, you may give your kids everything this world offers — but you're doing nothing eternal in their lives.” He contrasted earthly inheritance with spiritual legacy, reminding parents of David's last desire: “When David died, he didn't talk about his possessions — he said, ‘I want to see you on the other side.'” The Power of Abiding Faith Pastor shared a personal story from his time working in the coal mines. While working with a coworker who had backslidden, an equipment alarm malfunctioned. Pastor quoted John 15:7, declaring: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.” He prayed over the system, and despite the electrical connection being physically broken, the alarm set successfully — a miraculous sign that led his coworker to repent on the spot. “That wasn't just setting an alarm — that was God showing a man He still loved him and was calling him home.” The Secret of Strength — Dwelling in His Presence (Psalm 91) Linking John 15 with Psalm 91, Pastor explained that abiding is dwelling in the secret place of the Most High, living under the shadow of His protection. “Some people just want to date Jesus — visit Him when it's convenient. But we're called to marry Him, to take Him home, to walk with Him every day.” True abiding keeps believers under divine covering: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.” Warnings Against Neglect Pastor identified two of Scripture's most sobering warnings: Judges 16:20 — “The Spirit of the Lord departed from Samson, and he knew it not.” Luke 19:44 — “You did not recognize the time of your visitation.” These verses illustrate the danger of taking God's presence for granted. “The most terrifying thing isn't hellfire — it's that the Spirit could walk out of your life and you wouldn't even notice.” He urged believers not to become so busy or distracted that their priorities drift from God: “If you've got too much going on to spend time with God, you've got too much going on.” Three Voices in Psalm 91 Pastor unpacked Psalm 91 as a conversation between three voices: The author (Moses or David) declaring, “He is my refuge.” The witness, telling another believer, “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place…” God Himself, responding: “Because he has set his love upon Me, I will deliver him.” He emphasized that effective witnesses live what they preach: “This ‘my' has convinced the ‘your' to make his God their God — that's powerful witnessing.” The Eternal View — God Outside of Time Using an illustration of a parade, Pastor explained that God sees the entire timeline of history at once: “You and I are standing on the street watching one float at a time. God sees the whole parade — beginning to end.” Because God knows the end from the beginning, believers can trust Him and call things that are not as though they were, provided they are abiding in His Word. Closing Appeal — Abide and Be Rescued Pastor closed by inviting unbelievers and prodigals to come home: “If you're trapped in sin, God saw your condition and sent His Son to rescue you. He didn't bargain — He paid it all.” He urged believers to realign their priorities and renew their commitment to abide daily, not occasionally: “You should have decided yesterday that you weren't quitting today.” Communion and baptisms followed as symbols of continual abiding in Christ. Core Message “Abide in Me.” Stay connected, remain faithful, dwell daily, and continue in His presence. Without abiding, there is no fruit; without the vine, there is no life.

The Lord has spoken to us in the written Word. This revelation is worthy of diligent reading by His people with every effort they can muster. This book, in a fundamental way, attempts to teach the student of Scripture how to observe, interpret, and apply the meaning of the Biblical texts. The author contends that the end of all Bible reading is joy in the Lord and enjoyment of His Son. If you wish to be like the Blessed Man of Psalm 1, learn to read and love the Bible. Jared Ebert is married to his gracious wife, Mykala, and they have two children. God, by His grace, saved Him at the age of 7. He graduated with a Master of Divinity, with an emphasis in Biblical Languages, in 2023. He is a Master of Theology (Th.M.) graduate, having completed his studies at Covenant Baptist Seminary. Jared is the lead pastor at Mt Carmel Baptist Church.

Episode Title: God Loves You Very Much Series: Tremendous Love Speaker: Pastor Maurice Johnson Even in captivity, Daniel was called “greatly beloved.” Twice, the angel Gabriel reminded him that heaven recognized him—not for what he did, but for how deeply God loved him. In this opening message of the Tremendous Love series, Pastor Maurice Johnson unpacks the unshakable truth that defines every believer's life: God loves you more than you can comprehend. From Daniel's visions to the cross of Christ, you'll see how God's love moves with power, provision, and purpose. Discover how: • God's everlasting love stretches from eternity past to your present moment. • Jesus' sacrifice proves that if God gave His Son, He'll give you everything else you need. • You can stop living in guilt and start walking in divine confidence. This message will reframe how you see your worth, your struggles, and your future. Because when you truly believe that God loves you very much, everything changes. Scriptures: Daniel 9:23 | Daniel 10:11 | John 3:16–17 | Romans 8:31–32 We are thrilled to have you with us! Join us every Sunday at 11 AM for a powerful time of worship, teaching, and community. Our current gathering location is:

What makes someone truly generous? This message reminds us that the greatest act of generosity came from God, who gave us His Son, Jesus. We'll unpack how God's generosity toward us changes the way we give to Him and others.

