Podcasts about holy god

In Week 2 of our Summer at Bethlehem series, Student Pastor Spencer Haynes opens up God's Word to share a passage that completely disrupted, challenged, and redirected his life. The power of the Bible is that it doesn't just inform us; it transforms us when we allow it to step out of the pages and into our real-world stories.   Preaching from the historic and heavy text of Isaiah 6:1-8, Spencer contrasts modern, emotional consumer Christianity with a true biblical encounter with God. "Send me" sounds exciting, powerful, and amazing in a worship service with great lighting and loud music—until holiness confronts our hidden sin and Jesus actually demands our comfort. This message is a direct challenge to step away from casual faith, stop hiding behind religion, and realize that real biblical calling always follows cleansing.  

The Word and The Spirit In this episode of For Zion's Sake, hosts Shelley and June Volk—Jewish believers dedicated to seeing Jew and Gentile become one in faith—dive into a deep discussion on the vital, inseparable connection between the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Key Takeaways The Theme (John 6:63): The episode anchors itself on the words of Jesus: "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life." The hosts emphasize that while memorizing or analyzing scripture is important, the words cannot truly transform a life without the active operation of the Holy Spirit. The Blueprint of Psalm 119: Shelley highlights several verses from Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible) to demonstrate how scripture serves as a pure standard of living, a source of strength during grief, and a lamp to guide one's path. Daniel's Identifying Factor: Turning to the Old Testament, the hosts look at the story of Daniel and King Belshazzar in Daniel 5. They note that Daniel's defining characteristic—even recognized by a pagan court—was that the "Spirit of the Holy God" was in him, granting him divine insight that natural minds could not achieve. The Transition from Old to New Covenant: June discusses how the Holy Spirit was historically given to specific prophets or leaders in the Old Testament. However, following Jesus' sacrifice, the prophecy that God would "pour out His Spirit upon all flesh" has been fulfilled, making this divine enlightenment available to every believer who is born again. The True Meaning of Inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16): The hosts break down the Greek root words for scriptural inspiration: Theo (God) and peneo (breathed). They explain that because the Word is literally "God-breathed," it acts as a living seed in the human soul that requires a spiritual nature to germinate and grow. Ministry & Contact Information This episode of For Zion's Sake is sponsored by the Psalm 127 Fund. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 244, Kannapolis, NC 28082 Official Website: shellyandjunevolk.com Closing Blessing: The program concludes with the traditional Aaronic Blessing: "The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace." Shelly has served the body of Christ as a Pastor for over 35 years. He is a bible teacher and conference speaker on the subjects of The Kingdom of God, The Mystery of Israel & The Church and for God’s people to be prepared in their hearts for the end of this age. https://shellyandjunevolk.com/Support the show: https://shellyandjunevolk.com/product/partner-with-us-psalm-127-fund/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our devotional today is from Jeremiah. Meditating on this passage not only gives us a lesson in adoration, but informs us of the attributes of the Holy God of the universe.Many look at God as a character in the image of mankind, but stirring passages like Jeremiah 32:16-22 remind us just how majestic He is in His name, in all the earth!“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the LORD, saying, 17 ‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee, 18 who showest lovingkindness to thousands, but repayest the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; 20 who hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and Thou hast made a name for Thyself, as at this day. 21 ‘And Thou didst bring Thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror; 22 and gavest them this land, which Thou didst swear to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. Jeremiah 32:16-22 Our So What? for today:Take this passage read it over and over, and meditate on the passage, digest it, give the worship some time in your mind. Perhaps you may apply His majesty in your own relationship with Him. apply to your own life. God isAll-powerful in verse 17Loving verse 18 aJustice verse 18 bKing of all creation 18 cWise and all-knowing verse 19compassionate v 21:God of integrity v 22Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen 1 Timothy 1:17Brethren, let's pray for one another.Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab."What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more."Robert Murray M'CheyneAssistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossardwww.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the voice-over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 on InstagramSeason 008 Episode 030

Kyle Worley is joined by Tasha Calvert to have a conversation about her book “Set Apart for More: The Transformative Power of Living Your Whole Life for a Holy God.” Questions Covered in This Episode: What does it mean to be set apart? Where does it come from, and what does it mean?  Where can we go in the bible to learn about holiness? How would you define holiness? Is holiness something I am or something I practice? How does this play out in the life of a believer? Why did you apply holiness to hot topics in your book? Why is holiness worth pursuing? Helpful Definitions: Holiness: A sacred otherness that originates from God. Follow Us:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteSupport Training the Church and Become a Patron:patreon.com/trainingthechurchYou can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway's Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Don't be deceived by appearances. In a world where kindness and charm can sometimes cloak deception, it's vital to discern what is truly rooted in God's truth. In this powerful episode, we confront the reality of spiritual imposters—those who may seem good on the surface but are not aligned with the truth of the Lord.We reflect on the lasting value of the Golden Rule and the authority of the Ten Commandments, reminding us that God's standards are not outdated—they are essential. While the enemy's influence is real and powerful, we are called to a higher walk: a life of obedience, worship, and holiness.As believers, our calling is clear. We are set apart, bought with a price, and entrusted with the privilege of living wholly unto the Lord. A holy life is not optional—it is our witness. When we truly live for God, our lives shine light into darkness, making His presence visible to the world around us.The church today must reclaim its identity as a people marked by holiness. Just as the nations once stumbled when they could not see God reflected in His people, the world now is watching. Will they see Him in us?Join us as we explore what it means to live authentically, to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and to guard our hearts against anything that would pull us away from God's holiness. Don't let imposters lure you away—stand firm, stay set apart, and live a life that reveals the Holy God to a watching world.The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not Perish but might have eternal life.-Jn 3:16 Opening: #567 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Readings: #1086 Psalm: Daniel 3: Glory and praise for ever (Gelineau) Presentation: #790 The Summons Closing: #615 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name All music reproduced and streamed with permission from ONE LICENSE, license #A-723939. Organist: Bill Brinzer Celebrant: Father Benedict Today's readings (via USCCB): bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading For more information, visit our parish website at MaryQueenofPeacePGH.org.

WATCH ON YOUTUBE Speaker: Josh MitchellScripture: Exodus 32:1-6 Big Idea: Wholly Worship a Holy God 1. My heart is an idol factory2. Idolatry is God on my terms3. Worship God as He truly is

“Hark! The glad celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising; Cherubim and seraphim, In unceasing chorus praising, Fill the heav'ns with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy, Lord! “Lo, the apostles' holy train Join Thy sacred name to hallow; Prophets swell the glad refrain, And the white-robed martyrs follow, And from morn to set of sun Through the Church the song goes on.”

