Podcasts about In Jesus

Daily Study: Praying to God has many purposes. One purpose that is often underutilized, however, is receiving instructions. In Jesus' life, when He prayed, He was not really requesting healing for people or asking for financial miracles; He was seeking and receiving instructions. Listen to today's message and learn more about this important application of prayer, so you can receive the instructions you need for your calling.  Also, at the end, a few steps to guide your prayer time have been provided.  Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com                  

Have you ever hunted and hunted for something—maybe your car keys, and you finally find them? The old saying goes (and it's very unhelpful!) that you find them in the last place you look.There's a lot of truth to that.It also is very relevant to our walk with Jesus. Often, we work really hard to solve our own problems, then we give in and ask Jesus for help.Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”As with every other promise in the Bible, the really cool thing about this is, it is true. The promises Jesus has made are literally true. So, for example, if you are looking for a solution to an impossible situation, ask Him. It works!Let's pray.Lord, forgive us for not placing our trust in you all the time. You are our sustainer, and we need to remember that. 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.

Since Your Judgment Is Coming, Are You Doing All You Can to Continue Growing Your Relationship with God? MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus tells you about the certainty of your Judgment in John 5:25,29: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live . . . and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.". Since Judgment is coming, are you doing all you can to keep your relationship with the Lord growing? Given certain Judgment for all, a primary purpose of the Church is to lead people into a growing relationship with the Lord. You must be constantly growing and nurturing your faith in Jesus. There is a day when we will all be judged by the Lord – do not you think you can wait until the last minute to have a real relationship with Jesus.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Father, when I read even part of the story of Job, I too am overwhelmed by your “wildness.” Your ways and timing are beyond me. Job moved from hearing about you to having “seen you.” Lead me, Lord, on a pathway so that I too can pray as Job prayed: “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5). In Jesus' name, amen. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 89). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Inconsistencies. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Faithfulness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Isaiah 24:19-22; Matthew 7:21-23; John 12:48-50; Psalms149:1-9. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

June 20. 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeFaithful Finance - Part 2I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

Your Daily Prayer

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Jason Allen and Patrick Schreiner live from the Gospel Coalition Conference. Questions Covered in This Episode:How has the deep discipleship program been a part of how you do women's ministry?Is the church meant to be for or against the world?Am I supposed to be going out into the world thinking I am ready for battle or ready for love?Is it a Godly expression of love to oppose that which is evil?In Jesus' ministry, is there a pattern of “welcome and warning”?JT, can you share about leading and pastoring, walking faithfully for or against the world?How should we think about what evangelism and discipleship are in this world that is designed to be beautiful but is broken by sin?Is there a relationship between wordlieness and a lack of proclamation of sanctification?When you think about the preaching and teaching ministry of the word of God, how do you be faithful to correct what's out there in the world and in here (the church)?How would you form a theological response to Christian nationalism in your church?How do you convince busy parents that depth matters?Is there a reason the doctrine of hell is missing from “You Are a Theologian”?What doctrine have you studied individually that drew your heart closer to God?Guest Bio:Dr. Jason Allen is the president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to his role as president, he also serves as a professor for preaching and pastoral ministry. He is the author of a number of books including; Turnaround: The Remarkable Story of an Institutional Transformation and the 10 Essential Principles and Practices That Made It Happen. He posts essays on his website, jasonkallen.com, and hosts a weekly podcast, “Preaching & Preachers.”Patrick Schreiner is the Director of the Residency PhD program, Associate Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Gene and Jo Downing Endowed Chair of Biblical Studies. He is the author of numerous books, including but not limited to; The Four Gospels: Jesus, the Hope of the World, The Transfiguration of Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Reading, a commentary on Acts, The Visual Word: An Illustrated Guide to the New Testament Books, and Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World.Resources Mentioned in this Episode:John 3:16, John 15:18, Psalm 1, James 4:4, 1 John 2:15-17, 2 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 5-6, John 1Deep Discipleship ProgramTGC25 On-Demand“You Are a Theologian” by Jen Wilkin and JT English“Communion With God” by John Owens“Home With God” by Kyle Worley Follow Us:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | WebsiteOur Sister Podcasts:The Family Discipleship Podcast | Tiny TheologiansSupport Training the Church and Become a Patron:patreon.com/trainingthechurchYou can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway's Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.To learn more about our sponsors please visit our sponsor page.Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.

The Bible tells us that King Solomon was a very wise man. He ruled over his kingdom from Jerusalem, and built the famous Temple there.He was also very human.This son of King David eventually let his wealth and power go to his head, and he began to follow other religions and almost seemed to enjoy sinning. And yet God loved him. In his later years, Solomon realized how wrong he had been to rely on his own strength. And so scholars believe that's where the book of Proverbs was born. They come from a man weary of the cares of this life. A man ashamed of the mistakes he had made.Proverbs 3:5–6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”Proverbs is packed with amazing wisdom into right living, after perhaps one has been focused on other kinds of living.  Solomon learned the hard lessons as he fought his way back to a forgiving God whose mercies are eternal. That is a good lesson for us.Let's pray.Lord, your patience with us is humbling, and it is so appreciated. We thank 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.

Are You Prepared to Face Your Death? Have You Prepared Your Family for Your Death and Led them on a Path to Their Eternal Life? MESSAGE SUMMARY: Most of us do not like to think about and plan for death, especially our own. However, Paul in. Romans 6:23, made your life and death position very clear: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.". As part of your preparations for eternity, you should take one time each year to evaluate and to reflect on your position for facing death and realizing eternal life by identifying those changes that you must make in your life and in your relationship with God. This preparation for your death will be a blessing for you and your family. Are you prepared to face your death? Will you have eternal life? What about those you leave behind – are you being a good steward?  Also, what about your family? Is your family prepared for your earthly death and their earthly death; and have you led your family on a path to receive their eternal life? In Matthew 28:18, Jesus gave us His Great Commission for your life focus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.". Have you followed Jesus' Great Commission, for your own family, by making disciples of your family members?     TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, everything in me resists following you into the garden of Gethsemane to fall on my face to the ground before you. Grant me the courage to follow you all the way to the cross, whatever that might mean for my life. And then, by your grace, lead me to resurrection life and power. In Jesus' name, amen.   Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 100). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Inadequacy. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Abundance. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Romans 5:12-15; Romans 7:24-25; Matthew 28:18-20; Psalms 147:1-20. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

June 19, 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeFaithful Financie - Part 1 I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

Your Nightly Prayer

Pray for God's Healing Grace Because Jesus “spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing” MESSAGE SUMMARY: Jesus knows the aches and wounds of your soul, and He wants to bring you healing. Jesus does not want you living in pain, heartache, or emptiness. The Apostle Luke tells you, in Luke 9:10-11, that Jesus wants to cure those who need His healing: “On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.". We are in an “instant society”, but healing is a process; and your healing may take a long time. Sometimes God wants you to wait, or He may see your need for healing differently from your perspective. However, in your personal relationship with God, you must pray and ask for His healing. In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!". Pray for God's healing grace for your soul and your body.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, fill me with the simple trust that even out of the most awful evil around me, you are able to bring great good — for me, for others, and for your great glory. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 91). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that, because I am in Jesus Christ, I can do what he asks of me. (Philippians 4:13). “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”. (Philippians 4:14). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 9:10-11; Revelation 22:1-3; 2 Chronicles 7:14-16; Psalms 146:1-10. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

