Podcasts about holy god

To live with a holy fear of God requires that we revere Him. But what is reverence and how do we live before God with a deep humility, respect, and honor? In this study, Nathan explores the biblical concept of reverence, what it means to “hallow” (keep and honor as holy) God's name, and explains how taking God's name in vain is far more than swearing. If you desire to grow deeper in your relationship and intimacy with Christ Jesus, then we as Christians must live with holy reverence before Him and His Word.

The privilege of gathering together as God's people is a reminder that our identity is not found in a building or a weekly event, but in the living presence of God within us. Reflecting on my recent visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, I was struck by the reality that, while many still pray for the coming of the Messiah, we who are in Christ know that the wall of separation has been torn down. The Holy of Holies is no longer a distant, restricted place—God's Spirit now dwells in us. This is not because of anything we have done, but because of what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice. The presence of God is not confined to a location; it is our new identity as His people.Understanding that we are the temple of God changes everything. It means that wherever we go, we are on holy ground—not because of the place, but because the Holy God lives in us. This truth is not just theological information; it is deeply practical. It transforms our marriages, our parenting, our work, and even the way we interact with strangers. When we practice the presence of God, we begin to see ourselves not as consumers of spiritual goods, but as co-laborers and living stones, each with a role in God's mission.Our culture often views church as a place to have our needs met, but the biblical vision is so much richer. We are not customers or spectators; we are a spiritual family, a living temple, called to bring glory to God and to serve one another. This calling comes with both privilege and responsibility. We are set apart—made holy by Christ's sacrifice—and called to live differently, to be in the world but not of it. Holiness is not just for pastors or priests; it is the calling of every believer. We are a royal priesthood, offering our lives as living sacrifices.This journey of holiness is not about legalism or condemnation, but about responding to the loving conviction of the Spirit. Sometimes, God gently points out areas where we have compromised or grown numb to the world's influence. In those moments, we are invited to remember the privilege of His presence and to realign our lives with His purposes. The same God who dwelled in the tabernacle and temple now dwells in us, empowering us to live as His holy people.Chapters[00:00] - Welcome[01:00] - Summer Reflections and Family Updates[04:00] - Encountering the Western Wall[09:26] - The Wall of Separation and the Holy of Holies[10:44] - God's Presence Now Dwells in Us[14:09] - Misconceptions About Church[17:40] - EBC's Heart: Discipleship Over Consumerism[20:57] - Church: Not a Place, But an Identity[23:37] - Church Is for God's Glory, Not Ours[25:30] - From Spectators to Co-Laborers[27:32] - The Danger of a Consumer Mentality[30:19] - The Aircraft Carrier Analogy[33:15] - Biblical Metaphors: Temple, Bride, Body, Family[34:26] - The Temple: God's Presence and Our Unity[36:15] - Holiness in a Culture of Compromise[39:57] - The Story of Separation and God's Pursuit[43:28] - The Tabernacle: God Dwelling Among Sinners[45:14] - The Temple's Pattern and Its Fulfillment in Christ[46:52] - Jesus, the Final Sacrifice and the Torn Veil[49:11] - The Urgency of Personal Faith[50:15] - Living as God's Temple[53:10] - The Cloud of God's Presence and Our Mental Health[55:18] - The Call to Holiness and Responsibility[57:08] - You Are Not Your Own: Living Sacrifices[59:21] - Honest Confession and the Spirit's Conviction[01:03:56] - Responding to Conviction Without Condemnation[01:04:51] - Invitation to Prayer and Closing Worship

Sunday Morning, July 27, 2025Major Messages from Minor Prophets:Honest Questions for a Holy God ... Habakkuk 1-2A message delivered by Richard Fleming