What do you celebrate? How do you celebrate? Is it with singing and dancing, and joy, as people come together to celebrate a person or a whole group of people? It can be so much fun to celebrate others, and to do so alongside a group of friends or family. That's what life's all about. But a celebration on Earth is only just a glimpse of what Heaven will look like one day. Imagine! And God has made a way for us to celebrate eternally in Heaven—with Him! And you're invited! Doesn't that sound amazing? God made a way for you to be with Him forever when He sent His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. Will you invite Him in—to come into your heart, to be Lord of your life, to forgive you from all of your wrongs, and to give you a new life? Come near to God, and He will welcome you with open arms. Always remember, there is hope with God. I'm Andrew Palau. "In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!" Luke 15:7 radio.hopewithgod.com

In this week's message, “>Conquerors” (Romans 8:1–4), Eric reminds us that what the law could never do, God did by sending His Son. This passage holds the heart of the gospel—there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Eric explores how Romans 8 offers deep assurance to anyone who has ever wondered, “Am I really okay with God?” and shows how Jesus not only removes our guilt but fills us with His Spirit so that we can live with confidence and peace. If you've ever longed for assurance, hope, or a fresh reminder of what it means to live “more than conquerors,” this message will speak straight to your heart.

Jesus Followers Should Fear, Respect, and Praise God's Power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but in Life's Trials They Should “fear not for I {Jesus} am with you always” MESSAGE SUMMARY: You should fear, respect, and praise God's power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but, as a Jesus Follower, you should “fear not” in life's trials and tribulations or at your time of judgment. As David's praise tells us in Psalms 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.”. David models again and again, in Psalms, how we should praise God. For example, in Psalms 146, David says: "Put not your trust in Princes; Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, Oh my soul!". When we are wondering how to praise the Lord, we can read one of David's Psalms to God like David's praises to the Lord in Psalms 112:1-2: “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.". Also, we learn in Proverbs 1:7, the “fear of the Lord” and “wisdom” are closely linked: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.".   These verses from the Old Testament point to the fear, respect, and praise that God warrants and demands from His power, sovereignty, and Holiness. On the other hand, as we see when the Apostle John quotes Jesus from Revelation 1:17-18, when Jesus, in all His power and Glory, reassures us of God's Grace and His plan for working out the Salvation and Eternal Life for all those that have accepted Jesus as their Savior: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'”.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Revelation 1:17-18; Psalms 118:1-20; Proverbs 1:7; Psalms 73a:1-14. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Interior Life – Maintenance of the Inner Man -- Part 8: The Body; Giving Life to the Spirit Soul” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

This discussion focused on the believer's secure position in Christ and the joy that flows from understanding God's finished work. We reflected on reconciliation and justification as complete realities—not goals to reach but gifts already received. Through Romans 5 and John 10, we explored what it means to “enter in” through the Door, where Christ Himself keeps us. Once we enter by faith, we do not leave His presence—wherever we go, He goes with us. The teaching emphasized the difference between our unchanging position in Christ and our daily experience, reminding us that even when we stumble, the Holy Spirit remains present to guide and restore us. Joy in God, freedom from fear, and confidence in His unbreakable fellowship define the life of those who have truly “gone in.”Romans 5:1–11, joy in God; finished reconciliation/justification Romans 7:22, delight in God's law in the inward man 2 Corinthians 4:16, inner man renewed Psalm 16:8, 11, set the Lord before us; fullness of joy Psalm 37:4, delight in the Lord; desires shaped by Christ John 10:8–11, the Door and Good Shepherd; abundant life Philippians 4:13, “I can” through Christ Ephesians 4:29–30, words from grace; do not grieve the Spirit Hebrews 13:5, never leave nor forsake (triple emphasis) Psalm 139:7–12, God with us in every depth 1 John 2:1–2, advocacy and provision when we sin.ThemesFinished, not ongoing: reconciliation and justification are settled facts in Christ.Joy shared: we “delight” with God in what satisfies Him about His Son.Entered through the Door: once we go in, wherever we go, He goes with us.Thief vs. Shepherd: any thought placed ahead of Christ is a thief/robber.Position vs. experience: struggle happens in the flesh, not in who we are.Don't grieve the Spirit: He longs to show us the things of Christ.Trust equals rest: “I can” because He is with us.Fellowship builds us: each joint supplies encouragement and perspective.What We LearnedGod's joy in His Son is the source and stability of our joy in Him.Our desires are transformed as we delight in the Lord—not by striving.Experiential ups and downs don't alter our position; they invite deeper fellowship.Corrupt communication starts with corrupt thoughts; grace speech edifies.The Spirit's grief is our missed experience of love already secured for us.We never face “out there” alone; He never leaves nor forsakes us.

