Podcasts about his spirit

Our city fell almost dark after a massive ice storm took down miles of power lines, leaving many of our friends without electricity to heat their homes in the dead of a frigid winter. Families longed to see repair trucks in their neighborhoods working to restore power. Later, I learned that a church parking lot served as a temporary command center for the vehicles being sent out to assist those in need. Hearing about the repair trucks brought to mind Jesus’ command to His disciples in the book of Acts. For forty days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples to encourage and teach them about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Before Jesus’s return to heaven, He gave them one last promise: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (1:8). Jesus promised God’s incomparably great power would be available to the disciples through His Spirit. But the purpose of having power was not to keep it to themselves. Instead, the disciples let God empower them in the mission of telling others how to experience once more the connection to God’s power and love that was broken by sin. As we go out into our communities, we have the same power and calling. Empowered by God’s Spirit, we can care for those who are suffering, and share how they, too, can have access to God’s power.

Every meaningful pursuit faces a moment of resistance. Distraction, intimidation, or deception threaten to knock us off course. In Nehemiah 3, we find a blueprint for staying the course through opposition, grounded in clarity of purpose, spiritual discernment, and reliance on God's strength. Pastor Kirk Gentzel challenges believers to live with unwavering resolve, not just through willpower, but by walking closely with God, who empowers resilience through His Spirit. When the pressure mounts, stay on the wall.

The Bible begins in a garden but ends in a city—a recurring theme that highlights how cities, and the people within them, matter deeply to God. The City of God, in contrast to cities that have strayed from the Creator's design, offers eternal presence, rest, and welcome. There is a future hope where suffering, distance, and division are no more. But that hope isn't reserved only for the afterlife; it is a present reality that shapes how we live, endure, and love today—because God's presence dwells within us and among our cities. When we place our hope in Christ, we are reassured by His Spirit, spurred to victory through merciful rest, and welcomed by the radical grace that defines the City of God, where His promises endure and persist as our lasting hope. --- Scripture: Revelation 21:9-22:5 (NRSVUE) Vision of the New Jerusalem 9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And in the spirit[a] he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names that are the names[b] of the twelve tribes of the Israelites: 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel[c] who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city has four equal sides, its length the same as its width, and he measured the city with his rod, twelve thousand stadia; its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using. 18 The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. The River of Life 22 Then the angel[d] showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life[e] with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4 they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.  

Today, Pastor Jeff reminds us that when we believe in Jesus, God forgives our sins and fills our hearts with His Spirit. That's how huge His forgiveness is—it cost Him everything, yet He offers it to us for free. John 3:16 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.

Ever felt like you were called… but stuck in a season of “not yet”? You’re not alone. Whether it’s King David or King Jesus, even God’s greatest waited between their anointing and appointing. But take heart—your “in-between” is never wasted. Key Takeaways You’re Sealed and Claimed – God put His Spirit in you as a guarantee of what’s to come (2 Cor 1:21-22). Anointed ≠ Immediately Appointed – David waited decades; Jesus waited years. Waiting doesn’t mean forgotten. God Doesn’t Rush – He moves in perfect timing (Isaiah 60:22). You’re not behind schedule—you’re being prepared. Your Wait Has a Purpose – David gathered strength and support; Jesus discipled and taught. Your delay is part of your development. Join the Conversation How are you holding onto faith in your waiting season? What has God been refining in you while you wait? Share your reflections using #LifeaudioNetwork. And remember: if He’s anointed you, He will appoint you—right on time.

When the world of chaos is calling your name, you need to listen to another voice, the voice of God, spoken through His Spirit. It has been a hidden call to God's wisdom that only through faith in Jesus Christ is it made readily available. In 1 Corinthians 2, John brings us a message that unveils God's wisdom in a world of noise.

Gospel Life Church exists to make disciples who make disciples and to plant churches that plantchurches.Many of us have heard that phrase before—but what does it actually mean? What is a disciple? How aredisciples made? What's my role in all of this? And let's be honest—church planting sounds intimidating.What if I'm not a church planter? As we grow in the gospel, we want to be very clear: the Bible doesn'tteach us that we grow for our own benefit. We grow so that we can go—and often, we'll discover that wegrow as we go.The Great Commission is the catalyst Jesus gave His disciples for gospel-driven growth.He gave them a mission, a method, and a message—and then reminded them that He is the one whomakes it all possible. Yes, some doubted, and all struggled in various ways, but Jesus still commissionedthem to “go and make disciples” and changed them with His Spirit as they went.By God's grace, Gospel Life, we are growing—in depth, in relationship, and in mission. We're planting achurch, digging deeper into God's Word, and praying that we might be a faithful gospel witness in thePuyallup Valley for many years to come. We invite you to hear and be compelled by the GreatCommission of Jesus Christ in this sermon series and to join us in faith as we endeavor to makedisciples and plant churches in this community for many years to come.Jesus declared that all authority in heaven and on earth is His and He promised to be with us to the veryend of the age. Therefore...will you join us as we go?

Sr. Pastor A. A. Jackson shared this message live at RACC on 5/25/25.  It is based mainly on Malachi 1:6-8.  There may be certain ways that we worship in our modern that are considered as inappropriate sacrifices according to God’s biblical definition.  HE must be worshipped in spirit and truth, by which His Spirit enables […] The post Counterfeit Worship: Part 4 – Unacceptable Sacrifices appeared first on Realm of Agape Christian Church.

The Psalms have this unique way of speaking directly to the soul. Whether we’re celebrating or stumbling, they give us language for every spiritual season. Psalm 139, in particular, reminds us just how intimately God knows us—especially when anxiety threatens to take over our thoughts.

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comActs 8 Saul is introduced as an aggressive persecutor of the church, dragging people from their homes to imprison them. Meanwhile, Christians flee and carry the gospel with them, and the church continues to grow. Philip, a devoted teacher, brings the teachings of the kingdom to Samaria, where many believe in Jesus and are baptized. One such man, Simon, soon forfeits his salvation by trying to purchase his right to the power of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter urges him to repent immediately so that he may be forgiven and restored. Later, Philip is sent to an Ethiopian eunuch who is reading the book of Isaiah alone. Philip uses the scripture to teach Jesus to the eunuch, and he is promptly baptized after believing in Jesus, which leads to much rejoicing.   Comparing the characters in this chapter will help us determine who we want to become. Believing he was right, Saul opposed the disciples and sought to hinder them. In contrast, Philip was committed to openly sharing the gospel with everyone to expand the kingdom. Aim to emulate Philip in daily purpose and joy and strive to be far less like Saul, whose misguided views of godliness led him to cruel and sinful behavior. Simon believed but then chose a path of self-interest and greed, ultimately leading to bondage once again. The eunuch sought to know the truth and was baptized, rejoicing in the salvation he found in Jesus. We must rejoice and be content, blessed and saved in Christ!  Blessed Lord, thank You for showing us how the gospel touches hearts, regardless of any attempts to hinder it. Help us to be like Philip, serving as vessels to spread the good news to those around us. Protect our hearts from selfish motives and greed so that we can demonstrate Jesus to others through our actions as much as through our message. Reveal our sins to us, and we will repent and refocus on the mission with humility. We pray to be continual seekers like the eunuch while also being ready to teach other seekers we encounter along the way.   Thought Questions: -       How can you be more attentive to how God and His Spirit want to use you to share Jesus with others, like how God used Philip? -       Is self-focus and greed ever a problem for you, like it was for Simon? How do you find joy and contentment in your life in Christ? -       Philip “preached Jesus” to the eunuch, and the eunuch sought baptism. Why did he make that connection and only rejoice afterward?