By Mary Lindow Hello to all of you who are listening via podcast today or who are reading this message! I just finished being a part of our weekly prayer gathering this evening, and I have to tell you, the presence of the Father was so absolutely strong and evident in our time together! I am literally to the point that I anticipate all day long on Thursday evenings, getting together with the group that we pray with.    We have been blessed week after week, month after month with the sweet and strong presence of God as we intercede for our nation, for the globe, and for so many other things that the Lord lays on our hearts to pray about.   I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE PODCAST THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. I am still trying to get it to compile and come together and I know that if I rush this, I will not share it in the light of how the Lord wants it to be presented properly.   BUT, I HAVE BEEN HAVING ANOTHER MESSAGE AND WORD FROM THE LORD STIRRING DEEP WITHIN MY SPIRIT, AND SO THAT IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY. Hearing God accurately in the mess and chaos that the world is in right now, is of huge importance!  May the Lord continue to use you all to proclaim and speak truth, no matter what the cost. It is so worth being called a servant of the Lord during hard and challenging times.   TODAY, I'M GOING TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN A PLACE OF SAFETY, A PLACE, OR A “HAVEN” OF BEING SHELTERED BY THE LORD. Especially during very, very difficult and hard times. I'll share how to discern and hear His voice in the chaos of the nonstop noise the dark world bombards us all with. It's ratcheted up to crazy levels, and shouts loudly to attempt to distract us from discerning the times, and hopes to discourage us and knock us off balance with fear, and then rob our peace.   IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE EARTH IS IN ONE MASSIVE UPHEAVAL, AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU TURN RIGHT NOW, THE CRISES CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND BOIL! And so, people begin to put aside spending time in the word of God, and certainly in his presence, to spend time with the love of the Internet and scrolling through their telephones through social network information and high charged doomsday podcasts and videos. This can absolutely create stress and anxiety, and it also creates a terrible problem with comparing ourselves to other people and where we are at in life.   PRAYER IS NOT A BORING HARD THING WHEN YOU REALIZE  THAT YOU ARE FACE-TO-FACE, OR LITERALLY,  “PRESENCE TO PRESENCE” WITH THE FATHER.   A tremendous man who walked daily in the Presence of God, Andrew Murray, said in a book that he wrote,  “It's one of the terrible marks of the diseased state of the Christian life in these days that there are so many that are content, and remain passive and content, without the distinct occasion of having experienced answered prayer. They pray daily, but know very little of direct, definite answers to prayer as the rule of their daily life.”    Psalm Thirty verse four says, “I sought the Lord and he answered me.”   We must understand that it's the Father's will that WE SEEK HIM OUT to daily have dialogue with his will, and it's his will to have his children to listen to him and then, he listens to his children and agrees to their requests. It's his will that we should come to him day by day, with specific requests, and he will every day, do for us great and wonderful things! What we ask sometimes might be a case where the specific answer is that he refuses our request, but our Father lets us know when and why he can't give us what we request. It's like his Son Jesus, and so we will withdraw our petition or our request.   When did Jesus do that? Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “If this cup could pass from me, but not my will, but your will be done.”  He said this to the Father.   WHETHER OUR REQUEST IS ACCORDING TO GOD'S WILL OR NOT, GOD WILL BY HIS WORD AND BY HIS SPIRIT, TEACH THOSE OF US WHO ARE TEACHABLE, and he will give us time to withdraw our requests if they're not according to God‘s mind or purposes.   LET'S PRESS IN. LET'S JUST STAND FIRM UNTIL THE ANSWER COMES! PRAYER IS GIVEN TO US TO OBTAIN AN ANSWER! It's in prayer and its answer, that the exchange of love between the Father and we his children takes place.   MY QUESTION IS, “ARE YOUR  PRAYERS BEING ANSWERED?” During the last hours of the age that we're in, there will be two opposing groups or alliances in the world.    The First group are those whose hearts are absolutely overwrought with bitterness, resentment and hatred.   The Second group is those whose love has actually increased, and are experiencing the power of the Kingdom of God, now!   Jesus told us about this in Matthew in chapter 4:10-13. He said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.  Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” And then in Matthew 24:14 he added, “This gospel (good news) of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations and then the end shall come.”   SO, THE BIG QUESTION IS... ...“WHAT IS THIS GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?”  It's the whole truth Jesus came to bring, not only that part that saves us from our sins, but also that part which creates us in his image! It's the full message, the full good news with all its requirements and all of its rewards!  It's is the full price for the full power! It's the most glorious pearl that a person can possess. The presence of God in His glory, revealed, made known within and among us!   IF WE WANT TO GAIN THIS GREAT LOVE, WE WILL CONTINUALLY BE FORCED TO MAKE CHOICES TOWARD MERCY, OR, TOWARD UNFORGIVENESS, and if we don't walk in a forgiving attitude, we will certainly become prey to an embittered spirit, if it's in fact, God‘s plan to allow wickedness and holiness at the same time,  so they grow to full maturity.   We must guard our hearts ahead of time from reacting in bitterness or unforgiveness because the increasing anarchy will certainly give us occasions to lose love, with the attempt to make us hard so we can survive in this cruel world.   WE OFTEN WITHDRAW FROM THE GENUINENESS OF PURE LOVE! We can't choose cautious, selective love, and also walk in the power of God's kingdom, my friends! To defy pain, we sometimes unconsciously shut down our love, because after all, its love that makes us vulnerable.   GOD WANTS US TO BE A PEOPLE WHOSE LOVE IS GROWING HOT, NOT COLD. Jesus didn't say that we had to trust our enemies, but he did say that we had to love them anyhow. You might be asking why!  One reason God allows difficulties is to test us! ( I know! I know! We don't want to hear that! ) He wants to see if our Christianity is just an intellectual pursuit or just thoughts and feelings of the mind, or if following him is truly the highest passion of our hearts. So, he tells us in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Wow!    SOME OF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH REJECTION AND BETRAYAL MOST LIKELY. The Lord says to you today, “You did not fail, you have continued to love, and although you went through great pain, yet you have forgiven, those who have hurt you.”  My friends you have passed the test.   THERE ARE HOWEVER, SOME OF YOU LISTENING OR READING THAT STILL HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN YOUR LIVES THAT YOU HAVE NOT FORGIVEN, AND WHOM YOU DO NOT LOVE.  Maybe you're right, they don't deserve your forgiveness, but what you don't realize is the consequence of your anger. You see, as long as we refuse to forgive, a part of this is trapped in the past where you will always be reminded of your pain, and until we forgive, we will not be fully released to go on with our life. Even the time of year in which you were hurt will bring depression.   THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY WE CAN HAVE TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND THAT IS IN THE HERE AND NOW, RIGHT NOW, LIVING IN THE PRESENT. But if our mind is in conflict with others, we're neither here nor in the present. When we live in the past, we are cut off from God! What people did to us to hurt us is over! It's done; it doesn't have any real existence or life of its own, except in your mind.   SO THERE WITHIN US, THE DEED CONTINUES TO LIVE AND FESTER AND AS LONG AS IT LIVES, WE'RE STILL BEING HURT BY IT. The person or the people who wounded you may have long since died. They can't be blamed because it's us who keeps our wounds alive. Not only is the quality of our spiritual life affected, but often our physical health pays a price as well!   