Bible StudyDon't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: .Sermon Notes:I. The Fairness of God's JudgmentA. Our concern for fairnessWe instinctively ask: “Do they deserve judgment?”Judgment must be fair, just, and true.B. Pharaoh and Egypt's guiltPharaoh's policy: murder of Hebrew boys (Exodus 1).Enslavement and oppression of Israel.God's response: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 ESV)The death of the firstborn = not random, but reaping what was sown.C. The hardening of Pharaoh's heartSometimes Pharaoh hardens his own heart; other times God does.Pharaoh's rebellion becomes irreversible — God confirms his self-chosen path.God's judgment is never arbitrary, always morally deserved.II. The Realms of God's JudgmentA. Judgment in both visible and spiritual realmsExodus 12:12 — God executes judgment “on all the gods of Egypt.”Not only Pharaoh and Egypt, but their false gods are judged.B. The spiritual dimensionEach plague confronts an Egyptian deity (e.g., darkness = judgment on Re, the sun god).Ephesians 6:12 — our struggle is not just “against flesh and blood.”C. Implications for usConflict perspective: our true enemy is spiritual, not human.Ultimate justice: final judgment must also occur in the spiritual realm — and that belongs to God alone.Christ's victory:The cross = God's judgment on “principalities and powers.”Revelation 20 — final judgment, evil cast down forever.III. Protection from God's JudgmentA. The universality of judgmentBoth Egyptians and Israelites were under threat.Only protection: homes marked with the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12:13).Not ethnicity, morality, or family — but faith in God's provision.B. The necessity of faith and obedienceBelief must lead to action.They didn't discuss the lamb's symbolism — they applied the blood.C. The principle of substitutionThe lamb dies in place of the firstborn.“One life for another.”God's mercy through a substitute.D. Fulfillment in Jesus ChristJohn 1:29 — “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”Jesus = true Passover Lamb — spotless, no broken bones (John 19:31-33), slain for sinners.His blood is the believer's protection from judgment.God's justice is satisfied; His mercy extended.Conclusion: The Cross Is Our PassoverGod is both Judge and Savior.To our sins he says: “this kind of offense cannot be tolerated in my Kingdom.”Yet God Himself provides the way — through the blood of His Son.At the Cross, justice is satisfied, grace is extended.Because of the Lamb, God's judgment passes over us forever.Discussion Questions:Does a God who judges evil make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?In what ways does it help us to understand that God executes judgment in the spiritual realm?What is the difference between making moral judgments and being "judgmental"? How does the idea of humanity being universally under God's judgment eliminate judgmentalism?How does the Cross of Christ bring together God's judgment and grace?Should we fear God's judgment - why or why not?Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ().

God will save the sinner who receives His Son, but destroy the sinner who continually rejects Him. 

Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it. . . . — Exodus 40:35 I first approached the Grand Canyon while holding the hand of my two-year-old son, Derek. He was energetic and loved exploring the world around him with little concern for potential harm. As the south rim came into view, I experienced two emotions at the same time. I was stunned by the beauty before me. Creation reflects the glory of the Creator! At the same time, I felt genuine fear: one misstep, or one reckless move from my son, and the worst might happen! In a way, the very grandeur of the Grand Canyon made it dangerous.The tabernacle was like that in some ways too. It filled the people with joy and awe in the majesty of God's presence. But as the cloud of God's presence descended, a danger emerged. God's glorious presence is so holy that nothing impure or imperfect can be there with him. Even Moses had to be careful, for God had said, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20).We face a similar problem. We may long for God's presence, but because of our sinful nature we are imperfect. But, thankfully for us, God has provided a way for people to live in his presence. His Son, Jesus, came to stand in for us, even giving up his own life to pay the debt for our sin, so that we can be declared right with God (Romans 3-4)! And now, because of Jesus' finished work, we can be made new and enjoy life with God forever. Lord Jesus, you took on our guilt and sin so that we can live in God's presence. Hallelujah! Deepen in us a longing to live for you each day. Amen.

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 2nd of November, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We go straight to the Gospel of John 3:35: ”The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand.” Our Heavenly Father gave Jesus all authority and all responsibility, and Jesus fulfilled and completed the responsibility right to the last letter. He died on the cross for your sins, for my sins. He set us free. He put the devil down once and for all, and then He went back to Heaven to be with His Father. But before He went back, He told His disciples that He will not leave us as orphans. Homeless, with no leaders. He said, ”I am sending you My Holy Spirit.” In Greek the name is, Parakletos, which means “the Helper”. “I am sending you the Helper so that you can complete the entrusting that God has given to me.” That's what Jesus said.Now in the amplified version, reading that today, in both scriptures, we go to John 16:7: But I tell you the truth, (Jesus said) it is to your advantage (our advantage) that I go away (that I go home, that I go back to My Father in Heaven); for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. I want to speak today, not only to men but to women, to young people, to leaders. The Lord never expected us to do it on our own. Our Father in Heaven sent His Son down to earth because He saw that we were failing terribly. The Son did the work. He's gone back to the Father but He's left us with His Holy Spirit. He says, ”Now you” (That's you and me, sir, you and me, young lady) “complete the job.” You know, it's a handing over, it's a responsibility. In these Olympic relay races, the most important part of the race is handing the baton over. If you drop the baton, you are disqualified, and there's only a certain place that you can hand it over. There are two lines. You've got a few yards. You're running at a full sprint. You need to be in unison with the person that you're giving the baton to. Today, you and I need to understand that our Heavenly Father has given us the authority, he has given us the ability. Now we need to do it, we need to do it fast and we need to do it safely. Let's finish the job. Jesus bless you and goodbye.