Freeing ourselves of Fornication and Sexual Immorality to walk seamlessly with a Holy God.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Farmersville, OhioMay 31, 2026Trinity SundayDeborah Coyle, Worship LeaderAnnouncementsPreludeOpening Hymn - "Holy, Holy, Holy" - LBW #165Responsive ReadingPrayer of the DayChildren's SermonFirst Lesson - Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40Second Lesson - 2 Corinthians 13:11-14Hymn - "Come, Thou Almighty King" - LBW #522Gospel - Matthew 28:16-20SermonHymn - "Holy God, We Praise Your Name" - LBW #535Apostles' CreedOfferingOffertory - "Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow" - LBW #565Prayers of the Church and Lord's PrayerBenedictionExodus Hymn - "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" - LBW #526DismissalPostludeFor the video version of today's service, please visit https://youtu.be/VUl_gTH0GO0May God bless you now and always!

It's incredible that God doesn't keep His distance anymore, like with the Israelites in the Old Testament. The whole mountain was off-limits, only Moses could go up as God met with him. Through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, we now have a mediator and full access to the perfect God of the universe. Let us not take for granted that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us as believers, what an amazing privilege to have a direct line to speak with the Lord anytime we want! Take a moment to pray and thank God for such an awesome gift.

This is Pastor Keith Allen's Sunday message, taken from the Book of Isaiah Chapter 6, Verses 1 - 7.

What is the tabernacle like and what is it for? Beautiful, Holy, Separated - so that God can dwell in the midst of a sinful people What are the priests like and what are they for? Beautiful, Set-Apart, Consecrated - to represent the people to God and make sacrifice for them Why don't we need a tabernacle and priests to meet with God today? Because of Jesus - who fulfils the tabernacle and is the perfect and permanent priest

Have we become too casual with a Holy God?In this message, Pastor Harrison Conley reminds us that rightly seeing God's holiness restores reverence, humility, and awe. Be encouraged to approach God boldly through Jesus, while never losing the wonder of who He truly is.

A set-apart life is shaped by rhythms, worship, and devotion to God's purpose.

5-17-26: Holy God We Praise Thy Name – Juan Oskar by

Daily Dose of Hope May 13, 2026   Name of God: Qanna – Jealous Scripture: Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9, 6:15   Prayer:  El Qanna, You are a jealous God who loves me completely. Forgive me for the times I have placed other things before You. Help me to love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thank You for pursuing me with Your perfect love. In Jesus' name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently in a study on the names of God in the Old Testament.  Each divine name illustrates a particular aspect of God's character and being.  The more we learn about God's names, the more we learn about God's character.   Today, we are focusing on El Qanna, which means Jealous God.  This is used five times in Scripture, all in the first few books of the Old Testament.  We may often misunderstand this name of God, because we see jealousy in its negative state, as it typically is seen as a sin in our fallen world.  But when we consider that God is a jealous God, we have to remember that all things belong to God and there is nothing that is not already his.  That means his desire for something is not rooted in covetousness, but rather the desire for relationship.  The God of the whole universe desires a relationship with His creation and is jealous for them.    It might be helpful to consider the covenant that God made with his people through Moses.  On Mt. Sinai, God didn't just give the Law to His people, he created a deep, abiding covenant, or contract, with His people.  The people had agreed to adhere to the terms of the covenant.  In some ways, it was like they were married to the Lord.  They were to be faithful to the Lord.  And when they were not, God became angry.  They weren't living up to their end of the covenant.    If you think about jealousy in the terms of a marriage relationship, it makes a bit more sense.  If you saw your spouse flirting with someone else, you wouldn't just shrug and say, "Whatever." You'd feel a protective instinct, a righteous anger at the threat that that person could be about to damage something sacred. Your reaction would not be selfishness; it would be devotion.  It's an appropriate passion for an exclusive covenant love.   We are to have no other gods before us because to do so would be to break the terms of our marriage covenant with God.  As Creator, Provider, and Deliverer, he deserves to be worshiped and loved with everything we have.  He loves us with a perfect love.  When we cheat on Him, God as a totally Holy God deserves to be jealous.  His jealousy comes from the truth that He loves us so much.  He wants relationship with us.   We often picture God as distant, calmly observing us from afar.  But El Qanna reveals something different.  God cares intensely about His relationship with you.  It's not a casual thing to Him. You matter profoundly to the God who made you. God's jealousy means you're worth fighting for. You're the beloved He pursues with holy passion. And when you drift toward things that will harm you, He doesn't just shrug and say, "whatever."  He fights for your heart and does everything He can to bring you back to Him.   In all of the verses this name is used, the Scripture is referring to idolatry.  You should have no idols before me.  Of course, worship of idols could be prostrating oneself before a pillar or metal statue.  In our world, it's more likely to be putting something else before God, like a relationship, our job, our money, an addiction, etc.  What kinds of things do you put before God?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki        

God's people are called to live differently—not blend in.

Continuing the sermon series, "From Creation to Canaan," Colin leads us through the book of Leviticus. Commonly thought to be one of the most challenging books to read through, Leviticus is actually the center of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament). Even more significantly, it centers on the Day of Atonement, the means our Holy God provided to dwell among a sinful people, the fulfillment of which we see in Jesus, our perfect Lamb. 

God's children are set apart as saints, given the privilege of sharing in Christ's moral beauty. Pastor John explains how God's holiness draws us to him.

Sin must be dealt with before we can dwell with God.

The covenant between God and the Israelites reveals both His holiness and His deep desire to dwell with His people. As His commands are received and the people are cleansed through sacrifice, we see the beginning of a restored relationship. It ultimately points to Jesus, whose sacrifice removes our sin and makes us fully acceptable to God forever.