Explanation | Pentecost Moment | Part 4 This morning, Senior Pastor David Dwight continued our Pentecost Moment series with a powerful message on the church's call to bear witness to Jesus Christ. Over the past few weeks, we've reflected on the significance of the tongues of fire given to all believers at Pentecost. Throughout Scripture, fire represents the presence of God — and now, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, His presence dwells within us always. But why did God give us His Spirit? To ignite us — to empower us to boldly proclaim what we know to be true: that Jesus, who was crucified, raised, and exalted, is both Lord and Messiah. As the Church, we are called to lift high the sign that declares to the world, “Jesus is Lord,” and to trust the Holy Spirit to move in hearts so that every person might come to know Him as their Lord too.

The Holy Spirit is a wonderfully generous gift from God. While our salvation is indeed sealed by the Spirit, God could've simply left it at that. However, as Pastor Johnny discusses in his message today, it's through God's Spirit that we're made aware of our shortcomings, and by His Spirit, we get the strength to change.

It is a big ask for God to request some interaction with specks of dust like us.  Fortunately, He tells us how to do it.  He Helps with the process. He comes to get us, first and foremost. He gives us people to help.  He gives us His Spirit locally and His Son to intercede at a distance. Please listen and be encouraged. Subscribe to be encouraged tomorrow with the Lord's will. https://youtu.be/padhcmu7cOI

In a world pressing you to conform, God's invitation is to be radically transformed, allowing His Spirit to renew your mind and align you with His perfect will.

Seeing the Father Through the Son: A Call to Deep Relationship with Christ This Homily centers on the theme of God's universal plan for salvation and our personal role in fulfilling it. It begins with the story of Paul and Barnabas, who, after facing rejection from Jewish leaders, turn to preach to the Gentiles, fulfilling God's inclusive mission. The message underscores that God initially chose Israel to be a light to all nations, but when they failed, He extended His call to others. This pattern repeats in our personal lives: when we fail to live out our calling due to jealousy, pride, or inaction, God will raise others to accomplish His work. The Homily also stresses the need for a personal and transformative relationship with Jesus—not just surface-level faith or religious actions. True discipleship involves knowing Christ deeply, allowing His Spirit to work through us to bring salvation to others. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Seeing the Father Through the Son: A Call to Deep Relationship with Christ ............................................................................. Because he has given us the spirit. The spirit, which we, we call in our hearts, call God our Father. Therefore, we are united to God. We are united to Jesus in this moment. When we say to him, Lord, like Peter, where can we go? You have the words of eternal life. ............................................................................. Image: God the Father and the Holy Spirit : Italian Artist: Pompeo Batoni: (l. 1708-1787) ............................................................................. Gospel Reading: John 14: 7-14 First Reading: Acts 13: 44-52

If you are born again, God has placed His Spirit in you and you have become as one with Him as Jesus is. And…you have been anointed by Jesus, who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. This is not a one time event, it is a lifestyle. Jesus works with us, continually empowering us for fruits and gifts.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/  Today's episode will help us move from self-reliance to Spirit-empowered living by embracing daily surrender and rediscovering the power of the Holy Spirit in our walk with Jesus. Stay Informed - Get our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hPViAr   Empowering Every Believer: Activating the Priesthood of All Believers - Disciple Maker's Podcast Ep. 7   Unlocking the Power of the Holy Spirit: A Call to Bold Witness and Total Surrender   In this impactful episode, Josh Howard and Jason dive deep into the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. They discuss the challenges modern Christians face, including the startling statistic that 98% of Christians in America never share their faith outside of their immediate families. They highlight two main problems: the lack of witnessing and the often forgotten role of the Holy Spirit in many churches. Through scriptural examples, particularly from the Book of Acts, they showcase the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the necessity of full surrender and consecration to experience true spiritual empowerment. They argue that without daily dying to oneself and being filled afresh with the Spirit, believers cannot effectively witness or make disciples. The conversation underscores the critical need for revival and a personal challenge to be a true burnt offering for God's glory. Join them in a heartfelt prayer of surrender, and take the first steps toward becoming a vessel for the Spirit's power in your life.   Get Discipleship.org's premium Podcast Feed: https://disciplemakerspodcast.supercast.com/    Key Takeaways    00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 00:52 The Role of the Holy Spirit in the Church 03:01 The Power of Witnessing and the Holy Spirit 05:57 Daily Surrender and Empowerment 12:18 Living Sacrifice and Community Support 22:35 The Demands of Discipleship 23:14 The Reasonableness of Total Surrender 24:27 Living as a Burnt Offering 30:02 The Power of the Holy Spirit 32:17 A Call to Radical Transformation 37:42 Prayer of Surrender 45:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement   Check out our Blogs: https://discipleship.org/blog/  See Below for a longer description: Podcast Recap: S3 Ep. 2 – Life in the Spirit In this episode, Jason and Josh dive into a real, honest conversation about what it means to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. They go back and forth between light-hearted banter and weighty truths, creating a natural rhythm that feels both grounded and inspiring. They kick things off with a laugh, joking about how hard it can be to start episodes smoothly—before easing into the heart of the conversation. The big focus? The Church's need to make more room for the Holy Spirit—not just in Sunday services, but in everyday life. Jason shares how some churches unintentionally sideline the Spirit, joking about the tendency to worship “God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Bible.” Josh jumps in to remind us that real power—boldness, witness, and transformation—comes from the Holy Spirit. They unpack Acts 1:8, where Jesus tells His followers they'll receive power when the Holy Spirit comes. Josh points out a sobering stat: 98% of American Christians never share their faith outside their family. The answer isn't trying harder—it's surrendering deeper. Josh describes how the disciples went from hiding in fear to boldly preaching the gospel after being filled with the Spirit. He draws from Romans to say the same power that raised Jesus now lives in us—meaning we're equipped for far more than we realize. A key theme in the episode is daily surrender. Josh shares a vivid metaphor: believers “leak,” so we need to keep coming back for a fresh filling. They talk about how true revival starts when we lay ourselves down—day after day—like living sacrifices. They also explore the idea that you can't have Pentecost without Calvary. In other words, the power of the Spirit comes through death to self. Drawing on Old Testament sacrifices, they paint a picture of what it means to live fully surrendered—acknowledging our tendency, like a goat, to crawl off the altar. Community plays a big role here too. Josh emphasizes how we need each other to keep living that surrendered life—through encouragement, accountability, and prayer. Toward the end, they call out how the Western Church often gets caught up in debates and performance, losing sight of the simple, powerful truth: Jesus rose, and His Spirit lives in us. They warn against letting the flesh take the lead again and call for a return to Spirit-led living. The episode wraps with lyrics from a Casting Crowns song that challenge superficial faith and call for genuine heart change. It's a fitting close to a conversation all about real transformation—from the inside out. Jason and Josh finish with a heartfelt prayer, asking for the Spirit's guidance, power, and presence to shape every part of our lives. Bottom line: If you're hungry for deeper discipleship and lasting impact, it all starts with surrender—and the Holy Spirit is ready to lead the way.

