Podcasts about Holy Spirit

PARTNER WITH US - https://solamedia.org/partner/?sc=AS2502V When you become a partner today, you'll receive two remarkable books as our thanks: Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Dr. Michael Horton and Praying with Jesus by Pastor Adriel Sanchez. We believe these books can guide you into a clearer understanding of the Spirit's work and a richer prayer life. FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/

Like many people who struggle with pornography, Russell was exposed to it at a young age. The desire to use it was overpowering, and it poisoned his heart. “My life [became] completely saturated by it,” he writes, “so much so that it was like a cancer that was deeply rooted into my very fiber.” By God’s grace, he was finally set free of porn’s power—along with other addictions—when he received salvation in Jesus and was transformed from the inside out. “I credit it all to Jesus Christ, . . . [He’s] the one who delivered me,” Russell says. Jeremiah delivered a message from God to Israel that one day He would “put [His] law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (31:33). Under this new covenant, fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13), all people could be transformed by God’s grace through faith. And now, “his Spirit . . . lives in [us]” (Romans 8:11), and God’s moral law has been written on our hearts. For Russell, and for all who believe, the Holy Spirit’s power provides what’s needed to turn from harmful behavior that displeases God and seeks to destroy us. Transformation isn’t always instantaneous or easy. But let’s remember, when we’re dealing with difficult—even addictive—sin, that God can transform our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). He says, you “will know me” (v. 34 nlt), and we can also know His heart-changing power.

Read OnlineWhen the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Luke 2:22–24Forty days after a firstborn male was born, the law of Moses required that the mother participate in a purification ritual and that the parents were to “redeem” the child by offering a ritual sacrifice. As faithful Jews, Mary and Joseph took these obligations seriously. When they entered the Temple, they were met by a holy man named Simeon, who was among the faithful Jews “awaiting the consolation of Israel.”From its founding, the Kingdom of Israel had endured many troubled times. The last time the Kingdom of Israel had been united was under the reign of King David and his son Solomon in the tenth century B.C. After Solomon's death, the kingdom split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The Northern Kingdom was captured by the Assyrians in 722 B.C., and the Southern Kingdom was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., leading to the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of many Jews to Babylon for about seventy years. In the centuries that followed, Greek culture was imposed upon the region after the conquest of Alexander the Great, and the Romans finally captured Judah in 63 BC, maintaining control beyond the birth of Christ.This history of oppression and division created various responses among the Jewish people. Many prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah, the one who would bring consolation to Israel. Some Jews expected the Messiah to be a political leader who would reunite and restore the Kingdom. Others were indifferent to the prophecies. But a faithful remnant, like Simeon, awaited the Messiah who would bring about a profound spiritual renewal.Simeon was not a Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe, but an ordinary devout Jew filled with the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit Who revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Messiah. On the day Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, Simeon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, came to the Temple and recognized the Christ Child. He took Jesus in his arms and rejoiced, saying, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled…”We should all strive to be like Simeon. Like the people of Israel and Judah, we are living in a world where God's Kingdom is often divided or overshadowed by immorality, wars, divisions, and a lack of faith. We might be tempted to address these challenges in various ways, but the best way is to become part of the faithful remnant who, like Simeon, trust in God's promises and eagerly anticipate His transforming action in our lives and in the world. Reflect today on the state of the world. In some places, the Kingdom of God is vibrant and alive; in others, it seems distant or absent. No matter where you find yourself, turn your gaze to the all-powerful Messiah, Who is capable of renewing His Kingdom on Earth as we await its fullness at the end of time. Devote yourself to His mission, and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you to be an active participant in bringing about the reign of God. My Lord and Messiah, as I see the challenges and divisions in the world around me, help me to trust in Your promises. May I, like Simeon, be filled with faith and hope as I await Your Kingdom. Inspire me to be an instrument of Your grace, helping to build Your Kingdom here on Earth. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Janmad, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

God's Plan Will Prosper Every Area Of Your Life—KEEP BELIEVING | Blessed Morning Prayer For TodaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

In this episode, Sathiya Sam shares his journey from addiction to freedom, highlighting the biblical call to sexual integrity and holiness. This episode focuses on how believers can establish their hearts and live as integrity ambassadors in a broken world. Through his testimony and practical insights, Sathiya explains why overcoming sexual sin is not about surface-level solutions, but a heart transformation that aligns convictions with lifestyle. He challenges listeners to pursue true freedom through the Holy Spirit, not just behavior modification, and emphasizes the importance of building self-awareness, healing the heart, and embracing a new identity in Christ.   Know more about Sathiya's work: Join Deep Clean Inner Circle - The Brotherhood You Neeed (+ get coached by Sathiya) For Less Than $2/day Submit Your Questions (Anonymously) To Be Answered On The Podcast Get A Free Copy of The Last Relapse, Your Blueprint For Recovery Watch Sathiya on Youtube For More Content Like This   Chapters: (00:00) Be Patient: Establishing the Heart (James 5) (01:00) Testimony: From Addiction to Freedom (03:00) Salvation vs. Sanctification (05:30) A Wicked World & a Spotless Bride (08:20) Blessed but Broken: Integrity vs. Success (10:45) Why Deep Clean Exists (12:45) The Sexual Sin Crisis in the Church (15:10) Integrity Ambassadors Explained (16:45) What Integrity Really Means (18:15) Sexual Sin: A Sin Against the Body (20:40) Jesus on Lust: Heart Before Behavior (23:10) Sexual Morality vs. Immorality (26:45) Early Exposure & Long-Term Damage (28:30) Why Common Solutions Don't Work (29:00) Pillar 1: Building Self-Awareness (37:15) Pillar 2: Healing & Transforming the Heart (45:00) Pillar 3: Shifting Identity in Christ (49:55) Living Patiently as Jesus Returns (55:15) Commitment, Confession & Costly Obedience (01:12:05) Becoming Integrity Ambassadors