Daily Anglican prayer - Monday morning – 28th July 2025. Readings NRSV: Psalm 71; 2 Samuel 10; John 8. 31-47. Led by Felicity Scott, an Anglican prayer minister in Queensland, Australia. The full prayer transcript is available by going to this episode on the Podcast website. https://dailyprayeranglicanprayerbookforaustralia.podbean.com Welcome to Monday Morning prayer. We proclaim the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ: GOD in his infinite mercy, forgives all sins, and through our baptism in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we are given a rebirth into new life, free from the burden of all sin. ALLELUIA With faithfulness we respond to the good news: We acknowledge Christ as our saviour and accept with gratitude, that we are forgiven for all wrong doings, past and present. To honour the gift of forgiveness, we release our burden of guilt and rise up to live in the glory of God forever more. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Blessed be God forever. Let us Pray.   1 God's love has been poured into our hearts, through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  Romans 5.5     Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:  as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.     2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Marvellous Acts I will sing a new hymn to my God:  O Lord you are great and marvellous,  you are marvellous in your strength, invincible.  Let the whole creation serve you:  for you spoke and all things came to be;  You sent out your Spirit and it formed them:  no one can resist your voice.  Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths:  rocks melt like wax at your presence;  But to those who revere you:  you still show mercy.  Judith 16.13–15     3 The Opening Prayer The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;  let us pray with one heart and mind.    Silence may be kept. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,  so may the light of your presence, O God,  set our hearts on fire with love for you;  now and for ever.  Amen.   4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each. Psalm 5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow Creator Spirit, Advocate promised by our Lord Jesus: increase our faith and help us to walk in the light of your presence, to the glory of God the Father; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.   6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed.   1st Reading 2 Samuel 10; The Ammonites and Arameans Are Defeated 1Some time afterward, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him. 2David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent envoys to console him concerning his father. When David's envoys came into the land of the Ammonites, 3the princes of the Ammonites said to their lord Hanun, “Do you really think that David is honouring your father just because he has sent messengers with condolences to you? Has not David sent his envoys to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” 4So Hanun seized David's envoys, shaved off half the beard of each, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away. 5When David was told, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.” 6When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, as well as the king of Maacah, one thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men. 7When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors. 8The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate; but the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the open country. 9When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans; 10the rest of his men he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites. 11He said, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. 12Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what seems good to him.” 13So Joab and the people who were with him moved forward into battle against the Arameans; and they fled before him. 14When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. 15But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. 16Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. 17When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. 18The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed of the Arameans seven hundred chariot teams, and forty thousand horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. 19When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore. Hear the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 2nd Reading John 8. 31-47. True Disciples 31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free'?” 34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. 38I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.” 39They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.” Hear the message of Christ. Thanks be to God.   7 The Canticle, A Song of Isaiah ‘Behold, God is my salvation:  I will trust and will not be afraid;  ‘For the Lord God is my strength and my song:  and has become my salvation.'  With joy you will draw water:  from the wells of salvation.  On that day you will say:  ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;  ‘Make known his deeds among the nations:  proclaim that his name is exalted.  ‘Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:  let this be known in all the world.  ‘Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:  for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.'  Isaiah 12.2–6      8 The belief and principle is said I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth, whose love and merciful forgiveness endures everlasting. I believe in Christ the saviour, whose example of love and compassion, taught us a restored way to live, in collaborative unity with all people. I believe in the Holy Spirit, whose divine guidance brings us together to be one with the Holy Trinity.      9 The Prayers Lord have mercy.  Christ have mercy.  God have mercy.    10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day   Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be your name,  your kingdom come,  your will be done,  on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins  as we forgive those who sin against us.  Save us from the time of trial  and deliver us from evil.  For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.    Prayer of the Week   Following the seventh Sunday after Pentecost Provident Father, With the prayer your Son taught us always on our lips, we ask, we seek, we knock at your door: Help us so to seek that we may truly find, So to ask that we may joyfully receive, And so to knock that the door of mercy may be opened for us Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen   11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.   Let us Pray Let us pray for the world and for the church. God, how great your majesty abounds before us. We thank you for all your generosity. May the peace and blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be abundant across all nations and countries forever more. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Holy God divine and merciful, your blessing on the people is loved by all, for which our gratitude knows no end. Grant, we pray, your saving blessing on all those experiencing times of trouble or strife, that they may receive the guidance of wisdom to lead them to a path of safety. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Almighty God, hear our prayer to bring about a change throughout the people, we ask for your grace to relay the wisdom to each man and each woman how to co-exist in peace and the will to do so, to continue to respect one another and teach their offspring to do so also. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   Blessed God, we ask your blessing for those listed on the Anglican cycle of prayer: Monday 30 June The Diocese of Niassa – Anglican church of Mozambique and Angola The Parish of Bundaberg West: Sue Barker, Michael Vercoe Inala Careforce All Prison ministry chaplaincy teams All people joining in this prayer offering. Humbly we Pray – LORD hear our prayer   12 The Morning Collect Eternal God and Father,  by whose power we are created  and by whose love we are redeemed:  guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,  that we may give ourselves to your service,  and live this day in love to one another and to you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   13 The Lord be with you. And also with you.  Let us praise the Lord.  Thanks be to God.    God did not give us a spirit of cowardice  but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.  May we rekindle the gift of God within us.  Amen. see 2 Timothy 1.6–7   Music by John Keys – Anglican Chant Canticle organ accompaniments. A reminder disclaimer to the listener. The readings in the podcast may include ancient and old-fashioned sayings and instructions that we do not in any way condone as in use or to be used in today's modern world. The readings have not been modernised to reflect todays thinking, instead the readings remain from the old version of the NRSV bible. The podcast owners explicitly declare that each listener is responsible for their own actions in response to the bible readings and the podcast owners bare no responsibility in this sense.

Pastor Kenny Keating teaches from Leviticus 2 about how our everyday lives-our work, our routines, even the ordinary moments-can rise like a pleasing aroma to God when we live with gratitude, faithfulness, and devotion.

God's holiness is the guarantee that he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Let us praise him for his holiness.

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.comI Corinthians 5 Paul addresses a serious issue within the Corinthian church: the acceptance of blatant sexual immorality. A man is involved in a sinful relationship with his stepmother, and the church's prideful attitude toward this sin is deeply concerning. Paul reminds the Corinthians that such behavior is unacceptable and must be confronted. He instructs them to remove the unrepentant individual from their fellowship, not out of malice, but to encourage repentance and protect the church's purity. Paul compares sin to leaven, warning that it spreads and corrupts the entire body. He urges the church to live as unleavened bread, pure and holy in Christ. Furthermore, Paul clarifies that he is not addressing unbelievers but instructs the church to hold fellow Christians accountable, emphasizing the importance of upholding God's standards within the church. Arrogance among God's people can take many forms. In today's reading, it manifests as unaddressed immorality, as if God would not hold the group accountable. Paul emphasizes that the church must confront sin for the good of the sinners and the purity of the congregation. This should be our attitude toward ungodliness among us. We must humbly accept that we will answer to God for inaction. However, our motives must always be to save and protect, whether it be the sinner or the members of our church family. This may require extreme actions, such as breaking off associations with someone or removing them from the local church fellowship. All must be done with the hope of restoration and peace.   Holy God, we hear Your call to morality and holiness in Jesus' name. Help us confront violations of Your will within ourselves and among Your people with humility, love, and courage. Teach us to address sin with the desire for restoration and fellowship, being mindful to protect the integrity of Your little ones among us. Grant us wisdom to discern how to approach those in sin, balancing mercy and resolve as we stand for Your will. Strengthen our commitment to live as unleavened bread, set apart for You, and determined to abandon arrogance and purge sin from our midst.  Thought Questions: -       What might lead a local church to overlook sin among them? How can you help your local fellowship overcome this and address souls? -       How important is it for local churches to keep sin from among their midst? Why is it dangerous to allow ungodliness to be common among us? -       Why are Christians told “not to associate” with brethren caught in sin? Why is this important, and what does it look like in your life?

