Podcasts about in genesis

In this sermon, Cedrick Baker explores how Old Testament prophesies speak to the coming deliverance of the Messiah. In Genesis 49:10, we see how the Messiah will come from the tribe of Judah and will establish a new kind of kingdom. In this way God promises his care and provision which gives us a sense of security.

In this sermon, Cedrick Baker explores how Old Testament prophesies speak to the coming deliverance of the Messiah. In Genesis 49:10, we see how the Messiah will come from the tribe of Judah and will establish a new kind of kingdom. In this way God promises his care and provision which gives us a sense of security.

We all reach points in our lives when we realize that our circumstances are beyond our control. In Genesis 40, we learn that we do not find purpose because of our circumstances but because of our willingness to serve God and others, even amid those circumstances.We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.

In Genesis 9:24–27, Noah pronounces a curse on his grandson Canaan and a blessing on his sons Shem and Japheth after waking up from his drunken sleep. These words have been widely misunderstood and misapplied. In this devotion, we consider how we should always listen to God's word, regardless of the mouthpiece he chooses to use.Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Today we're reading Genesis 3:8-13 where Adam and Eve find themselves naked, ashamed and hiding from God. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit, and then become aware of their nakedness. Then we're told they hid themselves because they heard the sound of God walking towards them in the cool of the day. And, there are two simple words that might indicate something deeper is going on here. I can't wait to show you what I overlooked for years in this story. It absolutely blew my mind. So, why do they hide? What do they hear? And, why does it mention the “cool of the day?” You might think these are extra, filler details in the fall of man story, but Genesis 3, is inviting us to ask deeper questions to discover deeper truths about God and mankind.Be sure to check out our ministry resources below!Free Online Bible CoursesOrder My Book "Fruitful"Support This MinistryOur WebsiteOur Youtube ChannelOur Second Youtube Channel

In Genesis 32:22-32 we see that God has bridged the gap between heaven and earth and invited us to know Him face to face in Jesus.

In Genesis 3:15, God responds to humanity's first sin not by abandoning his image-bearers, but by announcing a long war between the serpent and the woman, between their respective offspring. This “enmity” is both judgment and grace: it exposes how deeply evil will now work through human sin, yet it also marks a permanent separation so that humanity will never be fully at peace with the powers of darkness. At the heart of the verse is a singular promise - “he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” - which points to a coming deliverer from the woman's line whose own wounding will be real but not final, while his decisive blow will crush the serpent's head and ultimately overthrow evil.

Texts: Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:1-28; 10:19-25   Jesus is the Sympathetic Priest Who We Can Approach Confidently (Heb. 4:14-16) In Jesus we have a compassionate priest who perfectly understands our condition. In Jesus we have an effective priest who has given us complete access to God. Through Jesus, we can hold fast to our confession of faith.   Jesus is the Eternal Priest Who Saves Us Completely (Heb. 7:1-28) In Genesis, Melchizedek foreshadows Jesus' character, ministry, and supremacy. Jesus is the greater and eternal Priest-King who intercedes for and saves sinners to the uttermost by His once-for-all death on the cross.   Jesus is the Great High Priest Who Calls Us to Live Righteously (Heb. 10:19-25) Because of what Jesus accomplished as our Great High Priest, we are live holy lives with unwavering confidence in His faithfulness. Because of what Jesus accomplished as our Great High Priest, we are to motivate one another to love and good works.

Genesis 23 | Pastor Greg Packinghouse's Wednesday night worship service from December 2, 2025. In Genesis 23 we walk with Abraham through the death and burial of Sarah—“a princess” not only to her husband but to the people of promise. Abraham mourns, and Scripture dignifies his tears; grief is human and holy, yet it is not without hope. By purchasing the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, he plants a flag of faith in the very land God promised “forever” to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Even in sorrow, Abraham lives as a pilgrim looking for a city whose builder is God, trusting that God's covenant stands amid loss and questions. This chapter gently teaches us to face death with gospel realism: to weep, to talk about it, and then, in due time, to stand up and move forward. It calls us to order our lives wisely—making peace where we can, setting our house in order, rooting ourselves in community—and, most of all, to be ready to meet the Lord clothed in Christ's righteousness. Sarah's funeral becomes a doorway into hope: God keeps His promises, He meets us in our mourning, and He leads us on with purpose until the day He wipes away every tear. - Greg Opean - Wednesday, December 3, 2025

In Genesis 17, God establishes circumcision as the physical sign of His covenant with Abraham after 25 years of waiting. This sign didn't create Abraham's relationship with God but confirmed what already existed through faith. Abraham responded with immediate obedience, circumcising himself and every male in his household on the same day. For Christians today, baptism serves as our covenant sign - not earning salvation but publicly declaring our faith in Christ. Abraham's example challenges us to receive God's promises by faith and respond with immediate obedience to His commands.CLICK ME: Sermon Outline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In Genesis 9:1–17, God blesses Noah to multiply and fill the earth, establishes justice to protect human life, and sets the rainbow as a sign of His promise to preserve creation. Even in a fallen world, God values life—calling us to cherish, defend, and steward it in His image.

When Sun’s husband had a stroke, her life took a dramatic turn. She found herself having to assist her husband with daily living activities and cope with his emotional outbursts. For seventeen years, she’d faithfully cared for her husband. When a fall hastened his decline, however, the weight of caregiving finally became too much, and Sun sank into depression. She shared, “I felt I’d lost my faith, and I couldn’t see God.” But looking back, Sun now believes that God saw her. She believes that in very real and timely ways, He soon provided subsidized home medical and nursing care to manage her husband’s chronic condition and sent social workers to support Sun in managing the emotional challenges of caregiving. God revealed himself as the God who sees in the story of Hagar. In Genesis 16, the slave Hagar was running away from her mistress’ mistreatment (v. 6) when the angel of the Lord found her “near a spring in the desert” (v. 7). He urged Hagar to “go back to [her] mistress” (v. 9) and assured her of His blessing. Even though Hagar was a nobody in her culture, God was watching out for her well-being. In gratitude, Hagar declared: “You are the God who sees me” (v. 13). God sees us in our distress too. We’re never alone because our loving Father knows our situation, and He’s trustworthy. We can cry out to Him for help and trust that He will lift us up.