As long as we keep holding onto the burden of what someone has done to us, every time we think about it or think about that person, the stomach acids start to churn and anxiety increases, and then of course our body is continually put under stress.   If we don't forgive those who have hurt us, we lose a measure of our capacity to love and whether they deserve forgiveness or not, we deserve a better life! God wants to give you a better life but you can't enjoy abundant life and carry unforgiveness, because we're shackled to something that was hurting us. Did you know that our own unforgiveness tortures us?   SO HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF THAT PRISON?  HOW DO YOU FIND THE PROTECTION OF GOD FOR YOUR SOUL?    Well, God calls us to forgive. You have to see the hands of God reaching to you in the midst of your pain. He wants to redeem that conflict using that specific crisis or hardship to develop and perfect character in you. It will be this experience that he will use to make you like Jesus. To become like Jesus is to dwell, to live, in the place of rest and the safety of God. Every time we say, “Father, I choose to love. I choose to forgive. I choose to forget and not hold it against this person”, we are taking on the nature of Jesus. Friends, rejoice that Jesus is taking over your heart. You are entering into the strong, safe haven of God's shelter.   I DO MANY THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS ASSIGNED ME TO DO IN LIFE NOT ONLY AS A MINISTER, BUT ALSO AS A PASTORAL COUNSELOR. I also host and facilitate a group called “The international Prophetic Women's Mentoring Council.” This is a group of women from all walks of life several cultural groups and different backgrounds. We meet through zoom video sessions and individually. The thing that is “the glue that bonds us” is the fact that each of us have been called into ministry, and each of these women flows in a different expression of the prophetic gift. This past week we had a zoom session and our conversation and subject matter was regarding, the power of intercession and what it takes to approach the Face of God, in a right attitude.   One of the things that stood out so strongly in our time of dialogue and accountability to one another was the fact that in order to hear clearly from the Spirit of God, we need to have the inward witness, or the “inside part of us that communicates with God”, clearly in a place of submission and humility before him, and, that we first come into a place where we have asked the Lord to cleanse us. That means cleanse our hearts before we try to come to Him in prayer.   MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD. They seek it through quick daily devotionals, or they seek the voice of God through other people every day, instead of seeking the Lord himself. The scripture tells us clearly in John 10:4-5, “His sheep know his voice, and strange voices, they will not follow.”   SO WHAT ARE THE STRANGE VOICES? The voices from the external world that are constantly pumping us full of data, fear, rhetoric and forced compliance to social conditioning. If we choose to listen to the voice of strangers, then we move further away from being sheep in the pasture of the Lord.   SO HOW DO WE KNOW HIS VOICE? How do we discern that it's him? The number one thing, is that God always speaks life. He always speaks truth. And when God speaks, it brings peace, even in the midst of hard difficulties or hard decisions. An absolute solid peace comes and says, “This is the way, and this is what you have to do!” Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. That's Isaiah 30:21.   THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU. God absolutely wants to direct your life through your decision-making. The Holy Spirit guides us in our spirits (not through our physical body). The Number One way The Holy Spirit leads and guides us is through what the Bible calls, the “Inward Witness.” Proverbs 3:6 says,  “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”   WHAT IS AN INNER OR INWARD WITNESS? An inner witness is an impression, or a sense or perception on the inside of you. Romans 8:16 tells us, “For his Spirit joins with our spirit, to affirm, to confirm, that we are God's children.” Jeremiah 7:23-24 says this to us,  “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.'  Yet, they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked by their own advice and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and they went backward and not forward.   AS KINGDOM PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT LED BY OUR SENSES. We're not led by our ears or our eyes. We're led by our spirit. When we talk about hearing God, we're not talking about hearing God with our physical ears. We're talking about hearing Him in our spirit.  Here's a great example:  The Apostle Paul had been arrested and he was headed to his trial. Before he took the journey he sensed something in his spirit. He wasn't the captain of the ship, but he sensed something in his spirit.  In Acts 27:10, Apostle Paul said, "Men, I perceive we're going to face a disaster and heavy losses on this voyage. This disaster will cause damage to the cargo and the ship, and it will affect our lives." It wasn't long before the ship hit a cyclone, but an angel appeared and guaranteed Paul that everyone would make it, and they did! What was it that what Paul said in the beginning? “I perceive".   This is what we're looking at right now. We're talking about being led by the Spirit of God, no matter what circumstance or difficulty we might encounter.   BEING A PERSON WHO IS CALLED TO A PROPHETIC MINISTRY, I AM CLEARLY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT 90% OF WHAT I DO, ALSO COMES FROM TEACHING PEOPLE FROM THE WORD OF GOD REGARDING HOW TO  “HEAR” THE VOICE OF GOD.   My job is not to be a telephone for people to connect to God with, nor simply through prophesying. This is not going to change lives long term if the word of God is not taught and also if people don't act on it and obey it.   I HAVE HAD SOME STRANGE ENCOUNTERS WITH PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT I HAVE SOME KIND OF HOTLINE OR SATELLITE CONNECTION TO GOD TO HELP THEM GET ANSWERS. They need something or want to hear what the Lord has for them by asking me for a prophetic word. My friends this is not how the prophetic word of knowledge or word of wisdom works!  I had a lady when we were Pastoring a local fellowship come up to me after the service and she asked me if I would please, “do whatever I do, do that thing that I do”, and see if God would show me where she had put her wedding ring. She had lost it. I remember feeling very uncomfortable and a cold chill went through my body! My thought process was, “this woman wants me to be like a palm reader, or a magic eight ball! She wants me to use divination to find her wedding ring!“ Very kindly but firmly I told the woman, “You can ask the Lord to show you where it is yourself, or just simply go on looking for it. Pray that the Lord would lead you to it, but to ask me to ask the Holy Spirit to show me where it is, is basically trying to use another voice to speak to God for you when you can speak on your own to him.”   THERE ARE TIMES, WHEN GOD WILL SPEAK A WORD, AND IT IS DONE THROUGH A PROPHETIC UTTERANCE, and it gives us a word of knowledge about something or a word of wisdom about a specific event where we need to have insight, but it will always confirm with the Spirit of God what he has already put down on the inside of us that we can't seem to quite untangle, until the prophetic word comes and brings a clarity to it.   SOMETIMES THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HAVE SOMEONE BRING A PROPHETIC WORD THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF LOVING CORRECTION, BUT IT IS STILL CORRECTION, AND PEOPLE GET ANGRY AND SHOUT, “HOW DARE YOU JUDGE ME! Who are you to judge me?!”   Of course what this is a reaction to being caught out in bad behavior or hidden sin, and the Lord gently, lovingly, brings a word of warning.   ALL OF US KNOW WHEN WE SLIP AWAY FROM SPENDING TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. We know when we slack off from reading the scripture and from meditating on it, letting the Holy Spirit speak through the word to us. This is where the areas of bitterness and lack of purity in our walk with the Lord get all tangled up.   FRIENDS.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE LED BY HIM. (By the way, you might need a refreshing of your commitment to only follow his voice.) You don't need a prophet to hear from God for you, or have a constant prophetic word to make decisions. Simply say these words. “Holy Spirit, teach me how to be led by you.” Then, before you make any major decisions, acknowledge God. Say, “God, this is what the situation is,  >  insert your situation  