In today's message, we reflect on the call of a holy God to a people set apart as His own. Scripture reminds us that holiness flows from who we are in God, chosen, redeemed, and called to reflect His glory Scriptures: 1 Peter 2v7-10, Leviticus 11v44-45, Exodus 19v5-8  

We live in a world ever-increasingly negative. Problems everywhere, pain and suffering, sorrow and uncertainty. It is a world replete with wars. Inflation rages. There are plagues and sickness everywhere. There is mistrust between nations and individuals, and in some quarters, a tragic feeling of hopelessness, where nothing will get better or change. Crime is on the increase. Law and order declines. Drugs are destroying the lives of so many of our people, especially our young. Justice is often corrupted, the rule of law compromised and prejudiced. So, why bother? Throw up your hands, give up, live in fear and worry, and accept the new negative reality. WRONG! DEAD WRONG! You can not be a Christian and live life this way, believe this way, or worry this way. The Lord of Glory came to make life POSITIVE, and the Holy Spirit, when called upon, instills the sense of the positive in the newborn child of the Lord. If you are truly Christian, saved, born again, then your spirit is infused with the positive. If you believe in Jesus Christ, then accept Him at His Word: HE HAS COME SO YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL! Full of joy, my fellow Christians. Not negative, not worry, not hopelessness, but joy, unspeakable joy, as the Scriptures say. Why not experience this, ask for this, be involved in this very day which the Lord has made, why not? So, be happy. The words of the song ring so true: HAPPY AM I JESUS LOVES ME HE TOOK MY SINS AND HE MADE ME FREE If that is so, if that has happened to you, don't worry, be happy. Experience the joy of the relationship with Him, NOW AND TODAY! Do not waste this day which the Lord has made for you, DO NOT! LAUGH TODAY! Never go a day without laughing, without experiencing the comical side of life. It is a tonic for the soul. It cleanses emotionally, and it emphasizes the positive. LAUGH OUT LOUD TODAY! HAVE FUN TODAY! Do something you really enjoy, which is fun for you, no matter who else agrees. You very much deserve it, fellow Christian. It is what your Lord would want. It is what Salvation is all about, not just forgiveness, as important as that is, but Salvation opens up all new avenues for living, for believing, for enjoyment, for fun. If you don't engage in these positive, joyful things, you challenge the Lord, and, by your conduct, you deny Him and His promises, and the other half of Salvation is lacking in your life: HE HAS COME SO YOUR JOY MIGHT BE FULL! FULL! Perhaps this means the better portion, joy, of this very day. Can you live a happy, joyful, fun-filled life on this very day which the Lord has made, will you? Are you not tired of the negative in this world? Why would you waste the day the Lord has made for you, why? CELEBRATE YOUR FAITH TODAY! Millions, perhaps even billions, have no faith, believe nothing, live life in the negative. You, Christian, have the most precious thing any human being can have: FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR. Enjoy your faith, be happy about your faith, celebrate your faith today in every positive way you can, and enjoy the hope you have in JESUS CHRIST, the finest thing you can have in this life, and even more importantly, the life to come. BE GLAD AND REJOICE THIS VERY DAY! LOVE TODAY! What the world needs now is love, says the old song. YOU HAVE IT! The love of your Lord is yours as a Believer, and you should celebrate this love, luxuriate in it, talk about it, and thank God for it. There is no greater love than that of a man/woman who lays down his/her life for a friend, for another, and He did that FOR YOU! SO, ENJOY IT TODAY! Relive the salvation experience today, re-experience the love of Calvary, and be happy and joyful. Let nothing in this negative world take you away from the celebration of love today, NOTHING! PRAISE GOD TODAY! This God of everything and everyone made you, and all things, and He is not only worthy of our praise, it is our privilege to PRAISE HIM. Do that today and feel the positive surge through your arteries and veins. Experience the positive. Relish the first fruits of praise. It is so good to give praise to God from whom all blessings flow. WORSHIP TODAY! Worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit today. Think about the Holy God, with all due respect, adoration, wonder, and awe. Thid kind of worship is elevating, carries you to the Throne where angels live. Our God is worthy of our worship and adoration. Do it today. Perhaps most importantly, GIVE THANKS TODAY! Give thanks to God for EVERYTHING, and especially His unspeakable gift in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior. Give thanks to Him for the many blessings which you receive and enjoy every day, and so often merely take for granted. THANK GOD FOR EVERYTHING! Never forget the admonition of the great Apostle Paul who told us as Believers: IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS! Your Lord wants you to live an abundant life today, TODAY! You are alive, you can enjoy, do, give thanks, and perform acts of kindness, mercy, and goodness. Do all these things and you will have the kind of day which the Lord God Almighty has ordained for you and promised you. He came, He told us, so we may have life more abundant. We have this life now, so now we need to live it TODAY! Forgetting those things which are behind, not worrying about things to come, for you do not know what is to come, but living to the fullest, enjoying life to the fullest TODAY. This is the command of the Lord, the privilege, the opportunity, life abundant and positive which is yours today. MAKE THIS SPECIAL DAY THE LORD HAS MADE FOR YOU THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2724 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related PodcastsA Mind for Your Sovereign #1A Mind for Your Savior #2A Mind for Your Savior #1 

In Exodus 19, Pastor Jared Richard unpacks what he calls the "proposal of God" — a breathtaking invitation for God's rescued people to enter into covenant relationship with Him and become His treasured possession. Just as God reminded Israel in Exodus 19:4, "You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself," the foundation of this relationship is not human effort but divine grace. Salvation came before the law, and obedience was never meant to earn God's favor — it was meant to express love in response to the love already freely given. Yet the second half of the chapter reveals a sobering problem. Even after consecrating themselves and washing their garments, the people still could not draw near to the mountain of God's glory without risking death. The holiness gap between God and His people was real, and no amount of preparation could fully close it. This tension, Pastor Jared argues, is not just Israel's problem — it is ours as well. The answer to that problem is not found at Sinai but at Calvary. Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the law, perfectly revealed the Father's glory, and perfectly covers the holiness gap through His grace. As John 1:16-17 declares, "From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Because of Christ, there are no longer any limits to the intimacy we can have with the Father. The invitation to draw near still stands — and in Jesus, we finally can. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Take a moment to fill out our digital connection card here: https://www.bayleaf.org/connect We hope you enjoy this programming and please let us know if there is anything we can do to be of service to you. ONE CHURCH. TWO LOCATIONS. ONE MISSION. Bay Leaf at Falls Lake: 12200 Bayleaf Church Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Bay Leaf at 540: 10921 Leesville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27613 SERVICE TIMES Come join us on Sundays at Bay Leaf at Falls Lake (8:30 AM or 11:00 AM) or at Bay Leaf at 540 (10:00 AM) CONTACT www.bayleaf.org (919) 847-4477 #BayLeafLife #Worship #Inspiration

April 24, 2026FARSHID REZAEE,an Iranian by birth, raised in thereligion of Islam, & saved by theSovereign Grace of a Holy God,today a Reformed Baptist & CampusMinister with the organization called“PRISM”, which stands for “PittsburghRegion International Student Ministries”,who will address: “HOW GOD's SOVEREIGN PROVI-DENCE LED a NEWSPAPER in IRANto PRINT the SERMON on the MOUNT,LEADING a MUSLIM to JESUS CHRIST& SAVING HIS SOUL!!” Subscribe: iTunes TuneIn Android RSS Feed Listen:

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2723 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related PodcastsPraying to Our Holy God #1Praying to Our Knowing God #3Praying to Our Knowing God #2 

This is message 40 in Gospel Record of John John 12:37-50 Clear truth does not guarantee belief, because the greatest barrier is not a lack of evidence but a hardened heart that refuses to respond. When light is continually rejected, it leads to deeper blindness, while genuine faith must move beyond private agreement to open confession. The call of grace remains urgent, offering life and light to all who will receive it, yet warning that the same truth that saves today will one day stand as the standard of judgment for those who turn away. Don't forget to download our app for more from the Riverview Baptist Church. http://onelink.to/rbcapp Find more at https://riverviewbc.com/ Donate through PushPay https://pushpay.com/pay/riverviewbc

God's holiness touches every part of life.