There's a bridge in a park not too far from here - they take carriage rides there. It's just a bridge to most folks, but not to our son and daughter-in-law. That will always be a very special spot to them. It's where he asked her to marry him. It's interesting how a plain old piece of geography becomes forever special when something special in your life happens there: the place you were born, or maybe where you had your first date or your first kiss, or where you were married, or where some significant "first" in your life took place. When a certain place is where something important started, it will always be a special place. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Place Where Heaven Comes Down." For many of us, there's been a place and there's been a time when everything changed, because it was there that we began our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One day on my way to an assignment in downtown Chicago, my wife and I decided at the last second to take a certain exit ramp off the expressway. The exit sign indicated the street where I spent the first six years of my life. I haven't been back there since. And, no, it is not a cave. We drove a few blocks until we spotted the three-story brick apartment building where my Mom and Dad, my baby brother and I lived. I knew it as soon as I saw it. We turned the corner to see if the school was still there. That old brick fortress was still standing, still a school like it was when I went there for my first day of school. Then I had to drive those three blocks to the church on the corner. It was like I was four or five years old again. My baby brother had died suddenly, and my grief-stricken father decided to take his other son to church - a place none of us ever went. I could almost see my Dad now, sitting in his old car by a side door, smoking his cigarette, reading his Sunday paper waiting for his boy to come out. There was a choir rehearsal that night my wife and I found the church, and a nice lady took me up the long stairs to the third floor room that I remembered at the top of those stairs. That's where Junior Church met, and I choked up. I turned to my honey and I said, "This is it. This is where I asked Jesus into my heart." And there on the wall was the same image of Jesus I remembered most as a child - the Shepherd with a little lamb in His arms. Later, as I learned the Scriptures, I came to realize that in that room at the top of the stairs I had, in the Bible's words, "crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). I pray that if there has not been a time and a place like that for you, there will be soon...in fact, maybe today. In Genesis 28:16, our word for today from the Word of God, Jacob talks about the spot where he'd camped for the night and God showed up to change his life. He said, "Surely the Lord is in this place...how awesome is this place!" But after all is said and done, it's not the place that really matters. It's that there is a time when you open up your life to the Savior who died to pay for your sin. Jesus said it's like being born, and the birth is a definite beginning isn't it? Has there ever been a time when you consciously gave yourself completely to Jesus as your only hope of being right with God? If you have, you know you have, whether or not you remember the exact time or place. If you don't know you have, you probably haven't. Scripture says, "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:7). That could be today for you. The place might be right where you are. God is moving in your heart now and "surely the Lord is in this place." The Shepherd has come to you to pick you up and carry you from this moment on, all the way to heaven. But you've got to say yes to Him, to tell Him with all your heart, "Jesus, I'm Yours." If that's what you want, then I would love to be an encouragement to you at this turning point in your life, like I had in that little room on the third floor so many years ago. If you'd let me have that privilege to show you the information that will secure your relationship with Jesus, I ask you to go to ANewStory.com. This day can become your birthday and this place can become your birthplace, because you are about to be born into the family of God.

After the flood, God made a covenant with humankind. In Genesis 17, He renewed that covenant with Abraham. But what does that mean for us thousands of years later? Join John Bradshaw for “The New Covenant,” and learn about the saving relationship God offers His children under the new covenant and how we can experience transformation through faith in Jesus.

After the flood, God made a covenant with humankind. In Genesis 17, He renewed that covenant with Abraham. But what does that mean for us thousands of years later? Join John Bradshaw for “The New Covenant,” and learn about the saving relationship God offers His children under the new covenant and how we can experience transformation through faith in Jesus.

In Genesis chapter nine, we see God repeating some commands previously given to Adam and Eve and adding to or changing other commands. Genesis ten reminds us all of our common beginnings. 

In Job 8 Bildad, the next youngest in age, of Job's friends speaks. He together with Eliphaz contends that Job suffers because he has sinned. What is needed from Job is repentance. God will not allow you to suffer if you are upright. The fact that your suffering persists is proof of your guilt. Don't question the Almighty about your suffering - our experience is too limited to rightly judge - just acknowledge your guilt. He, like Eliphaz, musters his arguments from his understanding of nature. Job you must relent, change your way, confess to God and you will be restored. In Micah 3 the rulers and prophets are denounced for their corruption, contempt for God's people, callousness to the poor and total self-interest. Yahweh's face would be hidden from these godless religious leaders. These leaders prophesied of a peace that was not possible given the deplorable state they had brought upon their nation. The consequence of the nation's refusal to receive the Word of God would, verse 6, be a withdrawal of the inspired prophetic guidance - "the sun would go down over the prophets". We notice the parallels of Hebrew poetry - the expression is repeated to be reinforced in different words to say the same thing, "I am filled with power, with the spirit of Yahweh and with justice and might" (v 6 ESV). In this verse, the spirit of Yahweh is power, and is also the same as might. I This occurred from about BC 444 until the ministry of John the Baptist around 21 AD. There would be for them (verse 7) "no answer from God". By way of contrast to this the prophet Micah was "the inspired Word of Yahweh" to the kingdom of Judah (verse 8). And Micah would forthrightly denounce their transgressions, in order that God may save a remnant of them. The prophet's message was that their violence had filled up the cup of LORD's patience. God's exhausted patience the reason "Zion would be ploughed as a field" (verse 15). This message shook king Hezekiah to the core (see Jeremiah 26verses18-19). The prophecy was fulfilled by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD. Chapter 4 says that, nonetheless, Zion (meaning "conspicuous"), Jerusalem's aspirational future glorious state would be realised at Christ's coming kingdom. Read verses 1-5 aloud, and pause and ponder - compare with Isaiah 2verses1-4. Verses 6-13 tell us that at that future time Yahweh will restore Zion (Jerusalem). The prophet calls the nation Jacob, after the father of the nation. Micah shows us that Jacob's personal life finds echoes in the nation's history - "her that halters" loops back to when Jacob's thigh was dislocated to teach him dependence on his God (Genesis 32). Likewise, the Almighty's affliction of the nation was designed to bring her finally in faith to her Maker. And through restored Zion Yahweh will bring all nations of the earth into subjection to Zion's glorious king.   Hebrews 13 begins, "Let brotherly love (Greek "philadelphus" the love among brothers) continue". And this is the message of the first nineteen verses. There are many ways to show brotherly love and in verse 2 the writer shows that hospitality is one of the ways. Everyone is a stranger until you get to know them; and who knows whether the unknown person to whom you show kindness might even be an angel. In Genesis 18 3 strangers came to Abraham's tent bringing great blessings. Verse 3 focuses on supporting the afflicted and counsels visits to encouraged. This has often been done by Christadelphians resulting in people becoming believers, but without this you will be blessed in your care being shown to another). Verse 4 tells of the honourable and elevated state of marriage among believers; and states that sexual relationships outside marriage are unacceptable to God. Verse 5 tells of the dangers of coveting and explains that knowing God is the best way to counter this. Be content (see 1 Timothy 6verses5-10). The literal Greek of this verse is - "I will never, no not ever, leave you, nor forsake you". How incredibly encouraging are these thoughts - so that whatever is before us can be overcome v6. One person and God is always an overwhelming majority (see 2 Kings 6verses16). Always (v7) show respect for those who guide you to understand the Word and counsel of God. Imitate their faith, for it is sustained by an unchanging Lord Jesus Christ (v8). Grace must lead us (v9). We ought not be focused on the present - this includes foods, which are all too important a part of today's transient world. Verse 10 we live lives sacrificing everything upon our altar, Christ, who gave all to bring us to God. The Law of Moses taught the same in the code of offerings. It was leading us to Christ as the writer was reminding the Hebrew believers. As a consequence of doing this our Lord was crucified and we must take up our cross They were citizens of the coming Zion and not the present Jerusalem which was awaiting destruction. Our sacrifice is of praise - an attitude of gratitude (v15). Show submission to your guides in the Word, because it is not for their benefit that they give counsel. Those leaders, too, will be called to give account for their words. Pray for the writer, indeed for all who labour in the Word to magnify our Sovereign and His incomparable Son. Verses 20-21 give us the closing benediction. ESV "Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Pause and ponder. Final greetings follow and finish with a request for God's grace to be with them. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