With all that we have received by faith in Christ, His Spirit living in us, who will complete the good work God has begun in us… if God is for us, who or what could possibly stand against us?

Discover the transformative power of living all-in with the Holy Spirit in this powerful sermon, "To The Ends of The Earth: Living All-In with The Holy Spirit." This message explores the life-changing promise of the Father—the baptism in the Holy Spirit—and its vital role in empowering believers to boldly share the gospel and deepen their faith. Learn how biblical prophecy, from Abraham's covenant to John the Baptist's declaration, reveals God's unchanging plan for salvation and hope. Through key passages in Matthew 3, Acts 1, and Genesis 12, this sermon unpacks the profound significance of the Holy Spirit as a source of strength and guidance for living out your faith. It's a timely reminder that Jesus not only calls us to salvation but also commissions us to be His witnesses, filled with the Spirit's dynamite power to reach "to the ends of the earth." If you've been seeking a deeper connection with God or wondering about the next steps in your spiritual journey, this message offers guidance and encouragement. Jesus' present-day ministry continues to build His church, and His promise of the Spirit is as relevant today as it was at Pentecost. Embrace the call to live fully for Jesus and experience the incredible blessing of the Holy Spirit. Take this moment to respond to the message of faith, hope, and salvation. If you're ready to follow Jesus and explore what it means to walk in the fullness of His Spirit, we're here to help guide your next steps. Let this message inspire you to live boldly, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and make an eternal impact for His kingdom.

God's intention is to use the proclamation of the gospel message through his people to save people from sin, death, and hell from every people group on earth. In this passage we see that he has given us his Holy Spirit to empower us to proclaim that message. Sermon Outline:I. The Source of the Proclamation.II. The Crux of the Proclamation.III. The Effect of the Proclamation.Sermon Discussion Questions:1. How do you personally relate to the common fears about sharing your faith that were described in the sermon? What do those fears reveal about your view of God, others, or yourself?2. Peter once denied Jesus out of fear, yet in Acts 2 he boldly proclaims the gospel. What do you think made the difference, and how does that encourage or challenge you today?3. Peter says the events of Pentecost fulfill Joel's prophecy that God would pour out His Spirit “on all flesh.” How does that reshape your understanding of who is called and empowered to share the gospel? How do your gifts and context shape the way you proclaim the mighty works of God?4. The sermon describes how Peter's audience was “cut to the heart” when they heard the message. Have you ever experienced this kind of conviction when hearing God's Word? How did you respond? How can we sensitively help others work through conviction without minimizing it or making people feel condemned?5. What step of response might the Spirit be calling you to take after hearing this sermon?

In his message, Gordon shared how a lifetime of supernatural encounters shaped his journey and deepened his surrender to Jesus. He urged us to seek God's presence, expect fresh encounters, and be ready for a move of His Spirit that is already stirring hearts across the world.

As God is, so is His kingdom. His kingdom is manifested in the Holy Spirit. We will pray for everyone to receive His kingdom manifestation in their lives. We continue our thirst, our coming, and believing. His Spirit poured out upon everyone, empowering, healing, delivering, and announcing Jesus. The post The Kingdom of God Is appeared first on Jubilee Church.

The Lord wants to pour out His Spirit into us, we just have to believe. Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3v17-18, Acts 1v1-5, Acts 2v1-4, Isaiah 44v3, Joel 2v28, Titus 3v5