Fr Brendan Quilivan presents this week's programme which includes an interview with the Killaloe Diocese Advisor on Religious Education in Post Primary Schools, Brendan O'Brien reflecting on some of the recent coverage on the topic of ethos and patronage in our schools and the value of Religious Education in the best sense of the word. Also an interview with a First Holy Communion parent and author Leo Madigan shares the story of Little Nellie of Holy God.

Pastor Don's Books: https://ttwpress.com 2722 - https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related PodcastsPraying to Our Holy God #2Praying to Our Knowing God #3Praying to Our Knowing God #2 

You don't approach God on your own terms.

“A Better Tabernacle - Its Contents: Part 2 • Hebrews 9:3-4 – Elder Bryce Lowrance   The Old Testament Covenant of Worship taught the children of Israel and us that perfection was required in order to be in fellowship with a Holy God. The various items in the tabernacle and temple were pictures of Jesus Christ. Elder Lowrance continues his explanations of the types and shadows in the Holiest of Holies discussing the golden scepter, the manna, Aaron's rod, the ark, and the tables of the covenant.    Part 2 begins with the description of the contents of the Ark of the Covenant. This message was preached on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

The book of Leviticus isn't just about rules, it's about relationship. It's about a holy God making a way to dwell with His people. In this week's episode we continue to unpack what it means to be relationship with a Holy God. Grab your Bibles and join us! Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss a video from TFI! Donate to TFI: https://www.togetherforisrael.org/givingpageThe ORIGINS Bible Study: https://www.togetherforisrael.org/storeWeekly Email Sign up: http://eepurl.com/ga8y7HVisit our Website: https://www.togetherforisrael.orgDownload our App: https://subsplash.com/togetherforisrael/download-appJoin us for a tour: https://www.tfi.tours

We are reviewing our podcasts highlighting Jesus and the woman at the well. Fresh season 8 episodes in a few days. In the olden days, driving out to the Boise National Forest and coming home from the same, God talked to me first. It was a hard truth that I had no comprehension of until I unexpectedly found myself in church. God spoke through a billboard containing His word. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 6:23God often speaks to us with a hard statement. Romans 6:23 is one of those. For the woman at the well, the hard conversation began with "Give me a drink."The astonishing part was not a command from a strange man, "give me a drink", but that a Jew was talking to a Samaritan,We are dumbfounded to hear from God, not just difficult truths, but that the Holy God of the universe stoops down to converse with His fallen creatures. "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?" Psalm 8:3-4Our So What?Viva la our astonishing conversations. For without those troublesome statements, we would never know we need and have been given a Savior for our souls. "What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'Cheynee Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the voice-over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 on InstagramSeason 008Episode 022

Hebrews 12:18-29April 15, 2026Pastoral Intern John Shaffer

You want joy without the terror of standing before the God who raises the dead. Or you settle for dread with no hope of mercy. The women leave the tomb with both, and Matthew does not apologize. He tells you: this is what the resurrection does. It gives you fear and joy together, because the One you meet at the empty tomb is both Judge and Savior, both Holy God and your Brother.

Access to God is not casual, it is costly. The problem: God is holy, people are not. The solution: a system of sacrifice to restore relationship.

What's commonly called the Mosaic Law or the Torah is actually a covenant between God and Israel. And it's important to note that redemption precedes regulations. God had already rescued Israel and called them his treasure before giving them any rules to live by. But Israel also discovers they cannot approach a holy and transcendent God without a mediator.

There is a high price for our sin so what does a Holy God do with sinful people?  He dies for them  The ultimate sacrifice.Frank Spalding and the preaching team at Lincoln Hills Christian Church welcomes all those seeking to know more about the Real Jesus and how to be an active disciple.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Before cancer, God was something I tried to fit into my life as much as possible. After cancer, I feel like a connection to God…is kind of the whole point of this exercise on this planet.”~James Van Der Beek (1977-2026), the late “Dawson's Creek” star “From beginning to end, the Holy Scriptures testify that the predicament of fallen humanity is so serious, so grave, so irremediable…, that nothing short of divine intervention can rectify it.”~Fleming Rutledge in her book, The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ “Death is the heir of the least sin…. Little sins often slide into the soul, and breed, and work secretly and undiscernibly in the soul, till they come to be so strong as to trample upon the soul, and to cut the throat of the soul. There is oftentimes greatest danger to our bodies in the least diseases that hang upon us, because we are apt to make light of them, and to neglect the timely use of means for removing of them, till they are grown so strong that they prove mortal to us.”~Thomas Brooks (1608-1680), English non-conformist preacher and author “Sin is not a mistake. A mistake is taking the wrong exit on the highway. A sin is treason against a Holy God…. Sin lurks in our hearts and grabs us by the throat to do its bidding.”~Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, English professor and author “Unbelief doesn't see God as the ultimate good. So it can't see sin as the ultimate evil.”~Jackie Hill Perry, writer and hip-hop artist “The hardest people to reach with the love of God are not the bad people. They know they are bad. They have no defense. The hardest ones to win for God are the self-righteous people.”~Rev. Charles L. Allen (1913-2005), American Methodist clergyman “For the sake of suffering humanity [Christ] came down from heaven to earth, clothed himself in that humanity in the Virgin's womb, and was born a man. Having then a body capable of suffering, he took the pain of fallen man upon himself; he triumphed over the diseases of soul and body that were its cause, and by his Spirit, which was incapable of dying, he dealt man's destroyer, death, a fatal blow.”~Melito of Sardis in his “Apology to Marcus Aurelius” (c. 169-170)SERMON PASSAGERomans 4:16-5:5 (NASB95)Romans 4 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope [Abraham] believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to [Abraham] as righteousness. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. Romans 5 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Have you ever asked yourself this question: What kind of god dies? Jesus kept telling his disciples he came to die and deliver them from their sins, not from Rome. But they just couldn't hear it. After all, what kind of god dies? If I had been in the disciples' shoes at that time, I'm sure I would have struggled with understanding the Messiah—the one I had faithfully followed for over three years, the one I hoped was going to redeem Israel from Rome—was going to die on a cross under God's curse. No doubt the disciples knew the passage from Deuteronomy 21:23 which says anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. When Pilot ordered Jesus to be crucified, the Jewish leaders were very pleased for they thought this would be the end of this troublemaker and his followers. Surely those pesky disciples would give up after Jesus was hung on a cross. This helps us understand why the disciples went into hiding after the crucifixion and were frightened they would be found out. They were bearing not only the grief of losing Jesus but also the shame and disgrace of the way he was killed—on a cross. A crucified Messiah was not their idea of a hero, a Savior, their hope. And up to the end they just couldn't believe it—Jesus was going to be crucified on a cross? They must have wondered why God sent Jesus to die and why he had to die on a cross. What kind of god dies? With clear hindsight now and the New Testament to explain it to us, we can look back and see why God the Son had to die—and yes, even his method of death, a cross, was part of God's plan. Remember, no one took Jesus' life from him; he gave it. This was all part of God's eternal plan, every detail of his death was predetermined by God. The reason Jesus had to die was because sin has consequences, and a Holy God cannot just overlook sin. The price had to be paid for sin; this is what God declared. He does not ignore our sins, but he makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven in Jesus Christ. Of course, God also never intended for death to have dominion over Jesus, and we will celebrate again his resurrection this Sunday. What a glorious truth!