Today's star ornament helps Tory and TJ remember God's big promise to Abraham. In Genesis 12 and 15, God showed Abraham the night sky and promised that his family would one day be more numerous than the stars. That promise was ultimately pointing to Jesus—the descendant who would bless the whole world and bring people from every nation into God's family. The Jesse Tree keeps showing us that God always keeps His promises. Every star reminds us that Jesus is God's greatest promise kept.Follow Us:Instagram | Website | Newsletter 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.

Isaac and Rebekah | Genesis 24:34–67 In Genesis 24:34–67, we find one of the most beautiful relationship stories in the entire Bible—Isaac and Rebekah. This passage reveals God's design for marriage, the importance of family counsel, the role of character in choosing a spouse, and the comfort that covenant love brings into our lives. In this message, Pastor Zach Terry unpacks the second half of Genesis 24, showing how Abraham's servant recounts God's miraculous leading, how Rebekah demonstrates maturity and faith, and how Isaac models patience, devotion, and spiritual strength. Key themes in this teaching include: • Biblical principles for dating and courtship • How God guides relationships through providence • The role of family, mentors, and spiritual authority • Signs of godly character in a potential spouse • Understanding covenant marriage from Scripture • Isaac and Rebekah as a picture of Christ and His Church Whether you're single, dating, engaged, married, or raising children who will one day seek a spouse, Genesis 24 offers timeless wisdom. This passage speaks into modern dating culture, cohabitation, emotional purity, spiritual maturity, and how to build a Christ-centered marriage. If you're searching for God's will in relationships, this message will equip you with biblical clarity, encouragement, and hope. 

Dealing with the Root | Genesis 20 What's beneath the surface will eventually break through. Just like roots can crack the strongest foundation, spiritual "roots" left undealt with—fear, anger, bitterness, pride—will resurface and wreak havoc in our lives. In Genesis 20, Abraham repeats the same mistake he made 25 years earlier. Despite God's promises, fear takes root again. But even in failure, God shows His presence, His power, and His grace. In this message, Pastor Zach Terry walks through Abraham's struggle and shows us how God:  Exposes the roots that remain hidden in our hearts Confronts us through truth and conviction Leads us to confession and renewal Continues to use us by His grace Sanctification is slow, intentional work. It's about pulling out the roots before they destroy the foundation. The good news? God never gives up on His children.

Dealing with the Root | Genesis 20 What's beneath the surface will eventually break through. Just like roots can crack the strongest foundation, spiritual "roots" left undealt with—fear, anger, bitterness, pride—will resurface and wreak havoc in our lives. In Genesis 20, Abraham repeats the same mistake he made 25 years earlier. Despite God's promises, fear takes root again. But even in failure, God shows His presence, His power, and His grace. In this message, Pastor Zach Terry walks through Abraham's struggle and shows us how God:  Exposes the roots that remain hidden in our hearts Confronts us through truth and conviction Leads us to confession and renewal Continues to use us by His grace Sanctification is slow, intentional work. It's about pulling out the roots before they destroy the foundation. The good news? God never gives up on His children.

Have you ever wondered how God's providence intersects with your choices, even in the most personal areas of life, like who you marry? In Genesis 24, we discover one of the most detailed love stories in Scripture, the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and how God's unseen hand guides every step. Pastor Zach Terry unpacks what it means to trust God's providence in the seasons of waiting, decision-making, and transition. Learn: ✅ Why marriage matters so deeply to God ✅ How to discern between chemistry and covenant compatibility ✅ What it looks like to walk in faith while trusting God's timing ✅ How God's unseen hand is always at work, even when you can't see it Every intersection in life is an opportunity to trust that God's plan is bigger, often harder, but always better.

Have you ever wondered how God's providence intersects with your choices, even in the most personal areas of life, like who you marry? In Genesis 24, we discover one of the most detailed love stories in Scripture, the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and how God's unseen hand guides every step. Pastor Zach Terry unpacks what it means to trust God's providence in the seasons of waiting, decision-making, and transition. Learn: ✅ Why marriage matters so deeply to God ✅ How to discern between chemistry and covenant compatibility ✅ What it looks like to walk in faith while trusting God's timing ✅ How God's unseen hand is always at work, even when you can't see it Every intersection in life is an opportunity to trust that God's plan is bigger, often harder, but always better.