The Interior Life – Maintenance of the Inner Man -- Part 8: The Body; Giving Life to the Spirit Soul MESSAGE SUMMARY: It is important to understand the Spirit in our inner beings. The Spirit is that part of us which enables us to commune with the Lord – it is that part of us in which the Holy Spirit indwells when we become a Christian and through which God speaks to us. Without Jesus, we are not fully alive because, without Jesus one has a dead Spirit. The Spirit, body and soul are all interconnected; and neglecting one adversely effects the other two. The Psalmist defines this interconnection in Psalms 63:1: “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.". If our bodies are out of sorts, our Spirits and Souls can be adversely impacted. To optimize the effect of our bodies on our Souls and Spirits, we need to consider: 1) an eating plan that helps us live; 2) exercise so that we can be all that we can be for the Lord; 3) adequate sleep and rest; and 4) righteousness. Paul tells about God's perspective of our bodies in 1 Corinthians 6:19 20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.". If we want to maintain our interior life, we must maintain our earth suits; this body that God has given us. Don't ignore the power of prayer to help in keeping our body, Soul, and Spirit interconnected and in positive rhythm. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Scripture Reference (ESV): Psalms 104:14; Psalms 145:15-16; 1 Corinthians 9:26; Psalms 127:2; Proverbs 20:13; Ecclesiastes 5:12; Romans 7:22-25; Proverbs 4:21; Proverbs 14:30; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20. (Click the blue below to read the full Bible text for these scripture references in BOLD.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “Jesus Followers Should Fear, Respect, and Praise God's Power, Sovereignty, and Holiness; but in Life's Trials They Should “fear not for I {Jesus} am with you always””: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Deut. 28:15–19 Jer. 11:1–5 John 11:45–53 2 Cor. 5:16–21 Around the year A.D. 130, an early Christian wrote a letter to a skeptic named Diognetus, and he explained that the work of Jesus Christ for sinners like this: "O sweet exchange!" In this message, we see how God poured out His justice against His Son in order to show mercy and goodness to us.

Galatians 1 New King James Version11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.Contacts at Jerusalem18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

The Essence of Friendship with Jesus Pastor Tommy reflects on the concept of friendship, noting the difference between acquaintances and true friends. Many people have acquaintances but few genuine friends. He recalls Arthur McMillan's statement: "I consider you my friend, but my best friend is Jesus." Pastor Tommy emphasizes that friendship with Jesus is a constant challenge, pushing one to become more like Him. Friendship with Jesus challenges individuals to become less like themselves and more like Him. Qualities of Jesus as a Friend Jesus Talks to Me Unlike casual friends, Jesus communicates regularly, even when Pastor Tommy isn't actively seeking Him. His voice dispels darkness and changes perspective. Pastor Tommy references Exodus 33, where God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend. God's voice brings life and reveals the need for salvation, unlike the condemnation from the enemy. There is no confusion in the voice of God. God has shared eternal truth. The Holy Spirit speaks the Word of God into the soul, rescuing with that Word. Jesus Loves Me A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17). God's love is unconditional, even when one is unlovable. 1 John 4:10: God loved us and sent His Son as propitiation for our sins. Jesus proved His love by laying down His life for His friends (John 15:13). If Jesus didn't love you for even a second, you would know it. Jesus Protects Me Jesus protects from worldly fears and the enemy's snares (Luke 12:4). He is always present, like a brother who sticks close. He puts a hedge and wall of love around. Jesus Corrects Me Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Proverbs 27:6). Correction and chastening are signs of God's love (Hebrews 12:6). A true friend will point out when you are going down the wrong path. The Holy Ghost arrested Pastor Tommy's soul and revealed the reality of hell. Jesus offers a better way and salvation. Jesus Died for Me Jesus left heaven and became flesh to pay the penalty for sin. A search was made in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and only Jesus was found worthy to go. The angel announced the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem. Jesus was born to die and become the greatest friend. Story of a New Friend at the Airport Pastor Tommy shares an anecdote about meeting a man at the airport who wanted to be his friend. The man was outgoing, calling multiple people to share that he made a new friend. He asked Pastor Tommy to play Uno and wanted to text him regularly. Pastor Tommy reflects that God was sharing something with him about a person that didn't have another motive, he just wanted to be my friend. How to Know Jesus as a Friend Believe in Him Faith and trust are essential. Abraham was called the friend of God because he believed God (James 2:23). John 3:16: Believe in Jesus to have everlasting life. Obey Him Jesus said, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14). Trust and obey.

How could it possibly be the will of God that His Son, Jesus Christ, should suffer and die on the cross? Join Pastor Colin as he explains how God's will prevailed in the death of Jesus.