Sin has consequences. God is just, and He must address sin. While wrongful actions may bring temporary pleasure, their ultimate outcome is death. We may be saved from the punishment of sin, but sinful deeds will lead to outcomes that result in sorrow. Your sins will be addressed by a Holy God.

Pastor Kenny Keating teaches from Leviticus 1- showing how God's call to draw near is a call to total surrender, like the burnt offering that was fully consumed with nothing held back, ultimately pointing us to the costly grace of Jesus and a life of wholehearted worship.

"The Heavy Hand of a Holy God"

Isaiah 6:1–8 gives us a powerful glimpse into the holiness of God. Isaiah sees the Lord exalted on His throne, surrounded by seraphim who cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,” declaring God's complete and perfect holiness. The overwhelming presence of God exposes Isaiah's own sinfulness, leading him to confess his unworthiness. Yet, in God's mercy, Isaiah's guilt is removed and his sin atoned for through a coal from the altar. In response to God's cleansing and call, Isaiah offers himself willingly, saying, “Here I am! Send me.” This passage reveals that God's holiness both humbles us and transforms us for His purposes.

As we continue our series in Matthew's gospel, Tom Smith preaches to us from Matthew 20:1-16. In this passage we see Jesus tell his disciples a parable about a landowner who brings in various people from the streets to work in his vineyard, some coming in the morning, some in the evening - but all receive the same pay! The ones who worked for longer grumbled, but Jesus' next words are astounding. As Tom unpacks this section of God's word, in light of the previous passage about the rich young man, we see Jesus's generosity to all people, the true position of man before a Holy God, and what it all means for us today.

"The Heavy Hand of a Holy God"

Join us in this thought-provoking episode as we delve into the profound concept of the Holiness of God. What does it truly mean for God to be holy, and how does this understanding shape our identity, our appreciation of the Cross, and our relationship with the God? We embark on a journey to unpack the implications of God's holiness in our lives, exploring how it invites us to reevaluate our sense of self, our place in the grand narrative of faith and how it serves as a mirror that reveals our own, God's love for us and the need for grace.Throughout the episode, we examine the interplay between God's holiness and the fear of God—an awe-inspired reverence that beckons us to approach Him with both humility and gratitude. As we consider real-life applications, we highlight how recognizing God's perfect holiness can transform our worship experiences, deepening our connection to Him and enriching our daily spiritual practice.As we navigate this sacred topic, we draw parallels between the Holiness of God and the fear of God, highlighting how a proper understanding of His divine nature fosters a deeper reverence in our hearts. We discuss how recognizing God's Holiness can transform our worship, encouraging us to approach Him with awe and gratitude. Through insightful discussions and scriptural references, we aim to cultivate a greater appreciation for both who God is and what He has done for us through Christ.Drawing on scripture, personal insights, and communal reflections, we invite you to engage with these complex themes and reflect on your own understanding of the Divine. Whether you're seeking to deepen your faith, simply explore the nature of God, or looking to enhance your worship, this episode offers thought-provoking perspectives that will resonate long after the final words are spoken. Join us on this journey as we try to give our opinions on the holiness of God and its implications for our faith, worship, and daily living. Tune in and let the holiness of God inspire and challenge you in your spiritual journey!

Sex sells and it's everywhere. The enemy has taken something God designed between a husband and wife to enjoy, to procreate, and has twisted into something evil, sinful, that separates us from a Holy God. Even people who claim to follow Jesus have been duped by his deceitful scheme and, like a spider web, they have become entangled and wrapped up so tight they can't escape. But they can if they are willing to do what Paul says and live a holy life that can only be found in Jesus. Those who have turned sex into an evil desire must return sex to the original design God had for it. Anything with sex outside a marriage bed is sinful and separates us from God. It was a struggle with the early church and has been a struggle since the fall of man in Genesis. Every time the bible talks about sin, the very first thing mentioned is a sexual sin and if we continue in it, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. We are called to be holy and the only way to be holy is to walk with Jesus. We can't take a holy God with us and commit a sinful, sexual sin. We discuss it on today's podcast.

Pastor Kenny Keating opened our new Leviticus series revealing that this often-overlooked book is not a list of rule, but God's gracious invitation for unholy people to draw near to a holy God.

In a season of Stillness, but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Kingsway Community Church

Psalm 99 | Our Holy God | Jon Deedrick

How do you respond to God's divine attribute of holiness?

How do you respond to God's divine attribute of holiness?