Have you ever wondered how God's providence intersects with your choices, even in the most personal areas of life, like who you marry? In Genesis 24, we discover one of the most detailed love stories in Scripture, the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and how God's unseen hand guides every step. Pastor Zach Terry unpacks what it means to trust God's providence in the seasons of waiting, decision-making, and transition. Learn: ✅ Why marriage matters so deeply to God ✅ How to discern between chemistry and covenant compatibility ✅ What it looks like to walk in faith while trusting God's timing ✅ How God's unseen hand is always at work, even when you can't see it Every intersection in life is an opportunity to trust that God's plan is bigger, often harder, but always better.

Isaac and Rebekah | Genesis 24:34–67 In Genesis 24:34–67, we find one of the most beautiful relationship stories in the entire Bible—Isaac and Rebekah. This passage reveals God's design for marriage, the importance of family counsel, the role of character in choosing a spouse, and the comfort that covenant love brings into our lives. In this message, Pastor Zach Terry unpacks the second half of Genesis 24, showing how Abraham's servant recounts God's miraculous leading, how Rebekah demonstrates maturity and faith, and how Isaac models patience, devotion, and spiritual strength. Key themes in this teaching include: • Biblical principles for dating and courtship • How God guides relationships through providence • The role of family, mentors, and spiritual authority • Signs of godly character in a potential spouse • Understanding covenant marriage from Scripture • Isaac and Rebekah as a picture of Christ and His Church Whether you're single, dating, engaged, married, or raising children who will one day seek a spouse, Genesis 24 offers timeless wisdom. This passage speaks into modern dating culture, cohabitation, emotional purity, spiritual maturity, and how to build a Christ-centered marriage. If you're searching for God's will in relationships, this message will equip you with biblical clarity, encouragement, and hope. 

In Genesis, Joseph tells his brothers, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” In today’s message, Pastor JD teaches that when the world seems to be closing in around you, keep this simple fact in mind: God is in control. What the world means for evil, God will work together for the good of those who love Him.

In Genesis 3:5, the woman eats from the tree because the serpent promised she would be “like God”. This reveals the fundamental sin of humanity: trying to grasp for a power they weren't intended to have. I discuss the historical and literary context of Genesis 1-11, the relationship between myth, history, and truth, and the purpose of these chapters. I then explain Genesis 1-3, showing how God created a good world, made humans in his image and gave them power to rule over creation (but not each other!), and how the human desire to become like God is the root of our problems. I reflect on how Genesis should shape our understanding of human power and why we should be skeptical of political systems.  Media Referenced:John Walton Interview: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-109-understanding-old-testament-prophecy-with-john-walton/Carmen Joy Imes Interview: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-69-being-gods-image-with-carmen-joy-imes/ The Protestant Libertarian Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute and a part of the Christians For Liberty Network. The Libertarian Christian Institute can be found at www.libertarianchristians.com.Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod, and YouTube, @ProLibertyPod, where you will get shorts and other exclusive video content. For more about the show, you can go to theprotestantlibertarianpodcast.com. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Go to libertarianchristians.com, where you can donate to LCI and buy The Protestant Libertarian Podcast Merch! Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the show's profile! Thanks!

“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9 NLT) “Let every heart prepare Him room.” These lyrics from “Joy to the World” remind us to embrace the fullness of the Christmas season. To be proactive in getting ourselves ready for the blessings and opportunities that are unique to this time of year. A good way to start preparing our hearts is to widen our focus from the familiar narrative of Luke 2 to the bigger story that starts in Genesis 3. There, we find a tree. Not a Christmas tree with brightly colored lights and ornaments, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. After God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a literal paradise, He gave them one restriction: Don’t eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You know how the story unfolds after that. The serpent tempted Eve. Eve ate the forbidden fruit. She gave the fruit to Adam. He ate it, too. They disobeyed God and lost their perfect fellowship with Him. In Genesis 3:15, we find the first Christmas verse in the Bible. God said to the serpent, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (NLT). Sin created a gulf between humankind and God—one that we can do nothing to bridge. Our only hope is a Savior, One sent by God who would live a sinless life, sacrifice Himself to pay the price for our sin, and then conquer death so that we might live forever. This is God’s plan of salvation. Yet just as our enemy interfered with God’s original plan, he also does everything he can to keep people from coming to salvation. That’s where the hostility of Genesis 3:15 comes in. The devil knew that a Messiah would come. He did everything in his power to stop it from taking place. Yet his power was a drop in a bucket compared to that of the Messiah who came. Before there was a world, before there were planets, before there was light and darkness, before there was matter, before there was anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus—coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and Holy Spirit. He was with God. He was God. Jesus Christ became human without ceasing to be God. He did not become identical to us, but He became identified with us. The birth that we celebrate this season is that of God Himself, who came to this earth to live among us. To conquer sin and death. To show us how to live. To give His life so that we might live forever. Reflection question: What difference does it make, in your life and in your prayers, that Jesus knows what it’s like to be human? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Genesis 15, God meets Abram in a vision of the night—reassuring him with promises of countless descendants, a covenant sealed in sacrifice, and the assurance of God's presence even through suffering. As we trace Abraham's journey of faith, we're reminded that God still invites us to trust His word, cling to His promises, and follow Him even when the vultures circle and the path grows difficult. If God is stirring something in you—or even awakening dreams—pay attention. Write it down. And step into a deeper, covenant relationship with the God who is faithful, purposeful, and always present.   Title: Promises Series: Dreams Text: Genesis Speaker: Josh Branham

In Genesis 38, Judah's spiritual drift, moral compromise, and failure to disciple his family lead to dire consequences. Yet through Tamar (who is mistreated, forgotten and pushed aside), the Lord preserves the family line that will lead to David and ultimately Jesus, the Messiah. This story reminds us of the need for intentional discipleship in our homes and communities and reveals the grace of God in redeeming even the most broken situations to weave them into His purposes.We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.

In Genesis 38, Judah's spiritual drift, moral compromise, and failure to disciple his family lead to dire consequences. Yet through Tamar (who is mistreated, forgotten and pushed aside), the Lord preserves the family line that will lead to David and ultimately Jesus, the Messiah. This story reminds us of the need for intentional discipleship in our homes and communities and reveals the grace of God in redeeming even the most broken situations to weave them into His purposes.We upload our message only version to our church app. If you would like to view this week's entire worship service you can find it by clicking the available link.