June 18, 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeDeuteronomy 34:9-12   Bible Study | Episode #963I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

In order to understand the story, we're reading 4:1-12 - I'll need to talk about why Peter and John are in prison in the first place. Essentially, they came across a guy who was lame from birth. The guy asks for money; instead, since they knew that Jesus lived his life with love and compassion and healing and justice, they decided to go deeper. They don't offer him charity - they offer him healing. They give him his dignity back, he no longer needs to beg. They give him his life back - now he can presumably work for a living. This is where we pick up the story. The religious leaders are upset because Peter and John are teaching about Jesus the resurrected one. They're trying to figure out where their power comes from - presumably they feel threatened. So they bring in the very same people (the high priest) who gave the go ahead for Jesus to be put to death. Peter defends the two of them - they haven't come to disturb anything, they've come to bring the things that Jesus brought - love, compassion, healing, and justice. In Jesus, God is putting the world back together again. He is the "capstone" - he is unique - in Jesus, God is up to something new in the world and we get to be a part of it. The message Peter is trying to get across is something like this: you want to make sense of what you think you know about the divine? You want to know what God is truly like? You want to make sense of your own life and what it means to be a human being? Look at Jesus. Love. Compassion. Healing. Justice. That's what God looks like - that's God's dream for us human beings. This is why I haven't given up on religion - haven't given up on faith, even though Christians have given me lots of reasons to do so. Jesus is unique - extraordinary. We turn our lives toward him and then pattern our own lives after his. We make our own lives about love, etc. Speaker: Aaron Vis Scripture: Acts 4:1-12

Your Nightly Prayer

Do you find it hard to trust some people? Do you find it hard to trust anyone? Our society is full to the brim of people who have been hurt, wounded, and devastated. It puts up a wall and we live behind it in silence and fear.After the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the people of that captive country were free for the first time to tell their stories. One woman said that she had been driven nearly insane by the dictator's torture chambers, but when he was gone, someone shared the love of Christ with her. And her mind and spirit were restored. She said that for the first time in her life, she could now trust. It opened her heart to beauty and friendship and love. And most of all, she now loves her Savior with her whole, healed heart.Psalm 91:2 says, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Your situation might not be as extreme as our Iraqi sister, but if you have trust issues, take them to Jesus and tell Him with your whole hurting heart that you need Him. He will meet you where you are!Let's pray.Lord, your love heals all kinds of pain. We thank you that your mercies endure forever. 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.

People Living Lives in which Sin Is Normal Are Missing the Peace and Fruits of the Holy Spirit MESSAGE SUMMARY: In our world, today, people say that it is OK to sin, but sinning is not OK because if you are sinning, the Holy Spirit is not in you. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the fruit of the Holy Spirit will be present in your life. You cannot exhibit the fruit of the flesh, sin, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul explains, simply, the link between being a Jesus Follower and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6:17: “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.". In Romans 12:2, Paul describes God's expectations for us to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh {sin}: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.". The fruit of the Holy Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, you know how difficult it is for me to be in silence before you. At times it feels almost impossible, given the demands, distractions, and noise all around me. I invite you to lead me to a quiet, silent place before you — to a place where I can hear you as Elijah did. In Jesus' name, amen.     Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 123). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Anxiety. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Peace. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV):  Ephesians 4:19-24; Romans 8:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:17-20; Psalms 145b:12-21. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

June 17, 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeDeuteronomy 34:1-8  Bible Study | Episode #962I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

There are few things more disorienting than feeling like God is silent. The heavens feel closed, your prayers seem unanswered, and your spirit longs for even the faintest whisper. Many of us know what it's like to cry out in pain, only to be met with what feels like divine stillness. But even in silence, God is not absent.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” — Psalm 13:1 (ESV)David, the man after God's own heart, wasn't afraid to express deep frustration and anguish in his relationship with the Lord. He didn't hide his heart—he brought it fully before God. That kind of honesty is part of what faith looks like in times of silence.When God seems quiet, it's tempting to believe the worst—that He has left, that He's uninterested, or that your prayers don't matter. But silence is not the same as absence. Often, God is doing His deepest work in your life in the quiet spaces—strengthening your roots, building trust, refining your heart.The silence stretches us. It tests whether we will lean into His Word even when His voice seems still. When fresh direction doesn't come, go back to the last thing He told you. Stay rooted in Scripture. Remember His faithfulness in past seasons.Trust grows in the quiet. Obedience deepens. Spiritual maturity takes shape not just in what we hear—but in how we respond when we don't.Question of the Day:What does faith look like for you right now when you feel like God is silent?Mini Call to Action:Write down Psalm 13:1. Reflect on David's honesty and courage. Let it give you permission to bring your full heart to God today.Let's Pray:Lord, when I can't hear You, help me trust You. Strengthen my faith in the quiet. Teach me to lean on what is true, not just what I feel. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!God's silence is not His absence—keep walking with Him anyway.My Reasons To Believe 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 myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

In Your Personal Relationship with Jesus, Fast and Feast with Jesus to Drink Heartily of His Word as Jesus Satisfies and Nourishes You MESSAGE SUMMARY: Most of the time when you are fasting, you are thinking about what you must give up in the fast. Rather, in your fasting, than focusing on “going without” you should think of fasting as a call by Jesus to come to Him and feast with Him. Paul's example for us, in Acts 14:22-23, occurs after he had been stoned and left for dead after preaching the Gospel in Antioch. Rather than leaving the field of discipleship in fear, Paul returned the next day to preach the Gospel and: “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.". In your feast with Jesus, you can drink heartily of His Word to let Jesus satisfy and nourish you.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, help me to grab hold of you today. I need you. Set me free to begin reorienting my life around you, and you alone. Help me to pay attention to and honor how you have uniquely made me. Thank you for the gift of rest. In Jesus' name, amen.       Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 122). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be driven by Loneliness. Rather, I will abide in the Lord's Presence. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 2:36-38; Matthew 19:16-30; 2 Samuel 12:15-17; Psalms 145a:1-11. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Beyond Trouble #RTTBROS #Nightlight Beyond Today's Troubles"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Jeremiah 29:11"God's plans for your life far exceed the circumstances of your day."When we find ourselves overwhelmed by the weight of today's challenges, it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. The bills on your kitchen table, the tension in your relationships, the uncertainty at work, or the health concerns that keep you awake at night can feel all-consuming. In these moments, our vision becomes narrow, focused only on what we can see right in front of us.But God's perspective is infinitely different from ours. While we see today's struggles, He sees the masterpiece He's creating through every season of our lives. The very circumstances that feel like obstacles may actually be the tools He's using to shape us, strengthen us, and prepare us for the good works He has planned.Consider Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. In that moment, his circumstances seemed hopeless. Yet God was orchestrating events that would eventually place Joseph in a position to save nations from famine. What appeared to be a devastating setback was actually a divine setup.The same God who worked through Joseph's difficulties is working through yours. Your current chapter is not your final story. The financial pressure you're facing doesn't define your future provision. The broken relationship doesn't determine your capacity for love. The closed door doesn't mean there isn't a better one waiting to open.God's plans for you are not merely about getting you through today, though He will. They're about transforming you into who He created you to be and positioning you for purposes you haven't even imagined yet. His thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace, hope, and a future filled with meaning.Today, when the circumstances feel heavy, remember that they are temporary, but God's plans for you are eternal. Look beyond what you can see with your eyes and trust what He has promised with His word. Your best days are not behind you – they're ahead of you, woven into the perfect plan of a God who loves you more than you can comprehend.Prayer: Heavenly Father, when I can only see today's troubles, help me to trust in Your eternal perspective. Remind me that You are working all things together for my good and Your glory. Give me faith to believe that Your plans for my life far exceed anything I can see or imagine today. In Jesus' name, Amen.Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

June 16, 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeDeuteronomy 33:23-29  Bible Study | Episode #961I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