Trusting God with the unknown is often harder than we expect—especially when the path feels confusing, delayed, or downright backward. This devotional gently reminds us that just like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are invited to trust God’s guidance even when we don’t understand the route. The journey may feel long, but God’s purpose is always at work, shaping our faith and leading us toward something worth the wait. Highlights We often struggle with uncertainty because we want clarity, timelines, and reassurance. God’s chosen path isn’t always the shortest or most logical, but it is intentional. Questioning the journey doesn’t mean God has abandoned us—it reveals our need to trust Him more deeply. Seasons of waiting or wandering can prepare us for breakthroughs we can’t yet see. Faith grows when we choose trust over control, even when fear feels close. Looking back often reveals that God’s plan was worth every step. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Trusting God with the Unknown Days Ahead By: Laura Bailey Bible Reading: “They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?” - Exodus 4:11 NIV“How much longer? It feels like we’ve been walking forever!”“Wait, now we are going downhill, I thought we were trying to get to the top of the mountain?” “Why are there so many switchbacks? Wouldn’t it be faster to go straight up the hill?”Last week, for fall break, my husband and I took our girls to the mountains. We’d found a reasonably short and easy hike that led to not one, but two waterfalls. My husband and I were excited to share our love of the outdoors and hiking with our girls. For us, the thrill of hiking is the journey to the top. We often don’t even look at the mile markers or ask other hikers, “How much longer?” We simply enjoy the fun of not knowing. Our three young girls did not share the same sentiment, as suggested by the comments made above. I tried to brush off the first few remarks, but then, I snapped, “We will get there when we get there, just enjoy the journey, and trust me, it will be worth the trip!” As we walked on in silence, I felt that familiar pang of conviction from the Holy Spirit. While I may not ask questions about direction, timeline, or purpose on a hike, I am undoubtedly guilty of asking God for information. I want to know where He is leading, for how long, and truthfully, I want to be able to determine if the journey is worth it. Bottom line, I often doubt God’s timeline and question the journey He has me on. And, well, I am not the first person in history to wonder if God’s plan is better than my own.In Exodus 4:14, we see the Israelites' response to seeing Pharaoh and his army coming to attack and take them back into exile. A sarcastic response to their situation was typical for the Israelite people, but I can understand their frustration. The Pharaoh recently freed the Israelites after they had been in captivity for 430 years. However, they look up and find their enslavers ready to take them back into slavery. It’s a natural response to ask, “What was the point of wandering out into the desert if we were headed back to captivity?” The Lord led the Israelites to camp near the seashore. God had already stopped them from going through the territory of the Philistines, even though it was shorter, instead choosing to lead them a longer way that led them by the shore of the Red Sea (Exodus 13:17-18). God then tells Moses that He wants them to turn back around, going the opposite way He’d initially led them. While this served to confuse the Pharaoh, the switching in direction and the “aimless” wandering caused the Israelites to become restless. They began to voice their annoyance and wonder if perhaps they would have been better off staying in Egypt.God is asking the Israelites to trust in His plan and to enjoy the journey, because He is working all things for their good and His glory. And just a short time later, we see that God calls the Israelites to walk by faith. Moses stretches out his hands, and the waters of the Red Sea part, allowing the Israelites to walk through on dry land to the other side. The Egyptians pursue the Israelites; however, Moses stretches his hands back over the sea, and the waters flow back over them, killing the whole army (Exodus 14:21-31).Like with the Israelites, God asks us to trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense. It is natural to be fearful; we are creatures who crave comfort and security. When God asks us to go on a journey into the unknown, that’s hard. However, we can rest in the truth that God is good and can be trusted. When we reached the first waterfall, my oldest daughter reluctantly whispered, “This is pretty cool, I am glad we didn’t turn back.” The path God has for us isn’t always easy; there will be times when we feel like we are wandering, have to go backward before we move forward, and think that we are wasting our time. But God always has a purpose, and one day, we will most certainly say, “This was worth the journey.”Intersecting Faith & Life:Do you ever struggle to enjoy the journey? How does knowing that God has a purpose and plan for your life’s path help you find contentment in your current circumstances?Further Reading:Exodus14Unwavering Faith Amid Uncertainty Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today is day 362 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 364. What is this healing called? This healing is called “sanctification,” which means to be made whole and holy. By the work of the Holy Spirit, my mind, will, and desires are increasingly transformed and conformed to the character of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 2; John 17:15–17; Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Ephesians 2:1–10; 3:14–21) We will conclude today by praying The Collect for Saint Mary Magdalene found on page 630 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

We've got some way to go.   “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

Instead of recording the details of Jesus' birth, he talks about God's long term plan, made at the beginning of creation. Let's find out what that plan was as we read John 1:1-18.

A new year doesn’t need better intentions, it needs divine power. In this New Year episode of The Uncommon Christian Podcast, Jon Ellis exposes why so many believers feel spiritually exhausted: they’re trying to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit leading it. The Spirit-filled life isn’t emotional hype or theological preference — it’s the difference between survival and victory. In this episode, you’ll discover: ● Why willpower and discipline can’t sustain obedience ● What Scripture actually says about the role of the Holy Spirit ● How cultural Christianity replaced power with effort ● Practical steps to enter the new year Spirit-led, not burned out If you’re tired of striving, stuck in cycles, or hungry for real transformation, this episode resets everything. Willpower has never transformed anyone. In this New Year episode, Jon Ellis reveals why the Spirit-filled life isn’t optional, it’s essential. You don’t need a new calendar; you need new power.