It's such a simple word. Three letters. Just one syllable.  So why is joy so elusive?  We try so hard to find it –but, you know…   Why is Joy in Such Short Supply? Well, it's great to be with you again this week and we are starting a new series on the programme called, "It's Time to Start Enjoying My Life". I really am looking forward to this series because "joy" is such a big issue in life. It's such a simple little word – just three letters, one syllable – "joy" and yet it seems in such short supply; it's more precious than gold or silver. Think about it, how many of the people that you know, would say, if asked, "I'm really enjoying my life?" And if I ask you, how much, on a scale of zero to ten, are you enjoying your life, right now? How would you answer? Most people hover somewhere around the middle or bottom half of that "zero to ten" scale. Why is it though that joy seems to be in such a short supply in this world? There's not one person that I know if I asked them, "Would you like to experience joy in your life?" I don't know anyone that would say, "Aw no, no, I don't think I need joy in my life." Joy is such a wonderful thing, it's such an important thing. Now I've travelled to lots of parts of this planet; places where people are really wealthy, I mean mega wealthy; places where people are moderately well off and places where people live in abject poverty. I know people who are rich and people who are poor, tall and short, black and white, thick and thin, but you know something? None of those distinctions seem to have much to do with whether they are enjoying their lives or not. Those external things, at the end of the day, that's not really where it's at. You can have everything that money can buy – the latest plasma screen, the biggest new car, the finest clothes, jewellery, all those things and more; a wonderful husband or wife and great kids – you can have all of those things and still not really be enjoying your life. I heard a well known, really wealthy business man on TV the other night and he can have anything he wants. You could tell though, as he spoke and you looked at him, you could tell that he had an unsettled life; he was looking for something. See so often, when it comes to joy and the levels of joy that we experience, they're so low and we blame those things on the outside. "Well, I'd enjoy my life if I had more money." "I'd enjoy my life if I had a better job." "I'd enjoy my life if other people weren't so difficult; if it wasn't for the politics at work or the tension at home, or my loneliness or … You name it, we can blame it – then I'd enjoy my life." You know what I am talking about; blame, blame, blame. But you know why I know that it's not the things on the outside that give us joy? Because I used to be one of the people that thought that it was. I could holiday in five star resorts, I did. Had gold plated taps in the en suite – you name it, I could have it and I had no joy. I actually felt desperately miserable. You see, there's a big swindle going on in society and I don't care whether you live in a wealthy country or whether you live in a poor country. Maybe you have heard me talk about it before perhaps and I take aim at the advertising industry. It's not really their fault because it's a symptom of a greedy society. See, they flash up on television and in the media and on radio, seductive images of success and they link them to the product that they are trying to sell us and the message is, "If you buy this product you will be happy." So you do – you buy that product; you spend your hard earned cash and you discover that there is just no joy in it. And so we watch the next ad and we buy the next thing and it still doesn't satisfy and we do the next thing and it still doesn't satisfy. "Oh, when I'm happily married, then I'll enjoy my life." But you know something? Another person can't make you happy! I have a wonderful wife – truly. Jacqui is my absolute favourite person on planet earth but I can easily still feel empty and hollow and unhappy, even though I have her; even though I have a comfortable home to live in. See, we live in a world based on greed. Companies know that so they trade on our dissatisfaction; they trade on our lack of joy; they trade on our desire to discover joy as the basis for earning more money to fill people's pockets to make them happy but it never does. That's the swindle! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not against capitalism; I'm not against free enterprise; I'm not against people working hard – those things on their own though just don't bring you joy. And yet, over and over and over again, we go looking for joy in all the wrong places. "Ah, if I am entertained, I'll enjoy myself then." Sure for a short time, some entertainment might make us feel good but that's not what I am talking about. I'm talking about a deep, abiding contentment; a deep joy that never goes away – right through the highs and the lows and the ups and the downs and the good times and the bad times – a joy that's deep inside somewhere, that words can't describe. That's what I'm talking about. Joy; real, abiding joy! Now you might say to me, "Berni, is that what life's all about? Aren't you being unrealistic? Are you being a Christian hedonist – you know, the whole point of knowing God is that so you feel good?" Well, let me tell you something – one of God's greatest promises is the promise of joy when we have a relationship with Him – it's not an optional extra. He talks about it literally hundreds of times through the Bible. We are going to look at some of those over the coming weeks. Psalm 126, verse 5 says: Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Jesus said … you can read it in John chapter 16, verse 24. By the way, if you have a Bible grab it, we are going to need it today. John chapter 16, verse 24: "Until now,” He said “you have not ask for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” Joy is not some optional extra in our relationship with God. It's an integral part of God's plan for our lives. So often God says He is going to do this or do that so that our joy would be complete. See, He wants complete joy for us – a joy that never fades; a sweet calm delight in our hearts – no matter what life throws at us. And it's a joy – a joy that comes from Him. Problem is so many people are trying to chase down this elusive thing called "joy", just looking in the wrong places.   Whose Idea is Joy Anyway? There is something awesome about being around a person who has a deep sense of joy. Maybe you know one or two people like that. Often they are not sort of over the top, really out going people; sometimes they are quiet and gentle but you just know that there is something inside them that you want. They seem to cope so well with the curved balls that life throws at them. They seem to have so much to give. They have like…like a quiet, understated kind of gentle confidence – maybe confidence isn't the right word, maybe contentment is the word I am looking for – and that person's joy kind of invades our heart space. We just want to be around them. It feels good because they're safe and encouraging and they are just great to be around. Most of us only know one or two people like that but what we know is that we want to be around them because it does us a whole bunch of good. My hunch is we kind of all relate to that. Joy is a commodity that seems to be in such short supply. The advertising industry, as I said earlier, tells us "Buy this product and you will experience joy" – it never happens. It's a symptom of a greedy world – me, me, me, more, more, more. But the more that we chase after this precious commodity that we call "joy", the more … well, the more elusive it becomes. For much of my life I truly subscribed to the philosophy that if all my needs were met – all my desires – I would experience joy. I had the big house, I had the latest car, I had gadgets galore but they never brought me the joy and the contentment I was looking for. So where do you get it? Christians sometimes get a little bit uncomfortable with the fact that we are talking about "joy" because it appears to be self-centred that we would be chasing after "joy". When Jesus came to this planet, He came proclaiming … what? The Kingdom of God; the reign of God in our lives and people got confused. They saw the Roman occupation in first century Israel and they thought, "Here is this Messiah to set us free from that kingdom of oppression and re-establish God's Kingdom in Israel; like when David was King – back to the good old days." Now, that's not what He was talking about at all. He was talking about something that happens in our hearts. In Luke chapter 17, verse 20: The Pharisees asked Him about the Kingdom of God and they said when would it come? And Jesus replied “The Kingdom of God isn't coming in a way that you can see. People won't say “Here it is” or “There it is” because the Kingdom of God is within you. People thought it was a physical kingdom; God had another plan. The Apostle Paul – he puts it really well in Romans chapter 14, verse 17 – he's talking about religious rules here. But he says: The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Isn't that interesting? The Kingdom of God isn't about these physical things; not rules and regulations about what to eat and drink, it's about three things – righteousness which is what we have when we believe in Jesus and we experience His forgiveness; a right standing with God through our faith in Jesus Christ; getting our lives back on tract. And through that we then get a peace and a joy – these are the things that the Kingdom of God is all about. And they come to us not through buying the latest gadget or extending the house or renovating the bathroom. No, they come to us through the Holy Spirit. And it's not a peace and a joy that the world offers – it's not something you can buy off the rack in the store, not that at all – it's a gift from God and it's something that Jesus talked about over and over and over again. Flip your Bible across from Luke to John chapter 15, verse 11. Jesus disciples were afraid; Jesus is about to be crucified. Everything they have believed and seen over the last three and a half years is falling in a screaming heap and look at what Jesus talks about: I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” “I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Jesus is about giving us God's joy even in those incredibly difficult times and in fact, especially in those times, and making our joy complete. Let me share something really interesting and profound with you. The Greek word – remember the New Testament was written in Greek – the Greek word for "joy" used right through the New Testament, is closely related to the word for "free gift" and the word for "grace". You see, God's joy is this thing that He wants to lavish on us freely – it's part of His grace; it's an integral part of who He is and what He has done through Jesus Christ. And over and over and over again, what we see is that the joy that Jesus talks about isn't the joy from the world. It's the joy that comes from God. It's not some joy we conjure up for ourselves; it's not something we experience because something good happened to us today or we bought some new clothes or something. No! God is a God of joy. Now, I challenge you – no we are not going to go there today – but I challenge you to read just one chapter in the Bible, its Luke chapter 15. Jesus tells three parables: one is about a shepherd who loses a sheep; one is about a widow who loses a coin and one is of a father who loses his son. And in each case these people regain what they had lost. Jesus told these stories to explain to us what God is like. The point of it is the joy in God's heart when He gets us back. The father of the prodigal son responds with such joy, he just lavishes it on his son who once was lost but now is found – he throws a party. My experience is I tried to get joy hits in so many different places before I met Jesus. I had the money to spend, so I did. I spent a fortune trying to capture joy and get it in my heart, but I never did until one day I encountered Jesus Christ. His presence; His Spirit is what flooded my heart with joy. It overflows out of me into the lives of other people – not perfectly – but in a way that words can't describe. Peter the Apostle, puts it this way in First Peter chapter 1, verse 8: Even though you haven't seen Him with your own eyes, you love Him and even though you don't see Him now, you believe in Him and you are filled with an unspeakable and glorious joy because you are receiving the goal of your faith, salvation of your souls. I didn't realise it at first but as my relationship with Jesus began to grow, that unspeakable and glorious joy; a joy that – I'm good with words, but I can't find words to describe because it's unspeakable and glorious. That wondrous joy filled my heart. It's not something you and I can conjure up. It's God's joy and He pours it into our hearts, through His Holy Spirit as we experience His forgiveness and start to live in His goodness and ditch the rubbish we used to think and speak and do. That's why Paul wrote God's Kingdom isn't about rules and regulations and physical things. It's about righteousness and peace and joy – God's righteousness, God's peace and God's joy that are given to us through the Holy Spirit. It's totally out of this world. Jesus was talking about His peace – He said: My peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I don't give it to you the way the world does so don't let your hearts be troubled and don't let them be afraid, He says in John chapter 14, verse 27. See until we experience it we just don't understand it. Even when we do, it's impossible to find words to describe the wondrous reality of the joy and the peace Jesus Christ brings. They're not from this world; they come from Him. And we can look in as many holes and under as many logs as we like but it's not until we put our trust in Him, completely in Him, that we experience His joy. We dwell in His presence, we pray, we are filled with such a wonder and such an awe and such a joy unspeakable. Entering the Gates of Joy We have been talking about the fact that God's plan is to fill us with joy but sometimes people look at God from a distance and they say, "Well, you know, I don't believe that that joy is for me. I don't know." Let me share a story with you. I visited a barber's shop recently to have my hair cut and as Bert the barber went to work we began to talk. We talked about … well, all sorts of things – sport, as you do in a barber's shop, politics, interest rates. Eventually we ended up on the subject of God. Bert says to me, "You know Berni, I don't believe that God exists." "That's interesting," I said, "Why do you say that?" Here's what he said: "Well you just have to go out onto the street to realise that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be so many abandoned children? If God existed would there be pain and suffering? I can't imagine a loving God would allow these things to happen." I thought about it but I didn't want to get into an argument with him so, when my haircut was done, I just paid and headed out the door. But just outside the door there was a man in the street, with long stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt so I turned around and headed straight back into the barber's shop and I said to Bert, "You know what Bert, barbers don't exist." He was a bit taken aback. He said, "How can you say that? I'm here, I'm a barber, I just worked on you." "No", I said, "Barbers don't exist because if they did there wouldn't be any people with dirty, long hair and untrimmed beards like that guy outside." But Bert was sharp as a tack. He said, "Ah, but barbers do exist – that's what happens when people don't come to me." "Exactly, that's the point – God does exist too but all that stuff you were talking about – that's what happens when people don't go to Him." End of discussion! You get my point? People want to criticise God from a distance but you can't do that. We are talking this week about joy – God's joy and if we want to enjoy our lives we have to enter into that joy. We can't stand at a distance and complain about God and can't say He's not real and criticise Him. If we want to have that joy we have to enter into the joy. I love poetry, always have. There's a beauty and wonder in taking something profound and expressing it in poetry. And the Book of Psalms; Psalm 100, verse 3 says this: Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name for the Lord is good and His love endures for ever. His faithfulness continues through to all generations. God has a heart full; a God sized heart full of joy that He wants to pour into our hearts. That's what we have been looking at on the programme today. Jesus said it over and over again. He said: I have said these things to you so that My joy might be in you and that your joy might be complete. And where we kind of sit back at a distance, either totally scornful of God, as I used to be, or maybe kind of believing in Him at a distance; believing that … well, He's God but never, never really believing that … "He would want to fill me – me – with His joy." Come on, wake up! God's joy – a joy that we can't find anywhere else in this world; a joy that words can't express; a joy unspeakable – is an integral part of His plan for our lives. But we have to walk through the door; we have to enter into that joy, to "enjoy". That's what "enjoy" means, to enter into the joy. We need to ask and thirst and spend time with Him and pray and beat His door down and don't leave Him alone until He does what He said He would do – to give us His joy and so make our joy complete. It's a joy that fills us in the good times and the bad times. Ask, search, knock! Whoever asks receives! Whoever searches finds! Whoever knocks, well, to that person the door will be opened! If we as parents, evil as we are, give our children good gifts, how much more do you think our Father in heaven will give us good gifts when we ask? I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