Waiting on God can feel frustrating, especially when our prayers seem unanswered. Social media comparisons and silent seasons can make us question His timing and care. Yet Lamentations 3:25 reminds us that the Lord is good to those who await Him and seek Him. Learning to navigate these waiting periods strengthens our faith and draws us closer to God, helping us see His blessings even in the silence. Highlights Unanswered prayers don’t mean God has stopped listening; they are opportunities to grow in trust and faith. Ground yourself in God’s truth: His mercy, righteousness, and nearness counter the lies of the enemy. Remain faithful and persistent in prayer, focusing on God’s will rather than simply your desires. Record your blessings and past answers to prayers to maintain perspective during waiting seasons. Redirect your prayers by asking God what He wants you to pray for, aligning your heart with His purposes. Waiting develops patience, discernment, and deeper reliance on God’s timing. Every “no,” “not yet,” or unexpected answer can be a form of protection or provision. Join the Conversation How do you stay faithful while waiting on God? What practices help you recognize His work during silent seasons? Share your thoughts and tag @LifeAudioNetwork with #FaithInTheWait #TrustingGodsTiming #PrayPersistently.

Introduction and Background Denis Kozlov, originally from Russia and now an American citizen, shared his testimony of God's calling to plant a church in Florida. He reflected on his friendship with Pastor Matthew and how their connection was rooted in spiritual discernment rather than analysis—trusting the flow of the Holy Spirit. He encouraged believers to live where the Spirit of the Lord flows, not just where logic leads. Main Theme: The Benefits of the Gospel (from Galatians) Kozlov's sermon was based on the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians. He emphasized that the gospel of grace and law-based religion are mutually exclusive—they cannot coexist. The Galatians had begun their faith in the freedom of grace but drifted back into legalism. Kozlov highlighted that Christians must resist the temptation to “bargain” or earn favor from God; grace is a pure gift that cannot be mixed with self-righteousness. Four Benefits of the Gospel Kozlov identified four key benefits believers receive through the gospel: Justified We are forgiven and declared righteous before God as though we have never sinned. Justification is not based on works or law-keeping, but solely on faith in Jesus Christ. Christ became a curse for us, taking on our sin so we could live in the freedom of His righteousness. Kozlov used the illustration of his U.S. citizenship—his new passport changed his status permanently; likewise, believers now approach heaven with full acceptance. Adopted We are legally adopted as children of God, no longer slaves or outsiders. God has made us heirs with Christ—fully legitimate and loved. Kozlov reminded the congregation that even when we feel distant, adoption is not based on emotion but on divine truth. He quoted Galatians 4:4–7 to show that God sent His Son to redeem us and make us part of His family. Indwelled The Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Sonship—lives within every believer. This Spirit enables us to cry “Abba, Father,” expressing a deep, trusting intimacy with God. Kozlov shared moving personal stories illustrating how God became a true Father to him after growing up without one. As a child, he was lifted onto a man's lap to “drive” a car—God later used that memory to show how He gives us dignity and guidance. As a young man, when praying about marriage, God taught him responsibility by asking, “You tell me,” shaping him into a mature believer. Empowered The gospel empowers us to walk by the Spirit, not just experience emotional highs in worship. Kozlov compared the Christian walk to an inchworm—we move forward when our head (faith) and our feet (action) stay connected. Many believers receive inspiration but never act on it; faith must lead to daily obedience and small steps of faith. The true fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—comes only through the Spirit's life within us, not through human effort. Closing Message Kozlov concluded with Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” He encouraged believers to: Live rooted in Christ's love and grace. Stop trying to earn God's favor. Recognize that the Christian life is not self-effort but Christ in us, the hope of glory. He summarized the benefits once more: Justified – Heaven is open to you. Adopted – You are a legitimate child of God. Indwelled – You carry the Spirit of God within you. Empowered – You can live and act by the Spirit every day. Pastor Matthew's Closing Exhortation Pastor Matthew concluded by emphasizing the power of overcoming: Denis' life testified that anyone can rise above hardship—fatherlessness, poverty, or pain. Many believers live burdened by past wounds, but Christ calls us to overcome. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself,” he urged. “You can be an overcomer through the Word of God.” The altar was opened for prayer, inviting those ready to leave behind defeat and step into new life through Christ. Core Message The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about striving—it's about receiving. You are justified, adopted, indwelled, and empowered. Live as a child of grace, not a slave of the law. And let your life become a testimony that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  

The gift of God... is God! For the people we love, a gift of a card or a car - or anything in between - is no substitute for our presence. The greatest gift we can give is ourselves. God took this truth to the farthest extreme when He gave Himself (in the person of His Son) for sinners - not only to die in our place, but to live in us. We're exploring that very famous verse, John 3:16. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS10312025_0.mp3Scripture References: John 3:16

Dr. Jay and Amazing Larry conclude their look at remez, how rabbis teach the Bible in shorthand. In this episode, we realize that our Heavenly Father even uses this shorthand technique to reveal profound truths. The Father reveals at His Son's Transfiguration (Matthew 17) how Jesus fulfills the entire Hebrew scriptures.Frothy Thoughts with the Truth BaristaVisit HighBeam Ministry, The Truth BaristaCheck out the Frothy Thoughts Blog!Check out The Truth Barista Books!Check out The Truth Barista YouTube Channel!