Today marks your opportunity for a divine comeback. God specializes in turning tragedy into triumph, and He can do it quicker than we imagine. Your best days aren't behind you - they're ahead. Even if you've given up on yourself, God hasn't given up on you. His calling on your life remains unchanged, waiting for you to step back into it. This moment of surrender could be the turning point you've been waiting for. God's grace is sufficient to overcome any past mistake, any disappointment, any failure. It's time to let His love overshadow your past and step confidently into your future.Bible Verse"He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish." - John 21What step of faith is God asking you to take today to step into your comeback story?Quote "God is able to do a quick work in your life. He's able to bring you from a point of tragedy to a point of triumph in such a quick moment. It just requires a time of surrender."PrayerFather, I surrender my past disappointments and failures to You. Thank You for the comeback You have planned for my life. Give me courage to take the first step toward Your calling today. In Jesus' name, Amen.Welcome, we are so glad you have joined us for our church online! If you are new here, we would love to connect with you. HARVEST VALLEY CHURCH is a church that believes in Jesus, a church that loves God and people. If you have made a decision to follow Jesus or want to learn more about Him, Email us and we will reach out to you about your decision to follow Jesus. connect@harvestvalley.org To support the ministry of Harvest Valley Church and invest in the lives of others through giving, click here: https://www.harvestvalley.org/giveFor more information about Harvest Valley Church visit https://www.harvestvalley.org #harvestvalleychurch #loveourcity #Pleasantonca #eastbaychurches #Sunday #harvestvalleychurchpleasanton #purposeinlife Support the show

In Jesus, we find a Saviour who redefines what it means to be great — not through status or strength, but through humility, self-denial, and sacrificial love. It begins with the death of John the Baptist whose greatness points to the true and greater One.

Nobody asks for trials. But if you've been walking with Jesus for any amount of time, you know they come—unexpected, uninvited, and often unrelenting. And yet God tells us to “count it all joy”? Not because the pain feels good—but because something greater is being produced within us.Our springboard for today's discussion is:“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:2–3 (ESV)Trials are God's classroom. Not His punishment. And certainly not His absence. In the fire, your faith is refined—not destroyed. You learn how to stand, how to endure, how to trust when everything around you shakes.But the trial doesn't just reveal what's around you—it reveals what's in you. And more importantly, it reveals the One who is in it with you.You may not understand what's happening. The pieces don't always make sense. But God is not silent in the storm. He is speaking, even now.“My child, I know this hurts. I haven't overlooked it or delayed out of neglect. I'm allowing what will strengthen you, not destroy you. Trust Me. I am forming something in you that comfort never could. Hold on. I'm right here.”God is not asking you to pretend the trial isn't painful. He's asking you to anchor yourself in the truth that He is still good, still faithful, and still present.Faith is not proved in the light—it's proven in the dark. And every step you take in trust is shaping you into someone who reflects Jesus more than ever before.Question of the Day:Where in your life right now do you need to stop asking “why” and start trusting “Who”?Mini Call to Action:Write down one area of trial you're facing. Next to it, write one promise of God. Post it where you'll see it every day this week.Let's Pray:Lord, I don't always understand the pain—but I trust Your purpose. Strengthen my heart. Refine my faith. And teach me to walk through the fire with my eyes fixed on You. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!Pain isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning of something stronger.Support MyR2B Ministries:MyR2B Ministries is our full-time ministry. Your paid subscription helps sustain this work and expand our ministry outreach. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Your Nightly Prayer

For Jesus Followers, Fasting, with Food, Will Symbolize a Victory Over Oneself and Solidify a Personal Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: In the early Christian Church, which was under great stress and constant physical danger, God's direction and blessing was needed. Therefore, fasting was considered by Church leaders as a key element of their communion with God when they needed both His direction and blessing, as we find in Acts 14:23: “And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.". As a challenge, "consider the food issue" in your life, especially when you need God's direction in your life, because food has such a stronghold on us. Fasting and tithing can significantly deepen your personal relationship with God because fasting is not easy; but success in fasting, especially with food, can symbolize your victory over yourself and solidify your commitment to your personal relationship with God.     TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-2; Matthew 6:16-18; 2 Samuel 12:15-17; Psalms144:1-15. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Five Needs of Fathers” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

I greet you in Jesus' precious name. It is Sunday morning, the 15th of June, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. It is Father's Day, and I really want to congratulate all fathers, not an easy job, on this day the scripture that I have for you is found in Exodus 20:12: “Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” It is the first commandment in the Bible with a promise added to it. Honour your dad, so that your days may be long in the land. Now, I want to speak to young people, and I want to be straight with you, this programme, we don't do it to tickle ears. The truth of the matter is that a lot of dads, a lot of fathers don't justify to be honoured. Oh no, some fathers are abusive, other fathers are absent, other fathers are adulterers. So what is the Lord saying? The Lord is saying that we must honour our parents, so you don't have to agree with them, you don't even have to love them. Now that might be tough one. You say, “Uncle Angus, I can't love him”. But you can honour him because God says you must. You can pray for him because God says we must pray for one another and trust God for a miracle in your relationship.But I want to speak to other dads. I want to say I am so proud of you. It is so wonderful to see sons and fathers, daughters and fathers together. You know, that's one of the highlights for me at Mighty Men Conferences, to see a father standing arm in arm with his son. We always say, if a boy is twelve years old and he can ride a horse and can shoot a rifle, he is a man, and therefore he is eligible to come to a Mighty Men Conference, but to see them sitting together… It is not easy, young men, to honour your dads - different opinions, different generations, different backgrounds, but nevertheless, the Lord says He promises you that your days will be long in the land if you would honour your father. So today, just ask the Lord Jesus to give you that love for him, and I am telling you that it will change your life forever. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful Father's Day today, dad, as your wives, your daughters, your sons, your grandsons (I have got a great-grandson), honour you today and give God the glory for your life.In Jesus name,Goodbye.

Five Needs of Fathers MESSAGE SUMMARY: Introduction -- Father's, we need to understand God's expectations of Fathers. In  Ephesians 6:4, Paul defines God's expectations of fathers: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.". Also, Proverbs 22:6 presents what expectations we might have if fathers adhere to God's expectations: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.". Dads are to bring up their children in "the way they should go" (their calling). Discipline, wisely administered by fathers, is an important attribute and need for fathers, as the author of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 12:9-11: “. . . we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”. Today's Message -- The Five Needs of Dads: 1) Companionship -- Genesis 2:18, the majority of men were made not to be alone; 2) Respect – honor, appreciation, respect, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:33: “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."; 3) Know How to Face Temptation -- when we are tempted (temptation is not a sin) God will provide us a way out of succumbing to the temptation, 1 Corinthians 10:13; 4) Not to Be Foolish -- Proverbs 13:20; and 5) and Remember that God Expects You to Be a Dad -- Ephesians 6:4 and Proverbs 22:6, dads are to train their children so that their children are raised “in the way he should go' and in a way that meets God's expectations of both the dad and the child. Men are motivated when they know they will be held accountable, and God is holding us accountable for how we fathers raise our children. There is a void of faithful men and fathers today; therefore, dad's, should ask God to help you to be faithful as a father. Fathers should hope that, when we are judged by God, He tells us: “Well done good and faithful servant!”. “God, how many more {hours, days, and years} do I have, as a father, to meet your expectations and to receive the joys of being a father”   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.    Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM FORGIVEN. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6; Genesis 2:18; Proverbs 19:22; Ephesians 5:33; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Proverbs 13:20; Hebrews 12:9-11;  (Click the Bible References, in blue, below to read the full Bible text for these Scripture References.). A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. WEBSITE LINK TO DR. BEACH'S DAILY DEVOTIONAL – “For Jesus Followers, Fasting, with Food, Will Symbolize a Victory Over Oneself and Solidify a Personal Relationship with God”: https://awordfromthelord.org/devotional/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