How do you respond to God's divine attribute of holiness?

The body of every believer is a temple for Holy God, so we should honor Him with our choices.

Study 22 - Luke 18:9–30 The Way of the Kingdom We now come to two very significant parables either side of a short and rather surprising paragraph. I think we should start off with some explanations. The first parable is not about ways to pray but about righteousness (Luke 18:9). Righteousness is a very important, but very tricky, word in the Bible. Our English word has been used to translate a word in the Greek, which does not quite mean what our word means! In fact the Biblical word carries with it a whole set of meanings that no single word in English can possibly include. Our word has as its primary meaning ‘being right’, in the sense of being morally and ethically right in the scale of good and bad. But the Greek word in the NT is used to translate an OT word, which is primarily about being accepted, about being in relationship with someone. Our word is an accountant’s word; the OT word is a social word. Of course, in the OT one can only be accepted by a Holy God if one is right in the moral sense too, but that idea is secondary. And then a third implication of the word is that if you are accepted by God then you are within the covenant that God struck with Abraham. So the word means being accepted by God, being good and being within the covenant. Also, a big family of related Greek words about righteousness have to be translated by English words with two very different roots, righteous and justify, which don’t sound as though they have anything to do with each other. If there was an English word ‘righteous-ify’ things would be much easier but, unfortunately, there isn’t. So ‘justify’ in Lk 18:14, and through all the rest of the NT, would be righteous-ify, if there was such a word. So our reading from Luke 18 is going to start off with ‘to some who were confident of their own righteousness …’ which could be translated ‘to some who thought they, being better than everyone else would be accepted by God and were within the covenant.’ Please read Luke 18:9 – 14. The whole focus of this parable is about how one can come to be accepted by God, to be in a saving relationship with God. How? The answer is in the meaning of the word translated ‘mercy’ in v 13, which is exactly the same word translated ‘sacrifice of atonement’ in Rom 3:25 and 1 John 2:2. The time for prayer in the worship centred on the temple, which is when these 2 guys would have been praying, was the time of the sacrifice for atonement, as mentioned in the first few verses of this gospel when Zechariah went into the temple. The tax collector was effectively asking ‘Lord, make this sacrifice, going on right now, an atonement for me, a sinner’. Question 1: What is the only way we can be righteous, that is be accepted by God? As the write to the Hebrews says ‘Jesus was like us in every way in order that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Heb 2:17)? Or, as Paul says ‘and all are justified-righteousified-freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. Question 2: What other words are used in the Bible about the way God deals with us, which particularly emphasize our relationship to God? There are all the words about adoption, being children, and having an inheritance. For instance Paul says:‘those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. If we are children then we are heirs …’ There we have adoption, sonship, recognizing God as our Father and being heirs all in Rom 8:14 – 16; all of those are words about relationship. Paul piles up the same sort of relationship words in his letter to the Galatians too. Question 3: What is the important difference between the Pharisee’s prayer and the tax-collector’s? The Pharisee was relying on his own goodness to make him acceptable to God. But, like all of us, he could not be good enough to be acceptable to God who is pure holiness. The tax collector knew that he was not good enough to be acceptable so he asked for the mercy of God, the atonement from sacrifice. He did not realise that all sacrifice at that time was only of value because it was a foretaste of the perfect sacrifice that Jesus would make on the Cross. Question 4:Aren’t we glad we are not like the Pharisee …. Oops! There is something wrong with that question. I think I had better do another question 4. Please read Luke 18:15 – 17. Question 4: Children were not then the little gods they are in many cultures today. So what is Jesus emphasising by his statement in 15 – 17? Children accept what comes to them rather than attempting to organise the world around them to their advantage. Jesus is saying that we too can only progress by a accepting what is given to us from the Lord. Please read Luke 18:18-30 Question 5: What is the rich man suggesting by his use of the word ‘inherit’ (v 18)? How do we inherit? He would seem to have understood that eternal life is not something we can demand but depends on the gift of someone else. So the important thing is being in right relation to the person who gives, in this case, God. We can only inherit through the gift of God. Paul says in Gal 4:4 – 7 ‘God sent his Son, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, you are no longer slaves, but God’s children; and since you are his children, he has made you also heirs.’ Question 6: Compared to most of the people who have ever lived most of us are relatively rich! After all you must be sitting in front of a screen of some sort to be hearing or reading this. What then do we do with verse 22 where Jesus said ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.? Are we thereby failing in our obedience? We are very fortunate people. but we cannot live in most of our societies without being able to pay our taxes, pay for the electricity and everything else we necessarily have – well, nearly necessarily have, anyway. The real punch line in what Jesus said is the last phrase ‘come, follow me’. If we do that all else will fall into place. We can enter the Kingdom. So that we will remember his warning Jesus gave one of his most memorable over-statements. Various attempts to explain camels as ropes or needle’s eyes as narrow gates are wrong. Just remember what Jesus said. That is the point of what he said. Question 7: We have just had 3 lovely stories:the Pharisee and the tax-collector, the children coming to Jesus and the rich man asking Jesus about eternal life. What are the similarities between these three stories? They are all focused on how we should approach God. In the first story we are told that being religious and pious are not sufficient ; in the second that it is all too easy to allow maturity and being worldly wise become a barrier; and finally that riches and good deeds are likely to be a hindrance to us. As one hymn writer said long ago “nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling”. I do hope all our hearers are doing just that. Right mouse click or tap here to save/download this as a MP3 audio file