In Genesis 3, we see the promise of the serpent crusher, who would come to defeat the devil and all…

In Genesis 8, we see God's faithfulness to Noah and His creation. "God remembered Noah," signaling His commitment to His promises even in the midst of devastation. As the floodwaters receded, God reestablished the land, bringing order and life from chaos. And through the flood, God began to remove the curse of sin, offering a fresh start for humanity. These acts remind us that, no matter how overwhelming life's challenges may seem, God is always faithful to restore, renew, and remove the curse of sin. His grace is at work, bringing hope and healing to a broken world.

When God asks the unthinkable, what does faithful obedience look like? In Genesis 22, Abraham faces the ultimate test as God calls him to offer his beloved son Isaac, revealing deep truths about submission, sacrifice, and trust. This message explores how Abraham's journey points us to a greater Son who carried the wood of His own sacrifice and shows us the God who truly provides. Join us as we discover Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who sees it through and supplies everything His people need.--Sermon by Pastor Nate Click--New to Heritage? Want to get more involved? Looking for a Group or Ministry Team? Let us know at https://heritage.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/6/responses/new--Stay Connected:Website: http://www.hbcmonroe.orgHeritage Facebook: /heritagebaptistchurchmonroe

Facing Your Old Nature Again – Genesis 20 Why do the sins we thought we'd buried sometimes resurface? In Genesis 20, Abraham faces an old fear, repeats an old lie, and almost jeopardises God's promise. Yet God steps in with astonishing grace — protecting, confronting, and restoring His faltering servant. In this message, Pastor Ian Buckley walks us through Abraham's relapse and shows how God meets us in our own recurring battles. Learn how to recognise old patterns, reject the mind games that justify sin, and walk in the power of the Spirit so the old nature loses its voice. Message Notes: https://tinyurl.com/FacingYourOldNatureAgain Small Group Talk it Over and 5 Day Devotional: Coming Soon #NewHope, #PastorIanBuckley, #Genesis20, #Abraham, #FaithJourney, #WalkingInTheSpirit, #GodsGrace, #OvercomingSin, #SpiritualGrowth, #BibleTeaching, #ChristianSermon, #FreedomInChrist

In Genesis 7-8, the story of Noah unfolds with great tragedy and uncertainty. Where is God? You may find yourself asking this same question. But Noah's story reminds us of a foundational characteristic of God: He will always remember His promise.November 23, 2025

In Genesis 17–18, God reminds Abraham and Sarah that nothing is impossible for Him. Even when His promises feel delayed, confusing, or humanly impossible, God shows that He is faithful, powerful, and able to keep every word He has spoken. In this message from the Faith & Promises series, Dr. Scott Wilson walks through Abraham's […]