You've heard the song a thousand times, but have you lived the words?  For more than 250 years, believers have cherished the clear simplicity of “Amazing Grace.” Celebrated recordings 50 years ago by bagpipe bands and pop artists catapulted the old song to international prominence as a kind of “hymn for the world.” Millions resonate with the ache it expresses for freedom, redemption and a future.  But buried in its timeless lines is a simple summary of an equally timeless Bible truth: “God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:17).  John Newton's memorable lines capture our natural wretchedness, our lostness, our inability to truly understand our plight, and our resulting fear. Filled with light only the gospel can bring, his verses also celebrate recovery, relief, clear vision, and being found by the seeking love of the Father.  The author of “Amazing Grace” knew what millions who blithely sing his hymn have never fully grasped: the grace that saves us doesn't override our choice as moral beings. We must agree to let the redemption achieved by Jesus stand in place of all we've done. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). So let the old song lead you to new life, new hope, new joy. Embrace the grace that Jesus always offers.  And stay in it. -Bill Knott

The Gospel of the Skull Crusher | KWR0053 Kingdom War Room Hosts: Dr. Michael K. Lake: Founder, Biblical Life College and Seminary, Scholar-in-Residence, Biblical Life Assembly, Co-Host of the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing, and Best-Selling Author. Dr. Mike Spaulding: Pastor, Lima Calvary Chapel, Host of Dr. Mike Live, aplogetist, and a prolific author. Dr. Corby Shuey: Pastor, Mount Zion Road Church, President-Elect of Biblical Life Seminary, and Christian author. Guest: Joel Richardson is a New York Times bestselling author, filmmaker, and Bible teacher known for his clear and passionate teaching on biblical prophecy, the return of Jesus, and God's redemptive plan for Israel and the nations. Through his books, films, and online content, Joel seeks to equip believers with a grounded, apocalyptic hope rooted in the Scriptures. The Gospel of the Skull Crusher: The Gloriously Good News of God's Plan to Fix Everything is a sweeping journey through the entire biblical story—from Eden to the New Jerusalem—revealing the Messiah as the promised "seed of the woman" who crushes the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). This book traces the war between the two seeds through every major covenant, prophecy, and hope of Scripture. Combining biblical theology, prophetic insight, and devotional clarity, Joel Richardson unveils how the gospel is not merely about escaping this world, but about God's promise to restore all things through the victorious reign of His Son. To Purchase Book: store.joelstrumpet.com == Description Dr. Michael Lake is joined by Dr. Mike Spaulding, Dr. Corby Shuey, and special guest Joel Richardson (NYT bestselling author, filmmaker, Bible teacher) to unpack Joel's new book, The Gospel of the Skull Crusher: The Glorious Good News of God's Plan for Fixing Everything. From Genesis 3:15 and the "war of the seeds" to Jesus as the Divine Warrior, we explore why the Bible is not just a promise book—it's a war narrative with a guaranteed victory at the Cross, fully manifested at the Lord's return. We tackle the "now and not yet" paradigm, embodied hope and the resurrection, the prophetic centrality of Israel (Abrahamic & Davidic covenants), and why recovering a Hebraic, non-Platonic worldview matters for discipleship, evangelism, and everyday faith. Joel also shares why he crafted a tactile, heirloom-quality book (linen cover, foil, ribbon, full-color art) to help readers slow down, wonder, and worship—plus how to access his ongoing chapter-by-chapter Bible study series. Guest: Joel Richardson — joelstrumpet.com Book (direct): store.joelstrumpet.com Joel's App: "Joel Richardson Ministries" (iOS/Android) Partner with the Ministry: Kingdom Intelligence Briefing — https://www.kingdomintelligencebriefing.com Donate: store.biblicallifeassembly.org Mail: Biblical Life, P.O. Box 160, Seymour, MO 65746-0160 Scripture noted (ESV): "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." — 1 John 3:2 (ESV) — Timeline of Topics (Adjust timestamps to your final edit length.) 00:00 – Opening & welcome; panel introductions; Joel's new book 02:10 – The Bible as a war narrative: Genesis 3:15 and the "war of the seeds" 06:40 – Jesus as Divine Warrior vs. the "soft" cultural caricature 09:55 – Rethinking "now and not yet": why the emphasis lands on "not yet" 15:20 – Embodied hope: resurrection, real bodies, real creation, real joy 19:45 – 1 John 2:28–3:3 and our identity as children of God (ESV) 24:30 – Speculative theology: timing of consciousness and the resurrection 28:40 – Heaven as the parent reality; millennial reign & restored order 34:55 – David & Goliath as prophetic pattern: skull-crushing the serpent 40:50 – Israel in God's plan: Abrahamic/Davidic covenants; restoration theme 49:30 – One New Man: Jews & Gentiles, veils lifted, Torah rightly understood 55:05 – Calling the Church out of Platonism and biblical illiteracy 1:00:20 – Making a tactile, heirloom book: design, art, and intent 1:05:10 – Tech vs. embodiment: reading slowly, discipling hearts 1:09:00 – Where to get the book; Joel's YouTube/app study series 1:12:10 – Final encouragements & how to partner with the ministry Hashtags #JoelRichardson, #GospelOfTheSkullCrusher, #Genesis315, #DivineWarrior, #Eschatology, #KingdomOfGod, #NowAndNotYet, #Israel, #AbrahamicCovenant, #DavidicCovenant, #BiblicalLifeTV, #Remnant, #EndTimes, #ResurrectionHope, #MessianicProphecy