God's Word, Matthew Henry, studying the Bible, understanding the Bible, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Spiritual, Hope, Jesus Answers Prayer, Answers to Prayer, Prayer, Pray, God Answers Prayer,Old Fashioned Bible Preachers, Pastor Jack Hyles, Controversy⚠️ Support our ministry: https://ko-fi.com/jesusanswersprayers❓️ How did this message speak to you?

As we move forward into a new year. In 2026:Don't just ask God for blessings — ask Him for direction.Don't just ask for change — ask for conviction.Don't just pray for open doors — pray for discernment so you don't kick in the wrong ones.Closing Song: I Choose Life - I Choose Christ (Written and produced by Deborah Ocasio) Click to follow Pastor Deb's Musical CompilationsSupport the showwww.BibleDeliverance.org

We now have peace for we are justified in the resurrection of Christ.  More than this: we now live in the hope of the glory of God, which is guaranteed, by the love of the Holy Spirit.  More than this: we shall continue to realise how much Jesus loves us, because he died for us even though we rejected and crucified him.  There is so much more than this: more than justified, more than reconciled, we are resurrected into the love and eternal life of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

#10MinuteswithJesus ** Put yourself in the presence of God. Try talking to Him. ** 10 minutes are 10 minutes. Even if you can get distracted, reach the end. ** Be constant. The Holy Spirit acts "on low heat" and requires perseverance. 10-Minute audio to help you pray. Daily sparks to ignite prayer: a passage from the gospel, an idea, an anecdote and a priest who speaks with you and the Lord, inviting you to share your intimacy with God. Find your moment, consider you are in His presence and click play.

A kinsman of the Apostle Paul, the Holy Stephen was one of the seven deacons (with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas) first appointed by the Church to minister to the people; and it pleased God to receive him as the Church's first Martyr for Christ. Read the long, beautiful and edifying account of his witness in the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 6-8. When Stephen, "full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people," (Acts 6:8), some members of a synagogue in Jerusalem came to dispute with him and, enraged by his proclamation of Christ, stoned him to death. In his death St Stephen revealed Christ's erasure of the boundary between heaven and earth, and the new communion between man and God: his face shone with the light of the Transfiguration, and he was granted a vision of Christ enthroned at the Father's right hand. His dying words were "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60).   According to holy tradition, the martyrdom of St Stephen occurred exactly a year after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. His body was taken and secretly buried by Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhendrin and secretly a Christian.   Saint Stephen's relics were discovered by the priest Lucian in 415 following a vision. They were translated to the church built for them in Jerusalem by the Empress Eudocia, and later taken to Constantinople.   The Saint's missionary speech before his death (like that of the deacon St Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch) reminds us that those appointed to serve the Church materially are not barred, or even excused, from proclaiming the glorious Gospel of Christ.

In today's devotional, Dr. Michael A. Youssef identifies the way to grow in patience.If you would like more insight into today's devotional topic, listen to Dr. Michael A. Youssef's sermon Spirituality That Heals: Patience: LISTEN NOWIf you enjoy listening to the MY Devotional podcast, would you consider partnering with us to proclaim the hope of Christ to a world in darkness by giving a year-end gift? This month, your gift will have double the impact through our December Gift Challenge! Leading The Way is reaching the lost and equipping the saints 24/7 through television, radio, online outreaches, discipleship resources, evangelistic events, Field Teams, and more. Dr. Youssef's Biblically-based messages are broadcast in 28 languages to audiences across six continents — passionately proclaiming uncompromising Truth worldwide.Join us!

Friends of the Rosary,Yesterday, we honored St. Stephen, who by his words and by laying down his life for his faith, bore witness to Christ. Today, December 27, we receive the testimony of John, Apostle and Evangelist (d. 101).The Church celebrates the Feast of this Galilean fisherman born in Bethsaida, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to St. James the Greater, who became the beloved disciple of Jesus.John and James were called by Jesus to be disciples as they were mending their nets by the Sea of Galilee.The pure and spiritual life of John kept him very close to Jesus and Mary, resting on the Master's breast at the Last Supper and being filled with divine wisdom.He wrote the fourth Gospel (about sixty-three years after the Ascension of Christ), three Epistles, and an excellent and mysterious Book of the Apocalypse or Revelation.John is the evangelist of the divinity and fraternal love of Christ. With James, his brother, and Simon Peter, he was one of the witnesses of the Transfiguration.He was permitted to witness His agony in the Garden. At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusted His Mother to his care as He hung dying on the Cross.St. John was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion and Death.He was brought to Rome and, according to tradition, cast into a caldron of boiling oil by Emperor Domitian's order, but he was miraculously preserved unhurt. He was later exiled to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Apocalypse.In his extreme old age, he continued to visit the churches of Asia. Every time he preached, he said: "My dear children, love one another."St. John died in peace at about ninety-four years old at Ephesus in the hundredth year of the Christian era, or the sixty-sixth from the crucifixion of Christ.Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkNew Upgrade! Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠December 27, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The word of knowledge is a gift—a supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of certain facts in the mind of God. And as a believer, it is available to you. In his message, "Supernatural Gifts: The Word of Knowledge," Pastor Bayless opens 1 Corinthians 12 to explore one of the most powerful and personal gifts of the Holy Spirit. You'll hear real-life stories and biblical examples that show how the word of knowledge reveals hidden things to encourage, guide, and even rescue people.  This gift is not reserved for a few—it's for anyone who's all-in with Jesus. Listen today and get the encouragement you need to be used by God to help others!

Today is day 361 and we are studying the section on Justification and Sanctification: Living in Forgiveness and Healing. 363. How does Jesus heal you? Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, as I continue in repentance and faith, Jesus mends my disordered soul from the effects of sin in my mind, will, and desires. (2 Chronicles 7:12–14; Psalms 25:4–11; 41:4; 103:1–5; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18) We will conclude today by praying A Prayer for Health of Body and Soul found on page 233 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you are a believer in Jesus, you are not helpless against sin. The Holy Spirit lives inside of you and enables you to fight!