John 11:45-53,Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.We live in times, sadly, in which it's not hard to imagine public officials seeking their own benefit. Covering their own interests. Talking arrogantly and rudely. Pursuing political expediency in which seemingly righteous ends are said to justify grossly unrighteous means.Unfortunately, it's not hard to imagine leaders like Caiaphas. As we hear about Caiaphas, we have lessons to learn by way of contrast. And there are marvels to see here about our God and his Son and the wonder of the grace of his gospel.Jesus on the RiseLast Sunday we heard how Jesus's sovereign, omnipotent word raised the dead man, four days in the tomb. John 11:43-44,“‘Lazarus, come out!' The man who had died came out…”Jesus continues as the ascendency, and now, having raised a well-known dead man, so near Jerusalem, he's turning the city upside down. Many believe (v. 45), but others go to the Pharisees and stir up trouble (v. 46). They gather the high court, “the council,” called the Sanhedrin, made up of 70 priests and elders and scribes, with the high priest presiding. And they say,“What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.”Indeed he does: water into wine (2:11), cleansing the temple (2:15), restoring a dead son to life (4:53), healing the sick of all kinds (6:2), multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed thousands (6:14), giving sight to a blind man (9:16), and now, raising a dead man who had been in the grave four days (11:44).Yes, he has done many signs. But instead of asking, like many common people are, “Could this be the long-promised Christ?” the leaders as a whole are tragically more concerned with preserving their own place and privilege. They are more oriented on political concerns with the unbelieving Romans than with spiritual concerns in their Scriptures. “If we let [Jesus] go on like this,” they say, “everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (v. 48).Which bring us to the fateful moment, in verses 49–52.God Versus High PriestAt the council, Caiaphas, the high priest, speaks the decisive word. It comes from his mouth; it comes out of his heart. It is fully his. He is fully responsible for it. And John tells us in verse 51, “He did not say this of his own accord.” Who's accord, then, was it? God's accord. Jesus has talked over and over in this Gospel of his coming and his acting as “not of his own accord” but his Father's. This is God's accord, God's plan.So what we have in verse 50 is two visions of the coming death of Jesus: Caiaphas's and God's. Caiaphas perceives the situation, considers his own interest, and issues his counsel, which carries the day. And God is not caught off guard; he doesn't rush in to fix things and “turn” them for good. No, before Caiaphas willed it, God willed it. Before Caiaphas said it, God planned it. God superintends these evil words, from Caiaphas's evil heart, for God's good purposes and the salvation of his people from sin and death.And strange as this sounds in our ears, this is not new in the Bible. This is how the first book of the Bible ends. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph says to his brothers who sold him into slavery,“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…”He doesn't say God used it or that God turned it. Sinners meant evil; God meant it (same evil) for good. Same evil, two intentions. And we see something similar near the end of the Bible in Revelation 17:17,“God has put it into their hearts [wicked earthly rulers] to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled…”So, as the council meets, God is not wringing his hands, saying, “Oh no, the high priest is giving the decisive word to put my Son to death.” No, God has planned it. He has orchestrated every detail. In Acts 4:28, early Christians would praise God for bringing to pass at the cross “whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” Oh Caiaphas means evil against Jesus, but God means it for good, to bring it about that many people should be saved.So, let's meditate on this double meaning in the words of Caiaphas in three parts.1. Two Visions of the PeopleWhat does Caiaphas mean when he says the people? Look at verse 50:“…it is better for you [Sanhedrin] that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”For Caiaphas, “the people” and “the whole nation” are ethnic Jews. Caiaphas wants to preserve his own ethnicity, and as we'll see, he has very selfish reasons for doing so. So, by “people” and “nation” Caiaphas means ethnic Jews.What does God mean? Verses 51-52:[Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.So, for God, “the people” means “the children of God” which is not every ethnic Jew, nor is it limited only to ethnic Jews. The “children of God” are all who believe in Jesus — many believers in Jesus are among the Jews, as we've already seen, and now comes a stunning expansion, like we saw in John 10:16: Jesus has “other sheep” who are not of the Jewish fold — that is, Gentiles!God's chosen children are not limited to Israel; nor is every ethnic Israelite included. From the beginning, God chose ethnic Israel historically as a channel to bring his eternal salvation to all the nations. Now, at last, Messiah has come. And now, by surprise, Messiah goes to a sacrificial death — and through him the gates swing wide to all who believe, all believing Jews and all believing Gentiles. The chosen sheep, scattered among the nations, are “the children of God,” which will come to be called “the church.”And here's the scandal of Jesus's sacrificial achievement in gathering God's children from all nations: in Christ, fellow believers in faraway places, of different nations and ethnicities, are closer by far than fellows in ethnicity, place, and mere human nation. And so today, if you are in Christ, you have something far more important in common with a Christian in China or Russia, than you do with your unbelieving American neighbor who just happens to prefer the same political party you do.So, first, two visions of the people: Caiaphas means ethnic Jews. God means a new-covenant spiritual people from every nation, scattered abroad, and called the church.2. Two Visions of SubstitutionCaiaphas's proposal is for substitution. A people are in danger of destruction. So substitute one man on behalf of the people, and kill him, so that the people do not perish. A political scapegoat. Verse 50 again:“…it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”For Caiaphas, one man, Jesus, should perish, so that the Messianic fervor dissipates, the Jesus movement fades, and almighty Rome remains undisturbed and doesn't come and destroy Jerusalem and the temple. And amazingly, in the superintending providence of God, Caiaphas words this in sacrificial language. One man, he says, will die “for the people” — literally, on behalf of the people. Of course, Caiaphas means it politically. This is pure politics, not spiritual leadership. This is vintage political expediency. And par for the course in world politics. Perhaps you've heard it called the end justifies the means. The end goal is seen to be good, and so the means used to get there are compromised. And mark this: this is evil. Normal and justifiable as it may seem, this is evil in God's eyes. And this, normal politics as it might be, carries the day not in Rome but in Jerusalem among the council of 70 priests and elders and Pharisees, from the mouth of Israel's high priest. More on that in a minute.What about for God? What does he mean by this substitution? Verses 51-52 again:[Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.For God, his own Son, the eternal second person of the Godhead, fully divine, now fully human as man — Jesus dies on behalf of the children of God. And oh the irony of the sacrificial language — uttered by Israel's high priest for political expedience, and totally unaware that in his very words he formulates, in the sacrificial terms of Israel's religion, the very mechanism God uses to bring that sacrificial system and first covenant to its long-awaited apex and conclusion. This sacrifice of Jesus is the very Sacrifice that for centuries all the animal sacrifices have anticipated — all the endless blood of bulls and goats and lambs that has flowed and flowed for centuries has pointed to this one man's flow of blood at the cross.Which brings us right to the heart of the good news of Jesus, and amazingly, in God's sovereignty, the words of Caiaphas, meant for evil, have us here, as God means them for good.Christians have long called this “penal substitution.”Penal means that a penalty is due for human sin. Sin is an affront to an infinitely worthy God. He made us, and in our sin we have turned our backs on him. And the New Testament makes it clear that the payment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). We all deserve the penalty of death, and eternal separation from God, because of our sin against him. Penal means there's a just penalty for our sin that must be paid.And the good news is that Jesus, in his death on the cross, is our substitute. We deserve death for our sin, but Jesus puts himself forward to die in our place, “on our behalf.” This sacrificial language of substitution runs all the way back to Leviticus — Jesus offers himself as the substitute, in our place, to receive our penalty of death (as animals did only temporarily in the old covenant), that he might then rise, and with him we too might be released to life.So, God's vision is penal substitution: Jesus is our substitute sin-bearer. He took the penalty of death we deserve for our sin, by substituting himself in our place at the cross, that all the children of God, scattered abroad, could be joined to him by faith and live.3. Two Visions of High PriesthoodCaiaphas is Israel's official high priest. There is no other high priest, only one. There are whole chapters of Scripture (Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 8, 16) that deal with his clothes and how to consecrate him for office, and what he does on the Day of Atonement, which is the one day each year when the high priest enters the Holy of Holies to offer the climactic annual sacrifice on behalf of the people. So, who was Israel's high priest that year? John tells us three times. Don't miss this, and don't miss the scandal of it.Verse 49: one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all…”Verse 51: [Caiaphas] did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation…And John 18:13-14: once the soldiers arrested and bound Jesus, “First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.”So, it is Israel's high priest who gives the decisive word that puts Israel's long-awaited Messiah to death. The last act of Israel's final high priest is to give the word to kill Israel's Messiah.Oh the failure of the mere human and hereditary high priesthood! It failed from the very beginning:Think of Aaron, Moses's brother, the first high priest. What was his infamous first public act? He made and led the people in worshiping the golden calf. Then his sons, Nadab and Abihu “offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (Leviticus 10:1-2).Next we think of negligent Eli and his worthless sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 2).And more broadly, over and over again, Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel and Malachi condemn the greed and corruption and idolatry and neglect of Israel's priests.The history of Israel, from beginning to end, makes the lesson plain: mere humanity and heredity cannot provide the needed high priest to mediate between God and man.And Caiaphas sees that Israel's high priesthood goes out with a bang. This is so tragic: politics and its expediency have captured the high priest! He's ordained as the nation's spiritual leader and playing at politics! As Don Carson observes: “the nation perished anyway [in 70 AD], not because of Jesus' activity but because of the constant mad search for political solutions where there was little spiritual renewal.”O God, give your church spiritual renewal and free us from any “constant mad search for political solutions.”Lessons by ContrastWe see the kind of guy Caiaphas is by the first thing out of his mouth: “You know nothing at all.” That's how he talks. That's his tone: you guys are stupid. You're fools. What are you trying to do, solve this problem righteously? You're trying to fix this trouble without resorting to evil? Let me show you fools how to do it.And then, with the same mouth, and as with the mouth of Satan himself, he speaks the decisive word to put the nation's Messiah to death: “it is better for you that one man should die for the people.” Don't miss that “for you” in verse 50. He does not say it's better for the nation but “for you,” for you priests and elders and scribes in the room. It's better for you, Sanhedrin. This is wicked leadership.So, beware: fathers and mothers, teachers, business people, fellow pastors. Beware a tone that treats others like fools. It may seem small (“fight the world on the world's terms”). It's not small. Where is it coming from? From the heart. Your careless, socially conditioned, socially permissible words are coming from your own heart. And where are they going? It may be a first indicator that expediency is taking root in your heart. Beware the spirit of expediency that would say (or usually not even say it but just live it): my good ends justify these shady means. You are, in effect, saying, “Sin is okay, evil is okay, deception is okay, injustice is okay, if it serves the purpose for something I really want and would make my life a lot easier.”And in leadership beware the spirit of self-service (rather than self-sacrifice). Let me tell you what's really easy to do in a room of decision makers: decide on what's easiest for the room. What's best for the people here. Whether it's a Sanhedrin of 70 or an elder table of 8, the natural pull, apart from the help of God's Spirit, is for a room of sinners to work toward decisions that are easiest and best for the room.As your pastors, we are aware of this pull, and we pray and we resolve and we keep each other accountable that we not make decisions that are best for the room. Rather, as your pastors we take it as our call to ask for God's help and work toward decisions that are best for this church — and are often more costly for us personally. More work to do. More conversations to have. More calls to make, letters to write, topics to research, tasks to compete. This is how good leadership often works: more, not less, is required of the leaders to care well for their people. (A critical parenting lesson, especially in discipline!)Our Great High PriestI end with this, as we come to the Table: Did you realize there are two high priests in this passage? I didn't see this at first. Yes, there is Caiaphas, and as the high priesthood in Israel fails, and comes to its appointed end with one last and greatest failure of all, the one who emerges is not only our sacrifice and substitute but, as Hebrews calls him, our great high priest. I know priesthood can seem obscure and distant to us in the 21st century. Perhaps here's one way to get your bearings more around what it means to have Jesus as our great high priest: he is not like Caiaphas. Caiaphas was one of many and the last in Israel. Jesus is the first, and one and only, in the new covenant. Caiaphas's office was temporary. Jesus's is forever, and of an entirely different order. Caiaphas was evil, rude, self-serving. Jesus, our great high priest is…holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those [other] high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:26-27)Brothers and sisters in Christ, “we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 8:1). “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