Does God really love us? Some people believe that God is indifferent and distant. Others have imagined Him as a puppeteer, and that this is all a show for His amusement. Do we have solid evidence that God cares for us - the kind of evidence we could touch? Yes, in His Son, lifted up on a cross. If we can get past our familiarity with John 3:16 we'll learn more about God, and about ourselves, than we imagined. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS10292025_0.mp3Scripture References: John 3:16

F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, said that "Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind." When we think of the Mission of God the Father to Redeem and Re-Create a Family of his own for a future Glory, it was through the impassioned work of His Son, the Lord Jesus, that it was put into effect. And when it came down to ensuring that Mission would endure whilst he sat down at the right hand of the Throne of Glory, what was on his mind? What did he use as the vehicle for that effect? His Church! Sometimes, we see The Church as pedestrian, sectarian, and just a religious expression, and forget it's chief purpose, our Glorious, Normie, Purpose! Listen in on this deep dive into the mission - YOUR mission - given to us by Jesus!▶️ Nate's Message on YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ytp4e3df

In the book of Hebrews, you might say God is saying that His Son has done something incredible, and wants to recognize it. As we come to understand who Jesus is and what He's accomplished, it will really impact our lives in a great way. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1368/29

What is the Second Coming?Christ's Second Coming, which is sure as God, is merely the correction of mistakes, and the return of sanity. It is a part of the condition that restores the never lost, and reestablishes what is forever and forever true. It is the invitation to God's Word to take illusion's place; the willingness to let forgiveness rest upon all things without exception and without reserve.It is the all-inclusive nature of Christ's Second Coming that permits it to embrace the world and hold you safe within its gentle advent, which encompasses all living things with you. There is no end to the release the Second Coming brings, as God's creation must be limitless. Forgiveness lights the Second Coming's way, because it shines on everything as one. And thus is oneness recognized at last.The Second Coming ends the lessons that the Holy Spirit teaches, making way for the Last Judgment, in which learning ends in one last summary that will extend beyond itself, and reaches up to God. The Second Coming is the time in which all minds are given to the hands of Christ, to be returned to spirit in the name of true creation and the Will of God.The Second Coming is the one event in time which time itself can not affect. For every one who ever came to die, or yet will come or who is present now, is equally released from what he made. In this equality is Christ restored as one Identity, in Which the Sons of God acknowledge that they all are one. And God the Father smiles upon His Son, His one creation and His only joy.Pray that the Second Coming will be soon, but do not rest with that. It needs your eyes and ears and hands and feet. It needs your voice. And most of all it needs your willingness. Let us rejoice that we can do God's Will, and join together in its holy light. Behold, the Son of God is one in us, and we can reach our Father's Love through Him.LESSON 301And God Himself Shall Wipe Away All Tears.Father, unless I judge I cannot weep. Nor can I suffer pain, or feel I am abandoned or unneeded in the world. This is my home because I judge it not, and therefore is it only what You will. Let me today behold it uncondemned, through happy eyes forgiveness has released from all distortion. Let me see Your world instead of mine. And all the tears I shed will be forgotten, for their source is gone. Father, I will not judge Your world today.God's world is happy. Those who look on it can only add their joy to it, and bless it as a cause of further joy in them. We wept because we did not understand. But we have learned the world we saw was false, and we will look upon God's world today.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 28th of October, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of John. Now, the most famous verse in the whole Bible has got to be John 3:16. Ask your little girl, your little boy as you are driving them to school and they will quote it for you and they will: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” But don't we often just stop there? What about verse 17? Now, this morning, the Lord Jesus impressed upon me to share with you the importance of the next verse, verse 17:“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Oh, what a beautiful scripture!The Lord does not condemn you today, Sir. The Lord came to forgive you of all your sins so that you can live a life that is abundant. If we go to Romans 8:1, I will confirm that: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,...” If you love the Lord Jesus with all your heart today, He says, “I do not condemn you”, He says, “I came to set you free.” When the Father forgives, He forgets. Isn't that beautiful? When you forgive somebody for something they have done and you have a bit of an off day, what do you do? Oh yes, you do! I do as well, ”Remember that thing that you did the other day?” No, when the Lord forgives, He forgets.“Lord, remember that sin I committed before I became a Christian?”“No, I don't remember it at all, and I don't want to hear about it.”What do we need to do this morning? We need to repent. Say sorry for the thing we have done and then move on with our life. Now this is important that I am going to share with you. It is the devil, satan, who condemns you, but Jesus convicts you. There is a big difference. He says, “Listen, get your life right. Stop that nonsense, stop having that affair because it is going to catch you out and destroy your marriage, stop that drinking because it is going to kill you.” I want to say to you as we close, I remember a long time ago hearing a story about a little lake, and there is a big signboard which says, “No fishing here!” Now, you take that sin, that thing that is condemning you, throw it into that lake and put that sign up, “No fishing,” and move on with your life for Jesus. He loves you. That's why He died for you.Have a wonderful day,God bless you and goodbye.