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.comRomans 3 The Jews have the unique privilege of being God's chosen people who receive the “oracles of God.” However, this does not excuse their sin, nor does their unrighteousness diminish God's goodness. Paul explains that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin, showing that no one is righteous and that all need God's grace through Jesus Christ. Citing Old Testament scriptures, Paul demonstrates that God has always known humanity could not achieve righteousness through the law. The solution is found in righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, who provides propitiation through His blood. God justifies believers as a gift of grace through Christ's redemption. God's righteousness is on display, as He is just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. In this, all personal boasting is excluded.   The Jewish people are special because God chose to reveal scripture through them. For some, this belief led to a mistaken notion that they could sin without fearing judgment from God. However, God is a righteous judge who will punish all those condemned by sin. This serves as a needful lesson for some Christians. Understanding the truth and being part of God's people does not excuse sin. The reality is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Furthermore, none will be justified by their heritage, church affiliations, or knowledge. God alone is righteous, and He chooses to demonstrate this by granting us redemption as we live by faith in Jesus. We must choose humility over boasting.   Holy God, we confess that we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory, and we are completely dependent on Your grace. Thank You for the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, who redeemed us through His sacrifice. Help us to live humbly, acknowledging that we cannot earn salvation but receive it as Your loving gift. Teach us never to misuse Your grace with willful sin but to choose faithfulness so that we may glorify and praise You with our allegiance. Lead us to someone today who is burdened by their imperfections and in need of Your grace.   Thought Questions: -       God is patient with His people. Does this mean you can sin as often as you want and be covered by His grace? Why not? -       If no one is righteous, and all fall short of God's glory, how do you maintain confidence that He has saved you? Where is your confidence? -       Justification is a gift of grace from the righteous Judge. How does your daily life demonstrate your gratitude for this incredible gift?

This week's message explores the profound concept of God's presence through the lens of the Old Testament tabernacle. This portable sanctuary, described in Exodus 25-27, beautifully illustrates two seemingly contradictory truths about our relationship with God. First, we learn that God eagerly moves towards sinners, desiring to dwell among His people despite their imperfections. The tabernacle, placed at the center of the Israelite camp, symbolizes God's willingness to be present in the midst of our messy lives. However, we're also met with another fact: that accessing God's presence shouldn't be casual - it requires reverence and following His prescribed path. This tension between God's accessibility and His holiness challenges us to approach Him with both confidence and awe. As we reflect on this, we're invited to cultivate a deeper appreciation for God's desire to be near us while maintaining a healthy reverence for His holiness in our daily lives.

In this message, Mark Bergquist teaches from 1 Samuel 5–6, looking at how God's holiness confronts both Israel's superstition and the Philistines' idolatry. Mark highlights the deep contrast between human assumptions and God's purposes, reminding us that true worship means reverence, obedience, and humility.

0:00 - Madigan gets 7.5, 2.5 13:56 - MN shooter's roommate reads text from shooter 32:54 - No Kings/No ICE 47:37 - "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" sung at Comiskey attendant to Pope Leo address 49:45 - Joe Abraham, father of Katie Abraham who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident involving an illegal immigrant: We have created a multi-billion dollar industry for the carteles - moving people around - and we're ok with that 01:09:36 - Steven Bucci, is a visiting fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, on Israel/Iran - "we are nowhere near WWIII" 01:31:34 - President of Center of the American Experiment and contributor to Powerline, John Hinderaker, with details on the shootings and manhunt in Minnesota. Get John’s latest at powerlineblog.com 01:46:48 - NY Times Best Selling author of Tucker, the biography of Tucker Carlson, Chadwick Moore, on what the left offered us this past weekend - "mission accomplished: we still don't have a king" Get more Chadwick - substack.com/@chadwickmoore 02:04:46 - Why Dan Proft is Single 02:18:51 - USAIDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Entrance Hymn #362 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Sequence Hymn #295 Sing Praise to Our CreatorOffertory Anthem Holy Trinity Prayer (Ayres) Communion Anthem My Lord, What a Morning (trad. Spiritual, arr. Hayes) Offertory & Communion Anthems: Antonio Rodrigues, soloistPost-Communion Hymn #366 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name (vss 1-4)THE COLLECT OF THE DAYAlmighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.FIRST READING Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31Reader A reading from the Book of Proverbs.Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:"To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth-- when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race."ReaderThe Word of the Lord.PeopleThanks be to God.CANTICLE 13 A Song of...

"Drawing Near to the Holy God"Exodus 19:1-25God is Near: We are His treasured possessionGod is Holy: We must be perfectly pure to be near GodGod is Savior: We are represented by our faithful Mediator, Jesus Christ!