Taste and See that the Lord is Good UOL Retreat in Philadelphia PA on 3/28/2026 In this episode, we look at how the Church's pre- and post-Communion prayers prepare us not just to receive the Eucharist, but to be changed by it. They help us see our need, turn us toward God, and then teach us how to carry His presence into daily life. Communion becomes not just something we receive, but something we learn to live. --- PRE-COMMUNION PRAYERS (UOC-USA PRAYER BOOK) Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Glory to You, our God, glory to You. Prayer to the Holy Spirit О Heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and filling all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell in us, cleanse us from every impurity and save our souls, O Good One. Thrice-Holy Hymn Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times) Small Doxology Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Prayer to the Holy Trinity All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. The Lord's Prayer Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Invocation to Jesus Christ Come, let us worship God, our King. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ our King and our God. Come, let us worship and bow down before Christ Himself, our King and our God. Psalm 22 The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He settles me in a place of green grass; beside restful water He leads me. He restores my soul; He guides me on the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake. For even if I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil because You are with me. Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows. Behold, Your mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord for the length of my days. Psalm 23 The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and all who live in it. For He has founded it above the seas and prepared it above the waters. Who will ascend into the mountain of the Lord and who will stand in His holy place? One whose hands are harmless and whose heart is pure, who has not received his soul in vain and has not sworn deceitfully to his neighbor. He will receive blessing from the Lord and mercy from God his Savior. This is the kind who seek the Lord, who seek the Face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, you rulers and be lifted up, you eternal doors and the King of Glory will come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Psalm 115 I kept my Faith even when I said I am greatly afflicted. I said in my amazement: "Every person is a liar!" What shall I give to the Lord for all that He has given me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, in the presence of all His people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Lord, I am Your servant – and the child of Your handmaiden. You have burst my bonds apart. I will offer to You the sacrifice of praise and I will call upon the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, Jerusalem. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, alleluiа, alleluia, glory to You, our God. (3 times) Tropar, Tone 8 Lord, born of a Virgin, overlook my faults, purify my heart and make it a temple for Your Spotless Body and Blood. Cast me not from Your presence for You have infinitely great mercy. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;How can I who am unworthy, dare to come to the Communion of Your Holy Things? For even if I should dare to approach You with those who are worthy, my garment betrays me, for it is not a festal robe and I shall bring about the condemnation of my sinful soul. Lord, Lover of mankind, cleanse the pollution from my soul and save me. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.Great is the multitude of my sins, Birth-Giver of God. To you, Pure One, I flee and implore salvation. Visit my sick and feeble soul and intercede with Your Son and our God, that He may grant me remission of my sins, for You alone are blessed. First Prayer – Saint Basil the Great Lord and Master, Jesus Christ our God, Wellspring of Life and Immortality, Maker of every visible and invisible thing, Co-eternal and Co-everlasting Son of the Everlasting Father: in the abundance of Your Goodness, You were incarnate in these latter times, and crucified and buried for us ungrateful and graceless people. Through Your own Blood You have renewed our nature corrupted by sin. Immortal King, though I am a sinner, accept my repentance, incline Your Ear to me and hearken to my words. I have sinned before heaven and before Your Countenance and I am not worthy to gaze upon the immensity of Your Glory. For I have provoked Your Goodness, I have transgressed Your commandments and I have not obeyed Your ordinances. But, Lord, since You do not remember evil, but are long suffering and have great mercy, You have not given me over to destruction for my lawlessness, but have continually awaited my conversion. For You, Lover of Mankind have said through Your prophet, "I desire not the death of sinners, but that they may turn from their evil ways and live." Because You do not wish, Master, that the work of Your Hands should perish, neither, do You take pleasure in the destruction of humanity. Rather, You desire that all people should be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth. Therefore, even I, though I am unworthy of heaven, earth and of this transitory life, having given myself completely to sin becoming a slave to pleasure and defiling Your Image – yet being Your creation – I despair not of my salvation in my wretchedness. But, emboldened by Your infinite Compassion, I draw near. Therefore, Loving Christ, receive me also as You received the harlot, the thief, the publican and the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, You Who take away the sins of the world, Who heal all human infirmity, Who call to Yourself those who are weary and heavy-laden, granting them rest. You came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Cleanse me from every stain of flesh and spirit and teach me to achieve perfect holiness in fear of You, that receiving my share of Your sacred things, I may be united to Your Holy Body and Blood and may have You dwell and abide in me with the Father and Your Holy Spirit. Yes, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, may the partaking of Your Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries bring me not to condemnation, nor may I partake unworthily of them. Grant that I, even to my final breath, may receive my share of Your sacred things without condemnation and thereby receive communion with the Holy Spirit as a provision for the journey to eternal life and an acceptable defense before Your Dread Judgment Seat. Lord, grant that I, together with all Your elect, may also be a partaker of immaculate good things which You have prepared for those who love You, with whom You abide and are glorified to the ages. Amen. Second Prayer — Saint John Chrysostom Lord my God, I know that I am not sufficiently worthy that You should come under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and fallen in ruin and You cannot find in me a worthy place for Your head. But, as You humbled Yourself from on high for our sake, humble Yourself not to the measure of my lowliness. As You took it upon Yourself in the cave to lie in the manger for dumb animals, so take it upon Yourself now to enter into the manger of my ignorant soul and into my defiled body. Since You did not disdain to enter and eat with sinners in the house of Simon the Leper, so take it upon Yourself to likewise enter also into the house of my humble, leprous and sinful soul. As You did not cast out the harlot, a sinner much like me, who came and touched You, so have compassion on me, a sinner, coming to touch You. Since You did not detest the kiss of her sin-stained and unclean mouth, detest not my mouth, which is stained even worse and more unclean than hers as well as my sordid, unclean and shameless lips, nor my even more unclean tongue. Let the fiery coal of Your Most Pure Body and of Your Precious Blood bring me the sanctification, enlightenment and strengthening of my humble soul and body, a relief from the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every operation of the Devil, an aversion and hindrance of my base and evil habits, a mortification of my passions, an accomplishment of your Commandments, an increase in Your divine Grace and an entrance into Your Kingdom. For I do not come to You, Christ my God, in presumption, but having been given full confidence by Your Ineffable Goodness, I approach, lest I stray far from Your communion and become the prey of the wolf of souls. Therefore, I pray, Master Who alone are Holy; sanctify both my soul and body, my mind and heart and my emotions and affections. Renew me entirely, implant Your Fear in my members and make Your sanctification indelible within me. Be my helper and foundation, govern my life in peace and make me worthy to stand at your right hand with Your saints. Through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, the pure and immaterial Powers that always serve You and of all the saints who have been well pleasing to You from the ages. Amen. Third Prayer – Saint Simeon the Translator Only Pure and Spotless Lord, Jesus Christ, Wisdom of God, Peace and Power: moved by Your ineffable mercy and love for all mankind, You took up our whole nature from the chaste and virginal blood of the one who wondrously conceived You through the coming of the Holy Spirit and by the favor of Your Eternal Father. In that nature you took it upon Yourself to undergo Your life-giving and saving Passion – the cross, the nails, the spear and death itself. Mortify in me the soul-destroying passions of the body. As you despoiled the dominion of Hades in the tomb, bury in me the spirit of evil. You raised fallen Adam through Your life-bearing Resurrection - so raise me for I am immersed in sin and counsel me in the ways of repentance. You made divine the flesh You assumed and honored it on Your Throne at the Right Hand of the Father in Your Glorious Ascension. By the communion of Your Holy Mysteries make me worthy of a place at Your Right Hand with the saved. You made Your sacred disciples precious vessels by the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit – confirm me also to be a receptacle of His Coming. You promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness – grant that I shall go to meet You in the clouds with all Your saints. For You have made and formed me that I may unceasingly praise and chant hymns to You with Your Eternal Father and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Fourth Prayer – Saint Simeon the Translator Christ my God, as though standing before Your Dread Judgment Seat which does not regard personalities awaiting judgment and rendering an account of the evils I have committed: so today before the day of my condemnation appears, I stand before Your Holy Altar in Your Sight and in the Sight of Your awesome and holy angels. Bowed low by my own conscience, I offer my wicked and lawless actions, triumphing over them by declaring them. Lord, I know my iniquities have increased beyond the number of hairs on my head. The multitude of Your loving kindness is immeasurable and the mercy of Your Goodness and Forbearance beyond description and there is no sin which overcomes Your love for all mankind. Therefore, all marvelous King and merciful Lord, cause Your wondrous mercy to touch even me, a sinner. Receive me, a sinner, as I return to You, as You received the prodigal, the thief and the harlot. As You received those who came at the eleventh hour unworthily, so receive me also, a sinner. I know that You will set these sins I have committed before me and require an accounting of the sins which I have knowingly and unpardonably committed, but neither convict me with fitting judgment, nor chastise me in Your Anger. Lord have mercy on me for though I am weak, I am also the work of Your Hands. You have granted me to revere You, Lord, but I have done evil in Your Sight. Against You only have I sinned, but I beg You, Lord, judge not Your servant for if You will severely mark iniquity, who will survive it? For I am in a sea of sin and am neither worthy nor sufficient to behold and gaze upon the height of heaven for the multitude of my innumerable sins. Who will raise me up? Who has fallen into such evils and transgressions? Lord God, in You have I hoped. Have mercy on me, God, according to Your great mercy and do not reward me, as my deeds deserve. Rather convert, uphold and deliver my soul from the evils implanted in it and from fearsome designs. I will praise and glorify You all the days of my life. For You are the God of those who repent and we