Send us a textThis question wracks many with doubt. It is one that has been attempted to be answered for millennia. The long answer attempts to dissect this complex question into smaller and more congruent pieces. Is God good? Many life philosophies attempt to prove God isn't good, or simply isn't there at all. The Bible has a vast amount of writing on this subject. There is a God, and He is good. Does God allow bad things on this Earth? Yes. He does not snap these things out of existence. That also does not make Him bad. Pain and suffering are presented as tools, first as consequence of mankind, and then as causes intended to inspire you to draw closer to goodness, and therefore God. Evil is another concept altogether. The Bible speaks of God destroying evil once during the flood. Then, God sent His Son to atone for the sins of man. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross and subsequent resurrection is the victory over evil. No power can hold God. Context is important when you consider eternity. A light momentary affliction is nothing compared to what is to come. =====Searching for answers to life's questions? Need help finding a church? Drop us a line. We would love to help you find a congregation that practices the love of Christ. The Extra Mile Podcast is a work of Milwaukee Ave Church of Christ in Lubbock, TX. Assembly times:9:30 AM - Classes for all ages10:30 AM - Sunday Morning Assembly5:00 PM - Sunday Evening Assembly7:00 PM - Wednesday Evening AssemblyEmail us:  the.emile.pod@gmail.comInstagram: @extramilepodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/546CHn6Qvdh807yhYC5sHL?si=j6-jHRTiRh6_Non9E9URagApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-extra-mile-podcast/id1550189689Google Play: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMjgwNTI1LnJzcwWe would love to hear from you! Email: the.emile.pod@gmail.com Instagram: @extramilepodcast

“The Gospel shows the Father's grace, Who gave His Son to save our race, Proclaims how Jesus lived and died That we might thus be justified. “It is the pow'r of God to save From sin and Satan and the grave; It works the faith which firmly clings To all the treasures which it brings.”

John 8:3–6a NIV The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say? They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.John 8:6b–9 But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept questioning Him, He straightened up and said, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' Again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.John 8:10–11 Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' ‘No one, sir,' she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.'1. Forgiveness — BELIEVE It1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.Psalm 51:1–4 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.   Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.   For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.   Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation andleaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death.Psalm 103:11–12 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.2. Forgiveness — EXTEND ItForgiveness means releasing your RIGHT to RETALIATE.Matthew 6:14–15 If you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenlyFather will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.Romans 12:18–19 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace witheveryone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord.3. Forgiveness — ACCEPT ItRomans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”There's NOTHING you could do that would cause God not to FORGIVE your sin.John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.“Control the things you can control—and the things you can't, surrender them to God.”—Dr. Henry Cloud“We look most like animals when we kill.We look most like humans when we judge.But we look most like God when we forgive.”—Unknown

At Jesus' Crucifixion and Death, the “Temple Veil” Was Torn; After Jesus Easter Resurrection, You Now Pray Directly with God MESSAGE SUMMARY:  Think about the magnitude of your direct and personal access to God that your prayers give you, through Jesus, if you will only pray. Before Jesus, ordinary people did not have direct access to God, through the Throne Room of God, with a direct personal relationship with God. In Old Testament times, people would come to the priests; and the priest would offer up a sacrifice on behalf of the people. The priests, and not the people, were communing directly with God. On Good Friday and at Jesus death on the cross, the “Temple Veil” was torn from top to bottom (i.e. “Temple Vail” was a large, very thick, and very heavy barrier that divided that portion of the Temple accessible by those wishing to sacrifice for prayer and the “Holy of Holies” where the only the High Priest could meet with God and pray on behalf of the people of God.). At Jesus Resurrection, no longer was an intermediary (e.g., a Priest) required for direct prayer with God by the people in Christ (i.e. Jesus Followers).  Because Jesus created a New Covenant relationship with His followers, now your prayers are in direct communion with God, the Creator of the Universe. Everyone, who is in Christ, may have access to the Throne Room of God in the name of Jesus. What a privilege this direct access to God is for those who are in Christ. The author of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:16, tells Jesus Followers that, because of the Gospel, you have direct access to God's “throne of Grace” for your needs: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Keeping the Sabbath, Lord, will require a lot of changes in the way I am living life. Teach me, Lord, how to take the next step with this in a way that fits my unique personality and situation. Help me to trust you with all that will remain unfinished and to enjoy my humble place in your very large world. In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 129). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Philippians 4:1-13; John 15:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2; Psalms 69c:25-36. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Interior Life – Maintenance of the Inner Man -- Part 7: A Listening Spirit” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Sermons Archive RSS John 3:1-21 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”Luke 9:55-56 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart;Try me, and know my anxieties;24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,And lead me in the way everlasting. Sermon Discussion Questions:Why did God send His Son into the world?Who/what is the light of God ?Why do Christians love the light?Why do unbelievers hate the light?