Jesus often shows up where we least expect Him—in overlooked places, through ordinary people, during hidden seasons. In Luke 1, God begins the greatest rescue story not in a palace but in Nazareth, not with prestige but with humility. Mary isn't chosen because of her résumé but because of grace. Jesus enters the world quietly, but with eternal purpose, showing us that God often does His greatest work in the places we're tempted to overlook. Scripture reveals Jesus as the promised King, the Savior whose very name means “God saves,” and the One the Holy Spirit is always pointing us toward. We'll see how faith grows not through proximity or effort, but through revelation—and how hidden seasons often prepare us for holy moments. Stop searching elsewhere and recognize the One who has been searching for us all along. Don't miss Jesus—the Savior who came to rescue, reign, and restore.

Beloved, As Christmas comes and goes, the world softens for a moment. The pace eases, the noise quietens, and something deeper becomes easier to hear.This season carries a powerful essential nature quality: returning to the foundation.Before goals. Before vision boards. Before the next becoming.Remember that at your core, there is an original design, steady, wise, and intact. Christmas offers a natural pause to reconnect with that inner architecture. The part of you that already knows who you are, how you function best, and what truly matters.So rather than pushing forward, this years' season is an invitation to come home. Home to your body. Home to your heart. Home to the intelligence that lives beneath effort and striving.From a divine nature and divine feminine perspective, alignment always begins here, in rest, resonance, and remembrance.As this year completes its cycle, my suggestion to you is to allow yourself to receive:• integration instead of urgency• clarity instead of pressure• nourishment instead of effortWhatever unfolded this year has shaped your field, refined your awareness, and strengthened your inner structure. Nothing has been wasted. Everything has informed your true essence.The Great Mother and Father that birthed your existence into form.As we know it takes two to make a baby, without that balance the offspring might be imbalanced. My wish for you is simple. May your foundation feel steady. May your hearts feel held and may your inner compass feel clear.RETURNING TO MOTHER | COMFORT & PEACE | FOR ALLI leave you with a remembrance of what was removed a long time ago in the name of power and control. The Holy Spirit is proven to be “female.” Make Gods in OUR image - was the foundation of the trinity of Elohim, Eshera and Yeshua. Mother, Father and Son/Daughter.The divine feminine - which is rising and bringing care, love and healing into our consciousness.The connection between Sophia theology and women's teaching authority is inseparable.Karen King, a professor of church history at Harvard Divinity School, suggests that the Nag Hammadi texts are not an aberration, but a window into a Christianity that flourished for the first two centuries.In this world, Sophia was a central theological concept, and women held significant positions of teaching authority.This was not a marginal movement; it thrived in major centers of thought like Alexandria, Rome, and Gaul.The texts preserve fierce debates, such as the Second Treatise of the Great Seth, which records a Christ figure ridiculing bishops who claim authority without knowing the truth.The Testimony of Truth directly attacks the institutional church, claiming its leaders possess the name of a dead man but lack the actual spirit of truth.These were not the writings of defeated heretics hiding in caves, but the arguments of sophisticated theologians claiming the institutional church had abandoned Christ in favor of political power.The historical pattern is clear: Sophia theology flourished wherever Christians had intellectual freedom and collapsed wherever bishops allied with imperial power.By the late 4th century, major centers of this tradition had been suppressed, and the texts survived only because monks buried them before the purges arrived.The Nag Hammadi discovery proved that an entire branch of Christianity was erased, not because it lost the theological argument, but because it lost a political war.The removal of Sophia was a metaphysical amputation that severed humanity from half of the divine image.For the first two centuries, women could look toward the heavens and see themselves reflected in Sophia, who was wisdom incarnate, present at creation, and a teacher of humanity.Her existence meant that femininity was ontologically divine, allowing women in these communities to teach, prophesy, and perform sacraments with divine authority.After the Council of Nicaea and the destruction of these texts, the reflection of the feminine divine disappeared.The Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—became conceptually MASCULINE, and the only remaining feminine figure was Mary, defined by her obedience and receptivity.If the divine image is exclusively masculine, then maleness is seen as godly, while women become derivative reflections or corrupted vessels.In the late 4th century, Augustine of Hippo codified this into doctrine, arguing that a woman is not the image of God by herself, but only when joined to a man.This theology shaped law, culture, and family structure, suggesting that female subordination was not social convention but a cosmic order.The slide toward devaluation reached a point where the Council of Macon in 585 CE debated whether women even possessed souls.Medieval theology continued this descent, with Thomas Aquinas characterizing women as “misbegotten males” and defective versions of the masculine ideal.These were not fringe ideas; they were the foundational doctrines of the intellectual authorities defining the Western Church for centuries.The practical consequences were catastrophic, as women were excluded from universities and prohibited from reading scripture in the vernacular.The witch trials of the early modern period eventually criminalized women's traditional knowledge of healing and midwifery, labeling it as a demonic theft of male authority.Beyond gender, the erasure of Sophia reshaped the human relationship with curiosity and wisdom.In the Sophia narratives, her defining characteristic is a desire to know and understand the depths of divine mystery.Though her desire led to error, that error was seen as correctable through knowledge, suggesting that seeking wisdom is better than blind obedience.In the post-Nicene narrative, however, Sophia's desire became the template for forbidden knowledge, and curiosity was reframed as the sin of pride.Independent thought became a rebellion, and education was placed under strict ecclesiastical control.The medieval church's multiple bans on the works of Aristotle and the trials of figures like Galileo were symptoms of this theological monopoly on truth.Even the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, which emerged as rebellions against this monopoly, largely excluded women from the new universities.The intellectual flowering of Europe happened in a world where half of humanity was still theologically barred from the pursuit of wisdom.Ultimately, Sophia represented a conviction that Western Spirituality desperately lacked: the belief that the pursuit of truth is a holy act of desire, not a sinful act of rebellion.IN CLOSING Thank you for walking this conscious path with me, for your trust, your openness, and your willingness to live in alignment with who you truly are.I look forward to guiding you into the next chapter, rooted, resourced, and ready.Love, KassandraThe Light Between is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thelightbetween.substack.com/subscribe