glorify You with Your Father without beginning and Your All Holy, Good and Life-Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Fifth Prayer – Saint John of Damascus Lord and Master Jesus Christ our God, You alone have the power to absolve sin. Because You are Good and love all mankind, forgive all my iniquities committed in knowledge or in ignorance. Make me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your divine, glorious, pure and life creating Mysteries, that I may incur neither punishment nor an increase in my sins, but receive cleansing, sanctification, a pledge of the Life and the Kingdom to come, protection, an aid, a turning aside of my adversaries and the blotting out of my many transgressions. For You are a God of Mercy, Loving Kindness and Love for all mankind and we glorify You Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Sixth Prayer – Saint Basil the Great Lord, I know that I partake unworthily of Your Pure Body and Your Precious Blood, my Christ and my God. Yet emboldened by Your Loving Kindness I come to You for You have said, "Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me and I in them." Therefore, be merciful, Lord and do not rebuke me, a sinner, but deal with me according to Your mercy. And let these Holy Things afford me healing, cleansing, enlightenment, protection, sanctification of soul and body, the averting of every fantasy, evil practice and operation of the devil which works within me. Let them give me confidence and love for You, amendment of life and perseverance, an increase in perfection and virtue, the fulfillment of Your Commandments, communion of the Holy Spirit and a provision for the journey to eternal life and an acceptable answer at Your Dread Judgment Seat, but neither for judgment nor condemnation. Amen. Seventh Prayer - Saint Symeon the New Theologian From lips besmirched and heart impure, from unclean tongue and sin stained soul, receive my pleas, my Christ. Neither overlook my words, my way of speech, nor my annoyingly persistent cry. Grant me the boldness to express all the things for which I long, my Christ, and teach me all that it is fitting for me to do and say. More than the harlot have I sinned. When she learned where You were visiting she brought myrrh, boldly came there and anointed Your Feet. As You, Divine Word, did not cast her out when she came in eagerness of heart, detest me not. Rather give me Your Feet, I pray, for my embrace and my kiss. With the torrent of my tears, as with an ointment of great price, let me dare to anoint them. Purify me, O Word, in my own tears and cleanse me with them. Forgive my errors; grant pardon, for You know the multitude of my sins. You also know the wounds I bear. You see the bruises of my soul. Yet You know my faith, You see my eager heart and hear my sighs. From You, my God, Creator and Redeemer, not one tear is hidden, nor even part of one. Your Eyes know my imperfection, for in Your Book are found those things which are yet unfashioned. Behold my lowliness; behold how great is my weariness. Then God of the entire world, grant me release from all my sins, that with a clean heart and conscience filled with holy fear and a contrite soul, I may partake of Your most pure and spotless Mysteries. The one who eats and drinks with a pure heart has life and divinity. For You have said, my Master, that "those who eat of My Flesh and drink of My Blood do indeed abide in Me and I am likewise found in them." My Master and my God, this saying of Christ is completely true. For one who shares in these Divine and Deifying Graces is not alone, but is with You, Christ, the Triple Radiant Light Who enlightens the whole world. You see that for this I have drawn near to You with tears and contrite soul. Thus, I dare to hope in Your good deeds for us, I partake – both rejoicing and trembling – for I am but grass in fire and behold, a strange wonder! I am refreshed with dew, beyond all words, just as in ancient times the bush burning with fire was not consumed. Therefore, thankful in mind and heart, thankful with all my body and all my soul I worship You, magnify and glorify You, my God for You are blessed both now and to all the ages. Amen. Eighth Prayer - Saint John Chrysostom Lord Jesus Christ, my God, absolve, remit, forgive and pardon me, of all the errors, transgressions and trespasses which I have committed before You – whether in knowledge or in ignorance, in words, deeds, thoughts or intentions. Through the intercession of Your All-Pure Mother, Your heavenly hosts and all the saints, who through the ages have been faithful to You, count me worthy to partake without condemnation of Your Holy and Precious Body and Blood for the healing of both soul and body and for the elimination and the cleansing of my evil thoughts. For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, the Glory, the Honor and the Worship of the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Ninth Prayer – Saint John of Damascus I stand before the doors of Your temple and I refrain not from evil thoughts. But You, Christ my God, justified the tax collector: You showed mercy to the woman of Canaan and opened the Gates of Paradise to the Thief. Open to me the depths of Your love for all mankind and receive me as I draw near and touch You, even as You did the harlot and the woman with the issue of blood. The latter merely touched the hem of Your garment and immediately received healing and the former, clinging to Your Pure Feet, obtained the release from her sins. But, I in my pitiful state, dare to receive Your Whole Body. May I not be consumed, but receive me even as You received those others and enlighten the feelings of my soul, cleansing my sins; through the prayers of the one who gave You birth without seed and of the heavenly powers, for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. POST-COMMUNION PRAYERS (UOC-USA PRAYER BOOK) Glory to You, O God! (3 times) Lord my God, I thank You that You have not rejected me, a sinner, but have allowed me to be a partaker of Your Holy Things.  I thank You that You have permitted me, though unworthy, to have a share in Your Most Pure and Heavenly Gifts. Master and Lover of Mankind, Who for our sake died and rose again and gave us these Awe-inspiring and Life-giving Mysteries for the benefit and sanctification of our souls and bodies: let these Gifts be for the healing of my own soul and body, for the averting of every adversary, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, an unashamed faith, an unfeigned love, the realizing of wisdom, the observance of Your Commandments, the receiving of Your Divine Grace and the inheritance of Your Kingdom. Preserved by them in Your holiness, may I always be mindful of Your Grace, no longer living for myself, but for You, our Master and Benefactor.  May I then pass from this life in the hope of Eternal Life and attain to the Everlasting Rest where the voice of those who feast is unceasing and the unending delight of those who behold the beauty of Your Face is inexpressible. For You, Christ our God, are truly the ineffable joy and desire of all those who love You and all creation sings Your praise to the ages of ages. Amen. Second Prayer following Communion By Saint Basil the Great I thank You, Christ, Master and God, King of the Ages and Maker of All Things, for all the Good Gifts You have given me and especially for the participation in Your Most Pure and Life-creating Mysteries. Therefore, I pray, Gracious Lord, Who loves all mankind, that You preserve me under Your protection and beneath the shadow of Your Wings. Grant that even to my final breath, I may partake worthily and with a pure conscience of Your Holy Things for the remission of my sins and for Eternal Life. For You are the Bread of Life, the Wellspring of Holiness, the Giver of all Good and we glorify You, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Third Prayer following Communion By Saint Simeon the Translator You Who willingly give Your Flesh to me as Food, Who are a Fire burning the unworthy; let me not be consumed, my Creator. Rather, enter into all my members – my joints, my inner being and my heart. Burn the thorns of my iniquities. Purify my soul and sanctify my reasoning.  Strengthen my joints and bones. Enlighten my five senses. Bind me completely with reverence for You. Always shelter, guard and keep me from every soul-corrupting word and deed. Cleanse, purify and harmonize my being. Beautify me, grant me understanding and enlighten me. Show me to be the Habitation of Your One Holy Spirit and no longer the abode of sin, that having become Your Dwelling Place because of the Communion of Your Holy Mysteries, every evil deed and passion may flee from me as from fire. As intercessors, I bring all the Saints: the leaders of the Bodiless Hosts, Your Forerunner, the Most Wise Apostles and with them, Your undefiled, Most-pure Mother. Accept their prayers Christ, my Merciful One and make me a Child of Light. For You, Good One, are the only Sanctification and Enlightenment of our souls and to You, as God and Master, we worthily render glory day by day. Amen. Fourth Prayer following Communion May Your Holy Body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, be for me Life Eternal and Your Precious Blood for the remission of my sins. May this Eucharist grant me joy, health and gladness. At Your Dread Second Coming make me, a sinner, worthy to stand at the Right Hand of Your Glory, through the intercessions of Your All-pure Mother and of all Your saints. Fifth Prayer following Communion To the Birth-Giver of God All Holy Lady, Birth-Giver of God, light of my darkened soul – my hope, my shelter and refuge, my consolation and joy; I thank you for accepting me, the unworthy one, as a communicant of the Most-pure Body and Precious Blood of your Son. In that you gave birth to the True Light, enlighten the intellectual eyes of my heart. As the one who carried the Fountain of Immortality in your womb, enliven me, slain by sin. Merciful Mother of the Most-merciful God, full of loving kindness, have mercy on me, grant me contrition and compunction of heart, humility in my thoughts, and the ability to recall my reasoning from its captivity. Make me worthy, until my final breath, to receive the sanctification of the Most Pure Mysteries without condemnation, for healing of soul and body. Grant me tears of repentance and confession, that I may chant hymns and glorify You all the days of my life, for blessed and glorified are You to the ages. Amen. Master, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our Daily Bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Depending upon which Liturgy was celebrated, one of the following Tropars and Kondaks are said.Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom Tropar, Tone 8 Grace shining forth from your mouth like a beacon has enlightened the universe, disclosing to the world treasures of generosity and showing us the heights of humility.  Since you instruct us by your words, Father John Chrysostom, intercede with Christ God, the Word Himself, to save our souls. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Kondak, Tone 6 From heaven you received divine grace and by your lips you teach all to worship the one God in Trinity, All-blessed and Venerable John Chrysostom. Worthily do we extol you, for you are an instructor who reveals things divine. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Liturgy of Saint Basil the GreatTropar, Tone 1 Your voice has gone out to all the earth and it has received your word. By it you taught divine doctrine making the nature of things, which exist, clear and giving good order to human behavior. Venerable Father and Royal Priest Basil, intercede with Christ our God, that He may save our souls. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Kondak, Tone 4 You appeared as an unshakable foundation of the Church passing down an inviolate dominion to all mortals, sealing it with your teachings, Venerable Basil, revealer of Heaven. Now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.Bohorodychnyi, Tone 6 Protection of Christians not put to shame, unwavering Mediation before the Creator; despise not the prayer of sinners, but because you are good, quickly come to help us who call on you in faith. Be swift to intercede and make haste to supplicate, Birth-Giver of God, who always protects those who honor you. Lord, have mercy. (12 times) More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim. You, Who without defilement did bare God the Word, true Birth-Giver of God, we magnify You. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen Lord, have mercy. (3 times) Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother and all the saints, have mercy on us. Amen.    