Main Theme: Getting to Where God Is The central idea revolves around the desire to be in God's presence, drawing from the story of Moses being called up the mountain. "We need to get where God is." God's desire is to be with humanity, despite our imperfections. "Why would He love me? Why would He love you? Why would He want to be with me?" The speaker expresses a longing to be in God's presence, where relief and connection are found. "It is my heart's desire it is the goal of my soul is to be where he is...sometimes you pray a thousand tears and never get into the holiest of holies but I like it when brother I'm just able to whisper one word and I'm right there I'm already crossed into that place that is within the veil" The Tabernacle as a Model The Old Testament tabernacle is presented as a model for approaching God. The tabernacle had three sections: the outer court, the holy place, and the holiest of holies. To reach God, one had to start in the outer court. "If you want to get to where God is today, you're going to have to start just like they did." Entrance to the outer court was through a single curtain on the east, symbolizing that access to God is through Christ. "If you're going to get to God, you've got to come through Christ." The Outer Court: Repentance and Sacrifice The outer court represents the initial step of repentance and sacrifice. Entering the outer court requires giving up on oneself and repenting of sin. "You're going to have to give up on yourself...you'll never get to God until you've repented of sin." It involves presenting one's body as a living sacrifice, as mentioned in Romans 12:1. "Present your bodies a living sacrifice unto God." This sacrifice is not comfortable, as the "living sacrifice" doesn't want to die. "Hey, you know the problem with this living sacrifice is they don't want to die." The Holy Spirit helps in crucifying the flesh and bringing it under subjection. "If you'll turn yourself over to the Holy Ghost...He can crucify you." Without sacrifice, one cannot progress beyond the outer court. "Most people are in the outer court. As far as they get...You don't go no farther until the sacrifice has been made." The shedding of blood is essential for remission of sins, fulfilled by Jesus Christ's sacrifice. "Without the shedding of blood, there's no remission of sins." The Holy Place: Light, Bread, and Worship The holy place, inside the tent, contains the golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. The golden candlestick provides light, symbolizing spiritual illumination. "Brother, there's light when you get into the holy place." The table of showbread, with twelve loaves, represents the Word of God and spiritual nourishment. "You need the Word of God this morning, friend...so you can partake of it and find the power and the strength of God's holy Word today." The 12 loaves represent the 12 tribes of Israel, and the 66 books of the Bible. The altar of incense signifies worship and praise. "Brother, they were bringing their worship unto the Holy God. Brother, He inhabits your praise today." Entering the holy place requires cleaning up from the "grime and guts" of the outer court. "There's a place to clean up right before you go in to the holy place." One must not only repent and sacrifice, but also seek light, nourishment, and engage in worship. "Light, bread, and worship." The Holiest of Holies: The Mercy Seat The ultimate goal is to reach the holiest of holies, where the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat are located. The Ark contains the tablets of stone, Aaron's rod that budded, and the pot of manna. These items are covered by the mercy seat, symbolizing God's forgiveness and grace.

Send us a textFrom Promise to Triumph – Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious WorldDive into the opening arc of our 48-week sermon series, From Promise to Triumph: God's Plan Unfolded in Isaiah and Revelation. In Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious World (Weeks 1–12), we lay the foundation for an epic journey through Scripture, exploring God's blazing holiness, humanity's stubborn rebellion, and the first sparks of hope in the promised Messiah. Drawing from Isaiah 1–12 and Revelation 1–5, each episode unpacks a weekly sermon with rich context, key themes, and practical applications to awaken awe, convict hearts, and inspire hope in God's redemptive plan. Expect vivid connections between Isaiah's ancient prophecies and Revelation's apocalyptic visions, plus preaching tips to engage your congregation. Whether you're a pastor seeking sermon inspiration or a believer longing to encounter God's majesty, this arc will challenge you to confront sin, worship the Holy One, and trust in the Lamb who triumphs. Join us as we begin this transformative journey—subscribe now for weekly episodes that bring Scripture to life!

Send us a textFrom Promise to Triumph – Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious WorldDive into the opening arc of our 48-week sermon series, From Promise to Triumph: God's Plan Unfolded in Isaiah and Revelation. In Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious World (Weeks 1–12), we lay the foundation for an epic journey through Scripture, exploring God's blazing holiness, humanity's stubborn rebellion, and the first sparks of hope in the promised Messiah. Drawing from Isaiah 1–12 and Revelation 1–5, each episode unpacks a weekly sermon with rich context, key themes, and practical applications to awaken awe, convict hearts, and inspire hope in God's redemptive plan. Expect vivid connections between Isaiah's ancient prophecies and Revelation's apocalyptic visions, plus preaching tips to engage your congregation. Whether you're a pastor seeking sermon inspiration or a believer longing to encounter God's majesty, this arc will challenge you to confront sin, worship the Holy One, and trust in the Lamb who triumphs. Join us as we begin this transformative journey—subscribe now for weekly episodes that bring Scripture to life!

Send us a textFrom Promise to Triumph – Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious WorldDive into the opening arc of our 48-week sermon series, From Promise to Triumph: God's Plan Unfolded in Isaiah and Revelation. In Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious World (Weeks 1–12), we lay the foundation for an epic journey through Scripture, exploring God's blazing holiness, humanity's stubborn rebellion, and the first sparks of hope in the promised Messiah. Drawing from Isaiah 1–12 and Revelation 1–5, each episode unpacks a weekly sermon with rich context, key themes, and practical applications to awaken awe, convict hearts, and inspire hope in God's redemptive plan. Expect vivid connections between Isaiah's ancient prophecies and Revelation's apocalyptic visions, plus preaching tips to engage your congregation. Whether you're a pastor seeking sermon inspiration or a believer longing to encounter God's majesty, this arc will challenge you to confront sin, worship the Holy One, and trust in the Lamb who triumphs. Join us as we begin this transformative journey—subscribe now for weekly episodes that bring Scripture to life!