You Can Swim Against The Tide | Malayalam Christian Messages | Morning Glory - 1800 | Br. Damien Antony

A lot of people get excited.   “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me.” - Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

Why did Matthew mention the wise men? Let's find out together as we read Matthew 2:1-12

It is time this very minute to pray and seek God. Time to set our timers and pray for the minute. This podcast encourages us to stop for a minute and, now, in the presence of our Heavenly Father—with praise and prayer—worship Him in Jesus' name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. ———— *We do not own the rights to music played on this podcast.

Join us as we explore Romans 12 and the essence of living a Christ-like character. Discover the significance of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices and the power of renewing our minds in spiritual worship. This video delves into the importance of character, love, and humility in our journey with God, emphasizing the need to separate from worldly standards and embrace the higher calling of serving God. Learn how to walk in love, overcome challenges, and live a life filled with the Holy Spirit's guidance.

A conversation on Acts 20:17-24. Learn why "all pastors are interim" and how Paul passed the torch to Ephesian elders for healthy church leadershipFor the study resources and manuscript go to messiahbible.org

You know sometimes you've got to clap for yourself like you just scored the game-winning shot in overtime… even if nobody else in the bleachers noticed you were playing.  Don't be afraid to be your own cheerleader, claim your own Amen.This isn't conceit. It's not arrogance. It's stewardship of what God placed in you.Support the showwww.BibleDeliverance.org

Howdy! (NOTICE: I apologize, there is a small space in the beginning where my mic was muted. Thank you.)

Join us as we explore Romans 12 and the essence of living a Christ-like character. Discover the significance of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices and the power of renewing our minds in spiritual worship. This video delves into the importance of character, love, and humility in our journey with God, emphasizing the need to separate from worldly standards and embrace the higher calling of serving God. Learn how to walk in love, overcome challenges, and live a life filled with the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Send us a textRyan Pineda and Steve Weatherford dive into supernatural encounters, miraculous healings, and life-changing spiritual gifts sparked by impartation and the Holy Spirit's power.⁣⁣Watch the full interview here (originally aired February 2024) - https://youtu.be/gjhfggW4TF4⁣⁣Connect with Steve⁣Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/weatherford5/⁣YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@steveweatherford5⁣Website - https://thesteveweatherford.com/⁣⁣__________⁣⁣Join our private mastermind for elite business leaders who golf. https://www.mastermind19.com⁣⁣Want to scale your business? Attend our next Forge event! https://theforge.vip⁣⁣Join a free Bible study for Christian business leaders. https://www.tentmakers.us⁣__________⁣⁣CHAPTERS: ⁣00:00 - Intro: The Year My Faith Was Tested  ⁣01:30 - Struck by God's Power During Prayer  ⁣03:00 - Casting Out Demons & Prophetic Dreams  ⁣04:00 - A Tumor Vanished After This Prayer  ⁣06:00 - From Conservative Church to Supernatural Faith  ⁣07:45 - Seeing Real Prophecy Happen Live  ⁣09:30 - How Spiritual Gifts Are “Caught, Not Taught”  ⁣11:45 - Visions About Friends That Came True  ⁣13:00 - Prophecy is for EveryoneLearn how to invest in real estate with the Cashflow 2.0 System! Your business in a box with 1:1 coaching, motivated seller leads, & softwares. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com/Want to work 1:1 with Ryan Pineda? Apply at ryanpineda.comJoin our FREE community, weekly calls, and bible studies for Christian entrepreneurs and business people. https://tentmakers.us/Want to grow your business and network with elite entrepreneurs on world-class golf courses? Apply now to join Mastermind19 – Ryan Pineda's private golf mastermind for high-level founders and dealmakers. www.mastermind19.com--- About Ryan Pineda: Ryan Pineda has been in the real estate industry since 2010 and has invested in over $100,000,000 of real estate. He has completed over 700 flips and wholesales, and he owns over 650 rental units. As an entrepreneur, he has founded seven different businesses that have generated 7-8 figures of revenue. Ryan has amassed over 2 million followers on social media and has generated over 1 billion views online. Starting as a minor league baseball player making less than $2,000 a month, Ryan is now worth over $100 million. He shares his experiences in building wealth and believes that anyone can change their life with real estate investing. ...

Patrick brings listeners into the heart of unpredictable conversations, shifting from practical advice on handling road rage to memories of Catholic family life and thoughtful, faith-driven discussions about choosing grad schools and understanding Church traditions. He fields calls from listeners wrestling with questions about spiritual joy, church etiquette, and even heated issues like politically motivated church nativity displays, always punctuated with humor, personal anecdotes, and honesty. Email - I am a junior at a public university, majoring in psychology. I have a friend who is a school social worker and she had to take LGBTQ ally training as a condition of her employment. Also, from my research, many graduated social work programs are rife with LGBTQ inclusion training. Help me discern what to do. (01:51) Homer (email) - Why doesn't the Pope encourage more Latin Rite Catholics to have their children baptized in the Eastern Rites, so the rites can increase their populations? (05:05) Javier - How do you handle people when they cut you off in traffic. How can I be a Christian driver? (09:37) Alfredo - My life is 6 degrees of Patrick Madrid. Everyone just keeps mentioning you. (19:38) Ted - You were talking about Road Rage and sitting at the end of the pew. I am the guy sitting at the end of the pew. When am I being rude? Also, is our Holy Mother also the Holy Spirit? (25:16) Rod - Do you have any thoughts on the Church that replaced its Nativity set with an 'ICE Was Here' sign? (35:26) Joe - If you could rewrite scripture, would you include joy in Ephesians 6? (41:07) Maria - My husband doesn't want to be married anymore. Priest told me it was time to give up and move on. (46:06) Originally aired on 12/08/25