God's Word can be a Lamp unto our feet and Light unto our Path if we are being led by His Spirit in the Path's of His Righteousness because all of His Words are IN Righteousness.

God's Word can be a Lamp unto our feet and Light unto our Path if we are being led by His Spirit in the Path's of His Righteousness because all of His Words are IN Righteousness.

Motherhood is a beautiful journey that can deepen your marriage and transform your faith. In this episode, we explore how becoming a mother can sometimes lead to losing yourself, grieving that loss, and facing identity confusion. We'll discuss the importance of reclaiming your true identity as a child of God - adopted, forgiven, loved, and empowered by His Spirit. Learn how embracing your divine identity can strengthen your marriage, renew your faith, and help you thrive as a fulfilled, confident woman. Join us for encouragement, biblical insight, and practical steps to navigate motherhood with purpose and grace.

Last night, Pastor Chad led us through week two of our new series, “Rest on Us.” In week one, we explored who the Holy Spirit is. This week, we focused on what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It's important to remember that the Christian life isn't about striving to earn God's approval, but about surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work in and through us. Instead of relying on our own strength, we are called to walk in step with the Spirit. We can't please God when we live according to the flesh. Some of the ways we resist the Spirit include quenching, rejecting, or grieving Him. When we quench or reject the Spirit, we extinguish His flame and harden our hearts toward Him. We grieve the Spirit when we choose sin and return to the ways of death. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we must be led and controlled by Him. This isn't a one-time event—it's a daily act of surrender, asking God to fill us afresh with His Spirit. Missed last night's message? Each week, Paradigm sermons are posted on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts!

As we enter a new week together, take a moment to consider:Is your faith a trickle… or a spring overflowing with life?This week, Beth and Steph will lead us in a conversation about what it means to develop a faith that overflows—not just enough for ourselves, but enough to pour out into the lives around us. When we stay rooted in Christ, His Spirit wells up within us, bringing joy, strength, and renewal.Come ready to be stirred, stretched, and filled.✨ Where is the Lord inviting you to go deeper in trust?✨ How might your faith spring up and spill out in this season?Let's grow and overflow together. Join us live every Tuesday at connect.blessedisshe.net.

“Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:17–18 NLT) When you think of being filled with the Holy Spirit, you may relate it to an emotional experience or a feeling of euphoria. Something dramatic and memorable. But the word filled can be translated as “controlled by.” Think of what happens when the wind fills the sails of a boat and guides it along. That’s the gist of what the apostle Paul is saying in Ephesians 5. God wants you to let His Spirit fill you, power you, and control your life. Another interesting thing about the word filled is that, in the original Greek language, the verb tense that Paul uses suggests something that is done continually. So you can translate verse 18 as, “Be constantly filled with the Spirit.” This is not a one-time event. Instead, it’s something that takes place over and over again. Just as you repeatedly fill the gas tank in your car to keep it running, God wants to refill you with His Spirit. It’s a powerful thing to say each day, “Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Lord, fill me once again.” Every time you say it, and mean it, you mature a little more in your faith. One more thing about this phrase from Ephesians 5:18 is that it’s a command, not a suggestion. The passage isn’t saying, “If it works with your schedule, and if you don’t mind, would you please consider maybe letting the Holy Spirit fill and control you?” Rather, God orders you to be filled with the Holy Spirit. You may ask, “Doesn’t everyone who trusts Christ have the Holy Spirit inside them?” The answer is yes. Paul says in Romans 8:9, “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all)” (NLT). But there are things you can do that interfere with the Holy Spirit’s work in your life. A boat sail that’s turned the wrong way won’t be filled with wind. In the same way, when you’re turned away from God—when you pursue your own agenda instead of His, when you give in to temptation instead of resisting it—you’re not being filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s why Paul warns, “Do not stifle the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19 NLT) and “Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live” (Ephesians 4:30 NLT). When you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, people will notice. They’ll see evidence of it in your life. Galatians 5:22–23 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (nlt). Those qualities have the potential to change lives—not just yours, but other people’s as well. If you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, God will use you to accomplish amazing things. Reflection Question: What are the daily benefits of being filled with the Holy Spirit? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God treats you with never-ending love. An always-present ear. A forever-attentive eye. He treats you with His Son. His Spirit. His heart longing for your heart.