Send us a textFrom Promise to Triumph – Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious WorldDive into the opening arc of our 48-week sermon series, From Promise to Triumph: God's Plan Unfolded in Isaiah and Revelation. In Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious World (Weeks 1–12), we lay the foundation for an epic journey through Scripture, exploring God's blazing holiness, humanity's stubborn rebellion, and the first sparks of hope in the promised Messiah. Drawing from Isaiah 1–12 and Revelation 1–5, each episode unpacks a weekly sermon with rich context, key themes, and practical applications to awaken awe, convict hearts, and inspire hope in God's redemptive plan. Expect vivid connections between Isaiah's ancient prophecies and Revelation's apocalyptic visions, plus preaching tips to engage your congregation. Whether you're a pastor seeking sermon inspiration or a believer longing to encounter God's majesty, this arc will challenge you to confront sin, worship the Holy One, and trust in the Lamb who triumphs. Join us as we begin this transformative journey—subscribe now for weekly episodes that bring Scripture to life!

Send us a textFrom Promise to Triumph – Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious WorldDive into the opening arc of our 48-week sermon series, From Promise to Triumph: God's Plan Unfolded in Isaiah and Revelation. In Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious World (Weeks 1–12), we lay the foundation for an epic journey through Scripture, exploring God's blazing holiness, humanity's stubborn rebellion, and the first sparks of hope in the promised Messiah. Drawing from Isaiah 1–12 and Revelation 1–5, each episode unpacks a weekly sermon with rich context, key themes, and practical applications to awaken awe, convict hearts, and inspire hope in God's redemptive plan. Expect vivid connections between Isaiah's ancient prophecies and Revelation's apocalyptic visions, plus preaching tips to engage your congregation. Whether you're a pastor seeking sermon inspiration or a believer longing to encounter God's majesty, this arc will challenge you to confront sin, worship the Holy One, and trust in the Lamb who triumphs. Join us as we begin this transformative journey—subscribe now for weekly episodes that bring Scripture to life!Casperchurch.com

Send us a textFrom Promise to Triumph – Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious WorldDive into the opening arc of our 48-week sermon series, From Promise to Triumph: God's Plan Unfolded in Isaiah and Revelation. In Arc 1: The Holy God and a Rebellious World (Weeks 1–12), we lay the foundation for an epic journey through Scripture, exploring God's blazing holiness, humanity's stubborn rebellion, and the first sparks of hope in the promised Messiah. Drawing from Isaiah 1–12 and Revelation 1–5, each episode unpacks a weekly sermon with rich context, key themes, and practical applications to awaken awe, convict hearts, and inspire hope in God's redemptive plan. Expect vivid connections between Isaiah's ancient prophecies and Revelation's apocalyptic visions, plus preaching tips to engage your congregation. Whether you're a pastor seeking sermon inspiration or a believer longing to encounter God's majesty, this arc will challenge you to confront sin, worship the Holy One, and trust in the Lamb who triumphs. Join us as we begin this transformative journey—subscribe now for weekly episodes that bring Scripture to life!

Dr. Stanley talks about how we respond to the divine attribute of holiness.

Dr. Stanley talks about how we respond to the divine attribute of holiness.

rwh7june Ep.367 – Run With Horses Podcast –  Honoring others Podcast: rwh.podbean.com Website: www.runwithhorses.net Youtube:  https://youtube.com/@rwhpodcast Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/RWHpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwh_podcast Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RWH_podcast Author pages with links to all books on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith **(24:00)** At our core, most of us are selfish and really struggle to consider others and their spiritual life. But the call of a disciple of Jesus is a call to place a high value on everyone we meet. God challenges us to lay aside our own wants and desires and to really honor others. That's the topic, and the challenge, for today. Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is simple in many ways, but potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to grow, to live intentionally and to join in His mission. It's very cool that we can do that together! Thank you for joining me today! “If you're new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!” **(23:00 – 0:00)* *  PART 1 Run With Horses is on the radio! If you are enjoying Run With Horses, would you let someone know? Contact the radio station or leave a review on your favorite app. We want to hear from you! Honoring Others: The Mark of A Disciple A good, basic definition of honor—especially in a biblical and discipleship context—is: Honor is the act of recognizing and treating others with the dignity, value, and respect they deserve as image-bearers of God, regardless of their status or behavior. To honor someone means to esteem them highly, to give weight to their worth, and to treat them in a way that reflects God's view of them—not just your personal opinion. 1. The Biblical Command to Honor Others

Confronted by a Holy God | Isaiah 6 | Pastor Ben Spalink by GraceChurchNJ

The Bible has many descriptions of the nature of God. He is a just God, He is a Holy God. He judges sin and purges evil. Satan knew all of this. When he rebelled and attempted to place himself on par with God, his punishment was swift and divine. Such was Satan's perception and experience when he approached Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan had devised a plan to entice these humans into sinning, which would result in swift punishment. He was plotting murder from the beginning by spinning a web of lies. However, there was something Satan did not anticipate because he did not know the whole nature of God. Instead of judgment, God gave humanity a path to salvation through His mercy. Before He executes judgment, God will extend mercy to cover the sin. Not learning from his failure in the garden, Satan tries to kill Jesus to thwart God's plan. Again, he failed because he didn't know the nature of God. Satan's blind spot is that he cannot stop the mercy of God. No matter how broken we are, God's mercy will cover it all. His mercy puts us in the devil's blind spot.