Stop letting confusion about God steal your peace. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were never meant to feel distant, complicated, or abstract. In this episode, Gregory Dickow shows how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distant ideas, but an active relationship designed to surround and strengthen your life. If you've ever felt unsure about how God relates to you or struggled to understand His closeness this message will bring clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of connection with Him.SUPPORT:You can donate to help us reach more lives around the world here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lifechangerschurch.com/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WATCH ON YOUTUBE:Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Gregory Dickow YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠REQUEST PRAYER:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a prayer request⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will agree with you.CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X⁠⁠

Dare to Believe For The Impossible & Unlock God's Overflow | Blessed Daily Effective Prayer To Start The DaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook Daily Effective Prayer™

#10MinuteswithJesus ** Put yourself in the presence of God. Try talking to Him. ** 10 minutes are 10 minutes. Even if you can get distracted, reach the end. ** Be constant. The Holy Spirit acts "on low heat" and requires perseverance. 10-Minute audio to help you pray. Daily sparks to ignite prayer: a passage from the gospel, an idea, an anecdote and a priest who speaks with you and the Lord, inviting you to share your intimacy with God. Find your moment, consider you are in His presence and click play.

How do you know if you are truly saved? The biggest sign of salvation is life change. True salvation always produces a wonderful life transformation. In this message called, THE MIRACLE OF TRANSFORMATION, Pastor Jeff Schreve shares three steps the wise men took that produced in them, and will produce in us, real transformation by the power of the Holy Spirit. This message is from the series, THE MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS.

Are you tired of feeling stuck, passive, and unsure how to step into the call of God on your life? In this Prophetic Spiritual Warfare teaching, Kathy DeGraw exposes the enemy's tactic of delay and equips you to activate your destiny, birth your vision, and stop wasting your God-given potential. Purchase Kathy's book Healed at Last – Overcome Sickness to Receive your Physical Healing on Amazon https://a.co/d/6a6mt8w or at: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/healed-at-last/ Purchase Anointing Oil with a prayer cloth that Kathy has personally mixed and prayed over on Kathy's Website or Amazon. Order anointing oil by Kathy on Amazon look for her brand here https://amzn.to/3PC6l3R or Kathy DeGraw Ministries https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/product-category/oils/ Training, Mentorship and Deliverance! Personal coaching, deliverance, ecourses, training for ministry, and mentorships! https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/training/# Too many believers are anointed, but neutralized by passivity, delay, and fear of the unknown. In this powerful message, Kathy DeGraw calls you out of spiritual stagnation and into your full kingdom destiny. Through real-life stories of launching products, getting books published, stepping into television and podcasting, and birthing ministry from her own living room, Kathy shows you how to partner with the Holy Spirit and the right mentorship to activate your calling and break passivity for good.   You'll discover why unused potential is not just unfortunate—it's disobedience that can open doors to procrastination, fear, and generational strongholds. Kathy challenges you to stop waiting for the perfect building, budget, or platform and start taking prophetic action with what you have in your hands right now. Whether God is stirring you to write a book, launch a podcast, start a business, or serve more deeply in your local church, this episode will ignite your faith, confront excuses, and give you practical steps to move from hearing to doing. It is time to rise up, get your boots on, and run hard after your God-given purpose. #propheticspiritualwarfare #activateyourcalling #breakpassivity #kathydegraw #kingdompurpose **Connect with Us** - Website: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathydegraw/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathydegraw/   Podcast - Subscribe to our YouTube channel and listen to Kathy's Podcast called Prophetic Spiritual Warfare, or on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3mYPPkP28xqcTzdeoucJZu or Apple podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prophetic-spiritual-warfare/id1474710499   **Recommended Resources:** - Receive a free prayer pdf on Warfare Prayer Declarations at https://kathydegrawministries.org/declarations-download - Kathy's training, mentoring and ecourses on Spiritual Warfare, Deliverance and the Prophetic: https://training.kathydegrawministries.org/ - Healed At Last ~ Overcome Sickness and Receive your Physical Healing: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/healed-at-last/ - Mind Battles – Root Out Mental Triggers to Release Peace!: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/product/mind-battles-pre-order-available-january-2023/ -Kathy has several books available on Amazon or kathydegrawministries.org   **Support Kathy DeGraw Ministries:** - Give a one-time love offering or consider partnering with us for $15, $35, $75 or any amount! Every dollar helps us help others!  - Website: https://www.kathydegrawministries.org/donate/  - CashApp $KDMGLORY - Venmo @KD-Ministries - Paypal.me/KDeGrawMinistries or donate to email admin@degrawministries.org - Mail a check to: Kathy DeGraw Ministries ~ PO Box 65 ~ Grandville MI 49468  

What we say matters—especially at Christmas.In this week's More Than Conquerors, Terry and Reneé Mize teach how covenant words release God's authority, provision, and victory into real-world situations. From faith-filled speech to generous hearts, you'll see how God uses words spoken in faith to fuel compassion, missions, and Kingdom impact around the world.As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we're reminded that covenant authority didn't end in Scripture—it's meant to be spoken, believed, and lived today. Learn how your words can align with God's promises and produce lasting fruit.