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Today's RGG Podcast episode takes hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose on a deep-dive journey into the Lenten practice of fasting, including the many ways that modern families embrace this spiritual discipline with an aim to commune more closely with God.     After some honest confession from the hosts, they lay aside the need to fast perfectly and reinforce the need to see the practice first as an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to clean the soul and redirect the heart posture back to a Holy God.     Rachael shares creative approaches families can take to fasting including the traditional form of food fasting in a healthy balance of a child's life. Whether the 'give-up' includes sweets, tech/screen time, social media, caffeine, meat, gossip, or any other thing that distracts a Christian's heart from the things of God, Rachael reminds listeners that 'give-ups' must be replaced with a direct line to the Father through Scripture, prayer, worship and such.     Listeners, you will come away from this podcast conversation with a clear understanding of fasting and some ideas on creative ways to incorporate the practice into your family's rhythms with a fresh connection to God and His Kingdom.    Three Things to Consider:    Lent is a great time to awaken all your family's 5 senses   It's important to make this season a time when you and your kids are personally connected to the Lord   There are tons of creative ways to explore the season of Lent, so adopt a fresh perspective and try it out!     Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:  Matthew 4:1-2  Matthew 11:28  John 15:4-5    To learn more about the AHG Statement of Faith, visit americanheritagegirls.org/about-ahg/statement-of-faith   Visit raisinggodlygirls.com for more encouragement and faith-based parenting tools.      Learn how to find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your community at americanheritagegirls.org.     