This morning, our Outreach Director, Drew Paulette, guided us through the third week of our Pentecost Moment series. We are living in the age of the Holy Spirit. From Pentecost to today, the Spirit — the third person of the Trinity — has come to dwell in us. And while it's easy to focus on what the Spirit means for us individually, Drew reminded us that God poured out His Spirit for His Church and for His Mission. Where the fire of God's presence was once distant and inaccessible, it now resides within each believer. That fire empowers us to carry God's mission into a dark world, lighting it up through the proclamation of the good news. This mission isn't just for pastors, evangelists, seminary grads, or those who seem naturally gifted — it's for all of us, empowered by the Spirit, called to carry the light of Christ into the world.

John 3:32-34. “What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. I read these three verses together this morning because the apostle John taught about truth using John the Baptist's testimony regarding Jesus. Yesterday, I defined truth as what God does, says, and sees. I hope you can see how I came to that definition from these verses. Jesus is truly God, for He is the truth. He says what He hears and sees. If He hears it, it is the truth. If He sees it, it is the truth. If He does it, it is the truth. It is enlightening that John the Baptist connected Jesus' speaking the words of God and His giving of the Holy Spirit. What is the connection? In chapter 1, verses 33-34, John the Baptist said of Jesus, “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.” To baptize in the Holy Spirit is to give the Spirit without measure. So let's connect truth: what God does, says, and sees, of which Jesus testifies, and Jesus giving the Holy Spirit without measure. When Jesus speaks, the Father and the Son are giving the Spirit of truth. Jesus called the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17, the Spirit of truth. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth.” To give the Holy Spirit to be with us forever is to give the Spirit without a standard of measure or limits. What Jesus sees the Father saying, doing, He also says and does. When God works, He works through His Word and His Spirit. Hopefully, now you can see the connection John saw between the word of Christ and the giving of the Spirit. They are united and inseparable. Now let me connect this reality to living to love with Jesus. The words Jesus hears and the act of giving the Holy Spirit come from God, who is love. 1 John 4:7-8. “ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” How is one born of God? According to Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, one is born from above by the word of God and the Spirit of God. He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water [which is a reference to the Word of God] and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” When we receive the living word of God, Jesus Christ, we receive the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The fruit of receiving the word and Spirit of God is love. I hope you can see that living to love with Jesus in the power of the Spirit comes from the reality of the connection of Jesus speaking the words of God and giving the Spirit without measure. So, God is true, and God is love. If we are practicing the truth, we live to love with Jesus, who is God, in the power of the Spirit. That's our purpose for living. It is why a God of love sent His Son into this world. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

Pastor Jose teaches that the sabbath day was only a shadow of the rest we have through Jesus’ provision. Jesus gave us His Spirit to operate through us, giving us rest. Audio>

Life's unpredictable challenges can leave us feeling spiritually wrecked and abandoned by God. Drawing wisdom from the disciples' experience after Jesus' ascension, we discover three vital tactics for navigating spiritual struggles: staying connected through consistent prayer, remaining driven through Scripture reading, and maintaining orientation through worship. These practices aren't merely survival tools - they position our hearts to receive from God. Even in moments of spiritual wreckage, God remains present and sovereign, working through His Spirit in believers today. Follow and subscribe to stay updated with our latest content: Youtube  | Facebook | Instagram | Central Wired Website

Philip McCallum, Founder of Philips House and Lead Outreach Pastor of Everegreen Church, continues our series of The Birth of the Church. In Acts 2, we see the Holy Spirit move on the disciples. Pastor Philip underscores important historical truths, shedding light on the Jewish traditions surrounding Pentecost, and in so doing, we are challenged and encouraged to remember the power of waiting in expectation for God and His Spirit.

While David lived in a luxurious, stable home, God's Spirit dwelt in a tent. David wanted to build God a house, but the Lord said He would rather build up David's house. Through him would come all the kings and eventually the King of the World. God's Spirit no longer hovers over the mercy seat of the ark. Instead, He lives in the hearts of believers. We are the temple that houses His Spirit, now.

Beloved pastor Andrew Murray (1828-1917) shared how in his native South Africa, various diseases affect the orange trees there. To the unpracticed eye all may seem fine, but an expert arborist can spot the rot that heralds the tree’s slow death. The only way to save the diseased tree is to remove the stem and branches from the root and graft them onto a new one. Then the tree can thrive, producing fruit. Murray connected this illustration to the apostle Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. From prison in Rome, Paul wrote a letter that wonderfully summarizes the gospel of Jesus Christ. His pastoral heart shines through when he prayed that the believers would be strengthened with power through Christ’s Spirit in their inner being so that He would dwell in their hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:16-17). Paul longed that they’d be “rooted and established in love” and would grasp the full measure of God’s abundant love (vv. 17-18). As believers in Jesus, our roots sink deeply into the rich soil of God’s love, where the nutrients fortify us and help us grow. And as we’re grafted onto Jesus, His Spirit helps us to produce fruit. We may have to weather storms that bend us one way or another, but we can withstand them when we’re rooted in the Source of life and love.

Life in Christ is not an abstraction and the gospel is not simply a set of teachings or an ideology. It is clarion call to “Follow Me” from He who is the Lord of life and love. We are invited to participate in the mystery of Divine Life. Just as the fathers  tell us that we are to “become prayer” and not simply engage in a discipline, likewise, we must become Christ. We must put on Him mind and our hearts must be animated by His Spirit of love.  It is for this reason that Saint Isaac the Syrian places desire at the heart of the spiritual life. There is one path that lies ahead for us – we are to long for Christ and for the life of the kingdom. Anything else is reductive; shrinking the faith down to what is manageable and acceptable to our sensibilities and understanding. It is no longer faith but a simulation or as Christ would say “hypocrisy“.  The reality that Saint Isaac places before us is the need for the healing of the soul; afflicted by sin, we are dominated by the passion. Yet because we are made in the image and likeness of God we often unknowingly reach out to grasp what is greater than ourselves while neglecting purity of heart and the need for God‘s grace and mercy. Such a path only leads to greater darkness. Sin unaddressed, like illness undiagnosed only grows worse. We must seek the healing that comes through participation in the Paschal Mystery; that is, a dying and rising to new life in Christ. We must die to sin and self in order to have the purity of heart and the depth of faith that allows us to comprehend what is beyond the senses and reason.  Central to Saint Isaac's thought is the purification of the Nous, the eye of the soul. If neglected one simply becomes blind to the presence of God and his love. The words of Christ come to mind in this regard: “the eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is  bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” To neglect such a reality is like the man who shamelessly entered into the wedding feast with unclean garments. We seek to enter into the fullness of life and love while yet immersed in the mire of our sin and clinging to the things of the world. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:13:13 susan: wish I could be there  I am a piano teacher  lol 00:13:20 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 123, paragraph 11 00:27:04 Myles Davidson: Father, a week or so ago you mentioned private revelation, many of which seem to also fit into this category (ie. fantasies of the mind). There are a plethora of so-called seers around today, many of which have been shown to be fakes. How do the Orthodox deal with this phenomena? I've heard they have a policy of keeping private revelations as just that… private. What are your thoughts on this? 00:28:12 Anthony: If Christ on the criss is the Bridegroom,  then I can see a person who has desired impure thoughts is running to be like the Bridegroom but is not "ready" to be married. Although, the Gospel does tell us to take up the cross and follow Christ,  without reference to one's state of mind or holiness. 00:37:36 Ren Witter: In my notes from the last time we did Isaac, you said that this teaching is not harsh, but practical. Sin being understood as a sickness, a person who has not yet been purified through praxis simply would not have the strength to take up the cross in such a way as to ascend to theoria. Sounds a lot like the teaching on taking up fasting beyond your strength - you'll just end up worse off than you were before. 00:44:14 Joshua Sander: My apologies if you've already covered this or if Isaac is about to get to this and I'm getting ahead of him, but how does one discern that one's own "senses have found rest from their infirmity" and that he or she is ready for theoria, especially given that temptations and struggles against sin will always be with us while we are in the flesh? 00:47:00 Nypaver Clan: What page are we on? 00:47:07 Ren Witter: 124 00:53:46 Anthony: I suspect a lot of us seekers are like St Teresa d'Avila who suffer much from bad advice until we run into clearer presentations of faith, hope and love. 00:54:15 Catherine Opie: Replying to "I suspect a lot of u..." Definitely my path