Friends of the Rosary,Today, December 26th, one day after the joyful celebration of the nativity of Jesus, is the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr and deacon. Above all things, even life itself, we love Christ the Lord, as St. Stephen showed us.As we read in the Acts of the Apostles today (6:8-10; 7:54-59), when he, thrown out of the city, was about to be stoned, Stephen, "filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God."St. Stephen showed perfect conformity to Christ. He said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit; do not hold this sin against them."Merry Christmas!(Until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, January 11, 2026, marking the conclusion of the Christmas season and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry).Ave MariaCome, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠December 26, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Br Gowens' sermon on 12/14/25 is another episode in the "Names of Jesus" series, focusing on this sublime name revealed in Isaiah 9:6. Gowens connects this name to the rich description of the Holy Spirit in John 14:16 and explores the various nuances of Jesus (and the Holy Ghost) as the "Comforter."

Are your relationships running on autopilot? Listen as Pastor Lee shares 36 years of marriage wisdom on why so many Christians struggle in their relationships—and the one thing that changes everything.This episode is perfect for your morning commute or workout as Pastor Lee walks through practical ways to invite God's presence into your marriage, dating life, and family relationships. You'll discover why commitment has become countercultural, how the Holy Spirit guides you away from toxic connections, and the simple shifts that transform struggling relationships into thriving ones.You'll Learn:✅ The missing ingredient in every failing relationship✅ How to recognize God's warning signs about people in your life✅ Why offense and assumption are relationship killers✅ Practical steps to put God first starting todayFeaturing wisdom from Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and Ephesians, this message will challenge you to stop taking cues from the world and start following God's playbook for relationships.Subscribe now and start every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with biblical truth that actually works in real life.

If Jesus said that faith even as small as a mustard seed could move mountains…then why are so many of your mountains still standing?Unfortunately, Christian husbands living the nice guy lie are told that all they need is a teeny tiny speck of faith. If that's the case...then...Why is your marriage still stuck, your finances capped, your health unchanged, your inner world still heavy… even though you “believe” and you've been told that “even a tiny mustard seed of faith is enough”? In fact, many Christian husbands struggle with weak faith and stagnant growth in their marriage, finances, and personal well-being, despite believing the common teaching about tiny faith. In this teaching, I'm going to show you something that might upset a lot of Sunday school lessons:Jesus never talked about the small size of your faith.He talked about the nature of it.We're going into the Greek, the interlinear, and the actual word Jesus used. Then we'll look at what mustard actually does in the wild: it's invasive, dominant, environment-transforming. And you're going to see that the faith that moves mountains is not a cute, tiny speck… it's an invasive, aggressive, environment-changing belief that crowds out doubt, fear, and passivity.Once you see this, it will change:How you prayHow you fight for your marriageHow you go after healing, provision, and breakthroughHow you interpret “unanswered” prayers in your lifeAnd if you're a Christian husband who's tired of praying tiny prayers while your marriage slowly dies… this is your wake-up call. Heaven is not asking you for a polite speck of faith. Heaven is inviting you into a wildfire faith that rewires your inner world, rewrites your story, and forcefully invades the darkness and the world around you.Stop playing the polite Christian Nice Guy role. Start becoming a masculine force to be reckoned with.

Our Sovereign God May Not Return to Us If Jesus Followers Do Not Lead America's Return to God; You Are Here for These Times MESSAGE SUMMARY: If enough of us get serious with God, then, perhaps, God will heal us and this land. When we, as both individual Jesus Followers and as a country, turn to the Lord, will we hear God's call and answer as in Isaiah 6:8: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”. As Jesus Followers but in our non-Christian behavior: we are mean; we are angry; we are judgmental; and we are selfish and self-centered. Also, in our non-Christian behavior, we are often in bondage to debt, drugs, and extramarital sex. In all these non-Christian behaviors, we are not different from the unbeliever next door. Therefore, we are not very different from God's people in the time of Hosea described in Hosea 11:7,10-11: “My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High {God}, he shall not raise them up at all . . . They shall go after the LORD; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west; they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.". We need to ask ourselves: “Am I being faithful to Jesus Christ and what needs to change in me and my life? Also, we need to ask ourselves “how am I disobeying the Lord?”. Will you then say to God: “Here am I! Send me.” If NOT ENOUGH “Self-Identifying Christians” answer God's call to lead America in our “return to God”, then God, in His sovereignty, will not return to America – you are here for times like these!   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I come this day inviting you to cut those deeply entrenched chains that keep me from being faithful to my true self in Christ. In doing so, may my life be a blessing to many. In Jesus' name, amen.      Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 44). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Insensitivity. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Gentleness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Hosea 11:1-11; Isaiah 6:8-13; Matthew 13:13-17; Psalms 13:1-6. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “A Christmas Message – What God Has Done For Us” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

In the last days, discernment is not optional - it's essential. In this timely message, Pastor Corey Erman teaches how the Holy Spirit equips believers to recognize truth, resist deception, and stand firm in a world filled with confusion. Learn how to sharpen your spiritual discernment and remain anchored in God's Word. “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:21To support this ministry and help us reach the nations with revival visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RiverWPB.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or text GIVE and any amount to (855) 968-3708.