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Reading the Bible can feel intimidating, especially when we try to understand it on our own. Emily Rose Massey reflects on her own journey of faith, realizing that the Holy Spirit—our Helper and Teacher—guides believers into understanding God’s Word. With the Spirit’s illumination, scripture becomes more than words on a page; it becomes life-giving truth that shapes our hearts, transforms our minds, and draws us closer to God. Highlights The Bible is a gift from God, meant to guide us in knowing Him and living faithfully. Spiritual understanding comes through the Holy Spirit, not human effort alone. The Holy Spirit brings scripture to remembrance and illuminates its meaning over time. Consistent Bible reading allows God’s truth to take root in our hearts. Even with distractions and intimidation, the Holy Spirit helps us comprehend God’s Word for deeper worship and life transformation. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: The Holy Spirit Is the Best Teacher By: Emily Rose Massey Bible Reading: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV). In high school, I was gifted a Bible when I became a member of my new church. I was so excited to start reading it and learn more about God, but as time went on, I became more and more intimidated by its pages. Where do I begin? Do I start in Genesis and just read through it beginning to end? Do I need to spend time memorizing what I’m reading? What does this word mean? These thoughts circled my teenage mind, and I was so hesitant to even dive in for fear that I wouldn’t understand what I was reading. It didn’t take long for schoolwork and all of the extracurricular activities I was involved in to crowd out any downtime to make space to read my Bible. Soon enough, that Bible would find a permanent home on my bookshelf, left untouched. I hate to admit it, but the intimidation and distractions would follow me all through college as well. When I was stressed out, I would glance at my neglected Bible and randomly open it and try to soak up some hope for my weary soul. Although I heard the gospel as a teen and was a professing Christian for six years, it wasn’t until after I graduated from college that God granted me genuine repentance from my sin and rebellion and gave me the faith to fully surrender my life to Christ and trust Him completely. One Sunday, I stepped foot in a church service for the first time in a few years, and I believe I was born again that day, as the reality of offending a Holy God and my desperate need to turn to Jesus, take up my cross, and follow Him overwhelmed me for the first time in my life. After that moment, my whole world changed, and I suddenly had a deep desire to read my Bible and obey God. I look back and see the difference between my high school and college days was that I was trying to understand what I was reading without the help of the Holy Spirit. Once I became born again at the age of twenty-two, I was given the gift of the Holy Spirit- Jesus describes Him as a Comforter as well as a Helper and Teacher in John 14: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV). Intersecting Faith & Life: As born-again believers, when we open the pages of scripture, we are not left on our own to understand what we are reading. We have a Helper and a great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our pursuit of growing in the knowledge of the Lord. He illuminates the truth to us over time and will bring what we have read to our remembrance. This is why it is so important to consistently be reading our Bibles, so that we can store what we are studying in our hearts. The Bible is a gift from God to help us in our daily lives- to be able to learn of God’s ways and learn who God truly is so that we can grow closer to Him and worship Him rightly. I have to admit that I sometimes still struggle with intimidation and distraction when it comes to reading my Bible, but after walking with the Lord for over fifteen years now, I know that I am not left alone on this journey. I have a Helper who guides me into all truth and supernaturally helps me understand the words I am reading- words that are spirit and life (John 6:63). He is always with me, and I can always ask Him for help. Dear Christian, let us thank the Father for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The One who convicts us of sin when we daily fall short. The One who is our ever-present help in times of need and who guides us into all truth. If you are struggling to study the Bible or are intimidated by it, He will supernaturally illuminate what you are reading and give you the ability to comprehend, not just for head knowledge, but ultimately, to help you know God more deeply so that you can worship Him more fully. Oh, what a wonderful gift from above! Further Reading: Romans 8:26John 16:12-15 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.