June 15, 2025 Worship Service Groveport UMC, Groveport Ohio To support the ministry of the church, please click here: https://groveportumc.org/give/ OPENING SONGS: “Majesty” and “Thy Word” WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING PRAYER: We're here this morning to worship you, to learn, and to grow. We want to understand your love more deeply and figure out how to live it out in our everyday lives. Guide us in this time together— in our singing, praying, listening, and sharing. Let everything we do bring you joy and help us leave here changed for the better. Amen. PRELUDE & LIGHTING ALTAR CANDLES “Abide with Me”- Mark Stokes - Guest Organist *HYMN “The Church's One Foundation” - #545 CALL TO WORSHIP: L: God our Provider, we come into this space with many needs. P: Some of us are seeking strength to face hard things. L: Some of us are looking for hope because we're tired and weary. P: Some of us just need to feel loved—because we feel alone. L: But in this place, we believe You will meet us. P: Through a song, a word, a prayer, or a quiet moment— You are here. You are with us. And we are ready to worship. Amen. HYMN “When Love is Found” - #643 MORNING PRAYER: Gracious and loving God, On this special day, we thank You for the gift of fathers and father figures— For their strength, their guidance, their sacrifices, and their love. We give thanks for those who have been present in our lives— who have encouraged us, protected us, and shown us glimpses of Your heart. Just as the father in Jesus' story waited patiently and welcomed his son with open arms, we are reminded of Your unwavering love, grace, and compassion for us all. Lord, bless the fathers who lead with wisdom and kindness, who work hard to provide, who forgive with open hearts, and who point their families toward Your truth. Encourage the tired, renew the discouraged, and inspire all fathers to lead with faith. For those who are missing their dads today, or carry wounds from broken relationships, bring comfort, healing, and hope. And for those who step into the role of father—mentors, uncles, coaches, teachers—we thank You. Help all of us, Lord, to extend love, mercy, and forgiveness to one another, just as You have done for us. May our homes be places of grace, where unity and compassion grow. We celebrate the fathers among us today, and we lift our eyes to You, our perfect Heavenly Father, who never gives up on us, who welcomes us home, and who rejoices when we return. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Proverbs 4:1-15 OUR TIME OF PRAYER (During our time of prayer, the altar rail is open for all who wish to come forward.) HYMN “Sanctuary” PASTORAL PRAYER THE LORD'S PRAYER OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS: “Rock of Ages” – Mark Stokes *DOXOLOGY *PRAYER OF DEDICATION CHILDREN'S MOMENTS (Children may be dismissed for Jr. Church at this time) SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 15:11-32 SERMON “A Caring Father” - brought by David Kudel *HYMN “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” - #365 *BENEDICTION *SENDING FORTH “As We Go” POSTLUDE “This is My Father's World” - Mark Stokes

Your Nightly Prayer

Steve Smith :: Creekside Church :: Sunday, June 15, 2025 Is Jesus calling? Have you picked up? In Jesus' call of His first disciples in John 1:35-51, we observe at least four human and divine means employed to convince people to follow Him. Pastor Steve's message follows brief announcements. Worship music permitted under CCLI License #264436.

All Have Temptation, Which Is Not the Sin; But Jesus Followers Can Resist All Temptation Through Their Faith and Relationship with God MESSAGE SUMMARY: You will be tempted again and again, but the temptation itself is not the sin. The sin resides in your grabbing onto the temptation; dwelling on the temptation; and following through on the temptation. Jesus was tempted, and He {Jesus} always faced temptation by quoting scripture to the temptation source. As Jesus tells you about Temptation and sin in Matthew 18:7-8: “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.". From James 1:13, we know that God does not create the temptation we face: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.". Since all are tempted, it is great to know, from 1 Corinthians 10:13, that Jesus Followers will not be tempted beyond their capability to resist the temptation and act on it through sinning: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." You can follow Jesus' example by using scripture to deal with a temptation – there is scripture to deal with every temptation that you may face.     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, I affirm that because I am in Jesus Christ, I will not be ashamed of the Gospel. I will not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (including me). From Romans 1:16 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalms143:1-12; James 1:13. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Day of Pentecost – The Promise Fulfilled (All Saints Anglican Church; Peachtree City, GA ” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

There is no greater weapon, no stronger shield, and no more powerful ministry than a parent who prays. When you cover your family in prayer, you're not just speaking words—you're building walls of protection, opening doors of favor, and aligning your home with the will of God. God hears every whisper, every tear, every cry that comes from a parent who stands in the gap.Our springboard for today's discussion is:"All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." — Isaiah 54:13You don't have to control everything in your child's life. You won't always be there to guard every decision, every friendship, or every circumstance. But you can stand before God every single day on their behalf.Praying for your family means you're calling down heaven into their lives:* Pray protection over their minds, their hearts, and their purity.* Pray purpose over their callings, gifts, and futures.* Pray peace over your home, especially in moments of tension.* Pray wisdom over your parenting decisions, even when clarity feels far away.Start calling out their names before God each morning. Declare His Word over them—because prayer mixed with Scripture is warfare. Lay hands on their doors. Speak life into your spouse. Cover your home in the authority Christ has given you.Prayer isn't a backup plan. It's your first line of defense.And even when you feel weak, tired, or unsure—God sees your prayers as incense before His throne. He is moved by the intercession of a mother, a father, a grandparent who refuses to give up.Question of the Day:What specific area of your family needs prayer covering today?Mini Call to Action:Write a 3-line prayer today—one sentence for your spouse, one for your children, one for yourself. Speak it aloud and repeat it every day this week.Let's Pray:Lord, teach me to cover my family with prayer. Help me to be faithful in intercession, bold in declaring Your promises, and strong in trusting You with those I love most. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!Your prayers may be silent to the world—but they roar in heaven.Support MyR2B Ministries:MyR2B Ministries is our full-time ministry. Your paid subscription helps sustain this work and expand our ministry outreach.My Reasons To Believe 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 myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Your Nightly Prayer

Your Nightly Prayer

Noah was far from perfect, but he was a humble man, and protective of his family. He stands out among fathers in the Bible as a man who remained loyal to God, in spite of the wickedness of the world around him.Doesn't that sound a lot like life today? Fathers who choose to follow a life of faith are surrounded by temptation and downright evil in this world, but God is pleased by our devotion, and He has a plan for each of us — even when circumstances are frustrating or difficult. Genesis 6:5–8 says, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So, the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.' But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”The Bible tells us Noah, father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, was a righteous man and walked faithfully with God. For this reason, God chose Noah to build an incredible ship—the ark—that would save not only mankind, but every variety of living creature on the earth—from peril.Sometimes, fathers feel like their job is a thankless one. They tackle the honey-do list on weekends, help with dinner, keep the kids in line, and help to wrangle them at bedtime...and maybe they don't hear ‘thank you,' or ‘great job,' often enough. But God knows everything you do for your family, from breadwinning to caretaking and everything in between, and He takes delight in your devotion to your family, and to Him.Deuteronomy 30:2–3 says, “And when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.”Modern-day fathers can learn valuable lessons from Noah:God promises to bless and protect those who faithfully follow and obey him. A man who obeys the Lord will inspire faith in his children as well. Obedience is not a sprint but a marathon; It means a lifetime of faithful devotion, even (and especially!) when the going gets tough.Let's pray.Lord, thank you for calling out Noah's faithful obedience to you so many years ago, and for providing for the safety and provision of his entire family when the world had gone astray. Bless every father who hears this message, Lord, that they might grow closer in their walk with you, and inspire their children to follow in their footsteps. 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.