Daily Dose of Hope December 26, 2025   Scripture – Acts 25   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, you are almighty and all-powerful.  You are God of all and yet you care for us.  Thank you, Lord.  Help us settle our scattered thoughts and be silent before you...Thank you, Jesus.  Please guide us as we reflect on your Word today.  Meet us in the midst of our reading and this devotional.  In Your Name, Amen.    Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  I hope you had a great Christmas day yesterday!  We have been on a wonderful journey of reading and reflecting on Scripture over the last eight months, specifically the four Gospels and the book of Acts.  After today, we only have three more days in Acts.  We will take a brief break and then we will begin again on January 5, 2026, to walk through the letters of Paul in chronological order.  I hope you will join us for that as well.   Today, we are working through Acts 25.  Paul's on-going custody and trial continues in this chapter. Felix was recalled to Rome to handle some other events. The man who followed him died after just two years and now we find ourselves introduced to the new governor, Festus. So this means that Paul has been in custody for over two years!   Festus quickly demonstrates that, while he will listen to the Jewish leaders' accusations against Paul, he will not be bullied by them. He appears to want to give Paul a fair hearing once again. Now, the Jews were accusing Paul of both religious and civil offenses. Even if he were not innocent, this raises red flags among the Roman authorities. So Paul uses last card, an appeal to Caesar himself, which was his right to do as a Roman citizen. This also means the Gospel message will now move further up the government ladder. God is at work here.  Think of all the people along this journey that are being exposed to the Gospel message – people at every level of government and society.   I do want to point out Paul's faith here.  He is unwavering.  He knows what going back to Jerusalem would mean and he stands firmly against it.  While we don't have specific Scripture to demonstrate this, we can assume that Paul feels God leading him to go to Caesar.  Paul didn't do anything without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We can safely assume that he is praying, listening, and obeying. AND trusting!   What do you learn from Paul's example here?  If you were being accused of an injustice, how would you handle the situation?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

The Gospel of John Week 26 Scripture: John 20:19 - 21:25. Today's study will conclude our two year study of the Gospels with a dramatic and amazing ending. We begin with John 20:19, it is the first day of the week (Sunday) and the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly Jesus was standing among them saying "Peace be with you." This is a phrase in English that sounds so common, like "have a good day." But in Hebrew it carries much more meaning. Shalom (peace) more than just an absence of conflict or warfare, it refers to all creation - it means everything is right between us and God. Real peace, lasting peace, God's peace, life-changing peace the way things were intended to be before sin broke into a perfect creation. Jesus shows them His hands and side and the disciples are overjoyed. Everything the Jewish people have been longing for has come to a dramatic crescendo. Then He breathed on them saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  In verse 23 Jesus says, "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Pastor spends time digging into what this verse is really saying.  When we accept Jesus as our Savior our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ. But to those who say they don't need a Savior, that think they are just fine on their own, we can say to them, "That won't cut it. Without Christ there is no hope."  Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." This commission from Jesus is given so that they can speak truth, so that they can use it to draw people into a relationship with the Living God. We read next of "Doubting Thomas." The disciples are again gathered together and Jesus appears, "Peace be with you. Put your finger here and put your hand into my side and stop doubting and believe!" And Thomas replies, "My Lord and my God!" That's not just an expression, this is a clear biblical title for the Living God. And Thomas suddenly realized that Jesus is not only alive, but He is the very One that was promised. Jesus is more than a miracle worker, He's more than a great teacher, He is God come to earth. John concludes chapter 20 with these words, "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." We move into chapter 21, the epilogue. Pastor starts this chapter by sharing the story of a friend, a Russian Jew, who moved to Israel and became a Messianic believer and follower of Jesus. Pastor goes on to share the growth of Jewish believers in Jesus worldwide. Our story continues with the disciples fishing all night and not catching anything. Then a voice calls out to them to put their nets on the right side of the boat. When they do they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John knows who the man is, "It is the Lord!" And Peter swims ashore. Pastor talks about the importance of the fire Jesus had started on shore to emphasize God's intentions. Jesus invites them to breakfast with Him but Jesus has a personal conversation with Peter. Purposefully, Jesus asks Peter 3 times (remember Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times), "Do you love Me?" Peter responds yes each time and Jesus replies with, "Feed my sheep." Peter is forgiven, restored. This gospel ends with these dramatic words, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." Jesus is in the business of redeeming and restoring and renewing, changing lives, transforming families, rebuilding communities, changing entire nations and continents. John is saying you've only caught a glimpse! Can you imagine the stories we're going to hear after Jesus returns! This is an incredible, amazing, uplifting, joyful, thought provoking, life-changing book! Thank you for joining us on this great two year tour of the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and and we see many things that we missed before.

So, there was this moment for Paul when everyone around him was saying, "Don't do it!" But you know what? The Holy Spirit was right there, nudging him to go for it. Even though those folks had a solid spiritual vibe, Paul chose to follow the call of the Holy Spirit. There might be times when you find yourself in a situation like Paul's, where the wise folks around you are saying “no,” but deep down, God is nudging you to go for it. Today, Pastor Bill invites you to step out and embrace God's calling.

Discover what happens when speaking to someone's identity becomes more than a one-time event—it becomes our way of life. In this conclusion to the epiphany series, Graham Cooke reveals that when we act toward difficult people as though their God-given identity were true, we're actually being most like Jesus because that's exactly what He does all the time. The blessing we give out returns to us pressed down, shaken together, and running over. As we speak identity to others, the Holy Spirit begins engaging with us about our own identity. This teaching shows how God sees us—not as people with something wrong, but as people missing a few things from our relationship with Him, which He fully intends to give us. **Key Scriptures:**+ Luke 6:38. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over..."+ Galatians 6:7. "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap..."+ Romans 12:2. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."**Want to explore more?**

In the Christmas narrative, angels came to deliver "good news of great joy" to us. Good news of great joy doesn't mean everything is going to be easy, but it does mean our assignments will be meaningful and well-rewarded. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson teaches about the theme for the third week of Advent: joy. We may be tempted to grumble when facing trials, but God calls us to endure with joy. It's counterintuitive to our human natures, but with the Holy Spirit's help, we can find true joy in the midst of hardship. God is moving in the earth, and we want to be a part of what He's doing in His Kingdom, so let's choose to cultivate joy—sustaining, eternal, and supernatural joy.