God specializes in plot twists - taking the most broken family situations and writing completely different endings through the power of sacrificial love. In Genesis 44-45, we witness perhaps the greatest plot twist in Scripture: a family torn apart by jealousy, deception, and betrayal for over twenty years experiences miraculous restoration. Judah's willingness to sacrifice himself and Joseph's choice to extend grace transform a broken family into a restored one.Support the show

In Genesis 26 Isaac was run out of Gerar because he had become too powerful. As he moved, he reopened the wells his father had dug and which the Philistines had plugged up. As he did so, the Philistines drove him off and claimed the wells for themselves. In the story of Abraham and Isaac's wells and the Philistine's reaction, we have the entire plan of salvation and the basis of all the antisemitism in the world today. Consider the hatred that would cause herdsmen to stop up wells in the desert.

What if the God who promises is also the God who always delivers? In Genesis 21, we see Isaac's birth turn mocking laughter into sincere joy as God transforms His people by grace, not self-effort. This chapter contrasts slavery and freedom, flesh and faith, showing that the blessed are changed, cared for, and carried by God's promises. As Abraham plants his first stake in the land while still a sojourner, we're reminded that the Everlasting God is with us as we wait for the eternal country He has prepared.--Sermon by Pastor Nate Click--New to Heritage? Want to get more involved? Looking for a Group or Ministry Team? Let us know at https://heritage.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/6/responses/new--Stay Connected:Website: http://www.hbcmonroe.orgHeritage Facebook: /heritagebaptistchurchmonroe

God's story with Israel begins with a promise, a covenant God Himself initiated. In Genesis 17, we see a God who chooses, who calls, who gives a future long before that future seems possible. Abraham didn't earn it, fight for it, or negotiate it. God simply declared, “I will be your God,” and from that moment on, the identity and destiny of Israel were forever shaped by His faithfulness.As the story unfolds through Scripture, we're reminded that God's gifts are enduring. He is Creator, Owner, and Sustainer of all things, and what He gives, He gives with purpose. Israel stands as a living testimony of God's covenant love, a nation preserved, protected, and restored time and time again. And through Christ, we have been lovingly grafted into that same family, invited into that same story of grace.This truth calls us to humility, gratitude, and responsibility. Just as Israel was chosen to bless the world, we too, followers of Jesus, are called to serve, to lead with goodness, and to shine God's light wherever we go.Subscribe to Our Channel! New to LifeRock? Click here: liferockchurch.org/get-connectedTo support this ministry and help us reach people in our community. Click here: liferockchurch.org/giveDo you need someone to pray for you? We will pray for you. Click here: liferockchurch.org/online-prayerFollow: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifeRockColumbiaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/LifeRockChurchX: https://www.x.com/LifeRockChurch