Greater Glory with Bill and Cara is not just a show—it's a divine appointment! Join Apostle Bill as he delivers a timely, Spirit-filled Word to the Body of Christ, empowering believers with the undeniable truth that Help is on the Way! Jesus is our ever-present help in times of need, and no matter the storm, we are never forsaken. Prepare your hearts and lift your expectations, because God is about to send the Rain of His Spirit to refresh and revive all that you've sown in faith. Your season of harvest is here! Get ready to be blessed, encouraged, and transformed as you step into Greater Glory—where revelation flows, faith is ignited, and miracles abound! Don't miss this powerful move of God—your breakthrough is closer than you think! Share this broadcast with your friends and get ready to experience the unlimited power of God! Get connected with us and watch “Greater Glory” on the High Tower Ministries, Int. Facebook Page! Sundays at 9 AM and Wednesdays at 7 PM for inspiring messages that will raise your faith and grow you in the Word! Don't miss a message, Follow Us on Facebook: https://linktr.ee/hightowerministries Bookings/ Churches / Conferences: Bookings@HighTowerMinistry.org  FREE DOWNLOAD / Website: www.HighTowerMinistry.org   Unlocking Glory and the Unlocking Glory Study Guide are available on our website (signed copy with free shipping within the US). Also available on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.

All temptations fall into three categories: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. God has provided a way for us to escape the consequences that come with falling into these temptations by giving us His Spirit to walk with. When we stay in step with Him by submitting ourselves to His leading, we remain in the will of God and our lives become about Him instead of ourselves.

Will we dare to diagnose our distractions? This heavy topic is on our mind today as we ponder the lessons from the Book of Proverbs about priorities, and distractions. Stephanie introduces us this week to a new fictitious character, who constantly seeks to maintain herself in a state of numbing and escape from the real world. And so, we look at the ever-increasing numbing that comes from seeking pleasure or relief in the wrong places, so predominant in our culture today. We talk about misplaced loves: we are wired for joy and pleasure and delight, but we need to beware of seeking these in the wrong places, even the “innocent” ones. God is the only safe place for us—in everything, including our delight and joy and pleasure. Make sure to check out the optional-but-oh-so-helpful mini e-book to go along with the series at gospelspice.com/wisdom The author of the Book of Proverbs suffered from an acute case of escapism. King Solomon was addicted to women, and to wine (see Proverbs 31:1-9). He learned the lesson, but too late-- from 1Kings 11 to the entire book of Ecclesiastes, Scripture attests to the failure of the world's wisest man to choose delight in God at the twilight of his royal life. Solomon stopped delighting in God's glory and started delighting in his own. Does this mean that our own desire to delight in God, and to escape escapism, is a doomed quest? Not so! Because we have access to the wisdom that is from above the sun--the very wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, in the name of Christ. We have what Solomon never had.  Disclaimer – pleasure itself is not a bad thing. We are wired for pleasure and joy and delight. But beware where you seek it! Jesus loved pleasure and joy and delight, and role-models how to place these desires rightly: squarely in the lap of our heavenly Father, on our knees. The questions we are challenged to answer this week: Would we rather garner praise from humans for our own works, or praise from God for our dependence on Him? Would we rather build our own little kingdom, bound in time and space under our own wisdom, and be its ruler for a season -- or be part of the larger, infinite, eternal Kingdom of God with the place of honor of a child? Jesus opened the way of wisdom on the cross by surrendering to the Father, and invites us into the same. His passion was the climax of a life of resisting the temptation to delight in Self-glory. For example, the wilderness temptations were all attempts at distractions from His mission. And, so was Gethsemane: it was the final battle for resolve, the culmination of a lifetime of battles against sin and temptation. Jesus did what we could not do: a life of perfect surrender to God (which is perfect freedom) so that He could give us that freedom through the Cross. Freedom from sin; Freedom from Self; Freedom to surrender to the Son. Why would we want to be our own master, when Christ offers to be the master we could never be for ourselves?  What the world needs most right now is our personal intimacy with God. Only then will we be truly equipped to reach the world in His Name. So, Stephanie ends this highly personal episode with several of her own personal tips and experiences of trusting God. They include: - Early morning routine; - Prayer; - Bible study, intake, memorization (raking for leaves and digging for diamonds both); - Discipline; - Worship. Are we PERFECT? NO. But the general direction is a growth in our moment-by-moment dependence on God by His Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord. That's the spirit of the Book of Proverbs. Don't give up. Trust God, not yourself.  Make sure to check out the optional-but-oh-so-helpful mini e-book to go along with the series at gospelspice.com/proverbs MEET OUR FICTIONAL GUEST TODAY | LIZ Lizzie loves a good shopping spree. She finds peace in the endless rhythm of browsing the racks, and trying things on, and spending hours in search of the one perfect item she is looking for. She usually does not know what she needs until she finds it, but then, she knows. She jokes that Target has a memory erasing device at the entrance of their stores—she comes in for milk, and leaves with 3 trendy pillows, a pretty dress, and a new kitchen gadget. And then she has to send her husband to the store after work because she forgot the milk. Oh, her husband. He's a good man. Lizzie loves to spend hours on social media. She's been known to let dinner to burn, or forget to get it started, because she was down a rabbit hole on Twitter. Good thing she can order takeout at the click of a button. Her husband is very supportive. Her favorite evenings are spent with a glass of wine—or two—watching her favorite shows. Yes, she has been known to binge watch. She just can't resist the pull of a good story. She loves to bury herself in the comforting world of make-believe characters and their fascinating stories, especially easy romance. Her own life is dull and humdrum—nothing like those exciting adventures. Married, kids out of the house, not much to report. Well, on the surface at least. She doesn't really want to think about the long evenings her husband has to work to provide for them. All this stress is exhausting. Lizzie loves the little cocoon she has woven for herself—all those well-deserved, innocent comforts to escape reality. She remembers a time in life when it seemed like she could handle a lot more—more stress, more activities, more relationships. Maybe it's just part of aging. That's why Lizzie loves to take naps: there is nothing like the feel of drifting away from reality to embrace the sweet comfort of sleep. She just decided to quit her job as a part-time administrative clerk; it is just too much pressure. Yes, it is going to put financial stress on her hard-working husband, but her wellbeing is important, right? He keeps telling her that God will give her purpose and passion. That sounds like too much work. She's not interested. She'd rather stay home and get some rest. Distractions build a smoke and mirror kingdom that will take us away from God's calling on our lives. Because we are wired for joy and hope and faith, we need to see the danger of distractions, even “innocent” ones. Accumulated distractions will build for us a small world of delusion and fantasy. Lizzie is seeking refuge in her little make-believe bubble of comforts. This small escape world only exists in her mind. It is the sum of her misplaced loves. The Book of Proverbs teaches us that wisdom is placing our love in God Himself. No less, no more. God invites us to live out the fullness of our identity in Him. Lizzie is too distracted to care about identity, calling and purpose. She has numbed herself into the comfortable oblivion of manifold distractions. So, unlike Lizzie, let's dare to diagnose our distractions. Let's dare to refuse self-deception and self-numbing. Let's seek to cultivate the root of our hope, our faith, our joy in God Himself. Let's be ruthlessly honest and see distractions as they really are in our own heart, even when comfort beckons. Especially when comfort beckons. And let's dare to ask ourselves: what if God was using our uncomfortable circumstances to personally mentor us into deeper intimacy with Him? Would it make difficult seasons worth it? We have a choice. Our circumstances can distract us away from genuine faith, hope and joy, or they can draw us closer to God. We cannot grow closer to God while building our own little kingdom through self-numbing and worldly comforts. Instead, God invites us to join His bold and ambitious work to build His larger, infinite, eternal Kingdom. To accomplish our purpose in this life, we need to be laser-focused on God's calling over us, and shun the worldly distractions. What the world needs most right now is our personal intimacy with God. Only then will we be truly equipped to reach the world in His Name. Take a listen to Gospel Spice Podcast Episode 390 to find out many more ways that our world aims to distract us from God today. Make sure to check out the optional-but-oh-so-helpful mini e-book to go along with the series at gospelspice.com/wisdom We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/74762/link/ Centering on Christ | The Tabernacle experience https://www.podcastics.com/episode/94182/link/ Shades of Red | Against human oppression https://www.podcastics.com/episode/115017/link/ God's glory, our delight  https://www.podcastics.com/episode/126051/link/   Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