Is Your Faith Yours, or Is Your Faith Really the Faith of Others? MESSAGE SUMMARY: We first believed because of what our parents taught us; but then we heard for ourselves, and we believed. You and cannot live on another's faith in Jesus – With regards to faith, “God has no grandchildren”, only His Children; therefore, your Salvation can only come from your faith and not the faith of others. Each of us must hear for ourselves and come to the Lord in our own faith. As Paul tells us in Romans 10:16-17: “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?'. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." You and I each will stand before the Lord alone in judgment -- we will speak for ourselves with only Jesus to speak for us. Others to whom we minister, such as our children, can her about the Lord and the Gospel from us – for the first time or in reinforcement – but they must hear for themselves and believe for themselves to be saved.   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, I have unhealthy ways of relating to others that are deeply imbedded in me. Please change me. Make me a vessel to spread mature, steady, and reliable love so that those I come in contact with will sense your tenderness and kindness through me. In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 140). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, because of I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I will not be controlled by my Evil Ways. Rather, I will walk in the Spirit's fruit of Goodness. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22f). SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): 2 Timothy 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Matthew 7:24-27; Psalms 53:1-6. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “The Day of Pentecost – The Promise Fulfilled (All Saints Anglican Church; Peachtree City, GA” at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/ DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

June 13, 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeDeuteronomy 33:13-21  Bible Study | Episode #960I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

Sibling relationships have the power to shape a child's character and future in profound ways. These relationships are often the first training ground for learning forgiveness, humility, patience, and selfless love. And God is not silent about how we're to treat one another—even in the smallest corners of the home.Our springboard for today's discussion is:"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you…" — John 13:34Teaching siblings to love one another doesn't begin with behavior correction—it begins with heart formation. It's not about getting kids to simply “get along.” It's about helping them see each other as image-bearers of God, placed in the same family for a reason.Here are a few ways to disciple your children in sibling love:* Model it – Show grace and respect in your own relationships. Children replicate what they see.* Pray for one another out loud – Let siblings hear each other's needs lifted to God. It softens hearts.* Teach peacemaking, not just peacekeeping – Train them to work through conflict biblically, not just avoid it.* Celebrate one another – Encourage them to cheer each other on rather than compete for attention.* Speak blessing – Teach them to use their words to build, not tear down.Sibling rivalry isn't new—it's been around since Cain and Abel. But in Christ, our homes can be different. God wants to use sibling relationships to build unity, sharpen character, and reflect His love.If your children struggle with tension, don't lose hope. Ask the Holy Spirit to move in their hearts. Begin praying for a spirit of unity and kindness between them—and don't stop. God cares deeply about what's happening between your children.Question of the Day:What's one way you can help your children grow in love and unity toward each other this week?Mini Call to Action:Lead your children in a short time of praying for one another today. Even one sentence each. Watch what begins to shift.Let's Pray:Lord, teach our children to love each other as You have loved them. Help us lead by example. Let our home be filled with grace, patience, and a Spirit of unity. In Jesus' name, amen.Let's Get To Work!The love your children learn to give each other at home will shape how they love the world.Support MyR2B Ministries:MyR2B Ministries is our full-time ministry. Your paid subscription helps sustain this work and expand our ministry outreach.My Reasons To Believe 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 myr2b.substack.com/subscribe

Your Nightly Prayer

Moses was the father of two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and he also served as a father figure to the entire Hebrew people as they escaped from slavery in Egypt.He loved his people, and helped discipline and provide for them on their 40-year journey to the Promised Land. Imagine leading a frustrated, tired, hungry group of travelers through the desert—without air conditioning or handheld electronics—for four decades!So many aspects of Moses' life story seem larger-than-life, and he was indeed a hero of his time—but he was also merely a man. Moses' perseverance in the face of incredible challenges over the course of his life shows today's fathers that overwhelming tasks can be achieved when we stay close to God.Exodus 16:11–12 says, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.'”The Israelites were afraid they would starve in the barren desert after fleeing Egypt, and complained to Moses that it would have been better if they had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt, where they had enough to eat— rather than to wander the desert without provisions. Imagine how frustrated Moses must have been! The Lord had miraculously saved the Israelites from slavery, and now they worried God wouldn't provide what they needed to survive.Through God's faithful guidance, Moses was able to shepherd the Israelites through 40 years of wilderness living. They quarreled with Moses. They accused him of leading them to disaster and ruin. They complained frequently—even after they had seen God's promises fulfilled. Yet still, Moses carried on. He brought every concern to the Lord, and with God's blessing and guidance, he was able to keep going.Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”Moses teaches fathers that with God, all things are possible. God answers prayer and desires intimate fellowship with every believer. No one can follow God's laws perfectly. We all need a Savior.Let's pray.Heavenly Father, sometimes parenting is exhausting! Thank you for the blessing of children, and we ask you to bless dads with patience to spare, and to make your presence known to tired dads in the trenches who need your wisdom, and your grace. 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.

Feel like what you have isn't enough? In Jesus' hands, a little becomes more than enough. Video available at: https://youtu.be/VWm_wKiZSrs Message by Connor McFadden.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace. . . . — 1 Peter 4:10 Jim and Mary live down the street from Roseland Christian Ministries (RCM). Retirees, they pour their heart and soul into our thrift store, sorting clothes, stacking furniture, doing what they can to help our little store thrive. The store earns money that helps to support our programs. Working with them are Arlene, Amalia, Marlene, Sue, Ruth, Ms. Green, Bruce, Jan, Terry, Arlo, Randy, and more. They use their gifts to create a community that does a lot of good in the neighborhood. Jack is our board president. He serves wonderfully in his role of setting policy, vision, and development. But on a Monday morning you'll often see Jack deep cleaning the kitchen stoves or mopping floors. Over the years I've watched him listen and learn—forming bonds and trust with people in the community. All of the people I have mentioned here are retired. It inspires me that in retirement they live lives of service and form bonds with each other. It's not simply that they are serving, but that they are serving alongside one another, each with different gifts. Who are the people you have formed bonds with while serving? Who are the gifted people with whom you serve? Heavenly Father, thank you for the deep bonds we form while serving together. Strengthen our unity as we work side by side, reflecting your love and building Christian community together. In Jesus, Amen.

June 12, 2025Hope Alive: Applying God's Word to Your Daily LifeDeuteronomy 33:1-11  Bible Study | Episode #959I am Chad Harrison, and I am the teaching pastor of Lake Community Church and had been serving as a pastor for 25 years. I'm also a practicing attorney. This podcast is designed to help you study God's word and find God's will for your life. The purpose of studying scripture is that you might know the character of Jesus Christ, and that you might see the world from the Father's perspective. That you gain wisdom that changes your life. I pray in the name of Jesus right now that God would open His word to you and allow you to see Him and to know Him. To know His will, that you might glorify Him and that you might walk in faith and power each day, especially today. In Jesus name.If you would like to revisit today's Bible study, please visit our website at https://hopealive.buzzsprout.com/ to download the transcript. If this podcast ministered to you, please subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple podcasts. Reviews help us reach more people and spread the wisdom of God. Please follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealivewithgod/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hopealiveministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LakeComChurch/ -Lake Community Church 

Assurance the kingdom's coming will bring fulfillment of God's promises. In Jesus teaching regarding His imminent return in judgment, he used the illustration of a Fig tree and all trees. He is giving a warning to the hearers that what they see during their lifetime will all perish upon His return. This can be troubling to hearers. Jesus is telling the hearers… The post Certainty and the Fig Tree, Part 1 | Ready for the End appeared first on Pillar of Truth Radio.