Daily Dose of Hope November 18, 2025   Scripture – Acts 2   Prayer: Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, That my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, That my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, That I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, To defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, That I always may be holy.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have just started the book of Acts, after walking through all the Gospels.  What a great spiritual journey this has been and I'm so glad you have joined us!  Today, we walk through Acts 2.   I'm going to start by reading the first three verses, On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.    You guys, this is incredible.  First, let's talk about the roaring windstorm.  Throughout Scripture, wind is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  In ancient Hebrew, we have the word, ruach, which means breath/wind/spirit and we see this word quite a bit in the Old Testament.  Wind represents the life-giving work of the Spirit.  Think about it.  In Genesis 2, God breathed life (ruach) into Adam.  In Ezekial 37, we are in the valley of dry bones and God has Ezekiel prophesy to the bones, saying "I will put my Spirit (ruach) in you and you will live."  In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is typically referred to in the Greek as pneuma.  The Holy Spirit comes upon Mary to form life in her womb.  In John 3:5, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.    I can't help thinking, how many people need to experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit right now?  How many people are really struggling, barely holding on, languishing in doubt, pain, anger, cynicism?  Or maybe, you simply feel nothing?  There is NO true living without the presence of the Spirit, only existing.    Next, we have the tongues of fire.  Let's sit here for a second.  Fire is often descriptive of God in the Old Testament and it speaks to the purifying and refining work of the Holy Spirit.  In this sense, the Spirit causes things that are impure to become pure...lives, hearts. Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist says "I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  Peter speaks of the new Gentile believers as experiencing the Holy Spirit and having their hearts purified.    If something is pure, it is only one thing–pure gold, pure oxygen.  It isn't filled with contaminants or additives. It is totally and completely that one thing. I picture the Holy Spirit coming upon that group of believers on the day of Pentecost and purifying or refining their hearts so they would be totally and completely dedicated to the things of God, not half filled with the stuff of the world and half filled with the things of God.  I wonder that about our own hearts.  What contaminants have we allowed to seep in?  What do we need to purify? Come like a fire, Holy Spirit, and burn in us so that we can be pure and totally devoted to the things of Jesus.   Let's read some more Scripture, beginning with verse 4 (this is truly a paraphrase), All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.  This made a racket and a crowd forms...When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken...Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?  Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."  And then Peter gets up and says, we aren't drunk, it's only 9 in the morning.  Let me tell you what his means...and he shares with them the Gospel, he speaks of how the Old Testament scriptures point to Jesus as the Messiah, he speaks of Jesus' ministry, his death, his resurrection and it says this,  Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"  Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."   And what happened? 3000 believed and were baptized.  The Holy Spirit came, the people were given power to act, and they did it!  They trusted God and they responded.  This was essentially the beginning of the church.  At the end of chapter 2, we see how the people begin to gather to worship Jesus, to pray, to learn, to take care of one another, to celebrate the Lord's Supper.  They sold all they had and gave it to the poor among them.    We talked about how the Holy Spirit is life-giving and purifying but it also has power.  The Holy Spirit empowers believers to do really hard things.  If you have said yes to Jesus, then the Holy Spirit has made a home within you. The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead LIVES within you.  And God didn't give us that power simply for our own use.  It's for the mission of sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ with others.    Why do you think we struggle so much with that?  What part of the mission causes you to hide in fear?  Friends, we have POWER within us and it is given to us for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ.  Let's just let that sit and settle.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Everyone of us is getting older a day at a time, and there is no stopping the process. People do what they can to preserve their youthfulness, but the passing years still sweep us along until one day it occurs to us we're getting old. How we handle this revelation is one of the most important keys to productivity and happiness in life. Many people don't like to talk about getting older because It reminds them that in the end they'll die. So they live in a constant state of denial, meaning they refuse to let their conscious mind think about such things, while their subconscious mind tries to cope with growing amounts of anger and fear by itself. In Genesis 25:8 a wonderful statement is made about Abraham. It says, "Abraham breathed his last and died an old man and satisfied with life, and he was gathered to his people." The picture is that of a man who's at peace with God and is satisfied that he has accomplished his purpose in life and is not afraid of what's ahead. Like going to sleep, he simply let go and moved on, and there would be few blessings more precious in life than that. Like Abraham, we need to adjust our perspective on life so that we don't have a negative view of getting old, and when it comes time for us to move on, we too will be satisfied with life and gathered to our people. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Revelation, email us at info@lifelessonspublishing.com and ask for your copy at no charge!  Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.

When Jacob wrestled with God, it wasn't punishment—it was transformation. In Genesis 32, the eternal Jesus met Jacob face-to-face, not to destroy him but to change him. This encounter shows that when we struggle with God, He doesn't push us away; He pulls us close, changing our name, our nature, and our future.

In Genesis chapter 27, we find a story without heroes. As Jacob steals Esau's blessing, we see God works through the failure of His people to accomplish His purposes, and we also see that there are grave consequences for our sin. Isaac's rebellion towards God's plan ultimately blows up his family.

The Bible is full of what many would call difficult stories. Some of them don't make a lot of sense at first. Others seem contrary to what we think should happen.One such story is breathtaking if we follow it through. It involves a father trusting God more than his own instincts.2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we live by faith, and not by sight.”In Genesis, we read about Abraham being instructed by the Lord to offer his young son, Isaac, as a sacrifice.As a sacrifice?! Nothing could be more repulsive! Telling a man to kill his son? Why?We gain a different perspective when we trust God to the end of this story.Climbing a high mountain, Abraham intends to obey God all the way. As he raises a knife over his son, God stops him.God's compassion hadn't taken a vacation. He taught Abraham an important lesson about obeying Him no matter what. In fact, Abraham and Isaac would go on to become two of the greatest men of all time.Learn to trust God—even if you don't understand. Let's pray. Lord, your ways can at times be mysterious to us, but you always want the best for us. God teach us to trust you. In Jesus' name, amen.Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

⏳ God's Waiting Room | Genesis 15–16 Waiting on God is one of the hardest tests of faith. In Genesis 15–16, Abram and Sarai wrestled with doubt, impatience, and the temptation to take matters into their own hands. Instead of trusting God's timing, they tried to "help Him out"—and the result was pain that echoed for generations.  In this powerful sermon, Pastor Zach Terry teaches:  ✅ Why waiting is often the greatest test of faith  ✅ How Abram's belief was "counted as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6)  ✅ The danger of shortcuts and scheming outside God's will  ✅ How to trust God's promises when His timing feels delayed  If you've ever wondered why God hasn't answered your prayers yet—or how to stay strong in the waiting season—this message will encourage and challenge you. 

In the fourth episode of "The Mystery Of Seeds," Duane Sheriff teaches how to understand and cooperate with the divine law of sowing and reaping. This seemingly straightforward natural process contains deep spiritual mysteries applicable to every aspect of life. In Genesis 1, God establishes that everything contains a seed within itself, capable of reproducing after its own kind. All of life's provisions originate with seeds, making our choices profoundly consequential. Every action, word, and thought functions as a seed that will inevitably produce a corresponding harvest. Be intentional about what you plant in your life while trusting in God's perfect timing for the harvest, knowing that we will reap what we sow.The Mystery of Seeds - Duane Sheriff Ministries

Join us in our series, The Gospel According to Genesis, as we read through the story of Jacob wrestling with God. In Genesis 32, we see his struggle and find encouragement that he comes through changed, named, and blessed. Let's tune in now and listen.Connect with us: @ascentchurchvaConnect with our Lead Pastor: @pastor.tlaneIf you've just made a decision for Christ, we'd love to celebrate with you. Please connect with us through our A-Card here: https://www.liinks.co/ascentchurch