All temptations fall into three categories: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. God has provided a way for us to escape the consequences that come with falling into these temptations by giving us His Spirit to walk with. When we stay in step with Him by submitting ourselves to His leading, we remain in the will of God and our lives become about Him instead of ourselves. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/640/29

A Scripture meditation using Lectio Divina. Discover peace that guards your heart in Philippians 4:6-7. Get your FREE Unshakable Journal here. Life can feel uncertain, overwhelming, and full of pressure—but God's Word offers us an unshakable peace that anchors us, no matter the storm. In this Scripture meditation, we’ll slow down and reflect deeply on Philippians 4:6-7. These verses are a powerful invitation to release our worries, pray about everything, and experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. This is the first episode in our new series: Unshakable: Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow. Throughout the next nine weeks, we’ll explore Scriptures that remind us of God’s unshakable character, the strength we receive through His Spirit, and the hope we can hold onto in every season. In this meditation on Unshakable Peace, you’ll be invited to: Notice what’s weighing on your heart today Talk to God about what you need Thank Him for His faithfulness Imagine sitting with Jesus and receiving His peace Rest in the truth that God’s peace will guard your heart and mind Whether you’re feeling steady or shaken, may this time in God’s Word help you stand firm and experience His deep, lasting peace. Take a few deep breaths, open your heart, and let God’s Word speak peace to your soul today. Get your FREE Unshakable Journal here. Here are some additional helpful links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Guided Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The Entire meditation text is: Philippians 4:6-7, NLT 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Bible Reading: Proverbs 15:1-4; Ephesians 4:31-32"You're always messing up this room," Hannah said as she pushed her sister's things off the dresser. "You're such a pig!""You're the pig. And leave my things alone!" yelled Margo."Then keep your stuff off my side of the dresser!" Hannah shot back.The fighting escalated, and soon Mom appeared at the door. "Girls! I'm tired of the constant bickering between you," she said sternly. "You are sisters, and you should respect each other. Follow me."Hannah and Margo glared at each other as they followed their mother into the back hall and watched as she got out some towels and a bottle of cleaning solution. "Now," said Mom, "you are going to clean the big living room window until it looks like you could walk through it." Hannah and Margo got to work. But the more solution they sprayed on the glass and rubbed with the towels, the streakier the window became. "Mom!" Margo called. "There's something wrong with the spray you gave us.""What's that?" Mom came in from the kitchen. "The solution I gave you isn't working?""It's just making it worse!" said Hannah."Well, your solution for solving disagreements isn't working either," said Mom. She came over and took the bottle she had given them. "This is all-purpose cleaner--it doesn't work on windows. And shouting and saying nasty things to each other doesn't work to solve disagreements."The girls started to complain, but Mom cut them off."God has a much different solution," she said. "Instead of responding in anger, He says to give a soft answer. That means calmly talking through the problem and caring about the other person and what they have to say. Because you trust in Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit to help you respond to others in a gentle, loving way--even when you don't agree with them." Mom went and got another bottle from the back hall. "Here, try this solution on the windows--it will work much better."Hannah and Margo went back to their task and thought about what Mom had said. Finally, Hannah said, "I'm sorry I pushed your stuff off the dresser.""I'm sorry too," said Margo. "I'll try to keep things neater." After a few more wipes, the window was as clear as ever.–Carol Baker How About You?Do you ever get angry at your friends or family? Do you react with harsh words or a mean attitude? By ourselves, it's nearly impossible to respond nicely. That's why Jesus gives us His Spirit to help us respond in a kind, gentle way. The next time you're upset, take a deep breath and ask Him to show you how to use His solution--a soft answer spoken in love.Today's Key Verse:A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (NKJV) (Proverbs 15:1)Today's Key Thought:Solve disagreements God's way

we’re reminded through Psalm 147:1-5 that God sees the brokenhearted, binds their wounds, and lovingly gathers the outcast. His love doesn't discard — it restores. Healing might take time, but you’re never walking through the process alone. ✨ Key Takeaways

In the early twentieth century, New York City had become a noisy place. An overhead train, cars, trolleys, newsboys yelling, and people rushing around—life was loud! Yet, one day at Broadway and 34th Street, a man named Charles Kellogg declared to his friend, “Listen, I hear a cricket.” “Impossible,” his friend answered. “With all this racket you couldn’t hear a tiny sound like that.” Yet, Mr. Kellogg insisted, and eventually found the cricket, chirping in the window of a bakery. “What astonishing hearing you have,” his friend proclaimed. “Not at all,” Mr. Kellogg replied. “It’s a matter of where you focus your attention.” Elijah was a prophet of God who had just seen Him perform an amazing display of His power, but now the prophet was hiding in a cave for fear of the pagan queen (1 Kings 19:1-9). This time, however, God didn’t want to communicate in a powerful way. Even though He had sent a great wind, an earthquake, and even a roaring fire (vv. 11-12), now it was time now for Elijah to commune with God personally and quietly. God wanted to speak to the prophet in “a gentle whisper” (v. 12). Today, there’s a surplus of noise in our lives, yet God still speaks in a quiet voice through the Scriptures and by His Spirit. Taking time to prayerfully focus our attention on God will help us tune in on His comforting, guiding voice.