Picture what it would be like to lose everything in one fell swoop. Your house burns to the ground. The stock market plummets, and all your money is gone. Worst of all, your children fall ill and die. Suddenly, you've lost not only your material possessions but your family, too.When people refer to someone as having “the patience of Job,” they say that for a reason.Job was a man of immense wealth, the richest man in the region, and was the father of seven sons and three daughters he loved dearly. He was also a faithful servant of the Lord, and grateful for every blessing.In a terrible turn of events, Job lost his fortune in a single day. His crops, property, livestock, and servants were gone. Most devastating of all, Job lost his children. But Job didn't blame God. He accepted that God had a plan for him, and was patient as he waited for the Lord to reveal that plan. He knew that sometimes bad things happen to good people, and he continued to praise the Lord in the midst of trial.Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”Job lost everything, but he didn't take matters into his own hands to seek justice for what he had lost. He fell to his knees and worshipped the Lord, and then he was still. In the quiet of his soul, Job knew God had a plan, and in the end, God restored to Job twice as much as he had in the beginning.A godly man is patient.Let's pray.Lord, waiting is hard to do. Waiting for an answer. Waiting for resolution. Waiting for things to get better. Restore peace and patience as we grow in faith and learn to wait on you. We 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.

Wednesday, 11 June 2025   For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; Matthew 10:35   “For I came to sunder man against his father, and daughter against her mother, and bride against her mother-in-law” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that He did not come to bring peace on earth, but a sword. In explanation of that, He next cites Micah 7:6, turning it from a proclamation concerning the conduct of the people of Israel to a statement concerning the sword He referred to. He does this beginning with, “For I came to sunder man against his father.”   In Micah, this clause reads, “For son dishonors father.” In Jesus' statement is a word found only once in the New Testament, dichazó, The word is derived from dis, twice. Thus, it is a cutting apart. Hence, to sunder. Figuratively, it means to set at variance. It is akin to our modern prefix dis, such as in discord, disharmony, or the commonly used idiom to dis someone.   Jesus is probably saying that those who dishonor their father are the type to reject Christ. Such a person has ignored the Fifth Commandment, placing himself as one who rejects the structure of the home as ordained by God. As such, there will be a sword between the unrepentant son and the repentant father when the gospel is presented. Next, Jesus says, “and daughter against her mother.”   Micah 7:6 says, “Daughter rises against her mother.” This is like the first clause in that the daughter is set at variance with her mother, similar to that of the son dishonoring the father. There will be strife between the two because of His gospel. He next says, “and bride against her mother-in-law.”   Another new word is introduced here, numphé, a bride or a daughter-in-law. It is derived from nupto, to veil, as in a veiled bride. This is cognate to the Latin nupto, to marry. The word extends to a betrothed girl.   Micah 7:6 says, “Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Again, we see a discord being explained by Jesus as cited by Micah. In the Hebrew of Micah, the word kalah, completer is used to describe the daughter-in-law. It signifies a bride because the daughter-in-law is what completes a family unit.   In other words, having a son allows a man to continue his name and family, but without a daughter-in-law, a completer, the family remains incomplete. As such, she is to be a treasured member of the family.   But that should go both ways. She should honor those of the family she is uniting with. However, with the gospel introduced, this special bond between the mother and the household completer is divided.   Life application: Despite the fact that Jesus is speaking to Israel while under the law, the truths explained by Him do not end there because these are truths that extend beyond to law. The family unit was established prior to the law. When something interrupts that unit, discord leading to dishonor will naturally result.   Paul even refers to the necessity of maintaining the soundness of the Fifth Commandment in Ephesians 6:1-3 –   “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 ‘Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 3 ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.'”   This is not a matter of salvation in the church, but it is a precept that bears the weight of the family unit established by God at the very beginning. Son is born to father. Because of this, there should be honor given to him. This is not explicitly stated prior to the law, but it is a precept clearly understood in the Genesis and Exodus narrative prior to the giving of the law.   This follows through with respect by the females within the house as well. Honoring the mother is considered an essential part of the makeup of the nuclear family. As such, one can see why those on the left throughout the world are doing their utmost to destroy the nuclear family. In doing so, the supposed shackles of God's unjust plan are cast off, and the chaos of perversion becomes the welcomed standard.   Be sure to understand the spiritual battle that is taking place each time a government is influenced by those on the left. Their stand is ultimately a stand against God's structure and order for the family, something quite clearly upheld by the gospel because Jesus is God.   Lord God, help us to think clearly and reasonably about what Your word is telling us regarding biblical principles. There are things we are to do to retain a godly balance and propriety in our lives. Without knowing what Scripture says, we cannot do this. So, help us in this daily pursuit of Your precious word. Amen.

Adam, a first-time father, looked down at his newborn son with love. Adam and his wife had made mistakes in the past and suffered greatly for it, but this child, their firstborn, was a chance to start fresh. The new family didn't have the support of friends or relatives, but they did their best, and figured it out as they went along.When the family was blessed with another son a few years later, they were so grateful to the Lord, and excited to watch their boys grow and play together. The family of four worked hard, loved God, and they were in it together. Sometimes, though, the sins of our past have a way of catching up with us.When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were banished from the Garden of Eden, they plunged the world into sin. They couldn't have known at the time just how far-reaching the consequences of this event would be for their family—that their son Cain would one day grow jealous of his brother Abel's favor in the eyes of the Lord, and commit the very first murder.Adam, the first man and very first human father, has much to teach today's fathers about the consequences of our actions and the absolute necessity of obeying God. Micah 6:8 says, “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”Lessons we can learn from Adam include:Obedience:God wants us to freely obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His love. A man who follows and obeys the Lord can be a child's first example of obedience.Integrity:Fathers with integrity know that nothing is hidden from God's sight. Even when no one is around, God sees our actions; men with integrity act accordingly. Responsibility:Godly fathers take responsibility for their own failures and shortcomings, rather than blaming others for their mistakes. The ability to accept responsibility is not a show of weakness, but a sign of strength.Let's pray.Heavenly Father, Adam, the first human father, had no blueprint for fatherhood. Thank you for the wisdom and knowledge we can glean from fathers before us in your Holy Word, the Bible. Uphold fathers, Lord, and open their eyes to your love, and your good plan for their family. Give them the support they need to follow you, and to humbly obey your commands. 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.

The story of the Prodigal Son is one we can all relate to. The Bible tells the story of a brash young man who leaves his home after asking for his inheritance. His loving father complies, and let's just say the son learns some valuable lessons on his travels.Eventually, he humbles himself and comes home; he needs his father and his family.It is really a story of Jesus and us.Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”We screw up sometimes. Maybe it's so bad we can't see a way back.That's when Jesus stretches out His arms and welcomes us home. He isn't as concerned with where we've been as He is with where we end up. His perfect love and forgiveness are the only real ointment for our self-inflicted wounds. If you think you've screwed up too much, or fallen too far, put that out of your mind and simply tell Jesus you need Him.Let's pray. Lord, your willingness to welcome us back to fellowship is something to behold. We are grateful for your grace. 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.