The Bible has many descriptions of the nature of God. He is a just God, He is a Holy God. He judges sin and purges evil. Satan knew all of this. When he rebelled and attempted to place himself on par with God, his punishment was swift and divine. Such was Satan's perception and experience when he approached Adam and Eve in the garden. Satan had devised a plan to entice these humans into sinning, which would result in swift punishment. He was plotting murder from the beginning by spinning a web of lies. However, there was something Satan did not anticipate because he did not know the whole nature of God. Instead of judgment, God gave humanity a path to salvation through His mercy. Before He executes judgment, God will extend mercy to cover the sin. Not learning from his failure in the garden, Satan tries to kill Jesus to thwart God's plan. Again, he failed because he didn't know the nature of God. Satan's blind spot is that he cannot stop the mercy of God. No matter how broken we are, God's mercy will cover it all. His mercy puts us in the devil's blind spot.

We live in a world that is in desperate need of prayer. The church is in depurate need of falling on her face before a Holy God crying out for mercy with a repentant heart. Christians should make prayer their first priority, not a last resort. Before trying to network their way out of a difficult situation, they should go to the mat in prayer. Prayer is the God-ordained means by which He works through His people in the life of the Church.

Moody Founder's Week has long been a shining example of time spent learning and growing from God's Word. Students, staff, alumni and friends of the Institute gather to hear what it means to take a new and powerful step closer to Jesus. We'd like to take you back to a previous Founder's Week on the subject of Holiness. Pastor Mark Jobe presents what it means to have a holy hunger for a holy God.Become part of our Advance Team: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/moodypresents/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 3 Peter and John, two of Jesus' apostles, go to the temple to pray. They see a lame man and Peter heals him. The man expects a monetary blessing but receives the much greater gift of healing. He rejoices and clings to Peter and John. A crowd gathers, affording Peter the opportunity to preach about Jesus. He begins by noting that this power to heal has come from God. Peter explains that God the Father has glorified His Son and that the Jews have made a terrible mistake by crucifying Jesus. It is in the name of Jesus, the resurrected Prince of Life, that this lame man has been healed.  Jesus is God's raised and ruling Servant, and all who repent of sin and turn to Him will be spiritually refreshed. The healing of the lame man affords Peter a chance to preach Jesus to the people. Peter uses beautiful terms to describe our Lord in this sermon: “God's Servant,” “the Holy and Righteous One,” “the Prince of life,” God's “Christ,” as well as “the Christ appointed for you.” He finally explains that Jesus is the “Prophet” raised up by God, just as Moses predicted. These terms should invoke awe and respect in us. Jesus is God's plan for our salvation, and not even death can stop Him from becoming our Savior. The hope was for the people to hear these things and repent. We also should continually turn from our wicked ways when we consider the authority and glory of Jesus.  Holy God, thank You for sending Your Servant Jesus as the Christ who would give His life to free us from our sins. We are refreshed in His grace, and we praise You for the wonderful gifts afforded to us in our Lord. While we have many good things in this life, the healing of our souls is greater than any amount of silver and gold. We treasure Him above all else. Father, so many need to repent and turn to Jesus. Please give us the boldness to tell others about the victory and worthiness of the “Prince of Life.”  Thought Questions: -       A man's life was changed forever after experiencing the authority of Jesus. How has the name of the Lord changed your life? -       People saw God's power, and Peter used the occasion to teach. What opportunities is God creating for you to speak openly about Jesus?  -       In his sermon, Peter uses several titles for Jesus. Mark those. How do they shape how you see Jesus and express His glory to others?

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.comJohn 12 Jesus and His disciples come to Bethany to dine with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Mary anoints His feet with costly perfume. Judas Iscariot grumbles about this because he is a thief and hopes to plunder money from the sale of the perfume. A large crowd gathers to see Jesus and the resurrected Lazarus. This infuriates the Jewish leaders, who plan to kill Lazarus. Jesus then enters Jerusalem, and His followers worship Him as King. Many come to Jesus, including Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. Jesus teaches them that personal sacrifice is needed to be in His kingdom. The people then hear God, from heaven, proclaim Jesus and His glory! Some follow Him, while others who believe are silenced by their fear of the Jews.  The approval of men, and fear of others, are serious tests of faith. To believe in Jesus is to follow His teachings, leaving darkness for light, no matter what anyone thinks. The world, in so many ways, tries to weaken and silence believers. Judas was weakened by greed, and he betrayed the Lord. The Pharisees were blinded by jealousy and selfishness. Though God from heaven pronounced Jesus as worthy, others feared the actions of men and would not confess Jesus as King. In all of this, there are servants like Mary, who poured her expensive oil on Jesus' feet with no concern for what anyone thought about it. Only those who believe like Mary will be saved on the last day.  Holy God, we love You and desire to grow in our service to You and Your Son. Help us to see how that must resemble Mary pouring oil on Jesus' feet. Help us to see ourselves bowed down to worship Jesus as He rides in on a colt. This world and its darkness seek to overwhelm us and make us ashamed of Jesus. Give us the strength to fight against greed and jealousy. Help us develop the courage to live out a sacrificial faith in Christ, regardless of what anyone says or does. We know “that His commandment is eternal life.” Thought Questions: -       We cannot replicate Mary pouring expensive oil on Jesus' feet. But what does it look like for you to be more like her? -       Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, while Greeks sought to speak with Him. What does that say about where faith might be found? -       Jesus had to “be lifted up” in death to save us from our sins. Might you also have to face public ridicule in following Jesus?